tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48998903673743315482024-03-12T22:26:51.325-04:00Ramon Morales PhotographyBlog for Orlando, Florida Automotive and Commercial Photographer Ramon Morales.Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-42790804326681167292017-08-17T10:36:00.000-04:002017-08-17T13:37:47.478-04:00UnderwaterMy oldest(actually both) son is a fish. He loves...LOVES...the water. <br />
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Prior to going back to school, after working so hard, all the time, we decided to reward him(and ourselves) with a trip to Discovery Cove. If you haven't been, you should go. It was pretty great. Have a look!<br />
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<br />Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-72635126875431432702017-06-27T09:31:00.000-04:002017-06-27T09:31:13.078-04:00Do You Need a Photography Studio?I think at one point or another, every photographer dreams of having their own studio. It's an amazing feeling to have your own place to call home, hang your own images, set your own lights, meet your own clients.<br />
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I wouldn't know. In the nearly 20 years of professional photography, I've not had one. I've also not had a need for one. But I have always wanted one. <br />
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If you're considering it, then it's time to ask yourself a few questions.<br />
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Will having a studio make you more money?<br />
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Not that we got into the photography industry to make boatloads of cash...but, with a studio, your expenses will increase dramatically. Is your business prepared to take on the added weight of extra expense?<br />
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Do you need a photography studio?<br />
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Sure. You want one. But do you need one? Will a photography studio fulfill a necessity for you? Do you find yourself constantly looking for rental studios or private space to shoot in several times a week, or do you shoot on location 5 days a week? If so, then, maybe it is time to consider a studio. If not, then what will that studio be doing for you when you're not shooting?<br />
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Have you considered the financial aspects?<br />
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When moving into a studio, you will most likely want to have a meeting room, with nicely framed photographs, a sitting area, coffee tables, albums or some kind of a multimedia presentation. You will also want to have a studio that is easily findable by your clients.<br />
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What is your contingency plan for your slow times? <br />
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An unfortunate part of the business...at one point or another, we all have slow times. What then? If you're able to solve this question and have a valid plan together to get you through the slower times in your business, then you are much better off. Remember, your studio might be your largest expense. You have to make sure you can handle that.<br />
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There are many other factors to consider when it comes to opening your own photography studio. Your marketing will most likely be vastly different and possibly have a higher budget, in order to attract more clients. You may need a staff. You may need to upgrade some of your equipment. Starting with these questions, however, will get you going in the right direction to make the right decision!Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-91233739146833926662017-06-23T08:30:00.002-04:002017-06-23T08:30:48.717-04:00Drones and Photography - New Giant Trend<div class="MsoNormal">
Both the photography and real estate industry tend to be heavily trend driven. In the photography world, there have been numerous significant advances over the years. From black and white to color, to different size formats, and, of course, with the advent of digital photography, and the availability of new affordable technology to the masses, the photography industry has become vastly different than it was even ten years ago. Nowhere is this more evident than with drone photography. Prior to this new technology, the only way to get high quality, proper aerial photography was to rent out a helicopter or small plane for the day, which pushed the concept of aerial photography beyond the plane of reason for many applications. This was both costly and time-consuming routine, which was used only in necessary applications. Aerial Photography for Real Estate, simply put, was just way too costly, and burdensome, to be widely used in many applications. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Enter the drone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In many respects, the Real Estate and Photography industry are incredibly similar. Agents and brokers are constantly selling themselves and their services, constantly looking for new clients, constantly looking for ways to set themselves apart from the competition, much the way photographers are constantly searching out new clients, putting together new marketing projects, and constantly selling their services. One of the most distinct ways for a Real Estate Broker or Agent to do just that is to introduce high-quality photography, with the addition of drone photography, into their listings and/or reports. In the commercial real estate market, drone photography has become a simple and affordable way to capture images of a large property or track of land. Drones are now heavily used by developers and land owners during planning stages, prior to entering a sales period. Drones have been found to be useful with land surveyors and inspectors as well, in reaching heavily wooded or hard to reach areas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the residential Real Estate market, the drone has become a simple and effective way to easily capture images that set an agent’s listing apart from their competition. Most Multiple Listing Service organizations (MLS) have a requirement that the first image on a listing be of the front of the house/property, and a drone photograph that captures the front of the property from overhead fulfills this requirement in almost all cases. This is especially important, because an overhead photograph, shot by a drone, that fulfills the MLS requirement, is oftentimes the most important aspect to an Agent’s listing. It is the easiest way to set a listing apart from all other listings and usually captures the most attention by prospective buyers. The drone image has become almost essential in today’s luxury Real Estate market, as it is again a very effective way to capture an overhead image of a large piece of property, showcasing the grounds, and giving a clear image of the roof, a part of the property which normally was ever clearly seen by inspectors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are very clear benefits to using drones for Real Estate, but, the biggest one is this: homes photographed with drones sell 60% faster than homes photographed only with traditional methods. This is because simply put, there is no easier way to clearly capture the property while providing an opportunity to showcase a specific lifestyle with luxury properties. Drone operators are even using videos to create scenic films from overhead to capture not just the property, but also entire neighborhoods, that in turn help drive traffic through social media platforms.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Although the FAA has introduced several regulations on the drone industry and introduced licensing requirements, there seems to be no slowing of the drone industry in the Real Estate world. Drones have cemented their place in the Real Estate world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Drone operators flying for business(photography) purposes instead of just recreation should have proper licensing and insurance, and while for use on private property, there should be no major issue, many cities and towns across America have passed different laws and regulations, governing, and in some instances, restricting the use of drones in certain areas. It would be important to become familiar with those regulations prior to operating a drone. The FAA has also passed legislation requiring certain drones to be registered. Drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds are required to be registered, and the weight limit for commercial drone flying is 55 pounds. Operators should also take note that the FAA is very stringent on flying near airports, and should map out a flight plan to make sure to avoid such potential hazards. <o:p></o:p></div>
Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-23112221827274867012017-06-08T08:19:00.001-04:002017-06-08T08:19:12.679-04:00Couple images from an event I shot<div style="text-align: center;">
I shot a private party recently. Here's a few images. Enjoy!</div>
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Need some images of a special event? Click <a href="http://ramophoto.com/#!/Contact_us" target="_blank">here</a> and let's chat!</div>
Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-91441384709970495642017-05-17T09:59:00.001-04:002017-05-17T09:59:15.480-04:005 Questions Photographers Should Consider Before Dropping Their Rate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U91KNX5tw0Hl-vDWyqb74qtb6v4E6Z-TluKdj4CC1dpOUlVTQKeoK_BJrIkDrF678-Cs7Fm_G8qIH0HuXCeEuPEvamcb1BhWNufBkiHQb9UiH7oSqWjpbh_Gc0x2AA-_A58yEeu7yx0/s1600/price+drop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U91KNX5tw0Hl-vDWyqb74qtb6v4E6Z-TluKdj4CC1dpOUlVTQKeoK_BJrIkDrF678-Cs7Fm_G8qIH0HuXCeEuPEvamcb1BhWNufBkiHQb9UiH7oSqWjpbh_Gc0x2AA-_A58yEeu7yx0/s320/price+drop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Let’s face it. At one
point or another, every single photographer has been asked to slash their
rates. Whether it was a client who just
didn’t respect our craft, or a tighter budget than normal, we’ve all had to
make the decision to accept or reject a gig that was much lower than
normal. When should you or should you
not? Here are five questions to get you
started:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->What kind of project is it?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Is this a hard project for you? Is
it a project you typically shoot, or is this a one off? If this is a very simple and easy project, then
this should be a yes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->How time intensive is the project? What’s required in pre and post?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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What I mean here is how long is it going to take to complete the project,
from beginning to end? Sure, the actual
shooting portion may only take fifteen minutes, but we all know that’s not the
only aspect to our jobs, so its important to consider the entire scope of the
project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Will the one-time slash in rate hurt your
business in the long run?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
You never want to be known as the “cheap” guy. Being the “cheap” guy will get you a whole
bunch of “cheap” work. There’s nothing
wrong with a one-time drop in price, when its well placed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Will you work with these folks again?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
Prime example. I recently dropped
my rate on a project. It was a two hour
event, they wanted just basic photographs(think grip and grins) they live in
the Northeast, and are only here for a weekend.
Odds are, I won’t be hearing from these folks again. Simple project, quickly done in post, and I
was comfortable with the price drop…plus I was completely open on the day of
the event…so…why not?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Is it worth it?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;">
We
all want to make sure our work, even on more ordinary or mundane projects,
reflects our brand, right? While you can
make adjustments and sacrifices on the bottom line, you should never sacrifice
your standards or brand as a professional.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Simple enough, right?
