Gabe the Babe

Back by popular demand. More pics of Gabriel!

More Amazing Wedding Vendors

I have two more awesome wending vendors you need to check out for your Oregon Wedding! Melissa at The Perfect Gathering is the perfect wedding coordinator, and Focal Point Mediaare very professional videographers. I highly recommend them both. Check out other amazing Oregon wedding vendors on the right hand side of my blog.

Blast from the past

Getting closer to 2008 has me getting all nostalgic. Next summer is my 10 year high school reunion and I've been thinking alot about high school. Here are some pictures that I took in my one and only photography class my freshman year.

Just checking in

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been pretty busy with albums but I'm alllllmost done with them for the year. I've got some pretty cool pictures to share in the next couple of days but until then here are two books that have some decent shots as well. I bought both of these book just for inspiration when I'm tired of looking at the computer screen.

Individuals: Portraits from the Gap Collection.



I got this book because more and more people are asking me to take portaits of them and I love the simple black and white images. Sometimes simple is better.







Through the Lens: National Geographic's Greatest Photographs.


What little kid with a camera doesn't want to be a National Geographic Photographer? I love this magazine, and the way they combine visual and written communication is really inspiring. I got this book to help inspire my photojournalist side.

Fun with Photoshop

I always tell my students that they need to achieve as much as possible in camera and not use photoshop as a crutch. But...sometimes you just have a few different versions of a picture in your head, and it's fun to experiment a little. The first shot is the original, the next few variations.

Thanks

I'm thankful for two things this year. First my little family. In the last two years we've had two kids. We've doubled. It's been a big change, but it's been great.

My wife is so amazing in her ability to take care of our two kids and still participate in everything else she does. She is now training to run a 5k race. She had a baby 6 weeks ago. Like I said, amazing.

Sofia is such a sweet little girl. She is talking more and more each day. Her Spanglish is so funny. She'll say things like, "I need talco." She is growing up so fast.

Gabe has really brought balance to our family. It's nice to have another guy in the house!

I'm also really grateful for a job I love. Or I should say, two jobs I love. As a photography teacher I love helping students get turned on to photography. I love teaching them a principle and watching what they creatively come up with. As a professional wedding photographer, I'm grateful to all the wonderful clients I've had this past year. It has been such a pleasure to work with you all. I'm thankful that you have let me be a part of the most important day of your lives. The fact that I get to do something I love,(take pictures) with such wonderful people is something I am truly grateful for. Not everyone has a job they love or even like...I have two!

Stepping out on a limb

Ok so I'm taking a risk here. I've never posted something political on my blog. (You come here for great pictures, not lectures) But Kara and I watched a movie over the weekend that was just eye-opening. If you haven't seen Michael Moore's Sicko, it is well worth your time. This is Moore's least political film, and it's his best.

I thought the movie would be about the 40 million Americans that are uninsured, but it's not. It's about the rest of us that have insurance, and how crazy it is that people who have insurance are going bankrupt over their medical bills.

I think regardless of their political beliefs, most people agree that sick people should be able to get good medical care.

As a small business owner, I know of many other photographers that don't jump in to the profession full time for fear of losing the insurance from their day job. The effects trickle down to brides because with more full timers, I think that the industry would raise the bar of what is excellent, and in the end, brides would get better pictures...hmmm this is a photography post after all!

And you thought wedding season was over

Note to all future brides: You can get married in November! Aleina and Jesse were married at the Grand Ballroom in Salem. I loved their colors...brown is popular with my brides these days!

Danae and Andrew

Here is Danae and Andrew's engagement shoot. It's getting hard to come up with new locations around Corvallis, but some local photographers suggested a place by some railroad cars. Then we headed up to bald hill for both urban and natural look. 5d + 85mm 1.2 = SWEET!

Amazing Wedding Vendors

Just wanted to call a little attention to the right side of my blog. I wanted to start recognizing some of the amazing wedding professionals in Oregon that I've had the opportunity to work with. On the right is a list that are not only great wedding vendors, they are great people. I've had the pleasure of working with all of them and highly recomend anybody who makes "the list". If you are planning a wedding, check these guys out. You will not be dissappointed.

Stuff for Sale

So with the new equipment coming in I've got to make some room in my bag I thought I'd try selling it on my blog first....then hit Ebay

For Sale:

Digital Rebel XT body with battery grip and extra battery $375 Great little cameras have served me well!

