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.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
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.
Friday, September 2, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, May 2, 2011
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.....
Friday, April 29, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
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
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