The bf/Stop

I know this is extremely last minute but anyone considering purchasing a BIG Folio site– today is the day.

We are offering an instant $100 rebate to anyone signing up between now and 11:59pm today, 1.31.07 (Pacific Standard Time).

Please visit [BIG Folio](http://bigfolio.com/templates.php) to get started.

When you get a moment please be sure to visit [Wedshooter](http://wedshooter.com) to read the recent article written by [David Beckstead](http://davidbeckstead.com), ‘Flare, Baby Flare’.

Next month, BIG Folio will be helping coordinate and host an informal photography get-together for members of the [Open Source Photo forum](http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/).

We’re going to spend the weekend (Feb 9-11) taking pictures, learning from one another, and just having a fun time. Some seriously rockin’ photographers will be on hand.

We setup a [wiki for the event](http://bigfolio.stikipad.com/ospw/)–check it out for more information.

If you’re not yet a member, definitely join [OSP](http://www.opensourcephoto.net/forum/). If you’re on the West Coast and have no plans that weekend, consider joining us as well.


This weeks highlighted photographer is Michael Corsentino.

###What is your primary camera body?

Canon 5D, Nikon D2X

###Two lenses you use the most:

85 1.2, 70-200 2.8

###Do you shoot RAW?

Always, I love the film like exposure flexibility, white balance control, Adobe Bridge presets, etc.

###How would you describe your photography style?

My style is a blend of photojournalism, editorial, and fashion.

###Do you employ second shooters or assistants?

Yes, I have a few talented assistants and 2nd shooters that work with me.

###What do you remember about your first (or one of your first) wedding shoot?

How quickly everything happens!

###What advice would you give to someone just beginning their career as a photographer?

Concentrate on your business, without it your creativity won’t be rewarded.

Create and implement a solid marketing plan; other people need to know you exist.

Approach this creatively and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Concentrate on your technique and strive for measured improvement!

Be a sponge, absorb as much as you can. Ask questions of everyone and anyone who’ll listen.

Go to as many seminars and workshops as you can. Find the business and creative leaders that inspire you and study with them.

Connect with your peers! Become part of the community (join DWF! if weddings are your market) and learn from those around you.

Surround yourself with talented and inspiring people.

Look at as much photography as you can. Verbalize what you like, dislike, and why.

Never stop learning and seeing things differently.

As many are aware, one of our servers experienced severe email delays yesterday. The primary issue was the email filter on one of our servers. The filter was checking for spam and viruses. Because spam has gotten so bad, messages simply piled up in the queue of the filter. We turned OFF the virus check on the filter and that helped alleviate the problem somewhat – the filter queue has started catching up overnight.

Spam is still a major problem, however, and we may turn the filter off altogether.

We apologize for the inconveniences this has caused. If you have reported the problem but have not received a response, please trust that we are continuing to work on the problem.

We are currently performing some maintenance on our *outgoing email* servers.


This weeks highlighted photographer is Jim Garner of Seattle, Washington. Jim owns and operates [J. Garner Photography](http://jgarnerphoto.com/).

###What is your primary camera body?

No primary camera body. For our weddings, we like the effect from several different including the Canon 1DS, Canon1DmarkII, the light weight full frame Canon 5D. For commercial work, we enjoy our Contax 645 with the phase One P25, 22MP digital back.

###Two lenses you use the most:

We love the low light lenses. 24 1.4, 50, 1.4, 85 1.2. These lenses enable us to take great images with the most beautiful light. The lenses that get the most clicks are 24-70 2.8 and the 70-200 2.8. We switch focal lengths many times during a shooting day to create diversity in the images. We don’t have to limit ourselves because we can easily carry 3-4 lenses in our custom designed lens bags (bodabags.com– launching spring 2007).

###Do you shoot RAW?

Our workflow does include RAWprocessing. RAW gives us the latitude to shoot off the cuff in Aperture Priority, or Manual mode. I find that if I can spend less time looking at the functions of my camera, I can be more focused on the events unfolding and at times interacting with my clients. We want our images to have perfect color and density and have invested in additional workstations and an employee to focus entirely on this 1st and most important step in quality control.

###How would you describe your photography style?

Our style is all about allowing our subjects to have a great time. Get away from the stress and tension that a wedding day can cause and allow the couple to truly enjoy the day for what it is– being together and enjoying every second of it. A few years ago we began to coordinate the photography portion of the day (typically the few hours leading up to the ceremony)and take our couple away from the wedding site, often with the whole bridal party ? this could be a to a local café, bar, the beach, the local downtown area, amusement park, whatever fits the couple. By going off site and taking them to a really great location really allows the personalities to come out and they all have a blast. This is not photojournalistic photography because the subjects are well aware of the photography taking place. By treating everyone to champagne or lattes, the energy just soars and great moments take place– it’s literally a dream to photograph and everyone involved, including us, is having a great time.

###Do you employ second shooters or assistants?

J. Garner Photography consists of four full time employees. Katarina, Jim, Ben and Claire. Katarina Garner runs the office. Jim likes to say that we all answer to her. (especially Jim since Katarina is his lovely wife and mother of our 2 young daughters) Claire runs the RAW processing and assists with both the office and occasional weddings. She also manages the Boda Bag line (bodabags.com). Ben is our digital artist, second shooter and up and coming photographer star! (view his BIG Folio site at [www.beckerphoto.net](http://beckerphoto.net/) Ben’s role greatly benefits our clients. Since eyes are easily drawn to the primary photographer at a wedding, the second shooter has an awesome opportunity to shoot candidly. Ben is our stealth sniper. Katarina also attends every wedding through the formals. She’s a master at coordinating groupings while making our clients feel special. We want this portion of the day to take 15-20 minutes. Her organization enables Ben and I to shoot candidly while all the groupings are brought together.

###What do you remember about your first (or one of your first) wedding shoot?

Our first wedding was such a blessing. A very sweet couple had the faith in our abilities & actually hired us. I was incredibly determined to deliver extraordinary photos to these wonderful people. Katarina and I prepared our minds, coordinated the day, and shot our hearts out. The bride & groom were thrilled with the result, especially since they only spent $500. I think we paid $600 in lab fees but it didn?t matter to us. We were now wedding photographers. The best part is, that very first wedding lead to 20 other weddings over the next two years. Our second year we shot over 50 weddings– all linked one way or another to that first couple.

###What advice would you give to someone just beginning their career as a photographer?

If you are just starting out as a photographer, find out if it’s in your soul. If it is, then give it your all and open your heart to your subject. Connect with other photographers & artists & find your community. You will make best of friends and you’ll learn more than you could ever imagine. Keep getting educated, attend awesome workshops, and, continue reinventing yourself. Update your website often using BIG Folio’s brilliant administrative backend. It’s very important to do something unique so your clients have an experience worth telling their friends about. Most importantly, enjoy your work, make it fun. Be driven by the art, not the money. The money will come as a result.

Things are hopping here at the [ImagingUSA conference in San Antonio](http://imagingusa.org). We’re running some show specials through Wednesday.

Use the promotion code **HOLDEM** (we are in Texas after all) when [signing up](http://bigfolio.com/templates.php). You’ll receive $250 off a premium site or $80 off a standard site.

Yee haw!