Casey Fatchett Photography

I had the great privilege of photographing Takashi Murakami prior to the opening of his (very expansive) exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.

The exhibition is currently on display. Information is available at the museum website.

It was my great pleasure to work with The Art Newspaper this year photographing The Armory Show. While documenting incredible works of art, I also had the opportunity to photograph such notables as artist/director John Waters, artist Mary Heilman, and MMPI President Chris Kennedy.

Fatchett Photography is happy to announce that I will be giving away a free 4 gigabyte iPod Nano ($150 value) to one of my clients.

To be eligible, the client must book their photo session before the end of May, 2008. Eligible sessions include:

• Actor’s headshots
• Promotional photos for musicians
• Individual, family or child portraits
• Pet portraiture

The winner will be announced in Fatchett Photography’s June newsletter. Please contact Fatchett Photography for details and booking information by visiting my website - www.fatchett.com

When I came to New York City over ten years ago, it was nearly unheard of to see an actor with a color headshot. If someone did have a color photo, it was most likely because they were also doing modeling work. Then, shortly after the turn of the millennium, color headshots started popping up at castings all over the city.

Why? Well there are two primary reasons. First, the color headshot had increased in popularity in Los Angeles because casting directors wanted to see what actors would actually look like on camera (this was also the reason for an increasing number of “landscape” format headshots that showed the actor in the same orientation as a television or movie screen). Casting people don’t have time to use their imagination to wonder what your hair is or how your eyes will look in a close up when they are going through thousands of photos.

The second reason for this development was the rapid advancement of digital photography technology. Professional quality digital SLR cameras, while expensive, were beginning to enter the market at higher numbers and lower prices. I switched over to digital in the Spring of 2000. At that time, the camera I was using did not have an option to shoot in black & white so I had no choice but to shoot all of my headshot sessions in color. After each shoot, I would show my clients all of their photos, both in color and in black & white. While they saw the greater potential of their color photos, they also understood that reproducing color 8×10’s was considerably more expensive.

New York was slow to follow LA’s lead into the color age since it has always been more of a theatre town, and there is just something more theatrical about a black and white photo. But as film and television production increased here in NYC, more and more casting directors and agents began asking for color photos. In turn, the price of reproducing in color went down and more actors began asking photographers for color headshots.

While digital photography and printing technology have made it easier for actors to get color headshots and reproductions, there are still some things to look out for when getting your headshots taken:

1. Lighting

It is very difficult to mask bad lighting in a black and white photo. That was one reason that New York casting directors and agents were slow to switch over to color. You can’t “hide” in black and white. More colors in a photo, while making it more lifelike and giving greater detail, mask many small imperfections.

As the number of amateur and semi-professional headshot photographers has increased, so has the number of poorly lit color headshots. Heavy shadows on parts of the face, though dramatic, detract from your overall look. A casting director or agent wants to see what you look like, not how dramatic your photographer’s artistic vision is.

When choosing a headshot photographer, look for photos in their portfolio that are evenly lit across the subject’s face. Save the moody, shadow filled shots for when you are a star!

2. Color Correction

Have you ever seen a photo with a blue or greenish hue to it? I still see many actor’s headshots that look like there is a blue filter over their picture. This happens because the digital image was not color corrected to ensure accurate, life-like color.

Depending on the light source that is illuminating you during your headshot session, your photos will have a slightly different color to them, ranging from cool blues and greens to very warm golds and reds. When photographing with film negatives, photographers would choose a type of film that was “corrected” to a certain temperature of light. With digital photography, this process is either done in the camera or in post-production using Adobe Photoshop or a similar image editing program.

Your headshots need to have accurate color! A casting director will be upset if you come in to an audition and have green eyes that looked blue in your photo. Talk to your photographer and don’t send out a photo (or post it on the internet) that is not color corrected. It makes you look unprofessional.

3. Clothing Choice

That maroon sweater you wore during your black and white headshot session ended up looking black in the final picture. Now that it is in color, it can have a major effect on how your photo is viewed. The color of your wardrobe can distract from the main purpose of your headshot - YOU! Avoid brilliant, distracting colors or patterns. Also, keep away from colors that are too similar to your own skin tone, these will cause you to look “washed out” in your pictures.

Remember, color is your friend! Use it as a tool to take you further towards your acting goals. But use it wisely!

If you have any questions regarding color headshots, please feel free to contact me or visit my website at www.fatchett.com

Have you ever had a friend or a relative show you the proofs from their wedding? Going through hundreds of prints, whether they are in an album or carried loosely in a box, can be a daunting task.

