Roses Rouges

Roses Rouges
Originally uploaded by Bill Miles Photography

I finished up the image processing stage of a Prescott, Arizona wedding. This one is a favorite detail shot.

It's hard to explain the feeling I get when I put the "brush" down and call an image finished. It takes time. Sometimes several hours dodging, burning, cropping, and color correcting. Even then, I may decide to scrap it and start again.

Many wedding photographers have a workflow where they upload images to a host and allow their clients to login, review, and purchase images from an event. It's a great concept. For me, it frees up more time to focus on the more creative aspects of my photography work. But, it should not become a repository for all images shot at a particular event, only to be processed after the client chooses the ones they want. Why? You expose your work, good and BAD, to discerning clients looking for nothing but great work. I would be embarrassed to let anything but my best work roam around on the internet.

I believe a true artist takes pride in his/her work, and will take the time necessary to produce only the best work. I would lose more sleep knowing my unedited images were out there being critiqued by a potential client than from staying up late to get an image exactly how I want it.

Stay true to who you are as an artist and people will notice your work. Get lazy, your work will suffer and you just become a person that takes pictures, not the photographer everyone wants to hire.

Check out Flickr to see more of my work.

Bill Miles Photography:  Think. Create. Evoke.

A Mother's Hands

A Mother's Hands
Originally uploaded by Bill Miles Photography

As a wedding photographer, you must be an artist. There are a plethora of things to think about as you prepare and execute your plan to capture a bride's wedding day. Intertwined with that is the need to be the artist you are.

I am a believer in the digital revolution. It has given me many tools over the past 12 years, including the ability to take my photography in a new direction with new workflows. My vision for each photo plays through my head as I prepare for the shots. With wedding photography, that process has to be quick and decisive.

A Mother's Hands was a shot I took at a wedding in Prescott, Arizona. As I sifted through my images for the first time, this is one I pulled to start off with in post-processing.

Where is the emotion in this photo? That is what I ask myself at the processing stage of each image. After that, I process the image in a way that enhances that emotion, either through color, contrast, crop, diffusion, etc. Again, try to be quick, or else you will never get your client their images.

The payoff for all the image work is the bride's face when she see her photos for the first time. Usually, they get somewhat emotional. That emotion is my reward.

Check out Flickr to see more of my work.

Bill Miles Photography:  Think. Create. Evoke.

In Thought

In Thought
Originally uploaded by Bill Miles Photography

Shooting a wedding is very challenging. In fact, it may be the most challenging event for photographers. But, with all the pressure comes great rewards—using your style to capture priceless moments in other's lives. It's an adrenaline rush.

Beyond the ceremony, the photographs, and all the symbolism is a deeper meaning—love, commitment, and a promise. To share in a couple's special day as a photographer, getting to document all the emotion of the day, and then being able to give them an album to look back on in the years ahead, is priceless. You get to create history.

Wedding photography is not just a job. Every one of them is a special project, unique to the couple and who they are. My job is to tell the story.

Check out Flickr to see more of my work.

Bill Miles Photography:  Think. Create. Evoke.

Cadillacs At Dusk

Caddys at Sunset
Originally uploaded by Bill Miles Photography

This photo was taken on a trip through West Texas with a friend. The place is called Cadillac Ranch, originally off Route 66 which is now a main highway in Amarillo. It is the brainchild of helium millionaire Stanley Marsh, erected on his land. Click here for more info on Cadillac Ranch.

The trip was a chance to get away from the hectic pace in Dallas and photograph some of the old, dusty West Texas towns. Cadillac Ranch was on the list to photograph, but there was no real time frame of when we would shoot it. It was spontaneous.

We just arrived back in the town of Canyon, our base of operations, from a day of shooting and we decided now was a good time, or challenge, to shoot the Cadillacs. We were racing to beat the sunset. It was a lot of fun. As we arrived, we got our gear and headed through the gate, passing visitors leaving. By the time we got set up, everyone was gone. There was enough light left for our fast lenses to capture the cars with no humans in the shots. The timing ended up being perfect for the shots. It was an adrenaline rush.

