5 ways Snapchat will be huge for Photographers in 2016!
Snapchat is exploding in 2016 and I'm going to share with you how it will be very beneficial for Photographers!
1. PEOPLE PAY MORE ATTENTION: First off, You can only find people to follow by knowing their username. It doesn't connect to Facebook, Twitter or anything else right now, so if you are a photographer that others follow, then those followers WANT to hear what you have to say! Furthermore, they only get two chances to hear a message from you one on one. They have 24 hours to see you through "My Story". This means, people listen more, because it will soon be gone.
2. THE "MY STORY" FEATURE IS AWESOME: "My story" allows users to re-watch your videos for 24 hours. After that, they are gone forever. I find that it works awesome as a "behind the scenes" of your photography career. This is your chance to show off your personality and have fun with it! If you ever post something that embarrasses you, it'll be gone in 24 hours, so who cares! :) Don't worry though, you cans re-record your messages until you get it right before posting to your "My Story"
3. AN HONEST APPROACH TO THE INTERNET: Snapchat seems to be more honest then Instagram. All you have is the ability to take a picture or video in the moment. No pre-processed images to make them look awesome, so what you get is a whole new level of honestly that is refreshing to see on the Internet.
4. TALKING TO FRIENDS IS FUN! Just send a text or video to someone and respond with the same. They get two chances to see your message and that's it. This means that people actually pay attention to what you're saying, because if they don't it's gone.
5. 24 HOUR PROMOTIONS! Lets say you want to try something new with your photography. Snapchat is the perfect place to do that! You can offer a family photography special, a special deal on your wedding albums or even a nice landscape print at a discounted price, just to see how people respond to the promotion. It will be public for 24 hours. If it works out, do it again someday, if it doesn't, then no harm done. Most people will probably never even know you tried it unless they looked at your "my story section".
2016 is the year that Snapchat is going to really take off and get popular! People are finally starting to understand it and you better get going on it before it explodes. A lot of you are kicking yourself for not getting on Instagram from the very beginning. Don't make the same mistake with Snapchat! Sign up, follow me and send me a message! Let me know what you think and if you have any questions!
My user name on Snapchat is: Joe-Hendricks
Or you can add me by taking a pic of my snapcode! It's cool, try it!
Have fun and happy snapping!!
Joe Hendricks
Jennifer + Joseph - Expecting!
I love every chance I get to hang with these two wonderful people! First, I photographed their wedding and now I get the chance to shoot to share their amazing news to the world! Congratulations guys!!
Don't like editing? Here's 3 tips to make it more fun!
I hear a lot of people saying they hate editing. I use to hate it also, but I found out a few tricks that made all the difference in the world when it came to editing my sessions! Are you ready?
1. Take better pictures! Seriously, stop taking the same old pictures and push yourself to do something different! When you take the same pictures over and over you start to fall into a rut and so does your editing. Nothing is worse than editing 100-1000 pictures that look exactly the same!
Every time I come back from a session, I can't wait to see the pictures I took! I'm always trying something new and seeing things differently with each session. I honestly can't wait to see how something turns out when I'm editing!
2. Try some different actions and see what is possible with your pictures. I bought the Totally Rad and VSCO actions 6 years ago and played with them while I was editing. I was amazed how pictures could be totally transformed into something cool and new! I eventually created my own presets and they are what I use to get me started at every editing session! To this day, I still use a few of the Totally Rad actions to make a photo pop.
3. Be super critical about the photos you edit! Seriously, editing 3 images in a row that look exactly the same sucks! When you are culling, choose 1 or 2 out of the 27 pictures you took in the same spot. If you have to pick 3, do something different to it. Make it B&W. But, when you make something B&W, be intentional about it! Don't give your client an option, Instead tell them it "had to be" B&W. You're the professional and are perfectly capable of picking the best shot to edit. Remember, no one will ever miss a shot they never saw.
Editing should be a joy. A chance to try something new with an image. Taking the time to understand how to edit well, will make everything easier for you. Just like knowing your camera makes it easier to capture amazing shots in a split second.
