Event Photography

I'm a social person so event photography gives me direct access to different personalities.  Event's are fun! Each event has that person who absolutely loves the camera and somehow ends up being in most of the photos. It doesn't bother me though because it keeps me busy and entertained at the same time.

I recently accepted a photography assignment for a 3 generations family reunion.  It was nice being a part of such a huge reunion. Of course I was on my feet for 5 hours making sure for many years to come, these families could relive that day again and again.  When you enjoy what you do, the adrenaline keeps you going.

With each event assignment, there is always something or someone worth remembering.  In this case, ABC family reunion honored members of the family by way of ceremonial certificates, the young people in their family who are are have furthered their education. Each recipient, after accepting their certificate, took us on their college experience journey, including progress and future plans. The recipients also thanked family members for monetary donations. It was quite the experience and I am honored to have been apart of it!

We live in the digital age and most of us have cell phones that take good photos, I get it. I have a Galaxy Note 3 and I can't live without it! The use of camera phones however temporarily takes you away from the now because you're trying to snap what's happening around you. I know because I have a bunch of photos in my phone and I'm not in them! While you're fumbling with your camera, adjusting the focus, zooming in and out, hitting the wrong buttons and trying to keep a steady hand in an effort to get that shot, everyone was apart of that perfect moment except you. Unfortunately that moment has passed.  Put your cell phone, tablet or iPad down, get in there with everyone else and enjoy the festivities while I capture every precious moment for you, professionally.

For events, I provide to the client all images on a disc. Also, onsite printing services on premium photo paper size 8x10 is available for additional purchase for persons like me who live in the now and need the tangible.

Call Gem in i for your next event!
Your Moments. My Life.

To Have, To Hold, To Compromise: The Institution of Marriage in the Black Community

Pictured above:  My parents, Nate and Marilyn - 1984

They met at the age of 13 years old and haven't been able to stay apart since!  Growing up my friends often remind me how 'lucky' I was that my parents were still together being that I didn't have very many friends who came from a two parent household.  43 years later, this lovely couple is still head over heels madly in love with one another.  This union birthed five amazing children whom they've instilled morals, values, self-respect and most importantly perseverance. This blog post is relevant because the man you see pictured is responsible for my thirst for photography and the woman you see pictured is responsible for my passion and love for the written word.

I want to share with you a piece I recently wrote about Black love; the love I've seen, the love I've felt, the love I've dreamed, the only love I know - - this love.  

TO HAVE, TO HOLD, TO COMPROMISE

THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY

Statistically, marriage has become less common among African Americans.  According to the U.S. Census, African American households are the least likely to contain a married couple, compared to other racial/ethnic groups.  Marriage appears to contribute greatly to the economic well-being of African-American families. During the last decades, the rates of marriage in the black community have declined while the rates of divorce, separation, cohabitation, out-of-wedlock births, and children residing in female-headed households have increased (http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org.)  With that, more than ever, America needs the Black family.  So what happened?  There are many factors to consider obviously but I’ll speak on one issue; longevity.

2010

Our parents, grandparents and great grandparents knew what it was like to stick it out.  If they were having problems, it was nobody’s business but their own.  If they no longer loved each other, they saved face by acting normal yet slept in separate beds.  If there were any indiscretions it was hushed and not flashed around town.  Were the methods they used effective?  Yes.  Some methods of course weren’t ideal, but were still effective and ultimately saved the family.  Today, sticking it out and making it work seems to be a past time in the Black community.  The words “I do” should possess permanent power.  Those words were not taken lightly then and shouldn’t be taken lightly now with what seems to be a combination of a self and societal annihilation of the Black family.  Traditional vows are widely held and highly respected by many, including myself, however I do believe the willingness to compromise should be a part of a tradition the Black family seems to have lost in the ruins over the years. 

A marriage is sure to fail without compromise.  Can compromise take place when two people aren’t happy and neither are willing to find out why?  Not likely.  Can compromise take place when one person feels they are always right and the other is always wrong?  Won’t happen.  Can compromise take place when one person’s flesh begins to cloud their judgment on what’s best for the family?  Not ever.  Can compromise take place between two people who haven’t a clue how to not only suffer but also accept the trials and tribulations that seem to go hand in hand in marriage?  Not likely. 