<span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s obviously much more to consider, however, starting
off considering these questions will get you going in the right direction at
least. What other considerations do you
think should be made when considering a one-time price drop?<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-83526085581792466082017-04-27T11:13:00.000-04:002017-04-30T22:41:45.308-04:00Donald Trump and the Arts***Although I am EXTREMELY opinionated politically, this post is not meant to be a political "beatdown" or lashing in any way.***<br />
<br />
Donald Trump has released his budget. In the budget, as expected, there are drastic cuts to entitlement programs and departments which many lower and middle class Americans depend on, not that this is much of a surprise to anyone. I think we all kind of expected that, no?<br />
<br />
We also shouldn't be surprised that he's proposing to completely eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for Humanities. Again...we should have seen this coming. <br />
<br />
Just because we knew it was coming doesn't mean it isn't worrisome. <br />
<br />
If we look at the Arts, all through human civilization, funding from the government has almost always been a constant. Virtually all of Michelangelo's works were made possible by financial support from the Church and the government. Same thing for Shakespeare, and the Queen. In fact, if you were to go through history, you would find that the majority of influential artist, at one point or another, benefited from governmental support.<br />
<br />
The NEA total budget for the entire year amounts to $158 million. While major museums or galleries may not see a major effect on their day to day, this change would mean that the majority of other galleries, museums, theaters, school funding programs, opera houses, dance centers, film festivals, art shows and festivals, will struggle to continue to find existence.<br />
<br />
Any kind of school arts or humanities programs would be very close to depleted...unless your children are in private, well funded schools. Our children would be receiving two different types of education.<br />
<br />
This is all over $158 million dollars. Sounds like a lot, right? Sure, it does...here's the thing. It represents 0.003% of our national budget. Not 3%. 0.003%. If you've got $100 in your pocket, pull out 30 cents. That's what we are talking about here.<br />
<br />
Want to see what kind of projects, individual and community projects, and events the NEA funds, in your own area? Click <a href="https://apps.nea.gov/grantsearch/SearchMain.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
At the same time, Trump is proposing spending unprecedented amounts on a wall and increased military spending. <br />
<br />
Odds are, when you finish reading my rant, and you hop in your car to get to work or lunch, or, quite frankly wherever you're going, you're going to pass at least 1 place that will no longer exist if the NEA is abolished. <br />
<br />
I've written a great deal on this blog about how the arts are under siege by outside forces, but, never before in the history of our country have the arts, or we as artist, faced this kind of a threat.<br />
<br />
It is so important that we let our elected officials know how important it is that we as a community of artist and art lovers continue to demand funding for the arts. The future of our industries, AND our society, are at stake!Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-73436584122813134582017-04-13T12:35:00.000-04:002017-04-13T12:35:16.500-04:005 MUST DO'S for every Photography Business<div style="text-align: center;">
After almost 20 years in the business, plenty of busy times, slow times, crazy and quiet times, I've learned a couple things. While there's tons of MUST DO'S for every photographer, here are a few:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqAS3DfjVExZL4ZvJ520L8koNN4X6o2cl2zaYREiKEkuTO7xqlJlsv0JfJ-8iZOOJgE-mhaoeJTTGeGtDYJnXUXv2-z5p9TAAaQ-7ssXfniXUGyOeMY1GBy_eg6ZIh9QD1AvBlXhyphenhyphenOr4/s1600/TUNNEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqAS3DfjVExZL4ZvJ520L8koNN4X6o2cl2zaYREiKEkuTO7xqlJlsv0JfJ-8iZOOJgE-mhaoeJTTGeGtDYJnXUXv2-z5p9TAAaQ-7ssXfniXUGyOeMY1GBy_eg6ZIh9QD1AvBlXhyphenhyphenOr4/s320/TUNNEL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1. Network, network, network. You don't get away from this one. As a matter of fact, for us artist, we must network even more. We've got to be in front of people, constantly reminding them of our services. Not just at networking meetings, but also with robust marketing campaigns, advertisements, social media, etc. Remember, on average, you need to make 5+ impressions before a person remembers you, in today's overly graphic world.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2. Put the camera down! Sounds weird, I know...but...ask a successful attorney or businessperson how much time they actually spend in a courtroom, versus the time they spend working with paperwork, consultations, prep, and building their businesses. It is so incredibly imperative that you spend a significant amount of time actually tending to ALL portions of your business...not just the camera in hand part. Which leads me to...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. Then pick the camera up! This is what makes it challenging to be a photographer. We must be businesspeople, and artist. All the time a shop owner, salesperson, doctor or attorney devote to building and maintaining their business, we must do as well; but it is important to remember to make some camera time for yourself. You've got to keep the creative part of your brain moving.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4. Don't be a slave! Look, our industry has been taken over by manufacturers who have tried so hard to convince us that we need to have the latest, greatest, biggest, fattest camera and lenses, and the newest tech. We try to convince ourselves that we need to have all these other things...we don't. Get equipment that works for you, that satisfies your customers needs...by all means don't turn into a dinosaur, but don't get caught up in the consumerism.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
5. Invest. Invest your money correctly(back to #4.) Invest your time wisely. Invest in educating yourself. Take some business/finance courses. Open a retirement account. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There's no handbook, or instruction manual, but these basic points should keep you pretty much clear. Do any of you have any other good suggestions? I'd love to hear some!</div>
Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-1971975397349367922017-03-29T16:34:00.002-04:002017-03-29T16:34:58.097-04:00My Favorite Photographers<div class="MsoNormal">
I am often asked if I have a favorite photographer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is a very clear yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reality is that I absolutely do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are quite a few photographers
actually who’s work I thoroughly enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a few, in no particular order:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Javier Medina</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Javi is actually a long time friend of mine; we went to
college together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He currently
lives in New Zealand, and captures the most incredibly stunning landscape
