Top 10 Places for an Engagement Photo Session

Feb 08
Top 10 Places for an Engagement Photo Session

Top 10 Places for an Engagement Photo Session
(in the Boston area)

Finding a place that suits the personality of the couple, or is significant to them in some way (like where the proposal happened, where they had their first date, where they like to spend their weekends, etc) is my favorite place to photograph the engagement session.

But sometimes, it’s hard to find a perfect place. Maybe the betrothed couple hasn’t lived in the area that long, or maybe the place they met is not very photogenic, whatever the case, I am devoting my top 10 this week to places that I would love to photograph a couple.

1. Beacon Hill: The narrow streets, red brick everywhere, it just screams New England! I photographed a bride and groom in the area, and am eager to do more shooting there.

2. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum (http://www.decordova.org/): A sculpture park out among the trees would be a good location for both an artistic couple, and an outdoorsy couple.

3. Boston Public Garden (http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/emerald/public_garden.asp): The beautiful gardens, swan boats, and all kinds of beautiful flowers and trees would make some gorgeous photos.

4. Grist Mill in Sudbury, MA: For a traditional or historically minded New England couple, the Grist Mill, the Wayside Inn, and surrounding area looks timeless and the photos would capture the essence of New England.

5. The Arnold Arboretum (http://arboretum.harvard.edu/): A good place for an outdoorsy couple, it offers plenty space to walk around, and all kinds of different trees to shoot against.

6. The Frank Gehry building near MIT: A good location for an artistic couple, I think the shapes and textures would provide for a dynamic background.

7. Mystic River Reservation: Open fields, the river nearby, tall grass for a soft background. These things offer plenty of good photo opportunities. My wife and I did our engagement session there with Kate McKenna (http://www.crabapplephotography.com/), and I would really like to photograph a couple there, too.


8. Along the Rose Kennedy Greenway: With views of Boston, and plenty of green space, it would look great as a background, either at night or on a nice summer afternoon.

9. Your Neighborhood: With so many squares in Boston, each offering their own character, you have likely found your favorite restaurants, your favorite coffee shop, or a strip where you like to walk around. These are places that are part of your relationship. To spend an afternoon with you there would really provide us with some personal, genuine photos.

10. Fenway Park: Hello, sports fans! The character and variety of interesting locations offers all kinds of different types of shots. Shooting in the day or at night, this location would just be wonderful!


Feb 01
Top Ten Favorite Photographers

This week’s Top Ten List started because of an email I got from a teacher in Boston who was asking for advice for friend of hers who was getting into photography and was not satisfied with the classes they were taking, so she asked where I find inspiration.

In my college years in Olympia, WA, my classes would end in the early afternoon. I worked most nights in the deli on campus, so I killed time by disappearing into the tall stacks of books in the library, pulling out the published work of photographers, poring over all the images, fantasizing about where I wanted my studies to take me.

Below is a collection of photographers who inspire me, most of which I found during those expeditions on the bookish dark.

I could talk a long time about each of these folks, but will try to keep it short. These are in no particular order.

1. Eugene Atget (1857-1927) Architectural Photographer– I love Atget because of the tools he used, how he used them, and his overall approach to photography. He shot with an 8×10 view camera, using very long exposures, and captured the majority of his photos in the early morning hours in the streets of Paris. I have fantasized about being him at times. I imagine the work he did was extremely meditative. I have worked with a large format camera only a few times, and each exposure took several minutes to shoot. Quiet streets, working hard at getting the exposure exactly right, composing the photo perfectly, I imagine all these things came together to make for a fantastic creative experience for Atget, as I know they have made for a wonderful viewing experience for me!

2. Pierre and Gilles- Their work is a collaboration between a painter and photographer, and is incredibly stylized and iconic. The attention to the image, the use of color and emotion, and that they collaborate so well is amazing. What really appeals to me about it is that it looks like candy to me! I try to edit the occasional photo in the shoots I do to be vibrant and saturated… I wonder if I got the desire to do that because of my love of their artistry…

3. Christian Oth Wedding Photographer- Mr. Oth is based in New York City, and not only are his photos amazing, but his blog posts are inspirational. Many of his blog posts display his great work, but he occasionally interjects his philosophy and wisdom, encouraging readers like me (though I sometimes think of myself as a student of his) to “…put down the camera and just start seeing.” Or, reminding me that “it’s important to look for different view points that reflect your unique take on something familiar.” I really admire his style and his words, and hope to become as wise of a photographer as he is.

4. Sebastiao Salgado (born 1944) Documentary Photogrpaher- The way he treats his subjects, especially his photos of iron workers, is what impresses me most. The reverence of the images he took of iron workers made me feel like he was shooting monks in an old stone church. Like Atget, it felt his work was meditative, and he understood his subjects thoroughly. He captured images that were timeless, images that could be taken today or 200 years ago. The work I love most of his focuses on the proletarian struggle, showing both the industry and the humanity in our industrial world. He shows the genesis of the everyday items I use, trying to remind me that there are people behind the production of these things. He shoots in black and white, and the tone, the contrast, and the emotion of those images pull it out of time and make them eternal. I feel connected and emotional when I look at his photos. Evoking those feelings in viewers is a gift that I am so happy he has shared with the world.

