Luminaire Images Blog • by Molly Ann

Not that most of my regular readers care about this, but I figured out how to get rid of Carbonite completely from my computer…all by myself, I might add.  Instead of signing up for posting privileges in forums I never frequent, I’m just going to post what I did here and with any luck someone searching the web for this solution will find it via Google.

So. Carbonite is still relatively new for Mac users and I downloaded the software for a trial run, and decided I didn’t want it.  IF ONLY uninstalling it were as easy as right-click-delete like how it is for other apps.

After following Carbonite’s own instructions on uninstalling it, I saw that the icon was still appearing in my navigation bar, a dialogue box for the service still popped up when I tried to restart, and Carbonite’s data-daemons or whatever they were were still appearing in my activity monitor. SO annoying!

(The little “lock” icon is Carbonite’s)

After looking through forums that described solutions that didn’t apply to me (possibly because I’m running Snow Leopard which at the time of this writing is still pretty new), I went back to ActivityMonitor [Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor, and make sure "All Processes" is selected] and noticed that while some of the applications were running under my user name, others–including Carbonite’s shiz—were running under “root.”  No wonder I couldn’t seem to get rid of it.

So I enabled the root user for my computer and logged in.  Once in the root account, I went to my main hard drive (”Macintosh HD”) and looked into both the “System” and the “Library” folders. LO AND BEHOLD, despite zero traces of Carbonite in my regular user account, the program still had a full folder in the Library here in the root account!  I threw it in the Trash, opened ActivityMonitor (again, I am in the root account) and quit the Daemons that were running.  Once they were quit, I was able to empty the trash and that troublesome app is gone for good!

I should add that I am not a programmer or hacker.  I merely have a spotty, Google-educated handle on all things programmerly and I’m probably not the best person to answer questions regarding anything besides what is exactly (and I mean EXACTLY) in this tutorial.  Good luck!

Everywhere I see signs of a deflating economy, except, it would seem, when it comes to the prices of photography equipment. What gives? Why does B&H still expect people to pay 2006 prices during the 2009 recession? BLARRGH. I hate putting so much stock into the discounts that I “hopefully” find at WPPI.

A buckling economy doesn’t shorten my “To Buy” list, but it does make me reconsider how to acquire some of the items on it. After finding David Tejada’s tutorial on how to make your own Beauty Dish for under $30, I decided to give it a try, despite not being all that handy with hardware, myself.

It was actually surprisingly easy to make.

Here are three examples to demonstrate the awesome cosmic power of the Dish. Just FYI, I obviously didn’t do my hair or put on makeup for any of these.

Flash only — Flash with Diffuser cap — Flash with Beauty Dish

These were all taken with the flash angled straight at me. You can see the “flash only” is just ugly, undesirable, washed-out light that makes my natural moon-skin terribly pale. The “flash with diffuser cap” is much better but really dramatizes shadows, especially around my eyes, and kind of makes me look sickly. The “flash with beauty dish” is the best of all three, with light that not only smoothes out my skin, but also reduces shine and brightens and softens lines. I actually look like I put on makeup for that picture, that’s how improved the lighting is.

The only thing that took very long when making this was just waiting for the paint to dry.

The downsides are:
The paint chips very easily and in some ways it doesn’t seem very sturdy—Tejada didn’t specify how he affixed the velcro strap to the dish, or how he prevented the plastic from cracking while cutting it (a problem I ran into). I was also surprised to discover that the epoxy I bought didn’t hold, which was odd because the directions are full of cautionary warnings, which led me to believe it was some kind of superglue. Yeah, NOT. I sense that if I were to try this again I’d probably wind up with a better model, but I’m not sure if I have the patience.

All in all, this goes to show: if you’re going to put up a “how-to make” tut online, BE THOROUGH. For the sake of us poor un-Macguyver-esque people out there, who are unfamiliar with hardware stores and need clear directions from start to finish.

How many things are wrong with this picture?!

I looooove Photoshop Disasters. The above picture is by far one of the best posts I’ve ever seen.

Incidentally, if you want to regularly follow blogs like Photoshop Disasters (and this blog, too!) without bookmarking them and amassing a huge list of bookmarks, you can use RSS Feed sites like Bloglines or Google Reader. Sites like those list the blogs you want to follow, alert you when a certain blog is updated, and even display the blog entry on the same page if you want to see it….so you can see everything all from one place!

To subscribe to blogs, sign up for one of the above services and then visit the blog you like. Look for the magic RSS symbol: , or the magic word “Subscribe,” and follow that to automatically add a blog to your subscription service.

You can also still subscribe even if there is no apparent RSS; just copy the blog’s URL and paste it into the reader service’s search field to locate the blog’s feed, floating out there somewhere in cyberspace.

