Tag Archives: virgin islands

Cloudy days

March 18, 2010 – 11:28 am

Even cloudy days can yield some good photographs here in the Virgin Islands. This shot was from a one hour beach wedding. the couple and there two friends gathered at Sapphire Beach here on St. Thomas. The location also has a small rocky point that sticks out into the Atlantic. Just goes to show how that you don’t need to be “centered” and you don’t need to be facing the camera for a good photograph. I have entitled this shot “Paradise in Paradise”.

Right now I am building a 20 page album for Luisa and Herman. This will be the last page of the album.

Cheers,

Gary

A wedding couple in St. Thomas

By Gary | Posted in Wedding photography | Also tagged , , , | Comments (24)

How to select a photographer

November 2, 2009 – 3:52 pm

Basics on selecting a photographer:

1) A camera does not make a photographer. Just like a typewriter does not make a writer. Here in the Virgin Islands we have many people that charge money to use their cameras that are not “photographers”. You would be better served buying a camera for Uncle Bob and have him shoot your wedding.

2) look at background and training. Are they a member of a professional organization? Are they certified? At present there are only 3 certified professionals in the islands.

3) Portfolios are a great way to view the photographers best work and to judge if their style fits you. But be aware that even an amateur can have a good portfolio. But can they reproduce what you see on a regular basis? In most cases not, as what you see happened by accident. This is something only a well trained pro can do. A good check is to view complete weddings that have been posted online for their brides, or wedding albums they have designed. This way you can more accurately gauge how consistent they are. There are only a few pro’s here that allow you to see this. Why? Because they have nothing to hide.

4) As in anything, you get what you pay for. Be leery of included photography in packages without being able to see samples/portfolios from the photographer the planners are using. Many times they hire a photographer for $200 and charge the bride $800. So you are not getting an $800 photographer, just a $200 one. Good professional photography is not cheap. With the cost of pro grade equipment and the hours spent after the wedding editing and retouching the photographs, designing albums etcetera a pro will put in another 40 hours of work on an 8 hour wedding shoot.

5) If you have never purchased truly professional photography before, you will be WOWED with the results and have something special for generations after the ceremony.

Selecting a photographer and being comfortable with that decision is not easy, but a very important step. It will be one of your largest investments. But a little homework and some looking around will net you photographs that you and your family can truly enjoy for a long time to come.

Cheers,

Gary

By Gary | Posted in Wedding photography | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

The wedding of Jason and Kimberly on St. John

January 13, 2009 – 11:00 am

It’s always nice when some one wants to try something different. Kimberly
called me up and asked if we could take a second hour and shoot at the
Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins before the ceremony at Trunk Bay. Sure, I said .
why not? I have shot there before and it’s a very interesting setting.

An ironic twist was also in the cards for the day. I had just applied for a
large equipment lease, literally hours before I showed up to shoot. I found
out that Jason worked in the equipment leasing field. I was wondering how
hard it was going to be to get the lease with all the tight credit stories
in the news. He said it would be easy. His company had seen no real decrease
in available funds for loans/leasing. When I returned from the shoot I was
already approved!
coleman0030

coleman0015

By Gary | Posted in Personal | Also tagged , , | Comments (5)

Some thoughts from da islands mon…

January 13, 2009 – 6:46 am

Here in the Virgin Islands most things just don’t work the same as they do in the “states”. We have a saying that if you can get just one thing done in a day here you are doing well, forget 4 or 5. So we learn patients and a little more about how to enjoy life.
So all things considered you have to take life with a grain of salt and a smile on your face. I have come across some sayings that I think help keep things in focus (no pun intended). I think they are funny because they have sort of a twisty kind of truth embedded in them. So here are some of my favorites.

1) I have given up on the search for truth, and I am now looking for a good fantasy.

2) Two wrongs do not make a right, but three lefts will get you back on the freeway.

And particularly for you folks that are always in a hurry …

Remember the second rat always gets the cheese.

Cheers,
Gary

By Gary | Posted in Personal | Also tagged , | Comments (0)