STAYING INSPIRED AND SHOOTING FILM

AN EXERCISE IN FINDING INSPIRATION

AND CREATING FINE ART IMAGERY
 © The Hybrid Atelier, 2018
© Michael and Carina Photography, 2018
 Foreword
When browsing Michael and Carina's photo archives, there are some things
that are very apparent; (1) they bring an element of emotion to candid
moments, (2) they have a knack for capturing details in an elegant and
understated way, and (3) their work seems inspired by a deep-rooted love for
art and romance. It has been an honor to work alongside this creative pair to
bring you a collaborative series about staying inspired, shooting film, and
providing high-end service.

Michael and Carina are a husband and wife wedding photography team based
in Virginia. They have been named “One of the Best Photographers in the
World” by Mod Weddings, and have an impressive list of publications under
their belts, to include Style Me Pretty, Once Wed, Wedding Sparrow, Southern
Weddings, and The Knot Magazine, among others. Accomplished
photographers, and genuinely sweet people, they are driven and care greatly
about providing a high-end experience for their clients.

These books are meant to be read in order, since some of the content builds in

succession. As you digest each chapter and exercise, it is our greatest hope that
you are able to learn from M&C's struggles and accomplishments and are
inspired to implement new techniques into your business so you can grow as
an artist!

With Grace and Gumption,

Nikki & Shannon

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 PART I
Why Film, Learning to See
 Our Photo Journey,
Inspired by our Marriage

Our love affair with photography began in the earliest days of our marriage,
and was built on our love of time spent together after so many years of
being apart. We lived in Europe from 2008-2012, and traveled as much as
we could, from England to the Middle East, so naturally we bought our first
SLR. Documenting our travels together became a devotional exercise to me
(Michael) and a way to broaden my horizons, as I come from a severely
impoverished background. I was traveling with my wife, but I was also
traveling for my sharecropper grandparents, for my mentally handicapped
brother, for my single mother, and for the future children Carina and I have
yet to have. During our travels, photography became a means of
documenting each day and weaving the tapestry that would tell our story,
the legacy of our family, and the first years of the marriage Carina and I
waited years for and crossed oceans to pursue. Photography has blossomed
into something intensely personal to both of us.

EGYPT, 2010: This trip was a turning point in our photography journey, a
time when we started to understand the power of a moment... Evenings in
Egypt are spectacularly long and red, so it is truly a sight to behold,
especially when cruising over the quiet black water of the Nile. Carina and I
were on a boat crossing through a small village at sunset when a powerful
voice called the faithful to prayer: “God is great, there is no God but God.” In
that moment, the grip I held on my camera relaxed, and I looked around me
and learned a powerful lesson. I looked and I saw. I saw the men on the
riverbanks and the men on the boat bow in unison; I saw their foreheads
touching the ground during prayer. I saw the clouds, painted red like the
desert that surrounded us. This time in my life inspired me in an
inexplicable way; there are moments we are meant to capture, and moments
we are meant to see, in which we should be completely present. As a
photographer, this is a powerful insight. 
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 An Introduction to Film
In 2011, Carina and I officially started our business in Germany. A dear
friend of ours (very dear indeed to have had so much faith in us, even then)
asked us to photograph her wedding. There was one condition:
she inherited an old medium format camera with a waist-level viewfinder
from her grandfather. It was this camera that was used to document her
childhood. Several months prior to the wedding, she handed us this camera,
one of her most treasured family heirlooms, and asked if we could teach
ourselves how it operated in time to use it to document her wedding day.
This is where you'd probably expect me to tell you; (1) "film
made us more thoughtful," (2) "our film images were more
meaningful," or (3) "film makes you slow down."
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 There are elements of truth to these statements, but the problem with
these clichés is that frankly, I  find them insulting to digital photographers.
Digital photographers aren’t thoughtful? Their photos don’t have meaning?
Not only that, there are times when it is good to “be thoughtful” and “slow”
with your shooting – but there are also times, especially on a wedding day,
where that is a disservice to you and to your clients. The last cliché
insinuates that it is not possible to capture moments quickly on a film
camera – something generations of photographers could prove otherwise.
 Find the Medium and Niche that Bring
out your Passion for Photography
Film is the medium that we fell in love with, and as our passion for
photography grew, we naturally became better at our craft. Likewise, we
settled on the wedding photography niche because we simply believe in the
preservation of stories; weddings also represent living, breathing canvases in
which we can document each detail of the day and create a cohesive story.
The key to improving your photography craft is not trying to follow the
latest trends, but rather learning to (1) find inspiration, and (2) be
proactive about practicing and pursuing your passion. Explore your talents,
study what interests you, and learn to be better. Shoot film and digital.
Figure out what makes you feel whole.
 Exercise: Finding Your Voice
Before we delve into inspiration, it is important to reflect on your life and find
your inner voice as an artist.

