PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG
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Travel Photography tips: Simon Woolf
We all like to travel, and taking photos is the way we record those new experiences. Here are some travel photography tips from Simon Woolf (photographer, traveller, lover of life...). Read on...
Have you ever been in the dilemma of heading off on a once only trip overseas, and not knowing what camera or equipment to take? Well ... it happens to me all the time!
When I am on an assignment, and I can tell you I have been all over the world with my photography, you have to consider everything from the jobs pre-requisites, to whether it's going to be humid, wet or dusty, and will there even be power!
When I head off on holiday, it’s a different story. I usually want to travel light, and not have a lot of gear restricting my mobility. I want to be able to shoot both wide and long, I'm also looking to for quality, and I don't want to look like Tommy Tourist. If I want to play the tourist card I'll use my phone!
So, it’s a Lightweight DSLR (13megapixals or above) with a Sigma 18 -250mm lens. I love that lens as it has a great range, it has optical stabilisation, and has the ability to shoot in macro too. Best of all, its durable and light! I often pocket a 10mm fisheye, as it’s able to gain me a difference in places. I also take a small gorilla pod. You know those small tripods that can wrap themselves on a pole, or just sit on a wall somewhere, just so you can get those quality night shots. Not everything should be photographed in excess of ISO 2500 at night! I also shoot RAW files, and low res Jpegs simultaneously, so that I can quickly send Jpegs home to the family, or do Social Media bit, so that people can see what I am up to.
I download each and every night on a lightweight laptop, and then onto a small drive. I keep my cards, until I get home. Yep, my media travels with me three in different places ... just in case! I would be gutted to lose my memories from a great trip away.
That's me!
I get home, and I print proof sheets of everything. You know those old fashioned contact sheets. I then print big images of my best shots, and also try and make a coffee table book. I like the tangible and tactile! Framed photos, and especially beautiful photo books have legacy, and I really want my imagery to last the test of time.
The best advice I can give to gain great travel shots is be ready for anything, make your exposure count ( i.e. meter well. Don't be too dark, or too light ), back up your superb photos properly, and then print them. Most of all have fun. After all, you are capturing your memories!
Should we trust the Cloud with our memories?
How reliable is the Cloud in storing your images and memories? Will it be there for ever? That is a big question for our industry.
One of the things we take great pride in at Woolf Photography is that we have a Photographic Archive (our Photographic "Memory Bank", if you like) that spans over 80 years. What we don't store on our servers, we have preserved on disc, and prior to that (1980's), we keep at the Te Papa Archives.
Why, you say? Well, our family business has been taking Wellington's photographic Biography (and that of others) for all that time, and we see it as a precious visual legacy.
But times they are a-changing, as Bob Dylan once said... so while we do offer customers the choice of purchasing their images digitally instead of in print, we still feel that having a tangible record of your images (be they framed on your wall or laid out in a beautiful album) elevates them from shareable "sight-bites" to keepsakes and objects of beauty that ensure your legacy; a piece of history that you can pass on.
So why not pop in and see what we can do to preserve your memories today?
To ask about Custom Framing, Printing and our Albums, call us on (04) 917 68 61, or email info@woolf.co.nz. These make wonderful gifts for Christmas.
They grow up too fast...
Meet Ava Rose...
Ava Rose was in our Wellington City studio this week with her mum for Part 3 of her Bump-to-Baby photo shoot. You will agree, the images Jess took of this beautiful little girl are stunning.
Because they grow up too fast, if you don't capture the moment, the moment is gone. Because they grow up too fast, preserving the image means keeping a record: Printed, framed or on a canvas, they make great gifts for grandma or dad. Christmas is coming, why not book a Family photo session? At home or in our studio, our team will help you capture those precious moments.
Call Toni on (04) 917 68 61.
Opera Star Daniela
Opera Star Daniela - captured at her best...
Our Headshot Photography is renowned, and when aspiring Opera Star Daniela Rosa Capeda, rang us from Auckland, asking whether we could take some new Headshots for her, there was no hesitation!
Daniela has been supported by Woolf Photography in the past, through our Developing Young Entertainer Portfolio sponsorship. She is now a very accomplished Lyric Soprano, and has been playing Christine, in Phantom of the Opera, all around New Zealand.
