Hello! I'm a Colorado Springs wedding photographer and portrait photographer. I travel all over the country to document the
important moments in people's lives. My blog showcases some of my favorite photos of my clients and adventures. I update this
blog several times a week, so please visit frequently to see my latest images.
Here’s a pretty snow picture from my archive, in support of my friends and family on the east coast who have been buried alive this weekend. After you dig yourselves out and curl up under four blankets to read blogs by candlelight, think of me here in 50-degree, sunny Colorado. Yes, I’m taunting a little. Yes, you can come visit.
Now is a great opportunity for a photo tip. When taking photographs of snow, keep in mind that your camera is designed to expose photographs with an average tone of middle gray. If a scene is dark, it will brighten the photo to middle gray. If a scene is bright (like snow), it will darken the photo to middle gray. So if you are taking snow photographs this weekend, you might notice that your camera is creating dark photographs. That’s normal and part of the camera’s job.
Your job as the photographer is to tell the camera that the photo is supposed to be mostly white, not middle gray. To do that, you’ll need to set the camera to overexpose by a stop or two. You can probably find that in your camera settings as +1 or +2.
Mike and me
Breckenridge, Colorado
February 1, 2010
I love living in a state that is full of fun things to do in every season of the year. Last weekend we went to Breckenridge and stayed for a couple days. Friends of ours from Colorado Springs were there, too, so it was great to have dinner with a big group of friends at the brew pub Sunday night, and then ski all day Monday.
After five years of living in Colorado, I’m getting pretty good at this skiing thing. I love to rush down hills that used to scare me when we first moved here. I’m still a slow and cautious skier compared to most people, but I like to think of myself as a badass daredevil. At least my fitness is pretty good, because I didn’t get tired nearly as quickly as I used to. Now I can’t wait to go back next week!
On a random note, I discovered Monday that if you type “breck” into an iPhone, it auto-corrects it to “Breckinridge.” That would be really cool, if it wasn’t spelled wrong. Technology is funny.
My lovely Janie is turning eleven this spring, but she’s still a playful, cuddly, and happy kitty. She loves to sit on the back of the couch behind me, and rest her paws on my shoulder.
If you’ve ever met Janie, you know that she’s a cat of, uh, substantial girth. The poor kitty is a little big-boned. Just like most people, Janie’s most flattering angle is from above.
I love walking into a wedding reception and discovering how the couple has chosen to decorate it. How will the tables be set? How will the color theme be used? How will the overall feel of the reception reflect the couple’s personality? Here are some reception room photos for you to enjoy!
Traci with Ellie, moments after her birth
Colorado Springs
January 28, 2010
Eloise Marie entered the world at 10:02 on Thursday morning, and I’m profoundly honored to have been there to witness it. Her parents are Traci and Nic Turchin, talented wedding photographers here in Colorado Springs. I was thrilled when Traci asked me to photograph the birth. It’s always a compliment to be chosen by a fellow photographer, but I was particularly touched by Traci’s request to be there for her family’s first moments with her daughter. Thank you, Traci and Nic, for trusting me to document such emotional and powerful moments. I hope these photos will always be meaningful to you and Ellie.
Traci and Nic left for the hospital around 6:30am on Thursday morning. A snowstorm with low visibility made their drive last three times longer than usual, and by the time they arrived at the hospital, Traci’s labor was well underway. She used a hypnosis application on her iPhone to calm her through her contractions. Her husband Nic and his sister stayed by her side the whole time. After the baby was born, big brother Will arrived with gifts and kisses for his baby sister.
Birth is beautiful. Even during her most agonizing pain, Traci was surrounded by people who love her. I couldn’t help but cry to see such beauty. When she finally saw her baby, Traci’s joy filled the whole room. When Nic held his daughter for the first time, I had a vision of the two of them dancing at her wedding years from now. I was overwhelmed with the realization that I was documenting the first moments of that special relationship.
I love birth photography. If you or someone you know is having a baby in the Colorado Springs area, I’d love to be able to photograph the baby’s first moments. Please contact me at charlotte@charlottegeary.com if you’re interested.