Canon 10d body with a 28-135mm USM lens with image stabalization - $400

Canon 24-105mm IS f4.0 lens - $900 I love this lens, but I think it isn't the right focal length for my set up.


Canon Pixma Pro9000 Printer $300- This printer is brand new, in the box never been opened!

If you want more details just shoot me an email.

A-MAZ-ING

This one is for all your camera nerds out there. I picked up some new equipment. Well actually a lot of new equipment. I've been using Digital Rebel XT's for the past two years and while they are great little cameras, I felt like I had reached a level where I just couldn't go any farther with them. So I dropped them bomb. Here is my new line up:

Canon 40d
Canon 5d
85mm 1.2
24-105mm f4 IS
I think I'll add these to my already amazing 70-200 2.8 IS and my 17-40mm.
I am so excited about these new tools.

I ran out to the park with Sofia with the 5d and the 85 and the shots just blew me away! The background blur on these is amazing.The lens is SHARP! I don't think I'll be taking it off very often.

Best Purchase Ever

A lot of people have been asking me about equipment lately. I love that because I'm a total equipment nerd. Sometimes people ask me about what to get if they are interested in starting a photography business. My answered has varied but now I'm convinced the greatest investment a starting photographer can make is this; buy a Mac-Mini for your spouse. I bought Kara a Mac-Mini a couple months ago, and it has done wonders for my business. My desktop is not filled with mom-blog pictures and online recipes, and my iTunes Library isn't filled with Dixie Chicks and India Arie. If you're thinking of starting a photography business, or any business from home, buy your spouse a Mac-Mini!

Happy Birthday to me!

I'm 28 years old. Nuff said.=)

It's a boy!

Ok maybe that title was a little misleading. I'm just excited that I've finaly been able to show a boy Senior Session. This is Anthony. I'm thinking Gap model?

Bald Hill

I might have a new favorite site for engagement shoots in Corvallis. Bald Hill is a massive public walking area. Rachel and Brad go there all the time, and I tagged along to take their pictures. I LOVE the fall colors and the sunlight we got on these.

Make new friends, but keep the old

Last weekend, my friend Rebecca and her fiance Philip came by to do their engagement shoot. We went to Oregon State University campus, and had a break in the rain long enough to sneak in the shoot with some great light and beautiful clouds. Then Philip promptly hung all the closet doors in my house that have been sitting in the garage for a month since I painted them. Having clients that fix up your house? What else could a photographer ask for?

In with the new

Lot's of new pictures on the website. Check 'em out! (new prices too) :)

Back to Photos

Just in case you thought this was turning into a mom blog, I thought I'd post some photos! Here is Aleina and Jesse on a rainy day in Corvallis. I haven't shot to many urban engagement sessions, so I love the real life feel that we got out of these.

Music

A few people have been asking me about the song on my main website and where I got it from. I realized that I hadn't even been to the artist's website. Roy Ashen is the singer/songwriter whose song is on my site, and it is called "someday." I purchased rights to the song through a site called Triple Scoop Music. He's got a lot of other cool stuff so check him out!

The Video

I tried to post a video on that last one....let's see if this works.

The Aftermath

Ok this is the mushy blog post. First off my beautiful wonderful wife is truly amazing. That's 2 kids, all natural. Wow and Ow! This labor was a lot faster, and really intense. Kara handled it, and she is already bouncing around the house being supermom. Like I said she is amazing.
Y
ou know who else is amazing? Nurses. We had the greatest nurse ever to help when the contractions got really. Nurse Jen, where ever you are, we salute you!

Now on to mother-in-laws. My mother-in-law dropped everything, drove 4 hours in the middle of the night, and was in the hospital to help Kara recover. Then to top it off she cleaned our house, and made a bunch of meals that I could just pop in the oven because I am the worst cook in the world.

Pretty much I'm saying that I feel so blessed to know these women. O yeah, and here is Sofia, and Grandma Pam playing with Gabe.

Gabriel Antonio Becerra born 10/07/07

Deseree and Ryan

Well it's been a long time since I posted, I'll try to keep 'um coming a little faster the next few weeks. We have just about completley remodled our house (can you say "nesting") in preparation for baby numero dos, and I've been working really late every night on albums and slideshows trying to get as much done before our little guy arrives, so that has left little time for bloggin. Ok on to the pictures!

