Drew B Photograhy

I get a few emails from fellow photographers every week so I decided to compile a FAQ that I can point them to. So, if you’re not a photographer this might be boring to you or you just might learn something new

The number one question I get asked is actually not photography related. Everyone wants to know what song is on my website! It’s “Chocolate” by Snow Patrol. Isn’t it great! I have really wanted to change it to “Love Today” by Mika, but it’s a totally different vibe. What do you think? Change it or leave it?

The next most often question I get asked is how I get vivid color in my pictures. Let me first say that I can’t even express to you what a huge compliment that is! That other photographers like my work enough to ask ME for advice! It means so much to me! I by no means think that I’m an expert, but I have been working really hard the last couple of years to get my pictures to look the way they do and to develop my own style.

There are 4 components to how I get bright color in my images:

1) Everything you see on my blog was shot in Jpeg. For engagement shoots and portrait sessions I shoot solely in Jpeg. But, for weddings I shoot in RAW and Jpeg. It’s easier to color correct 1000 images in RAW. But, it’s easier to edit the pictures for the slideshow and my blog in Jpeg. Plus I like the color that comes out of Jpeg much better than RAW. It’s much more bright.

2) I use prime lenses primarily. My current favorite is the Canon 85 1.8 (the one I got in a car accident at 37 weeks pregnant to get!). I shot with the 24-70 L lens for a long time thinking that it was a superior lens because it is really expensive and it’s an L series lens, but once i started shooting with prime lenses my pictures were much more crisp. And they are cheap(er) lenses! I also like the 28 1.8 and I think I’ll eventually hop on the bandwagon and get the 50 1.2. I’ve rented the 50 a few times and didn’t LOVE it. So, we’ll see.

3) This is pretty obvious, but correct exposure and good lighting helps! I think most people think that if a picture is under or over exposed they can just fix it in photoshop after the fact (especially with RAW), but once you can nail the exposure in camera your pictures start to pop! This takes practice, practice, practice!

4) I use Totally Rad Actions. The Oh, Snap! and the Pro Retouch are my favorite. TRA are by far my favorite actions. They just came out with a new set. I’m not sure if I’m going to buy them yet, because I really like the first set, but we’ll see.

This is something I’ve never done before. Here’s a before and after shot from a recent engagement session:

Straight out of camera:

Edited with TRA’s Oh! Snap and Contrast Luma

And here’s another SOTC

And after with Oh! Snap, Pro Retouch, and a Curves Adjustment

I hope this helps a little!  I feel that consistency in your images is super important.  So find what works best for you and stick with it!

By the way, I have the best “blog stalkers”! I get the nicest emails and comments from you all and it really means the world to me. I think the best compliment I can get is from another photographer so thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to write me. You all rock!

Have a radtastic weekend!

Sorry for the lack of updates this week. I’m trying to get caught up before my wedding season really begins. I just got a nasty text message from my BFF, Christy, yelling at me for not updating my blog. Can we say demanding???

This weekend I have Jackie and Stephen’s wedding at Arroyo Trabuco, which I’m really excited for. Excited because I get to see one of my BFF’s, Liza who is the maid of honor. And also, because I’ve known Jackie for forever. It will be so much fun to be a part of her wedding day! And then next weekend I go to Idaho for Rachel and Matt’s wedding. SO excited for Idaho! I’ve never been there! And then the following weekend is Chelsea and Sean’s wedding. Well, everyone should know why I’m excited for their wedding. You remember this shoot at the Viceroy, right? Yeah. That’s why I’m excited!

And today Nikki and Jeff’s wedding is featured on The Bride’s Cafe! So exciting! I read a few (okay, a lot) of blogs everyday. I think I’m up to 103 now on my bloglines account. Some of these are other photographers blogs, some are wedding blogs, and some are random blogs that have nothing to do with weddings. I feel that it is my “job” to stay on top of everything that has to do with weddings and wedding photography. One of my favorite wedding blogs is The Bride’s Cafe. So you can imagine how excited I was when Janie agreed to feature Nikki and Jeff’s wedding! Janie is such a sweetheart and is an amazing florist in Virginia. I wish she was closer because she seems like a really cool girl. So, be sure to check out parts one and two of Nikki and Jeff’s wedding over there!

Lastly, do any of you moms out there have any tips on how to teach Brayden Bittel how to roll over from his stomach to his back? The kid is driving me crazy! He will roll over from his back to his stomach and then he starts crying so I put him back on his back and then two seconds later he’s on his stomach again crying! It was easier to teach Hauggy how to roll over! That dog will do anything for a treat. Right now Brayden fell asleep on his stomach, which I know is a no no, but I’m watching him closely making sure he is breathing. He’s too cute!

