HallmarkHIPsters.net

The Official Networking Site for Hallmark Institute of Photography Alumni & Students

Autumn Wedding at the Paxton



It's been awhile since I've posted anything here at the HIPter's online hangout. I'm almost done with all the weddings from 2008 - still have one more left to do post work on. Here are a couple of my favorites from the most recent wedding; I love taking the images into Photoshop and taking another step beyond what was possible when the shutter button was pushed. It's like you bake the cake with the right ingredients to create good form; but the fun part is the frosting! I'll be redesigning my PHOTO BLOG soon - so stop by sometime if you get a chance. Thanks!

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posted by kameron @ 11:22 PM, , links to this post

Another Wedding



Two-third's done with wedding season - only six more weddings to go. Here is the latest... and, as always, there's more at the BLOG.

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posted by kameron @ 4:36 PM, , links to this post

Soccer Senior Action




I had so much fun with this senior - however, I advise not telling your clients, "Don't worry about hitting me" when doing something I little bit dangerous, because I got hit hard (and broke a flash). I suggest, at least have some sort of sports shield blocker thingy. To leasons learned, right? Anyway, stop by the BLOG, if you want, for some more shots of her session.

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posted by kameron @ 2:15 PM, , links to this post

Omaha Wedding Photography - Joe and Jenny





I also tried out a new photobooth idea at the reception and it was a lot of fun! You never know what you're going to get! Click here to see the rest of the photobooth images and here for the blog.

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posted by kameron @ 1:39 PM, , links to this post

Kameron Bayne Images - Wedding Photography

It's been a while since I've posted here. I'm keeping busy with weddings (and all other kinds of work - does anybody know why every form of photography's busy season is in the summer?!). You can see more at the BLOG.

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posted by kameron @ 8:33 PM, , links to this post

Senior Portraits in Omaha


Trying to do something new with seniors this year... let me know what you think. You can see more at the blog.

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posted by kameron @ 1:34 PM, , links to this post

Tim Wildsmith


We went for a daguerreotype inspired treatment for a couple promotional posters. You can check out his music on myspace and see more pictures on the blog.

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posted by kameron @ 6:09 AM, , links to this post

Baby Shiloh



My wife and I photographed a beautiful baby girl who was adopted a week ago. You can see more pictures and the explanation behind the meaning of her name at the new blog: kameronbayneimages.com/news

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posted by kameron @ 1:30 PM, , links to this post

Nebraska Democratic Caucus

Nebraska Caucus - Obama Supporter’s Sign
Nebraska Caucus - Sea of Obama Supporters
Nebraska Caucus - Sea of Clinton Supporters
Nebraska Caucus Crowd
Nebraska Caucus - Clinton Supporter Switches Sides and Rips off Clinton Sticker in Exchange for Obama
Nebraska Caucus - Clinton Supporters React to the Obama Win

My wife and I voted yesterday! And my-oh-my was it an experience! Although it felt a little like a high school pep rally, overall it was a positive and exciting event. Out of approximately 1,500 people, 1,100 were for Barack Obama, 350 were for Hillary Clinton and 35 were undecided. When it was time to "realign," all but one (and several Clinton supporters) pledged for Obama. In the pictures above, you can see a former Clinton supporter peel off his sticker in exchange for an Obama one as he is welcomed with cheers and applause.

On a personal note, I like Obama because he talks about issues in a way that encourages dialogue and discussion as opposed to the traditional way of polarizing debate. Debate stops the conversation in the middle and eliminates the possibility for genuine understanding because the goal is to prove you're right and the other guy is wrong. Such positioning stops us from truly listening to one another and keeps us in a gridlock of distrust. Dialogue, on the other hand, can actually unify us despite passionate disagreements, and it allows the freedom for discovery, renewed perspective, learning, growth, and dare I say - hope. And hope is what the future needs most.

