Okay, let's get one thing straight. You didn't save $400 with the lesser of two videographers -going with the one that only charged $1500, you threw away $1500 dollars by choosing the bad videographer! Not only that, you damaged the fun of your wedding day because your guests suffered with that bozo and his harsh spotlight making you squint through your wedding photographs. Everyone is squinting that night. Will the guests walk away with an "opinion" about how your wedding went? You bet.

It's bad enough that so many of your wedding day images now have harsh shadows behind your head, like some cheap 1970 avant guard photography, but that harsh light went right through your makeup. You no longer "glow" and those skin imperfections are plain to see by your guests...husband...wedding pictures...it's forever...

I like to shoot without the light...or bounce a touch of light (say 1/8th power) off the ceiling...but now...I've got to make a decision whether or not to even the light between bride and groom -by throwing light into the scene in an effort to soften the shadow - even the light on his face (very bright) and her face (she's in the dark)...

Just because these guys spend $1500 for a camera (you might think that's a lot, but it's amateur money) doesn't mean they've got any brains or professionalism. Does the videographer in the photo (courtesy Scott V.) care that there is another pro trying to get his shots...a photographer using a long lens zoomed in from 3 feet behind him -trying to get shots of what is supposed to be a fun occasion -without his camera waving in their faces? He's got a long-lens, there is no need to be waving a camera right over the cake -putting that thing right in the face of the groom. He can step back and zoom in... No, he not only doesn't care, he doesn't know his camera has a zoom. He can get the same shot 6 feet further back...plus the light wouldn't be so harsh. No, this day seems to be about him. He's the "pro" getting the bride and groom and all eyes are watching him. He's excited. It's his day. I think he likes the thought that he will be in their wedding pictures. How sad.

But, you saved $400, right?

Loved this article on wedding acronyms. It mostly relates to newer photographers. (Or at least, the more seasoned photographers will be nodding their heads!)

Wedding Acronyms

The Interpretation of Color is the subject of a gallery exhibition in the Mississippi Delta. This is my image chosen by the judges for inclusion in the Gallery.

Photographers Shoot-Around -from Jim Rode -Dallas wedding photographer

A while back Julie Alzaitoun, Komal Powell, Komal's friend Lulu and I met and spent a hour playing around with our cameras. These shots are all Komals. She sent me a disk to play with, and I took a spin on the raw images with a few artistic touches of her wonderful images. I loved the bicycle in the sky! She got some great shots of Julie and I standing together...me cracking jokes and trying to keep a straight face. Komal got a great self-portrait reflected in Lulu's sunglasses, and real killer portrait shot of Julie. And then the ladies discovered a mirror...Here is a shot of the girls cracking up in front...and Komal's self-portrait in the mirror. I reversed the image so that the numbers in the image didn't read backwards. Of course, thank you for the great shot of me in the act of shooting.

Once again, all images copyright Komal Powell, with special thanks to Lulu and Julie Alzaitoun too.


For more images, go to www.JimRode.com.

We all know someone serving out nation.
Try to watch this video without tears...Soldiers Homecoming Surprise

Mississippi Delta invite: Jim Rode Photographer

"Photographers across the world are invited to explore what the term "color" means to each of them. A collection of these images are gathered, and the result is a show illustrating how vast our interpretations can be, even when we're studying the same thing."

I am proud that a photograph of mine was selected for inclusion in a Gallery exposition taking place in the Mississippi delta. As an interpretation of color, my photograph (not the one shown) is being presented as a 20x30 gallery wrap.

I decided it was not proper to include the actual image in this post before the Gallery's exposition opening so I have posted a different image from my trip to Lubbock. My trip that week was to spend a day with the fabulous Julia Woods, but naturally, if wonderful photographic opportunities present themselves...I will always turn my camera on!

Las Colinas engagement with Jim Rode Dallas photographer

I remember waking at dawn in Italy. I went down to walk the cobblestone square with my camera. It was beautiful. I raised my camera to take of picture of the church and its bell tower. Below, an older woman was briskly sweeping the dust. I stopped for a brief moment, then realized that she was as much a part of the picture as the tower, the sky, the church doors...

Here are a few more pictures of Eric and Crystal walking the canal. Two leaf cleaners were polling the water, swiftly moving their poles up and down -plop-splash...plop-splash. Eric kisses Crystal while the workers attend their work. Really cool.

