Jerad Hill Photographer » Blog

Video from Sam & Kelsey’s Wedding

Jerad Hill — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:51:14 +0000

Simi Valley Wedding Photography – The photographer often makes it into much of the video footage during a wedding, however its not often that I end up seeing any of that footage. When I shot Sam & Kelsey’s wedding in Simi Valley there was a videographer there, Jacob Lewis, who was shooting with a Canon 5D MKII, the same camera I use to shoot photos with. His style seemed to be very artistic as I watched him float around the wedding all night grabbing shots. After the wedding, I had really wanted to get some of that footage. Kelsey’s father, who is also in video production, was able to edit some of the footage and get it to me. I have a few short rolls in the beginning, and yes I am wearing jeans, not something I do often. The wedding was a casual one if you notice the Groom and Groomsmen, so I fit in. Normally I look like a ninja all in black. Jacob captured some really nice video, I would have liked to see what he could have accomplished if he had another cameraman there with his vision. Enjoy.

Credits:
Cinematography: Jacob Lewis – http://www.jacoblewis.tv
Post-Production: Ron Cole – http://dmediapro.com

Jerad Hill Photographer App for iPhone

Jerad Hill — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:30:11 +0000

I have created a new way to interact with people online using our iPhones. I have been an iPhone user since its inception and have always thought about how fun it would be to have an app to share my work with my friends and clients. Now that has became a reality in the Jerad Hill Photographer app for iPhone. Watch the video to see how it works and why I decided to create this app.

In this app you can:

View photos in my portfolio
Watch video slideshows
Comment and Share photos from my portfolio
Contact me directly
Request a wedding photography quote
Learn more about me
and more to come…

Thank you for checking this video out. I hope that you decide to download my free app and look around. Its just a different way for me to interact with people through my work.

Download Jerad Hill Photographer For iPhone

On Becoming a Father, Soon…

Jerad Hill — Thu, 20 May 2010 22:09:22 +0000

I am less than two weeks away from becoming a father for the first time. This is a role I have always wanted to be in, however could not have imagined actually being there. I was just chatting on Facebook with a friend of mine who was commenting on how he can not believe I am going to be a daddy soon and how scary that reality must be. It’s funny because if it was five years earlier I would be much more scared then I am now. I won’t lie and say that I am not scared, because I am. To know that I am going to be responsible for bringing up this person in a world I constantly question is something to be freaked out over. However I don’t think the timing could be any better then it is now.

I am always thinking in terms of photography and computer related things. Some would call if being a huge nerd, but I take it like it is. I made the comment to my friend that I am actually excited to become a father however I want to make sure that I spend as much time with my kids as possible when they are young because those years go by to fast. I made the following comment to my Facebook wall:

“Words to all photographer fathers. Spend time with your children, you can’t photoshop out a poor childhood.”

I got into Photography and working for myself so that I could make time for things if I wanted to. I could be as busy or as slow as I wanted to be, and I have been. I have been fortunate enough to attract amazing clients who keep me busy with referring their friends and I have even became good friends with many of them. Now that I am staring right into the face of fatherhood I am even more grateful for the way things have gone since I started this journey. God has really blessed me with the ability to work for myself and keep that going.

I will probably be posting more written blogs over the next two months. I only booked one wedding in May and none in June to make sure I had plenty of time to be there for my wife and new child. However once July gets here I am going to back into full swing as the rest of my year is pretty well booked.

Lastly, I just wanted to throw out a huge thanks to all of you who have been commenting and messaging me on Facebook with congratulations. I really feel like I haven’t done anything yet, my poor wife is the one going through a different change every day. She is doing amazing by the way. I am such a lucky guy to have such a beautiful wife who already has such a motherly heart. I can’t want to take some photos of my little one to share with everybody.

Until next time!

