Happy Halloween!

We had some good friends, Joel and Kristie over last night for a pumpkin carving contest. We had a lovely dinner and then went to the backyard for smores round the campfire and to begin carving. Anna says she has never in her life carved a pumpkin! So, it was quite monumental. Except, by the end of the night we had no one to vote on which pumpkin was the best. I am leaving it up to my friendly blog-stalkers. Without telling you who carved which pumpkin I want you to vote on your favorite. The contestants are: Owl, Jack Skeleton, Pirate, or Ghostbusters. Let the voting begin!

Into The Digital Age

I have a profound respect for film. I always will. Film cameras are like Grandpa. He may be old and dusty, but he can still whoop your butt. There is a respect, appreciation and a fear that should fill your heart every time Grandpa is in your presence. Film is the same way. So many photography people want to debate these days. Film vs. Digital. RAW vs. JPEG. You say toe-may-toe I say toe-mah-toe. When it comes down to it my camera is simply a paintbrush. Sure my new {paintbrush} has lots of mega pixels and an LCD screen, but if I was ever lost in the wilderness of Yosemite caught in a shoot out with old-man Ansel Adams, you could be sure who would get the butt-whooping; yours truely!

I love art. I see photography as art; but I also love people who can create art through other mediums. I happened to see this piece at an art show in Oklahoma City (of all places) and just had to buy it. I talked to the artist {Jered Smith} a bit and asked him about the heart behind the piece. It is called {Into The Digital Age}. He shared with me that he was inspired because his girlfriend is a photographer; a film photographer. She loves film and wants to continue to shoot film, but it seems to be quickly fading into the digital age. This piece was created on the inside of a vintage book cover. Totally rad!

I used to shoot film. Thats where I started. I did the whole B&W processing in the darkroom business and really became obsessed with the entire photography process. Perhaps that is why I work so much on all of my images even though they are digital. I actually work on them especially because they are digital. I want my work to have the look and feel and color that film is so generous to put out while having the immediate gratification that digital offers.

Hope that you enjoy Jereds art. Who loves film? Please share your thoughts!

Mike + Rachel Larson -2 Years and Counting

I was driving to my friends house the other day when I decided to try and get lost. As I put my right blinker on to turn down his familiar street, I glanced to my left and looked up a street I had never driven. Spontaneously, I flipped the lever and went up the hill. It dead-ended at a trail base of the back side of Madonna Mountain (a spot I had never been before). The hole in the fence and the {No Trespassing} signs all the more confirmed that this would be a sweet location for an engagement session. I mentally logged it in my photo-location-memory bank.

I try to make a habit of exploring the town I live and photograph in. New environments inspire me as much as photographing new couples. It forces me to be fresh and see them in not only new light, but a new location.

Yesterday my photographer friend Mike Larson asked me to shoot some last minute pictures of him and his wife on their two year anniversary. I asked him where he wanted to go and like most people said, {Wherever you want.} I had just the place!

We had a great time hanging with Mike and Rachel. They really are such a beautiful couple and really great friends. Heres to 2 years and counting!

The Alternative Guest Book

If you are getting married in the near or distant future you might want to check out this option for spicing up the otherwise boring guest book. Just click this link to mywedding.coms blog to view an article I just wrote.

Pumpkin Farm with Kate

I was just thinking the other day, I dont really do much personal work. I have my reasons. For one, I dont get much pleasure photographing things or landscapes or sunsets even. I only love to shoot people. I try my best to not break out the big gun while on vacation and such because the vacation turns into a full on photo shoot. Its hard for me to take it easy. So I guess that the closest thing to my personal work would be my new family. This is my niece, Kate. Cute as a button, but growing so fast that I feel compelled to capture each little stage of her existence. When my wife and I were dating she insisted that she be my girlfriend too. We even took her on her own dates away from her siblings. She was a bit confused, however, when we got married and she couldnt get married too. I had to convince her that having me as an uncle instead of a boyfriend was a way better deal. Some of the shots of my wife Anna and I were taken by little 6 year old Kate. She loves using my camera even though she can barely hold it. The lens we were using is my fixed 35mm. Its taken me awhile to get the hang of it, but it is quickly becoming on of my favorite lenses.

RSS Feed Finally Working

Good news! My RSS Feed is finally working! Now you can subscribe to my blog for reals. Sorry its been a pain for some of you that really enjoy staying connected. I am just a lot technically challenged. I had to call in ED, a bigfolio dog to fix the mess I made of my RSS. Thanks Erik!

Find Your Voice {Advice For New Photographers}

If you are a new photographer or even dreaming of starting out check out the latest article I wrote for the bf/stop. I love helping newbies out, so perhaps this will inspire and encourage those of you who are trying to find your voice. Also, if you are an established photographer I am looking for advice from the lot of you for a follow-up post. Please email me what wisdom you have to offer to cameron@cameroningalls.com Thanks!