(1) Pick up a 3-4 favorite fashion/lifestyle magazines and sit down with a pair
of scissors and a large board (linen/cardboard, whatever you have on hand).
(2) Cut out any textures, portraits, or colors that speak to you.
(3) Organize 10-20 pieces by color/cohesiveness and create a physical mood
board, arranged anyway you like. Hang it in your room or office.

Exercise: Developing Your Style

 Your current style (it may change multiple times during your lifetime) will
likely be reflected in your mood board. Look closely at your new mood board
and ask yourself the following questions:

(1) What specific colors or textures were you most drawn to? Soft, vibrant,
bright, muted, moody, monotone, etc.?
(2) What types of photos did you choose to include? Portraits, environment
photos, color blocks? 
(3) Is your board simple or busy?
(4) What is the overall feeling of your board? Playful, romantic, wild?

Write down all of the answers to these questions and use the information as
inspiration for a small session or styled shoot. Take a photo of your mood
board and reach out to vendors, if you decide to use any. 
Tip: Keeping a binder of photos and magazine cutouts has helped us
immensely when we are in a creative rut!
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Part II
Inspiration
After a few years of working as wedding photographers, it quickly became
apparent that we existed in a highly saturated industry. We felt compelled
to master our technique and set our work apart from others, but it was a
struggle figuring out how to go about doing this.

Fast forward a few more years...we hit our stride as photographers, feel
fulfilled as artists, and have become more creative than ever. The secret? 

"We believe the secret to success and creative

fulfillment is rooted wholeheartedly in
inspiration: where you find inspiration and
how you stay inspired"

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This photo and editorial is inspired
by the mystery of the Old World
and the textures, sights, and smells
of Northern Italy.
 Finding Inspiration Around You
Finding inspiration can be as simple as turning off the overwhelming
torrent of social media for a day – a week – a month – and concentrating
on yourself and your art. Instead of logging in and sharing, liking, and
commenting on images created by other artists, it is important to seek
out, or better yet create your own, sources of inspiration.

Drawing Inspiration From your Own Life

We cannot stress enough how important it is for photographers to take
photos of things they care about; you need to draw inspiration from your
own life in order to give you a sense of purpose as an artist! I (Michael)
grew up in an extremely poor, single parent family, so summer camp
meetings were our only “vacations.” Being outdoors represents a sort of
nostalgic innocence to me, so that was my overarching inspiration for the
shoot above. The way the shoot was styled and the way the model moves
and acts are all reflections of my personal inspiration and vision.

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 Inspired by Art, Music, Food, Nature,
and Travel
We cannot stress enough the importance of going out of your comfort zone
and connecting with new experiences. Your images will look like everyone
else's if you are only following other photographers in your niche.

Might we suggest to have a notebook handy and..

(1) Take a trip to your local museum or art gallery

Be inspired by a certain artist, color palette, material, a story, etc.

(2) Listen to a favorite genre of music or discover new music

Drawing inspiration from music can be powerful. Write down any
feelings or key words that come to mind.

(3) Go to a new restaurant or try a new type of food

Be inspired by the different textures, colors, and flavors. 

(4) Go on a walk at sunrise or sunset and experience nature

Observe the flora and fauna, as well as changing seasons and light.

(5) Take a trip to somewhere new

Learn about different cultures, meet new people, and see new places.

Egypt, 2010

Tip: Journaling can be a powerful tool! Take a notebook with you

when you visit museums, listen to music, and collect inspiration.
Write down any key words that come to mind; Learning how to
put words to emotions, inspiration, and intangible experiences
are crucial to your growth and development as an artist.
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 Assignments: The following pages include a collection of exercises that
have not only pushed us to master the technical aspects of photography,
but also to expand our creative horizons. Our goal is to show you how to
find your inner inspiration from a number of different channels and
translate that inspiration into taking more meaningful photographs.

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 Assignment-Finding a New Perspective 
Sometimes, all you need is a new perspective to push you to create
something extraordinary. As Chef Massimo Bottura said, “I close my
eyes and I want to understand where I am. Cooking is about
emotion, it's about culture, it's about love, it's about memory.”

Watch Episode 1, Season 1 of The Chef’s Table, available on Netflix.

Observe how Massimo Bottura took inspiration from his past,
present, passion, and vision, and rebelled against the status
quo to succeed in the culinary arts. What early memories,
experiences, travels, or achievements can you draw upon as you
create art?

