A little earlier than anticipated, baby CJ has arrived!  Chance Jaden was born at 7:55am, weighing in at 7lbs 5oz and 20 inches long.

Both mom and baby are in recovery after a hard day’s work, and are doing great.  As for dad, I’m at home attempting to catch up on some sleep and making sure the rest of the crew gets off to school tomorrow.

In fact, I’m sure everyone is resting easy right now.  This has been a long, difficult road that ended with a final twist.

 Timeline

2:00am – Allison starts to feel some contractions.  Nothing major, just enough to wake her from sleep and feel uncomfortable.

3:00am – Water broke!

3:30am – Heading for the hospital.  Warp speed, Mr. Sulu.

5:00am – Strong contractions about 2 minutes apart.  Epidural administered.

6:00am – Baby’s heartbeat becomes erratic, then high.  Mom has a serious drop in blood pressure.

7:00am – OR prepped for emergency C-Section.  Doctors do not want further risk to mom and baby.

There were some pretty intense moments in the early hours of the morning.  My wife was barely aware of what was going on around her, but long story short, she didn’t take to the medication very well.  At all.  I was cool as a cucumber up to that point, expecting that everything would just be status-quo.

I tried to be the rock as best I could, meanwhile feeling completely helpless and in control of nothing.  I have new found respect for nurses and doctors, and what they’re capable of.

Thank you for keeping mom and baby safe.

When we returned to our room, I learned that CJ had an APGAR score of 8.9, which is about as good as it gets.  As for mom, well…she’s doing okay, but still not handling the medication well and has a lot of nausea.  She’s had a busy day with a lot of visitors, and more to come tomorrow.  She’s been a champ through it all.

As for Little Man, he’s a fighter.  He remained alert and active for several hours until finally resting at about 1:30pm.  I can’t wait to bring them both home.

The holiday season is upon us, and I’m rolling out a fantastic deal on Christmas cards…

Pricing

$40 – Photo session. On-location (Sidney, OH area) or in-studio. Up to 4 photos burned on a DVD. You can just do the session and keep the photos to have printed on your own cards. That’s only $10 per photo. You’re not going to find pro photography any cheaper for the holidays. Bring the whole family, even the family pet!

$1 – Per card. In order to keep prices down, I have to limit the card design to the one pictured above. The card is 5×7 inches, printed on high quality Fuji Crystal Archive paper in your choice of matte or glossy finish. This is widely considered to be the highest quality photo paper available today.

The family name and holiday message can be customized to suit your needs.

Scheduling

In order to get the cards printed in time for mailing, your photo session must be scheduled before Thanksgiving. Give me a call or send an email to set up your appointment as soon as possible!

In early September, I had an opportunity to work as an assistant for Randy Foulds, an experienced interior and architectural photographer.

This was the first time I was contacted for assisting work through my ASMP membership, and it was an invaluable experience.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think that “just shooting a dining room” would be so complicated.

Over the course of four days, I assisted Mr. Foulds in the Dayton/Cincinnati OH area as we documented the work of a couple of interior designers for a design competition.  During that time, we visited almost a dozen homes.

In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past 24 hours:  Apple co-founder Steve Jobs lost his battle with pancreatic cancer yesterday, and died at the age of 56.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m not a fan of Apple…or Steve Jobs for that matter.  So why is he an inspiration?

It’s no secret that Jobs ran the company like a ruthless dictator, demanding perfection and often belittling his employees in fits of rage.  To him, Apple was above the fold.  It was more than just a company, it was a way of life.  Apple is a state of being, and therein lies it’s greatest success and greatest failure.

Even I can’t deny Jobs’ impact on the modern world.  He was a true genius and visionary.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.  And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.  Don’t settle.  As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.  And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

You have to admire a guy who lives life his way and issues no apologies.

The NOH8 Campaign is a photographic silent protest created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and partner Jeff Parshley in response to the passage of Proposition 8 in California, which amended state legislation to ban same-sex marriage.

…and I do love a good protest.

High school senior pictures have been an American tradition since World War II.

