The story behind why I came up with this idea was actually weather related. I’d seen all these gorgeous, lush weddings shot at Willowdale with towering trees and large grass fields… believe me, I wish I could have done those portraits too. However, this wedding was in late winter, it wasn’t possible, we went outside for portraits and they were beautiful, but a little gray. (I’m going to be blogging two more winter sessions on the blog in the next few weeks and you’ll see the grayness of the winter there as well.) I could only keep the bride and groom outside for about 15 minutes before all their skin turned pink. Due to the limitations that were imposed on me by the weather, I had to make as much use of the indoor locations as I could, and that’s when this bathtub inspired me.

Still, it was a little crazy, I mean, who puts a bride in a bathtub, right? Apparently, me, because while writing this blog I remembered that I did something similar in 2010 at Henderson House. Anyway, I’m really proud of this photo, I love the lighting and the color, and a lot of new clients point to it as well as a reason why they want to hire me.

Do I care that there are other versions? No. I welcome healthy competition, it keeps me on my toes. Art imitates, inspires, and is reinterpreted. You see it everywhere. In paintings, we see painters quoting other painters’ work or paying homage to certain poses. In movies, there are countless adaptations and remakes. In novels and poems… so many examples.

I recently tweeted that getting your ideas copied means that they are good ideas. You should be afraid if someone executes it better than you can. Facebook was not the first social network. Google was not the first search engine.

There are photographers out there – some who are my very own assistants – who are trying to be like me. To these assistants I have often said, “find your own voice, your own angle.” If your entire portfolio ends up being you trying to shoot like someone else, then the artist that is supposed to be you, will be lost. When I first began, there were many photographers I aspired to be like – and many of them were strangely based in California (which I later found out, it’s just because the weather is better). As my work grew, I realized I found the most joy being myself, and having clients who liked me just as I was – and not because my work reminded them of someone else’s (who was more expensive). Nowadays while I’m on personal leave (for the sake of love!), I still get an email maybe once, twice a week from brides who were devastated and really wished they could have hired me before I took this leave, and only me. If you are one of them, don’t despair, email me and I can help you out with some referrals.

When I used my own personality to influence how I worked and how I made my clients feel, we began having beautiful and exquisite experiences. And that, my friends, is really what wedding photography should be about.

Shang is a wedding photographer known for imagery that pops with color, personality, and energy. Shang believes that the best wedding photographer for you is one who you feel comfortable having around all day – personality is key!
hear the news first - like her work on facebook . follow her thoughts on twitter

One can’t be a “natural light” wedding photographer, that’s just not possible. What will happen when the natural light goes away behind a thunderstorm? Or when the sun sets and the reception is in full swing with fast-dancing guests? It is the role of wedding photographers to not only utilize and photograph with whatever light they’re given, but under certain circumstances, they’ll have to create light, and that’s where I truly believe one can stand out.

This post will introduce to you the variety of light I see. I’m really excited for this weekend as I’m going to be doing two challenge shoots – I occasionally put myself up to the challenge to shoot in less-than-ideal conditions to push my ability to see light.

First off, every photographer’s favorite: the golden hour. Happens on sunny days during certain hours, and you get sweet photographs like these – they literally look golden!

Another photographer’s favorite is broad lighting. The light is usually diffused. The subjects’ faces are clearly lit, bright, and smooth. You get this a lot on cloudy days

Then there is a type of light a lot of photographers are afraid of – direct light. It happens when the sun is high and harsh, and I too agree that it isn’t the most pleasing, but in creative ways, it can create high impact

Three-quarter lighting is one of the most pleasing ways to light a portrait

The onset of vintage weddings have brought us a trend in backlit, washed out photographs. I use backlighting because I do believe it is romantic. However, I have two rules when it comes to this: one, I want my subjects well-exposed – they can’t be dark. Two, I won’t take backlit photos just for backlighting’s sake. I often include sun flares or I do a rim light effect

Then we go inside! When you’re inside and it’s dark or lighting is mixed, well, you have to create light! Sometimes one speedlight, bounced off a wall or ceiling, with the shutter speed slow enough to bring in the ambient will do just fine

Sometimes it’ll be slightly more involved with an off-camera speedlight that I control with wireless transmitters (I’ve tried both radiopoppers and pocket wizards, I prefer radiopoppers).  Sometimes you’ll see them show up as a bare flash

Most of the time though, I prefer to leave it to the side for rim lighting

And then there are awesome opportunities in the dark for even more creative work

Let there be light! Yes, that is my bathroom mirror

Shang is a wedding photographer known for imagery that pops with color, personality, and energy. While Shang loves shooting during golden hours, she believes that the best wedding photographers are prepared for all lighting conditions
hear the news first - like her work on facebook . follow her thoughts on twitter

While to some, success means being born at the right time, having the right genes, or just being lucky, for most of us, success simply means defining what it is for yourself, and being willing to do the hard work necessary to get there.