images of the beautiful countryside.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steve McCurry</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because who can talk about photography without mentioning
this man’s contribution?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You name
it…he’s shot it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably
twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s about as big a legend
as a legend can be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Greg Gorman</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another legend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw Greg speak years ago, and I was struck by how down to Earth he
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he spoke, I went and
had a conversation with him about his difficulties starting out, as my career
was still in its infancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What he
said to me was striking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a
good, supportive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I’ll
post it one day <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clark Little</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stationed out of Hawaii, Clark has made some of the most
amazing and iconic images in his particular niche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether its of the surf or marine life, his work is truly
inspiring.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Henry Dekuyper</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well known for his stunning work in the automotive
photography realm, Dekuyper has a long standing reputation for quality
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an automotive
photographer and fanatic of the entire scene, I couldn’t possibly make a list
of my favorites and not add him on here.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t fret…I have plenty more…these are just a few who’s
work I truly love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you need
some inspiration, and need to see some quality work…go look any one of these
guys up…I promise…you won’t regret it.</div>
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Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-19835294674346842792017-03-08T10:04:00.000-05:002017-03-08T10:04:48.261-05:00ReminiscingI remember my first paid Photography "job." I was working as a photographer for the college newspaper, and loved what I did. I got sent out on all types of journalism assignments, shot photographs of major and minor events, students, teachers, etc. <br />
<br />
I was sitting at my desk, editing some images(we shot film back then, so the whole process of editing was significantly different than it is now) when I got a call. It was an art director for a major magazine out of New York.<br />
<br />
Phone rings<br />
Hello, this is Ramon<br />
Hi Ramon, are you the head photographer?<br />
I am. Who am I speaking with?<br />
Ramon my name is xxx, I'm the Art Director for xxx Magazine. I need your help.<br />
Oh ok. Great. What can I do for you?<br />
<br />
<br />
The AD went on to explain how his magazine set people up for blind dates, did before and after interviews, and needed a photographer to tail the couple throughout their time together. It was to take place two hours from then, and he needed a last minute photographer to step in.<br />
<br />
That was my first paid photography job.<br />
<br />
I knew nothing of pricing, invoices, etc. As a matter of fact, my invoice was handwritten on a sheet of paper on the counter of the post office when I sent off my rolls of film.<br />
<br />
Since then, I've worked on projects both large and small. National, International, and Local. All over the Southeastern United States and Caribbean. <br />
<br />
Yet I never forget that first job. That excitement, nervousness, that pride.<br />
<br />
If I could go back and do it all over again...would I? <br />
<br />
Absolutely! <br />
<br />
What advice would I give myself? <br />
<br />
For that first job, charge more. :) For my career...gain a thorough understanding of business matters much earlier, and build your network.<br />
<br />
I'll keep reminiscing, and keep pushing forward, but I take great pride in every job I shoot...that pride I felt my first job, I feel every job. And I love it!Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-18246215226208399602017-02-21T11:31:00.000-05:002017-02-21T11:31:23.597-05:00Why I stay away from photography "News sites"I love photography. I've been a professional photographer since taking my first assignment in the year 2000. It was a small magazine assignment that basically had me follow a couple around photographing their first date. I was so proud of my three photographs that appeared in this national magazine(which no longer exist), I put one of the tearsheets up as a trophy in my apartment. Although the majority of my work has been for private clients, since then, you name it...I pretty much shot it. Or some variation of, at least. I'm fairly proud of the list of clients I'm able to say I have worked with.<br />
<br />
Through my career development, something has always kind of irked me, however, and I noticed it again today, just like I did 20 years ago when I was dreaming of being a professional photographer. Go to your local bookstore(or google) and look up any of the major photography magazines. I did this little experiment just now. The first 8-10 articles are all products we need to buy. All new lenses, new software, new bodies, lights, this, that, or the other. Pepper in an article on a technique, then back to products. <br />
<br />
This is the problem.<br />
<br />
And its our fault.<br />
<br />
We've allowed the manufacturers of the products we use to convince a good portion of the public that quality cameras replace quality artist, to the point that even our periodicals and news sources have become nothing more than long advertisements.<br />
<br />
Look, I get it...we work in an industry where our instruments are important, and as such, should be given a degree of priority in our professional discussions. However, the technical aspects do not outweigh the business aspects. In today's day and age, our industry is so much more about relationships than it is about a damn lens or piece of lighting equipment. Yet none of that is given thought.<br />
<br />
I'm curious to know how you all feel about this. What would you like to see more of in our industry?Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-88365283218717627392017-02-05T09:47:00.001-05:002017-02-05T09:47:41.666-05:00Fog<div style="text-align: center;">
I've always loved the fog. It was really foggy the other day...I took the camera out. Enjoy!</div>
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Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-61134462939118714272017-01-25T08:17:00.001-05:002017-01-25T08:17:19.886-05:00My most important job ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Of all the awesome things I've ever done, and I'll ever do, being a family man is the best. I have an amazing wife, son, and a little boy coming up any second now and it is just bliss.</div>
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Isaiah makes everything worth working for...striving for...</div>
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He has a funny little personality, even with these quick snaps that took me five minutes...</div>
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Fatherhood is an amazing thing.</div>