And this cute quilt that he’s laying on was made by my BFF Christy’s (yeah, the one who sent me the nasty text message) very talented mom, Tina.  I love it and obviously Brayden does too!  It’s my most favorite baby gift that I’ve received.  I love hand made gifts.  They are the best presents!  Thank you very much, Tina!  

1 year ago today I found out this was growing inside of me.

What a difference a year makes. I’m so lucky.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi Friends,

It’s 5:25 am and we’re getting ready to head up to San Francisco.  I’m shooting two radtastic engagement sessions and we thought this might be a good first trip for Brayden.  Yes, we’re driving all the way to San Francisco with a 3 month old.  Are we crazy?  Maybe.  I’ll let you know in 6 - 8 hours.  Or, if you’re really interested, you can get the up to the minute scoop on my twitter

Have an awesome Memorial Day weekend!

DrewB

Dear Brayden Bittel,

Thank you for making my first mother’s day amazing! And thank you for making me a mommy. Everyday you amaze me. I never imagined someone’s smile could melt my heart the way your smile does. I never imagined I could be so proud of someone for actually getting their thumb in their mouth. I never imagined that I would actually like changing dirty diapers and that I actually dread the day I stop because it will mean you are growing up and getting big. I never imagined that when I looked into your eyes I could see a future so bright and with endless possibilities.

I love you more than words can describe. Thank you for helping me to see the world in a different way. I am so lucky to have you. I can’t wait to spend a bizillion more mother’s days with you.

Love,

Mommy

Dear Mamaw,

Thank you for being the best Mamaw in the whole wide world! Thank you for watching me on Saturdays so my Mommy can get some rest or work or shower without me screaming. Thank you for not dressing me in cowboy outfits anymore. Thank you for being silly and making me laugh. Thank you for being pretty and not looking like your Mamaw (she was kind of scary looking). Thank you for teaching my Mommy how to be a good Mommy. Thank you for loving me so much.

Happy Mamaws day, Mamaw! I love you very, very much!

Love,

Brayden Bittel

Because I needed another distraction when I should be editing, I am now on Twitter.  If you want to follow me and all my very exciting adventures you can do so here.  It keeps speaking Japanese to me.  I don’t know how to speak Japanese.  I don’t even like Japanese food.  Hmmm.  I’m still trying to figure it all out…

My life changed. 10 years ago today the boy that was my best friend became the man that I would fall in love with. The man I would marry. And the man that would become the father to my Brayden (and my Hauggy). I don’t think at 17 I could have ever realized how much my life would change for the better. Everything good in my life is because of him. He helps to make my dreams a reality. He’s my number one fan. He makes me feel safe when I’m scared. He listens to me when I’m “annoyed”. He loves me for me (and takes all my faults with it). He’s my Dawson and I’m his Joey. I’m his Drewbie and he’s my Tuck. I love him more than words can even describe.

Tuck, thank you for kissing me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being you. Thank you for letting me be me. 143.

Photo by the awesome Image is Found

Pictures by the amazing Jessica Claire

So excited! My new baby cousin is here! We’ve been awaiting her arrival for some time now. Chuck’s Aunt Shari and her boyfriend Don brought her home this past weekend. She’s gorgeous with big brown eyes and sandy blonde hair. She’s a tiny little thing weighing in at about 5 pounds. She sleeps most of the time (as most newborns do) and really doesn’t make too much noise. And, she’s almost potty trained! At only 8 weeks! It’s going to be great for Brayden to have a cousin so close in age. They will get to grow up together. How fun! Here are her newborn pictures! 

Did I forget to mention that Charley is a dog? She’s a golden doodle and she’s the 2nd cutest dog I’ve ever seen! We’re so excited for Shari and Don to finally have a puppy of their own! It’s the best!

Funny story about her name, Charley the IV. When I was pregnant we were out to dinner with Shari, Don, Chuck’s other aunt Connie, and his Grandma. Everyone was asking us what we were going to name the baby. Chuck is Charles Frederick Bittel III. And while that’s a great name and all, I really didn’t want a Charles the IV. I had my heart set on naming him Brayden. So when we told everyone the baby’s name, his Grandma didn’t love it and Shari, being the antagonist that she is, kept saying that we really should name the baby Charlie IV to carry on the family tradition. I told Shari that SHE should have a baby and she could name him Charlie IV. Well, she did! And although the puppy is a girl, they just adapted the spelling to Charley IV. LOVE it! Now all the pressure is off of me and the family name is carried on