Apr 10 2012

Why a neoprene neck strap is your new best friend | Must Have Accessories

Calvert & Fessler Wedding | August 2010 | Elkridge Furnace Inn | Elkridge Maryland
What is hanging around your neck?  Do you use a neck strap for your camera?  If you have a DSLR you probably have one.  

If you get anything out of this post it should be this: 
ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CAMERA SECURED TO YOUR BODY.  

I have a friend that was on vacation recently and while changing lenses he dropped his camera body into the water. Needless to say, he had to buy a new camera body.  

I switched over to a neoprene neck strap in the beginning of 2011 and it made a WORLD of difference.  It is probably one of the best upgrades to my gear and it cost under $20.  

The neoprene strap makes your camera feel TANGIBLY lighter. Although a DSLR is not “heavy” per se, carrying it around your neck all day photographing a wedding takes its toll.  

Jon Barnes and I being a walking advertisement for canon. | Baltimore Maryland 2008
Upgrading to the neoprene strap also stops your neck from being an advertisement of what kind of camera you have. 

Sorry for being a bad example of having a neck strap and not using it, this was taken 4 years ago.  

The one that I currently use is the OP/TECH Classic Strap. 
Does your camera have a neck strap or a wrist strap?  Do you use it?   
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Jessie - While I just have a regular old point and shoot, I use the wrist strap religiously and hound ANY one holding it to do the same. I had a camera get droped and ruined during a hand off one time. The worst part of it was knowing that it could’ve been prevented if the girl I’d just handed it to had immediately put the wrist strap on.

theBAKERSphotography - oh man!  I’m sorry.  Good on ya for making people use the wrist strap!  Remember to check it from time to time I had one that was starting to fray.  

thecompositionof - I like the wedding picture with all the bling. I’m surprised no one is wearing a clock around their neck like Flava Flav.

Apr 05 2012

The Number One Most Important Item of Your Photography Gear

IRONMAN 08 Kailua Kona Hawaii | Canon sd870
When you think of your photography gear, what do you feel like is your most important piece of equipment?  Your camera body?  Your favorite lens?  

How about YOUR body?  

I’m suggesting that your body is the most important part of your photography equipment.  

Your gear can be in tip top shape but if your body isn’t functioning you’re not taking pictures.  

I didn’t post on Tuesday because I had thrown my back out.  Sunday evening, I caught an elderly lady who fell at the Honolulu Airport.  Because of my injury I have also had to postpone scheduling a family portrait session this week.  

My friend Hannah Elaine photographed a wedding on crutches after spraining her ankle playing softball, but I don’t think she would say that that was an ideal situation.  

Often times during a long day of shooting, you’ll have contorted your body into all kinds of strange positions trying to get amazing angles for your photos.  

Are you taking care of your body as much as you are babying your camera body and lenses?  

Do you have a story of a photo/injury combo?  Share with us in the comments.  
Mar 29 2012

3 questions to ask yourself before buying a camera

My trusty Canon sd870 which went everywhere with me and served me quite well for a couple years.  This is its burial photo.  

What kind of camera should I buy?  

I get asked this question A LOT.  So I thought I should address it here.  

There are a TON of cameras out there.  To help you narrow down your search you should ask yourself these 3 questions.  

1.  What do I want to use this camera for?
Defining WHY you want a camera is an important step.  

If you want a camera just to share the events of your life with family members on the internet, you probably don’t need the most expensive DSLR camera for that.  An smart phone like an iphone might be the best camera for you because of its easy integration to facebook and twitter.  

But if you are wanting to take landscape shots and print them 30×40” an iphone probably won’t do the trick.  You will need a high megapixel DSLR to be getting the quality to print that large.

Identifying the main reason you want a camera is an important step.  

2.  What is my budget?

This is a good determining factor too.  You can want the most expensive DSLR all day but if you only have $500 budgeted than you should NOT go into debt to buy a $3000 camera.  

Also don’t forget to include the cost of some necessary camera accessories.  

3.  What are my friends using?

No you’re not going to buy a camera to fit in with your friends but… if your friends have canon cameras and you buy a canon, then your friends should be able to give you first hand knowledge when you have a question.  Or if you have a Nikon DSLR you might be able to borrow and trade lenses with other Nikon users for a weekend to see what other lenses are like before you make the investment to buy one. 

What else do you think are necessary considerations when buying a camera?  
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joan n - Knowledge of settings on a camera.  SLR’s can be complicated if you don’t understand apertures, etc.

Mar 27 2012

Honolulu Hawaii Family Photographer | 2012.03.27 – Colleen and her kids!

Colleen and three of her children are here in Hawaii volunteering with a non profit in Honolulu.  She wanted some photos taken at the Japanese gardens on the University of Hawaii Campus and we gladly obliged!  

Thank you Colleen for the opportunity to photograph part of your family!  We hope these serve as a memory of the amazing time you and your kids had in Hawaii! – Jim Baker
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Nina Michelle Craig - Those girls are so stinkin’ cute!  Good job; the photos look great!

Cherylbaker_8_18 - Great photos of everyone.  The background was a very nice touch to the pictures.

Tina - Absolutely gorgeous!! all of you!!! Miss you!!

Mark Krebs - Nice work bro! 

Hannah Yoon - WOW the one by the fish pond is amazing! great shots

Colleen - Thanks so much, Jim!  Those photos are amazing!  This is the first time I got to see the other ones besides the initial three.  I couldn’t get the others on my iPhone!  So cool how you captured personality and place.

Mar 22 2012

Honolulu Hawaii Photographer | 2012.03.22 – Hawaiian Flora

All photos are available for purchase as large prints.  Please contact us if you are interested.
Here are a few photos from this morning after it rained. 


Hawaii’s state flower is the Hibiscus.  


We have two hibiscus trees pretty close to where we live.  It rains here a lot in the Manoa valley, but sometimes the best time to get out and take photos is right after it rains! 


What’s your favorite flower? Tell us in the comments!  
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Cherylbaker_8_18 - I love them all but my favorite is the second one. I love the rain drops on it.  It reminds me of the lighter pink on I took in the morning after the rain too.   The Hibiscus is my favorite flower in Hawaii. 

theBAKERSphotography - :)  Jess really likes the plumeria.  

Ashley_A - The last one of the yellow hibiscus is my favorite. I like the light in that one, how it fills the frame, and how the background is black and out of focus so the flower really pops out at you. Hawaiian flowers are so much fun! :)