When I chat with people about photography, one of the questions that comes up is, "How do you get the perfect shot?". I usually say, "By accident". You do everything you know to be prepared for any situation and give yourself every opportunity to get the "perfect shot". In the case of the Cadillacs, the sun was setting fast and we were waiting for the last visitor to leave. Then, we played, equipped with fast lenses, tripods, and beautiful dusk light from Mother Nature. You never know what your going to get.

Check out Flickr to see more of my work.

Bill Miles Photography:  Think. Create. Evoke.

The Illian Family

Brick Wall Portrait
Originally uploaded by Bill Miles Photography

How important is family? Very.

I have had the privilege of photographing this family many times. A relationship is being built, laying the foundation for a lifetime friendship. This is what my photography is about, people and who they are. Establishing a relationship is key to building a successful photography business. You basically create clients for life. You learn their style and who they are so you can reflect that in your work, thus creating a personality portrait.

Here, as with the last post, I took this digitally shot image and emulated film. Add grain, adjust color and contrast, and you have a completely new image. How will this image translate to paper? Not sure, but will try a few to find the right touch.

My goal as a photographer: evoke emotion.

Check out Flickr to see more of my work.

Bridal Portraits | McKinney Cotton Mill

The Cotton Mill in McKinney, Texas, seems to be a favorite place of mine to shoot these days. I've shot everything there—children, families, senior portraits, and still life. Now, bridal shots.

The Mill is a great backdrop with wonderful pockets of natural light just waiting to be used. Much of it is still very raw and in its original form, but they are beginning to pick up the pace on restoration. The restoration will only add new areas for photographers to paint with light, create.

I was very happy with the outcome of my first bridal shoot at the Mill. The image here is taken in one of the stairwells leading up to a vacant space, where I shoot a lot, and a designer's studio. The space on the second-level platform was tight, but I recently purchased a Canon 16-35 that took care of the wide angle needed to get the shot. The mother of the bride was present and actually was very helpful to me as a second assistant. My actual assistant was busy trying to hold a large reflector that was bigger than her. With a little bit of sweat, we came away with some great shots.

As you can see in the image, I like to do some alternative processing with some of the work. I like to emulate film types, which helps in creating the mood. I don't think film will ever die out because it is an art form in itself. I shoot mostly digital, but occasionally pull out the medium-format Yashica twin lens. Digital is faster and more efficient, but film is much more beautiful.

I will continue to use the Mill as a photo op location for all my clients. The space, texture, and light will keep me coming back. Creating a relationship with the property manager has helped me gain access to shoot at the Mill along with a $50 per hour fee. That's what you will find at most places charging to shoot photography.

Check out Flickr to see more shots at the Mill.

Bill Miles Photography: Think. Create. Evoke.

Deep Ellum Portrait

Deep Ellum, just outside of downtown Dallas, holds many memories for me. I spent most of my youthful weekends hanging out down there with friends. To me, it was the arts district. Back in the 1920's, the area was known for its smokey jazz clubs, a haven for musicians and artists.

I decided to use Deep Ellum as the backdrop for a recent client shoot, family portraits. I chose Deep Ellum because it fit the personality of the family I was shooting. I was happy with the results, as was the client.

The Photograph

We all know how hard it can be to photograph children, especially when we want them to stay still. In this shot, I wanted it to be all about the little girl. So, I set the parents off in the background just in front of this old warehouse garage door and put pennies out in front of them, knowing Layla would want to pick them up. I did not know she would want to give them to me. It made for a great photo of her and left enough resolution on the parents to see their smiles.

The vintage chairs you see in the photography came straight from my living room. They added a great touch to the urban landscape.

Check out Flickr to see more of my work.

Bill Miles Photography:  Think. Create. Evoke.