Last Saturday I shot Deseree and Ryan's wedding at The Academy in Vancouver Washington. I've shot there before-great place, very classy. But someone please share my blog with them so they can have some updatd photos! Anyways, we ended up at at the Grant House for a lively reception where Ryan Hein from Perfect Memory kept the party moving. I love working with Ryan, he's such a professional. If you want an awesome DJ, book him!

Hey all, I'm testing out a custom slideshow I'm making for Nicole Wagner...forgive the random slideshow.

In their own back yard (and mine)

Kelly and Chad had just about the most relaxing, calm wedding I've ever been to. Before the wedding they explained that they wanted a very simple day to celebrate their vows and interact with friends, and that they would like my role to basically be like an old friend with a nice camera. Their guests were so fun to interact with!

Kelly and Chad live in a beautiful area right next to Donavan's Place, a Christmas tree farm here in Corvallis. Their neighbor who is the owner of the farm performed the ceremony. It was great. Everyone just mingled in the home, and then walked out to a beautiful fall ceremony under two gorgeous oaks. They set aside LOTS of time for pictures so I just couldn't stop picking shots of these two interacting for the slideshow. Enjoy!
ps This is my first wedding in Corvallis...just down the road from my house.

Confession

Ok here is my confession. I watch America's Next Top Model....yeah it's kind of embarrassing but it's true! Last night was the season premier and Kara and I even had to tape it because we were both out of the house when it started. I love the photography and photo shoots and Kara loves the drama. Actually it is interesting because I really see wedding photography moving from the photojournalist style to more of a fashion photography style.....Anyway, just had to let that out!

The wait is over

Hey wedding fans! Although I didn't shoot a wedding this weekend, I do have a wedding to show you. Loyal blog followers might remember a teaser about the next Brangelina. Well the cool couple who asked to keep their pictures private, have now given me permission to share them with you! Sarah and David got married in August at the Emerald Valley Golf Club. It was so much fun! We didn't have a lot of time for posed pictures so I really focused on capturing beautiful moments, therefore this slideshow will be pretty much all photojournalistic. I also want to let you know about some great vendors I worked with that day. Kurt Hunter from Big Adventure Enertainment provided great DJing for both the ceremony and the reception, while Renee Rocker of City Mouse Design did an amazing job of decorating with a natural touch. Melissa from A Perfect Gathering was perfect in coordinating a wonderful evening.

One more thing, a few people have told me that they would like to make comments on the blog but had problems registering or didn't want to register. I've figured out how to open the blog up to anyone who'd like to make a comment so comment away!

Diamonds in the Rough

When I get home from a shoot I do a quick run through of the images and get them up on my blog as quick as possible. In the process sometimes really amazing shots don't make it.

Take the picture below as an example. I remember shooting this and thinking "I love the line that is formed from the highlight coming in from the window." Shooting in full manual, I exposed just enough to get that highlight, and then just went on with the day.

Last night as I was adjusting Julia's images I came a across this shot, played with the levels, and wow, this shot just jumped out at me as my favorite of the day. Someday when I get the time(probably in December) I'm going to make a "best of the rest" slideshow with all my favorites that didn't make it in the blog the first time....Until then stay tuned, more weddings to come!

julialovesdave

It's not every day you have a bride like Julia. Her wedding was great! Dave and Julia are not they shy type at all and really worked it in front of the camera. I was also excited to shoot this wedding because I got a chance to work with some of Oregon's top wedding vendors. Nicole Wagner, is a hair and make up genius, and Ryan Hein is a great guy and an awesome DJ. We started the day at Brooks Hill Historic Church for an intimate ceremony, and then finished up at the Scappoose Creek Inn. Great wedding. Great Day. (and the Ducks won at Michigan!)

p.s. Shoutout to PhotoGrl for the assist!

Things I've Learned

I was thinking the other day about two principles that I've really learned while in business and how I was introduced to them a long time ago. The first, "Do Your Best" is the Cub Scout motto. I always thought it sounded kind of cheesy and maybe even a little apologetic like, "Who cares if I didn't do a good job, I guess I just did my best." But the truth is when I come home at 1 a.m. after a wedding and stay up until 3 a.m. editing and posting pictures on my blog so that the bride and groom can look at themselves the next day, I know I've done my best. I've laid it all on the line and done everything I possibly can to provide my clients with the best possible service. I lay down at night exhausted but feeling fullfiled and satisfied that I did my very best. I think my clients appreciate that effort, and the results that it produces. Am I perfect? No. Do I make mistakes? Yes. The truth is that we all do. However, when a bride and groom book me they can know that I am going to do my very best work from engagement session to the album design every single time.