- I lost a lot of sleep the first and second year of starting Shang Chen Photography. Know that when you are trying to start a business from scratch, there are many sacrifices to be made, and you’re going to need at least one strong champion in your life, and hopefully that’s someone close to you. Treat that person well – you don’t want to lose them.

- I get a little (okay, VERY!) obsessive when a new idea enters my head. Sometimes it takes all-consuming, obsessive energy to pull a big idea off.

- I practiced, and practiced, and practiced some more. I still practice.

- I spend money to make money. I’ve heard things like “such and such service is too expensive for me”. That is fine, that’s why you should be keeping your day job until you are ready to become a full-time photog.  However, there are some services that have made me so much return on investment (ROI). Say your operating costs are 33% of your gross revenues, then you need to make sure that each and everyone of your marketing expenditures is going to net you >3x in return. If what I just wrote sounds like gibberish, then you need to know these terms. I do my research and my calculations. I know how much my time is worth. I take the plunge when the numbers add up.

- I’m not always right. I’ve tried marketing that sucked. I have mispriced. I’ve bought equipment that is gathering dust in my living room. I’ve lost a lens sale in a scammy transaction and my insurance didn’t cover it. The point is, like any stock broker or investment manager, you hope that a greater number of your bets pay off to outbalance the ones that did not.

- I consume data voraciously. I use Google Reader to keep my pulse on the latest technology trends, inspirational work, and consumer insights. I try to learn new techniques all the time. I scrutinize my analytics so that I always have an understanding of the health of my business and numbers to back up what were gut changes.

- I have systems that allow me to work quickly, because time is my most precious operating expense. I have the sickest email management and labeling system that gets me to inbox 0.

- I did not always make money. Sometimes it’s good to give.

- I strive for amazing, over-the-top, and unexpected customer service. I want my clients to know that I am trustworthy and honest, in an industry that makes the news more often when there are horror stories to tell.

- I have failed. Not just once. And not just in the beginning. I try not to punish myself, as I always ask, “what can I learn from this?”

- I have my friends and supporters remind me when I need an attitude adjustment. Endurance, hard work, diligence, all that is mind over body. You can do it.

You can do it!

Shang is a wedding photographer known for imagery that pops with color, personality, and energy. This post was inspired by Shang’s current reading of Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers”
hear the news first - like her work on facebook . follow her thoughts on twitter

About Shang: With an undergraduate degree in economics from Harvard University and expecting an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Shang is passionate about creating products that positively connect people. Shang was a management consultant for three years with L.E.K. Consulting, providing merger and acquisition due diligence and analysis as well as competitive strategy advice to leading U.S. biotech and private equity firms. In 2008, Shang founded Shang Chen Photography, providing modern, colorful, and personality-driven wedding photography to couples in the Boston area. Shang currently studies entrepreneurship and marketing and is the Director of Business Development and Analytics for a fashion-focused mobile app startup.

What? One-on-one sessions with Shang

When? By appointment, December 6 – 20, 2011

What can be discussed?

These discussions are business-focused, either in a mentor or a peer-like fashion. You will learn from my personal experience, but more broadly, how to think more like a business(wo)man while continuing to photograph what you love

- Is full-time wedding photography for you? A no-BS, honest evaluation of the industry, where it is going, and what it’s going to take to make it
- Creating a general 1-year business strategy (great for photographers who are just starting)
- Review and analysis of your online presence and how to develop a social media strategy that works
- Developing a brand and identity – beyond your logo and custom-designed DVDs, what does it mean to have a brand that influences how you conduct business on a daily basis?
- Finding and hiring the right support talent
- Coaching on presence and conducting client meetings
- How to network and build lasting, collaborative friendships with fellow professionals
- Portfolio critique

There are other topics that can be considered, but these topics are the ones where I can offer the best perspective

How long? Depending on your questions, the session may require 1 – 2 hours in-person plus upfront work. Order minimum of 1 hour of video chat. Portfolio critiques require 1 hour of upfront work.

Cost? $100 / hr for the video chat, $50 / hr for any upfront work. 10% discount to the first three who sign up!

Get $10 off for each of the following actions! Must be done before you book your session
- Tweet about this session! Follow me on Twitter and tweet “Business AND art! Get 1-on-1 mentoring with @shangchenphoto, check out http://bit.ly/shangchenphotomentor”
- Like my Facebook fan page, and post the following as the status on your business fan page “Business AND art! @Shang Chen Photography is offering one-on-one business mentoring to photogs, check out http://bit.ly/shangchenphotomentor” – make sure that my Facebook page is tagged in the status!