Jess took a great array of superb shots, some of which you can see here. Many stars of Stage and Screen, Sports, the Arts and Business have their Headshots taken with Woolf Photography. Many have come to us early in their careers, and with the help of our photography have gone on to strong careers, and even fame, and fortune!
Woolf Photography have some great Headshot Portfolio sessions available, and currently have The Ultimate Portfolio Special happening.
To Book now ring Toni on 917 6861.
Meet the Team: Doug Mountain, 20 Years
Meet the Team: Doug Mountain celebrates 20 Years with Woolf: ...
Celebrating a milestone:
This week marks Doug's 20th anniversary at Woolf Photography, which, you will agree, is good innings for anyone in any profession these days!
If you've read his bio, you will know that he is an award-winning photographer, originally from the USA, that he started at Woolf Photography as a Framer, and is now a Senior Photographer. Doug manages our team of photographers and makes sure everyone consistently produces excellent work.
So we wanted to honour this man of many talents (did we mention that he started off as a glazier in his hometown of Denver?) and his contribution to Woolf Photography by sharing a couple of anecdotes but especially some of his best loved and thought-provoking work:
Doug's musings:
- "Parenthood gave me patience..."
- "Early on Simon asked me to go with him to photograph the All Blacks, not for my photographic skills, but because I was the only one tall enough to hand him the camera while he was on the ladder. And I still managed to knock one of the cameras off the chair and break the flash. Now that I think about it, it was a long time before asked me to help out on a job again."
- "Working for Woolf Photography in the variety of roles I've had has given me a a breadth of experiences that no other job would have. If I'd stayed in Colorado I might have photographed the Mayor of Denver, but here I have photographed Royalty, Heads of State, Sports celebrities, High Court Judges..." Nice.
- "There's never a dull moment at Woolf..." True.
- "It's all about the light: Yes I have photographed chairs and buildings and architecture, but it's because the light was perfect. The subject matter happened to be there" (or something like that!)
- Been here so long I'm part of the furniture and sometimes receive documentation under the name of Doug Woolf...(really.)
- Mountain Dew - caffeine of choice... (and the odd Wellington craft beverage)
What we say about Doug:
-"Jack of all trades"
-"Mr Grad", "Mr Marsden Ball", "Mr Investiture", "Mr Go-To" when things go wrong...
- He is our Super Supervisor, he is our ladder (so tall!), our digital dude & Technical expert.
- Let him loose with a camera, and surprising and creative things happen!
What his team says:
"Doug has shared with me a lot of his digital knowledge over the past 10 years which has been extremely valuable. If I ever have a technique in photoshop or something technical that I want to work out how to do I always know that Doug loves the challenge of helping us figure out how to achieve this. He is always trying to make processes in the workroom more efficient and can be pretty funny to boot!
We work hard in the workroom but we also have a joke and give him a lot for being American.
He is surrounded by women and does a pretty good job of putting up with us all. (we think it makes him a well-rounded individual!)."
So thanks Doug, from the Team at Woolf. Where would we be without you?
A beautiful family returns...
A Brazilian Family comes back for a second round of Bump-to-Baby photos with Jess Dewsnap in our City Studio...
...for their second Bump-to-Baby Shoot!
Marina, Edouard and Luna recently returned to our Woolf Photography studio:
This family loved their photographs so much from their first Bump to Baby experience (featuring wee Luna, now 3yrs old!) they decided to return for their next baby.
They first came into our central Wellington Photography Studio for pregnancy shots when Marina was 32 weeks pregnant. They then returned when Luna was only 6 days old- this was the very first time Wellington Portrait photographer Jess Dewsnap met Luna for photographs. She is now such a big girl- gosh, how time flies! We've loved seeing how much Luna has grown through each photo shoot. Luna is such a beautiful wee bubbly girl and is very excited about the new arrival.
This time Marina was 33 weeks pregnant with baby number 2. She and Edouard felt that they needed to recreate the experience and capture these precious moments because time flies.
The first year of a child's life creates the most changes: their faces and shapes (and hair & eye colour!) all change so quickly: their first tooth will give them a new smile and that first curl needs to be remembered for ever. Otherwise, before you know it, the moment is gone, and it all becomes a distant memory!