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<br />Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-73333527113363735522017-01-17T08:12:00.001-05:002017-01-17T08:12:26.999-05:00Photographers RightsThis is, of course, a huge, multifaceted issue. With so many things happening in our communities today, we've seen a spike in journalist, photojournalist, and civilians with cameras being put in situations against law enforcement or government officials. Never a very good place to be. <br />
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If you are ever caught in this position, as I've been, numerous times in the past, here's a few points to remember:<br />
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1. Be nice. Be polite, when you can, and make sure your answers, if you have to give any to begin with, are clear, concise, to the point, and...polite polite polite.<br />
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2. Clear view=clear shot. This is the basic rule to working in the press. If you are on public property, and what you are photographing is in plain view, you are good. Nobody can tell you otherwise. They can request you not shoot...and by all means, there are times where you extending a little bit of professional courtesy is the right thing to do, but it is not against the law to shoot.<br />
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3. Private property=game changer. This is where the rules change. If you are on private property, and the property owner request you not photograph while on private property, then you must not do so. <br />
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4. You must still obey laws. Shooting photographs...not against the law. Trespassing on private property...against the law. Kicking in a window to get into a building and photograph...definitely against the law...and so on and so forth. Obey the laws.<br />
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5. Nobody can delete or confiscate. Law enforcement wants a look at your images...there are instances where they can do so...LOOK at your images. Not confiscate. Not delete. Look. And these are in extreme circumstances, where a major issue was occurring. This is a rare exception. For cell phones, a warrant is necessary to search, and this is direct from the Supreme Court.<br />
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6. Its not us vs them. Remember...law enforcement is on our side. Police officers and order are to be respected, honored, and adhered to, as much as possible. They are some of the most valuable assets in our world, as civilians, and as artist, and we should remember that...but we must also remember that we have our rights as well.<br />
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Obviously there's many more aspects to this subject, but, keeping these points in mind will help you out quite a bit in the long run.Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-62529375105054798682017-01-05T17:15:00.001-05:002017-01-05T17:17:19.582-05:00Arts and Business Part I<div style="text-align: center;">
Let's face it. Us artist have a reputation for not being the best with financial matters. Many of us tend to focus more on the creative aspects than on the money making aspects. We don't enjoy paperwork, and such things like cold calling and hard networking aren't things that normally fall into our favorites category.</div>
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Still, these, among several others, happen to be things that fall within the "necessary evil" category. Here's a few tips to help your day stay balanced and productive:</div>
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1. Make your calls early. Who cares if every single call ends up in utter rejection, humiliation, etc? Well, actually, you should care, and that's something we will cover on another post, but, get these calls made early. Decision makers are usually most prone to having phone conversations early in the day, before the demands of daily business consume them. Get them early, while they are fresh, and a bit more at ease.</div>
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2. Plan plan plan! My wife chuckles at me. I have a yearly goal list. And a quarterly. And a monthly. And a weekly. And a daily. And oftentimes, an hourly. Don't beat yourself up if you don't stick to it 100%, because as we all know, those last minute meetings, shoots, opportunities, are often coveted...but for the rest of the time. Get yourself on track, and do your best to stay on it. </div>
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3. Finances. This is such a broad, intense subject, I could literally spend the rest of the year writing exclusively about finances for artist, and not even cover a small minority of this theme. Again, this is another post for another day, but bottom line is this: the pressures of being a successful working artist in today's society are already difficult enough. The last thing you need to worry about is an accounting error, bills being paid, invoices in or out. Stay on top of this as much as you possibly can. </div>
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4. Schedule. Back to the plan plan plan part. Set some time aside, every single day, to sit down with someone new. A new potential client. Art director. Portfolio reviews. Even if you don't book a job that same day, those small investments can amount to larger long term gains.</div>
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5. Invest. I just said it in #4. Invest your time. Invest in further educating yourself...more training...more dedication to your craft. Obviously, financial investments are a necessity, as there's not many of us that have pensions waiting at the end of the rainbow.</div>
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There's so many things I could put on here, but this should get you started. </div>
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What have you tried that has worked? What has helped you come along in your career, that you can pass on to others?</div>
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Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-84783422946488082012016-12-26T23:01:00.002-05:002016-12-26T23:01:40.371-05:0010 reasons for InspirationNot necessarily a blog post...more of a list of inspirations:<br />
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Picasso - The first artist I learned to love.<br />
Architecture - Being from Chicago, this is kind of a given. Speaking of which...<br />
Cubs - Yeah...lifelong Cubs fan, lover of baseball, and lover of the lovable WINNERS!<br />
Family - My family is very proud, hardworking, and extremely tight knit. The driving force behind the majority of my decisions and motivations.<br />
Fatherhood - I know that goes in line with Family, but I love being a husband and father. I LOVE it!<br />
Business - I love discussing business. Concepts, ideas, etc.<br />
Politics - I'm very opinionated, politically. That is for a very different blog though :)<br />
Cars - Yes...a Photographer who concentrates on automotive photography is a bit of a car freak!<br />
Nature - The world around us is beautiful, and such a gift.<br />
Travelling - I try to take at least 4-5 trips a year. Its a must. I work really hard, in order to live really easy.<br />
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Just 10 of my reasons for inspiration. How about you?Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-81618014068437977952016-12-21T17:15:00.000-05:002016-12-21T17:15:38.839-05:00The BalanceWe all search for it. We all long for it. We all desire it. Yet not many of us actually achieve it.<br />
