Month: February 2008

  • At Last we have Sunshine!

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    Well, after weeks and weeks of rain we finally had some sunshine to start my engagement shoots off for the year. The one big problem I’ve run into lately has been the high winds and most if not all the trees have no leaves and for park like settings causes many problems with lighting. I like to get up and out early in the morning for a engagement shoot before the sun gets too  bright out. My shoot the other day in San Francisco (the first set of images) was so windy that we had to get away from any of the beach shots and look for areas that were calmer so my clients hair wasn’t blowing straight up. I find the Cannery on Fishermans wharf a great location and at 10:30am on a weekday it was like a ghostown for us. We also shot at the Palace of Fine Arts, which again is under construction. I ended our SF shoot at Pier 39′s Hard Rock Cafe where I treated my couple to a wonderful Valentines meal and relaxed and talked awhile about their wedding that is happening on October 4th in Sonoma. My other shoot was much easier, being that it was a local park I love to shoot at in Rocklin, California.

    Well, that’s two down. I have about 12 more coming up in the next month or so. Stay Tuned!

    Randy

  • Biggest Day of The Year for Getting Engaged!

    red roses in red vase with bear and chocolate

    Ah…its Valentines Day this thursday and that can only mean one thing, lots of chocolates, flowers, dinner on the town and, oh yes…getting engaged!

    I remember when I asked my wife of almost 21 years ago to marry me. As soon as she got that ring on her finger it was like watching a Horse Race! She started buying up every wedding magazine she could, shopping for her gown, calling all her friends and family. Me….I was like…duh..speechless!

    What is really funny is that I was in the wedding business for years back then and really had no idea how much work and planning went into a wedding. So, my advice to anyone who is or has just got engaged, is to start early, shop around and ask lots of questions and make sure that you always hire a professional photographer with experience. 

    Happy V-day everyone.

    Randy

  • Wedding Books are great for marketing and sales

    There are so many new companies out there trying to get us (professional photographers) to try them out and sell their books to our wedding clients.

    Well I’ve tried a couple of the retail versions, they’re just ok, look nice but won’t last the test of time. Then last year at WPPI in Las vegas I saw another company with a strange name call BLURB and took a look at the books they were offering.

    Turns out the color, printing and paper is 100% better and I am now using these Hardbound books to highlight my work. I have one book that is just all black and white utilizing only natural light, in production right now. Its full of semi posed wedding images. My next book will be my Party book with just reception candids, dancing etc. These are also wonderful as duplicate books for parents and other family members too.

    These custom made full size Albums/Books are the hottest thing in  photography and I think are going to be around for many years. They are much like the books in Hotel rooms with advertising in them for sites to see and places to go. With a full color or a black and white glossy cover wrap they are really hot! The below image is what my Black & White cover will be. Check them out at www.Blurb.com you won’t regret it!

    Randall

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  • Here is another great seminar/photoshoot…

    Celebrity photographer Bob Davis has really outdone himself this time with a photo opportunity of a lifetime for only 40 photographers to shoot along side of him in beautiful Las Vegas at a real wedding! If you are a professional, seasoned photographer or someone who is desiring to be one, this is a once in a lifetime event not to be missed!!! 
    For more information go to:

  • Time sure does fly by…

    0157

    This photograph reminds me of a couple of my weddings from years ago. I had a really cute 11 year old who said “someday when I get married I’m going to use you”. And just last year at age 20, just nine years later, I shot her wedding. Who would have thought?

    The young people of today can be clients of the future. If you are at this business long enough you will be shooting anniversaries, baptisms and other weddings of your clients and their families. That’s what I really love about being a professional phototgrapher, I get to be the one who is documenting these momentous times in people lives, its an honor.

  • I would suggest anyone who is a photographer or wanting to be one, to not miss this opportunity.

    Sponsored by one of my album companies, Album’s Inc.

    This is a bargain for a high end speaker, and it also includes a 2 volume CD set at no charge if you are a Albums Inc. Client! 

    http://e2ma.net/go/921590556/809217/27998029/goto:http://www.albumsinc.com

    Dear Friend,
    As a valued and loyal Albums Inc. customer, we would like to invite you to an upcoming seminar, Captivated By The Light, at the special price of $19, a $30 savings off the full price of $49. 
    The seminar is 8 hours in total with a 4 hour live event plus 4 hours of extended content on a 2 DVD Set. To get all the seminar details, just copy and paste your personalized link below. Remember to use the promo code: albums when registering to receive your discount.
    Go to www.edpierceseminars.com
    We hope you’ll join us.
         Your friends at Albums Inc.

    http://e2ma.net/go/921590556/809217/27997904/goto:http://www.edpierceseminars.com

    Visit www.edpierceseminars.com.
    Use promo code: albums

  • People are always asking me…

    Other professional photographers are always asking me what it takes and what I use to create a finished album or even the simplest photograph. The list below is what I take out to every job, no matter how big or small. Oh, and I almost forgot the most important  of things needed… thirty years of shooting experience.

    Telephoto Zoom

    My Rolling Photo Case:

    2-Canon 5D 12.3mp digital slr cameras

    1-Canon D30 8.1mp digital slr camera

    1-Canon 15mm f2.8 Fisheye Lens

    1-Sigma 30mm f1.4 Low Light lens

    1-Canon 85mm f1.8 lens

    1-Canon 24-105mm f4.0 IS L zoom lens

    1-Sigma 150mm f2.8 Macro/telephoto lens

    1-Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS L zoom Lens

    3-Canon 580EX II Digital Flashes

    Norman Studio Lighting Kit and stands

    2-Bogen Professional Tri pods

    My Digital Studio

    2 PCs, One is a Dell the other a HP

    1-Gateway laptop  1-Compac Laptop

    1-Epson R220 Inkjet printer

    1-Epson R3800 Wall Portrait Chrome Ink printer

    2-Sony UPD-150 Dye Sub instant photo printers

    1-Sony Snaplab instant printer

    1-Zerox Color Laser printer

    The Gateway laptop is used for all of my event on site printing for my private parties, trade shows, conventions etc. The Compac laptop is used for my invoicing and business contracts.

    My Dell PC is used as a back up computer in case of any crashes or problems while Im working on the HP computer. Even with a back up hard drive I can’t stop when Im working. One thing I am a big beleiver of is having back up equipment, not just on site when Im shooting but also at my home studio.

    MY SOFTWARE:

    My software library is growing everyday. With all the new software coming out I’m one of those that loves technology and if something can help me be more productive and make my images more interesting, then I have to have it for my clients.

    What I have installed and use all the time:

    Adobe Photoshop CS2, CS3, Lightroom

    Kodak Digital Gem, Digital Roc and Digital Show (all pro versions)

    NIK special effect software versions 2.0

    ImageTrends new Pearly White and ShineOff software

    Pro Show Gold Producer (slide show software)

    Kubuto Action sets (all of them)

    You Select It (album creation software)

    Bullzeye, Collage Builder and Panobook all from www.GaryFonginc.com

    ShowIt Web (slideshows for clients on the web)

    Express Digital version 9.2

    If any of you have any questions regarding any of the equipment or software I use, please feel free to email me for help or suggestions.

    Randy

    Borelfoto@aol.com

     

     

  • I can’t wait for our Summer weather! This winter has been soooo depressing.

    These are a few images from last year when it was in the high 70′s and 80′s.

    I used to hate hot weather, now I cant wait for winter to be over, then I can complain how hot it is! LOL!