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posted by kameron @ 9:38 PM, , links to this post

Communicating Your Value as Professionals

How to Find a Photographer that's Right for You...

No two photographers are alike. That can be both good and bad, depending on the issue. But when you need one for a once-in-a-lifetime-event like a wedding or to document the benchmarks of life (newborns, senior portraits, etc.), it can be an overwhelming decision, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. Shopping for anything else is usually about finding the place with the cheapest price because the product itself is basically the same no matter where you go. But that's not the case with photography. There's a wide range of technical craftsmanship, experience, personality, price, organizational skill, and artistic vision that determine the value of a particular photographer.

So how do you decide? What do you look for when trying to find the photographer that's right for you? Here, I've compiled some information I hope is helpful in evaluating the marks of a true professional - one who knows how to help you look your best!

Clothing Choices
A good photographer will make clothing recommendations. The most important aspect of a portrait is the human face – more specifically the eyes (see Lighting). Clothes that have stripes or bold designs draw attention away from the face, and can even distort the body (horizontal stripes on a larger person will make them look wider, and vertical stripes on a thin person will make them look unnaturally thin).

The best clothing choices are usually longer sleeved pieces with dark or neutral toned colors. This deemphasizes the rest of the body and allows our interest to linger on the face and eyes of the subject.

Posing
Based on the kind of lens the photographer is using, the camera will always see a distorted reality in one way or another. A good photographer knows how to pose the subject to compensate for this natural distortion so he or she appears natural to the camera.

Beyond that, body language plays a significant role in how we interpret the emotion of an image. Although often subconscious, we can instantly sense how a person feels in a given moment and that invites us to share in those same feelings as the viewer of the image.

Lighting
Light is essential to seeing beauty. It’s what gives shape and reveals the form of a three-dimensional object when viewed on a flat piece of paper. The quality, intensity, and direction of light also dramatically effects the overall mood of the image.

"Painting with light" is literally what photography's all about - and this is where true artistry comes into play. The human eye can distinguish approximately 11 different gradations (or, to use a photography term, f-stops) of light. A digital camera shooting in RAW can record up to seven. But even the best photographic papers can only hold four. A professional photographer knows how to use light to put onto paper what our eye would see naturally.

For example, perhaps you’ve noticed pictures where people have deep dark shadows around the eyes (the “raccoon eyes” look). In person, we wouldn't see this effect, but the camera and paper together have a limited range of light sensitivity and pushed the shadows darker until they lose detail. A professional can adjust for this by filling in the shadows with an adequate amount of light without over powering the existing or ambient light to avoid unnatural, harsh or unflattering shadows. A photographer's portfolio will tell you whether or not he or she understands light or just lets the camera do the work - in which case begs the question, why pay for photography anyone with a camera could produce?

Basic Retouching
Even the most beautiful of folks still get pimples and could probably use a little more sleep the night before, so everyone benefits from basic retouching. Retouching removes blemishes, dark circles under the eyes, stray hairs, distracting elements in the background. It can also enhance the image by reducing unflattering shadows and softening the skin. The best retouching is always subtle; otherwise the image appears false and gives us a negative impression.

Creative Enhancements
With the advancements in digital photography, it’s now easier than ever to create something no one has ever seen before. This above all else is what distinguishes one photographer from another – the unique vision of the artist. Even if all professionals had the same level of technical knowledge and skill, their artistic vision would always remain something that could not be duplicated. Each photographer would still see the world differently. And that’s a beautiful thing!

I recommend finding a photographer who’s work connects with you or sparks something in you. As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn once said, "Some things draw us beyond words. Art can warm even a chilled and sunless soul to an exalted spiritual experience. Through art we occasionally receive - indistinctly, briefly - revelations the likes of which cannot be achieved by rational thought alone." Art can bring a complete stranger to tears, it can remind us of who we love most, it can give us a vision for a better life.


PS - If you find this is helpful, please link back to the original article here: http://kbistudio.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-find-photographer-thats-right.html. Thanks!

