what you are paying for (more on the little things that make a big difference)

In our features listed at the top of our blog, we've tried to show you how we take the little details seriously, and end up with a "magical product". It's not just enough to own a digital camera. The camera doesn't do much for the awesomeness of the end product, the photographers vision is the actual magic behind the lens.

Have you ever thought, "wow that guy must have a great camera!?"
If you have, you're not alone, and it's a common misconception that the camera is making the photographer look good. If that were true, then there must be something wrong with a lot of cameras out there, because there is still a lot of mediocre & uncreative photos being made.

What is this difference and how can you access it?
I believe most people can better their photography by learning to "see the light" differently and use it to their advantage. But beyond that, they need to practice creative thought, massaging their ideas past the obvious and onto something more refined and interesting. For some, this will be easier than others. We're all born with a certain amount of creative thought, analytical thought, and so on... I believe we can all improve, but the amount we improve will depend on our natural gifts and the dedication we have to see improvement.

Why choosing us guarantees you amazing imagery
At GetzCreative, we practice daily to open ourselves up to new creative thought, to stretch ourselves, and to place our creative channels into the "un-obvious". We already see the light differently, and try to shape it into something extraordinary. Our goal is to combine concept, form and lighting to produce an image that evokes emotion.

Vision FIRST=an extraordinary moment (the car image and how it was created)
When you look at the car image, I hope you get lost in the mood of the image and the way the light is playing across hood of the car, the nose of the driver, the kiss of the couple and the bodies of the friends. And if you think about the timeline of when this shot took place (in the dark at the end of their congratulatory and chaotic sendoff) you'll find this image is a lot harder to capture than you first imagined.

The steps in creating the car image
During a wedding, the day takes on a momentum all it's own. As a photographer you can nudge, bend and use the momentum, but you can't expect to control it. Wedding momentum is like a wild bull. If you try and grab it by the horns to get it to submit to your will, you'll soon find you've frustrated either the bride or yourself. Every wedding photographer knows that it is easier to live in the chaos, than to try to control it point for point—and that's where vision comes into play.

For example, let's take the image above. The happy couple has just run out of their reception hall and has been pelted with bubbles. They're on a fast track to their getaway car, where they'll wave goodbye, kiss one last time and disappear into wedded bliss. All this happens in a few short minutes and then the wedding is over. this is where our vision kicks in...

The story
It was night, and the bride and groom were dancing. We had captured all the various ways you can shoot dancing images, and were waiting for the last dance to start. Michelle and I saw their getaway car outside and started to plan what shots we were going to get for their exit. We quickly studied the angles, where people would stand, what our location would be, and all that good stuff. Ending up at the car, we decided to capture their final kiss in a dramatic fashion. It was dark by this time, and the inside of the car would be completely black. We grabbed a flash, hooked up some wireless gear, and tested the settings we'd need, so we could quickly capture the shot we needed before their send off. Memorizing the settings, we went back inside, shot their final dance, captured their exit, and quickly set the flash to what we knew the light needed to be. All this work and forethought paid off as we captured an amazing image filled with mood and drama in a night setting. the difference is our vision; our planning This is what you are paying for! Technical knowhow with forethought is much more powerful than technical knowhow on it's own.

Whoever you choose as your photographer, make sure you can see forethought in their work. With us, you know it's standard and something we bring to every shoot. We care about your wedding as much as we cared about our own. If you're going to spend money on photography, why not pay for vision? It's not good enough to simply get hundreds of images of your wedding day. Only a limited number will fit into your album anyway. The biggest bang for your buck is vision.

Michelle and I love what we do, and we can't wait to be part of your special day! If you have any questions, please email or call. We hope you see how vision plays an essential role in capturing your day in a beautiful and memorable way.

wishing you well,
-TJ & Michelle

p.s. we can't wait to hear from you!

John & Traci (wedding highlights)

John & Traci (wedding highlights coming soon...)

Jeremy & Jenn: wedding highlights

before & after: what are you paying for? (pt.2)

flash from the past part 2
Several posts ago, I talked about money, and the special value we bring our customers. (for a quick read you can find them here & here). Today, I want to reiterate some of that same message, but also put more focus on the "artistic styling" applied in our post-production phase of your project.

Every project we undertake is put through similar steps to help us achieve our cinematic look.
When you become one of our respected clients, you can expect to be given not only a specialized product, but professional customer service as well. We listen to you, and then communicate what is needed to make the project come to life. Communication is key is any relationship, regardless of its professional or personal nature. We promise to answer you in a timely fashion, and to give your project 100% of our effort.

all companies are not created equal
Assuming every company puts the same amount of detail and effort into the customer as the next guy, can leave you sorely disappointed and frustrated throughout the process. Running a business is much more than creating a superior product and selling as much as you can. Finding someone you can trust, who will be reliable and consistent, is what can take a good experience, and transform it into an extraordinary experience. I'm saying this, to help you understand the value we put on you as our customer, and the experience you can expect to have from beginning to end.

refinement of the glitz
It's no secret photoshop and other digital products have become the norm in today's photographic workflow. But many have entered this digital revolution with a limited understanding of the historic importance the darkroom as played in creating photographs. The darkroom was not just a place where film was developed, it was a place where pictures came alive and art was created!

In-camera technical prowess is always key to any great image, but so is vision, styling and execution while working with those you're photographing. But after all is said and done, and the last image is captured, the final step to creating the picture begins— and it's called the darkroom experience.

Great photographers honed their skills to refine their work in the darkroom to an art. This often set the professional, the true master of the art, apart from the hobbyist/enthusiast. The same stands true today, in the digital darkroom, of photoshop, corel painter and the myriad of other image-editing products. In today's top companies, true craftsmanship is what you're paying for.

Of course, I still encourage anyone to get a camera, shoot their passion and practice their own "digital darkroom, but for the purpose of this article, I want to get you to ask yourself, why am I paying for professionals photos for, say, $1000 that don't look much different from what you can shoot yourself), instead of paying $3000 where you're getting a personal experience and images that feel and look like art? Learn to see the the difference behind those photographers with vision and darkroom skill, and those who just love to dabble. You often get what you pay for, and educating yourself on the difference, can leave you with not only an amazing product, but a beautiful experience as well.

much love,
-TJ

Update on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 6:57PM by TJ GETZ

Update on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 11:35AM by TJ GETZ

Update on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 11:55AM by TJ GETZ