http://howardphoto.net/ Michael Howard Photography Blog en-us http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=125 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=125 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:17:00 GMT Ceremony: Scarritt Bennett
Reception: Country Music Hall of Fame
Wedding Planner: Helen Morisette
Dress: Christos

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=124 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=124 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:25:00 GMT
I'm am so grateful for all the talented people that helped pull this off! Nothing is done alone, so I wanted to thank everyone that gave their time and energy for this.

Big Events Wedding put a ton of effort into conceptualizing the overall look and feel. They are always extremely professional and were so instrumental in getting all the decor elements together. Also a huge thanks to the fabulous ladies at The Bride Room for supplying us with this incredible Amsale dress and the earrings! Charlotte and her great team have always been supportive of what I do and we've shared many wonderful clients over the years. Also a big thanks to the Pinnacle Tower for letting us use their lovely green space on the 7th floor. It's such a unique event space here in Nashville and I'm excited to shoot future weddings there.

We are also thankful for the lovely Rachael Hartzog and Allee-Sutton doing their thing in front of the camera. On hair we were fortunate to have Abbie Addotta working her magic and Shannon Wright did an incredible job with makeup! I highly recommend both of them if you need hair and makeup done for your wedding!

We were lucky enough to have The Bride's Cafe publish this shoot on their blog. Janie has some great photography and inspirational imagery on her blog for those of you planning your upcoming wedding.

Below are some of my favorite photos from the shoot!

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=122 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=122 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:46:00 GMT
What I see so many photographers striving for is to be labeled as 'great' by other photographers. It's as if they are trying to find their self worth in how popular or admired they are by their peers. Many photographers that are starting out seek to make images that get approval from other people. The problem with this is that they are shooting for someone else in mind instead of what interests them. You simply cannot become a great photographer if your main motivation is to be applauded by other people, especially photographers. If you do this you will only create images that are trendy, full of flashy post processing techniques and are visually stimulating, but don't effect the heart. Essentially your work will be superficial and quickly forgotten.

If you look at the history of photography the photographers that were put on a pedestal and called 'Masters' first photographed what motivated them personally. When Ansel Adams was making images of the American West, he wasn't doing it to impress other people and to be seen as a master landscape photographer. He was doing it because he loved the land. Ansel was an environmentalist and he was trying to communicate to others that we must preserve the land before we lose it. He was a conservationist for over 70 years!!!! His heart LOVED nature and he spent his whole life trying to show people how we need to keep it beautiful and untouched. When Lewis Hine was photographing children workers in the early 1900's he wasn't doing it because he thought his images would launch his speaking career. He did it because he was opposed to children being forced to work to earn money for their families. Eventually his images helped bring new child labor laws to our country.

Do you see the difference in motive?

Frank Capa-Smith says this, " First, you must accept, confess, that enlightened self-knowledge is behind all creative arts, especially photography. Second, that this quest is difficult, earnest and takes a great deal of time and effort. Third, it is focused on the subject matter (whether still lifes or starving refugees). Fourth, the more you know about the subject, the more you know about your self, the more you know about the subject, the more ... and so on, in an endless symbiotic feeding process between photographer and reality. Fifth, and most important, when this process of feedback is operating as it should, it is impossible to "exploit" the subject because that means simultaneously exploiting self, which causes the process to self-desctruct."

He goes on to say, " 'Best-known' has little to do with "best." It is difficult, if not impossible, to make fame a goal and pursue self-knowledge at the same time. I pity those who squander their lives in the search of fame - such a piddling, inconsequential notion. The "best" photographers pursue a higher, nobler, goal, and if fame happens to intersect with their lives, serendipitously, then so be it."

This is a great lesson for all photographers who want to become 'great'. To be seen as a wonderful image maker you actually have to not aim for fame or popularity. Instead you must find what moves your soul and what you want to share with the world. Then you must spend lots and lots of time photographing your subject matter. You must know your subject intimately and you must care for it. If you don't love what you are photographing it will show in your work. The world needs more photographers with hearts that yearn to express the joys and pains they feel and see in life. We need less photographers taking 'amazingtacular' images.

I'll leave you with a few quotes:

"Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important." - T. S. Eliot

"Do not confuse notoriety and fame with greatness. . . . For you see, greatness is a measure of one's spirit, not a result of one's rank in human affairs." - Sherman Finesilver

"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." - Martin Luther King Jr.





]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=123 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=123 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:57:00 GMT Ceremony: First Presbyterian Church of Nashville
Reception: Union Station
Dress from: b. Hughes Bridal

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=121 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=121 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:12:00 GMT COMMISSIONED UNDERWATER SESSIONS

I'm pleased to announce that I am officially offering underwater photography! Last summer, I started shooting under water and it's become one of my deepest passions. If you are the type of person who appreciates unique imagery and is bored of the traditional photo shoot, then this is a great opportunity for you to try something new! Underwater photography is perfect for children, couples, brides and high school seniors! I'd love to collaborate with you to create a custom photo shoot. For example, if you are wanting to send off a Christmas card this December that people will be talking about for months, then let's throw a tree in a pool and take some photos in your Christmas PJ's! The possibilities are endless.

Underwater Session Details:

Cost: $500 with a $100 online print credit
Time: 3 Hour Photo Shoot
Online Gallery for 6 Months

To book your session contact me at michael@howardphoto.com or call me at 615-714-5342

FINE ART PRINTS

If you enjoy my previous underwater work, you can now purchase your own custom prints! All of my pieces are limited editions and there are only 50 available. Each print is a Lambda C-Print that is flush mounted directly onto Dibond aluminum with a 1/4 " acrylic to preserve the surface of the image and is ready to hang! Below is a price list of the different sizes I offer:

Underwater Fine Art Prints:
( all prints are Lambda C-Prints on Dibond Aluminum and Backframe with 1/4" acrylic )

24" x 36" ................... $600 + tax and shipping
16" x 24" ................... $400 + tax and shipping
8" x 12" ..................... $200 + tax and shipping

To view my work or purchase any prints please visit www.michaelhowardphoto.com

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=119 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=119 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:24:00 GMT Ron Roark
Clothing Stylist: Bek Kaplan
Hair/Makeup: Sharla Pruitt

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=120 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=120 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 20:38:00 GMT Ceremony: Grassland Heights Baptist Church
Reception: Richland Country Club
Dress from: Faccio Bridal
Associate Photography by Brandon

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=118 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=118 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:45:00 GMT Ceremony and Reception: Dixon Gallery and Gardens

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=117 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=117 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:43:00 GMT Location: Private Residence in Nashville, TN
Dress from The Bride Room

]]> http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=116 http://howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=116 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:43:00 GMT Location: Private Residence in Nashville
Photography by Brandon Oursler

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