How? Video chat! We can Skype, Google Video, Google Hangout, or if you live in Chicago… an actual hangout =)

Find out more by emailing me at shang@shangchenphoto.com

“As someone said: ‘your photographer will be with you all day, often within a couple of feet of you. Pick someone that you’re excited about having that close.’  Jackpot.  Throughout the whole day, Shang was so much fun to hang out with.  She got along with everyone instantly, helped keep everyone laughing, and constantly kept coming up with great ideas for shots.  She dealt tactfully yet firmly with relatives who were getting uptight and groomsmen who were dragging their feet – taking the burden off of me! The pre-wedding work was a piece of cake.  Skype chats, Google Docs, etc…she, my fiance, and I all lived in different states and I never felt that the distance impeded our communication!  The entire ‘business’ end of the operation was flawless and staggeringly professional.  She’s done her homework and runs a tight ship.” – Marisa

“During the wedding, her process was almost transparent.  Nothing felt forced.  All went according to plan.  She was organized.  Customer service was excellent.  She is a professional and an artist.  Her pictures are contemporary, modern, tasteful, and classy, truly timeless.  The final product did not look like experimental art student photography.  The pictures are easily accessible to the widest possible audience and generation gaps.  Within the wedding photography genre, which can be as formulaic as the associated rituals, she has a style that does not overpower her subjects.  She showcases the feeling of love and romance in lots of subtle shades & light, and the pictures were spontaneous, animated and angled.” – Joel

“During the entire process of working with Shang, from the first meeting, to the contract, to the engagement shoot, to the wedding, to the album design, it was extraordinarily clear how seasoned Shang is as a wedding photographer. Our officiant remarked that he’d NEVER seen such ‘invisible’ photographers during a wedding ceremony; we didn’t even notice them there, yet the photos are incredible. How she manages to already be so.. mature? experienced? advanced?… in this business at such a young age is really remarkable. From poses to schedule of the wedding to space to walking us through different parts of the wedding day, I always felt like I was in good, confident hands. And the photos prove it to be true. Which brings me to… THE PHOTOS. Oh, the photos. The photos!  Sigh. These speak for themselves on Shang’s website and blog, but oh my – we were just blown away by the result. We stressed to Shang the first time we met her how important it was to us to capture the emotion of the occasion  above anything else, and she delivered. I can’t stop looking at how gorgeous our album is (granted, I got it today, but still…) and how it really expresses all the love, beauty, joy, and happiness we felt on such a special day. Stop thinking about it. Just hire her.” – Franny

“Just like my husband, and just like my wedding dress, I just knew when I first met Shang that she was the one I wanted to photograph the most important day of my life… The day of the wedding Shang did all my detail shots (dress, rings, shoes, jewlrey), and some “getting ready” shots while we at the hotel, before we headed off to the church. During the ceremony I didn’t even see Shang who was quietly capturing some of the most special moments of my life. We jetted off after the ceremony for more amazing photos at the country club where our reception was held. My family and wedding party were amazed how quickly and efficiently Shang worked to get all the family and wedding party shots, before she took my husband and I off for some more intimate pictures. It’s hard to not go on and on about how great Shang is both personally and professionally.” – Tricia

“Trust – you really need to trust the person handling photos for one of the most important days of your life, and from the beginning Shang proved to be reliable, trustworthy, and professional. She uses a 2nd photographer, carries back-up equipment, and left us feeling completely confident and at ease that she would capture every important moment on our wedding day (and she did exactly that!). She even created a document where we were able to list specific pictures we wanted to be sure to have taken on the big day, and if needed, a list of pictures to stay away from (to avoid any weird moments with divorced parents for example)…  She has a way of making everyone feel so comfortable and relaxed that her pictures don’t look staged. Shang has an eye for locating the most amazing backgrounds, and overall we just couldn’t be happier with all of our pictures.”

Thank you all so very much for trusting Shang Chen Photography with your wedding photos!

August 19 – 22 – Jamaica
August 23 – 24 – NYC
August 31 – Return to Chicago
Sept 8 – 12 – Boston
Sept 23 – 25 – Boston
Oct 8 – 10 – San Francisco / Bay Area
Oct 22 – 28 – Barcelona, Spain

hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

The experience from the workshop is best summed up as: Jerry taught us how to fish, and remember to aim for our perfect day. The workshop was isolating and Jerry had a really great no-email/phone rule. Jerry breaks down his best photos in five steps, starting with the most important thing – light. Jerry’s interpretation of light is amazing – he discovers it in places you wouldn’t think of. He is a master of light, color, and emotion, no doubt.

The first day of the workshop was a long, long day of honest critiques (though gentle). Jerry would give hints and glimpses into the foundations he would teach in the following two days. We grew pretty tired – it was July 4th and we missed the fireworks. Yet, even from the first day, I learned how to diagnose some issues I’d been having in shooting – lessons I’d carry with me for life. I had taken 2 film classes in college and they taught me not to blow out too many highlights and color correct, but not lighting portraits in particular. Days 2 and 3 were intensive shoot days. Jerry moved from light to posing and emotion and then took us out around Boston for shooting. We got tired on the second day because we went all the way to almost midnight. However, this is where Jerry stood apart and is key to his success. When we lost focus, he persevered. When we sat, he remained standing. When we declared we understood, he continued to push until he saw the lightbulbs click in our heads. Jerry never lost his energy, his cool, or his sense of humor (which borderlined between classy and wait-did-he-just-say-that…). He gave his all, and I can see how he would do likewise for his clients.