These photographs are timeless and capture teenagers on the brink of adulthood, confident and poised, ready to take on new responsibilities and independence as they prepare to enter college, the military, or the workforce.

For most parents, these are the last portraits of their “child” and are considered very special keepsakes.

It is vitally important that you work with a professional to ensure that this memory lasts forever.  Here are several tips to help you plan for your senior photo session.

Clothing

1. Plan your outfits

By plan, I don’t mean throw something together at the last minute.  These photos are going to be around for a long time, so it’s important that you choose wisely.  My senior photos are still hanging in my parents’ house, and I graduated almost 20 years ago!

Arrange to bring several complete outfits to your photo session.  Most senior photo packages include at least 3-4 outfit changes, including: casual, formal, and outdoor.  If you are into sports or hobbies, plan on bringing your own props such as basketballs, baseball gloves, etc.  More on that later.

Plan other accessories as well: make-up changes, hair accents, footwear, and jewelry.  You will likely have several full-body poses, so make sure that your look is complete and put together nicely.  Check your clothes for stains or tears, and make sure they are clean and wrinkle-free for your special day.

2. Keep your clothing simple

Try to avoid t-shirts with written words on them.  Hollister may be all the rage right now, but will they still be around in 10 years?  School logos and letterman’s jackets are the one exception to this rule.

Also stay away from plaid, complex designs, and stripes…especially horizontal ones.  You want your face to be the most prominent feature in your photographs, not the words on your shirt.

3.  Accentuate your features with clothing

Most importantly, wear clothes that fit.  Nothing is less appealing in a photo than clothes that fit like a garbage bag.  This is especially true for larger seniors.

Do not wear sleeveless shirts or spaghetti strap tops.  Short sleeves are okay, and long sleeves are always stylish.

Square and round face shapes look best with a square-necked top, while slender faces and pointed chins look most appealing with round-necked tops.

4. Color

Solid colored outfits look the best in photos.  Try not to wear flesh tones neutral colors such as pink, beige, tan, or grey.  These colors tend to dominate the photo and can make you look washed out.

Dark colors have a slimming effect and look the best for those close-up head shots.  Be sure to include black, rust, wine, or blue in your formal outfit selections.

5. Accessories

Avoid the urge to include your boy/girlfriend’s class ring or other memorabilia in your senior photo.  Sorry, but the odds are very high that you won’t be with the same person in a few years and you will regret having that ring in your photo.

Take it easy on the jewelry in general, this isn’t a bling-bling contest.  Gaudy jewelry will draw unwanted attention, so keep things simple and light.

Grooming

6. Leave your hair alone

Senior portraits are not the time to experiment with a new hairstyle.  People prefer to remember you by the way you typically look, so there’s no need to do something new or wild on picture day.

Try to have your hair cut at least a week in advance of your photos so that those pesky short ends aren’t sticking up all over the place.  Your hair will need some time to adjust.  Ladies should work with their stylist beforehand, so that there are no surprises at the last minute.

7. Shave!

Guys should be cleanly shaven or neatly trimmed.  Rogue facial hair is extremely difficult to retouch, even for the most experienced photographers.  You should know how your face reacts to shaving, so if you have sensitive skin, do not shave right before coming to the studio or you will have blotchy skin in your photos.

8. Easy on the makeup

Ladies, resist the urge to “glam it up” for your photos by wearing more makeup than necessary.  Just apply your makeup as you normally would, and if you have questions, apply it lightly or not at all.  Your photographer will be able to tell you if you need to apply more eyeshadow or blush, but the general rule is: less is more.

Bring facial powder.  A bit of facial shine is perfectly acceptable for the day-to-day, but it can be emphasized in photographs due to the lighting.  Have some on-hand in case you need to dab some on your forehead or nose.

9. Blemishes and braces

Don’t worry about them.  The more you try to cover them up, the more obvious they will become.  In this digital age of photography, most are adept at removing blemishes and braces on the computer.  There’s no need to have the orthodontist remove braces for your senior photo, unless you are really self-conscious about it.  Just a word of caution though, it’s very expensive.