One way to save time and a potential headache is to have your proofs placed on a DVD by your photographer. This is not a set of high-resolution images which can be used for printing but rather a DVD of proof images that actually plays on any DVD player.

You can quickly go through your proofs without having to pass the photos or an album around between the gathered friends or family members. And instead of having to haul around hundreds and hundreds of pictures all you have to bring is your disc - you can also have extra copies made for your parents so you no longer have to worry about getting the actual prints back when choosing photos for albums or re-prints.

Ask your photographer if they offer this service. If you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me or visit my website at www.fatchett.com/weddings

5 Ways to Save Money on Wedding Photography

As a wedding photographer, I am regularly contacted by couples who are looking to save money on their wedding photos. This is understandable as it can be a considerable expense. Unfortunately, most couples sacrifice quality in order to save money.

In this article, I propose five simple ways to save money without foregoing quality. Hopefully, you the reader will find them helpful in planning your wedding.

1. Add Your Photographer to Your Registry

It may seem strange but it is actually a very simple and cost saving process. There are many programs already in place that allow you to add not only your photographer but other vendors to your registry. Some of these programs require a minimum contribution.

The system I use is to create a web-page for the couple which has a “donation” button allowing your family and friends to contribute any amount they want towards your wedding or album package. You are notified before the event what your balance is and you receive a custom gift-certificate at the wedding from each guest who contributed.

2. Opt for Digital Proofing Only

Another simple idea since 75% of wedding photographers shoot digitally these days (and the percentage is growing). Your photographer can either create an online gallery for you to view your photos and purchase prints or they can supply you with a CD of digital images you can use for proofing.

How is this saving you money? Printed proofs cost the photographer money. Then they have to pick up the prints from the lab (or pay to have them delivered) and take the time to put them in a proof book for you. All of that adds up to more money the photographer is going to charge you. And with digital photography allowing photographers to take more and more photos (sometimes over 1000 pictures for a full day wedding), do you really want to have to sort through hundreds of proof prints?

3. Make Your Own Prints

Many photographers will provide you with a set of digital copies of your photos - some include it with their packages, others require an additional fee (depending on the resolution of the images), and still others release the images to their clients after a set period of time following the wedding (6 months or a year usually). This way you can print your own photos as needed.

The drawback to this strategy is that your photographer will be able to provide you with higher quality prints than you will get at your local lab. However, if you know you will only want mostly smaller prints (4×6 or 5×7) - you could save money and just purchase larger prints a-la-carte from your photographer.

4. Get a Set Print or Album Package When You Book Your Photographer

If you know exactly how many pictures or what type of album you want when you book your photographer, it is possible to save money by creating a custom package with your photographer. With the amount of time between booking and your wedding, it is possible for the cost of prints or albums to go up by the time you decide to order (or your photographer may raise their prices). If you lock in your price from the beginning, you can save money.

Also, I have found that couples who think they can save money by ordering their album after the wedding end up taking at least 12 months before ordering their album - at which point album prices have gone up considerably.

5. Marketing for Your Photographer

Many couples in the process of planning their wedding are in touch with many other couples. Whether at bridal expos or using online bulletin boards, you can be of great use to your photographer in reaching other potential clients.

Approach your photographer about marketing for them by spreading the word about their business. If you refer a customer who books with your photographer, see if they can credit you a percentage of the package the client you referred books (or a flat dollar amount - whichever works for your photographer). Just remember you only get a credit if the person you refer books with your photographer - and make sure there is a way for you to find out if they booked with your vendor.

I hope you find these tips helpful - feel free to visit my website - www.fatchett.com - or email me if you have any questions.

With the holiday season upon us, it is that time of year when men decide to pop the big question.

Whether you are planning to ask around Christmas or New Year’s or you are waiting for Valentine’s Day, it is already time to be putting some more thought into how you are going to propose.

I’m sure you have put a lot of thought into where and when, but have you considered documenting the big moment? More and more men are hiring photographers to snap candid photos of the event. And why not? What better way to show her that you really put some effort into your proposal than by getting a photographic record of it?