2014

Love is equally important in a marriage but even it is not possible without the willingness to brave the waves, walk over coal, take a few punches and sustain a few setbacks all with the willingness to suit up and repeatedly take one for the team. 

Compromise, stronger than love.   

Visit our website:  www.geminiphotographyandgraphicdesign.com

Founded in Florida

Since I can remember, I've always somehow been intrigued by photography.  Long before I considered ever actually being a photographer, I was always taking random pictures of my daughter. But that's normal right?  All parents do it.  Except, it was always me during family functions or outings with a camera pressed against the bridge of my nose and one eye closed, snapping every available shot that I could.  I still never considered being a professional photographer, although my father was a professional photographer during my youth and well into my teenage years.  I didn't care about lighting, pose compositions, exposure, distraction in backgrounds, depth of field or even if subjects were 'picture ready.'  It was fun for me, pure entertainment, nothing more. 

Always a lover of the newest gadgets, point and shoot cameras were my thing well....because they were easy to operate.  If I didn't have a camera I used my phone, if I didn't have a phone I used a camcorder.  Either way, I wasn't missing an opportunity to preserve a memory.  Very seldom did I take pictures of animals, random people or beautiful scenery - - so I thought. 

My family traveled to Florida in the year 2010.  At that time, we were what I call 'Florida Addicts.'  It wasn't enough that we'd traveled to Florida the previous year with my brother and his fiancé.  We wanted more but this time we took our 5 year old daughter, who is now 10 years old.  Someone once said jokingly to my husband and I, "You guys do know that there are more places to travel than Florida?"  We laughed it off because we didn't care.  It was beautiful and something new considering we were for the most part travel virgins.  We tend to stick to what we know.  Kind of like going to a restaurant repeatedly and ordering the same thing from the menu each and every time with no regrets. 

Florida wasn't just a place to visit though, it was an awakening for me.  I discovered subliminally that I was born to be a photographer and that I had the ability to capture the smallest of detail in my mind and convey that same image in written form.  Now, whether photography and writing were supposed to be a hobby or a profession was the blurred line.  Either way, creativity was taking its course in the Sunshine State.

I would like to share some lines from a descriptive essay that I wrote after traveling to Florida for a second time:

My gray world turns baby blue in a matter of three hours.  Petal soft clouds seem close enough to touch, while I float to another universe.  As the feet of this vessel ripple the pavement, wide eyes cram every opening, anticipating the unexpected.  Driving to my reserved purlieu, June’s elements glimmer the lush green Queens that line the busy strip.  As I inhale this serene place, amnesia begins to set in, and home is extracted from my mind.  The need to unwind hangs about my thoughts so I pull into a restaurant for a cocktail.  I order the Lava Flow; a tropical drink infused with Malibu coconut rum, fresh strawberries, bananas, pineapple juice and delicious coconut cream.  When the glass meets the table, the sun gulps the frost revealing a mixture of red and gold hues marbled with vibrant orange blossom.  A crown of sugar, a sweet pineapple and a cerise strawberry adorn the top of the glass.  I sit back, place my feet on a violet wicker stool, and take it all in. © Prestigious Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

Are you there yet?  Can you taste it? Can you feel what I felt?  Can you see it?

If you can't, here's a little push:

                           Clearwater Beach, Tampa FL

                           Clearwater Beach, Tampa FL

                                Clearwater Beach, Tampa FL

The evening glare is like a rainbow moonstone, captivating and full of mystery.  In the coral and steel blue yonder, a great white Egret, now just a shadow with an S curved neck, migrates toward the light, with her supper flapping between the presses of her bill.

© Prestigious Poetry. All Rights Reserved.



Meet my family:

I've enjoyed reliving my vacation experience in Florida with you. 

***

Book of Poesy titled, "Wings" coming soon! 

Follow my FB fan page for updates! https://www.facebook.com/prestigiouspoetry

Visit my website:  www.geminiphotographyandgraphicdesign.com

Beautiful Black and White

Black and white (b&w) photography makes it almost impossible to determine when a photograph was taken.  A lack of color in a photograph often accentuates the light and shadows.  Backlit subjects and dramatic shadows are brought to our attention quickly in black and white images.  B&W photographs are like stories waiting to be told.  When we see b&w it draws us into the image because for just a moment, we aren't distracted by color. 

