Orange County Wedding Photographer Jen OSullivan » Boutique Wedding Photography based out of Orange County, California with studios in Irvine, Beverly Hills, and Pasadena.

Category Archives: Technique

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Engagement Session with Justin and Jenifer

Posted inJustin and Jenifer,Photo Tips,Technique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE,• ENGAGEMENTS

Jenifer and Justin are getting married on Valentine’s Day! Here are a few shots from our recent mini engagement session behind my studio in Beverly Hills. I love all the textures and diversity back there! One thing I always do during an e-shoot is practice our moves. Most people are not professional models so it is important to give them a little direction so they can interact naturally. Needless to say there is a lot of kissing and snuggling going on. When you are shooting look for the aftermath, too. Often the best shots are right after they have been kissing.:D

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Copyright © 2010 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com

Beverly Hills Wedding Photographer, Jen O’Sullivan is a boutique wedding photographer who specializes in portrait journalism. She is known for her beautifully captured emotion filled moments, stunning details, and imagery that has a storybook feel.

Jen O’Sullivan, LLC | 357 South Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California, 90211 | 310-494-6547

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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Photo Tip Using Your Point-and-shoot

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE

Many people think it is all about the camera. There is some truth to this. I would never try to capture a wedding on a point and shoot. I am currently in Mammoth on vacation and I always have a good time trying to do an “artsy” shot with my little Canon Powershot point and shoot camera. It does a pretty good job for fun macro shots. Here’s a couple I like. I am a sucker for a good icicle.:)Remember, photography should be fun and a good way to flex your creative muscle AND you do not always have to have the best equipment. So go out with whatever camera you have and PLAY!

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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Photo Techique: Define Your Camera User Settings

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE

Most cameras have the ability to define your own user settings. It is like pre programing your favorite radio stations in your car. Very simple and can save you a ton of time when shooting. Each camera is different so you will have to look to see if yours has it. Here is what you do: set up your camera for your go-to setting, look for the camera user settings, set your settings how you like them, hit the register button and it will be set.

I have three user settings I use most often.

My first go-to setting is as follows: ISO 100, AV mode, wide open aperture, auto white balance, single shot mode, custom function 4:3 selected. Click HERE to understand what CF4 is.

Second go to setting is: same as above only with ai servo mode when I need to shoot people moving towards me.

Third go to setting is: ISO 100, Manual mode, wide open aperture, flash white balance, single shot mode, no CF4.

This way I am able to run through my day: Setting 1 is for the beginning of the day, setting 2 is in case I want tracking, setting 3 is for night time shooting at the reception.

Jen is a boutique wedding photographer based out of Beverly Hills, California.
She specializes in alternative, photojournalistic wedding photography and is known for capturing the unique definitive moments during your event.

To view more helpful photo tips go to JensTips.com and learn something new today!
Copyright © 2009 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICETags: ,,,,,,,,,
Thursday, August 20, 2009

TECHNIQUE: Tips to Give Your Clients for Great Photos

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE

Five Ways to Look Your Best in a Photograph
1. Wear solid dark toned colors. Dark colors will make you look slimmer and because photos literally flatten you out patterns are the worst thing to wear to a party when you know you will be photographed or a portrait session.
2. Get rid of that double chin. If you make sure the photographer is slightly higher than you there will be no chance of them catching even a hint of a double chin. Sometimes even the slimmest of women still get a double chin when they laugh and we all hate our double chins. If you can be seated and look up at the photographer that is even better. So remember to look up!
3. Keep your face matte. Often times at parties it can get warm at times and just from standing around you will get a bit of a glow. Carry blotters with you so you can keep from getting shinny. Even though that dewy look is so great on models, it really does not do wonders for the rest of us. Here is a silly little trick if you are in a public restroom trying for a quick touch up and find yourself without blotters: use an unused toilette seat cover, they are perfect for soaking up extra moisture and grease. Believe me, this works perfectly (almost better than those powder infused blotters) even though it is a bit odd.
4. Talk with a smile. If there are photographers taking candids at the party, it is best to keep a smile going anytime you think of it. The worst is to see a photo of yourself deep in conversation. Don’t be so serious.
5. Giggle. Here is the number one best piece of advice I will give you. For the rest of your life, anytime you are getting a photo taken of yourself, giggle. Even if it is fake. If you just giggle a little you will always love the outcome of your photos. Here is why: your laugh muscles are different than your smile muscles. When you giggle your brain thinks you are going to laugh and so it triggers your more natural laugh muscles and not your fake, forced smile muscles. It works every time. So what if your friends think you are a little crazy giggling to yourself, you will always look great in a photo and that is all that matters!