10. Glasses

If you wear glasses, most optometrists will remove the lenses from your frames at little or no cost.  This is the best option, as it removes the possibility of glare and reflections from the equation completely.  You can purchase a set of identical frames without lenses, but it really isn’t necessary.

Make an appointment in advance, however.  Don’t expect to be able to walk in at the eye doctor’s office on the day of your photo shoot to have your lenses removed.

11. Tans

Don’t overdo it, and don’t worry about getting a tan exclusively for your senior portraits.  You run the risk of peeling or red skin, which is very difficult and costly to remove digitally.  Avoid spray tans at all costs as they have an orange hue that is very obvious in photos.

12. Don’t forget about your hands and feet

Going barefoot is popular with a lot of senior photos, and your hands will also be in many of the poses you choose.  Guys, make sure your nails are clean and trimmed.  Girls, be sure to check for chips if your nails are painted.

Posing

13. Practice!

This is especially important for seniors who are notoriously unphotogenic…if that’s even a word.  Get in front of a mirror and practice your smile!  But take it further than that: practice other facial expressions too.  Serious, relaxed, casual smiles, big cheesy grins, all of it.

Work on your body language as well.  You want to appear upbeat in your portraits, and your photographer will put you in a variety of poses: hands on hips, seated, crouching, leaning against objects and so forth.  Try out several poses at home and see what feels natural to you.

14. Props

Most, if not all photographers welcome the idea of personalization for your senior pictures.  This includes sports items, hobbies, musical instruments, even pets.  Be sure to ask first, but usually this is not a problem.

Consider other items as well: old trunks, a favorite chair or other small furniture, even a best friend or family member.  Be sure to work with props beforehand, so you look natural in your photos.

Other important stuff

15. Bring someone along for the ride

You’re probably going to need a personal assistant on photo day.  Mom, dad, sibling, or friend.  Whoever it is, make sure it’s someone you’re comfortable working with and not someone who is going to stress you out all day long.  Yes, moms…I’m talking to you.

This person should help you relax and take natural pictures.  They will help you with outfit changes and help double check to make sure your hair and clothes are in place.

16. Choose wisely

I can’t stress this enough.  There are a lot of amateurs out there who simply don’t take good photos.  They’re all over Facebook and typically bill themselves as “natural light photographers” or something similar.  These are people who bought a camera and think that makes them a photographer.

They are easy to spot, as their images are all heavily processed and trendy looking because they simply don’t know how to properly expose a good photo.  Their photos feature off-kilter angles and  cut off legs and feet.

A professional will work with you to achieve the look you want, and are not bound by their own “artistic style”.  A professional also has the gear to make it happen.

17. Call in sick

Only show up for your appointment if you’re feeling your best.  This is a one time deal, and you should feel up to it.  If you’re feeling sick or suffered some kind of teenage relationship trauma the night before your photo session, please call in advance to reschedule your appointment.

The last thing you want is puffy eyes or a red nose in your senior portraits.  Your photographer will understand.

As a photographer, my goal is to ensure that you look your absolute best on your special day.  After all, this is kind of a big deal as most people won’t have an experience like this again until their wedding.  Planning ahead is key and will make this busy day more manageable and fun.

Be sure to check out my services, which include packages for seniors.  I do not charge extra just because they are senior portraits!

It’s late summer here in Ohio, and that means county fair season.

I was excited to see that the Shelby County Fair brought in a circus sideshow act, because they are rapidly disappearing.  I had a short conversation with one of the performers:

People just aren’t interested in paying to see heavily tattooed men or grossly obese women anymore.  You can see that at Wal Mart.

And you know what, he’s right.  It was really cool to hear the carnival barkers enticing people to “see what was inside” their tent with promises of shock and awe.  The performer pictured above swallowed several razor blades and some string, then pulled them out of his mouth all neatly tied together.

Other performances included swallowing fire, walking on crushed glass, and laying on a bed of nails.  The tent of wonders also featured many curious exhibits on display in cases.

