A few weeks ago I attended a very special bridal show, one which caters specifically to Indian and Middle Eastern brides, called the Suhagg International Bridal Show. The dress and traditions of these weddings are very different from most American weddings as we know them, hence the need for a bridal show that specializes in them.
I shared a booth with my friend Neeta, from Mehndi Designer (see post below), which was neat because some of her clients got to see my work and vice-versa. There were two other photographers there, but I was the only photojournalist, and so my work really stood out. Everybody just LOVED my pictures. Anyway, at the request of the show coordinator I took some shots at the show of people's booths and put them online, after which I made contact with the vendors whose work was on there and (as I usually do) offered them use of the pictures free of charge, as a way of getting to know more people in this specific market.
One of the people who contacted me back was Swati Kapoor, a clothing designer who, under the design studio name Swati Couture, is fast becoming very well known for her blend of Eastern and Western styles. Her fashions include traditional Indian wedding gowns and other beautiful Eastern outfits, plus other formal and semi formal wear whose eastern influence ranges from the subtle to the sublime. She had recently opened up her new showroom in Milpitas and needed some good pictures of her new work ASAP for various publications and other marketing. She also needed some photos of the new showroom, including portraits of herself at work, for some of these articles. Could I do a fashion shoot with her?
Well, okay, I've done a bit of fashion before but not much. I'm not very into the idea of over-directing my subjects, working in a stuffy photo studio, or manufacturing a concept that is not there to begin with--my background, after all, is in photojournalism. But this sounded like fun, so I told Swati that I'd come over, shoot her dressing up the model as if she was a customer, and we'd see what we'd get.
Well I get there, and first off all, the studio is awesome, totally unexpected for the residential neighborhood that it is located in. The lighting and decor are minimalistic but glamorous, like something in a SOMA storefront, and Swati's made good use of the space. Second, the model, Oksana Koval, is absolutely gorgeous and incredibly talented. She needed very little direction from me and there was no worrying about getting her "good" side--both sides were equally good! She was also very quick to get into character and to anticipate my instructions before I even thought of them.
So we start shooting, and the clothes are just beautiful. Flowing lines, bright colors, all kinds of gorgeous detail. I had a lot of fun just doing the part of the shoot in the studio and found myself really inspired as to how to use lighting and composition to make the different outfits look different, even in the same exact space. But it was at the very end, when we went down the street to a local horse ranch do some final shots outdoors, that I really got into the zone. There are some shots that, when you take them, you just know they are going to be incredible, and the scene above with the cat on the post was one of those. It looks like something out of movie to me--Oksana looks dramatic, vulnerable, and glamourous, yet also kind of countryfied at the same time. I think it really makes a statement about the interesting juxtaposition that exists in Swati's designs between the ethnic peasant look often associated with this genre of fashion, and the glamour, beauty, and accesibility that her clothes exude.
By the end of the shoot I was having so much fun, Swati actually ended up kicking ME out! I wanted to stay and shoot more details--she had to go to a family dinner. I was so excited to see what we got, I stayed up late Friday night editing the shots--even with an early morning wedding the next day (don't worry, I still got 6 hours sleep and did a great job--I will probably post about this one next week).
This whole situation is a perfect example of worth of mouth marketing at its best. As a result of this shoot, Swati plans to hire me for her own family events, and reccomend me to just about everyone she knows, including her brides. I will also be getting photo credits in a number of articles coming out about her. She has ceased to be just a client, now she is a Customer Evangelist. I, in turn, am so happy with these shots that I will show them to everyone I know, and of course when they ask about the clothes, I will be evangelizing for Swati as well. Any photographer friends who need a model will be told about Oksana. I would never have gotten this job by bidding on it, competing with thousands of more experienced fashion photographers in the area--but now that I have these pictures, I could easily get more jobs like this if I wanted to at normal day rates. Plus, I have a new friend in the wedding business--something I can always use. And it cost all of us nothing but time (well, Oksana may have gotten paid...)
; )
Update--to see the full proofs from this shoot, click here.
And now for something completely different: Swati Couture
Published on Party Spot
What a week--now I've been published! Party Spot is a new internet magazine dedicatd to Sweet Sixteen's, Quincenearas, Bar/Bat Mitzvah's, and other significant teenage events. A division of the knot, Party Spot offers advice and resources for planning these events, as well as feature articles about real events. I shot Amanda Aguilera's fabulous Quinceaneara last October, and when I was contacted by the site a few months ago about submitting work I knew that it would be perfect for their article.
The article is called "Real Quinces: Amanda in San Ramon, CA": similar to the "Real Weddings" articles in the knot magazine, in addition to my photos it features an interview with Amanda, descriptions of the decorations, the theme, and other details of the party. In the interview Amanda talks about how she made her day happen and gives planning advice to other girls and their families. Amanda and her family were totally psyched to have their words and faces in print, and of course I am honored to have my work noticed by the world's most well known wedding and event planning resource.
The best thing about working with Amanda and her family was how down to earth they are--despite being incredibly beautiful, and the focus of attention for this huge event, Amanda was far from the spoiled, frivolous stereotype of the sweet sixteen. She conducted herself with the grace and humor of a woman twice her age, and her family and friends were a pleasure to work with. This article is just the icing on the cake.
