March 2010 Featured Photographer of the Month

 

 

 

 

What equipment do you use?

I am of the philosophy if the equipment gets me the shot I want, than it is the right equipment.  I use high end Canon gear along with Profoto strobes when needed.  But if I had to, I could use any brand and love my results.  I love the “less is more” when packing my bag, but I also like having “back ups for my back ups” even when shooting locally.   I like breaking out the 400mm f/2.8 for sports and some of the looks I get from guests when I use it during weddings are crack ups.  But really, it is so useful when I need close ups and I want to stay way out of the way during the ceremony.  It’s not common to use but some venues just call for it because of distance and darkness.  I also really love using Radio Poppers. They are the most reliable remote sync I have used with my DSLR flashes. I hate carrying bags!  All the gear is carefully packet in ThinkTank roller bags.  Though I am not a “vest guy” I use my own creation, the Adventure Vest on assignments and when shooting sports. It totally saves my back and shoulders over a 10 hour day, not feeling the effects of carrying a ton of equipment.

 

 

 

How long have you been shooting?

I have been a professional ever since I got out of the University of Washington. This will be my 16th year as a full time photographer in June. Started in JP at the defunct Seattle Post-Intelligencer then on to another internship at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. From there I got in with Associated Press and Reuters News service witch led to other agencies like Sigma, Gamma and Liaison.  When Getty purchased them and I ended up getting a contract with Corbis.  During that time I was traveling back and forth to New York testing my artistic college degree as and editorial fashion photographer.  Settling back down in Seattle, senior portraits and stylish documentary weddings have taken me to a new level of photography.

 

 

Where are you located?

I am currently based out of Seattle.  I do love the Northwest, but I love a good plane ride. Traveling is somwthing I do very easily and very well.  I can’t wait for my next destination or adventure!

 

 

 

What type of photography do you like to create?

I love fashion photography and I try to implement concepts as an integral part of the documentary feel of the wedding day.  My high school seniors always have a ton of ideas or are open to my creative twists.  This collaboration produces images far beyond their expectations.   I do love traveling so doing destination weddings or locations shoots are my favorite.  I love shooting sports!!!!  Peak moments are so awesome! I totally respect the guys that can capture them in just a couple of shots rather than holding the button down and praying.

 

 

Price Range of Events?

• Weddings $4500 to $15,000
• Parties $2000 to $3000
• Portrait session $750 - $2000
• Commercial, Advertising, editorial $3500 – $15,000 Creative Fee

 

 

 

When did you notice you had a passion for Photography?

When my Dad gave me Canon F1 and a few rolls of film at age 8 while we were vacationing in Italy.  I was hooked.  I always was creating something on paper or on the classroom floor.  I loved being in the dark room watching those images appear slowly under water.  It is like magic.

 

 

What is unique to what you do?

I do believe it is my communication with clients along with stunning energetic images is what allows me to keep a step ahead.  I always am looking to better my work through photography, art or just learning something new, most of all to take complete care of my clients needs.

 

 

 

What’s the funniest thing that ever happened during a shoot?

One word, Groomsmen! Complete crack up every time! I ask groomsmen to play pranks on the groom through out the wedding party portrait session.  It never fails to erupt in tucked over abdominal crunching laughter!

 

 

Most Awkward moment during a wedding?

Mostly if and when groomsmen say something stupid.  I just look at the bride and raise an eyebrow to agree with her and it usually relaxes her.  Another one is the bride “popping” out of her strapless dress while she was being dipped by the groom and capturing the image. Oops…

 

 

 

What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a shoot?

Bride and Groom were being introduced to the guests at the reception.  She had her bouquet in her left hand and did a twirl on the dance floor, reached out to her groom with her right hand and before he could grab her she dislocated her LEFT shoulder. Fire trucks and ambulances were all around.  They wanted to take her for over night observation in the hospital.  There was no way she was going to the hospital.  Luckily one of her dear friends is a physical therapists that put her shoulder back in place because the fire crew would not do it.  She was a trooper and had a blast!

 

 

Best moment of your photography career?

Being published all over the world is a feat in itself.  Non the less I loved that the National Native American Museum Smithsonian ask for one of my images for their 10 year exhibit.  Every time one of my clients comes in to see their images and the looks of happiness or astonishment of just how amazing their images look is better than any award I have received throughout the years.

 

 

 

How many Shoots do you do each year?

• 25 to 40 weddings with engagement sessions
• 50 Portraits sessions including senior.
• 10 commercial  / advertising

 

 

Have you changed anything to adjust in the current economic times?

I have increased my advertising presence in many ways.  I mostly count on customer care so referrals come back to us fast and often. Social media has helped to get the word out too.  Photobiz’s flexibility and openness to new ideas and suggestions has been the greatest switch for us since starting with them 11 months ago.

 

 

 

Describe your shooting style:

My style is very energetic and sexy.  I love connecting with clients to find out just who they are and allow that big or shy personality to shine in my images.

 

 Click Here to Check out Alante Photography

 

 

Past Featured Photographers:

2009

February : March : April : May : June : July : August : September : October : November : December

2010

January : February

*Are you interested in becoming a featured photographer of the month with PhotoBiz?