5. Melvin Sokolsky (born 1938) Fashion Photographer- His extensive career, his artistic vision, and his variety is what draws me to him. The first collection of his that I came across was of a series he did in 1963 for Harper’s Bazaar where the models were in giant glass bubbles suspended off the ground (see photo). It felt risky and fresh, and made me see that there is ALWAYS another way to look at things, another way to think about what could just be a standard photo shoot. Later, I learned that he found inspiration for these images from Hieronymus Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights. I try to find inspiration from painters too (specifically Caravaggio), so in some small way I felt connected to Sokolsky. In addition to all the work he has done, the fact that he continues to be inspired, continues to try new things with his photography helps me see that this craft I have chosen to hone is one that I can evolve with. Check out his work (link below), it’s fantastic!

6. Julius Shulman (1910-2009) Architectural Photographer- I have often thought it best to help the work of masters spur me on to becoming masterful. I had an architectural shoot for Powderhouse Productions a few weeks ago (those photos are here). So, to help inspire me, I watched a documentary called Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman, as well as one on Frank Lloyd Wright. He was a precise, playful, and prolific photographer. Not only are his photos amazing, but it is his personality, his life’s path and his longevity that really moves me. After seven years of college, he left without graduating, knowing that something else drove him. He pursued his love, and it supported him, and this gives me confidence that I too will be supported by my love of photography. In the documentary, he couldn’t stop smiling, seemingly giddy at what he gets to do every day. I know that feeling!
7. O Winston Link (1914-2001)- Trains! There is something about trains that I LOVE, and it is obvious that Link shares that love of trains. His gorgeous photos of these machines of industry captures the emotion and the awe I have of them.

8. Clarence Sinclair Bull (1896-1979) Portrait Photographer- Bull, along with a generation of photographers, found a bevy of subjects during the Golden Age of Hollywood (the 1930s and 1940s). My favorite photos matched the film noir look from that time, using several lights, not only to highlight their subject, but to light the background, crafting an environment for their subjects. These were true portraits–not just pictures–capturing the persona of these iconic Hollywood stars, and I constantly look to them for inspiration!

9. Henri Cartier Bresson (1908-2004) Documentary Photographer- Bresson captures the moment, not just of someone moving through space, but truly being with that space. All of the components (human and otherwise) in his photos are integral for each other’s survival and meaning in that moment. His keen awareness of his surroundings and his complete presence in the moment, (the Decisive Moment, as he called it) come together in each of his photos.

10. Sandy Skoglund (born 1946)- Like Pierre et Gilles, each of her photos are a result of long hours of labor, crafting the image to be exactly what she is looking for. What I like most about her photos is that there is a great expanse to them. Not only are they well taken photos, but when I peer into the frame, I feel a sense of vastness of the creative energy, an overwhelming sense of love and care that went into this image. Each of these images took an incredible amount of patience and love to create. I know how it feels to be in love with the creative process. Her work reminds me of that.

If you would like to learn more about these photographers or see their work, consult your local library, do a google image search for their name, or look below for some links I have provided:
Eugene Atget
Melvin Sokolsky
Sebastiao Salgado
O. Winston Link
Christian Oth

Feb 01
Powderhouse Productions Photo Shoot

Powderhouse Productions is a video production company based in Davis Square that works on all kinds of shows like Making Stuff, Build it Bigger, and Dogs 101. They have won multiple awards for excellence, like the Telly (in the first photo), The Directors Guild Award for Best Reality TV series, and their work has been the official selection in the Independent Film Festival of Boston, the Asheville Film Festival, the Atlanta Underground Film Festival, among a variety of others.

I was asked to photograph their newly renovated offices a few weeks ago. They have so much to offer their clients, both in pre- and post-production. When I got to their creative editing suites (the third photo), I didn’t want to leave! I mean, seriously, being surrounded by SEVEN monitors attached to a powerful computer outfitted with awesome editing software, it was my version of nirvana!

The rest of the photos I took for them have been posted here. Take a look!



Jan 25
Top Ten Questions to Ask a Prospective Wedding Photographer

Whenever I meet with clients, I try to be as prepared as I can for their questions. Below, I have collected ten questions that I have either been asked in some form or another, or think are worthy questions to ask someone who is to be responsible for documenting such an important day.

Here are the questions I found, and my answers to them, in no particular order.

