Good Photography Is An Investment
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My Name is Kanoa Utler, I’m a professional freelance photographer of the greater Bay Area (CA), specializing in weddings, portraits, modeling/fashion, events, commercial, and everything photography. I believe that when it comes to spectacular and timeless images you invest in exceptional photographers to present the best in your family, career, and life.
First off what does your love look like?
When people are in love; food tastes better, life seems to have meaning, time seems to fly by music becomes fuel for the soul, colors seem more vivid, it’s the little stolen moments that we take from life and keep between ourselves… When forever seems like a fleeting moment and you want to spend that moment… Because a relationship is a long journey and its your love that lights the way!
That’s where I come in… It’s your love, and I believe what Ansel Adams said that a photographer doesn’t “take” photographs we “make” photographs. Therefore if photography is an art and an expression of emotion and love is a passion that sparks so many emotions how does someone capture this in a photograph?
Love is dependant on two people choosing each other forever the best and the worst no matter what, then that’s probably one of the Biggest Decisions in a person’s life that they can make so why just leave that up to anyone?
Because everyone’s love is different and custom fit to their circumstance
there are a few things that I believe about wedding photography:
I don’t believe in formulas: there isn’t a cookie cutter way to photograph every wedding, everyone’s love is different, therefore what works for someone doesn’t work for another. I’ve heard of photographers asking you to fill out pages of pictures that you want to have in your wedding, they do the same thing or very similar things to their images and how they capture their work
I don’t believe in perfect pictures just perfect moments: I have photographed weddings, models, food, events, you name it and the consistent thing that I can always say is that someone always can find a way to improve or photograph something differently. With everything going on in a wedding you can’t possibly capture every second of every moment and take the best of it what you have is what you have… with that being said
I don’t think posed is fake: I believe that when it comes to romance my clients don’t just want me to see the world as it is but to see my surroundings, as it should be! We ultimately have to options to capture a photograph or create it. I like to do both. I studied Portrait photography for 6 months only to realize that people who are looking for “natural” and “candid” are actually looking for poses geared to look natural and candid. (don’t get me wrong there are candid moments, but the second the subject realizes they are on camera its not longer “in the moment.”)
I am not perfect for everyone: You may not agree with my style or philosophy on photography, that doesn’t make me or your right or wrong it just means that each person has to find what they want and need, I am more interested in seeing people get what they need and want then have to settle.
You need to be comfortable: There are so many photographers out there but you have to ultimately be comfortable around them and with them. If not you pictures will turn out sour and nobody wants sour images. My goal is to help you feel at ease, and be able to trust me, I’m very personable and am willing to help you in any situation as much as I can.
Less is more: I can tell you countless brides that are looking for packages that they can compare and contrast the “best deal.” I don’t believe in over compensating for bad work, I don’t need to do the work for you if you can do and get it done for cheaper. That meaning I don’t focus on having “X” amount of prints + a CD + a book + whatever and force you into options if you don’t need all those things. I am upfront in costs and supply you with the resources you can use to get those things yourself!
You aren’t paying me to simply take a picture: You are paying me to create visual poetry that when I create them I’m the artist and the storyteller of your moments. I’m highly skilled at what I do and with cameras now at a much more affordable price thanks to our digital revolution everyone and anyone can and does take pictures. The difference between a professional basketball player and high school player is consistency. I consistently produce photographs that are not only alluring but also radiantly refined and timeless.
Good Wedding Photography is NOT expendable: when it comes to the order of importance in a wedding I believe that if you have taken the time to invest in the most important day of your life then to never think that superb wedding pictures are an excess or nonessential. You can have a decent area and a great photographer and have some of the best pictures but if you have all the work you put into this then your photographer is one of the most important things you can INVEST in.
Photography is a rewarding Investment: who wouldn’t want to have pictures that they can look back 50 years down the road and still smile looking at that moment that they had with their loved one? You aren’t throwing away money, these are pictures that you will have the rest of your life, and you won’t get them back so when you are investing in great images you are ultimately investing in your future!
I don’t take thousands of images: Many photographers will snap away to create a “safety zone” that they can hopefully not miss the moment, I choose to shoot more accurately, focusing on precision and consistency. This goes with slight posing as well I believe if you aren’t posing at all and are just shooting you can’t ever make a guarantee of successfully great images to someone. I take my shots move on and work quicker yet more accurate because if you take a good shot the first time you don’t need to take another one to “make sure,” I trust my work and stand by my philosophy.
You deserve to look your best: Every girl wants to feel like a princess on their day and look like a model, that’s why my style is a bit more contemporary and edgy mixing the High-Fashion look with weddings. Looking back on your images you will want a few pictures that look like they are in a magazine. I’ve photographed models, children, couples, families, animals you name it! Working on posing patterns as well as having an excellent eye in portraiture I know that not everyone is a model but can still look great in their pictures. Surprisingly if someone doesn’t have the experience and isn’t comfortable a great shot can easily be the difference of a good photographer and a skilled photographer. I aim to bring out the best in you in all your images.
Age doesn’t set skill it sets experience: There are many photographers that have been at the “gig” for over 25 years or 10 years or for however long. Just because someone has been doing it for a while doesn’t mean that they are better it just means that they have been doing it longer. How do you rate a photographer’s skills? That’s simply up to you but I like to think of it by; accolades or awards received, positive feedback, schooling/studies, consistency in the quality of each image in their portfolio, client list, and much more! If a photographer is stuck on old trends, or even unpleasant trends it can be warning signs. Also who they have worked for gives you an idea for who trusts them to produce. In a year someone who is more motivated and skilled can go farther then someone given 5 or even 10 years!
when you book with me whether for wedding photography, event, commercial, portraits, or whatever your need you will consistently get gratifying images. You know that you can be at ease because you made the right choice!