More importantly, I’m glad that my daughter got to watch the show.  It’s probably the last one she’ll ever get to see.

This is Frank Z.  Today is his 90th birthday.

Frank is also a survivor of the 1943 attack on Pearl Harbor, aboard the US Navy destroyer USS Mugford.  For many years, Frank has frequented the local McDonald’s for coffee and breakfast at around 8:00am.  On this day, his family, friends, and many who have come to know him through his daily routine were there to throw him a surprise birthday party.

Several patrons of the restaurant took time out of their morning rush to stop and shake his hand.  I was one of them.

Happy birthday, Frank!

The 100 Strangers Project

As if the title isn’t a dead giveaway, today I am embarking on the 100 Strangers project:

Take 100 photographs of at least 100 people you don’t know.  Approach a person or group of people and ask for permission to both take a photo of them and to post it to the Flickr 100 Strangers group.  Get to know your subjects.  Who are they?  What is their life like?

I have yet to decide if I’m going to post my photos to the Flickr group or not.  I have a love/hate relationship with Flickr, and don’t much see the value in using it at all.

However, the foundations of the project are solid and worth doing.  It’s easy to take a photograph of someone out on the street without their knowledge.  It’s something completely different to approach them and ask them to share details about their lives.

I’ve been stewing on this project for awhile now, but haven’t really found anyone noteworthy enough to start it with.  Until I met Frank.

Last week, Anthony Hereld Photography broke the triple digit barrier and reached 100 “likes” on Facebook.  I just wanted to say thank you for all the support!

I also recently listed my professional photography service on Thumbtack, so check that out and please leave a review!

Can you believe it’s almost July 4th already?

Photographing fireworks can be tricky, so I figured I would post a short how-to guide for those of you out there who may have attempted it in the past and had less than desirable results.  You will need:

• Camera
• Tripod
• Remote trigger (optional, but helpful)

Making great photos of fireworks requires long exposure times, which means hand-holding your camera is out of the question.  Your images will be blurry if you don’t use a tripod.

Camera Settings

You don’t need a high end DSLR to do this.  Most point an shoot cameras that have a mode dial are more than capable.  However, you can’t simply keep that dial tuned in to the Auto setting and expect to get good pictures of fireworks.

ISO

Low light photography typically jacks up the ISO setting to make the camera more sensitive to light.  Despite the fact that we’ll be shooting at night, you want to leave your ISO setting at 100 or 200.  This will allow the fireworks to appear bright and vibrant against a black sky.  It will also make your photos clean and crisp, without background noise associated with high ISO levels.

Aperture

Again, we need to break the rules of traditional night photography and go with a low aperture setting of f/8 – f/16.  Odds are, you will be shooting fireworks from a distance and  will need a wider depth of field so that more distant fireworks don’t appear blurry.

Shutter speed

This is the key factor to getting those stunning images of fireworks.  For the best results, switch your camera to Bulb mode and use a remote trigger.  You want to keep the shutter open for as long as possible so that you capture the full arc of light as the fireworks explode.

It takes some experimentation, so don’t get frustrated.  There are usually multiple bursts of fireworks, and it’s very easy to overexpose your photos by holding the shutter open for too long.

More tips…

Plan ahead!  Figure out where the fireworks are being shot from and attempt to find a good spot that isn’t too close to the action.  You’ll also want to know which way the wind is blowing.  Be sure to be upwind (away from) the smoke or else your later shots will be hazy.

Take note of your surroundings.  Downtown areas with lit buildings make for interesting backgrounds.  Lakes and rivers are also cool because you have the added interest of reflections in the water.

Most cameras have difficulty focusing in the dark, so be prepared to use manual focus.  Once you’ve found the sweet spot, use focus lock or set the focus to infinity.  It helps (especially with point-and-shoot cameras) to set your focal point before the show starts.

Take a lot of photos!  Don’t worry about checking your image preview after each shot, because it’s very difficult to tell which images are good on a 3″ screen.  The more photos you take, the better your chances are of capturing something really cool.

Good luck!