Days 4 and 5 were some of my favorites – Jerry went over album design, managing a client from beginning to end, selling, marketing, branding. He was very brutal with branding – including my own, which I’m very grateful for. This is really where he teaches you how to fish – and I’ve done some of those ideas to a lesser extent and I can speak to you from my personal experience, it works, but sometimes a little too well. I was empowered and felt I could do anything. Jerry even showed some of his old albums and they were pretty hilarious to look at – Jerry has made similar mistakes and wanted us to learn from them. Also, Jerry recently married a wonderful human being named Melissa, who is one of our own – a Boston wedding photographer. I learned a lot from watching the way Melissa talked and responded to our email. She made each and every one of us feel special, encouraged, and uplifted. From having only seen photos of her before, I was blown away by her sweetness and cheerful disposition.

Coming in as a workshop cynic, I can truly see where the value in the workshop lies. Now, I do not believe any ordinary photographer can come from the workshop and suddenly develop into a success overnight. I don’t believe that those are promises any workshop teacher can make, because it will depend on the student’s ability to incorporate the teaching.

Who is this workshop for? There are two kinds of photographers I would recommend this workshop to. One, you are early in your career, you’ve got basic technical chops, you may have shot anywhere between 5 – 10 weddings on your own, but you want to start your company correctly. Second, this workshop is great for people who have been in the biz 10, 15 years and are feeling burned out.

How to get the most out of the workshop? Come in with an open mind. A lot of the things Jerry says might be counter-intuitive and not your style, but keep in mind that Jerry is a lot more successful than most of us, so he must have done something right. To say the least I was a little frustrated when we spent a lot of time addressing individual questions that at times were not pertinent to what Jerry was teaching. He is the teacher, he is the one I paid to listen to. Jerry’s technique in repeating and presenting the same idea in many different ways WILL stick, but it takes time. You have to differentiate the principle he is presenting from his style. Take the time after the workshop to digest and mull over the implications of what he has presented on your own business.

Also, don’t shoot too much when he shoots. I saw many students crowd around Jerry to try to get the photos he was taking. You’re just going to have a version that wasn’t as good as Jerry’s and you can’t put them in your portfolio. Instead, look at the entire setup, look at the surroundings, and look at what he is doing. I took a lot of the photographs of the overall setup, location, position and angle that Jerry was photographing.

What did I get out of it? This workshop helped remind me what was really important in my life. I concluded that I was right in taking a personal break from full-time photography in 2012 (it’s not barren – you’ll still see weddings that I’ve committed myself to). I know that was not the answer most of you expected from me – I won’t elaborate as it is a very personal decision – all I ask is for your support as I transition my life. In general, I firmly believe that if you are a talented photographer and a smart businessperson, you can take Jerry’s teachings and make a great career out wedding photography.

Fellow photographer and friend Dave Chen has a great review that shows more behind the scenes photos. I have chosen not to display most of the photos I took because frankly I didn’t take much.

So, there is a photography treat at the end of this post! In order to benefit from the technical part of the portfolio, I was itching to practice. I wanted to commit to muscle memory Jerry’s 5 steps, but add my own twist, as his style is not my style – but not on a paying client’s time. I also didn’t want to shoot with models, because I don’t work with models in my weddings. I recruited Amy and Frank – a real couple whose actual engagement I captured back in March, and we just played around the MIT area. These photos are not perfect, but they’re a start! There is Jerry’s influence in them in terms of lighting and posing, but I really wanted to make them my own – Jerry said that my portfolio had “quirky that wasn’t cheese” (yay!) and that my bubbly personality is reflected in the playful way I portray my clients.

I don’t know if the direct sunlight look is right for me, but I am getting better at it. I promise my summer clients though that I won’t be exposing you to too much hot sun anyway =)

Amy and Frank are… well, real. There’s no other way for me to describe it. Frank especially, who I’ve been acquainted with since high school, has grown so much. If you ever have the chance to get to know him, you should

Jerry’s technique is great though. Most of these photos required very little post-processing while maintaining my signature color

I LOVE this portrait of Frank. It shows all of you what Amy likes most about Frank’s smile – the way his nose “gets really cute” when he smiles (her words!)

Did I mention it was like 90 degrees? Well, maybe more like 80s because we shot later in the day. Thanks guys for being awesome troopers!

