I am Rog. Almost precisely one half of EPlove (give or take 25 lbs.), I've been shooting seriously for a few years now and I think that I may do it for a few more if the weather stays good. I'm a man of small victories. I like soft music when I'm angry. I may never move out of Southern California. I look the best when I wake up in the morning. I eat my words constantly. If I had a dog, I'd name it canon. I love my wife. I love my kids. I am content.
Rog’s Photography Journey:
I've had 35mm cameras for the last 12 years and have taken a thousand pictures of myself over that time, but it wasn't until Lyndzee got asked to shoot a wedding for her cousin that we thought about getting serious about wedding photography. I love shooting wide angles. I love shooting cropped (not cropping). I love the art and emotion of a photo that I love. I feel like the success I've had as a photographer comes from the fact that I take and present photos that I like.
Several of Rog’s Favorite Face Photos:
This is my daughter Charliee and this shot was captured on the night of my favorite shoot. I chose this shot because it was actually the first time she posed and smiled.
This is my version of shooting cropped, not cropping. I love this photo because you're drawn to the face that is hardly there and to me, that has purpose.
Fun Q&A with Rog:
*What do you love most about shooting faces?
I've always loved entertaining and seeing the expressions on peoples faces. I often do things in public to get a reaction from total strangers. So naturally mix two of my favorite things and there you have it...my love for photographing faces. I love to capture reactions. I once broke wind just to get a reaction and it was magic. Boom! Seal the deal, Ya know?
*What do you find most difficult about shooting faces?
Nothing. Just get'em.
*Briefly describe your most exciting or favorite photo shoot.
Total favorite shoot was at bed time and my kids wouldn't go to bed, so I threatened them with taking pictures or going to bed, and the result turned out to be my very favorite pictures that I have of my kids. They are priceless.
*Do you have a "most fun” photography moment that you can share with us?
I have the most fun on engagement sessions. I think it shows in the photos that when we get to make new friends and hangout/take photos, we have the "most fun". Often to the point of "so...what are you guys doing after this?".
Helpful Hints from Rog:
- Impress yourself and others will be impressed.
- Always shoot in your style, then you will be chosen for it.
- Take time out to shoot for yourself.
- Find a deserving couple and offer a free shoot once in a while.
- Never sit around and just wait for the phone to ring.
- Last and most important, don't ever forget that EPlove is your friend.
You Can Find Rog Here:
Website:
Blog:
Follow him on Twitter
Thank you so much for being here with us this week Rog! Feel free to welcome Rog to our site in the comments below and to leave him any photography-related questions you can think of.
20 comments:
very interesting comments! I enjoy seeing what "pros' consider their favorite shots...yours are fabulous and show lots of personality of your kids!
Welcome Rog!
I love the story of how you put your kids to bed. Thanks, for sharing your time and fun knowledge with us.
Beth
It's so awesome to have you here with us Rog! I love that two of your favorite photos ever are of your kiddos. Makes this mom smile! :)
~Angie
co-founder of iHeartFaces
Excited to have you with us this week Rog!!
Amy
Co-Founder
I Heart Faces
Wow! I never considered shooting cropped, as opposed to cropping. Very, very interesting. :)
I am so glad you are our Judge this week. LOVE the pictures of your beautiful children! So sweet : ) and your assistant looks like a fun person. I can totally see Santa being jealous of that HOT beard : ) Hope your week here is splendid!
Hi! Loved your photos and interview! Fantastic! I have a technical question for you. In regards to shooting cropped rather than cropping later, can you talk about how you focus when doing that? The center auto focus points don't reach to the outside of the frame to get those funky shots. How do you take repeated shots with the subjects eyes (or whatever you are focusing on) in the outside of the frame in focus? Are you manually focusing for those?
about the only thing we have in common -- I love "shooting cropped" too. I really need to do it more. I always worry that others will think it an error on my part...
Hey all, Thanks for the comments. I am stoked to be of any help to my wonderful friends on this amazing and informative site. First of all The dillon 6, don't worry about others...you are art to you. It's ok to be selfish just this once and take shots that you like.
Now let's try this excellent question from Amber. I almost never manualy focus any more with the technology out and depending on the camera you use (I use the canon 5D), I always leave the focal point on the center through my view finder, It is the only "true" focal point on my camera. So if I want to focus on something in the top right corner of the image (like an eye), I would focus the center focus point on the eyes and hold the trigger half way down to keep that in focus, then move your camera in the direction you want to get the crop that you want and then snapitty, snap, snap your way into some art. Rinse and repeat.
Just checked out your site. Very cool indeed. Love the different angles. What are your favorite lenses?
Momtosix, way to go on the six kids by the way. Very impressive. You must be a very good person.
What are my favorite lenses? We've got all fixed focal length lenses and no zooms. I feel like zooms have too many components inside that move too much and can dim your chances of getting the clearest of shots, so with that in mind, My favorite lenses are the 20mm, 35mm, and 85mm. I've had 50mm in film for so long and I feel that it's too standard for my style so we don't even own one in digital.
RT, I had a dream about you last night... you were on yo gabba gabba... "my name is rog, I like to dance"
Your kids are adorable! Great pics!
Here's another question. Skin tones are my biggest challenge. I feel like I never have the perfect balance. Do you have any advice? I do try and switch my white balance for the appropriate lighting but even then....
I have tried color correction through the lab and sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't.
Maybe I'll try the camera threat at bedtime! Great idea.
Thank you for your cropping tips and info on focal points. I will try them out for sure.
Momtosix: I'm colorblind really, really good, so Lyndzee doesn't let me color correct due to the fact that I make people green. Don't know how I do it, but someday I'll publish a book with pics and colors and explanations on how I see the world. It would then collect dust on all shelves everywhere, but that aside, we use Adobe's Lightroom program for all of our editing and color correction. Also depending on the camera you use, inside the menu there are little areas where you can program you skin tones to be warmer or colder as a custom function. If you're sure that your camera doesn't have this, then in post processing you can play with the temp of a picture in programs like lightroom, and that will be able to fix all skin tones, all the time. One last thing to try would be to get a couple tanning session gift certificates and give them out to your future photo lab rats and shoot away in a day or so when they are naturally better skin toned.
The Rog,
First off, hands down, your work is far more exciting than the time Charlie Bucket and I found that golden ticket. That said, I have been following your work for about 100 years after I was drawn to your most awesome comments on the the Lyons blog. Glad to see you're getting your well-deserved recognition. I too shoot cropped alot, just never knew the technical term. Thanks for clarifying, b/c my client are always asking why I'm just shooting a small part of their face, leg, body, etc. Keep up the great work and I'll continue to stalk your blog.
Sounds like you have lots of fun shooting. And by the way, if you find us a "deserving couple", we'd love for you to shoot our fam. We are expert fake-laughers too- makes for some joyful pics!!
Love your style! Cropped shooting is cool!
k8
Sorry...I *just* got a chance to look around your blog and WOW...I'm so inspired!!! Awesome photos! Thanks for taking time for I ♥ Faces!
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