So thanks to this lovely family for coming back to visit us. Jess and the Team are really looking forward to meeting their new baby (it can't be far away now!)
Remember, Christmas is only a couple of months away. Photos of your children make fabulous Gifts for the whole family (especially grandparents who live overseas, like Marina's family!), so call us today to book a Family Portrait Shoot, or take a look at our Packages & Gifts page for ideas and inspiration.
Smitten with a kitten
Family Photography for Pet Lovers: Meet Mara the Silver Burmese pussy cat...
Lyn brought her kitten Mara for a photo shoot in our Wellington City Photography Studio last month...
Mara, a 5-month old silver Burmese, is Lyn’s baby, and Lyn was keen to get a series of photos that convey the love and emotion she feels for this kitten.
We had so much fun! Mara explored the Studio and posed beautifully for Jess Dewsnap, one of our talented Portrait Photographers. Of course, the doors of the Studio were shut and the area was secured (in case Mara escaped!), but this beautiful kitten was so good, Jess managed to capture the strong connection between them both.
So next time you are thinking of booking a Family Portrait Shoot, feel free to include your pet (in our Studio or in a location of your choice!) - after all, they are a huge part of the family- they bring laughter, cuddles and unconditional love.
So Pet Lovers, Call Toni if you have any questions regarding Pet and Family Photography on (04) 917 68 61.
Remember: Christmas is around the corner, and Family photos make a beautiful gift. You can also check out our Vouchers for more ideas on giving this Christmas.
Meet Rehua
Baby Photography is awesome. Meet Rehua: All Blacks supporter & good friend...
Meet Rehua!
This gorgeous 6 month old boy visited Jess Dewsnap in our Wellington City Photo Studio for his second photo shoot, part of the Bump-to-Baby package his mum purchased last year.
This package is a great way to see the development of your child and your family:
The first time, it’s just you, your partner and your baby-to-be. This is an intensely emotional shoot that conveys all the joy and expectation of baby.
The Second shoot, the one Rehua came to, captures bub from 2 weeks to 6 months (you choose when it’s convenient to come along!). It’s a time when your child is angelic, cherubic and simply delicious.
For the third sitting, we recommend you come between 8-10 months. You won’t believe how much your baby will have changed, and this is the age when their personalities really come into their own.
But back to Rehua: What a fun shoot! He brought his friend Sid-the-Sloth for the ride, and Jess captured the wee chats and cuddles with his friend. He then changed into his favourite All Blacks jersey- we reckon he's one of their greatest supporters!
We can’t wait to see Rehua back in our Studio for his third shoot. We promise to show you a peek!
Christmas is around the corner and photos of your children make wonderful presents. So don’t delay, call us to make a booking today & have your images ready in time for Christmas.
Zara & Petra: Poetry in Motion
A surprise Ballet photo shoot in our City Studio for Zara & Petra...
The time Angela (Zara's mum) booked a surprise Photo shoot for her daughter and friend, she set off Poetry in Motion...
Having originally received a voucher for a family portrait, Angela decided she would give this to the girls. Both amazing ballerinas, they were on their way to Wellington in the school holidays to attend a short masterclass at the New Zealand School of Dance. Both mums and girls were coming down from Hamilton for this big opportunity.
The morning of the photo shoot, the mums surprised the girls, who couldn't believe it- they were really excited!
They arrived at our Wellington Studio in full ballerina attire and for the next hour, they danced around our Studio and had an amazing experience with Simon. They came back after lunch to view the images from the shoot and were able to select and purchase their chosen ones before departing home.
Both girls loved the experience : Their package included one A3 enlargement and two 8x10" photos but they added more and also purchased a Virtual album of all the images set to a music track of there choice. All of this was couriered to Hamilton and gratefully received. We loved having you in our Wellington Photography Studio girls and hope to see you again soon!
Baby Jaden's last snaps before the trip!
Baby Jaden's lovely Bump-to-Baby photo shoot for relatives in India...
Ahead of Baby Jaden's big trip to India for a family reunion, his parents brought him in for his last Bump-to-Baby photo shoot. They had a couple of outfit changes and also brought one set of Grandparents for the ride. The beautiful prints they chose, they took with them to show family and friends in India. We loved having them and their beautiful family in our Wellington Photography Studio.
