DC Event Photographer. Commercial Photographer. Automotive Photographer. Destination Weddings. Armin DeFiesta. » WEDDINGS

WEBSITE UPDATE | ARMIN DEFIESTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Armin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:35:24 +0000

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In case you haven’t checked it out, the website’s got a new look. Clean and simple and dominated by commercial work. I will be happy to still take on a few weddings so don’t hesitate to ask! http://www.armindefiesta.com

BRIDAL PORTRAIT | DC WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Armin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:07:02 +0000

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Here are some of my images from a recent bridal photo shoot. Thanks for keeping up!

DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_002 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_003 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_004 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_005 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_006 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_007 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_008 DC Bridal Portrait ©Armin DeFiesta_009

TECHNICAL:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (Body Only)
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens
Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens
Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens
Two Canon Speedlite 580EX II on a light stick configuration – more info on that in THIS POST.

For images where I wanted some off-camera lighting I had the assistant hold the light stick from camera right or left and usually from the side or rear of the bride. This provides some edge or separation light on her left neck and shoulder area. Subtle yet effective.

Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8 Lens | DC Wedding Portraits

Armin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:23:00 +0000

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My favorite lens lately is the Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens, or it’s newer incarnation, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens. If you have a few extra hundred bucks it’s well worth getting the IS (Image Stabilization) version for those macro shots requiring a slow shutter speed. Now its purpose as the name indicates is to shoot macro shots, or create images up close with vivid detail. Well it doesn’t have to stop there. With a long focal length of 100mm, don’t forget this can be an incredible portrait lens as well. Not to mention the lens is not heavy and can easily be carried in my Think Tank Photo Modular rig.

For this shot I used the original Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Autofocus Lens. However I have used the newer IS version, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens, thanks to CPS and I highly recommend that one as well. But as the saying goes, it’s not just the gear, it’s the photographer that makes the shot!

Camera body: Canon 5D Mark II | Lens: Canon 100mm Macro f/2.8 | Exposure: ISO 320, f/2.8, 1/400th. I shot this while assisting my friend Laurie Bracewell. As a second shooter I try to help find good spots and good light while the primary shooter focuses on their client and other ideas. I saw these lines in the garden and the small amount of light spilling through the trees and thought this could work for a nice portrait. Even though I will be shooting a very small number of weddings now, I still enjoy second shooting if I'm not busy with my family on the weekends.

The fast aperture of f/2.8 on the Canon 100mm Macro lens comes in handy if you're looking for a shallow depth of field.

Washington DC Wedding Photos | Laura & Nick Celebrate at the Sequoia

Armin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:18:56 +0000

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Laura and Nick and their family and friends recently gathered to celebrate their big wedding day in Washington, DC. It was a great privilege for me to document the first chapter of Laura and Nick’s lives together. I knew when I shot their NYC engagement session that this wedding will be something incredibly special for them and their families.

Laura looked absolutely elegant and beautiful in her wedding gown. Nick and his groomsmen and the ring bearer sported their cool Air Jordan shoes while all the ladies looked stunning with their bouquets from Petal’s Edge. The Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe provided the JMU themed wedding cake.

The couple wanted their wedding photos to reflect the DC theme featuring the recognizable Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. Both locations were full of tourists so it was no surprise when a few of them started going paparazzi on Laura…. and they did (see the photos!). After a fun photo shoot with the wedding party we headed to the fabulous Sequoia in Georgetown.

A big thanks to their fantastic wedding planner Meredith of Bella Cosa Events who kept the day on schedule – I would recommend her to any bride. And a big thanks to the awesome Scott Moon of the Sequoia for their professional staff and hospitality.

Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding day.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIP | BUILDING CONFIDENCE

Armin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:25:46 +0000

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One of the things I hear a lot from new photographers in the wedding industry is the word “confidence”, or the lack thereof. It’s perfectly normal to struggle in the beginning and sometimes you need a dozen or more wedding shoots under your belt before you gain that self-confidence in that no matter what happens, you’ll get the shots! It comes down to handling the pressure of shooting a real time event where you only have one chance to get it right. The thought of missing key shots or having a technical problem with your gear can weigh heavily on a new photographer’s mind.

In commercial jobs I usually have had more freedom to try different setups, scout locations, and strategize the photo shoot. Most importantly, if there is a inclement weather or something goes wrong on location, I can reschedule the shoot. Nice huh? With weddings, not so much. In most cases there is no rescheduling a wedding. That would be expensive for the bride. Rain or shine, the show will go on and you must be there to document the first volume of their lives together.

Building confidence comes from experience and learning from others. Here are three important tips––

Find a mentor(s) and assist and/or second shoot for them on wedding shoots.
Comb through the vast amounts of online information about photography, specifically weddings. Best of all most of it is free! E.g., photo forums, Facebook photo groups, photography organization websites.
Join local photography groups and meet-ups like the Pictage Users Group community or SmugMug groups.

As for what gear to shoot with, that could take another blog post to describe so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can learn what I have in my camera bag (actually takes up more than one bag). But I will say that my main wedding gear essentials consists of two camera bodies, a wide angle lens (e.g., 24-70mm f/2.8L) and a telephoto lens (e.g., 70-200mm f/2.8L IS). These two cover a lot of range from portraits, to formals, to details, and action.

