A Lesson in Teaching, if it's Not Your Profession:

I have to say that over the course of my life I have learned many things, and one of them relates to the effectiveness teachers have on their students. I'm not one to talk of course because I'm not a teacher, but I do want to get something off my chest.

For me, it seems that as soon as you fully grasp any new concept, you become much better at teaching it to someone else than any teacher who has known the concept for a long time. Of course the teacher may know some tricks and other ways of doing solving problems that you may not, but here's the kicker: because you have just learned it, you aren't taking for granted things that you have known for a long time. By this, I mean that you don't know aspects of something so well that you forget to explain them. And if a student asks a question, because you are so used to the concept already, you will likely not be expecting their question to be something so simple and so you might not respond with a clear answer.

Let me explain with an example:

In a class a few months ago, we were learning about how orchestras can be created with a single player when recording multiple times to a track for film music. The professor explained that one musician who can play many instruments would sit and record the same song with the differen instruments on separate tracks, over and over again so that they would all line up and play together, and it would sound like a full symphony orchestra. "Well," a student said, "how are they able to keep the playing synced to the other tracks?" The professor went on to explain all these details about click tracks, tempo, beats per minute, and how they can use advanced technology to slide parts over that might be out of sync. The girl said okay, but I could tell she still didn't have an answer she was looking for. After a little while, someone else asked a similar question. I knew what the students were getting at, and raised my hand. I asked about what type of headphones they use for recording. As soon as I said this, both girls said, "Oh, so they use headphones!" and I knew their question had been answered. Something so simple as that hadn't even been considered by the professor, because the question was so elementary to music recording.

So, I leave this on the table... As teachers and professors, of course you know many advanced things, and the basics are so far behind that you don't even think of them. And of course most students ask questions that don't spark the right answer because you don't expect them to be answering such a simple question.

This is why sometimes I feel that those who have just fully grasped a new concept can be the best teachers, because they don't leave out those most elementary of details, which are sometimes the most crucial.

I am currently working on a book about wedding videography that i hope can really explain every aspect of it, from the most complicated down to the most simple. Since I am still learning each day about this craft, I hope that I will keep in details that might be forgotten by those who have been doing it for decades. Therefore, if you are interested in wedding videography, I implore you to ask me question you have so I remember to answer them in my book.

How to Find and Choose a Wedding Photographer

Is your wedding fast approaching? Does it seem like there are an insurmountable amount of things to be done? Are you worried about choosing a photographer? Do you even know how to start? At least we know one thing, you googled it. Good job! But there's still more to do.

Picking a wedding photographer is like picking one flower seed out of hundreds. They are each different and have something good to offer, but need different attention. Some flowers will be easy to maintain, are beautiful, and are big. But they cost more. Others are smaller, might not look as nice (but maybe you get lucky!) need more care, but cost very little. Well it's a hard choice.

The most important part of choosing a wedding photographer is not the price, but the match factor. This is how well you get along with them (how well you two match).

A photographer who makes you laugh and has a great personality is going to be much easier to get along with than someone who is very serious. Wedding photographers have be like this. Actually anybody who photographs people should have a fun personality. It makes the pictures look a lot better because if the photographer isn't happy, you won't be either. And it will show in the pictures.

The best way to see what a photographer's personality is is to speak with them when meeting for the first time or over the phone. Be sure you like their personality, otherwise no matter how good everything is on your wedding day, your pictures won't come out that great. And those are one of the most important parts!

But where to look? Well, for one, I offer wedding services for between $500 and $1,000. But if you don't want me, google wedding photographer, NYC (or whatever city you reside in). Also, you can try gigmasters.com, as they offer great resources for contacting wedding vendors. Also, ask your friends who they used for their wedding. Typically, your friends will be more reliable for you than googling something and reading reviews.

Good luck and have a great wedding!

The 24th St. Loft - The Wedding of Brian and Lindsey

On October 30th, I videotaped Brian and Lindsey's wedding. It was a two-part wedding, and the other half was October 9th. This was just the reception, and I brought my camera with to take some still shots of the event as well. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Central Park, Manhattan - Michelle and Ronald Engagement Session

About a month ago, I went to Central Park to shoot an engagement session with Michelle and Ronald, whose wedding I attended and shot this past Saturday evening. Both events were awesome, and I will be posting the pictures from the wedding up soon. For now, check out some of the pictures, and let me know what you think!