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Why?<br />
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Let's face it. Especially us American artist are up against a giant wall. We have to work harder, longer hours, for less earnings, than ever before.<br />
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There's several factors for this...but...consider, for one moment...could this be, because of us?!<br />
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Outside of all the regular demands of a creative professional, are the internal demands of our perfectionism. <br />
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Prime example: I had a conversation friend of mine, who often told me she is feels like she's not maximizing her earnings. We sat down over a cup of coffee and discussed her processes. Here's what's happening:<br />
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She would get paid for something that would take her...say, A hours, to accomplish, X. Yet the artist/perfectionist in her would want to take B hours, to accomplish Y. <br />
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This is the problem with us, creative professionals.<br />
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Many times, we become so wrapped up into providing, or, overperforming, with "perfect" work, for clients who aren't willing to pay "perfect" type of rates. <br />
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In no way am I excusing providing shit work. If you are paid to provide a service, you should do so. To the best of your abilities. What this post is about is that my good friend, like most of us, was paid, to do something like basic corrections...yet the perfectionist artist in her, wanted to go to the extreme. As artist, we cannot do that.<br />
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We cannot live in a world where we are paid for the basic, yet we provide the extreme. As we do that, our clients will learn that they can pay us for the basic, while we provide the extreme, no matter the type of creative work we do for them. <br />
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How have you crossed this barrier?Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-31339273081216406322016-12-16T07:16:00.001-05:002016-12-16T07:16:51.734-05:00Editorial Calendar...ugh!Let's face it...if you follow my blog, you'll note how random my posts are. To be perfectly honest, with a blooming career, Real Estate Investments, marriage, fatherhood, and the demands of daily life, it gets difficult to make time for something which already is not one of my favorite things...blogging.<br />
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Yet, I know how important it is. Therefore, I'm putting together an editorial calendar, to help keep me on track. I'm reaching out to all of you to see what tips/suggestions you may have. <br />
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What has worked for you? What's helped keep you on track? As always, feel free to inbox, as most of you do, or comment!Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-77469653748698514922016-10-03T16:44:00.000-04:002016-10-03T16:44:17.675-04:00Some More Real Estate Images I shot RecentlyJust a glimpse at some work I've done recently. I didn't do really any lighting on this, although some of the images probably would have benefited from it. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-20127755900415810422016-08-22T07:46:00.001-04:002016-08-22T07:46:49.945-04:00Real Estate Photography<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey all! Since I've taken some time off, I haven't been very active. Here's a small snippet of some new work I shot this last week. </div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Need a photographer for your next listing? Call me up immediately at 407.517.8693!</div>
Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-12972533131966782122016-06-23T15:36:00.001-04:002016-06-23T15:36:05.979-04:00DAD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't been posting many blogs recently. Here's why. This happened earlier this month:</div>
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79 Years. My dad lived for 79 years, in spectacular fashion.</div>
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On May 27, he was born.<br />On May 27, he was imprisoned in Cuba, for fighting against the Castro regime.<br />On May 27, he was let out of prison.<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />On May 27, he made it to America.</span></div>
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Today, he celebrated his 25th year anniversary as a Deacon with the Catholic church, and passed into heaven with all the angels.</div>
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Today, my son's eyes grew wider and wider, as I told him my dads tales of how he hijacked helicopters, leapt from airplanes, fought valiantly against the evils in Cuba, and did it all for us. I told him about how hard he worked, and how much he sacrificed, so we may have the freedoms and opportunity he never had. I explained to him how much his abuelo's spirit lives on in him.</div>
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Today, I explained to my son, how, when other kids were idolizing the Spidermans, Batmans, Captain Americas of the world, I saw papi as my superhero, spending his entire life fighting oppression and injustice, with love, and righteousness, in Cuba, as a young man, and daily, in America. My father was always a pillar in our community for everything that was right with the world, everything that was worth fighting for.</div>
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Today, I kissed my father, for the last time, and held his hand, for the last time, but I did not say goodbye. Although our family has heavy hearts, we celebrate an amazing man, husband, father, grandfather. His was a physical life well lived.</div>
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Today, we celebrate the next part of papi's life.</div>
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Te quiero mucho.</div>
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Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-11579377134130446142016-02-07T17:56:00.000-05:002016-02-07T17:56:08.795-05:00Don't hire a wedding photographer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Vogue Magazine has always been a staple in the fashion industry, with a reputation for having top notch, trend setting style, and photography. Its history stretches back into the late 1800's. Recently, Vogue Magazine published an article regarding weddings, and the 10 things you should "ditch." You can read the article <a href="http://www.vogue.com/13384689/wedding-rules-to-break/?mbid=social_facebook" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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The article was written by the Molly Guy, founder of Stone Fox, a wedding dress boutique specializing in custom wedding dresses, crowns, jewelry. Interestingly, Ms Guy also has a casual line of clothing labeled "FUCK WEDDINGS." It is notable to point out that she herself is not married.<br />