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This photo is inspired
by the beauty in
simplicity. With a
limited budget, this
being our first
workshop, every
element of this
editorial is meant to
reflect an understated
and natural elegance.
 Mastering Technical Skills

Inspiration can only take you so far if you lack technical knowledge
about your camera and how to use it in different environments. We
make it a habit to practice shooting personal projects in many different
conditions, so we can be prepared for anything on a wedding day.

Personal project: Michael's brother,

metered for highlights
Contax 645, Portra 160

Always make time to practice your technical skills!

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 Assignment-Technical Challenges

Making time for technical challenges will help you grow as an artist.

Take one camera and one lens and arrange a portrait session.
Photograph the entire session “wide open,” or with the aperture of the
camera at its widest setting (for example, on the Zeiss lens of the
Contax, this would be f/2). Don’t stop there! Arrange a separate portrait
session. Photograph the entire session at f/8. Use video lights or flash if
necessary. By not relying on bokeh and depth of field to isolate your
portrait, you are forced to consider your composition much more
carefully. When the shoot is over, print your favorite images from each
session and give them titles. Rinse & repeat on occasion just to give
yourself a challenge. 

Assignment-Printing Work
We try to print our work regularly. Not only is it a wonderful
experience to hold a print in your hands, but it is also a good exercise to
see how your colors look in print, and to see if you are nailing your
focus (especially if you shoot film).

Might we suggest to...

Chose 10 images that you are proud of and order prints of them from a
professional lab.

What is it that you love about these images?

How do they differ on the computer screen and in print?

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 Avoiding Creative Burnout

In America, there is a “reputation for prioritizing work over play, often

sacrificing personal time entirely in favor of finishing professional tasks”
(Huffington Post). It’s not uncommon for self-employed creatives to work
twelve, sixteen, or even eighteen hours per day. We are killing ourselves
because we simply do not know how to take a break. It is dangerous – not
only does this lead to dissatisfaction with your work, but it endangers your
health and your relationships.

You should take time away from your art. Take time away from work. The
creative process needs refreshing. You need time with yourself, your
friends, and your family. Do not neglect your leisure time. If you liberate
yourself from this "go, go, go" way of thinking today, you will save yourself
from burnout in the future. 

One of the most common complaints we hear from

photographers in our coaching sessions is that they are
suffering from creative burnout. The danger of falling into a
creative depression we know all too well. 

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 Assignment-Boundaries

 When the echos of your life and business are loud, it is hard to have a
clear vision, so for the next assignment, give yourself a social media
break. For an allotted amount of time, one week for example, stay away
from Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook.

Might we suggest to...

(1) Set office hours, so you have clear working boundaries

(2) When you are using social media, give yourself a set amount of time
you allow yourself to spend online each day. There is nothing wrong with
being inspired by other artists, but don’t obsess – pour that energy into
creating something yourself, or even better, creating experiences with the
people that inspire you in real life. 

Assignment-A Clean Space

If you act as your own studio manager, you must create a space that
remains inspirational even as you are answering phone calls and emails,
or organizing image galleries. Create a clean workspace that reflects your
brand. Our office is very minimalist with a view that looks out onto our
garden. We like to listen to poetry readings or orchestral soundtracks
while we work because that inspires us. Take a day to do office work out
in nature or at your favorite café. 

Assignment-Mentors
We have learned a lot about ourselves, both strengths and weaknesses,
from bouncing ideas off of other people. We wholeheartedly believe that
it is important to find a mentor or accountability partner that you trust to
give honest critiques of your work on a regular basis. Keep it limited to
one or two people; avoid internet forums for this sort of thing. Keep a
journal of what you learn. 

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 Remember – absolutely no one in the world can
see the world the way you do.

Staying Inspired and Shooting Film:

An Exercise in Finding Inspiration and
Creating Fine Art Imagery

PART I: Why Film, Learning to See

Our story/how we got into film (6)
Exploring mediums and passions (11)
Exercise: Finding Your Voice (13)
Exercise: Developing your Style (13)

PART II: Inspiration
Finding Inspiration Around You
(18)
Inspired by Art, Music, Food,
Nature, and Travel (19)
Assignment: Finding a New
Perspective (21)
Mastering Technical Skills (23)
Assignment: Technical Challenges
(24) For more information about the
Assignment: Printing Work (24) vendors in each photograph, please
Avoiding Creative Burnout (25) visit www.michaelandcarina.com
Assignment: Boundaries (26)
Assignment: A Clean Space (26) All photos were taken with a Contax
Assignment: Mentors (26) 645, unless noted

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