Jen is a boutique wedding photographer based out of Beverly Hills, California.
She specializes in alternative, photojournalistic wedding photography and is known for capturing the unique definitive moments during your event.

To view more helpful photo tips go to JensTips.com and learn something new today!
Copyright © 2009 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICETags: ,,,,,
Thursday, August 13, 2009

TECHNIQUE: CF Card System

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE

When it comes to CF cards, it always baffles me when I see my assistants not labeling their cards. These are usually the newbies who work for me and they learn very quickly to change their ways. Every single CF card should be labeled with your name, web address, phone number, and the word REWARD on it. Each card should also be labeled with a number and the year you purchased it. I have a set of 8 gig cards labeled 1-4, a set of 4 gig cards labeled 1-4, and a set of 2 gig cards labeled 1-8. Your cards should be stored and used in their order going forward for one event and backward for another (or however you want to set this up to make sure the cards get used evenly.) It is important to keep them in order so you can keep track of your images once the downloading begins. Even though I back up everything on two hard drives at the wedding or event, I still tend to download them straight from the cards when I get to my office. I start with card one and work my way through auditing the image count as I go to ensure that I have everything. If all your cards are numbered, then you will be sure to have all your ducks in a row. There are other obvious reasons for labeling your cards, but I am sure you get it.

Here is how mine are labeled:

CARD #1 2009
jenosullivan.com
626-379-2253
REWARD

To view more helpful photo tips go to JensTips.com and learn something new today!
Copyright © 2009 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

TECHNIQUE: Shutter Drag

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE

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Shutter Drag aka Tungsten Blur is where you slow your shutter speed to capture light dragging across your frame. It is best done in very low light. Wedding photographers often do this during the dancing at a reception because they can capture fun party shots with lots of movement around the action. Here is how to set up your camera:

Camera Mode: Manual
Flash Mode: TTL (no need to use Slow Synch)
1. Take ambient light reading and set your shutter exposure.  (Normally around 1/3 to 1/15 sec. with aperture wide open.)
2. Subject should have little to no light on them.
3. Adjust ambient exposure with shutter speed. The slower you get, the more “drag” you will get.

Camera Settings for the above photograph: ISO 100  |   f5.0  |   1/5sec.

To view more helpful photo tips go to JensTips.com and learn something new today!
Copyright © 2009 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com

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Thursday, July 9, 2009

TECHNIQUE: Interior Photography

Posted inTechnique,WEDDING PHOTO BUSINESS PRACTICE

studio_02As a wedding photographer I love the fact that I get to shoot all sorts of things: from still life, to portraits, to PJ, to automotive, to architecture, to interiors. Being an Art Center grad (2001) we were trained back then in all areas of commercial photography. Here are a few tips when shooting interiors:

  1. Move the furniture. If things are not in the right place (think bad tangencies) then move it. 90% of interior shooting is moving furniture (not a joke!)
  2. Turn on all light fixtures that are in the room AND let the natural daylight in.
  3. Take things out that do not need to be there. De-clutter everything. 
  4. Use the widest angle lens you have. Preferably one that does not distort by bowing the straight lines. I use the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8 L USM Lens
  5. Try to get an even amount of ceiling to floor ratio, unless the floor is really great or vice versa. Just don’t make it to heavy or empty in one area.

The above photo is of my studio in Beverly Hills.

To view more helpful photo tips go to JensTips.com and learn something new today!
Copyright © 2009 by Jen O’Sullivan http://www.jenosullivan.com

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