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I Failed...

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There were about 20 imagesfrom this batch that were total and utter
failures!  I knew the spot had some 
great potential, but I wasn't sure how
everything would look once I got back
to the studio to edit everything.To make the photo,
I found this neat old fire escape, and began
experimenting with it.  I had to make shade
from the sun, and then bring in some lights.
I tossed an orange gel over the hair light,
and used one key light to the left of
the subject.  I just experimented with light
and shadows, and we had fun at the session.
Turns out that those 20 failed images were
totally worth it, because this one is great!  
I make it a point to fail at something during every photo session or wedding.  WHAT! ?  Yep.  I know I’m going to do it – I’m going to make an image that is terrible.  I am always trying new things – new ways to direct people, to pose people, new ways to play with light and exposure, to compose an image, new ways to put multiple images into a single composition… the list goes on and on.  This means that I am going to fail, and fail often.

Failing is a huge part of success, discovery, and growth as a photographer.  If I only stick to what I know makes an excellent photo, then I will never make something extraordinary.  I know that I want to make the best images, which are unique to and for the people I am working with - and that requires me to experiment all the time.  I have a core of key compositions and poses that I use (I call those the "safe" images) because I know they will work, which ensures that clients are going to be happy, just incase whatever I try thats new ends up being a flop.  I don't tell them that I may be creating a crap photo though... I just do it.  Honestly though, 70% of the time the images that are out of the normal realm of "safe" poses/lighting/composition setups are the ones that my clients love the most, and end up putting on their walls.





I thought I'd try something new at this wedding.  I saw this
beautiful field of ferns, and a natural tunnel created by
pine trees.  I had this vision of a sunset being in the photo...
only problem was that it was a cloudy day and the sun
was directly over our heads.  So I decided to experiment a bit,
and this is the image I came up with.
I knew that I wanted a composition with drama and tension,
so I framed it with the bride slightly off center facing
the short side of the frame instead of into the big area
of the frame.  Then I created a sun, and did a bit of
dodging and burning in PS5 to add depth.
I had tried this technique 2 times before, and it was a total epic
failure, but I was determined to make something amazing.
I love this image! 
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