The Green Piano is Following Me

This is one of my favorite shots from the summer. It was taken in the cluttery-est dressing room Ive seen in a long time. The bride was stunning and really fun to work with. I spotted the green piano off in the corner immediately and just knew that it had the potential to turn the chaos of this dressing room into peaceful elegance. I asked the bride is she was willing to climb on top of the dusty old piano. Without hesitation she responded, yes!

It has been a personal goal of mine this season to not hold back; to try everything I imagine in my little mind. Or at least to offer my creative ideas to the bride and groom with the option to not accept. This was one such moment. I could have brushed the idea aside with the prediction it would be denied. I could have done the classic bride shot in window light, but I went for it and I am so glad!

Randomly went to Oklahoma last week for a little vacation to visit friends. I walk through their door and the first thing I see is this same green piano. Amazing! They happen to have one of the cutest little boys alive so I spent spontaneous moments photographing his every day life. One such moment was when he was sitting on the piano bench. After a few shots of him hanging there he decided to take it to the next level and asked with his grunts and pointings to be placed on top of the piano! I was thrilled and shot my heart out.






Chris (Ezras dad) is pretty much a musical genius. Here he is plunking away at the keys. On our last night in Oklahoma a thunderstorm hit. We turned off all the lights, opened the windows, lit some candles, cracked open a bottle of wine and listened as Chris played his viola along with some music he created on his computer. Check out Emerys post for the full story and listen to this little clip Emery filmed of one of the songs he shared with us during the storm. Would someone please discover Chris Clark and start paying him lots of money to make music like this all the time?!

Matt + Brooke {Engagement, San Luis Obispo}

We had quite the adventure with Matt and Brooke the other day for their engagement session. Matt actually used to live in San Luis Obispo so he had an idea of the environment and style of SLO town. They wanted both an urban feel with some corrugated metal as well as a more natural feel with some shots under a canopy of trees. So we started out at a random upholstery warehouse and the train tracks just across the street. Then Matt suggested we go to Montana De Oro and shoot under the countless rows of eucalyptus tress. I had another (brilliant) idea. I suggested driving Perfumo Canyon road over the huge mountain that separates San Luis from Avila Beach to reach a more secluded spot with a similar look. It was a fabulous idea and I was pretty much everybodys hero until we walked back to the car and realized that the battery was dead from my hazard lights, making us stranded on a dirt road surrounded by nothing but cows and impending nighttime. The other problem was that I didn’t get cell-reception at the car and had to hike up a hill in order to squeeze out a bar or two. First off I called AAA and they said that the tow truck company had never heard of where I was. Great! Then I called a bunch of different friends, but no one was home. Finally my faithful friend (and 2nd shooter) Simon was able and willing to make the drive to the middle of nowhere to rescue us. Matt and I walked back down the hill and through the trees expecting to wait another 30 minutes. When we arrived at the car my wife Anna turns the key one last time and it fires up! Whoohooo!!! I felt a little silly through it all but Matt and Brooke kept reassuring me that it was a grand adventure. We ended up going out for Thai food at Matts favorite spot and talking well into the evening. You guys are an amazing couple and I just love how well you fit together. You really bring out light and life in each other when you interact. You are going to have an awesome marriage and a beautiful long lasting friendship!

Heartbreaker

I am in the great state of Ohhhhhk-laaaaaa-HOMA(where the wind comes whistling down the plain)! I am visting some of my best-est friends in the universe; Joel Limpic, Chris + Emery + Ezra Clark. Whenever I told people last week I was going to Oklahoma for vacation I was met with the same blank stare and question; Why?! My answer is, Friends. People really make Oklahoma such a wonderful place! Yesterday we went shopping at my favorite store on earth, Blue 7. And today we are going to hang in Brick Town, where everything is made of bricks; even the grass.

This little guy is my 2 year old friend Ezra who I have had the pleasure of seeing him grow into his skin over the years. He will be a heartbreaker someday. To hear all about the adventures of Motherhood check out Emerys ever-growing popular blog; moms are for everyone!. I adore the way Emery writes the most simple things in the most interesting way. You really feel like you are in her head listening to her thoughts. I so pleased to spend my weekend off here and I am really enjoying my friends.

De-Lurk Yourself!

I know you are out there, now De-Lurk! Basically just drop me a comment. It was National De-Lurking Week awhile back, but I kinda missed it. Better late than never, I guess. I really enjoy blogging and probably spend way too much time doing it. Ive had a lot of people identify themselves lately and Ive really enjoyed hearing who you are and why you come hang out in my world. So, to those of you who have been reading and checking, send me a little shout-out. Would love to know you!

Chris + Lindsey {Santa Ynez, CA}

Chris and Lindseys wedding was special to me on so many levels.

Fact #1. Ive known Lindsey since she was in high school and she sorta fits a little sister role in my life. She is also drama. Plain and simple. And everybody that knows Lindsey cant help but love Lindsey because she seems to make life more eloquent and beautiful just by the way she speaks. I want to say that she is like a Shakespeare musical. Does that make any sense? Well, Chris on the other hand is the opposite; quite, mild mannered with a charming smile. It is true that opposites do attract but they also balance and Chris + Lindsey are a beautiful balance.