In addition to Photoshop Disasters, here are some good blogs to subscribe to, or at least check out:

What The Duck - Daily photographer humor in webcomic form

Kevin Kubota’s blog - My (action) hero!

Trash the Dress - Everyone’s heard about trash-the-dress sessions…but have you seen them?

Get out there and start subscribing!

I never thought I’d be blogging about this, but this topic appeared in both a Flickr forum and a MySpace photography forum yesterday, so apparently it’s something people want to know/are discussing.

My first reaction was, “Anyone with any common sense would wear…” but then when I thought about it, I recalled that there was a time in not-too-recent yesteryears when I was going to weddings “dressed down” as far as my current standards are concerned: khaki slacks and a cute tank top! Not a tee and jeans, but not exactly something appropriate for the Ritz, either (thank heavens I never shot at the Ritz back then!).

Nowadays, I wear a cute, short-sleeved black top that isn’t too revealing and is lightweight (polyester & spandex), that I got it at a local clothing store (one of those that has a name like ‘Fashion Time’ or whatever). I have another “backup” dressy black blouse in case I have to shoot another wedding before my preferred shirt is cleaned. That’s the catch about having all these nice clothes: you either have to have them dry cleaned after every wedding, or wash them separately by hand or on a special setting in your washer.

I also own two pairs of black, polyester/rayon slacks. I used to wear a black belt as well, but I just recently started using a blue silk one because I think it looks more stylish and classy….I figure I can’t be faulted for “something blue!” I never wear a skirt or dress since I am constantly bending over, squatting, standing on chairs and stools, or heaven forfend…running. I don’t want to have to worry about a breeze flipping up my skirt or getting snagged on something.

I wear black socks and a pair of comfortable, black, velcro shoes that resemble track-runners’ shoes that I found at Payless Shoe Source. Because they are Payless shoes, I cannot vouch for how durable they are—but they sure are comfortable! In fact, I bought them specifically for comfort—I love wearing them so much that I wear them on a day-to-day basis too, not just weddings where I’m on my feet for eight hours. Of course they’re getting pretty worn out by now! In the Flickr forum Colorado photographer Charlotte Geary recommended Danskos, which I may have to check out as my next wedding photography shoe.

I also have a black rayon/cotton jacket from my local Forever 21 store that I bring with me in case I happen to get stuck outside at night, or it gets cold.

In addition to all this, I make sure I do my hair up and semi-nicely, and bobby pin areas that most easily come loose because I know I will be getting sweaty and frazzled. Ultimately, it’s far better to be overdressed and have people think you are a class act and professional, than be underdressed and wind up with someone complaining about your shoddy appearance later on. Think of it this way:

Wedding guest: “Have you seen how overdressed the photographer is?”
(This is merely a COMMENT)

Wedding guest: “That photographer is kind of underdressed, don’t you think?”
(This is a CRITICISM! You don’t want that!)

Obviously there are exceptions, the most common of which are themed weddings. If a bride and groom are having a Western/cowboy themed wedding, for example, use your own good judgment; If they INSIST that you show up in overalls and a flannel shirt, then you definitely do it! This is because brides that insist on something specific from you will also insist that her guests adhere to the theme as well. If, however, the bride and groom merely SUGGEST that you show up in jeans and a cowboy hat, throw that idea straight out the window and show up in your normal, formal/semi-formal wedding attire (thought they might appreciate a Western-looking belt buckle or small detail like that). The reason behind this is if they tell you, “It’s cowboy-themed, so wear jeans if you want to,” then chances are they are telling the same thing to their guests, and not ENFORCING the theme. Their guests will either forget about it or decide not to wear anything casual. They will all show up in regular semi-formal wedding attire and then you’ll be the only one underdressed!

So when in doubt, DRESS UP!

I’ve been approached several times now by wedding photography novices asking for advice for their first shoot. I’ve compiled some general information for anyone and everyone interested in wedding photography. As a disclaimer, I am not claiming to be a highly seasoned expert on all this–every wedding is different and this is all just what I know from my years shooting weddings so far:

First off, the sad and unfortunate truth about getting into wedding photography is that the easiest and best way “in” is from the inside itself. It is highly advisable to assist and shoot alongside an already-experienced professional before going it alone. This is not as difficult to do as you think…as soon as spring hits, online classifieds are flooded with pleas for second shooters and wedding assistants, at least in my area. Try answering a few and see what happens. Shooting as an assistant not only accustoms you to common wedding ceremonies and wedding shooting conditions, it also familiarizes you with popular poses, techniques, and tricks. The best part is, if you royally screw up because you’re a complete novice, you haven’t ruined a couple’s special day because the bulk of the photographic responsibility rests on someone else.

