The Most Important Piece of Equipment I own is...

my Brain

Believe it or not, you are actually hiring me for my brain/mind and the images and experience that fills it. As I shoot an images for you I see a "finished" image in my head... even though the reality at the moment might look quite different to the camera. Then after the shoot my mind works to create the finished image I "saw" when I took the picture.

If you want to read about the Hardware tools I use Click Here.

A simple real world example of how My Brain and experience produces better images for you is illustrated by the two simple images below.

At a recent wedding I and my assistant photographer shot very a similar image 5 minutes apart. The images were shot at the same location, with the same subject, 5 minutes apart. Each photographer had the same tools and resources available, however, based on my experience, and what I saw in my mind as the finished image, I made different decisions about what lens to use, what exposure to use, what ISO to use, and what direction to face the bride. I produced the image on the right. (These are RAW images straight from the camera.)

• The first thing you will notice is that the image on the left has a lot of grain/noise (little dots) where my image on the right shows virtually none. This comes from using top of the line equipment.
• You can see great detail in my image. You can count the hairs on her head.
• Notice the lighting on my image (right). The light comes from the left creating a light and dark side to her face, this gives the face dimensionality (roundness) and makes the face look thinner.
• Notice how the headboard behind the bride in the right image is soft and buttery - where in the left picture it is in focus and detracts from the beauty of the bride.