Asma and Tim combined her Muslim and his Roman Catholic traditions in their matrimony a few months ago. This was a simple, fun shoot. I enjoyed it!
Nov 092011
Oct 312011
Lately I feel like I am the last resort when it comes to hiring a photographer. I don’t know if folks are shopping until they find me or if photography is an after thought. I am the first result on Microsoft’s Bing search engine for Harrisburg photographers and in fifth place on Google. I even get calls from people needing photo restoration by looking in the Yellow Pages.
I am soo very hungry to get more photography gigs but I won’t work for less than I am worth or under the speculation that I will get paid. I’ve been a approached by a few businesses and individuals asking if I would work Pro Bono because they project earnings that they cannot quantify. Why is photography an after thought albeit often is the only visual record and tangible thing one can take away from an event?
Self_portrait_on porch 8/2005
Recently, I was contacted by a couple that was getting married soon. It was a modest event so they weren’t paying me much money. However they waited until the last minute (the night before) to tell me they didn’t have any money. I had arranged for a babysitter and waited for 20 minutes to meet them to find out I was stood up.
From now on I will have to stick to my event contract which requires a date reservation fee and/or payment in full four weeks prior to the event date.
Like I said, I am hungry to get more clients, especially weddings which is my passion, but I won’t fall for being a sucker any more.
I figure if you really like my work, then you will make a serious commitment to hire me. After all, I spend time every day after my full time job, after I put my son to bed, continuously enhancing my skills and exercising my creativity to become a better photographer. I invest in education and other professional learning opportunities. I will not, could not be stood up. I should not, cannot be stood up. (Sorry, just finished reading Green Eggs and Ham to my son before bed.)
Oct 262011
Long time since I have posted. The problem with me is, I enjoy photographing much more than blogging.
I have been keeping busy with constantly improving my craft and other time intensive things like home remodeling and finishing my graduate degree.
I am now going to blog with a vengeance. This post is a a follow up to They Make a Lovely Couple with the couple’s marriage posing session.
Enjoy and stay logging on to the blog. Thanks for visiting.
Jun 192011
Lianna and Nimar are a beautiful couple. They are easy-going and adorable. I just let the sparks fly when I take couples out to make portraits. I usually start indoors where they are most at ease. Then, I’ll take them on a date and encourage them to make love to the camera.
I love tagging along as the wing man. This comes natural to me, as I remember having been the third wheel on many dates. I thought that was pretty darn pathetic until I realized I’m the only one out of those dating friends who has started a family. Thanks for all the dating practice buddies.
May 142011
A visitor to my block has one of my all time favorite bumper stickers on her car. It says, “A good Earth is hard to find”.
I know it is a little late to say happy Earth day. But this year (actually at least the next five years) my website will be representing clean energy every day of the year.
I am proud to say that this blog and the Jason Martin Photography website is powered by 100% wind power supplied by Green Geeks. There are web servers humming with electricity 24/7 so that websites stay on. The risk of by products from coal combustion and nuclear waste just don’t seem worth the convenience of viewing my breath taking photography at 2:30 in the morning.
Not only is my new web host in line with my environmental conservation values, but the company donates to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and so do I!
Feb 272011
Mom called him her little papaya. Dad kept a steady hand on his newborn fruit as I suspended the little guy from my boom stand.
They both were stoked to give this a try. It was my first attempt at baby surrealism- the way I like to see babies pictured.
Babies are superb explorers of new objects and the sensations of texture. After settling into the sheepskin, he started to play with the fibers and then fell asleep.
I met the military family at thier home on base. We had some good conversation and exchanged music. Daddy didn’t intend on being photograhed but it wasn’t hard to convince him.
Hannah is featured in our Teens portfolio. Here are some additional portraits we made from the same session.
I edited the first shots to hide a tooth gap and braces. Here is a before and after example.
BEFORE
AFTER
Nov 092010
I’m feeling a bit down this autumn. Usually my fall is filled with outdoor nature excursions. This year we are forced to be ever more frugal and have chosen to cut out the road trips. I am missing my family and friends in Philadelphia. Honestly, I miss exploring new Pennsylvania trails as much as my loved ones.
My favorite state park of recent visit is Ricketts Glenn. The slippery trails along boulders misted by endless cascading waterfalls is especially enchanting when the leaves are scattered in your path.
We stayed at a charming bed and breakfast called Hart’s Content. It was romantic and our host put us at ease. The owner built the home for the purpose of a getaway for couples and travelers to the wilderness. I appreciate the craftsmanship and upkeep and, of course the main event, her fantastic breakfast. She coordinated breakfast time for just me and my wife after the other guests were fed.
I’m learning there are lots of great hikes in the Central PA area. I’ll be reporting on what I find close to home and try to remember to bring back some pictures.
A dead tree, roots, vines... I don't remember what this is
Oct 082010
Autumn is a time to purge. The trees shed old burdensome growth. Setting forth the ability to develop greater strength, winter prepares challenges which may prove sustained life.
It is the meaning of our son’s adaptation of the Tutelo word for the color-rich season. My wife and I had to leave behind growth as single individuals to come together to begin a strong family. Fall is a time when we most enjoy taking hikes, making family portraits against the fall foliage, and watching nature’s course.
My son fills in the hues when I get trapped in a black and white picture. He is blessed with pure kindness and generous forgiveness. He is a spectrum of color- an autumn of inspiration.
Polaroids used to be indispensable to photographers of all walks from casual camera users to legendary artists. When film and chemicals were the only means to process photos, Polaroid prints were a quck and easy way to take test shots and compose candid shots.
The pioneer of the Instamatic has gone under and is forced to sell one of its most priced assets, the Polaroid photography collection. Artists such as Ansel Adams used the amatuer SX-70 to compose masterpieces. He was a master of film processing, which shows even in images taken with the consumer camera.
Sotheby’s has mini web site dedicate to this monumental auction here: http://www.sothebys.com/minisite/polaroid/index.html