July 14 – 17 – Lafayette, Indiana
July 29 – August 4 – San Francisco / Bay Area
August 19 – 22 – Jamaica
August 23 – 25 – NYC
August 31/Sept 1 – Return to Chicago
Sept 8 – 12 – Boston
Sept 23 – 25 – Boston

hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

If there is one thing I wish I could have done more of in my first season of wedding photography, it’s that I could have had the chance to shadow more wedding photographers. Though I had a couple of opportunities, I was working full-time at another job which also made my schedule less flexible. In hindsight I also recognize how I could have been smarter about networking with photographers. I cannot emphasize how important it is to second shoot and assist for someone else, before handling a wedding on your own. The unpredictable nature, the sheer amount of information you have to keep in your head, the need for flexibility, quick action, you won’t know it until you see it. Assisting isn’t always glamorous, but it is for your own – and your future clients’ – benefit. Now that I find myself on the receiving end of requests, I thought I’d share some thoughts on what can be a daunting process.

Cold calling is scary. Establish a personal connection first

Depending on who you are reaching out to, if you initially email, you might not get an overly-enthusiastic reply because the photographer has no idea who you are. Check out their website – do they have a blog? Facebook page? Twitter? Which one do they update most frequently? Get on that and start chatting with them. Facebook or Twitter don’t sound like your cup of tea? If the photographers you admire the most are doing some activity, it may very well be an activity you eventually will have to do too, so I wouldn’t dismiss it. Like the photographer’s work or comment on it so that when you email them for the first time and tell them “I really like your work” you’re not just saying it because you want to look for a job. Your email is like your cover letter – so tell your story and make it personal!

It’s not personal – many will already have someone they like working with

Many wedding photographers already have a couple of shooters they frequently work with. It is also pretty common for an established photographer to sometimes flex their photo muscles on an off weekend with another photographer of similar skill level. Husband-and-wife teams often don’t look for assistance as much unless the wedding is extra-large. Do not despair – wedding photographers frequently announce last minute needs, and at that time are much more open to working with people outside of their normal list. There are also online wedding photography communities that you can join to look for more gigs. Therefore, don’t take it personally if a photographer says their needs are filled

Learn as much as you can online before asking in person

The more established a photographer, the busier they probably are, so make the best of the time you spend with them by preparing your questions. Check to see if the wedding photographer you’re contacting holds any workshops – if they do, they may not give away too much information for free. There are many, many online forums, blogs, websites that hold a wealth of information to get you started (the [b] school, Digital Wedding Forum, the blogs of Laurence Kim and Jasmine Star, just to name a few!). Then when you meet the photographer, you can ask a list of smarter, more targeted questions

Off-season, off-weekend

Winter is the off-season and the best time to make an in-person connection with a wedding photographer. Want to meet on a Saturday in the summer? Good luck =) I would aim for a mid-week weekday lunch or afternoon break. [addendum: winter is the off-season for cold climates such as Boston and Chicago. In warmer climates, winter might be the busy season!]

Networking is more than just leaving a business card

I value getting to know people first. Find out what their passions are, learn what they are up to, what projects I can help with, people I can connect them with. And doing that over, and over again, over a long period of time. Your best network is always your friends, so make friends! If I know I’m going to see someone again, I think it’s better / less awkward not ending the conversation with a business card exchange. This is because once people get to know me, they’ll easily find out what I do.

Give then take

If you want to learn from a photographer, offer to help. I am usually a lot more inclined to teach someone while on the job rather than over a coffee chat because a) I don’t drink coffee (but that’s just me) and b) I can accomplish two things at once. I love having assistance on shoots because I can sometimes bounce ideas off of my assistants. When meeting with a photographer, it helps that you know their work – take some time to look through their portfolio to understand their style and focus. If you have questions about fashion photography but said photographer does not have fashion work in their portfolio, chances are, they are not the expert you’re looking for. Taking a cue from the corporate world, I’d even suggest that you offer to pay for the photographer’s food / drink if this is an informational meeting. I am personally guilty of not always doing this – I owe several photogs some coffees and meals!

Have an online portfolio ready

I’m always hoping to get a glimpse of your portfolio so I can quickly gauge where you are coming from. You can always get a free site started on flickr, wordpress, or blogger

Experience > Pay

Some photogs will have the budget to pay you, some won’t, it depends. If you’re not shooting, it’s a toss-up as to whether you’ll be paid, so I would just say to go in without financial expectations – go because you want to learn. Humbleness will go far.

Clarify your role

During some weddings or shoots, your job can be quite mundane. Holding things, equipment bags, adjusting a bride’s dress, finding the missing flower girl, moving furniture, getting water, and making yourself useful so that the photographer can focus on shooting – these are things that have to be done, and do impact the quality of the photographer’s work. I personally make a distinction between assistants and second shooters – second shooters photograph (sometimes in a different location!) and provide an alternate angle to my own and their images are delivered to the client with my editing. Assistants get to shoot once I no longer need their help, and their images are not delivered to the client. In the case of working with me, the opportunity to shoot as an assistant is much smaller than as a second shooter – most people with little wedding experience start as an assistant and work their way up to second shooter or associate photographer. I’d say preferences vary by photographer – and it’s best to get these questions answered upfront: a) When and how often can I shoot? b) Can I present resulting photographs in my blog or portfolio? c) How should I credit the main photographer?