I can say I'm a bit surprised at the choice of photos Party Spot used. Out of approximately thirty they had to choose from, they picked nine. Most of them were among my favorites, but a few of the more "edgy" or ""artsy" ones (like those above) were passed over, perhaps predictably so. These are, of course, the ones I found most interesting, and I'm a bit sad to see they didn't make the cut-- like most artists, it is hard for me to give up that level of control.
Overall however I am very pleased with the format, and will be submitting more work later this summer for the Real Weddings features in the print magazine, as well as entering images in a number of contests (esp. those run by the WPJA). So keep your eyes out for more of Cohn Frankel Photography in print, and stay tuned to this blog to hear all about it.
I'm in!
I am extremely proud to annouce I have been accepted into the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA)! WPJA members include some of the most incredible, talented photographers out there, people I've admired for years, and now I'm one of them!
Membership in the WPJA is pretty exclusive--unlike a lot of photography organizations, you cannot pay to get in. Your portfolio and website are actually reviewed and must be deemed good enough quality, and concurrent with the philosophy of the WPJA, to get in. From their website:
"The Wedding Photojournalist Association is a highly screened, critical organization. Less than 5% of wedding photographers out there qualify for membership. "
and
"[WPJA is] an International, membership-based organization, represent[ing] professional photographers skilled in the documentation of weddings and events in a candid, unobtrusive style. The WPJA was founded to uphold excellence in the area of wedding photojournalism."
Less than 5% of wedding photographers qualify for WPJA membership.
Read that again:
Less than FIVE PERCENT of wedding photographers qualify for membership.
As you can see, I'm just a tad bit excited.
For more on the WPJA, including membership requirements, benefits, and the great article entitled "What is Wedding Photojournalism?", see their site. They have a seperate section for brides and grooms to help them plan the photography portion of their wedding, and regional listings for all members. But of course you won't be needing those--you already know who's going to shoot your wedding, right? ; )
Baker Beach Engagement Sessions
In the last week, I've gotten a chance to do not one but TWO engagement shoots at Baker Beach in San Francisco. Baker Beach, for those who don't know, is that beach that you always see on postcards of the city--the one with the amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. I've worked there before, but haven't been back for a long time.
What these two very different shoots brought home to me is how different engaged couples can be. Amberly and Josh, who I worked with last Friday, were simultaneously outgoing and romantic. One minute they were hamming it up for the camera, the next they were lost in their own world. Josh was adorable and gentlemanly, and Amberly's face lit up whenever she looked at him. They needed very little direction, and were content to make up their own story about the locations we went to and the things they were doing. At one point, Josh remarked how the little forest area next to the beach felt like something out of a fairy tale, like sleepy hollow--which I guess would have made that hobo wandering around in the parking lot an enchanted elf. :)
Shauneen and Mike, whose shoot was the week before that, were a bit more reserved. They started the shoot off very camera-aware, as I think is common with many people who are used to the more traditional type of "look at me and smile" photography. We are conditioned to think of the camera as being a recorder of physical states, rather than emotional ones, and we've adopted all these mannerisms to make us "look better" in front of it, taking focus away from the natural beauty of the moment. Sometimes it takes awhile to break out of these patterns.
But that is what these sessions are all about. The extra time with Shauneen and Mike was well spent, because now they are comfortable with me. By the end of the shoot they were able to allow their private couple-ness to come through, and the comfortability and tenderness that they have with each other was great to watch and record. The best part is, now I will be able to walk around at their wedding virtually unnoticed, which is the way I like it.
These engagement sessions are so important, as they are a way to get to know your photographer and work out any of these little details that could get in the way on the wedding day. Most people have never been formally photographed before this, outside of maybe a 5 second school portrait. The engagement session gives them a chance to get used to the process and the presence of a photographer, getting rid of any anxiety they may have. It is a vital step in the process and something everyone should make room for in their budget.
Most of my packages include it for free, but for those that don't, I only charge $100 to add it on. I also do sessions for couples whose wedding I am not photographing at my regular portrait price of $275+. Email me to schedule yours today!
Update: you can see the proofs from the Engagement sessions on Pictage. Just go the the home page at www.pictage.com and type in the names of the couple you want to see in the "Find Your Event" window. Follow the instructions for logging on that follow. It's that simple!
Mehndi and Neeta Sharma
"Henna designing is a form of intricate painting that has been practiced for thousands of years. It is an ancient form of body art which has originated from the Middle East and India."
I know Neeta Sharma, owner of Mehndi Designer and author of the book Sangeet, from Mehreen Hussain and Asif Shah's fabulous wedding. Neeta is a Mehndi Artist--she uses Henna to create intricate designs on the hands and feet of her clients, many of whom are brides of Indian or Middle Eastern descent. Henna is "a dye procured from the tree Lawsonia inermis [which] stains the skin a mahogany color."