Send an email to: Blogger [at] photobiz [dot] com. Include a paragraph stating why you think that you should be considered for this feature and a link to your website. (You must be willing to submit an interview and video testimonial if chosen)

This article will walk you through creating a badge for your Twitter account.

 

Login to yourTwitter account.Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the screen and click on Goodies.

 

 

 

Next, click on Widgets.

 

 

On the Left side of the screen, click on My Website.

 

 

Now click on Profile Widget.

 

 

In the box, type in your Username.  The Username is what appears after www.twitter.com/username. Then click on Test Settings.

 

 

On the left side, click on Preferences to edit your settings.

 

 

Next, on the left side, click on Appearance to edit the colors of the badge.  Click on the color box to open a color picker.

 

 

Last, click on Dimensions.  You will want to leave the default settings for this section.

 

 

To retreive the embed code, click on Finish & Grab Code.  Highlight and copy the code.

 

 

In your PhotoBiz control panel, click on the External Link. 

Under the Page Settings you can change the name of the link as it shows in the navigation. 

Under the URL settings, choose Embedded Link beside Link Type. 

Paste the code from Twitter into the Embedded Content area. 

You can enter in a Link Caption.

To ensure the badge fits properly, set the Width as 250 and the Height to 387.

 

 

*Last, click on Update.  We recommend previewing the site before Publishing so you can view the changes.

PhotoBiz is so excited to announce the release of a one of a kind new feature that will blow you away!  This feature cannot be done with any other template system in our industry.  In fact, if you want to do something like what we are doing, it would require extensive coding knowledge and quite a bit of money!

 

 

What does it look like?

Our new light box is a beautiful overlay on top of your PhotoBiz website.  As it displays right on top of your website, users can tell that they have not left your site and they can still see your moving photos transition in an opaque view throughout the background.

 

 

What can it do?

What can’t you do is probably a better question.  You can have absolutely any link, video, website, contact form, social network, slideshow, or anything else online imaginable, appear directly on your website!  This feature is available under ANY menu item with your PhotoBiz Flash and/or HTML website!

 

Are you on Facebook?  Instead of just a link to your page, how would you like to bring Facebook to your Website?

 

Do you Blog? How powerful would it be if your customers can view and interact on your blog while they are still on your website?

 

A simple link to Twitter is never enough!  Your customers want to know what you are doing!  Bring the power of your twitter updates directly to your website with a number of Twitter widgets!

 

Do you use any studio management software?  How would you like to harness the contact management system directly on your PhotoBiz Website!

 

How would you like to have a completely customizable calendar embedded on your website?  Google has a great option for you but literally any web based calendar system that you use can now be brought to your PhotoBiz website!

 

 

What about a Chat function that allows your customers to chat with you while they are on your website?  With many embeddable chat features out there, your customers can initiate a chat directly on your website!  Using any smart phone, you can be mobile and keep in contact with you prospective clients.

Please don’t let our very brief ideas here restrict your creativity!  There are virtually unlimited options at your disposal with the new PhotoBiz “Smart Light Box”!  Try it out for yourself and leave a link back here with how you intend to use it!

 

 

How Customizable is it?

You are given complete control over the size of this “Smart Light Box”.  Simply insert the size you would like it to appear and it will automatically be centered over your website.  If the color customization is something you are worried about, there’s nothing to worry about with PhotoBiz!  All of the colors that you see on this embedded page can be 100% customized with our enhanced color picker!  Further customization includes a new roll-over caption feature is enabled on each embedded content page so that you can give a little bit more information to your viewers.  Colors and fonts choices again come in abundance.  Lastly, you can choose to disable background music from your website or not.  PhotoBiz is the King in giving you fully customizable features!

 

 

Where do I begin?

Now that you are excited to start using it, remember that as a PhotoBiz customer; there are no upgrade fees are hassles to add this feature.  As PhotoBiz is the only web template company that is truly cloud computing, this feature is already enabled in your web based drag and drop control panel and ready to use.  Here are some screen shot to point you in the right direction.

 

Step 1 is to add an External link in the “Web Pages” section of your control panel.

Step 2 This External Link is added to the bottom left.  Simply click on it to start your customizations.

OR

 

***There is a known Security measure in place with using the Facebook Page (Not Widget or Fan Badge) and Twitter Pages (Not Widgets) that may prevent optimal use of this feaure.  We are recommending that you use the Facebook Fan Badge and Twitter Widgets for best results.***

“White Hat” SEO = Good

 

As we discussed last time, there are generally two types of SEO: White Hat and Black Hat. Black Hat SEO utilizes unethical methods to artificially inflate search engine placement. While White Hat SEO on the other hand, involves ethical techniques which conform to a search engine provider’s guidelines with no deceptions.  We are first going to focus in a little more on the White Hat techniques…

There is no specific ruleset for good SEO. The general guideline is this: the more accessible and readable your website would be to a live human being, the better it will rank on a search engine. Search engines specifically want to catalog pages that humans will use. The best thing you can do, therefore, is to make your content clear, accessible, easy to find, relevant and up to date.

Let’s look at some other things you can do to improve your searchability.

 

 

Links

One of the best things you can do for your site’s rank is to have a lot of good quality pages linking back to you. Keep in mind what the search engines consider “good quality”. Links from real sites are quality. Links from legitimate social media pages are good, too. read full blog entry…