Your professionalism will be judged

Wedding photographers are more than just artists, they run businesses. If you are hoping to be a business owner one day, start with a good business presence. Be detailed when setting up a meeting (provide your contact information, text beforehand to confirm), arrive on time if not early, don’t dress as if you just rolled out of bed, all that matters. I fully believe that professionalism is what makes or breaks your ability to be profitable, beyond your artistic capability.

Don’t give up!

It can be discouraging to come away hearing more no’s than yesses. I got it too. I didn’t get to assist the photographers I really wanted to assist for. I don’t book every gig I want to photograph. Not every blog is going to say yes to publishing my work. I know that I have lots of room to grow and get better. Challenges and obstacles are there for a reason – starting your own business is hard work, and making it profitable is even harder, and only very few people are truly phenomenally successful.

Hope this was helpful! And again, don’t be shy to reach out to me =)

June 11 – back to Boston
June 14 – 16 – NYC
July 29 – August 4 – San Francisco / Bay Area
August 23 – 25 – NYC
August 31/Sept 1 – Return to Chicago

hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter

Those of you who might say this is one of my least positive posts, let me be honest with you – when it comes to running a business, I’m not easily impressed, it takes a very rare personality to make me think, “oh dang ohmahgodyouaresoamazing”. I’m not impressed with myself (definitely not), and I don’t easily get impressed with others. I’ve consulted for and researched some of the top corporations in the nation, I’ve seen what makes even the mighty fall. Therefore, I hold everyone up to very high standards whether they deserve it or not. I spent a lot of money to get to WPPI (not as much as a workshop, but still, a lot). That’s why I think it’s important to always push for a better experience and try to plan it so that it comes out most positively possible.

First things first, I met up with my great friend and former second shooter Emily and did an anniversary shoot for her. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. She then introduced me to the best ramen in town

(the majority of the photos taken in this blog were from my HTC Incredible Droid phone as I didn’t have the energy to carry everything around)

Here are my tips and tricks

• Plan early: Book your tickets to Vegas either way in advance or at the last minute. Flying from Boston – Las Vegas can be pricey
• Room together and stay at the Signature MGM! My friends and I tried to save money by going to 2 other hotels (and also, to build up said friend’s Starwood points). And though I am forever grateful at the amazing experience that is the Cosmopolitan, I personally did not like the 30-minute walk to the conference center at MGM. Signature MGM sits right on top of the conference center and has kitchenettes. What looks like a half-mile walk on the Strip turns out to be longer because you have to deal with tourists and slow moving people. And everything happens at MGM – or nearly everything – and it just wasn’t convenient for me. I wanted to change clothes, drop off my bags, drop off stuff I gathered… I am not going to let costs stop me next year, I’m paying the convenience premium and staying at MGM Signature

• I followed a lot of the WPPI tips and tricks on the Photo Lovecat blog – such as wearing comfortable shoes (yay Chucks!), leaving my big camera at the hotel, etc. I won’t repeat a lot of that here, but read. every. blog. post. they. have. about. WPPI – you won’t regret it
• You’re going to text a lot. Decrease the amounts of times your phone has to sync to 3G because it WILL drain the battery. Verizon (woot) got the best reception at the conference. You will run out of texts
• Food at Vegas is $$$$ EXPENSIVE! I ate at McDonalds three times, Starbucks once, and In-N-Out once. This burger plate at Wolfgang Puck cost around $22 (with tax and tip)

• Do what you can to get out and network and talk to people. I was shy and overwhelmed by the presence of so many amazing photographers. And of course, my (business school) classes decide to dump a couple of big projects on me. Thanks to coordination between my teammates and I we got everything done, but I really wish I just didn’t do homework the first couple nights and just went to hang out more
• I have to give major major props to Wayne of Wayne Yuan Photography for introducing me to super-cool people in Chicago such as Albert of Secondprint Productions, Oliver of Chris and Oliver (awesome videography!), Jimmy Tan, and Mike Fan. Jimmy and Mike are a riot… at one point I had to pause and ask how old they were (turns out Jimmy and I are the same age) because I swear they could pass for Albert’s kids

The trade show is going to make you buy things. Like any shopping spree, stick to your shopping list and do your research (I had my smartphone loaded with price searches before I bought anything). There are incredible once-a-year deals at WPPI that will make your trip worth it, and then there aren’t. For example, I shoot exclusively using SanDisk CF cards but these expensive cards rarely go on sale and there were no deals to be found on the trade show floor.

And as Photo Lovecat mentioned – don’t check out EVERYTHING – there are hundreds of companies peddling their ware and you don’t need everything – after all, your main product remains photography, you’re not in the contest to show up another photographer with more gear. I only targeted a couple of the booths this year, and didn’t look at booths that didn’t make sense to where my business was at right now
I do what I can to rep the companies I love – like KISS wedding albums! Haha okay this was part of a contest to get more KISS credits… I didn’t win, but it was fun!

