Uncategorized | Patrick Rogers Photography

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 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

Jan 18
Top Ten Reasons Why I Love Being A Photographer

Starting a family/wedding photo business has been a little daunting. Thinking about all the little details I only really understood superficially, like taxes, and how to promote yourself, and how to find prospective clients, then truly realizing how much I had to learn, has been a little overwhelming.
This morning, I found some time to be away from the computer and the need to keep learning, to keep plugging, and it gave me a little time to really remember why I started this business. So, here are the top ten reasons why I love to be a photographer, in no particular order.

1. Because I am what I see. Finding love, finding beauty, finding the quiet compassion in an interaction between people helps me feel connected to them, and further, connected to the beauty of the world. And, yes, I know it sounds silly, but when I find the beauty in the moment, I find the beauty in myself.

2. Because I have worked for years photographing rare books and other holdings in museums and universities, and photographing people is so much more satisfying.

3. It gives me the creative opportunity, sometimes to fail miserably, sometimes to exclaim out loud “SWEET!!” when I KNOW I captured the photo exactly as I envisioned it.

4. Playing with light to craft the image I was looking for is so fulfilling!

5. Every photo shoot provides an opportunity to lose my identity and immerse
myself in the beauty of what is unfolding in front of my lens.

6. It gives me the chance to tell a family’s or a couple’s story, a unique journey started by love.

7. It is a craft. Being a craftsman in a culture of mass production feels like my artistic endeavors matter for something.

8. I believe that everyone is beautiful. The satisfaction of working through someone’s shyness or stiffness to find that beauty is immeasurable.

9. I love seeing the multitude of forms and shapes that people naturally make—mostly without knowing it—in a moment so quick that it is hard to truly grasp without a camera.

10. Every photo session is different. Whether folks are quiet, silly, energetic, stoic, etc., to discover that personality, finding out who they are in their hearts then trying to show that in my photos is just wonderful.

Aug 17
Drexel is here!!

I had the good fortune to photograph Kim and JT in early June when Kim was still pregnant. A few weeks later, I got an excited email from Kim announcing the arrival of baby Drexel!!

Of course, I wanted to go meet him as soon as I could! Kim was eager to have me meet and photograph him right away, so I did! He is a beautiful child, and he seemed amazingly alert for that age. He kept looking at me, trying to figure out what I was doing exactly. I know children this old are not yet able to focus so well, but it really seemed like he could.

Kim will be my first client that I will be able to follow from expecting mother to seeing Drexel on his first birthday, and I am SO EXCITED for the opportunity!

Here are a few from our latest session

Jul 12
Making a book

After a fun shoot with Amanda and her little ones Annabelle and Claire, Amanda asked about making an album/book for her husband to display on his desk at work. We chatted for a bit about what she wanted it to look like, and Amanda said she was hoping for it to feel fun and bright, to match her daughters’ personalities. So, we decided on some colorful background paper with a layer of white “eyelet” paper to really set the images off the page. Then it was finished with the fun polka dot covers and a silver wire binding that the album could stand up like a mini-calendar displaying the double-sided pages so her husband could choose his favorite photo to look at for the day, and he could show off his girls to anyone that comes into his office.

I love having the chance to work with printed photos to display; and not just have them hiding in a folder on a computer! Thanks Amanda for the great idea!