Elisa and Gabriel.

 I just got finished with a weekend filled to the brim with love.  Saturday, two house photo shot an amazing wedding out on the islands (teaser to come!), and Sunday I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Elisa and Gabriel here in Burlington.  They made it so easy, as their adoration for each other poured out of their beings and into my view finder.  Oh, and that dress!  Really, I must make it a requirement that each of my subjects spend at least part of our time together in white tulle.   These photos are a joy to work on. Here's a little sample so you can see why....

The old is new again.

Let me start off by saying...woo hoo! I got my camera back! Actually, it's not my camera, or at least the one I sent to Nikon. Apparently my camera was pretty sick, so instead of a repair, they just replaced it. Nice! So I won't have to worry about the backfocus issue rearing it's head again...or at least I hope not. That would indicate some serious bad camera jo-jo. Might actually make the switch to Canon if that were to happen.

So, new camera, Yay! All factory default settings, boo. I've been pouring through the menus and settings to get everything the way I like it. I haven't even realized that some of the settings are actual settings. I don't remember changing them, but as I reaquaint myself with my buddy,  things are amiss. Autofocus settings, white balance, picture quality, noise reduction. It's good though. I feel a bit more knowledgable due to the effort.

The D50 has found it's way back to the camera bag and I thank it mightly. It took some nice photos while stepping in.

And I even found her noisy shadows a bit nostaglic and charming. A bit .

 But I've been busy appreciating the work of my now new camera and I must say, I appreciate it even more.

 I have a few things on the horizon in the next month and I'm sure everyone involved is happy I have it.

Gearing up for Art Hop 2010

Art Hop is this awesome 2 day art festival in the south end of Burlington. All sorts of businesses and store fronts convert their space into galleries for the weekend. On Friday night, the streets come alive with "arthoppers", people galavanting from one exhibit to another, eating street food, nibbling on hordervs and perhaps doing a little drinking. It's a blast. Jay and I always managed to make it out, though with kids in strollers you're restricted a bit. We had been looking forward to doing up Art Hop right one of these years.

Well, this is the year! Kinda. I mean, we won't be swilling martinis and musing over the thousands of pieces exhibited all over the city. This year? I signed up. So arthoppers will be musing over me!

It's all a bit stressful, first selecting the specific photos, then figuring out how to display them and getting them all ready. I also signed up for a juried peice. Like a true newbie, I committed my first faux pas with my picture hang hook on the back, not wire. Oops. Just chalk me up as an Art Hop virgin...I'll know better next year.

All the stress kind of came to a head yesterday, when I checked the Art Hop website and discovered that in the program, my name...is wrong. They have me down as "Kristen" (not unheard of, I'm kinda used to it at this point) "Unger." That's my maiden name. I haven't used it nearly 10 years. The only places it still exists is on Facebook, so the old gang from West Springfield High School (go Spartans!) could find me, and my yahoo email...which I've had since I was 17. It wouldn't be such a big deal if wasn't hoping it might lead to some business for KIRSTIN LAMONDE PHOTOGRAPHY.

AND to top it all off, I'm without my camera. It's at Nikon right now being serviced. I was having a bit of trouble with "backfocusing" (which means the camera is actually focusing slightly behind what I am focused upon). So I feel somewhat naked...and irritable. I do have my backup camera, and boy do I love her, but she's just not quite as fancy. I miss my fancy camera.

SOOOOO, I don't really have any photos to post, since I haven't been able to take any. Oh wait, I can show you some of the ones I'm going to show next weekend! There, problem solved. So here, have a gander.

This is the one I entered in the juried show...without a wire.


Be sure to hop by Great Harvest Friday night or Saturday and say hello!

Second shooting...

"Second Shooter" is a term often used for a secondary photographer at a wedding. The first wedding I ever photographed, I was a 'second shooter.' And it's about more than just an additional camera on the scene. You are also there to help the primary photographer with equipment, lighting, gathering up guests and so on. It can be an excellent way to get your feet wet, gain some experience and most importantly confidence.

Just this Saturday I worked with Adam Frehm as an assistant, or second shooter, and it was incredible. As an established and respected professional his guidance and encouragement were as (if not more) valuable than any wage he could offer. He made it fun and not at all stressful (well...at least less stressful). I tried to be as big of a sponge as I could, and feel I walked away with some things to work on with a clear idea of how to improve. I appreciate him taking time to illuminate his methods, though I wish some of that charisma could rub off as well!



I personally really like second shooting. Not only for the chance to learn, but for a more relaxed, and fun or experimental way to attack a very traditional subject... a wedding



Everything you can provide to the primary photographer (unless they give you specific assignments) is gravy. So you have more creative freedom. You know they have the money shots covered. You don't have to worry so much about "the kiss" or family formal shots. Actually, I find the formal shots a great opportunity to get some of the best candids of the bridal party.



As they wait their turn, or take a break in between shots there is always laughter and they're all together, relaxed.

Without the pressure of the "shot list" you are more free to capture details, little memories that the bride and groom may forget unless they have that photo to remind them. For instance, when the bride and groom are waiting to cross a city street to get to their reception, with traffic honking their congratulations.



And since a person can't be in two places at once, when the primary photographer has to be somewhere, like up at the alter waiting to capture the brides entrance, the second shooter can hang out behind the scenes and get the flip side.




Oh, that last one is going to haunt me. There's always one or two from every shoot that haunts you. I really love that photo. The bride, her mother, the flower girls peeping over the railing. But it's ever just so blurry. Probably looks fine on the web, but blown up? so - so. Luckly, I also gleaned a bit of technical direction from Adam that I'm sure to take under advisement and hopefully I'll be able to avoid that in the future. Which is gravy for me.

It's fun. Really fun.



And I get a few more photos for my portfolio...and a little bit of homework.

Jen and Brian are married!

I would like to thank Jen and Brian for asking me to capture their day. They will always hold a special place in my heart as my very first wedding. The faith they put in me is small in comparison to the faith they have put in each other. Thanks you guys. Wishing you every bit of luck, but something tells me you don't need it. It really was wonderful.

Here's a little taste...

























See a whole bunch more by clicking here

Assisting Kara...

Saturday night I had the pleasure of assisting Kara Delahunt at a pretty little wedding in Middlebury. From the moment I stepped up to the site I knew there wasn't going to be any trouble getting some nice pictures. It was open and green with a quaint little farmhouse at one end and a birch trellis in front of an arc of chairs at the other. The light, the setting, the people all came together for a beautiful gathering to celebrate the happy couple. Congratulations to Brooke and Andrew!

Vermonters take ice cream very seriously