The other principle I've learned is "Be Prepared." This is the Boy Scout motto. It totally applies to the wedding photography business. I think of being prepared mostly in having all my equipment in order and really knowing how to use it. Because I'm prepared for most anything that can happen at a wedding, I'm not nervous or scared that I'm going to miss shot. I can honestly say that I really enjoy myself at weddings. I'm working hard, no doubt, but by being prepared I'm free from the fear of screwing up and that allows me to relax, have a good time, and interact with people naturally. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think being prepared is doing all the worrying before the wedding, so that I can concentrate on capturing those timeless moments during the wedding.

Anyways...the moral of the story is, do your best, be prepared, and try to apply all those good things people have taught you years ago. Just thought I'd share that with y'all.

Oh and here is the original newspaper clipping of me when I earned my Eagle Scout award.(and yes I earned the Photography Merit Badge!)

Kendra and Norman

I think I have the best brides and grooms in the world. I am always amazed at how I can show up at a wedding, not having met the bride and groom, and then share the most important day of their life with them.

Kendra and Norman were so much fun to be around. They came from Colorado to enjoy the beautiful Oregon coast at Salishan Resort. I know it's not always possible, but it is so great when a bride is able to set aside a good chunk of time for photos. Check em out!

Freakonomics

Ok so I need to apologize for not blogging at all the past few weeks. Yes I have been super busy with weddings, but Kara and I have also found our dream house, and that has got us thinking about selling our home so that we can climb up the property ladder. So in addition to weddings, and senior portraits, in the last two weeks I've also put hardwood floors in our kitchen, refinished our kitchen cabinets(with the help of my amazing in-laws), and built a deck.

Right now we are painting all our doors upstairs and I have a few odds and ends left to fix up. Oh and did I mention that Kara is almost 8 months pregnant?

So yeah life has been crazy. I hope this doesn't sound like complaining, I just wanted to let you know why I haven't posted in a while.

Anyways, amidst all the craziness we did get a chance to stay a couple days at the coast to relax, and I actually was able to put my iPhone down and read a book! Freakonomics. You've got to read it! I heard an interview with the author a long time ago and have been wanting to get my hands on it ever since. I'm sure you've heard of it so I'll just end with saying that its a great book, a quick read, and a lot of fun.

O yeah, I'll be posting more wedding pictures soon!

Brangelina?

Hey Everyone. Just a quick check in today. I did shoot a GREAT wedding yesterday but the couple requested in advance that I not post their pictures to protect their privacy. Let's just say it is rumored they could be the next Brangelina....hmmmmm....

Third time is the charm

As my Senior Rep Nyssa got an extra Senior Session. I think we really nailed this one. I also got a little more creative while working with my new file processing program Adobe Lightroom. None of these shots went to Photoshop, they were all processed in Lightroom. This program is a MUST for anyone dealing with a large number of images. I included a lot of similar shots to show all the cool effects you can get. It's not too late for you Seniors!

Cars and Stuff

It's been a while since I shared some family news so here it goes. We payed off our van! Yeah! This is actually really significant to me because I had to sell my truck to start my business, so being able to upgrade and fully payoff another vehicle feels like justification for all the hard work I've been putting in. It's also significant because even though I'm totally passionate about my work and my clients, it really is all about providing for my family. I feel really blessed to be able to provide in such a creative and fun way!

I feel kind of lame (as in old) being 27 and driving a mini-van, but hey, we've got a baby on the way! Only two more months and my hijito will be here.

Puppy Love

I love the Oregon Coast. It is perfect for weddings and perfect for engagement sessions! Brianne and Eric and I headed out to a little place outside of Depoe Bay for their engagement shoot. It was so fun! They brought along their two dogs and were a blast to work with. We actually did the shoot on their wedding date anniversary! (August 9th)

Jaime and Rob

Hey everyone! This weekend's wedding was at the lovely Country Inn in Coburg. Their wedding was a lot of fun from beginning to end, and the Officiant gave one of the most entertaining sermons I have ever seen. "Marriage is like a cruise ship." I also wanted to add that the bride, Jaime, is now famous as she has been recognized in public by another bride who reads my blog.