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The perplexing portion of this article is that Ms Guy, a wedding professional herself, pushes the notion that you should consider not getting wedding rings...yet she has wedding rings on her website, several of which exceed $9,000 each, but, as she notes:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Savoy, Georgia, serif; line-height: 32px;">"Historically, they were there to let the world know you were the property of your big strong husband, who was out in the scary mean world skinning bears and slaving away at his important job, while you stayed home, scrubbing the woolen underwear of your six children in the washbasin. Why not get matching tattoos instead? Actually, why get matching anything? Not to get too Stevie Nicks here, but the psychic bond you share is what’s important—not the jewelry."</span><br />
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Now look...I'm not against tattoos. I agree with the last line...the ring doesn't matter as much as the love, but, it is a beautifully scripted hypocrisy to advocate against readers of a fashion magazine not to buy rings, all while selling rings. Which one is it?<br />
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I won't get into all ten of them as this blog would get much longer than it already will be, very quick, but the ones I won't get into are: The girls, The big reveal, The registry, Something old something new, and feeding each other cake. These are interesting, to say the least, things to "ditch," but we'll move on. There are more pressing matters here. <br />
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Let's start off with the easiest of the remaining four: the honeymoon. What I find outright insulting on this one is that the designer who sells $10,000 wedding dresses is lecturing you about how you need to save money and do a staycation, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Savoy, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px;">And while you’re there, ask the hotel manager if the pool could stay open late for a private swim." What?!</span><br />
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Another interesting "suggestion" Guy makes is to skip your first dance.<br />
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Sigh.<br />
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Look. I'm a guy's guy. I drink beer. And whiskey. I love me some sports. As you can tell, I have an undying love of the automobile, and I don't dance...but to take the suggestion to skip the first dance would be outright lunacy. At the end of it all, you won't remember your newlywed wife's dress nearly as much as you will taking those first steps while a room of loving eyes looks on. That might be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard from a wedding professional, IF NOT FOR:<br />
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DON'T WALK DOWN THE AISLE WITH DADDY. The man who raised you. The man who taught you what a man should be. The man who was the #1 man in your life, until you met your husband. Fuck em, right? RIGHT?! It is every man's dream to walk his little girl down the aisle. One of the most important moments I'd ever experienced in a wedding was at my sister's wedding, when my father walked her down the aisle. As they reached the end of the aisle, they embraced each other, as they both wept, and there was not a single dry eye in the house. My father taught my sister what a man was, and as he gave her away to an equally great man, the symbolism was not lost on anyone in attendance. <br />
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Ladies...don't be an idiot. If you have a father or a father-like figure that was there for you, do it. You won't regret it. Neither will he.<br />
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The last piece of advice, and seemingly the most intrepidly horrid piece of advice, was to NOT HIRE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER. <br />
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I get it. I'm a photographer, so of course I will be against this. Here's what she states:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Savoy, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px;">"It made sense back in the olden days, pre–Facebook albums and Instagram hashtags, when the whole world didn’t have phones with cameras on them. Having the actual leather-bound album on your coffee table seemed like the only evidence that the whole thing actually took place. If social media is not your thing, why not scatter some disposable cameras around the party and let your drunken guests go to town? You’ll end up with hilarious and candid pictures without the pressure of “likes.”'</span><br />
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Here's the thing:<br />
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A few years ago, I shot a wedding at a golf club. Beautiful wedding, beautiful couple and family, everything went off without a glitch. GREAT. I got a second wedding, a referral, off of that first wedding, due to the quality of my work. While at that wedding, I had a quick conversation with a guest, and it went something like this:<br />
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"hey, uh, photographer. Sorry, I don't know your name."<br />
"Hey, how you doin?! Ramon." <i>He was the first brides brother, and we knew each other, but since I was running around shooting, we did not have the pleasure of formally introducing ourselves at the first wedding.</i><br />
"Ramon, my name is ____, I wanted to share something with you."<br />
"Good to see you, brother. How can I help you?"<br />
"You see, Ramon, a while back, you shot (first wedding), and you took a portrait of me and my family. My sister showed me the portrait of me, my wife, and kids, and I fell in love with it. A few months later, Father's day came, and as a present, my kids got me that portrait, in a nice frame. It meant so much to me. That was the first time I had cried since my children were born, and I wanted to come up today and thank you for making such a beautiful image of my family."<br />
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No mention of the food.<br />
No mention of the dress.<br />
No mention of the DJ.<br />
No mention of the Music.<br />
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While ALL of those things matter...the only part left, was that photograph.<br />
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Story #2. I shot another great wedding at one of the local theme park resorts, which I will not name, but it had, um, characters of the, uh, rodent, variety :). Beautiful wedding at a gorgeous location...what more could you ask for?<br />
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While shooting, I made an image of the bride and her grandfather...she was kissing him on the forehead. He was in a wheelchair, unable to stand. That was the last image of them together. Three days after the wedding, the grandfather, on oxygen at the time of the wedding, passed away.<br />
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Wanna entrust those moments, those times, that love, that tenderness, to a couple of drunks with disposable cameras, or a few facebook pics? <br />
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The outright lack of respect for other wedding pros displayed by Molly Guy and Stone Fox is a serious shame. Here we have someone who makes her money by selling $10,000 wedding dresses, has crowns adorned with flowers, selling for over $2,000, and $9,000 wedding rings, sells clothing with the words "FUCK WEDDINGS" all over them, devaluing weddings, wedding professionals, and everything about the wedding industry. Moreover, the company she runs uses professional photographers, not "drunken guest" or "disposable cameras" to sell their clothing and jewelry. That is an outright shame.<br />
