stock photography models wanted

Hi all... As I said in my last post I am greatly increasing my efforts at stock photography.  I have a number of projects in mind that will need models.  I will need all ages but several of the projects will involve school age kids.  I am not yet on an even keel where I can pay other than providing pictures for your portfolios or portraits of yourself or your child.  This will also require a model release.  Parents will have to sign for your children.  If you want to get your child involved in modeling this is a great opportunity to do so.  I will be happy to begin to build you a quality portfolio.  All my contact information is here in the blog.  Remember some of the greatest careers started with kids working as models.  I will be doing "concept" shots of the kids such as "happy kids", "sad" kids, "playful kids and so on... Teens will also be doing concept work...Dress for these sessions will be informal and basically what one would wear on a normal day.  You will be provided with a CD of the pictures for use in your portfolio in exchange for a model release... Blessings and have a great week. 

Christmas portraits

It's that time of year that we all look forward to about the time Thanksgiving rolls around.  Take time now to renew those dated family portraits in which your 25 year old kids are still 10.  :)  We all have them.  You can contact me at jjm@airmail.net on my Facebook page john mcgeough photography or on my cell at 281 413 9479.    I will be happy to set up a photo session with you.  Note:  I also take pictures of beautifully cooked turkeys, puppies, Christmas trees, gifts, that new pony or anything else you might have in mind.  I am really increasing my stock photography uploads to several agencies.  I love doing stock since there is just an endless list of possibilities.  

October discounts, location shots and Kingwood Dog Park

October is the month in Texas where the fall really begins.  Weather begins to cool off.  We don't have to worry so much about heat stroke.  We can go out into the sun without level 52 SPF sunscreen.  All this means that we are back in the mood to start photographing things again and having photographs taken.  To help everyone get started I am offering a 20% off sale for all services during the month of October.  Session fees, prints and any other services will be 20% off.  I am also going to be posting myself at certain locations during the month of October for simply portrait sessions for yourself your family or even you and your pet.  I'll be announcing those locations which will around the Humble/Kingwood area here and on my facebook page.  The last couple of times I've done this the action was fast and furious.  Also, last time I was at the Kingwood Dog Park a number of people suggested that I take pictures around the dog park to offer them for sale.  I will be doing that as well.  I look forward to seeing you at a location somewhere around Humble.

Learning and Remembering with Digital Photography

After many months, weeks, days, hours... hair-pulling sessions.... and general chaos I have just published on lulu my second book... This one is strickly photography.  Here is the description I posted on Lulu....

Learning and Remembering with Digital Photography is a booklet designed to provide either the home school parent or the classroom teacher with techniques using digital photography to bring students to deep learning. Deep processing of information occurs when the material to be learned is processed in many ways by the brain. Digital photography is intriguing by itself. Students catch the bug immediately to document education projects, interviews, social science material, science experiments and so much more. Join educator John McGeough as he introduces you to a way to really motivate, engage and help your students deep process any information to be learned. This booklet is not intended to be encyclopedic since there are limitless ideas. Rather it is intended to give you the tools to take the material and run to create your own creative and successful projects.

A number of years ago as a teacher I realized that students were becoming more and more technologically oriented... duh..... So I started looking for ways to involve them in learning projects that were meaningful and involved technology.  Digital photography came to mind immediately.  So over the years the book/booklet has developed in my mind.... Finally today... it came to fruition.  You can view and purchase the book at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/learning-and-remembering-with-digital-photography/16807282.

Beyond the pose

We all strive to make an image that speaks to the heart of our subject.  Everyone we photograph has something deep inside them that is precious to them.  That place inside their heart, inside their spirit is where the most effectual, meaningful portrait originates, beyond the pose. 

I've read a number of books on posing senior students, families, individuals.  I've learned about the S curves, the lines that end at a single point, the feminine and masculine arm positions, but I haven't read much about how to get inside your client.  One of the best ways to get inside your client is to let the client inside yourself.

In a recent senior shoot I was able to learn so much about my wonderful, young subject by going slow, telling them some stories about myself, making a quick explanation about why I walk with a limp and seem to move carefully.  I'm getting closer and closer to becoming bionic.  I watched for small facial indications that I was connecting. 

I tried to get the client involved in the shoot by asking why his favorite things had become important.  And I listened.  From time to time I sat down for a moment to discuss my ideas for the next shot and asked for the young clients opinion and input.  He was an active participant in the shoot.  I think the pictures were much better because of that time taken to get to know this wonderful kid and they are all wonderful in their different ways. 

One thing I've learned as a teacher and a youth pastor is that listening to a kid is far more important than talking "at" a kid.  Even their questions reveal so much.  The way they ask questions and the type of questions they ask tell you if they are confident, if they are buying what is happening in the shoot and if their goal has been discovered by you the photographer. 

It's not so much about F-stops, lenses and magnificent equipment.  I've seen magnificent pictures taken with ancient brownie cameras... by photographers who understood the mystery inside their subject. 

Take the time to talk to your client... really talk.  Develop an on the spot friendship if you can so that in some way truth can pass between the two of you and impress itself into the portrait. 

Nick's Senior Photoshoot

Today I had the pleasure of working with a wonderful young man who is a horseman.  Another wonderful thing about this shoot is that Nick is the son of two former students.  How cool is that?   Nick's horse is named Skip.  Nick is an Eagle Scout and a member of so many other organizations.  This was truly a wonderful afternoon.  Here are a Nicks samples.....

