Graham McBride Photography

Surprise Engagement in San Francisco

Photographer — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:29:26 +0000

An engagement is one of the most important events of your life. It is that period of time when you are together but not married. You can thoroughly enjoy your courtship period and have fun planning your wedding and your collective future together. The engagement period is very important, and like most happy, important events that happen to you, you want to remember it for the rest of your life. One of the best ways to commemorate your engagement is to get a good photographer, find some truly beautiful locations, and take amazing photographs with your spouse to be. One of the best locations to get your Surprise engagement photography done is in the Bay City of San Francisco, California. There are many great places in and around the Bay City to get your engagement photographs taken, and with the unpredictable fog you just might get that once in a lifetime shot with your partner captured forever on film.

The Bay City of San Francisco has many great locations to shoot your Surprise engagement photographs. There are probably hundreds and hundreds of good locales in San Francisco to take engagement photos, but there are only a few where you can get that perfect shot. San Francisco has beautiful locations to suit whatever you and your partner want in regards to backdrop, location, and more. Let us talk about a few of the very best and most beautiful spots that San Francisco and the surrounding area has to offer to the engaged couple. One of the city’s most stunning backdrops is located at the Palace of Fine Arts. The Palace of Fine Arts has many wonderful examples of classical architecture that provide an amazing backdrop to your engagement photographs.

If you do not really want anything with old-style architecture in you engagement photos and you love the beach, then Baker’s Beach is the place for you. This location has it all, a gorgeous beach photo shoot complete with the Golden Gate Bridge serving as your dramatic backdrop. Baker’s Beach also has some big, moss-covered rocks that can serve as a very cool backdrop to any engagement photograph. If you are tired of the beach, or just want something different and you or your partner are something of a nature enthusiast, then the Golden Gate Park is just the place for you. Stowe Lake is located in Golden Gate Park and has a waterfall for the perfect touch of the exotic. Another great building to shoot in is the Legion of Honor museum especially around the columns outside.

To sum it all up, San Francisco is the place to go to get your engagement photo shoot done. In the Bay City, man-made structures combine with pure natural beauty and the unpredictable weather to give you memories and photos that you can be forever proud of. From the beautiful structural backdrops of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Legion of Honor building and the different building at the Palace of Fine Arts to the natural beauty of Baker’s Beach and the Golden Gate Park, there is nothing that the beauty of San Francisco cannot offer to the soon-to-be-married couple.

Head Shot in the Park

Photographer — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:00:30 +0000

We humans think in pictures. And your profile photo, or headshot, captures your essence so anyone who sees it can see your story in a moment. A good headshot will illuminate your inner light, show your personality and give a peek into your life. In a professional context, this is vital to activate sharing your innate message with the world (who you are) as well as create a connection point with your potential and current clients. Here are a few tips from what I have seen that can make all the difference in you having an awesome headshot.

1. No distractions! If you are in a social environment, or a friend casually snaps your photo while the guy in the background is reaching for a soda, or you’re in front of an art exhibit, you are competing with your environment for a good headshot. Let the background be neutral to really show YOU off!

2. No lopping off friends! I see it time and time again… people are hanging with their friends, arm in arm, and they like how they look, so they simply chop off anyone else in the picture. Not only is that not healthy energetically, it’s a disservice to you because people are relating to you relating to that person in the photo vs. the person looking at your headshot. That is two completely different relationships, obviously… if you’re looking to attract business, don’t use a shot where you’re hangin’ with your homies!

3. No body shots! A headshot on a web page is already small, so if you decide to use that photo of yourself dressed up in full, you are taking valuable “real estate” away from your headshot. Your head ends up being smaller than a postage stamp, and it’s really not enough for people to get the feel of your energy. A headshot is just that… a HEADshot!

4. Good lighting! If your headshot has funny shadows, harsh lighting (which will age you), you’re squinty in the sun, or your face is looming in from a dark background (as in, your picture being taken at a social club), it’s not working for you. Natural lighting is great, or a professional photographer will know how to use light to complement your features. It’s all about the lighting!!!

5. The eyes are the windows to the soul! This is the connection place between you and the person seeing your headshot – this is how you engage people when you’re not there. If you are friendly, approachable, and/or playful, it’s likely people will want to connect with you. Eye contact shows whether you are open to relationship in some manner or if you are closed for business. If you’re doing a stare-down, not looking at the camera, or wearing sunglasses, you’re not giving your people the opportunity to engage with your light. Eye contact is a key to your emotional being and is just as important in a headshot as it is in person.

6. Creativity wins! If you want to do a profile shot with a quick look at the camera, or catch yourself in the middle of a good laugh, or want to wear something that is “you”, do it! A picture paints a thousand words… and in business, your headshot can attract you thousands of dollars. Your headshot shows what is important to you, so capture your personality in the moment. Let your headshot reflect who you are – after all, that’s who people want to know.

7. Supermodels are out! A good headshot isn’t about being glammed up to the point where people in your world wouldn’t recognize you. This is about you being you, comfortable in your skin and inviting people to come play (and do business) with you. There is no need to glob on the make-up or wear clothes that you wouldn’t normally wear. It’s vital that you be your natural self that happens to be getting a picture taken because THAT is the most attractive quality you have – YOU!

It doesn’t take much to have a great headshot – a little attention to detail, some decent lighting, allowing your personality to shine through and you’ve got great face! So get out there and share those baby blues and pearly whites with the world – we’re waiting for you!!!

Portrait in the Park with the Painted Ladies

Photographer — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:13:39 +0000

Here is another example of why I love to shooting out doors instead of in a studio, I find that your limited to what you can do in a studio. I find that when you confine yourself in a box you think like a box, you limit yourself with the props, backdrops! In terms of what resources you have to use in the studio.