I have one afternoon class on Thursdays for this quarter. I spent the morning answering phone calls, checking in with my photography clients, and cleaning my kitchen. Then it’s off to the Metra train I go!

Doing some reading for my investments class. It’s so sleep-inducing

The 35mm range is a beauty – it’s just wide enough for really great photojournalistic/story-telling shots, but not so wide that it distorts. Let me try a self-portrait… oops mis-focused

This is on my way to school. Really showing the beauty that is f/1.4 (for those of you who don’t know photography terms – the f-stop number, the 1.4, refers to aperture, which is how much a lens can open up.. and yeah, the more expensive the lens. This lens retails for about $1,800. Anyway, the lower the number, the wider it opens up, the faster the lens performs in low light, and shallower depth of field aka “blurry background”)

First up, a workshop with Nielsen to learn about their products for market insights. Definitely not applicable to photography, but still great getting a background to a company with so much legacy

let’s be honest, we come to these things because there’s free lunch

Investments class…

Our classes are 3 hours long so we have a break in the middle. Oh hey I run into one of my favs, Dan. I love the natural light in our building’s main atrium

This is a shot of our roof, shooting almost straight up. See how there is very little distortion

After investments class, I had a one-hour study group meeting for our project. I don’t usually dress this formal for school, I just got a little tired of wearing sweaters all the time. Oh gosh why isn’t it summer yet??

Got to catch the train again! But not before I do more awesome f/1.4 shots

That “tree” on the right is actually a sculpture our school recently acquired. I still think it’s super creepy

More train. More investments reading

(yeah I’m not one of those business school students who gets to party all the time)

I LOVE coming back to a clean apartment. It’s so tranquil. And my valentines =) Thank you

1. You are not looking for a DSLR
Unfortunately, I can’t help you much here, and I get a lot of these questions, I just don’t have the time to research them. I’ve consistently been satisfied with the performance of Canon P&S. In addition, if you want a prosumer P&S (something better than a camera you carry to a club, so it is chunkier), consider Canon G-series cameras or the Panasonic LX3 (or whatever the updated version is). Several pros carry those cameras around as their leisure camera. Use review websites such as cnet.com and dpreview.com to guide your camera selection and good luck!

Some terminology and preferences I’m going to throw out before we move to DSLRs.

Cropped vs. full sensor: Most DSLRs have a “cropped” sensor. Any lens you mount on the camera body will have its range multiply by a factor of 1.5x. A 50mm will look like a 75mm lens. Until you get a D700 or better with Nikon, or a Canon 5D Mark II, you will have a cropped sensor. Professionals should aim to get a full-sized sensor camera. In Nikon, full frame cameras are noted with “FX”. Warning – if you started out with a cropped sensor camera in Nikon you might have a series of lenses with the “DX” marking. These lenses will continue to function as cropped sensor lenses on a full frame camera. In other words, you’re better off not having them.

ISO performance: Most people say that DSLRs are “faster”, but it’s actually a function of two things: the aperture of your lens and the ISO of your camera body. Your lens has almost nothing to do with the speed of your camera itself. DSLRs can now go really high in ISO range, but really, the uppermost ranges are typically useless and noisy. For those who want to know, I shoot most of my reception and dancing photos at ISO 2000 and 2500 and that is WITH flash and a lens at aperture 2.8. Typically if you want good performance in the dark you need the upper bound of the ISO range to be at least 1600 if not 2000.

Aperture: Aperture is how much your lens can open. The more it opens, the more light it lets in, the faster it is. This is noted by the f-stop on the lens – it looks like a number like f/1.8, f/2.8. Basically, the smaller the number, the faster the lens. Most professional lenses are f/2.8 or faster. Most kit lenses – the starter lenses that come with cameras? A dismal f/3.5 I really think starter lenses are useless pieces of plastic, and if you’re serious about photography, don’t get them.

Megapixels: I don’t care how many megapixels a DSLR has. It doesn’t matter. And what I mean by that is, it does allow you to make larger prints, but a camera with more megapixels isn’t always necessarily better.

2. You are looking for the most entry-level camera
Maybe you’re a parent who wants great photos of their kids without too much fuss. Maybe you’re a college student who can’t deal with P&S photos. I will exclusively speak Nikon/Canon from now on because you can’t go wrong buying either brand. If you’re looking for an entry-level camera, both lines offer options under $1000. Any of the Canon rebels, any of the Nikon DXXXXs (4 digits), they will get you great DSLR photos but what they may lack is ISO performance, focal points, and other bells and whistles of upper models. In addition, you might even want to consider buying used cameras off of Craiglist. The only thing you should watch out for, at that point, is how many actuations a camera has had. Actuations = the number of times the shutter has been pressed. The shutter of the camera as well as its sensor wears out over time and that’s why DSLRs lose value. For you, the kit lens might be best because you might not be investing in good lenses in the future

This was a photo from the FIRST engagement photoshoot I EVER did (they are now happily married, 3 years and going strong!).
I photographed it with a Nikon D50 – a weak camera by today’s standards, but hey, it worked

I want to stop before #3 and emphasize that should you want to make a living or part living out of photography, learn the relationships between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity, and understand how a camera meters and how to over- and under-expose. You should understand these because otherwise a DSLR in auto mode in your hand is not going to be that powerful as it can be.