SHAPE: Sweet Spot Serving Videos

Jerad Hill — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:41:38 +0000

I had the opportunity to do some work for the SHAPE Ministry at my Church. The SHAPE Ministry helps people find their unique place in the Church body where they can most effectively serve Christ. What was so amazing about this experience was that I got to listen to 65 people explain why they love serving in the ways that they do. I shot a lot of video, some of which is incorporated into the videos below. These videos will be played during the weekend service at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto. The first video is the full segment video that will play before Alan, the SHAPE Pastor, comes up to speak. The partial segment videos below that will play in loop between still slides of information before each service. The videos will also be placed on the church website.

These videos were shot using a Canon 5D MKII and Canon 24-70 lens.

Amgen Tour of California Stage 4 Finish

Jerad Hill — Thu, 20 May 2010 05:49:44 +0000

Modesto was lucky enough to get yet another Amgen Tour finish spot. I attended last year with a good friend of mine Shawn Stutz. Both of us ride together on occasion, however he has much more experience riding then I do. After not seeing any decent photo coverage of last years event in Modesto, I contacted the City of Modesto and they offered me a media badge. It was a good thing that I was there early, there were two Criterium races in which none of the other photographers showed up for. A criterium race is an Amateur race which in this case was mostly comprised of local riders. There were two classes, the first race lasting 20 minutes and the second 30 minutes. The Masters Class which was the second class, was comprised of some pretty fast riders. Anyhow, I was able to get some good shots of these local racers as well as be there when they were on the podium. Except for proud family members I appeared to be the only photographer there. I was more proud to capture the local racers photos then the over covered actual race that came through hours later.

Included in this post are photos from the local criterium race and the ending of the Amgen Tour of California Stage 4 race. I also shot 42 seconds of video as the race came to it’s last lap. The racers flying by at close to 40 MPH almost blew the camera from my hand. Thank goodness for my Canon hand strap.

Francesco Chicchi Wins Stage 4 of Amgen Tour of California

Some video of the final lap as they fly by. Notice the wind they generate almost knocks the camera out of my hand. That would have been all bad.

Local Team Wells Fargo – Criterium Race

Only a few laps left… – Criterium Race

Getting ready to start the second Criterium Race – Masters Class

The winner of this race, only 16 years old.

Top 3 from the second Criterium Race

Top 5 from the second Criterium Race

More photos to come soon, please check back.

Full resolution prints are available for order at: http://pictage.com/839795

Tutorial: Using Content Aware Fill in Photoshop CS5

Jerad Hill — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:03:00 +0000

I shot a wedding a few weeks ago that I knew would be a great test of the new Content Aware Fill feature in Photoshop CS5. This was a backyard wedding in the middle of town with power lines everywhere. It would have taken an hour to edit this photo in Photoshop CS4 or earlier versions. Using Photoshop CS5 I was able to do the edits in a matter of minutes. Of course the best option would have been to zoom in on my subjects and not include any of the sky, but I believe it is important to get a promenant photo of the Groom and his Groomsmen. Most would agree that this photo is much better then a cropped version.

You can click the thumbnail to view a larger version of the image.

What Constitutes a Professional Photographer

Jerad Hill — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:29:24 +0000

The barrier to entry is so much lower to get into photography these days. Even when I got into photography I was able to at a much lower price than if it was 10 years earlier. To be honest, if professional digital cameras had still cost over ten thousand dollars then I would not have got into photography to the level I am now. My first digital SLR camera was the Canon 20D, at that time the entry level prosumer model. For all intensive purposes, it is a fine camera for shooting weddings in good conditions with the proper lenses. The first thing I did was purchase a good lens and get the proper training from professionals before I shot my first wedding on my own. Does it bother me that anyone can get a digital camera and consider them-self a professional? Yes, but only because I know that people are placing their trust in these newbie photographers and getting subpar work.