1. How Would You Describe Your Photographic Style and the Essence of Your Pictures?
A photographer may prefer posed and formal to relaxed and photojournalistic or they may be creative, artistic and more candid in nature. Whether you are looking for traditional photos or something out-of-the box, your photographer’s style has to match your personality, your style. I prefer to shoot in a photojournalistic, candid style when capturing the events of the day, though I am aware of the rare opportunity to photograph people who are rarely in the same room, so I take that chance to do a small collection of those posed/formal photos that so many people like to have.

2. Do You Shoot in Black-and-White, Color or a Mixture?
I shoot digitally (specifically RAW), which offers the advantage of easily converting a picture from color to black and white, saturating the colors, or casting a tone on the photo, whatever the spirit of the image calls for. Also, by shooting digitally, I can create many versions of the same photo for you to choose what you like best.

3. Do You Correct Your Photos?
Most wedding photographers, particularly those who shoot digitally, can fix their photographs, removing imperfections such as wrinkles, blemishes or even double chins. Find out if your photographer has that capability and if they charge extra for the service. I will color correct each and every photo and will clean up errant leaves or the occasional stray hair, but will charge an extra fee for extensive touch-up work.

4. Do You Personally Photograph Every Wedding You Book?
If your prospective photographer’s answer is no, insist on seeing the actual photographer’s work so there are no surprises. I photograph all the weddings I book, and If I hire a second shooter, I will always give you sample images and provide contact information.

5. Do You Work Alone or with an Assistant?
For me, it depends on what you are looking for. At a minimum, I prefer to have one person photographing close-ups of the ceremony while another photographs the overall scene. Most times, having a second shooter is necessary if you are looking for a full day of coverage, including photos of the bridal party getting ready.

6. Have You Worked At My Ceremony/Reception Site Before?
If the answer is no, the best photographer will happily participate in a site visit with you to learn about the rules and to scout out the best locations to take your photos. I will travel to the site alone or, preferably, with you to see the grounds through your eyes, to learn the intricate details that led to your decision to marry/celebrate there.

7. How Do You Choose What to Shoot? Can I Give You a Shot List?
Only you know just how important each guest is in making your wedding day what it is. Providing a list of specific shots ensures that the pictures you want are taken. Whether it’s the standard bride, her mother and grandmother picture or a posed portrait of the entire family or something more off-beat like the groomsmen lifting the bride, I will work with you to develop a plan for the day that matches your unique personalities.

8. How Much Direction Do You Give? Will You Pose My Wedding Day?
Some photographers take a strict photojournalistic approach to a wedding, dryly documenting the day’s events, while others spend most of their time prompting you to dance, kiss, pose or wave. Still others, like myself, give only minimum direction during the formal shots, stopping only to arrange people for the maximum effect. I pride myself on catching genuine reactions and behaviors of you and your guests, to best preserve the moments of the day.

9. Do You Allow Guests to Take Pictures While You Are Shooting?
In every wedding, there is always a small percentage of people standing behind a photographer, taking photos. Unless the bride and groom prefer that they do not, most photographers won’t prohibit others from taking photos. I only request that anyone I am photographing only pays attention to me until I am finished to avoid members of the group looking in different directions at other people’s cameras.

10. Do You Have a Complete Wedding Album/Gallery I Can View?
Anyone with a decent amount of skill can take a few great shots of a ceremony or reception, so be sure to ask for sample work that represents what you would get for a whole day of photography. I showcase my “greatest hits” at www.iamwhatisee.com and I have complete wedding galleries at http://clients.iamwhatisee.com/Weddings to give you a sense of what I would provide for a whole day of photography.

Jan 21
A chance at redemption

A couple months ago, I was approached to shoot head shots for a small company of about 30 folks. I eagerly accepted the offer and off I went.

I had in mind exactly how I wanted these photos to look, and just in case, I found a few volunteers to sit for me in a practice shoot so I could get the setup just right.

On the day of the shoot, I went to their office, photographed everyone individually, as well as in a group, and headed home to edit the photos.

I was so excited to get the photos back to the client, that I finished editing them all within two days. Then, I posted the photos up on my client gallery site, anticipating a “wow, these are awesome!” email because I was so happy with the photos. That never came. Instead, I got a somewhat disappointed email asking if I could do anything through Photoshop to change the lighting for the images. That was a let down.

Luckily, they decided to ask me back to do a re-shoot, and I jumped at the chance for redemption.

A sample shot from each session is below.

Thinking back on our initial conversation, I realized where the problem was. I did not do as good of a job at finding out exactly what the client wanted. In most of my consultations, I feel like I do a really good job at understanding their needs, but in this case, I just wasn’t as specific as I should have been.

Now, I have revised the way I discuss options with new clients. Instead of trying to remember everything to discuss, I have compiled a checklist of topics to cover with new clients, so I am sure to completely understand their expectations. My desire is to make the work I do as much of a collaboration as possible between me and the client.

It was a humbling experience, but one I am very thankful for. Thankful for being reminded of best practices, but also thankful to have worked with such a wonderful client.


First Session


Second Session


All Photos ©2013 Patrick Rogers Photography