Happy Holidays and a progress report on Tim Broyer Photography

Happy Holidays everyone. 2006 has been a great year for me, my family and Tim Broyer Photography. If you had asked me last year at this time what I would be doing, it wouldn't have been Tim Broyer Photography LLC. Sarah and I have been racking our brains for a business to start. A professional photographer is just the right fit for me. It allows me to exercise my creative side and produce works of art that I'm proud of. It also taps my technical side and acumen for computers and graphics. The business side is probably the toughest but with my wife by my side I feel confident we can conquer that challenge as well.

I've invested heavily this past year. Two new cameras, five lenses, four flashes, radio triggers, stands and bags. It's a hefty price tag for sure, but it is definitely paying for itself with this past years weddings. I'm writing this blog on a new laptop that will speed up my work immensely and allow me to use new software. I feel confident in my equipment for the upcoming year. I can think of one lens (85 f1.4 portrait) I would really like to add to the kit, but otherwise I'm going to make it work with the current kit.

I've had some wonderful clients this first year as well. I can't even begin to tell you how special the Roberts Family are for me. They filled me with confidence and absolutely love the photos from three separate shoots I did for them.

I'll be spending the holiday break getting the new laptop up to speed and playing with Adobe Lightroom. This new photo software is sure to improve my speed and image quality. I'm also knocking out some great reading. I just finished "Light and the Dramatic Portrait" by Michael Grecco. An excellent source of inspiration that taught me to think outside my comfort zone when planning and lighting a shot. No sooner had I finished that book then I jumped into "Skin" by Lee Varis, an award winning ad photographer and image processor from Hollywood. This book looks like it will become my technical manual for 2007. I also continue to read (albeit sporadically) "The business of Photography" by Josh Harrington. An excellent reference on this subject that I've already put to use. All of these books were reccomended to me from David Hobby, the blogger known as Strobist. His website has been a boon to me. I enjoy his writing style and his ability to convey ideas. I love the fact that it's a community and we share ideas. Thanks Strobist.

Here's to a New Year and I look forward to what happens with Tim Broyer Photography, LLC. Thank you to my family and my clients. Thank you to my friends who encourage me.

Graham Family Fisheyes

I'm starting to figure out the off camera lighting and balancing the light with ambient. It's definitely improving my work. A large part of that knowledge comes from the Strobist.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/

We went to Holden Beach this past weekend for a family event. The weather was absolutely stunning and I made some great photos.

The Grahams have always sent out photo Christmas cards each year. Some good, some not so good. This year we wanted something slightly different and I used the fisheye and a remote strobe. I like them.

Several new galleries up

The Roberts Family photos are up.

http://www.timbroyer.com/gallery/Clients/Roberts112606/index.html

Tamatha and Michael's wedding.

http://www.timbroyer.com/gallery/Clients/TMM111106_1/index.html

and some family photos I did for my friends.

http://www.timbroyer.com/personal/family/SOFAportraits06_2/index.html

Lastly, I took the fisheye and the remote strobes on last Sunday's ride. Much fun.
http://www.timbroyer.com/personal/MTB/gallery/ccfisheye1206/index.html

Busy I am.

My Favorite Model

My favorite model in the whole world has to be my daughter. Her beautiful smile caused me to pick up a camera five years ago to not only take snapshots of her growing up, but to capture her smile and my pride as a Dad. She has had thousands of photos taken of her and there are thousands more to come. Thanks buddy for being my model.

I love you and your Mom.




Lily Jackson?

I know you guys are looking...

I just can't help but post up a few more from the Roberts Family shoot. They really are coming along nice. I should have them all done very soon and get the prints out ASAP! Happy Holidays. Blogging really crunches the photos. Be sure to click on them and see them seperately.

Tim

Roberts Family Photo Shoot last week

I really lucked out when Pami answered my lame Craig's list add for a wedding photographer. The Roberts family have put confidence and fun into my fledgling photography career. I've shot a bridal for Pami, her wedding and now a family portrait session. They are so much fun to work with, very relaxed and appreciative. I wish every client was like them. The session went well. We met at the Mordecai estate in Raleigh. It used to be an old tobacco plantation but now it sits in the middle of the city. It was a decent location but I think they could throw some paint up. I got some great photos, especially towards the end of the shoot with their dogs. I've gotten several inquiries about working with dogs. I guess I don't mind as long as they are well behaved and easy to work with.

The business is coming along. I still need to set up equipment insurance and I plan on redoing the website this winter.