2009 Recap 2010-01-03

2009 was a great year. Business wise probably the biggest spring board year we have ever had. New website, started senior picture program and our weddings have taken off. We are really looking forward to 2010 and it's going to be a great year. We are going through all aspects of the business and going to serve our clients to the fullest. A few things we are working on is updating the look of the blog and possible new blog coming soon, updates to the website which has already started, 2010 price list changes for Weddings and Seniors.
By far one of the biggest events of the year was winning a spot for Mike Larson's workshop in Hawaii. This week changed my life. I was able to learn so much from Mike and Rachel. Not just business related. Mike is such an inspiration to me professionally, religiously and to be the best husband I can. Because of Mike I have learned how and what it means to serve my clients. Thank you to Mike and Rachel. Hope we can connect more in 2010.

Here are a few images, actually a lot of images from the year. Some are of photo shoots and some are family images. Hope you enjoy.
Happy New Year!!

























My mentor Mike Larson. If you are a photographer check out his workshops.










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Happy Sweet 16!!!! 2010-01-15

WOW....I can't believe today my little girl turns 16. I am so proud of her and the person she is growing up to be. It seems like yesterday she was 15 days old in my arms watching the Superbowl with the Dallas Cowboys beating the Buffalo Bills that year.
Here are a few pictures from the last few years.











Happy Birthday Dannielle, We Love You!! (more...)

2011 Senior Experience Rep Search 2010-01-22

We have just launched our 2011 Senior Rep Search at Aric Becker Photography and the Senior Experience!

Who is eligible? Uprising seniors graduating in 2011.

What’s in it for you? Our Senior Rep Program is a way for Class of 2011 Seniors to earn free stuff and get amazing senior portraits, while helping us show off the latest styles and update our senior images!

Here are the details..just fill this out..and hit submit. SENIOR REP BENEFITS… A Free Session! Bring 3-4 fun, funky and fashionable outfits.

You will receive your session FREE!
Rep Discount Cards – 50 custom cards with your name and image to get you started and other special products

Website, Blog & Facebook – are some of the places in which you may appear!

You DON’T have to be a perfect model size or look like a model to get IN. We base our decision on personality, activities and eagerness to be in the program. We are looking for models that truly appreciate the Senior Experience quality, and can see the difference in our work. ONLY a limited number of Senior Reps are accepted from each school! If you meet our requirements…sign–up today!
Fill out the form below or click HERE.
You can view details and images HERE about the SENIOR EXPERIENCE!!


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Before & After 2010-01-30

I wanted to share some Before=(straight out of camera) & After=(TLC from Aperture & Photoshop) images. I am asked why print prices are the way they are. Before digital, photographers would drop off their film, pick it up show proofs and order prints. Now, I edit through hundreds sometimes thousands of images from a session or wedding down to a manageable number. Then from those the client will choose their favorites or I will design a wedding book. With digital, I am the photographer, color corrector, photo lab, and book designer.
One of the differences between professional photographers, and amateurs or hobbyists, is the presentation and finishing of the photographs. Images shown straight out of the camera may be fine for proofs, but for prints and albums and any final presentation, we like to "massage" our images and give them some TLC in Photoshop.
I use Aperture & Photoshop to enhance the images, not to really make the images. It should add to the image, and never get to the point where it takes away from it. Effects that are applied just for the sake of applying them, are useless to me.
I use Aperture for most of my "massaging" and use Photoshop about 10% of the time if I want to add a little extra to an image or change it to black & white.

Here are a few examples: This first image of one of my gorgeous senior clients from this year, is SOTC "Straight Out of The Camera". If you look at it by itself, it's not half bad. The light is great, it's a good exposure, good angle, and it is certainly acceptable...
The above shot is nice but we can improve on it a little. A little color correction, contrast bump, little glow to the skin and some sharpening with a little vignette.
SOTC:
Little color correction, contrast, lighten a little to bring out the eyes more, Sharpen.
SOTC:
Color correction, contrast, my black & white action in photoshop, sharpen, vignette.
SOTC:
Color correction, contrast, my special TLC in Aperture, TRA (Totally Rad Actions) grunge rock 20% in Photoshop, sharpen. (more...)

Couples Sites!!! 2010-02-01

We are really excited for this upcoming wedding season. To serve our clients in a special way we are creating all our 2010 couples their very own site...Alas "Couples Site". No more cheesy ad sites. These will be custom made to the couple with their casual portrait session images and all their wedding day info. After the wedding they will show case their wedding book design and pictures. Below you can see what the site could look like before and after the wedding.
Here are two samples (click on couples name to view full site):
Daniel + Lauren's Couple Site


Loran + Katy Couple Site (more...)