Traci and Nic with their newborn daughter, Ellie
Colorado Springs
January 28, 2010
Congratulations to Traci and Nic! Ellie is gorgeous! I was thrilled and honored that they asked me to photograph the birth of their baby, who finally arrived this morning. I will need a few more days to edit their photos, but in the meanwhile I wanted to post a preview of what’s to come.
Last month I asked people to send me questions that they’d like me to answer, and I didn’t get a chance to answer all of them during the holidays. Sorry, guys! You can find my answers to questions about photography equipment HERE. Today I’ll answer questions about post-production.
Foob asks:
Do you have any tips for post processing & what do you do to archive your images? (Mine are all over the place & I shoot no where near as frequently as you do.)
My best tip is to get it right in the camera as often as possible, and reduce the need for post-processing. If you shoot with good light and correct exposures, you won’t need to do much to the files. To help keep my photos consistent, I shoot in raw format and batch process photos in Lightroom 2.0. Raw processing enables me to correct white balance accurately and consistently, and if I do make technical errors in exposure, raw files are much easier to correct than jpegs.
My archive system is a series of hard drives. My hard drives run in parallel, so whenever I copy files to a drive, they are automatically updated in a mirror drive. I also store all my clients’ photos online at smugmug.com, which has unlimited uploads for only $150 per year. I keep a final version of everything on DVDs, just in case.
The file structure in my hard drives is based on date. I keep separate folders for each year, and within each year folder, I keep client folders that are also based on date. Here’s my naming structure for client folders:
2009-01-20 Jane and John Smith
2009-02-14 Betty and Barney Rubble
2009-02-25 Lois and Peter Griffin
With this naming structure, files are automatically sorted chronologically, and I can always find what I need. I also use this structure for my personal photos.
Lolareina asks:
1. Do you outsource your edits, or do you personally edit your shoots?
2. How do you decide when to keep a photo full-color versus in black and white?
1. I personally edit my own photos, but this year I plan to start outsourcing my raw processing during my busy summer season. Editing takes up so much time! I haven’t yet decided which company I will use. I’d love any recommendations!
2. I tend to prefer color photographs most of the time, because I see the world in color and I photograph my own view of the world. The photos I present in black and white are often ones in which the color detracts from my intended message. Emotional photos are often more powerful in black and white. Moments that occur in cluttered spaces have more clarity and impact in black and white. Usually, though, I just look at a photo and know instinctively whether I want to convert it to b/w. I wish I had more of a process to describe, but I just know it when I see it.
Isabella from Armenia asks:
Do you edit your photos yourself? If you do, what software do you use, and how much time on average do you spend on the editing process?
I do usually edit the photos myself. It takes me about 3-4 days to edit a wedding shoot, which I do in three steps:
1. Download files and choose the keepers. I use PhotoMechanic for this step. It loads files very quickly and is the fastest way I’ve found to sort through tons of enormous raw files. At this stage, I also sort the photos chronologically and rename them. I use the naming structure YYYYMMDD_# (e.g. 20091225_001)
2. Process the raw files in Adobe Lightroom. Lightroom enables me to batch process a series of photos to keep colors and exposures consistent. I also go through each photo individually to make any necessary adjustments in exposure, contrast, color, and cropping. I use Lightroom to convert the edited raw files to jpegs.
3. Choose photos for my blog and/or portfolio, and edit their jpegs in Adobe Photoshop. I typically choose about 50 photos from each wedding to put on my blog, and each of those photos is adjusted in Photoshop before I post them. I will remove blemishes, clone out distracting elements in the background, and run actions that add a little more “pop” to each photo. Then I prepare web-sized files and blog them. Meanwwhile, I upload all the complete set of high-resolution files to a web gallery for my clients and their guests. I back up my files in multiple locations, and start getting ready for the next fabulous wedding.
Kwanalicious says
Hi, I’ve been watching your work for quite some time and I really admire all the beautiful things you’ve been able to capture. I was wondering what kind of post-processing (if any) you do, and if so, what programs do you use? And what’s your general method for post-processing (do you edit colors first, sharpen last, etc.)? Thanks!