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posted by kameron @ 2:27 PM, , links to this post

New Commercial Site

I updated my commercial site (www.kameronbayne.com) recently... Thank goodness for holiday breaks to finally take care of all those "little things" like cleaning hard drives, updating portfolios, and recovering my sanity. :)

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posted by kameron @ 9:51 AM, , links to this post

Chamber of Commerce


Merry Christmas from the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce! For the story, see the blog (www.kbistudio.com).

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posted by kameron @ 8:12 AM, , links to this post

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just got back from Hawaii! And just in time for the cold weather (it snowed today in Nebraska). Here's a picture for everyone in the New England area who dreams of warmer climates. Happy Thanksgiving Hallmarkers!

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posted by kameron @ 3:25 PM, , links to this post

The Relationship between Lovers and Friends...

I photographed their wedding last December (during Hallmark's Christmas break) - I photographed 3 weddings that break and I don't recommend that for anyone. For this couple, I loved knowing them before they were married, as they got married and now coming up on their first anniversary. The photographs change with them. :)



To see more, click here.

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posted by kameron @ 6:33 AM, , links to this post

Image Pimp(ed)

Great idea, Wayne! I'm sure we can all have hours of fun doing this - and it also allows us to see our images from a different perspective...


I cropped it and did some color tweaks... all in a minute and a half.

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posted by kameron @ 11:15 AM, , links to this post

10/20/07 Wedding

This wonderful couple really wanted our best so we had so much time to get some amazing images. I love building relationships with clients that go well beyond a "bussines transaction" and how it builds a larger sense of community. And I'm really thankful to have met Dan and Danielle - thanks to Will who worked with them at the Olive Garden. To see more, check out the blog.


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posted by kameron @ 12:53 PM, , links to this post

Mark

I had a great time with Mark. See more on our blog: kbistudio.com



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posted by kameron @ 4:52 PM, , links to this post

Portfolio Development


It felt just like school again... portfolio development never ends! It just gets more complex, fun and hopefully a little better each time. :)

This one has a little Wayne Wallace influence. To see more, click here.

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posted by kameron @ 9:33 PM, , links to this post

And for Something Different...

Well, at least it's different for me. I love images that are both new and familiar. This one has that feel for me.


Used a Lensbaby 2.0 and took the yellows out. I still have a lot to learn about color - when I mess with it sometimes, I don't think I get it quite right. What do you all think?

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posted by kameron @ 10:19 PM, , links to this post

More Senior Sessions

Finally got finished editing these, now it's time to show them to the world! Or maybe just our small circle of friends. :)




You can see more at the blog: kbistudio.com


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posted by kameron @ 8:57 PM, , links to this post

Post Wedding

I'm always amazed how an image takes on new life in post! As I'm taking it, I might think it's not working. But after I play with it in Photoshop, it's like a brand new image... I like this one now.

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posted by kameron @ 8:26 PM, , links to this post

Another Senior


Another high school senior - got another one next week. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to shake that "Hallmark Look" when I'm in the studio. :) Any thoughts or suggestions?

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posted by kameron @ 3:13 PM, , links to this post

Senior Session Fun

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posted by kameron @ 7:47 AM, , links to this post

The Simple Beauty of Nebraska


Today was my official day off and so I explored a little and took this picture of a tractor and the sky. I think today might have been the most beautiful day of the year!

As a side note, I started my own blog at kbistudio.com and I'd be honored if you all would stop by and leave a comment or two. It feels kinda lonely without any comments yet...

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posted by kameron @ 3:02 PM, , links to this post

Headshots

Our first studio shoot was for the Shane Kouba and John Cleveland Team at CBS Home Real Estate. My wife and I are proud home owners because of these guys - they're great at what they do, and we highly recommend them if you know of anyone looking for real estate in the Nebraska area. :)

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posted by kameron @ 12:27 PM, , links to this post

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