Gustavo Fernandez Photographer

Back in mid November i volunteered to help Ron Dawson with the production of “The Longest Day”. It involved some of the top wedding photographers in the industry. Here is the explanation by Ron and Episode One video below with a few cameos by yours truly. Enjoy!

Here is the post by Ron that can be seen on The Longest Day website.

It’s been a long time in the making, but it’s finally here. The premiere episode of the first online reality TV show for and about professional photographers, “The Longest Day,” this year’s buzz-building videos series for WPPI 2009.

The premise is simple: get 24 of the hottest professional photographers in the country (and Canada), bring them all to southern California armed only with the knowledge that they would be split into two teams and given an assignment to complete in just 24 hours. Once they arrive, they find out their assignment is to write, shoot, and edit an original short film about photography, AND an original PSA about the respective charity for which they are playing: ThirstRelief and Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

Over a series of ten episodes, you’ll see the drama; the comedy; and the battle for the best video and PSA as voted on by YOU. That’s right, as we lead up to WPPI (February 14-19) we’ll air the episodes. Then, about a week before, we’ll show the final short films and PSAs by both teams. You will then have an opportunity to vote for the videos you like the best. Thanks to our sponsors, the winning team will win $3,000 for their charity. The other charity will earn $2,000. (In this episode you’ll hear me mention $1,000 and $500 as the respective prizes. The ante got upped since the taping of this show).

EARN VALUABLE PRIZES
As we did last year, we’re offering some valuable prizes for those of you who participate in the viewing and sharing of the video series. First, anyone who adds any TLD video to their website or blog will get free admission to WPPI 2010 (note: that’s NEXT YEAR’S WPPI, not the upcoming one in 2009). Just get the embed code from the show player, then add to your blog/website. Once added, copy the URL for the specific post, then go to the “WPPI 2010 Freebie Form” at the top of this blog and fill it out. It’s that simple.

Also, for each episode we’ll have a drawing for a free song download from show sponsor Triple Scoop Music (A $60 value). You must leave a comment for that episode to be entered into the drawing. The deadline for each episode’s drawing is the post for the next episode (which will vary from 3-7 days).

HOG FOR KIDS: Day 9-Ft. Collins Lifestyle Portrait Session with Bell Family

Last night i arrived at my friend Michelle’s home after my longest ride yet. We both attended the University of Kansas and shared many good times together. I had not seen her since we left college and looked forward to catching up. I was quickly introduced to her two beautiful children Olivia (Livy) and Connor before putting them to bed and saw that they would be a blast to work with when i pulled my camera out. Michelle excused herself as she started the night shift as a tele-nurse and Marty and i enjoyed some burgers they had just grilled.

This morning i hung out wit the kids and helped Michelle as she got the day ready for us to go out to the park and play. I love being there early to capture the family as the day unfolds. How Connor just chows down on his breakfast and makes sure to feed Bella (the dog) who happily awaiting for the scraps. And how little Miss Libby shyly wonders who this strange man in her home is doing with that big camera.

Eggo with cream cheese, yum…

One of my favorite images of the day.

Thanks Michelle & Marty for having me over.

Last night i attended Sandy Puc’s Bellies & Babies Workshop in Foster City, CA. I was joined by my friend Tamee Renae and come to find out a ton of my fellow members from NCPP. I was looking forward to seeing Sandy in action since i had seen her in some of my Photovision Educational DVD’s in the past and was attracted to her work. I wanted to learn more about shooting babies and how she markets that business since many of my friends are now having babies and calling me up for images.

Sam (a nickname her Dad gave her that stuck) runs a very successful studio in Littleton, CO named Expression Photography. She also started the non-profit Now i Lay Me Down to Sleep a few years ago which has about 4,000 photographer from around the US participating in it. NILMDTS provides bereavement photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby and to help them in their healing journey. I put in my application a couple weeks ago once my website was up and running and still waiting to hear from them.

Sam spoke for over 4 hours and shared with us an amazing amount of information and more specifically how to build a profitable Baby Plan, Posing Techniques, Marketing, Community Exposure, and much more. First thing i realized was that studio lighting was not that complex. Sam uses mainly two sets of lights from Larson Enterprises which she demonstrated how to use on stage. I came out of the talk wanting to buy some studio lights, getting rid of all the furniture in my living room and doing what she does everyday in my home. She actually started the same way and was telling us how she had to back up all the way into one of her bathrooms and i think standing in the bathtub to get enough space to shoot with a long lens. Once i get my wedding business going consistently i think i might just invest in some lighting and start playing with what i learned. Thanks Sam for an excellent workshop.

Here are some fun images that my friend Laura Cottril took when Sam asked me to pose to check her camera settings during a break before the next demonstration.

I am off to WPPI in Las Vegas tomorrow. WPPI hosts the largest wedding and portrait photographer convention and trade-show in the world. I am looking forward to the great lineup of speakers and getting to meet some of the top photographers in the industry.

Here is a couple of fun clips that talented videographer Ron Dawson of Cinematic Studios produced for the show. Enjoy!

“Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer”-Episode 1

“Diary of a Washed Up Rock Star Wedding Photographer”-Episode 2

I met Lori Paladino of Lori Paladino Photography in August of last year when i attended the Modern Bridal Show at the San Francisco Ritz Carlton in my quest to research bridal shows and meet other photographers. We had fun chatting and talking about the wedding industry. Shortly after we met she had the wedding of Emily and Daniel in August that her Second Shooter was unable to work so she dropped me a line and i was happy to help and learn and excited about the opportunity. We had a great day and i was stoked that she loved my work and would let me know about weddings the following year. Recently she sent me 8 wedding dates for me to Second Shoot with her this year, i was super excited and extremely grateful. Thank you Lori, can’t wait til our first wedding this year.

Lori also works part-time as a recruiter at Google. When i found out i said i would love to have lunch there and experience what i had recently read about in the book The Google Story. It is a truly remarkable place. Seems more like a college campus with so many young people walking around and the only people in suits were the ones on the visitors tours. We dinned at the main cafeteria (which is free to all) and Lori mentioned that there are tons of other places to eat with just about any type of cuisine imaginable. There are just way too many benefits to mention so i looked them up, see the Google employee benefits here. Ok, so if i were to go back to Corporate America i would definitely work here. For example, 15 days vacation your first year when i had to work 3 years to there at my old job. With on-site benfeits like this who would ever want to leave the Googleplex: there’s on-site oil change, car wash, dry cleaning, massage therapy, gym, hair stylist, fitness classes and bike repair. Thanks for having me over Lori, looking forward to coming back and trying some of the other eateries.

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