I really do minimal post-processing, at least compared to many other photographers. I prefer a natural look to my photos, without too much influence by Photoshop. I try to avoid processing trends, because I worry that trends will look very outdated in just a few years. Instead, I focus on clean, well-lit photos with just enough contrast and vibrance to give them a little pop.
I do use Photoshop actions to enhance some of my photos, but I try not to make them look like they have had actions applied to them. My favorite actions are by Jeff Ascough and Totally Rad Actions. I use them in moderation, and to be honest, I only use a few of the actions that are available in each of those sets.
My general method for post-processing is outlined above. When I’m working with my raw files in Lightroom, I typically edit color balance first. I find that shifts in color can lead to shifts in exposure, so I adjust exposure second. Then I take care of any other edits that I might need to do, such as adding contrast or vibrance. I export the raw files as jpegs, which I then adjust in Photoshop if necessary. I don’t sharpen the photo proofs at all, but I do sharpen files for the web or for custom print orders. I like to know exactly what size a photo will be viewed before I sharpen it.
I hope this is helpful! If you have any questions that you’d like me to answer over the next few weeks, please comment here or email me at charlotte@charlottegeary.com. I’ll be happy to help if I can!
My mom and me at the Olympic Training Center
Colorado Springs
January 22, 2010
I’ve been neglecting my blog lately, but it’s been for a good reason: I’m in the middle of my slow month of the year, and loving it. Every year I work hard through November and December to prepare holiday orders, and my schedule picks up again after Valentine’s Day. That leaves me with January to catch up with friends, family, exercise, hobbies, and sleep. I love the seasonal nature of my job.
Last week my mother came to Colorado Springs to visit. We had a relaxing week together, spending most of our time chatting over coffee, watching girly TV shows, and going out to eat. On Friday, Mike and I took her to the Olympic Training Center for a tour. I can’t believe we’d never been there before! It was fascinating to get a glimpse into the world of Olympic athletes. I had no idea that some of them live there for a decade or more!
The week before, Mike and I went to Nashville for the annual convention of the Digital Wedding Forum. We explored the city, spent time with friends, and took zero photographs. It must sound ironic not to bring a camera to a photography convention, but occasionally I need to spend time socializing at parties instead of working at them, and exploring a new place without seeing it through a camera lens. It invigorates me and helps me to see the world differently.
Give me a couple more weeks, and I’ll be missing weddings desperately. For now, I’m loving my down time.
It’s been several weeks since I picked up any camera other than my point-and-shoot or my iPhone. Here are some snapshots from our trip to the Olympic Center, and one from Breckenridge. I don’t normally post personal snapshots here on my blog, so if you’re interested in seeing them, feel free to add me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charlotte.geary
I’m excited and even stunned to announce one of the proudest accomplishments.
The current issue of Newsweek features a cover story called “The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage,” written by George Bush’s lawyer, Ted Olson. Olson is a conservative who represented Bush in the Bush v. Gore Supreme Court case, and helped him win the 2000 election. David Boies was the liberal attorney who represented Al Gore in that case.
Despite their opposing political views, Olson and Boies have teamed this week in a landmark challenge against Proposition 8. Their goal is to end California’s ban on gay marriage. The trial began yesterday, and is expected to be appealed and eventually presented to the Supreme Court.
Ted Olson’s cover story in Newsweek presents a clear, logical, and compelling discussion of why all Americans should support gay marriage, regardless of political affiliation or religious background. One of my photographs of Karen and Jacynda’s wedding appears on page 50. I am deeply honored that my photograph was chosen to be included in such a significant article, especially one written by one of the most influential people in the gay rights movement.
Thank you, Newsweek, for asking me to be a part of such an important article. Thank you, Jacynda and Karen, for sharing your love story. And thank you to my friends and family who rushed to the store today to buy the magazine!
If you know anyone who got engaged over the holidays, please let them know about all the resources I have to help inspire brides. Point them toward my Wedding Ideas website, which has hundreds of beautiful ideas for cakes, decorations, flowers, attire, and color themes.
If you know someone who is getting married in Colorado, I recommend my Colorado Wedding Venues website, which is a great way to get started in choosing a location to get married.
