Brass Tacks Events: November 2010

It seems that nowadays anyone can go out and buy a fancy new digital camera and call themselves a wedding photographer. The reality is that a true professional has studied both the technical and artistic aspects of photography, has plenty of experience shooting weddings, and actually knows how to work those fancy digital cameras. I know that every bride is looking for the best value for their money, but I promise you that if you find a photographer on craigslist that is willing to shoot your entire wedding day - 8 hours - for $500, they are not a true professional. At best, they are a hobbyist. At worst, they are a crook.

When establishing the budget for your wedding there are some aspects where you can safely scale back your spending and other aspects where you simply should not. Don't spend a fortune on invitations or those silly jordan almonds that nobody ever eats. Take those extra dollars and put it into your photography budget. I assure you that 50 years from now, nobody will talk about the candy-coated nuts you put into little organza bags, but you and your future generations WILL be looking at your wedding album. I guarantee it!

So, taking all of that into consideration, I would like to introduce you to one of Austin's finest. If you are looking for a photographer that is a true professional, look no further than Jeff Loftin. In Jeff you will find a genuine artist and a pretty fantastic guy as well. In speaking with Jeff you will instantly get a sense of his passion for wedding photography.

I invite you to take a look at some of Jeff's work at his website and posted here below. Each photograph in his portfolio demonstrates his mastery of the craft. See it for yourself.

This is one of the first images I ever saw from Jeff's portfolio and I decided immediately that I had to get to know him and his work better. I think you could go so far to say that this is one of his "signature" photos.

I love this photo below. It belongs on the cover of a magazine.

Yet another stunning photo. Words cannot justly describe the grandeur of this image.

I adore the richness of the colors in this one. ...and there's something about the angle from which Jeff shot it. I really like the perspective.

These photos remind me of the grace and glamour of hollywood starlets in the 1930's and 1940's. Like something out of a Victor Fleming film.

I included these two images to demonstrate how a color image vs. a black and white can really effect the "mood" of a photo. I encourage all brides to have some black and white photos in their wedding albums.

Here's another photo of that same bride as above. I really like the use of the soft natural sunlight through the window, creating an effect akin to Rembrandt lighting.

...and a black and white photo with just a splash of color.

Now let's talk about the artistry of this photo below for a bit. First, by taking the color out of the image we are able to focus on the figurative "shape" of the image and the literal shapes within it. You have the geometic patterns of the windows and the tile floor as a backdrop for the roundness of the train on the bride's dress. Jeff has put the bride near the corner of the room and yet despite that purposely harsh angle she is still enveloped by the windows and the sunlight. Adding to the effect, Jeff has softened (or blurred) the focus of the outer portion of the image creating a sort of halo around the bride. This photo should be hanging in a museum.