Pictured below is a lady looking out of the window at some unknown object or person.  Here, I took an ordinary photograph, applied a b&w filter and transformed it into extraordinary.  In this photo, the transition of shadow and light creates a softer look and feel to the photo.  Looking out of that window, her world stops and so do we.  The only thing important at that time is what's between those blinds.  She's lost in thought in a world we want to know.  The shadows in the background and the light on the edge of her face could mean a revelation or a new purpose in her life.      

Model:   Sheila Harris Jones, jeweler
Jewelry:    MisMatch Earrings n' Things

What if I told you her snake print earrings are shimmery leather with fringed ends and gold hardware?  What if I told you her lips are crimson red?  What if I told you her denim shirt is light blue with white stitching?  What if I told you her lady tie is also a shimmery leather snake print that goes with the earrings like a hand and glove?  What if I told you her natural coils are a tapered rich brownish gold hue?  What if I told you her eyeshadow has a hint of champagne and deep brown?

Inundated with color all around us, b&w photography makes us believe, just for a moment that this world can be as pure as the hint of light protruding the canvas of all black and white photographs.  Through this window, we forget the chaos and escape into a world of serenity.  We somehow, someway go back in time to a feeling we've all experienced at some point or another -- simplicity.   

Special thanks to my friend and business owner Sheila Harris Jones of MisMatch Earrings n' Things for a timeless photograph.

MisMatch Earrings n' Things is all handmade which allows a creative and expressive way to show off your love for originality. Stand out and be proud of your perfectly mismatched style! 

 

Like MisMatch Earrings n' Things on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/mismatchearrings/timeline

 

Follow MisMatch Earrings n' Things on Instagram!

@ms_mismatch

Featured jewelry:  Matching leather bowtie and fringed leather earring set.

Visit our website:  www.geminiphotographyandgraphicdesign.com

To Shop or Not?

Here comes the radiant bride. Down the aisle and into her father's arms.  The sun peeks through mahogany wooden doors, casting an angelic glow on her flawless dress; a veil covering the silver droplets leaving her eyes.  Friends and family align the walkway winking and waving well wishes as she walks to greet her groom. Going in for the kiss he lifts her veil,  holds her delicate face in his hands, whispers to the soft center of her lips, "I love you" and they kiss - - captured. 

Perfect right? Almost....
 

This day was perfect and it was theirs. Does it matter that generations later can experience this day as if they were there?  Does it matter that her father walked her down the aisle and died two years later? Does it matter that years have gone by and took their youth with them? Does it matter that the dress she wore was her mother's and had been preserved for that day?  That beautiful tear stained bride with the raccoon eyes. The bride with traces of makeup on her dress from an Aunt who hugged her. The bride with lipstick stained teeth. 

This is where Photoshop image editing comes in. 

Why should a few imperfections destroy a perfectly good shot?  It doesn't have to! The purchase of image editing is an investment to sustain the memories of important events and family photographs.  I've seen great wedding photographs with beautiful scenery and pose compositions.  However, those small imperfections can annilihate what the picture could have been.  A run in panty hose, a tooth missing, a bothersome mole, a receding hairline or age detail in the face are just some of the things that can be edited out and can make a dramatic difference in your photographs. 

A lady once told me that she and her family decided to take a family photo.  During the time, her mom was battling Cancer and it was taking a toll on her physical appearance.  When their pictures came back, she couldn't help but notice that her mom looked sickly.  She asked the photographer to Photoshop the picture to make her mom look younger and healthier.  She's grateful for image editing as the photographer brought back to her the mom she knows. 

Not long after the shoot her mom passed away.  She told me she was happy she'd invested in image editing because she didn't want the family photo to depict her mother's illness.  She wanted to remember her mother's spirit.  She wanted to salvage her mother's beauty; the beauty she'd come to know all of her life.  The beauty that would be treasured for many generations to come.
 

Before and After photographs using Photoshop image editing software.











