BRIAN CROFTS | BLOG http://briancrofts.com/blog/ North Dallas Portrait, Lifestyle Photographer en Copyright 2010 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:14:05 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Amy & Beau amy-beau_03.jpg]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/03/amy-beau.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/03/amy-beau.html Engagement Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:14:05 -0600 family fun in the ATL ... Thanksgiving at Rachel's parents ... before the big meal, we did a quick photo session.  2 families in about 20 minutes to be exact.  Here are a few from the session ... I finally had some time to edit and post.  It's amazing how much you can get done inside when it's freezing, wintery weather outside.  We've seen to many days in the teens here in Dallas this year.

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]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/family-fun-in-the-atl.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/family-fun-in-the-atl.html Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:21:31 -0600 baby steps and natural posers ... As far as baby steps go, Lauren is on her way ... she's getting very close to walking these days and it's fun to watch.  Her PR is about 15 steps and her goal is to double that by the end of the month ... very driven.  Taylor ... a natural, when she wants to be.  When motivated (or bribed), she'll deliver.  Rachel, a natural as well ... just have to make sure she doesn't know I'm taking her picture.  We shot these pics while exploring something a bit different ... a 100-year-old cotton mill.

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]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/baby-steps-and-natural-posers.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/baby-steps-and-natural-posers.html Family Personal Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:29:57 -0600 viva espana Andalucia.  Knowing we only had 7-8 days, we pushed pretty hard trying to take in all we could, visiting as many towns and sites as possible ... it was one of those "I need a vacation after my vacation" kind of trips. 

These first couple images are taken atop the Alhambra, looking down at the surrounding towns of Granada.  This place happened to be one of our first major stops and nothing seemed to compare the rest of the trip ...

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Since pictures are worth 1,000 words, I think I just said a lot ...

I took ~2,000 pictures and just attempted to narrow down to the 30 or so here.  Kept a few to ourselves.  We felt like we got to see and experience classic Spain ... it's people, towns, and culture.  I'd say food, but Rachel wouldn't agree.  The only regret was not seeing a bull fight ... our schedule simply didn't work out.  We had a great time and would love to go back ... unfortunately, I can't.  I got a speeding ticket ($300+) and don't plan on paying.  Oh well, here's to France, or maybe Italy--I've always wanted to go there ...

Photographer's note:  I know, overkill with the tilt/ shift.  I rented for the week and got a bit excited.  Sometimes it was the only lens I brought for the day.  I got over it by about day 5 (although I'd love to add that lens to my collection).  Thank you Lens Rentals.com.

Below are a couple images from Marbella, home to a posh Mediterranean seaport (Puerto Banus).  Although we slept every night at the Marriott in Marbella, it wasn't until the end of the trip that we spent some time there.  The guide books sniffed, but we really enjoyed the afternoon and night there.

spain_003.jpg We ended up driving quite a bit ... more than expected. It's amazing how everything looks so much closer on Google Maps. We were also brave enough to venture town to town sans GPS. We were told that navigating the cities by map was crazy, but we're old school and kept it real. We never got lost, especially if you don't count our time in Granada.

spain_006-notes.jpg]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/trip-to-spain.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/trip-to-spain.html Travel travel Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:37:14 -0600 lauren mae is 1
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]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/lauren-mae-age-1.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2010/01/lauren-mae-age-1.html Personal family Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:31:09 -0600 coming full circle ...
I work for Intuit, the small business accounting & tax software company (you know, QuickBooks, Turbo Tax, etc.).  A little over a year ago, I worked on a product idea that originated from the question around how/ where small businesses go to learn, network, share best practices, etc.  A small team and I set out to better understand the ecosystem and test several hypotheses by talking and working with many small businesses over the course of several months.

As part of the project, I decided I could learn a lot about the process and a bit about myself by starting up a "business" of my own.  Over the past year I've been learning the art of photography and small business--equally challenging and important.  Education is everywhere these days, especially on the web.  I've read my fair share of blogs, technical books, how-to videos, and even 1:1 consulting from industry trendsetters.  All have paid off, but it takes time to be successful, and as I've previously mentioned, I'm just beginning.

So what do I mean by "coming full circle?"  A couple of months ago, I was asked by our marketing team to shoot some "commercial" images for an upcoming customer loyalty campaign.  I thought this was a great opportunity for several reasons:
  1. It would be my first commercial-like shoot (something beyond my default)
  2. I got to work with other creatives (always rewarding)
  3. I was shooting for and giving back to Intuit ... the place I started from, the original reason for venturing out and "starting a business" or coming full circle
All in all, a rewarding experience.  Here are a few shots from the session and a sample of the campaign:

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To see some additional images from the local shoot, click here.

]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2009/12/coming-full-circle.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2009/12/coming-full-circle.html Personal commerical Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:48:43 -0600 there is no substitute for experience ... Fred Egan Weddings.  I have read and continue to follow many wedding photographer blogs and tweets over the past year trying to learn and improve my technical & artistic skills.  I have found that particular community of photographers to be much more open as it relates to sharing tips, best business practices, and solid advice.  I also have a new found appreciation for what wedding photographers do and get paid for ... the pressure of trying to meet up to the bride & mother of bride's expectations, capturing moments of a lifetime (better not miss anything), and from my little experience, trying to coordinate with the coordinators.  What's especially challenging for the wedding photographer is the constant change in venues, people, and times of day--all factors that contribute to different situations and challenges.  As a portrait photographer, I usually have the luxury of selecting the venue and time of day that will give me the best lighting for the result.

We shot two weddings ... one in Atlanta, and one here in Dallas.  Both were impressive.  Before I had the chance to shoot with Fred, I always wondered how wedding photographers handled the reception ... night-time lighting, the dancing, bouquet throwing, etc.  The solution was to create our own off-lighting source, working as a two-man team, wireless-ly connected.  While Fred shot, I was either positioned directly behind the subject (creating a back-lit image) or 90 degrees off, creating some side, indirect light ... much better than a direct flash to the subjects face.  I learned a lot from Fred ... there is no better way to learn than just getting out there and doing it, improving as you go ... Here's a couple images I got while Fred graciously provided the light:

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Here's a few from Dallas:wedding_02.jpg
To see Fred's work from this wedding, click HERE.  Really great stuff ...
]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2009/12/there-is-no-substitute-for-experience.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2009/12/there-is-no-substitute-for-experience.html Photography Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:22:48 -0600 bass family
To see more from the session, click here.








]]> http://briancrofts.com/blog/2009/12/bass-family.html http://briancrofts.com/blog/2009/12/bass-family.html Family portraits Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:58:09 -0600