Fact #2. Lindseys parents hosted our pre-marital counseling. And it was life-changing! Totally what we needed to prepare for one of the biggest commitments we will probably ever make. A lot of people probably dont know much about pre-maritals but its kinda like boot camp for becoming one with someone that is the polar opposite from you. It definitely equipped Anna and I for a lot of things that could and will probably be issues in our marriage. We are immensely grateful for the time and care that Pat and Lori showed to us during the course of those 10-ish weeks. I was thrilled to photograph Lindseys wedding and hopefully bless them a fraction of the amount they have blessed us.

Fact #3. The location of their wedding (Pat + Loris home) is also the same place where I got the revelation that I should leave my life of crime fighting to photograph weddings 5 years ago this September It was Darren and Jessies wedding and I was asked to photograph it as a favor. I remember it like it was yesterday, standing on the front porch and hearing a whisper say {I want you to do this}. I hear voices sometimes. And I find it good to listen.












Did I mention that Lindsey married her horseshoe-er? Its totally a Princess Bride fairy tale minus the sword fighting and Andre the Giant. My wife informs me that the first time Lindsey laid eyes on Mr. Horseshoes she watched as he rode up on a horse; literally. No lie. Chris is the man!

This is Darren + Jessie! The famous couple Ive been telling you about. The ones that helped me fall in love with wedding photography. It was like a mini reunion for us. We celebrated our 5 years like it was me that got married. Wait, that sounds weird.

Anna and I had our time on the dance floor tearing things up. We have wicked style.

Picture(s) of the Day {the bf/ stop}

This is my first post to the bf/ stop. Its a sweet little story board about the power of photographing the unseen. I will post more pictures on my blog from Chris + Lindseys wedding later today, I promise!

Big Folio -the bf/ stop

My friends over at Big Folio asked me to join their blogging team! Big Folio makes updateable websites for photographers. I met them a few years back in Vegas at WPPI. When I asked Mike where they were from he told me Arroyo Grande. AG is 15 minutes from where I live in SLO town! We quickly realized that we knew a lot of the same people. They actually got started after doing an easily updateable photography website for my friend Kenny Morgan several years ago. They shopped around their websites to some photogs on the internet and their business exploded!

They really offer a fantastic service to photographers who want to keep fresh and internet savvy for an affordable price.

I will be posting weekly articles and daily images at the bf/ stop. Considering all of the new photographers that email me with questions every week I think it will be a good outlet for me. I love helping people pursue their dreams and so I offer a lot of information about my experience to those who simply ask. I will be able to turn some of my weekly conversations into articles and stories for the The Big Folio blog so that hopefully I can help out more people at once.

If you are a photographer or even simply aspiring, check out Big Folios amazing service. And if you are looking for tips and secrets or want to learn a bit from my experiences (good and bad) bookmark the bf/ stop and drop me some comments!

Love!

Meet David

Meet David. He is perhaps the coolest 9 year old I know. He is my nephew as of 7 months ago. Recently he told his grandma, {I want to be a photographer when I grow up, but my parents wont buy me a camera.} Kids say the darn-dest things when they want stuff! (Ahh, I miss the days of easy-to-manipulate grandparents.) So she gave him her old Polaroid camera; complete with a couple of rolls of old film.

Sunday afternoon while we were hanging out with the family I told him we needed to go on a photography adventure. We walked down the street looking for good light and sweet spots. I would point out where the light filtered through the trees nicely and suggest shooting there to start. Then I would ask him where he wanted to shoot. Here is the first shot he snapped of me. I love it! I am so going to make him my photo-assistant slave someday!

That camera hanging around my neck was passed on to me by Annas grandmother who just left this world. I am excited to buy some old film and start shooting with it in honor of lovely Genevieve!

Adam + Ananda {Cambria, CA}

Adam + Ananda had an intimate wedding at a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in Cambria called The Squibb House. The girls got ready at the house with my wife Anna while I took the guys off to a hundred-year-old graveyard for some cool-guy shots. We had to be careful to not knock over the wooden graves. It was kinda creepy and yet adventurous enough to make it worth while.

The wedding was set to the side of the house on a brick patio surrounded by walls of beautiful shrubbery. The reception was at a tasty restaurant called Robins just a couple of doors down. Overall the whole day went beautifuly awesome!

Weddings are for Dudes! {mywedding.com/blog}

Im excited to be blogging officially for mywedding.com! My very first article is called Weddings are for Dudes! If you haven't heard of mywedding.com yet, it is an Internet resource that advertises for vendors and venues for all of the major cities in The United States. You can also get a free wedding website through them so that your family and friends can read about your love story as well as learn about wedding day details.

I love writing blogs for my site and was honored when mywedding.com asked me to write for them too! I hope that I can offer more couples nationwide useful and entertaining information that can help them as they plan and prepare for their most exciting wedding day.