It’s here!

I just received Nikon’s newest, best camera! The D4 produces images that are sharper and more detailed, with great skin tones and vastly improved performance in low light.

“The D4 is a game changer,” says the incredible photographer Joe McNally. “Right off the bat, I was impressed with the file. It was, in a word, smooth. I know that’s not a techy description, but I was impressed by the detail and the creaminess of the pictures. No sharpness of contrast, or harshly defined lines of demarcation between highlights and shadows.”

The D4 is all about getting shots that someone else won’t, and it means your photographs will be better than ever.

For more, please see the “In My Bag” page.

Posing tips

I like to shoot as many candids as possible, but posed pictures are an important part of your day, too. Here are a few simple tips that will make you look better in your pictures:

● Position your hips and shoulders at a 45-degree angle to the camera. This is flattering, graceful and slimming. Facing the camera head-on, you’ll look like Lindsay Lohan in a police mugshot.

● Put your weight on your back foot. This gives you a curvy, relaxed look.

● Point the toes on your front foot. Even though your gown covers your feet, this makes a difference. Look at any female celebrity on a red carpet: front foot pointed toward the camera.

 ● Stand up straight. This may seem obvious, but it will make you look tall and elegant, and it will show off your gown to its best advantage.

● If it bends, bend it. Move your elbows out from your body. Not so much that it appears you’re doing the chicken dance – just a little. This, too, is slimming and looks graceful.

10 Ways To Spot a Fauxtographer

I recently came across a great article called “10 Ways To Spot a Fauxtographer,” written by Traci Turchin in Colorado Brides magazine. It’s worth a look. Click here.

Do you want a photographer with hobbyist skills, hobbyist experience and hobbyist equipment?

For my thoughts on the subject, I invite you to check “Choosing a Photographer.”

A really great day

Let’s continue the look at favorites of 2011 with Stefanie Rynkewitz and Joe LaPolla, who were married June 4 at Grace United Methodist Church in Lewistown, PA.Their reception was at Lewistown Country Club.

As I’m writing this, the temperature is 38 and the wind is whipping. Looking at these shots gives me spring fever.

Still more favorites

I could post a hundred photographs from Anita Malhotra’s wedding. There were three events over two days, lots of fun people, fantastic decorations …  The entire weekend was a photographer’s dream come true, but I’ll try to limit myself.

Anita and Anant Viswanath were married May 29, 2011, in two ceremonies — one Sikh, one Hindu — at Lewistown Country Club. Their parties were at Lily Manor in Mifflin, PA, and the Penn Stater in State College.

The best line of the weekend came from Anant: “Am I rockin’ the turban?”

Rice mixed with saffron and turmeric represents the couple’s desire for happiness, enjoyment and contentment.

Favorites of 2011, part 4

It’s fun to look back and remember all the good times last year. The three photographs above are from the wedding of Kim Phelps and Andy Locke.

The ones below are from the marriage of Megan Carrochi and Jason Mather.

Thank you all for great memories.

Favorites of 2011, part 3

Sorry, it’s been a while since I posted favorites from last year, so let’s resume with February 2011. It was COLD the day Britney Kline married Greg Smithmyer, but that didn’t stop them from wanting pictures outdoors in Bellefonte. They came prepared, right down to boots.

Just seven weeks later, spring had arrived for the Nina Chen-Abram Landes ceremony at Goggleworks in Reading:

By the end of April, it seemed like the height of summer at the Arboretum at Penn State for Jamie Chrostowski and Bill Castro’s wedding:

Favorites of 2011, part 1

I’d like to take a minute to thank everyone for making 2011 a very good year — not just the brides and grooms, but the families, wedding parties and guests. I enjoyed every minute of every wedding.

And I want to thank all of you for looking at my blog. It was viewed 14,000 times in 2011! The busiest day was June 13 with 336 visits. Most of those people were looking at photographs from the Rachel Hollis-Josh Imes wedding, so I’ll start my Favorites of 2011 with two shots from their day.

It’s about having fun

This is not your mother’s wedding photography. Brides today want it all — a lot of fun, informal  shots, photojournalism, some classic family photos and something artistic for their wall.

And the whole process should be fun. There’s no reason for photography to be a painful experience.

These pictures of Kristen Shilling Fisher were done at beautiful Lily Manor in Mifflin, PA. Thank you, Kristen, for being a fantastic model.

You can find out more about my wedding photography at www.photosbyjan.com.

Breann and Alan

When I shoot engagement portraits I like to wander around, looking for different spots that would make good photographs. The approach really paid off with Breann Reismeier and Alan Snyder.

We met on a Saturday in downtown Harrisburg, when we had the whole area pretty much to ourselves. We came up with a lot of variety, which is important. Who wants the same old thing?

Breann and Alan will be married June 9 at Lily Manor in Mifflin, PA.