I met Neeta on Friday night, at the first of three different parties I was covering for this wedding--she had set up a small area in the corner of the room and was applying mehndi (another term for the decorative application of henna) to anyone who wanted it--of course I took a short break from shooting to get some myself! Looking over her books and photos of past work, I soon saw my opportunity-- I noticed there weren't many good quality photos. I immediately offered to help polish up her portfolio and she said yes!
The first shoot we did together was for another bride (slideshow below). It was incredible watching the whole process take shape--over 2 hours of work went into one bride's hands and feet! Henna is a very interesting substance--it goes on brownish, and you are supposed to let it stay on until the crusty part falls off (occasionally dabbing it with lemon to improve the color). Once this happens, the pattern is left behind on the skin as a light orange color--but what is so interesting is that it actually gets darker for the first few days you have it on.
Facts about Henna:
**"In the Middle East, women use henna to decorate their hands and feet. Men also use it as a dye on their hair and beard. Women apply henna on their hands and feet approximately once every two weeks. It is usually after the night prayer that most women dye their hands and feet.
**The role of henna goes much beyond cosmetic and aesthetic value. Henna has a deeper meaning to the women of India. The night before a wedding is known as the 'Night of Henna (Mehendi) when the bride's hands and feet are decorated in elaborate floral and fertility designs. On the henna night, relatives and friends (married as well as unmarried) of the bride gather at the bride's house. While henna is being applied the bride is enlightened about the mysteries of married life.
**There are many stories about the longevity of henna on the bride's hand. It is said that if the henna lasts longer on the bride's hands it indicates that the bride is treated well at her in-laws' place, sparing her from the household chores, at least on the first few days of her married life. The bride's mother feels a sense of relief when the daughter visits her few days after the wedding and still able to see the henna design on her daughter's palm.
**Henna has medicinal value too. It is considered an anti-irritant, a deodorant and an antiseptic. It is used by Ayurvedic physicians for the treatment of heat rashes and skin allergies and to cool the body against the intense heat of summers. Because of its cooling property henna leaves and flowers are made into lotions and ointments to be used externally for boils, burns and skin inflammations, including sores from leprosy."
Neeta's work goes far beyond bridal decoration--people hire her for many occasions. The second shoot we did together was decorating a 6 months pregnant woman's belly, in preparation for a birth blessing/baby shower she was having that weekend. In addition to the regular henna, Neeta added some glitter and rhinestones to the design. The end result was incredible:
Here you can see the slideshow I made for her, detailing the process of mehendi application. Or see it bigger here.
All quotes in this post are from Neeta's site, mehndidesigner.com.
Alena and Sean's Album
This album is from an awesome wedding that I did in August of last year. I've been needing to make some new sample books for the studio, and Alena is so beautiful and her and Sean's wedding so emotional and fun, I thought it would be great for that! The album will be 13x13" and 60 pages. nice and big, and is a good example of the kind of layouts I do for all my books.
A few of my brides ask me if I can just give them coverage only, or coverage and negs...and I can, and I do. But I always feel a little sad when I edit their pictures, because I know what could have been. I'm thinking about the album when I shoot, which is one reason why I take so many detail shots--thinking about what shots would look good together, or shooting a series of the same moment to put next to each other. The difference between having a book like this, that tells a cohesive story, and just a bunch of (albeit great) shots on a disk, is massive. If you think in terms of movies, it's like the difference between the final edited film playing in the theater and the hours and hours of raw footage that it took to get there. You couldn't have the movie without the footage--but which one do you think will win the Oscar?
The great thing about this type of album (call it Magazine style, Collage, Flush Mount, Coffee Table Book, or whatever) is that the design is 100% customizable. Every design is one of a kind. I take the whole wedding into consideration when I design it, so that the colors, complexity, and juxtaposition match the wedding itself. Some weddings work better with a more straightforward layout, without a lot of effects, and some not--the beauty of these albums is that level of control. So when all is said and done, brides have a piece of artwork that represents everything that they love and remember about their wedding day.
Check out Sean and Alena's day below, or see it bigger here. You can make the pages go faster by clicking on them.
Clos Pegase Winery, St. Helena Catholic Church, and Auberge du Soleil, Napa CA
Back in the saddle again, my first wedding of the season! Pamela Tyler and Stephen Mitchell were wed on March 3 2006 at the St. Helena Catholic Church, in a small and beautiful ceremony presided over by a very funny Catholic priest!
The reception was at Auberge du Soleil, a gourmet restaurant and winery in the Napa Valley with a great view. It was dinner only and, as a result, I was not hired to shoot all of it, but I did get a chance to photograph some great toasts and yummy looking appetizers!
Pamela and Stephen also had me come to their rehearsal dinner at Clos Pegase the night before, where I photographed their engagement session on the grounds while the rest of their party took a tour of the winery and its multimillion dollar art collection. I stayed on to shoot the toasts and the first half hour of the meal as well, and got some great shots of the decor and guests.
Look for the slideshow on my website soon, and the full proofs on Pictage in 3-4 weeks. For now, here's a quickie collage of some of the greatest shots from both nights!
Update: the slideshow is here!
Update: the full proofs are ready now on Pictage, you can see them here.