Conditions are not controllable. On occasion, a wedding is held at an older church which does not allow in door photography, yes it exists. This is a good question to ask before you choose your church venue. However, a professional can get around this. I don’t mind this at all, so long as there is some sort of indoor lighting. In other instances, the DJ (God bless them) turn out all of the lights in the reception hall and turn on their two little DJ lights. Your Photographer must be prepared for those situations as well. I would rather adjust then throw a fit and get the DJ to turn the lights back on. We all know that it’s more fun to dance in a darker room anyway. Your wedding photographer should have more then just a camera and a lens. Lighting options, extra lenses, extra camera bodies and the list goes on. It’s your special day and it can not be repeated, the photographer should be prepared for anything to happen.

I found this video on a blog that I read, it made me laugh because of how true it is. Many so called professional photographers do not even understand the basic functions of their camera. As a consumer I suggest that you ask some questions to get a feel for the photographers knowledge of cameras and lighting. What kind of equipment will they be using and is it kept up? You are hiring a photographer for your wedding, you have the right to ask questions and get intelligent answers to those questions.

My favorite line from the video: “Where is your 24-70?” Even Judge Joe Brown knows the go to lens for wedding photographers. This was the first lens I purchased and the lens I use most. I laughed out loud when I heard him say that.

Veil of Maya Promo

Jerad Hill — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:28:29 +0000

I like hard rock and metal music, it’s not a secret. My youngest brother is really into it so I often go to shows with him. It’s one of the things we have in common, so it makes it fun and of course a chance to hang with my brother. When I go to smaller shows I typically take my camera. Larger shows are to hard to get good shots with so many people there. This show was in a really small venue, so it was easy for me to get up close to the band.

Veil of Maya had just dropped a new cd which my brother informed me of so I went over to Myspace to see if it was any good. As I scrolled down I saw photos that I took that had been implemented into their Myspace layout. (Disclaimer: Their music is very loud and fast. If you play this at work, people will look at you weird).

Disclaimer #2: I enjoy metal for two reasons. The first is that it gets me going at the gym. I like to circuit train and the only way to keep myself going and my heart rate up is to pump crazy music into my ears. The second reason is that some of the most talented musicians in the world are in metal bands. I love watching someone tear up a guitar or drumset at speeds the eye can’t even keep up with.

I had not posted any of the photos to my blog from that show but now that I have seen some of them used I might as well. It’s funny even looking at them. Even when it comes to shooting shows my style and ability has changed so much over the last year. It was raining outside that day so I was not happy with the photos I got in the first place due to not wanting any of my gear to get wet.

Here are photos of Veil of Maya from the Crush ‘Em All Tour in Jan of 2009.

Love Modesto

Jerad Hill — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:56:23 +0000

Today over 1000 people from around the Modesto area descended upon different communities with one mission. To love people. Some were serving food, others were cleaning parks and helping with Habitat for Humanity. It was great to see so many people looking past their differences to serve those in our own town regardless of where they are at. Love Modesto was an idea that began a few years ago and this was the first year I took part in it. I was asked if I would be interested in going around to the different sites with a red heart to grab some pictures of people loving Modesto!

MoPhotoWalk Was Amazing

Jerad Hill — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:15:53 +0000

MoPhotoWalk was a hit! I am truly blessed to be a part of such an amazing community. On August 20th, 2009, myself along with 62 other photographers bombarded downtown Modesto with one goals: To learn from each other while sharing our passion for photography. That goal was accomplished. Another passion I had which also drove my desire to host this event was the need I saw for some fresh user generated content focused on the city of Modesto. Only a few photographers had taken the initiative to capture some of Modesto’s highlights. Now we have captured many of downtown Modesto’s highlights through the eyes of over 60 people.

MoPhotoWalk gained some media attention. The Modesto Bee put together a short video which includes an interview they did with me. I have also included a link to the event’s Flickr Group.

If you would like to be a part of the next Photo Walk, please visit the MoPhotoWalk website and sign up to receive our newsletter.

Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mophotowalk/
Modesto Bee Video: http://www.modbee.com/breakingnews/story/824621.html
Modesto Bee short news article: http://www.modbee.com/local/story/824759.html