HDR Southlake with Jim Rode photographer

A few days ago Eric, Crystal and I went on safari to capture some great engagement photographs. Our early morning hunt started early at Starbucks. We drove north and stopped for pictures at three different places. Eric is a cool guy and Crystal is a beautiful woman. You can tell Eric really loves her! (And Crystal loves him...)

We paid great attention to getting some cool shots that can turn into large portraits. We went artistic, romantic, and fun. One image will be displayed at their wedding, then be taken home their den. Here are a few shots as a sneak peak while the images are being enhanced, processed and posted. Fun time!

(HDR treatments can be created layering bracketed exposures together. I recommend blemish retouching first to keep skin tones beautiful.)

We take smart phones for granted. Can you believe that only 3 years ago this June that the iPhone impacted our lives?

I think they should describe it as a mini-computer with built in phone...those with understand better. Google's Android, and the respectable Blackberry are plenty smart options also. I'm just a huge fan of iPhone.

Look how business management today treats higher end managers who don't have a smart phone. They are now on the long list for promotions not the short list. There is a perception that if you can't email or check email, open a pdf file, or even simply text from anywhere you stand then you are either very old (see grandmother) or incompetent (see Governor Blogojevich). (Who can forget the tragically inept image Blogojevich made on The Celebrity Apprentice when he needed to contact his team...and didn't know how to email or text from his phone!?)

If your boss uses a smart phone and you've still dialin...on the flip-open phone you got free-you are behind the times and you could be in trouble. Yes, you say your old faithful phone is capable of texting...but you don't...because it's the cheap phone...and that screen and those buttons are SOOOO tiny! And if you are in your 50's or 60's...hang it up 'cause you're looking like you're in your 70's or 80's! Especially if you have to telephone the boss...not answer his/her text...or he/she knows you don't text...only email...and he/she has to wait until you get back to the office...or home... You know what I mean..."out of touch" used to mean...missing for a day or so...now it means "no answer to my email or text for the past hour..." Will they send you for that business meeting in Austin? They might be considering someone else...they can get in touch with...

If you are into smart phones...you understand...if you are not...it's not too late to start! The learning curve isn't that bad! If you and your "bestest" friend both have iPhone 4s...you can now click FaceTalk and have face - to -face live phone calls... See my eyes, see my lips move...it's me! I'm not kidding. You call and phone camera makes you visible. Talk to your husband in the middle east...and look into the eyes that love you. Do you have a deaf child...sign "I love you" from work, ask how school is going... Heck, they didn't think of that when they first did Star Trek...or Star Wars...

We have come so far in 3 years...only 3 years!

Do you want to see a video on the FaceTalk feature? Go to http://www.apple.com/iphone/ and click on facetalk.

Happy third birthday iPhone!

Le Beaux Chateau wedding by Jim Rode Photographer

Here is a preview of some of the shots and portraits from Edith and Rudy's wedding at Chapelle des Fleurs. They are one of the most fantastic couples I have ever met. Fun and in love with each other -wow -that is why I love wedding photography! I'm still working the images, enhancing them one by one. (How can so many photographers simply shoot and be done? Shame...) I know they will love their wedding images forever just as I will never forget them and the fun we had together. I will blog again in only days as soon as I finished. Enjoy these now.

Chapelle is now called Le Beaux Chateau.

Photographers shootout in Colleyville Texas with Jim Rode Photographer

So what do you do on a Sunday when it hits 90 degrees and the sun is high? Go out and see if you can break the rules of course! The rule...don't be crazy and shoot in the bright, squinty, heat of the day. I was invited to break the rules with Komal Powell, Julie Alzaitoun and Lulu. We went out to Colleyville and played around for an hour or so just to see what we'd get. Lot's of fun. Here are a few of my shots. Here is a slideshow.

Flower Mound Wedding - Lawton Engagements by Jim Rode Dallas photographer

It was "move in" day for Edith and Rudy at their new house in Lawton Oklahoma. Graciously, they took time out to let me photograph their engagements. We went on safari around town to get great shots. The more time I spent with them, the more I became impressed with how wonderful they are! I was witness to a special love. The wedding is coming soon in Flower Mound Texas, and I can't wait to capture the day.