Monthly Archives: February 2010

I’ve Lost My Gear – Mark’s Miscellaneous Monday

I’ve lost my gear – in weight loss as of this week.

Biggest Loser Monday
As some of you know Season 8 last fall of The Biggest Loser really inspired me to start taking control of my weight issues so late last November I started really watching my intake and getting a little more exercise.   Throw in the mix that I’ve received immense support from a wide variety of wedding photographers, both local and nationally, from the Fast Track Photographera group hosted by Dane Sanders.  And if all this wasn’t enough the icing on this cake for change is the fact my friend and often second photographer, Dain Linder, not only being a good friend and excellent photographer, he also has a background in fitness and training and has helped me turn a morning in the gym into a regular routine.

While the small progress each week has been wonderful I was thrilled this week to reach a mini-milestone.

A few weeks back I posted an article on my gear bag and commented on how fully loaded it was about 50 pounds in weight.  Well this week my weight loss as exceeded (well exceeded actually) this number.   The reason this is such a great threshold is this weight loss is something tangible now.  When I have to carry that bag up the stairs I can remind myself that just a few months back I was carrying that much weight up the stairs when it was just me going up the stairs.

Airport Security 2.0

Airport Security 2.0

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Use The Force Luke

Anybody who follows me on Twitter or Facebook knows last week I had a pretty hair raising experience, well it would have been if I had that much hair anyways.

Last Thursday while driving down the road the steering wheel literally came off in my hand and I found myself going down the highway at 60-ish mph without any way to control the car.  Fortunatly the car just kept veering to the last direction I had pointed it, towards the right, and I was able to safely apply the brakes and the impact with the concrete barricades was pretty gentle.  Most of the damage was taken by one of the front wheels and the tire.

x2_b3b13aYup, that’s the steering wheel resting on the dash after I unplugged the air bag wires while waiting for a tow truck.

While it’s tempting to get real upset and blame someone, the car manufacturer, the last mechanic who serviced it, etc., I just am thrilled such an experience ended with no injuries (or worse).  We think we’ve ID’d what event probably started to loosen the bolt and it was just a one in a million chance that it led to this.  Fortanatly I figure the odds of safely pulling over a car on the highway without a steering wheel at about the same one in a million.  It could have been such a terrible event, but ended well – it’s hard not to be happy about that.

Besides I’ve got a great new Facebook avatar.

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No, I didn’t remember to go get any lotto tickets that day.

On the flip side if your a gambling person and you want Denver’s Luckiest Wedding Photographer, well I just might be the photographer for you. :-)

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2010 looks to be an amazing year for us, we’re ahead on bookings and expect to hit the closing point much earlier this year since we do cap our total weddings.   June is almost full and July-September is looking great as well.  Add a few early and late weddings and things look good.  Don’t worry though if we’re booked for your wedding day I have a list of referrals to some of the best photographers in town.   We’ll take care of you one way or the other.

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My wife and I are celebrating our 23rd anniversary this week.   Just another example of why I’m the luckiest guy around.

Friday Favorites – Top 10 award winning international competition

Long time readers of the blog might remember last year when I was accepted into two organizations, the WPJA or Wedding Photojournalist Association, and it’s sister organization the AGWPJA or Artisan Guild of theWedding Photojournalist Association.

One of the benefits of being a member of these prestigious organizations is the quarterly photo contest they each run.  A variety of categories is selected and hundreds of the top wedding photojournalist professionals around the world enter works conforming to each category.   This is not only a great chance to share my work and let it be judged  but to then see some of the best images on these types when the winners are announced is always such a great inspiration.

Now for a simple Denver wedding photographer putting my work up against some of the best wedding photojournalists in the world is a tad intimidating.  But to have an image selected from amongst such competition would be such a great honor it would be worth the effort.

The AG/WPJA just announced the results of their 2009 4th quarter competition and I’m very pleased to announce that one of my pieces placed in the top 10 for the “Emotions” category.

This image from Joe and Audrey’s wedding at the Phipps Mansion Tennis Pavilion was my entry for the Emotion category.  The bride is so full of emotion and while only her and her father know what was said to elicit such emotion, I have no doubt that looking back years from now she’ll remember when she looks at this photo.

Denver Wedding Photojournalism

It would seem the judges agree with the impact of this photo and it placed 8th in the competition.

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Until next time,

Mark
View my portfolio site | Contact Mark Hayes for your upcoming wedding

Think Tank Airport Security 2.0

For the longest time when photographing weddings in the Denver area and all over Colorado I’ve had to deal with multiple bags just to get all my gear there.   My backpack camera case would hold the bodies and lenses, but no lighting gear so it was a second back for that and then of course bags for stands and tripods if those where needed as well.