The camaraderie you will find is unique to the wedding photography industry in many regions. There are still some areas where competition is too fierce and could inhibit learning. However, from what I have seen, many friendships among photographers are forged through information sharing, local get-togethers, photography seminars, workshops and conventions. Take advantage of these resources. It can be overwhelming at first, but once you find your groove, things start to fall into place. Happy shooting!

Deena & Mike at the Ritz Carlton ©Armin DeFiesta

LOHREN & TRENT | POTOMAC, MD WEDDING PHOTOS | DC WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Armin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:40:25 +0000

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A few weeks ago my team and I had a blast covering a fantastic and charming wedding at the beautiful home of the bride’s family in Potomac, MD. Thank you Lohren & Trent for letting Laurie, Eric and I document “Volume One” of your lives. Thank you Trent and the rest of the Armed Forces for their continued service and sacrifice. We wish you lots of happiness and a prosperous future!

As a car guy I had fun shooting the 1952 Bentley from Regal Limousine. The car was the groom Trent’s idea – thanks man! The DC area band Prime Time rocked the reception and kept everyone on the dance floor as they usually do. Thanks to Ania Krokos of Ridgewells Catering for the delicious meals and fantastic reception! Looking forward to working with you again in the future.

Photographers, here’s my gear list for the shoot, all of which you can purchase at B&H Photo & Video online (except for the roller bag I use):

DSLR: Canon 5D Mark II
Lenses: Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
Lighting: Three Canon 580EXII Speedlites triggered by Pocket Wizards (MiniTT1 triggering a two Plus II transceivers)
Lighting modifiers: None, bare flash this time. Cross lighting with two Speedlites for the formals. Backlighting with one Speedlite as needed.
Two Impact light stands
Gear Bag: Think Tank Photo Airport Security V2 roller bag
Lens Bag: Boda V3

Please enjoy some of my favorite photos from their wedding. You can see a few more in an earlier post HERE, as well as their engagement photos HERE. Thanks for visiting!

LOHREN & TRENT | POTOMAC, MARYLAND WEDDING | DC WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Armin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:13:29 +0000

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Greetings readers! I know it’s been a while since I had the time to blog wedding photos from this season. I was downloading some cards from a recent shoot and realized it’s about time to share some! I’ve been swamped with this season’s work on top of commercial work. I leave town in a couple of days again so here is a wonderful teaser for you to enjoy while I am on travel. For now I will share a few of the bride, her gown, and some pensive and tender moments from a wedding I covered in Potomac, Maryland.

All photos were straight out of my Canon 5D Mark II. Other than resizing for the web, no editing or retouching were done to these.

Here’s my gear list for the following photos:

DSLR: Canon 5D Mark II
Lenses: Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L
Lighting: Ambient only

LENS: Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro

LENS: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L

Inside their beautiful home, this was just moments before her father walked her down the aisle. LENS: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. This lens is a staple to me. I could shoot all day with the lens if necessary. But complimented with a telephoto like the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS makes for a strong combination giving you plenty of range for almost everything.

2010 WAS A GREAT YEAR | DC PHOTOGRAPHER

Armin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:06:50 +0000

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Just thinking about 2010 reminds me how time goes by so fast. With all the challenges, all the wins and losses, I can’t help but feel excited for what 2011 has in store. I know it’s cliche, but that’s probably because it’s true and many can relate to those words. I was browsing through my website homepage photos and decided to make a quick slideshow of some of my favorite photos from 2010, plus a few favorites from the past. I want to thank all my wonderful and amazing clients from this year and years past! C’mon 2011, I’m ready for ya!

Jessica and Ararat | Costa Rica Destination Wedding Photographer | Costa Rica Destination Wedding Photos

Armin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:54:44 +0000

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Jessica and Ara’s wedding at the Hotel Riu Guanacaste in Costa Rica was an amazing event to photograph. Jess was a strikingly beautiful bride in her Peter Langner gown and the weather could not have been better for the ceremony. And the available light at sunset was quite favorable for my style of photography, it was just awesome!

A little bit about Costa Rica. One word comes to my mind – LUSH. The land is full of agricultural wonders and life, ranking #1 the Happy Planet Index. The people seem to be some of the friendliest I’ve ever met. Their coffee is also quite good I must say, it had a very rich and bold flavor that I enjoyed. For those who love numbers, Costa Rica’s prime industries today are ecotourism, pharmaceuticals, and software development. For example, the Intel microprocessor facility in Costa Rica is responsible for 20% of the country’s exports. Costa Rica is also the most visited country in the Central American region, making tourism a billion dollar industry.

For lighting my photos on the beach and portraits I used the Lastolite Triflash bracket which can hold up to three Speedlites. This gives me the flexibility I need for more power under sunny conditions or when shooting through light modifiers like a large softbox or umbrella. Check these out at B&H Photo or my Gear List at B&H Photo.

Enough words, let’s take a look at some Costa Rica destination wedding photos! My associate Noah Hayes and I captured a lot of great storytelling moments. From volleyball in the pool to good times over Baked Alaska to the music at the Pura Vida bar on the night before the wedding, everyone was having a great time! Enjoy a few of my personal favorites from Jess and Ara’s destination wedding in beautiful Costa Rica…

Click HERE to view their Engagement Photos in Georgetown.

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Katie and Justin | Southern Maryland Weddings

Armin — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:59:39 +0000

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When my good friend and photographer Megan Thompson contacted me about shooting her friend Katie’s wedding, I was more than happy to help out. Megan was the Made-of-Honor so there was no way she could do double duty as the MOH and photographer!

Congratulations to Katie & Justin! Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding day.

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