Today I received wonderful Email with review of my work from my clients.

I hired Yuriy to help me photograph great moment when I proposed to my girlfriend. Of course, my fiance and I love  the results. Yuriy’s photography knowledge and creativity, along with his vision and joy for his craft, make him one of the best photographers in Los Angeles. He helped me plan everything with a photography eye and has provided us with gorgeous photos.

Yuriy made us feel so comfortable and gave us a variety of shots. He is an amazing artist and a warm and kind-hearted person as well.

We recently booked him for our wedding.

Thank you guys for kind words.

PS: as usually I post this  article to my wedding photography reviews page.

Tags: wedding photographer review, wedding photography review, photographer reviews.

On the one hand I am proud that from a billion pictures they chose mine. On the other hand plagiarism is bad, especially when it is done by direct competitors.
So think twice before ordering a photo session at uptophoto.com.

Who IS info about domain:

  Domain Name: UPTOPHOTO.COM
   Registrar: MONIKER ONLINE SERVICES, INC.
   Whois Server: whois.moniker.com
   Referral URL: http://www.moniker.com
   Name Server: NS1.MONIKERDNS.NET
   Name Server: NS2.MONIKERDNS.NET
   Name Server: NS3.MONIKERDNS.NET
   Name Server: NS4.MONIKERDNS.NET
   Status: clientDeleteProhibited
   Status: clientTransferProhibited
   Status: clientUpdateProhibited
   Updated Date: 13-jun-2012
   Creation Date: 13-jun-2012
   Expiration Date: 13-jun-2013

>>> Last update of whois database: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 03:46:58 UTC <<<

Domain Name: UPTOPHOTO.COM
Registrar: MONIKER

Registrant [3860518]:
        Edward E. Murphy user@uptophoto.com
        2842 Mandan Road
        Columbia
        AL
        65201
        US

Administrative Contact [3860518]:
        Edward E. Murphy user@uptophoto.com
        2842 Mandan Road
        Columbia
        AL
        65201
        US
        Phone: +1.5738828569

Billing Contact [3860518]:
        Edward E. Murphy user@uptophoto.com
        2842 Mandan Road
        Columbia
        AL
        65201
        US
        Phone: +1.5738828569

Technical Contact [3860518]:
        Edward E. Murphy user@uptophoto.com
        2842 Mandan Road
        Columbia
        AL
        65201
        US
        Phone: +1.5738828569

Domain servers in listed order:

        NS1.MONIKERDNS.NET         207.189.109.115
        NS2.MONIKERDNS.NET         50.57.19.149
        NS3.MONIKERDNS.NET         207.189.109.116
        NS4.MONIKERDNS.NET         50.57.11.91

        Record created on:        2012-06-13 05:09:17.0
        Database last updated on: 2012-06-13 05:10:00.677
        Domain Expires on:        2013-06-13 05:09:18.0

Also here you can see my before and after gallery.

Raw file from the Camera.

Processed photo (white balance, exposure, color, crop).

Retouched photo

In the retouched photo I remove redness in the eyes, acne, skin defects. Modifies the brightness and contrast of the image. Add sharpness and color contrast.

PS: my before and after photo gallery.

A few photos from your Big Day:

Thanks again for the positive attitude during wedding photo shoot . I was very happy to spend this day with you.

Engagement photo shoot

Engagement photo shoot

During their engagement photo shooting the couple is getting used to the camera, and I immediately start looking for their best shots. Engagement photo shoot and love story photo session is very important for making the connection between the couple and the photographer.
I shoot engagements in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Shooting engagement is one of the most romantic and emotional photo shootings for me.  I try to make the love story photo session in such a way that it shows every couple’s unique romantic story!

To see more my engagement and wedding photos please visit my portfolio.

Experts rightly believe that modern wedding photography requires high professional skills and big experience. That’s why top wedding photographers cost so much just for one work day.

Price for the wedding photographer can range from 2,000 to 10,000 dollars for one photo shoot  per day. And this is a fair price, considering all the skills that every wedding photographer should have. First of all, the wedding photographer has to know all the details of portrait photography. He / She may need to make several hundred portraits, many of which have to be highly artistic. In this case it will be images that need to be done quickly, in shooting mode with a constantly changing view of lighting.

For example the newly married couple and the guests were in bright outdoor light, and now they entered the dimly lit lobby, and the registrar. Portraits of themselves will certainly be different in character – from shooting full-length one person to the group photos.
The photographer always needs to be ready to press the shutter button, but it should not interfere with the course of event.