That said, I also must chastise those who take the plunge and try to shoot a wedding completely green, particularly if they do not feel confident enough to actually do it. By accepting the job in the first place, you may not only cheating a bride out of worthwhile photos of “the best day of her life,” but also a professional wedding photographer out of a paying job in his profession. Many brides try to recruit friends into photographing their wedding, or hire inexpensive amateurs, but 99% of the time the quality of their images suffers, and 40 years from now, they may not believe that the low price was worth it, after all.

Similarly, if you are a bride or groom-to-be, then think twice before hiring someone for cheap or free! This is ABSOLUTELY an industry in which you get what you pay for, and since photos will be the ultimate lasting momentos of your wedding day, you want to make sure they’ll be AMAZING!

Warning aside, if the bride insists that you shoot her wedding regardless of whether you are inexperienced or unprofessional, the best advice I can offer is perhaps get some practice. Try to assist some local wedding photographers and get comfortable in the setting. Ask a couple friends to go to a park with you (have one of them wear white), and have them pretend to be a couple and act out some “wedding scenes” for you. This way you can discern what angles and lens lengths make up the best shots for different activities. Every wedding is different, but generally the ceremonies (as far as a photographer is concerned) are as follows:

BEFORE THE CEREMONY:
The bride prepares by getting dressed and made up. If you have access to her dressing room, this is a good opportunity for candids. Think emotional! Look for the “little things,” such as her shoes, or her bridesmaids’ bouquets.

Get some shots of the location and the decorations. Remember they’ll all be gone by the next day!

Use the time to photograph the groom if he’s available. Get portraits of him by himself, with his groomsmen (don’t forget the ring bearer!), and his family. I recommend shooting portraits outdoors in the shade.

Get the groom out of the way so he doesn’t see the bride, and try to take some nice portraits of the bride while her makeup is fresh. Include shots of her with her bridesmaids (and flower girl) and family.

DURING THE CEREMONY:
-Ushers seat guests of honor (watch for grandparents!)
-Mothers light candles (sometimes)
-Procession down the aisle
-Father gives away the bride
*Here’s a note: Don’t forget the groom’s reaction to the bride approaching! Remember, this is the first time he’s seen her all day, and in her wedding dress! Some grooms even break down and cry!
-Officiant conducts ceremony
-Sometimes the bride and groom present flowers to their parents
-Vows
-Exchange of the rings
-Lighting of the unity candle
-Kiss (This is usually the end of the ceremony, and I recommend being in the back by this time)
-Coming back up the aisle
-Sometimes there is a dove or butterfly release, but this is not too common

AFTER THE CEREMONY
Everyone is usually very eager to party, but there are some important shots to get first!

Photograph the newlyweds with both their families, and with the entire bridal party. The altar usually makes a good backdrop. Dismiss everyone but the bride and groom and go somewhere pretty and quiet if possible to get some “romantic” shots. Play with the veil and try imitating some shots you’ve seen in magazines or on other wedding photographers’ websites.

RECEPTION
If the reception is somewhere separate from the ceremony, try to get there before the bride and groom so you can photograph them getting out of their limo!

I highly advise against shooting a reception without an external flash, because 1) they are usually indoors and 2) they are usually at night. Receptions are DARK. Make sure you’re prepared.

Get some shots of the cake before it’s been cut, as well as other details such as floral centerpieces, table settings, engraved champagne glasses, and even a big wide shot of the whole room in its natural light.

Check with the DJ for the start time of the grand entrace (which you should already know, anyway), so you’re in a good position to shoot it! Keep in mind that there may be people behind you, and you could be obstructing someone’s view. Most photographers squat for much of the grand entrance.

The grand entrance usually consists of:
-Parents first
-Bridal party next, including flower girl(s) and ring bearer(s)
-Bride and groom last

Some couples enter and immediately begin their first dance, others just go straight to their places at the head table for dinner to begin.

During dinner there are usually toasts, traditionally by the best man and maid of honor, and sometimes a parent and the groom will have a thing or two to say.

Once the toasts are done, you can relax a little and eat something. Often accommodations have been made for you to receive a plate of whatever’s being served.

Following dinner there is:

-Cake cutting
-First dance
-Father/daughter and mother/son dance
-Dancing in general
-Bouquet toss
-Garter toss

…and this is not necessarily in order.

There are other varying traditions during the reception depending on the family (i.e, Jewish weddings, Greek weddings, etc), but you probably won’t have to worry about that. All in all I think it’s a good idea to have a meeting with the couple at least a month before their wedding (if possible) to go over all the details and their timeline so you’re prepared.

I also highly recommend looking at successful wedding photographers’ websites (type “wedding photographer” into a search engine) to get ideas for some good shots. Also try your library—The Art of Wedding Photography by Bambi Cantrell is a good book to start with.

Hopefully this helps! Good luck!!