Joe Hendricks
The Dupree Wedding
Here is Tom + Aimee's amazing wedding! All the awesome vendors for this wedding are linked at the end ;)
http://www.vividexperiences.com Vivid Experiences (Angela Proffitt)
Houston Station http://www.houstonstationnashville.com/
flowers: LMA designs http://laurenmarieatkinson.com/
Aimee’s dress: White Room Lebanon http://thewhiteroom.us/
Tom’s tux: Indochino.com http://www.indochino.com/
lighting: Nashville Event Lighting, www.nashvilleeventlighting.com
catering & dessert macaroons: Chef’s Market, www.chefsmarket.com
rentals: MCTE www.musiccitytents.com
draping & props: Visual Elements, www.veevents.com
Seeing the shot from a mile away
One of my favorite things to do is drive around with the couple looking for random amazing shots! After shooting for so many years, I've learned to visualize different perspectives before I get to the spot I want to shoot from. Sometimes, it's apparently clear what I will capture before I get to that spot and sometimes it's not.... but usually it's even better! The main thing you have to do is try.
So many times, we as photographer's, will have an idea for a shot and not execute on it, usually because it takes a lot of effort to make a couple pull over the car and hope your vision is right. I have found that most times, a couple is willing to do anything for the shot if you ask and are confident in your vision or thought. Sometimes, the shot doesn't work out at all, but you'll never know unless you try.
The shot below, was an idea that I took a chance on. We were driving by in the car and I could envision them standing right where that platform was. I had no idea if they could get up on that platform or not, but my couple was game to try! After the 10 minutes of finding a parking space, my couple made their way up the platform and we captured the shot below! It was one of the first shots in that series and it was very cool, but I felt like there could be something more. I walked closer to them, I ended up getting a shot that blew my mind! It ended up being an award winning shot ! If I would have kept my mouth shut and let the shot pass by, I would have never had the opportunity to get some amazing shots!
The point is, you will miss 100% of the shots you don't take. When you go out on a limb and try something different, that's when the truly magical shots happen! So trust your gut and next time you have a feeling to try something different, don't suppress it. Spit the idea out and let your couple be the determining factor! Who knows what you may end up with ;)
Go get em!!
My first workshop was awesome!
I gave my first ever (paid) workshop in Nashville and I loved it! It was a lot easier to speak in front of Professional Photographers then I thought it would be! My passion took over and it was so much fun!! Here are a few pictures from the workshop and some of the people who attended. I'm hoping to give more around the country next year and I have no idea where it's going to take me, but I'm excited to find out!
A special thanks to Hope + Mark for being amazing models for us!
2015 Best of the Best Junebug Winner!
Since I have been a wedding photographer, there has been one competition that I have always wanted to win and this morning I finally did it! Junebug just released it's 2015 Destination Wedding Photography Winners and my shot of the couple kissing under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco won!! What makes it even better, is the judges are all people I highly respect in this industry, so I am up on a cloud this morning! See the contest here: Junebug Weddings
5 Shots Every Bride should get on their wedding day!
Now that I've shot 100 weddings, I've started reflecting back over the years and decided to help out as many people as possible when it comes to getting good wedding pictures! Today, I want to help brides get the very best photography they can on their wedding day. Here are 5 shots that I believe are everything at the wedding!
1. The Details
You've spent so much time planning your wedding, sometimes years in advance! Every little detail means something to you and it needs to be captured! I have an assistant with me at all times, to point out details that I may miss from moving too fast during the wedding day. Flowers, tables, shoes, rings, lighting, food, drinks, decorations.... you name it, I get it!
2. Couple Pictures
Why put an obvious choice in here? Because it's the most important! Above all else, these should be the most important pictures you take! Take your time, move around and get a whole bunch of different shots. Be in love, enjoy the fact that you're getting married today, or that you just did. This alone time with just the two of you is the only time you are going to be alone the rest of the day.... enjoy it. You have way too many people who love you and want to tell you congratulations, so you will never get alone time again (unless you have a good photographer... read more)
3. Creative Shots
Your wedding is unique and so are you! You should have an amazing shot that no one else has! It breaks my heart when I have a bride send me pictures from Pinterest, because they are wanting to copy what someone else already did. There's nothing unique about that! I personally strive on creativity at your wedding and if you have a great photographer, they will get you amazing shots that other brides will want to pin!