I notice that when I shoot outside I tend to get more creative with my images cause I can constantly change my background & props!

I have different props all around that I can use! The only bad thing is that you are pretty much stuck with the lighting!

Whereas in a studio you have total control over your light so if its the lighting your after plain for a studio shoot.

So I would say this! that when you are thinking of have a portrait taken, ask for it to be taken in a local park or a beach. These images where taken in Alamo Square, San Francisco. The quality & feel of the over all image is a lot better!

The images below were all taken at Alamo Square, San Francisco and I was able to change my back ground just by moving around.

Painted Ladies is a term used for Victorian and Edwardian houses and buildings painted in three or more colors that embellish or enhance their architectural details. The term was first used for San Francisco Victorian houses

you will find more of the images Click Here

iPhone Images

Photographer — Tue, 18 May 2010 01:50:31 +0000

The last few months I’ve been using my iPhone camera, since its the one thing I bring everywhere that can take pictures. I just wanted to see if a good image could be created by using your camera phone & not only be using DSLR camera & this is clearly not the case! Not only was I amazed at how little you needed to produce good images, I know the quality of the image would suffer since its only 3mp but still! The first digital camera’s only had 3mp when they first came out. It has taught me a thing or two about my photography gear. I use to always bring most of my gear to a shoot because you would never know when something may pop up & you might need a piece of equipment. But while using my iPhone I learned to adapt with what I had, which pretty much is a camera with no flash & no manual setting. So when ever you see a photo opinionated & haven’t got a camera use your camera phone, you may surprise yourself with it like I did!

Sam & Raquel Engagement Proposal

Photographer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:07:07 +0000

This couple’s portrait session was planned a year ago to be set in our hometowns of Long Beach; but with their busy schedules, the date kept changing. Then due to unforeseen events, Graham McBride Photography relocated from Southern California up to the Bay Area. I had mentioned to Raquel & Sam that I would be moving there and to my delight, they were already looking forward to a future visit and welcomed the idea of a San Francisco portrait shoot since that was where their first official date took place.

Technically being their second official date in San Francisco, Sam wanted to make it one to remember. When the couple arrived in the city, Sam took me aside and told me about his plan to propose to Raquel. I was delighted for him and honoured in the fact that I would be a part of something so special, a milestone in their life. I would be there photographing the actual engagement taking place….not only capturing memories, but making them.

Raquel unknowing that Sam was going to propose

Most engagement sessions usually occur after the proposal has taken place. The big WOW/SURPRISE factor has already been revealed. In this unique photo shoot, the fiancée-to-be hadn’t a clue what her boyfriend had in store. We talked about location and Sam wanted the Golden Gate Bridge as the background scenery. I recalled a spot in the Presidio where there were very few tourists yet still had the bridge in the background. The spot required a short hike through a tree-lined area, along cliffs, and over wooden bridges. Along the way, I continuously took pictures, stopping to take a few posed shots of the couple against a tree and on a small wooden bridge, until we reached our destination with the iconic Golden Gate in the background.

We were in the Presidio for a while, walking around the different banks and dunes and rocks. I was in anticipation thinking any movement Sam made was going to be the drop-to-one-knee-and-pop-the-question moment. We walked around the cliffs and finally found THE location. Sam asked me to take a picture of the scene with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background so he could preview just how perfect it was. Sam wanted the element of surprise, so I told Raquel to close her eyes, as if casually directing my model. As she shut her eyes, Sam got down on one knee and opened the ring box. Just like a fairytale, Raquel opened her eyes to find Sam proposing to her. She was over the moon, jumping in excitement and even pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

It was an amazing event to witness. She said “YES!” and wouldn’t let go of her future husband. After the shock of excitement had calmed, the newly engaged couple could not thank me enough for capturing the entire moment.

But it was I, who was thankful not only for the photographic opportunity but also for Raquel & Sam sharing this significant occasion of their life.

The great joy I find in being a photographer is that when I do weddings or family portraits, I meet different people and their family and their friends. A business and personal relationship grows throughout the years. And in each photographic session, I am not only capturing their memories, I am capturing mine as well…

Jewelry Photography

Photographer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:48:03 +0000

This article is about various types of specialized photography.

Photography and camera is an indispensable part of modern living. The number of people who has never taken a photo or touch a camera before is very low. Camera has also evolved tremendously. It seems only not too long ago that digital SLR cameras are a luxury. During those days, there are only traditional film typed cameras. Nowadays, digital compact and SLR cameras are the norm. Now, traditional SLR and compact cameras are things and products of the past.

Photography is much more than just for shooting scenery when one is on vacation. It has many specialized usages and applications. Below listed are some of the more specialized applications of photography and cameras:

1. Underwater Photography. This is not only a specialized type of photography, it is also a highly demanding one. The photographer needs to be a good scuba diver, swimmer and photographer all at the same time. Such a person is very hard to come by. Special equipments are also required for this type of photography.

2. Dental Photography. This type of photography is used by dentists. Like underwater photography, special equipments is need for this type of photography.

3. Jewelry Photography. This is the photographing of jewelries in the most appealing and stylish manner. It is often a type of advertising photography. The photographs of jewelry are often used in advertising and promotional publications and materials. This is also a form of product photography.

There are many more types of specialized photography. However, their coverage is not within the scope of this article.

Take On Me

Always Backup

Photographer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:34:31 +0000

I just lost all my entire year’s 2009 blog post’s, my wordpress crashed for some reason?

I just want to cry…