 

Why get the same ol' same ol'

Been doing some thinking lately as I have been doing senior photographs for some wonderful kids and families.  A few weeks ago I went looking for studio space.  As I looked around I realized why some photography is outrageously expensive.  In order to keep the studio lights on you have to really charge in order to pay the bills.  Now I am not a lazy guy, but I have a lot of interests and a lot of passions.  Shooting one kind of picture.. the head shot against the marbled background isn't one of them.

I would infinately rather do location shots of great people doing what they want to do dressed how they want to dress than tell the senior to bring the senior gown and cap along with a change of clothes that will ususally be a suit. 

I would much rather do a shoot of a senior in his or her environment doing his or her thing dressed the way he or she wants to dress as long as too much stuff isn't hanging out. LOL.... I would rather work with the kid and the dog, the kid and the horse, the kid and the gerbil than anything else.  I would rather that it be on the farm, with the kids truck, out by the fishing pond behind the computer screen or anything else that really turns the kid on.  I don't care about smiles, not smiling and couldn't care less about the traditional art pose or glamour pose.  I want to shoot the natural kid in the natural habitat.  Be that in or out, up or down, sideways or whatever way...

Things are hot an moving here in the spring.  If you try to get me for a photographic assignment use my cell... 281 413 9479.... Don't hide your number.  I rarely answer calls from unknown individuals because it is usually an advertiser for whom I have no time.  And I always have my calendar with me.  Remember if I don't pick up I will check your message.  It's busy out there folks..  God bless and have a wonderful day.  I know I will. 

Learning your camera

Cameras being made today are extremely complicated computers for all practical purposes.  The have programs that will do any number of things that  make your photography better and easier.  However on the newer DSLR's the learning curve is going to be steep.  There can be literally hundred's of settings that must be mastered.  

How is one to do this feat of mastering all the settings offered by your new camera?  Simple... divide and conquer the complications.  Start off in full auto for your first photographic endeavors.  Chances are that you will get excellent results.  As you become more comfortable with the camera start with a common technique such as depth of field.  Since digital photography costs nothing to make images, try  hundreds of images at various settings until you are comfortable at that setting.  Then move on, I would suggest, working through the manual, to go from one skill to the other until you have mastered the camera.   After a short while  you will be the master of your camera instead of the other way around.

There is no substitute for practice.  It does lead to perfection or at least mastery and, additionally, much better photography.  

Great images, 

John 

Sadness and happiness

One of my best friends past away last Thursday.  Her visitation was Monday evening in Crockett, Texas.  We always looked at Betty as our social organizer.  She organized on last beautiful reunion for all of us who taught with her for many, many years.  With me, it was from the late 70s... not giving away my age of course.  So many friends there... so many people I had not seen for a while. 

Additionally, she got me to go to Crockett, Texas.  What a beautiful little town.  Beautiful massive old fashioned houses with white posts, white pickett fences and tulip trees already in bloom.  I went early so I would be able to explore the town.  When I arrived hunger pangs were bothering me a bit so I went to the Moosehead Cafe.  What hamburgers and what great people.  As I am typing this away from the office I will post pictures later.  But it provided some unique and wonderful picture taking opportunities. 

Don't forget spring schedules are filling up. 

Best Blessings,

John

Craft Photography

Crafters and artists work extremely hard to produce objects that show off the best skills of the artist.  Craft work and artwork present unique challenges.  Art photography can enhance your brochures, business cards and catalogues.

Many craft producers, painters, sculptors and other artists do not have time to produce all the photographic work they need. 

Let me do it for you.  Very reasonable plans are available for artists who wish to have their work photographed.  I can come to your studio.  Photograph you at work so you can produce an excellent brochure or other publicity material.  I will also be happy to do that for you as well. 
Give me a call and an opportunity to help.   

New service available

Hi everyone.... I am offering a unique service to those interested in genealogy, history, or other personal research.  I am available to photograph grave sites, ancestral homes, historical sites important to you and any other area or location that you may not be able to get to for some reason.  This service is a valuable one in terms of discovering material about your family and past history.  I price it only per hour on site.  Most locations will not take more than an hour to photograph plus transportation costs if it is out of the Houston area.  Should air fair be involved I will only charge the actual cost of transportation.  Automobile transportation out of the city of Houston is priced at $.50 per mile.  There are no transportation charges within the Houston metroplex.  I encourage you to take advantage of this new service offered by John McGeough Photography. 

Senior portraits...

Spring is rapidly on the way.  Now would be a good time to start planning for senior portraits.  I am anxious to work with you to get a creative and unique set of photographs for the end of one of the most eventful years of your life.  I am now scheduling sessions for senior portraits.  Let's get in touch... blessings...
John

Historical Documentation

One of the things I do for fun is documenting historical sites.  Presently I am documenting the "Old Big Creek Cemetery" outside Shepherd, Texas.  There will be a flickr posting as well as Webshots.  I will also use some of the material for stock.  There are thousands of old cemeteries, churches and historical sites that will not be here in a few years.  They cemeteries, of course, are permanent but wooden buildings that have fallen into disuse will deteriorate.  I would like to encourage as many photographers as possible to take part in efforts to document historical artifacts while they are still here.  You would be performing a valuable service, publicizing your business and preserving history.  Many historical societies would appreciate getting photographs that would provide them with valuable resources.  One of the tragedies of the larger cities in Texas is that most have the attitude that new is better.  As you work think in terms of historical documentation but also as a way to build up stock material.  Many of these locations will make awesome locations for portraits.  A lot of fun in to be had documenting history that is now seen as commonplace or too old to be of value.  Shoot it before it is gone. You may well be the only one doing the work.