Visit my website:  www.geminiphotographyandgraphicdesign.com
 

Wonderful Winston

I'm nearing the end of graduate courses at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.  In addition to a Graduate Corporate Communications class, I am also putting together a documentary trailer called 20th Street - For Whites Only.  20th Street is located in the Hyde Park community in North St. Louis City and isn't exactly the ideal area for a woman pointing a camera.  This story however, is a personal one.   

My grandmother moved into a house on 20th Street in the late 60's along with her children.  Two weeks later, the house was fire bombed by an angry white mob.  The mob didn't approve of a black family moving into an all white neighborhood.  Due to an influx of race riots during that time, this incident was covered by only a few media outlets and was soon cast into the sea of the forgotten.

Today, the Hyde Park community is noticeably different with street barricades on every block, decorated with abandoned beautiful brick row houses throughout.  There is one little lady though, Ms. Winston.  She lives in the row house on the very corner of the block and is adamant the neighborhood is making gain.  The front of her home is decorated with Elephant Ear plants that are green as Summer's grass.  She welcomed us to her garden where yellow peaches and bright green apples swung from the trees and watermelons that were almost ripe sat at our feet.

This place that bred racial hate in the 60's breeds a different kind of hate now; hate for environment, hate for lack of resources, hate for unemployment and hate for self.  Hyde Park - the forgotten.  There is one who has the faith of a mustard seed and will work tirelessly to bring back to surface a neighborhood that was once bursting with businesses with a sense of community.

As her eyes proudly glanced over her lovely garden, she said, "Come back in a year and this large empty lot next to my home will be a garden.  I want the children in this neighborhood to learn how to grow their own food and I'd love to work with the City to accomplish that." ~ Ms. Winston, the wonderful

 

Visit my website:  www.geminiphotographyandgraphicdesign.com

Oh Shoot!

Lights, camera, action is easier said than done.  Preparing for a photo shoot can be a delightful experience or a hectic one, depending on one’s ability to effectively prepare for their shoot.  Failure to plan begets chaos, chaos begets frustration and frustration begets the wrong energy for a photo shoot, which in turn spills onto the canvas of the photograph and into your book of memories. 

To begin the planning process, selecting a venue can be a tedious yet rewarding task.  As an on-location photographer, I think it is important that clients know the importance of venue selection.  It requires patience and of course research.  It’s probably not a bad idea to visit the venue to familiarize yourself with its surroundings and all of the indoor and/or outdoor goodies it offers.

I’ve compiled a list of 15 tasks that are highly recommended for preparing for a photo shoot with an on-location photographer:

1) Venue Selection.

2) Book an appointment with a professional photographer.  It may not be a bad idea to know the forecast for the day you’ve chosen, before booking the appointment.

3) Ask your photographer what he or she should expect from you, the client.

4) Arrive on time. 

5) If there are more than one persons in your shoot, make sure all persons are in the mood to be photographed.  Explain to them that this shoot is important to you and the camera can reveal exactly how they’re feeling at that very moment. 

6) If you have small children who will be photographed, make sure they’re rested and fed.  It’s a good idea to bring their favorite toy and a few snacks to keep them happy.

7) Be picture ready.  Make sure clothing is clean and wrinkle free. 

8) If it is hot outside, bring a soft cloth with you to dab away any excess oils or shine on the skin.  If the weather is cold, bundle up! Fact:  Some of the most beautiful photographs are taken in the Winter!  

9) Be prepared to walk.  If your shoes aren’t comfortable, bring an extra pair for comfortability until you and the photographer find a location in your choice of venue that jumps out at you.  Remember, when your feet are hurting, nothing else really matters!     

10) Listen to the directives of the photographer.

11) Ignore any distractions around you, including conversation.   

12)  Be patient, it's a virtue. 

13)  Feel free to make pose recommendations.  Photographers value their clients’ opinion.

14)  Remember, you likely hired your photographer by viewing his or her work and liking what you saw.  A photographers' ability to leverage their photos in a marketing capacity is important for business so many will ask you to sign a photo release for marketing purposes only. 

15) Don't assume, ask questions.  Get a full understanding of any photo releases the photographer may present. 

I hope this information helps in your decision making process in preparing for a photo shoot.

Visit my website:  www.geminiphotographyandgraphicdesign.com