For Photographers | Free Download | Bre Thurston's Guide to Second Shooting a Wedding

I am so excited to share my latest PDF with all of my photographer friends! When I was first getting started in this industry I had no idea what I was doing. I relied on the help and guidance of other photographers so it is my pleasure to give back in any way I can. 

If you're a photographer and interested in getting started with wedding photography, start here! The best thing you can do is to second shoot once you've established a solid technical base - there is no greater experience than watching a pro work at a real, live wedding. I have been incredibly lucky to second shoot for talented photographers such as Charleton Churchill, Allison Stahl, Brandon Patoc, Anita Martin, Chloe Ramirez, and Joanna Clark among others. I have also been lucky that so many amazing photographers have worked with me on my own weddings. 

What kind of gear do I need?
How do I find a second shooting gig?
What kinds of things should I shoot?
Can I share images after the wedding?

Check out the PDF for all of that and more, and once you download make sure to join my Wedding School Facebook group so you can ask questions and join the community! 

Proud to Announce... | Behind the Scenes Photography Video!

I was honored and humbled when Clickin Moms asked me to be their April Pro of the Month. Clickin Moms is a large photography community with over 10,000 members, 70,000 Facebook fans, 2 million posts on their forums, and 350 photography tutorials. So, as you can imagine, I was trilled! Part of being the Pro of the Month is hosting what they call a "Breakout Session" - it's eLearning where you have the opportunity to teach and share what you know with the entire photography community, not just members of Clickin Moms.

Capturing Couples & Beyond - $25

I wanted to focus on what I love the most, and that is photographing couples. However, everything contained in the bundle is useful for shooting families, children, seniors, weddings, and even boudoir. It's not just all about couples. I use image examples of family sessions and discuss how to apply all of it to other types of clients.

In my Breakout Session, I include a 33 page PDF discussing how to choose great locations for your shoots, how to get a variety in your posing, how to coax out genuine expressions, and how to create relaxed images that truly represent both you and your clients. There are 32 image examples in the PDF complete with exif data (camera settings)

The part I'm most excited about is the 18 minute behind the scenes video of me shooting a couple in a small, somewhat dark location. You'll get to see how I direct them, pose them, refine the poses, coax out expressions, and I even tell you my settings while I'm shooting. You'll also see my final edited images pop up on the screen during the video so you can see the final result.

Last but certainly not least, I also include two posing guide apps (for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices) courtesy of Sticky Albums! There is also a code for 10% off if you'd like to sign up for Sticky Albums, which I'd definitely recommend.

Here is a quick little promo video that my friend Kimmie Jarrett did for me!

I think there is a lot of great information in my Breakout Session and I hope you check it out! I'd love your feedback as well, so if you've purchased it it, feel free to send reviews to bre@brethurston.com. Thanks!

What's up with your flash, woman?

I shoot natural light 99% of the time for my portrait sessions, but if you ever see me at a wedding you will likely see me using a large flash unit mounted to my camera. It's called a Speedlite. I notice guests looking at me funny and whispering, "...Why is the flash pointed straight up or behind her? Does she know what she is doing?" - okay, okay, not really....but I'm a mind reader and I know that's what they are thinking ;) Ha! Here is the thing about flash. Flash rarely looks good when pointed directly as someone's face (unless it's difused by an umbrella, softbox or something else). When you see a photographer using a flash that fires at the ceiling, a wall or other surface, they are likely "bouncing" the flash. The flash units that we use are quite powerful and will distribute light off of the surface that we are bouncing from onto the subject(s) that we are taking photographs of. Why do we do this instead of just pointing it forward? When pointed forward, the flash can and likely will blow out skin (no one wants to look like a ghost), create harsh shadows, and what we call pin-lights in the eyes. This is why we use an external flash instead of the one that pops up off of the camera (my camera and most other professional level cameras don't even HAVE pop up flash for this very reason!) So, next time you see me or another photographer using a flash on our camera that isn't pointed at a person, you will know why. There are a million and one other ways of using flash (off camera, special diffusers that mount on the flash while on the camera, the large brackets that pull the flash away from the actual camera body, etc) but I use bounce flash the most.

For good measure, here is a shot that utized the bounce-flash method. No harsh shadows, no overly bright spots on their faces, and nice, natural skintones and colors.