My photo-partner Paul Malan saved assissted me by bringing his studio strobes, background, and know-how. We wanted to test out a background look made accessible to the masses by Zach Arias. It involves a blown-out white background and a reflective floor surface. I think we pulled it off.

Roughly 3-4 weeks before the shoot I visit the the students and introduce the theme and get them excited about the shoot. I feed them some ideas, get the creativity goin’ and PLEAD with them to get REAL models! And although I admit that modeling is not the same grade of effort as paving a highway or working the lunch rush at In n’ Out, it does take the right stuff. Great models are comfortable in front of a camera, aware of how to move and pose their bodies naturally, can make uncomfortable poses look comfortable, know how to make specific expressions look natural and subtle, and know which sides and angles work best for them.

The advice to find a good model is slowly sinking in. The models get better each time and I think we got some great stuff! Here is a sample of some of the looks that came back!

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So last Monday I had another engagement photo-shoot with a long time friend Jason Hoke and his fiance’ Jill. If you’re looking at this photo to the left thinking that this is just your average couple, then you are partially correct. Both attractive and stylish and proportionally well matched for each other. But, did you know that Jason is 6′10″? Which puts Jill somewhere in the 5′11″ – 6′ range. Which is why I’d like to subtitle this post, “Craig Tovey: Midget Photographer.”

My dwarfism notwithstanding, I met Jason and Jill in Lehi were Jason works and where they are buying a home. We hopped in Jason’s car and cruised to some of my favorite spots. Along State St. in Lehi are a bunch of great locations to shoot at. The mock train station with tall red barn walls is very popular, but there are a couple dozen locations between there and about 200 West that are equally as good. If you’re looking for train tracks, brick walls, or cool little alleys, it’s the place to go. There also a door shop called DaVinci Doors on 115 E State St. that will let you into their work yard for $20. Lots of cool stuff all around their shop as well.

There are two things I’ve learned in doing photo-shoots with individuals, couples, and families that I try and keep in mind. The first and most prominent is the search for that candid moment. Yes, we’re intending to take beautiful pictures today. Yes, I’m asking you to stand on these train tracks, hold hands and look at me. So, no, this is not a candid situation. However… there is a candid moment somewhere in there! I’ve found that my job as a photographer is part camera operator, part art director, and part entertainer /pal. The latter being what will give you  more of those candid moments. If the couple enjoys being around you, can relate to you, and ultimately LIKES you then they are more likely to be themselves. They’ll relax and do what they normally do together. You’ll start to see who they are and the little dynamics of their relationship. This will com through in the photos and give you not only those candid moments, but the little subtleties that make this couple unique. I’ve shot around this area in Lehi a ton, but even if the walls and backdrop are the same, the couple is not. And if i do my job right and make them comfortable then their personalities will come through in the photos.

Secondly, it’s important to be aware of when any one individual might be to the point of exhaustion. With couples it might be the male portion gets real quiet and his “smiles” become less and less sincere. With families it might be the kid who is on the verge of a total meltdown. Which makes me think I’d love to see the two mixed together: a grown man having a “nuclear meltdown” kicking and screaming, yelling that he just wants to go home and play Lego Star Wars. Maybe one day…

Anyway, the point is you can keep shooting and shooting until it’s painfully obvious the couple is over the whole experience or you can pick up on the early signs and get them on their way while they’re still pleased. I always want my clients to have enjoyed the experience with me as well as the resulting photos. Jason forewarned me that the two are camera shy and just wanted to get the photos done and over with. I kept this in the back of my mind as I went into this shoot. I was able to get lots of great images in about an hour and a half, and send them on their way.

This shoot, like so many others, reiterated the same photographic truths I’ve been learning all along. As nervous as I am for each shoot, if I stick to what I know works it’s hard not to get good photos. Jason and Jill had me nervous. I’d never met Jill before and I’d never photographed my friend Jason, the big southern man. But I’m very pleased with the results and can’t wait to do Jill’s bridals in the next couple weeks!

That’s all for now…

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Look at these two…. so hot right now. So, this weekend past I had a little photo-shoot with some faithful clients- Gordon and Lisa. They are really swell and now they are officially engaged. Ring knee, and everything.

I met them up in the avenues (where they live) at Memory Grove Park to begin our engagement photo shoot. We frequented some of the classic spots (of which there are many! Great spot for family, engagement, and other portrait session) and found a couple unique angles and off the beaten path nooks that caught our eye.

I have to say thanks to Angel, Lisa’s sister, for assisting me. She was a great help as the wind tried to blow my light stand down. Also she’s really good with the reflector. My regular assistant (Wife Karly) couldn’t be there and I definitely needed the help. Thanks Angel!

So after an hour or so at the park I decided to take the lovelorn couple to a location I spotted in downtown Salt Lake off of State street and about 650 S. By the by, there are about a 1,000 great spot downtown. Odd alleys and deserted buildings abound! It was getting nearer to dusk and I wanted to use my flashes and get more of a high-end fashion look, than the typical natural light we’d been getting up to this point. This little alley and parking lot provided a fantastic backdrop and Gordon & Lisa provided the hand holding and smooching. They also can throw out a mean “i’m too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts” modeling stare!

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Toward the end I wanted to mix up what we were doing and got the idea to use the flashes and faster shutter speed I was working with to get some action from this couple. Spoiler alert: It didn’t become an adult photo shoot at this point. But I did ask the lovely Lisa to give me a sassy spin and Gordon, the ex-snowboard instructor, to get off the ground a little bit. What resulted are some photos that make me laugh and go, “Dang, that’s cool!” all at the same time.

[See below]

Light was beginning to fade and I had one more idea I wanted try out. We headed back up to the avenues. On 1st Ave as you head west there is a huge hill that drops down to State St. and overlooks the Salt Lake Temple. I wanted to use the Temple (esp. since Gord and Lisa are LDS) as a backdrop, but more in the context of its place in the city. Everyone shoots on Temple Square and although I may end up shooting there in the future, which is fine, I thought it a bit cheesy for the couple I was working with. I was very excited with how these turned out as well!

So, all in all, it was an excellent experience! I was happy with my preparation and brainstorming. I feel like it paid off. The shoot went smoothly in every aspect: technically and conceptually… and tactically. Thanks for reading…. more to come!

-Craig T.

Click on image for large preview

click image for large preview

So here are some bridal shots of my dear client Montana. You might recognize her from 3 posts ago where she appeared in some engagement photos… Isn’t she lovely?! We didn’t make it all the way out to the fabled salt flats like we wanted, but settled instead for a very similar looking location around Grantsville, UT. This was my first attempt at bridal portraits. I liked it. I hope you enjoy them. Like crazy.

Azalea & Torrance… Sistaz 4-evah!

Eatons with the Hess family

Eatonz 4-Evah! St. Gizzle! Woot, woot!

Family. It’s a wild ride. Even Azalea knows you have more fun with your hands up.

Torrance.

Good grief, that is some RED hair!

Does this look safe? Jeff just started CHUCKING Brock into the air…

I usually despise stricken poses… but, c’mon, it’s TODD!

If two children end up saving the world from itself… it’ll be these two.

Not ALL great pictures are in focus, Right? … I mean, right guys?

Here’s the best of the best…

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