For today’s Wedding Idea’s post, I want to talk about one of the biggest color trends I’ve seen in recent years: brown! Sometimes it’s used as a warm, rich neutral, and other times it’s a dramatic feature color. It pairs well with blues, pinks, greens, and autumn colors. Here are some ideas to inspire people planning a brown wedding!
Here we are on the first day of a new decade, wondering where the last one went. It doesn’t seem as though ten years have gone by since we greeted a new millennium with fanfare, paranoia, and Robbie Williams songs. The decade ended much more quietly than it began, which parallels the peaceful contentment I’ve discovered during the same time period.
I started the millennium as an enthusiastic twenty-five-year-old who was confused about careers and relationships. Ten years later, I’m happily settled with the love of my life, in a house of our own, with my own successful business. Allow me the indulgence of celebrating the last ten years of my life.
The second half of my Edinburgh photos are my night shots. Anyone who has read my blog knows that I love twilight skies, so I was excited to walk around the city at night with my Canon 5DMkII and a 35mm f1.4 lens. The combination of a high ISO camera and a huge aperture enabled me to take these photos without a tripod, even in really dark locations. Mike was so kind to walk around in the cold with me while I had some fun.
Earlier this week, Mike and I spent a day in Edinburgh. Mike went to grad school there at the University of Edinburgh, and he wanted to show me around the city that he loved. It’s a labyrinth of narrow paths and hilly streets with spectacular medieval architecture. We spent our time walking around, enjoying the views, and sampling the pubs.
Here’s a random collection of photos from Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. I usually blog chronologically, but these pictures are in no particular order. Check back tomorrow for photos of Edinburgh in the nighttime!
Carol singing in the village green
Easton, Somerset, England
December, 2009
Merry Christmas from Mike’s family’s village in England! We’re having a great Christmas here with his parents, brother, and sister-in-law. This afternoon we’re enjoying our new toys, eating chocolate, and relaxing in the sunny, mild weather. I hope your Christmas is great, too.
I’m so grateful for you, my friends! Your friendship, support, and cheery comments brighten my life. I wish health and happiness for you and your loved ones today and always.
Mike and I are in England right now, visiting his parents for Christmas. Today we had beautifully sunny weather, so I spent the afternoon walking around Easton, the village where Mike grew up. It’s a small town of only a couple hundred people, near the city of Wells in southwest England. I walked around today and took pictures of all the cool-looking old stuff in the village. Of course the people here are just as contemporary as everyone else, but I’m American and therefore I love English old stuff. After six years of visiting England together, Mike is learning to accept that about me.
We live in an adorable Victorian town just west of Colorado Springs. Manitou Springs sits at the base of Pikes Peak and is filled with cute cafes and art galleries. Every year I look forward to Christmas shopping at the local artist co-ops. This time I brought a camera… why didn’t I think to do that sooner?
All these photos were taken with my Canon 5DMkII and a Canon 35mm 1.4L that I rented for the holidays.
Ally hates getting ice stuck between her toes when we go walking, so Mike and I decided to experiment with doggie snow boots. There’s no way she’ll agree to wear them in public, but at least we got our money’s worth in laughs tonight.
One of my favorite ways to use engagement portraits is guest signature books. I love to design custom guest books for couples that showcase their portraits. The final result is a photo album with personal notes from friends and family. Love it!
What are some of the coolest ways you’ve seen people use engagement portraits?
A very happy Ally, frolicking in the snow
December 8, 2009
We’ve accumulated about nine inches of snow over the last three days. The temperature hasn’t gone above 15 or so during that time, so we have no ice and only fluffy powder. When the sun came out this afternoon, I bundled up and took our eager dog into the canyon.
Christmastime wedding at Donovan Pavilion in Vail, Colorado
Today’s snowy weather has inspired me to do a Wedding Ideas post all about winter weddings. Colorado is famous for its winters and champagne powder, so it’s a particularly beautiful time to get married. It’s certainly romantic to snuggle up next to someone as the snow falls.
A note to all you wedding planners out there:
I have a huge section of my website devote to wedding inspiration: Wedding Ideas
I hope it’s helpful for you!