Many Thanks

I recently got a really nice thank you from a groom which is cool because not a lot of grooms take the time to send a thank you. (This is also a hint for my brides about how cool the Cinema Display can be)

Dear Chris,
Thank you so much for your hard and beautiful work during our wedding last weekend. I've already heard many of my friends and family rave about your images. Many guests commented on the coolness of your cinema display during the reception. I did not realize that you were showing images from THAT DAY until later when friends told me.
I've looked at the images on the website and am impressed. Moreover, you're a fun and professional guy to work with, and I will recommend you when I can. Kelly's mom, in particular, also mentioned how awesome you were. Thanks again
I've shot and attended a lot of weddings, and I've never seen a slideshow initiated by the photographer... especially one that includes photos from that day!
Thanks again, Chris. Good luck to you and yours!

Sincerely,

Erik

Kelly and Jose

Another weekend another wedding! Kelly and Jose were married at the FABULOUS Lakecliff Bed and Breakfast in Hood River on Saturday. This is a beautiful estate that over looks the Columbia river. It is perfect for weddings of up to 150 people. Kelly and Jose loved it so much that they came all the way from San Fransisco to be married there. I also got to work with some other great vendors for the first time. Premiere Catering in Portland did an amazing job on both the presentation and taste of their food, while Jamesjoy Video were a blast to work with. If you're looking for a videographer take a look at their site because it is pretty awesome.

One thing I really loved about this wedding were all the details. The colors were so vibrant that I had a hard time choosing a few pictures to turn black and white. Also check out the end of the slideshow as I tried a new technique for taking pictures at a dark dance. I place one of my speedlights on a stand and shot directly at it. I love the effect that it gives especially on the black and white ones of the couple at the end. Make sure you hit the play button so you can see it!

Big Blog Changes

As I said in a previous post, I'm always striving to get better. That includes blogging! I've been wanting to make my pictures bigger so that people could see them better for a while now. The new format will really throw off my other pictures in past posts. But I think you'll like seeing the new posts! This is Nyssa's second senior portrait session.

Website update!

I've been working a little on incorporating some of my most recent weddings into my main site. If you go to the weddings link you can see some new galleries. Check it out! There will be more to come!

A couple of weeks ago my cousin got married in L.A. She went to all the best photographers in the L.A. area and decided on Becker, a supertalented photographer and businessman. I spend a lot of time on Becker's site and blog looking for inspiriation. He did a great job on my cousin's wedding. Don't you think? Click here for the page and then scroll down to about the middle.

Stepping up

About a month ago a bride-to-be asked me what separates me from other photographers. The funny thing was that I had a difficult time answering her question, which seemed silly to me because it was something that of course I should know. The best I could come up with at the time was that I feel that I am able to relate well to many different kinds of people, that I'm able to interact with brides and grooms in a unique way that is relaxing yet professional and put them at ease.

After my last few weddings I have a new answer. I think what separates me from other photographers is that I have no ceiling. I haven't hit my peak yet. If you follow the blog regularly I think you'll notice that my photographs have gotten better and better. I think that is due to my desire to always improve, my innate sense of curiosity and creativity, pushing me to explore new options and provide my clients with the best possible experience. That's what sets me apart.

Kelly and Eric

Saturday we were back in action at the GORGEOUS Atavista Farms in Brownsville with catering provided by Cornucopia. Kelly and Eric had an amazingly well planned day, and their first dance was the coolest I have ever seen. They did this Rumba Latin-style dance that was just awesome! The sky was amazing last night too!

I'm Back!

What if you could spend a week in a tropical paradise with no cell phone, computer or internet, no agenda or time constraints or even a watch. Instead you have a river that winds itself through a mountainous jungle until it arrives at your private beach that is lined with exotic fruits and flowers. Well my friends, that is where I have been for the last ten days.

Kara Sofia and I went down to my family's property in Honduras and had about the best vacation ever. I don't think I have ever had a more relaxing time in my life. We stayed in a little cabin by the river and listened to the water at night. We ate mangos, and papaya and platanos. We napped in hammocks whenever we felt like it. We swam in the warm Caribbean Ocean and cooled off in the river. It was truly paradise. Maybe it was crazy to take off for almost two weeks in the middle of wedding season, but we really need this. These pictures are just snapshots. (I even chilled on the picture taking)

I'll be posting more soon. Stay tuned!