Recently however I purchased Think Tanks Airport Security 2.o Roller Bag. After shooting two weddings with this I can’t imagine how I got by without it now.

The outside of the case is well designed and ruggedly built.   Up front a storage compartment and a pocket big enough to hold a good sized laptop in a sleeve.

Airport Security 2.0

On the side opposite the carry handle is another storage compartment and a smaller sleeve as well as a place to run straps to either mount a tripod to stands to the side of the case.

Airport Security 2.0

Extending the handle allows the bag to be rolled around easily and if in terrain that the wheels won’t work in just below the handle is another compartment that holds a pair of should straps so you can carry this bag like a backpack.

Airport Security 2.0

With the main flap open the cover is lined with larger pockets great for batteries and assorted cables and accessories.

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But the real beauty of this bag is in the main compartment.   What really sets this bag apart from every other bag is the depth.   In the upper right corner of this picture is my 70-200mm telephoto lens, fitting in on it’s end.  In all my previous cases this would have to be stored laying on it’s side and taking up 3x’s as much space.

Airport Security 2.0

The Green Package

Like many Americans I’m concerned about the current state of environmental issues and am always on the lookout for ways that I can make small changes both personally and with my business to help make positive changes.   Living in and doing business as a wedding photographer in Colorado the beauty of our environment is something I value greatly.  So to move in the right direction I sold my gas guzzling 4×4 for a little station wagon that gets over double the mileage and now I’m introducing the Green Package.

So what does the “Green Package” entail?

Well for starters it includes many of the basics from all my coverage options.

  • Complimentary engagement session
  • 8 hours coverage by myself and an associate photographer
  • 50-100 photos per coverage hour
  • Disc with all images sized for printing and a personal use print release

For proofs on this package I’ll be using the iPad option.   No boxes of 4×6 proofs and all the paper and chemicals associated with that.

A few other things of note about the iPad is that it embodies Apple’s latest environmental progress in production.  It is designed with many features to reduce environmental impact:

  • Arsenic-free display glass
  • BFR-free
  • Mercury-free LCD display
  • PVC-free
  • Recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure

mhp_iPad

The “Green Collection” also comes with an album.   A 100 page “Iceland” book from Couture books Earth Collection.

The earth collection is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled acid-free archival paper and utilizes environmentally sensitive materials.  The entire printing process is powered by green-e certified windpower.  Carbon offsets and trees are planted with a portion of the proceeds of each book by the printer.

The “Iceland” features

  • A full bleed printed cover with image(s) from your wedding
  • 100% recycled paper.

Iceland Green Wedding Album.

For the 2010 season total cost of the Green Package will start at $4000.

Until next time,

Mark
View my portfolio site | Contact Mark Hayes for your upcoming wedding

“Digital Lifestyle” A new proof option

Proofs.   Not a lot of photographers still give these out with every wedding package, many are more than happy to just let you have the disc of “digital proofs” and call that good.   Myself I have two reasons why this doesn’t work for me as a photographer.

  1. I like physical things.   To me there’s something special about holding real photos, passing them back and forth around a table, showing everyone your favorites, not just clicking the next button with a mouse.   It gives the images weight, it gives them value.
  2. I want to make sure I have control over the quality of the way my clients first view their images.   As someone who spent years, or decades more accurately, in the IT world I’ve seen on many occasions how most consumer computer video options and monitors are not accurate in color and contrast to the degree required for evaluating images properly.

So because of this I build proof prints into all of my coverage options for weddings.   You can’t hire me for a wedding anymore and NOT get proof prints.  Oh I’ve looked at options for digital proofs, but I always had to either depend on the client having a quality computer system or have to provide it myself.   I considered the iPod touch, but it’s just too small to be worth it.

But then along comes iPad.   Large display screen, close to an 8×10, and a beautiful backlit LCD screen, and at a price point that makes it attractive for this use.

So for those client that just really don’t want a 4×6 proof of every single image  I’m going to be offering the “Digital Lifestyle” proof option as a trial option.   Instead of the printed proofs all your images will be loaded up and delivered on a new iPad, along with the disc of images you can load on any computer.

This way you still get to hold an amazing display and pass it around a table and I know the quality of the display will show off the work in it’s best light.   If you don’t like Apple products or the iPad it still makes a marvelous digital frame for your mantle or desk.

Now while the iPad has a wonderful price point, it’s still a tad more than what the cost of the proof prints are so there will be a price adjustment.   To upgrade to a “Digital Lifestyle” coverage option just add $350 to the coverage costs for any coverage option.

So now you have a choice.

The traditional proof option at the standard coverage costs.

Printed Proof images

Or the Digital Lifestyle proof option for coverage costs + $350.

mhp_iPad

Until next time when we unveil our new “Going Green” wedding package,

Mark
View my portfolio site | Contact Mark Hayes for your upcoming wedding

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