Now if you are looking to hire a photographer to shoot your proposal, there are some things to consider:

1. The Element of Surprise - You don’t want her to know that you are about to ask so having a photographer standing next to you with an elaborate camera set-up is probably not a good idea (unless you tell her you hired someone to take some pictures of the two of you - it is an idea but you have to set that up beforehand to avoid arousing suspicions)
2. Location, Location, Location - I can not stress enough the importance of choosing your location properly if you want someone to photograph your proposal. Many men come to me saying they want to propose to their girlfriend in Central Park after dinner . . . while this is very romantic, it poses a number of problems. From November to February, it gets pretty dark in Central Park after 5 pm and there are not a lot of people around (so your photographer may look suspicious). Wherever you decide to pop the question, if you want someone to photograph it - choose a location where there are going to be some people around (or where your photographer can hide a reasonable distance away) and there is going to be a fair amount of light.
3. Find the Light - You don’t want your photographer to have to depend on using a flash (giving away the surprise) so if you are proposing at night, find a spot where there is light on you (a street light above you will provide dramatic lighting if nothing else is available). If you can manuever into a place where there is light hitting your face, all the better.
4. Your Photographer - Hiring the right photographer is of the utmost importance. To shoot a proposal properly your photographer has to be part actor, part papparazzi, and part spy. I have had to pretend to be a tourist, hide in bushes, and tail a couple for close to an hour just to get the right shot. A clumsy or ill-prepared photographer could give everything away. Your photographer also needs to have the right equipment for the job (low-aperture, high speed lenses that work in low light conditions so they do not need to rely on a flash)
5. Preparation and Planning - Go over your plan with your photographer several times (at least) beforehand. Have a back-up plan in case the spot you are going to is too crowded or there is some unforeseen occurrence (police activity, car accident, labor strike - don’t laugh I have seen it happen). Also have some way to communicate with your photographer - I find that text messaging is a very good way to stay in touch and doesn’t seem odd.

In the end, remember that you are showing her that you want to remember the look on her face when you asked her to marry you - FOREVER! And that, is priceless…having the photos to show afterwards earns you some major brownie points…

2008 calendars featuring my “super dog” Tyler are now for sale. I am taking orders until the 20th of December. Calendars start at just $6 and proceeds from sales go to support New York City animal charities.

5 variations available including a 12-month calendar featuring a different photo each month. Click on the photo below or visit www.fatchett.com/calendar.htm 

A friend was kind enough to share this matrix with me…

You can have cheap and fast pictures….

You can have good and fast pictures…

But you can’t have good, fast, and cheap pictures…

So you are looking to get your picture taken. Perhaps you are an actor, a model, a musician, or just someone who wants a nice photo of themself.

How do you go about choosing the right person for the job? Well here are a five tips that should help you with the task:

1. Experience in the Field

This may seem like an obvious statement, but if you should go to someone with experience taking the type of photos you are looking for. If you want headshots taken, go to a headshot photographer - for portraits, go to a portrait photographer.

Think of photography like making food - while a great baker can make an excellent cake, they might not know the first thing about preparing Chinese food. Someone may be a wonderful landscape photographer, but that doesn’t mean they know how to take a headshot. A portrait photographer might not have any idea how to convey the style of a musician’s work in a photo.

The higher you go up on the photographer food chain, the more focused photographers are on their own particular niche. Keep that in mind.

2. Equipment

What kind of equipment is your photographer using? You want the highest quality photo right? While that doesn’t mean you have to go to a photographer who is using a $20,000 medium format digital camera but you want someone who is using professional equipment. Most photographers will be happy to tell you what kind of camera(s) they use. Don’t be afraid to ask…

3.  What are You Getting For Your Money?

It may simply be a matter of what you are willing to spend, but you need to consider what your photography package will include. Is retouching included? Will you receive prints or digital files? Make sure you know what is included in your package and what the hidden fees may be (ask for a price list on additional services).

4. Quality of Work

Yes, again this might seem obvious - but you would be surprised how many people are surprised when they get their photos back and find them to be of a lower quality than they expected. Why is this? Well, the culprit is usually the internet. While the internet is a great tool for previewing a photographer’s work, it does not let you know what a picture will look like when it is printed out.

Also, you want to see how each photographer’s work stacks up according to their pricing structure. Do photographer’s with similar styles and quality of work charge vastly different prices? Set up a meeting so you can see their work in person - in print and see if the quality matches up.

5. Personality

You have to be comfortable with your photographer. Otherwise, it will show in your photos. Meet with your photographer. Talk with them on the phone. Having your pictures taken is a very intimate experience.

Many of my clients tell me that they hate having their picture taken. This feeling comes from being uncomfortable with yourself or the person photographing you. Either way,  a good photographer will make you feel at ease both with yourself and with them. I always find that a photographer who can make you laugh will get the best photos of you regardless of the type of material you are shooting.

I hope you found these tips helpful - feel free to ask me for advice. You can contact me through my website - www.fatchett.com