brian baker journal

The coolest kid in kindergarden

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:07:07 +0000

It took me 34 years but yes, I’m finally the coolest kid in kindergarden. Every year it’s something new in this adventure of raising kids and a family. This year Grant started kindergarden and when I’m not at work I get the privilege of taking him to school. He and I decided the first day on our mode of transportation (see photo) and are having a blast every time we go to school. Um, every time I take him to school. It’s pretty much a race to get there and when we do he hands me his helmet gives me a big ol’ hug and a kiss and is on his way. The smile on his face says it all as he walks through the gate…… “I have the coolest dad in kindergarden”!

Enjoy,

Baker

Tip of the day. The “camera tilt”.

admin — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:15:07 +0000

Our first tip out of the gate comes as one that is almost more of a pet peeve to me than anything. It’s not that I mean to be negative or pic apart other peoples work but this seems to be the most abused form of creativity. Yes, some people think it’s being “creative” when you add that extreme tilt to your camera so you have to look at the photo sideways when you finally see it. Don’t get me wrong, I have abused this tilt more than once in my time. I would say most people starting off in photography do. But so do some seasoned, well respected photographers as well. All the way up to some very big time, highly paid wedding photogs that get paid to speak and teach.
Here’s some basic guidelines I try to follow. First, try to shoot it straight. Try to make your composition (i.e. lines, subjects, etc) work without tilting the camera. Your attention should be on your subject not the crazy angle.
If you tilt: It should flow. It should be with a purpose. It should not distract from what you were trying to achieve in the first place. A person looking at the photo should almost not even notice that you tilted the camera in the first place. Usually, it will frame up your subject or cause lines to lead your eye to them. You might try pushing your subject to a corner. DON’T JUST DO IT TO “BE CREATIVE”. But don’t be afraid to try.
Here’s a wrong and a right. Yes, they are my images. I’m not to proud to show you my mistakes. We can all learn from them. You know I did.

Enjoy, Baker

Ohhhh, creative. Not bad but does nothing for the photo.

Ahhhh, better. Subject is the focus and where the eye is drawn to first. Notice the line the surf makes leads out the far corner. It’s only then you might notice the tilt due to the horizon line. I think of the 120+ images I gave this couple only 3 were tilted.

Bradley and Casey

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:40:16 +0000

Tyler and Ashley E. Session

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:12:24 +0000

With the way this engagement session went I can’t wait to shoot their wedding this fall. Tyler and Ashley just have it! Fun, the looks, photogenic and up for anything. What a great time we had. Just too bad it was freezing by the time we got to the beach but we still managed to pull a few great shots off there too.

Enjoy,

Baker

Matt and Shandi E. Session

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:41:11 +0000

Matt is another firefighter I worked with and loved his idea of starting off this session at the LAFD museum at old 27′s . They’re wedding will be of the 40′s era so we headed downtown to union station to stay with the theme. If you have been to or heard about firefighters weddings as a photographer I know I’ll have to be on my toes. Going to be a fun one.

Enjoy,

Union Rescue Mission Los Angeles

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:20:35 +0000

Just a follow up on my last post on our trip to the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles. This is an incredible ministry going on down there. Taking care of those that truly desire to get their life back on track. Tim Campbell from our church is the director down there and I don’t think I’ve met a harder working man with such a heart for what he is doing. He has been putting in 15+ hour days down there right now and always has a smile on his face. Here are just a few photos from our trip.

Enjoy

Baker

URM.org – The Way Home for the Holidays

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:52:59 +0000

Today I have the opportunity to tag along with others from Crossroads Community Church to the Los Angeles Union Rescue Mission. They’ll be manning the Christmas store and later this evening serving a meal. A few weeks ago God put it on my heart to share my gifts and talents. I was not sure what they needed in ways of a photographer but thought it might be a great opportunity to serve if not for anything else but documenting the event. Well, when I approached Pastor Todd he told me that was one of the last things on their list they were looking for and here I stand ready to serve. If we don’t give some of our gifts and talents back to the one who gave them to us then we aren’t fully using them. What gifts has he given you?

Check back in a few days for photos of the day.

Enjoy THE season.

Baker

URM.org – The Way Home for the Holidays.

Porfolio

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:45:10 +0000

Patrick and Jennifer After Bridal

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:07:44 +0000

What was supposed to be a trash the dress turned out to be a really cool after bridal. You see, these two have to be one of the most fun, easy going couples I have shot. From the cool E-Session to their wedding they have always had such a warm, genuine smile and attitude. We tried and tried to work out our schedules (they live a few hours away now) to get to the beach to do a trash the dress. Jennifer was even ready to do it mid winter but we decided to wait till things warmed up a bit. Only to find ourselves in the midst of a wind storm the day we all went to shoot. This turned the beach into a cold, sand storm so we changed locations go some amazing images and ended it with some of the best Thai food you could find in town.

Enjoy,

Baker

Journey To Jordan

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:14:27 +0000

I wanted to pass on an amazing opportunity for you guys. Some of you know the Keiths and some have seen the photos I took of his work a few months ago. Well they are going to be off to China in a couple months to adopt their second child, Jordan. Being able to adopt is always an amazing story as I can attest and theirs is no different. Brian is currently holding an auction for some of his pieces as well as a one time offer for a personal life size bust. This is to raise money for the cost of travel and expenses. Please at least drop by and read their story and check out the auction item. These will go for hundreds if not thousands of dollars less then if you were to commission Brian for these pieces.

Journey To Jordan.