3. You eventually plan on becoming a professional photographer
If you’re Nikon, start with D90, and please stay away from D80 or earlier (I had my D80 for about 6 months before I felt like trashing it). If you’re Canon, start with a 50D – no Rebels. If you cannot afford either, you could do #2 and get a used camera to at least build up a portfolio and then trade up, because again, getting your skills developed is more important than having top of the line gear. Eventually you will have to move up to the full frame cameras. Do NOT get a kit lens – start yourself off with a 50mm lens – both Nikon and Canon have one that’s right under $100. I still use my 50mm frequently. Shoot lots, rent some lenses (Calumet Photo has really reasonable rental rates if you’re in one of the cities it serves, otherwise, try LensProToGo), and immediately start understanding what lenses you’ll have to get. The lens is more important than the body once the body is decent. Here’s what I’ve personally found useful: 85mm or 135mm for really zoomed in portraits, 35mm and 50mm for photojournalistic, 24mm for wide shots. I rarely carry the 70-200mm because right now it’s not a range I personally want and it’s too heavy for me. This website – the-digital-picture.com – has GREAT lens reviews.

This was my D80 with the kit lens mounted the day I got it. I had so many headaches and dislikes with this camera from a professional standpoint, was very happy to upgrade

4. You want to be a wedding photographer
Get full frame cameras as soon as you’re able. Invest in about 3 – 4 lenses to cover the wide range. Learn how to use a flash and have at least one flash, if not two. My friends James Federico of The Feds teaches a great flash workshop in Boston. I know, I walked around touting “natural lighting” for a couple months too before Boston winters hit me. If you’re photographing in New England or other metropolitan cities with cold weather where we don’t have as many pretty outdoor weddings, you can’t not learn flash and do wedding photography.

This link is a list of my current equipment. Also, I use Nikon batteries – OEM only. I once tried third party Adorama batteries and they just sucked, wouldn’t charge well.

This is my Think Tank bag fully packed before a wedding, with the Shootsac nearby

Then you will also be hit with a plethora of options in terms of what bags to get. It’s really a personal preference and you may find yourself switching them out every now and then.
Here’s a list of what I have:

Shootsac - for every day shooting and holding my lenses. This is not a camera bag – you have to hold your camera, which is why it is a great bag for shooting. It is too flimsy to protect your lenses in transit
ThinkTank Airport International – This is the carry-on I use whenever I travel and I got it with the optional low divider set so my laptop can slide in on top. The only complaint I have about it is that the international version (which is slightly smaller than the Airport Security bag) doesn’t have the best attachment for the light stand. However, as long as your light stand can stay attached, airlines count it as part of your bag, and you can remove it and stash it beneath the seat in front of you when you fly.

This is a list of other things I’ve bought and found useful over the years

Sandisk CF cards – you will need a lot, and I don’t go above 8GB, in fact if I didn’t shoot that much at weddings I’d even stick with 4GB cards. Why? What if I lost a whole 32GB card of photos from a wedding? Better lose 2 hrs of photos than everything.
Eneloop rechargeable batteries – The only brand of rechargeables that last a reasonable amount of time
Backup system – I am not the foremost expert on backup systems, but if you are going to be a serious professional, a lot of your investment needs to be in this area. Preferably redundant, multiple systems! I currently use a combination of online, computer, portable hard drive, and DVD disc backup.
La Crosse battery chargers – charges batteries one by one, can do discharge, and you can control the rate of charge
LG External CD/DVD Burner and Drive – there must be updated versions of this, but this has become of my favorite peripherals. It uses only one USB portal, it’s cheap, works quickly, and I’ve had very, very few faulty burns
Sensor Swab – to clean your dirty sensors
Nikon lens pen – cheap, fast way to clean that lens. I always keep 2 with me
Moo.com business cards – people love my business cards because they’re quality.

5. You’re a friend of a photographer and want to gift them something
I get most of my gear from either Amazon or Adorama or B&H, but as you can also see, there many other places to get stuff. So cash is king! Don’t risk buying them books – many books become outdated quickly due to the quick development in computer software and camera hardware. Don’t buy frames either… professional photographers love making giant canvases of their work and these photographs come with their own frames.

Oh if you’re my friend and want to gift me something, feel free to donate to the Shang Chen Photography lens fund. Each of my next lens purchases will be around $2000! Hahah just kidding (about the gift part, wish I could kid about the lens price tag)

To end the post, me taking my meal break during Sue and Ryan’s wedding at the Boston Public Library, in the Bates Hall reading room no less! (Thanks Christina for the shot!)

want to learn more about my photography? inquire!
hear the news first - like my work on facebook . follow my thoughts on twitter