Girls: Planning Your Wedding (Lighting is Everything) Calgary wedding, Canada

Wedding Planning Tip: "Think about the lighting if you want good night images"
We had the honor of second shooting a wedding in Calgary during our Alberta Expedition.
I was amazed at the beauty the bride and groom put into their reception area; so much in fact, I wanted you to witness the important role light plays in photography.

If you have a night wedding/reception, you NEED light!
Night weddings are popular. It's a cooler time of day, the sun is setting, giving off that magic hour light we love to photograph, and there's also something romantic about having a wedding party at night. As awesome as a night wedding may seem, you still need to plan on having light for your photographer and videographer. Today's camera's may help good photographers create their images, but without light, the magic isn't going to happen.

Ask the Professionals; they'd love to help!
With everything else you're deciding on to make your day special, forgetting the lighting can make the difference between good pictures and amazing pictures. Talk to you videographer, photographer and reception venue, and find out your options and what your team recommends.

You have professionals at your disposal, so make sure you use them to ensure the best possible solution that will fit your budget. We're here to help, and we can't wait to meet you!

much love,
-TJ

We Can Shoot Your Pets (we promise no animals will be harmed) (Greenville, SC Pet Photography)

We know you love your pets. They're practically human; just another family member vying for your attention.
Big or small, loud or quiet, let us capture the personality you fall in love with everyday.
And with sessions just starting at $150, everyone can get in on the action!

We can't wait to meet you (and Fi-Fi)

much love,
-TJ

Brides! Make sure you're day is about you! (Worldwide, Milky way Galaxy)

In all our years shooting weddings, one thing that stands out to us is how sometimes friends and family don't support the bride and groom on their special day. I'm not saying that they're rude per se, just not overly helpful and at times just seem non-committal to the whole process.

I want to encourage brides to choose people in your bridal party that won't just be another person taking up space, but rather someone who will make your day about you; who will offer to get you coffee while you're getting ready, and think of what your needs and wants may be that day. Your wedding day is something you've prepared a long time for, shouldn't the people you choose as bridesmaids and groomsman be all about serving you on your day? It's just one day, so let's make it the best day of your life!

much love,
-TJ

Family Sneak Peek! (How Photographic Planners are Different)

Do you need a photographic planner or just a photographer?
Today's photo making is about as easy as you can get. Go to any store, pay $50 and you can take a well exposed image. BIG DEAL right? The difference separating professional from enthusiast (and I see most people with any type of digital camera as an enthusiast) is the amount of vision one has for the photographic image.

People can buy a camera, but you need to be born with vision.
If I'm playing basketball and I shoot enough baskets, sooner or later I'm bound to get one in, maybe even two, however this doesn't make me star material or worthy of calling myself a professional. The same can be said for the casual user in photography. If you shoot enough pictures, sooner or later you're going to shoot something kinda cool, but does that really mean you should take up the mantel of photographing those important life events rather than choosing a professional who can capture those moments in amazing ways. I'm not discouraging people from taking photos, on the contrary, I encourage anyone interested to buy a camera and shoot to their hearts content; striving to better their photography skills, and pushing themselves to see how far they can go. I'm a fan of bringing the joy of photography to anyone who wants it. However, I'm also encouraging all of us living in the digital age, to see the difference between a true professional and "someone who just likes to take pictures".

Decide what you want and go after it!
When Bethany came to us for her family portrait it posed some unique challenges. She wanted a shoot with her and her husband with all the nieces and nephews. This totaled about 13. As some of you may have experienced when shooting groups, its not the easiest thing to take any size over three people and create a stunningly sexy shot. On top of the sheer number being photographed, she also mentioned most of them were of the ages 12 and under. This is similar to trying to corral a herd a of baby calves while wolves are chasing them on either side; it's going to be an uphill battle. The first step is always to be honest with the client in setting expectations for the shoot. Do they really want your style and are they willing to do what it takes to make it happen? Once those questions are answered, our creative vision kicks in and the roll of the photographic planner is born.

The GetzCreative difference
We at GetzCreative specialize in creative thought. The question isn't whether we CAN do it, it's do you REALLY want it? We strive to go beyond the normal, offering creative solutions that are the cure for the common image. We work outside the box as we work inside your goals for your custom shoot. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. We have a passion for the art of the photo. It's not about capturing your family, it's about capturing your family in an artful way. We want to capture a moment that is sublime, beautiful, cosmic, or just plain fun. We also want to give our photos a cinematic edge, enhanced by fashion and influenced by the music within our souls.

If you're looking for that something different, please contact us today. We'd love to be part of your photographic adventure.

We can't wait to meet you!
Phone: 864-354-2548
Email: shootme@getzcreative.com

much love,
-TJ

Update on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 10:43AM by TJ GETZ

Photography Workshop coming in July (Greenville, SC)

What makes it "magic" is knowing how to shoot in any condition
I used to believe that other photographers got "all the awesome clients, locations, and jobs", but three years ago, one of my favorite mentors opened me up to a new way of thinking and "seeing". In some cases I was already utilizing some of these techniques, and in other ways my mind simply exploded in creative wonder. Rarely have I found shots are prepped and ready to shoot as I'd like them to be, but rather they begin with an ordinary day, in and ordinary scene, within an ordinary life. However, there is way to make the ordinary extraordinary and to open yourself to a new world of wonder and possibilities!

She was shot inside a tornado in the shade....on an ordinary day
I shot the image below while in the Outer Banks, atop a third story balcony of the house we were staying in. The sun was perfect...on the opposite side we were shooting, and the wind was a mini-tsunami waiting to happen. Taking nothing but a speed-light & a 5-1 scrim, we battled the wind and 25 minutes later produced the images below. The scene was shot with a Nikon D700 around 7:40pm, 1 hour before sunset. The beauty of the image belies the ordinary setting and the windy conditions we had to deal with. Many times I have to shoot in stormy, windy, noon-day conditions, inside bland hotel rooms and boring churches. There are opportunities of wonder to be made in each of these settings, it's just knowing how to do it and how to "see" that makes the difference. If you want to develop your creative vision, and enhance your photographic eye, come and be part of one of our workshops. You're gonna love it!

Email or Call to sign up today! (Space is limited)
Email: shootme@getzcreative.com
Phone: 864-354-2548