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To add insult to injury, what the hell was Vogue Magazine thinking, allowing this garbage to be put on their pages? This is a magazine that has made their reputation on the backs of iconic journalism AND photography. The annals of vogue boast images made by all the legends. They don't use "drunken guest." To allow such a load of rubbish to pollute their pages is to endorse the outright devaluing of what made them such an icon in the fashion world. <br />
<br />I am calling on Vogue Magazine to speak out against this insult to professional photographers, the wedding industry, and other fashion professionals, immediately. To allow this to stand is nothing less than a slap in the face to all artist around the world.<br />
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Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-30022847948760903972016-01-15T11:07:00.001-05:002016-01-15T12:05:19.062-05:00Why PhotographyI never had any intentions of being a photographer. In fact, I had never even considered photography, as late as my first day of my senior year of high school. I wanted to be an architect. <br />
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I loved studying the designs and motivations of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Bauhaus Architecture movement, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and so on. The thought of conceptualizing something, combining your creativity with scientific like precision kept me dreaming.<br />
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I would dream of seeing my contribution to Chicago's skyline. I wanted to make something that would last throughout time. There was one problem; while I have always been very smart, I've never been a good student.<br />
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I remember my first day of my senior year. I had a couple of gym classes, English, a social studies class, and...one more. There weren't many electives that took my attention. Aside from sports, I wasn't really into much more. I had already taken drafting classes, and there wasn't really much else in that regard. I didn't want to take drama, or any other ridiculous class, but, alas, I needed one more elective, so, I just looked at the schedule, and, reluctantly, picked out...photography.<br />
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I walked into the photography lab with a positive attitude. I thought it would be cool, but really knew nothing about it. The teacher in the first week taught us about darkroom chemicals and processes, techniques, and the like. We had to go out and buy a camera, so I did just that. And then the addiction started.<br />
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The moment I picked up a camera, aimed it at something, with the intention of capturing the beauty of this world as I see it, I knew, for a fact, this was what I wanted. Scratch that. This was what I needed. It became a physical need to me, much like breathing, or eating. I lived photography. I still do.<br />
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As I think back to how I discovered my love for photography, I think to the world we leave ahead of us. What if the next generation doesn't have the opportunity to discover their love for the arts, whether it be music, photography, painting, drawing etc, because schools are underfunded? You see it everywhere...schools left and right are left unfunded, with no other option than to cut extracurricular activities, cut back on things like drama, band, sports, and arts. These are highly essential, not just for our children's minds, but also for their development. We cannot allow this to happen.<br />
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***For my work, <a href="http://ramophoto.com/#!/Home" target="_blank">click here</a>***<br />
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It is so important, now, more than ever, that we as artist unite to make sure our society begins to place an emphasis and appreciation on the arts once again. Our society needs it.<br />
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What are your suggestions to help preserve the arts for future generations?Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-59233032654278334462016-01-06T10:57:00.001-05:002016-01-06T10:57:18.426-05:00Some more automotive photography...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just a few more shots of a really awesome Jeep I shot recently for a private client. Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-7098402050629881152015-12-18T14:11:00.001-05:002015-12-18T14:11:47.500-05:00Just a few new images<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Nothing special...just a few images I shot recently of this really gnarly Ford Raptor.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4899890367374331548.post-7903069664678397522015-12-17T10:14:00.002-05:002015-12-17T10:14:41.152-05:00How to Prepare to Shoot<div style="text-align: center;">
A long time ago, a lot longer than I'd care to admit, I had a mentor in the photography world. I learned so much through assisting this photographer. He taught me so much more than I had learned in college. He taught me the things you can't learn in a class; dealing with nervous brides, overzealous art directors, in addition to lighting on the fly.</div>
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One thing he said to me stuck with me to this day. We were getting ready to go shoot a small wedding, and he was nervous. Now, this photographer was a millionaire photographer, who had shot all over the world, for all types of clients. You name it...he shot it. </div>
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I found myself confused, as I asked him, "You're nervous? I just watched you come to contract with another client on a wedding, where you charged him $20,000...this wedding isn't even a tenth of that! How are you nervous???" He took a deep breath, closed his eyes momentarily, as if to get some of the nerves out of him, smiled, looked at me, and said "Ramon. Photography has given me my whole life. You're right...I probably have no reason at all to be nervous, but, you know what? You know how I know I still care about my work? I know I still care about my work, because I get just as nervous for a $1,500 job as I do for a $20,000 job, over 20 years later. The day I stop getting nervous is the day I retire."</div>
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To this day, that man is still shooting.</div>
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Lesson well learned. See when I was working with him, I was in my EARLY 20's. I was bold, and had yet to conquer the world. So many years later, I know that my work still means a great deal to me...I get those same exact butterflies, those same exact nerves, regardless of whether its a $1,500 shoot or a $25,000 shoot. I find myself taking those same breaths, meditating, getting my mind right, almost as much as I get my equipment ready.</div>
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Let's have a discussion...do you have those same nerves? How do you prepare, mentally, prior to a job? Is it different for smaller jobs than it is for larger jobs?</div>
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I'm eager to hear some feedback.</div>
Ramon Morales Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379612162549241739noreply@blogger.com1