4. Shots of your guests
Every couple wants to see who came to their wedding. Believe it or not, a lot of photographers don't care to take posed pictures of people at the reception. Not me! If I see a couple people I haven't taken a picture of yet, I go up to them and ask them for a quick shot. It takes no time and everyone like to show that they were at the wedding!
5. The super creative shot at night!
These are the best! They are the types of pictures that will blow you away when you see them! They take planning and skill and very few photographers can do them. They are the creative night shots that involve things like light painting, multiple flashes, and a creative eye! But the best part for the Bride and Groom is.... it's a break from all that dancing at the reception! I set up this kind of shot at the end of the night. I have the Bride and Groom come with me for about 10 minutes and I create something amazing for them! The "super creative shot at night" isn't for everyone, but its the kind of shot that makes your wedding photos stand out among everyone else's!
There are many more shots that you need to get at your wedding, but if you really want your photos to stand out and be memorable, then I truly believe these are the kinds of shots you need!
7 tips for taking creative engagement pictures
1. Don’t plan anything!
This may take a little getting use to for some of you, but for you creative photographers out there, stop planning every aspect of your shoot! During an engagement session, so much spontaneity happens! The weather may change, the couple may not be into your ideas, an event is going on that you didn’t plan for. So many things happen to change your shoot, so stop planning them. When you get out there, look around and feel out the place, subject, and the sun and go for a cool shot!
I was on top of the wall, when I told my couple to walk to the end of it. I went down the stairs and looked up to see this shot! It was random and ended up being awesome!
2. Have an open mind!
Every location has something cool to shoot, even the back alley behind a house. All you have to do is think of your lenses as blinders, like the kind race horses wear. Crop out all the trash and nasty looking distractions with your lens! You will be amazed at how beautiful things can look when you have blinders on.
This is the wood they burn at Jack Daniels. It's not a pretty place, but in the middle of the piles of wood, it's magic!
3. Know your camera inside and out!
Get a bottle of wine or a couple beers and start reading that camera manual! Your camera can do some pretty amazing things!! That is all.
4. Talk with them!
Do #3 first and it will be easier to have a great conversation with your couple. Not only will you get to learn more about them, but knowing more about their personality will make it easier to tell them how to pose. Sometimes, the creative juices are flowing so fast that you may fumble your words a bit, but don’t worry, showing them a cool shot makes up for everything!
Most of the time, I'm trying to get my couples to laugh and smile.
5. Always have your camera ready!
Great shots come upon you instantly! If you're not ready to go, you will miss it. I'm a huge fan of shooting aperture priority (Nikon), because sometimes if you think at all, you'll miss a shot. At least with setting like aperture priority you stand a chance of getting a decent exposure at a moments notice.
A fun moment, where she walked up behind him.
6. Try 2 new things at every shoot!
I always tell photographers to try two new things at every single shoot! You have PLENTY of time to try something new. Get your required shots that are expected of you and then go out on a limb and experiment. If it doesn't work out, oh well... at least you tried. Photography is fun and you can grow so fast if you want to.
Sometimes a simple puddle is enough to make a cool shot!
7. Look at other Photographers work!
Yeah, I said it! I hear too many photographers saying they don’t look at anyone else’s work. First, they’re full of it... Second, you get better, faster, by comparing yourself to the best photographers in the world! It’s hard to grow if you don’t know what’s possible and you will never know what possible unless you look at other photographers work! Don’t make the mistake of comparing yourself to the photographers in your own city and price range... you can be a lot better then that ;)
Wedding Photographer Review of The ONA Prince Street Leather Bag
The ONA leather Prince Street bag is pretty awesome! It looks great and functions great, but there are a couple things I love and don't love.
My Landscape Photography Journey- Part 1
About a month ago, I went on a trip out west with my wife and 3 year old son, to see some of the most amazing national parks in America! The drives were long, but the reward was huge! I had seen pictures of places like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Antelope Canyon before, but being there first hand to see it with my own two eyes was a completely awe-inspiring experience!
Ever since my trip ended, I've been thinking about where I'm going to go next! Not only to see the amazing beauty of this world (especially in a time with so much destruction going on), but to take pictures that will take my breathe away!