Maybe the couple at the wedding table to stand up several times to shoot with friends, but events such as the exchange of rings or the presentation of a bouquet occur only once during the entire wedding day. By the way it is very important to know how to use modern cameras, light, assistant, people on the wedding day and knowledge of the techniques of computer retouching.
Also, before the wedding I create so cold `to shoot list` that consist from more than 30 items.

Typically, a professional photographer carries two cameras. Not so important, what company has made them. Camera should be switched to the RAW-format. No less attention should be paid to the optics. Best of all use high-aperture lenses.
I also often use professional photo studio light equipment. It’s very helpful when you shoot on sunny day or in dark banqueting hall.

I think that’s all ^_^.

Keywords: photo shoot in the park. Los Angeles, California, USA.

It’s me in my studio in LA. I shoot myself using the timer in my camera. So you even don’t need a model to create cool pictures.

Ok, there is a few secrets of portrait photography!

Secret one.

Always try to start from selecting of the background even if this background exists only in your imagination. This advice applies not only for portraits, but also all other types of images. First of all, background must focus on the person you are photographing.  The best background should be neutral to the object and shouldn’t have any outstanding details. In practice, the background can then be processed but it is better to pay attention to such detail.

Secret two.

Pay attention to your eyes! The basic rule of photographers when you are photographing portraits focusing on the eyes of the man. The first thing the audience sees- the eyes, and then they would consider the whole picture. Focusing on the eyes and do not forget about emotions and composition. Strong emotions will save even the most hopeless picture. You can simply ask the person to smile, do something crazy . Such manipulations make it possible to make photos more interesting. It was the second secret of a successful photograph.

Secret three.

Let’s talk about lighting. You need to understand:

photography = light

Lighting, plays very important role. However you need to understand everyone with the same lighting conditions will look different. Direct light can be profitable to emphasize the oval face, and when the evening light line can be blurred. Properly ranked lighting can accentuate a subtle detail. Another tip – take pictures in sunlight – is not easy. Direct sunlight can score a shot. So the secret of portrait photography is in the use of different light sources and reflectors. Often to do a great picture you need just one reflector.

Secret four, the last one.

Select the correct position. Another criterion for the success of your shot is properly selected model, makeup, hair and dress. Do not limit your imagination horizontal or vertical images. Try to capture the object at different angles.
Do not be afraid!
Do not be shy!
Do not be lazy!
Do even what seems impossible, because the portrait photography it is continuous experimentation and fun.

Play with it!

http://lightwriter.org/

Good article about portrait photography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_photography 

Los Angeles, California, USA.

More wedding photos.

In order to determine on what can be saved, but on what is not, I list all the main areas of expenditure at the wedding in my wedding photographer blog.

So, without whom there is no marriage? That’s right, without the bride and groom. They are the decoration of the wedding. So the first item will be:

1. Wedding dress, bridal jewelry, hair, makeup and all the surrounding gorgeous accessories.
2. Suit for the groom, shirt, tie, shoes, cufflinks, belt…
3. Wedding rings. You will need to wear them to the rest of yours life, no matter how magnificent was the wedding.
In my opinion, all of the wedding entourage and shopping, especially important in these items.

Additional expenses, such as a wedding car with children, professional photographer, videographer, banquet, music, leading – it costs, on which it is possible to refuse, the main thing is that the couple love each other.

Wedding is a celebration of  love.
On this day, two loving hearts forever united and ready to go hand in hand to the rest of their life’s. They are preparing for the wedding day very carefully, picking up beautiful clothes, jewelry, do unbelievable hair, makeup and many other things… Do not forget that day consist from 24 hours. But both want to make these moments of happiness lasted forever, that the mood of the holiday was accompanied newlyweds a lifetime.

Good wedding photographer should capture  the brightest, the most emotional moments of the happy wedding day. They leave live these moments on pictures and in wedding albums ever! Do you have the opportunity to experience these moments of happiness again and again. Share these memories with family and friends. Experience, remember and enjoy it forever.

So, in my very humble opinion on the wedding day, the money you spend should be on:
1. Wedding dress, bridal jewelry, women’s haircuts and all the surrounding accessories.
2. Dress the bride, shirt, tie, shoes, cuff links, belt.
3. Wedding rings.
4. Professional photographer.
And the rest – is not important so you can save

PS: I wrote four points, which in my opinion the most important. And what will happen at your wedding will depends from you.