I attended a Strobist Meetup this past Saturday in Frederick, Maryland. I had a lot of fun and met some really helpful photographers. I told one of the models, if the photographer you are working with is a Strobist, you're going to be just fine. What I mean is, let's face it, some photographers out there are just sketchy and thankfully most of them do not fall in the Strobist camp (and if they do they keep it hidden).

But that brings up another part of this weekend. Photographing models!

I have to say I was nervous. I realize the only way to get better at shooting is to well do it. At the same time you, well I, don't want to waste someone elses time and look like a schmuck in the process. I haven't done much off camera lighting and despite reading a great about it, I have not put it too much to practice.

Well this weekend, I did.

Thankfully, all the models were very nice and forgiving for my lack of experience and it turned out great.

A couple things I learned:

You need to have ideas for what you want the model to do. When I would meet the model for the first time I would say "Hi my name is, we'll start by taking a few head shots to get my lighting right and then go from there." which I think broke the ice nicely. But where did I go from there. I don't know. When the model asks you "What would you like me to do?", a dumbfounded look and a long pause probably doesn't convey professionalism. Because in all honesty, at the moment, just doing some basic poses is fine with me. I haven't gotten to the point where I have a vision to express.

That said, I probably could have been more creative. Gotten on a chair to get a higher perspective, put a little more action into the shots and other things I had written down before going but neglected to read again while there.

On the concept of ideas, one model said she had brought some magazines for ideas which is a great idea. Obviously you're not going to be able to recreate shots in some glamour magazine (well I can't) and you don't want to crib someone else's idea too heavily but it should give you and the model a reference on where you can go. On how the model can swing her legs or what expression you're going for.

And finally expressions. I think every model I worked with I asked to smile for me. I don't know if it's in the model code that you want to learn stern but I like shots with a bit of grin thrown in. All of the women had beautiful smiles and it adds so much to an already expressive pose.

Can't wait to do it again.

My next "assignment" is another wedding with Aaron. Can't wait to do that as well.

Could someone answer this question for me. Why can I not buy an 8x12 frame? Is there some embargo on 8x12 frames that I don't know about? Does printing 8x12 make you a communist? Is it a giant conspiracy of framers to vex me?

I don't do many prints although I'm trying to change that. So when I got a 8x12 print of this photo, I figured it wouldn't be a problem to get a frame.

Right?

Wrong.

I went to Michaels and when I asked the woman in the back where the 8x12 frames were. She said there weren't any and that I would have to make my own.

First, if I was fool enough to print an 8x12, I'm pretty sure I'm too thick to make my own frame.

When I ask why there aren't 8x12 frames, I'm told well they're rare and people don't make them. Why not? Is there some reason we do not produce 8x12 frames? Have I violated some framing law for requesting an 8x12 frame? Why do people prefer 8x10 over 8x12? You crop to get an 8x10. How is that better?

It. Just. Makes. No. Sense.

Hello and welcome to another edition of Top Gear, I'm your host Jeremy Clar...

Sorry, I was channeling Jeremy Clarkson there for a moment. No, I do not host a wildly successful auto programme in the U.K.

I am a photographer who writes about, but of course, photography.

Yes, another photographer with another blog. Yawn. De rigeur it would seem.

But I'm hoping to set myself a part from all the other blogs out there. Not by much but a little. My intention is not to make this yet another photography blog that has the latest press release about Adobe Photoshop CS9 or the new Canon EOS 90D Mark IV. I also will not have any tutorials on how to become a better photographer or any tips on how to compose a picture. Google is suffice for that information.

Why? Because I don't like being a shill for a corporation (especially for free) and there are plenty of other blogs who will let you know about the latest news. And the latter, well I am an enthusiast at best when it comes to photography. I am not an expert but I'm not clueless either.

Which is what I think will make this blog interesting. Like a journal, it will log my journey through photography. I've done some pretty amazing stuff (to me) in the past year and I can only imagine what I'll be doing in the near future. And I'd like to relate those experiences to you.

They may be interesting. They may not.

But at least, it won't be another press release.

So, I hope you enjoy my blog. I'll try to update it although I intend not to keep a schedule.