The secret to getting a good shot? Getting your butt out the door and letting the shot develop in front of you! Not to mention, you need to know composition, ND filters, graduated filters (and every other filter known to man), the right tripod, where the sun is setting and rising, when the moon is going to be full or not, what the weather is going to be like, time zones (so you don't arrive late), a vehicle to get you to hard-to-reach places, a camera that will produce a huge print after you take that magical shot and so much more! I didn't realize how much went into it!
But the most surprising thing I found, were the great shots no one else was taking! As a Photographer, you have to look at everything different. You have to see your angles before you get to the spot you need to get to. You have to watch the color of the mountains change and capture it correctly with the right settings. You have to compose your shot in a way that is pleasing to the eye. Composition is the part that I see most landscape photographers fail at. It's also the most important part of being a landscape photographer! I tell everyone that I mentor, composition has to come naturally. If you have great natural composition, you can learn the rest, but teaching someone composition (who doesn't get it) is probably the hardest thing you can do IMO.
I've shown a few shots that I took while on vacation. They will all be for sale eventually and I have a very special sale coming up soon, which you can find more details about at www.joehendricks.photography
I can't to tell you more about my landscape photography in the future!
Photographing The Blood Moon in Yosemite
I was in the middle of Yosemite during the Blood Moon
The day before the blood moon, my wife happened to look on Facebook and see someone post about the blood moon happening the next day. We were currently a mile outside of Yosemite, so I thought it would be cool to get up early in the morning and see what the “Blood Moon” is all about!
The Alarm clock rings at 4am, I get up and the very first thought I have it that I should stay in bed! HAHA, but I brew some coffee and get my butt out the door. As I’m driving, I see the moon is already in a crescent form, so I start speeding, because I’ve never seen a blood moon and I have no idea how long it takes for the moon to turn red!
When I arrive, there’s a few other people out there with big telephoto lenses with chairs to sit in, coffee brewing and I think someone even had a tv. It was obvious I still had another hour before the blood moon went down. My first reaction is to GET AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE! When I’m photographing anything, whether it is a wedding, landscape or a friends birthday party…. the first thing I do is go somewhere no one else is! Why would I want to be where the crowd is? Obviously everyone is getting the same angle and I hope they’re at least good enough to get a decent shot, so I go somewhere else.
In this case, I went a few hundred feet to the left of everyone else and instead of pulling out a 200mm lens, I go for the 14–24 2.8 nikkor. I thought, everyone shoots it close up, so I’m going to shoot it wide! I would come to find out later, that there was actually plenty of time for me to shoot wide, change my lens and then shoot a close up with my 200mm. But it doens’t matter, because what DOES matter is that I wanted something different from everyone else! We should all be striving for that, no matter what business we work in! Because, if you’re producing the same thing someone else is, how are you ever going to differentiate yourself from others? This is especially true in photography.
So I went for the wide shot and I was pretty amazed by the whole entire moment! The sky turned red, while half of it stayed blue! It was beautiful! And not only did I get a cool shot of the blood moon in Yosemite, but I even had time to turn my camera around and shoot El Capitan, which was sitting there in complete darkness with the milkyway to the right of it! The blood moon was barely bright enough to light up the mountain and man it was amazing!! I honestly, don’t even know if it is possible to get El Capitan lit up with the milky way behind it on a compltely dark night. Maybe you guys can shed some light on that?
Anyway, life is meant to be explored. Whether it be in Yosemite National Park in the morning or in a busy city in the middle of the day, life is meant to be experienced and as photographers, the only way to get those mazing pictures, is to go out there and do something different! So get off your butt and get out there…. explore. Take a picture, even if there is no picture to take, because just having something to remember your experience is enough to make it all worth it.
Joe Hendricks
www.joehendricks.com
The story behind - The Wedding Party 3D shot
This is one of my favorite and most famous wedding pictures I have taken to this date! I love the picture and the story behind it is pretty cool too ;) If you're curious about how I got this wedding party to pose for this picture, watch the 2 minute video.... it's pretty cool and shows a little behind the scenes the seconds before the shot happened!