brad smith photography

Please Update Your Links

2010-03-30T14:07:00.000-04:00

I've updated my blog!

Please click over to http://blog.smithbrad.com/ to view my new and improved blog. Once you're there, please update your links and RSS feeds.

Thank you!
Brad

The Towers, Narragansett: Model Shoot

2010-03-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

I spent some time last week at The Towers in Narragansett. It's a beautiful venue for a wedding reception (I had mine there 5 years ago!) and an equally cool place to get some great model images. Kate at the Towers was very kind in letting fellow wedding photographer, Seth Jacobson and myself use the space for a few hours.

Brianna and Ashley were great models and a lot of fun to photograph. Thanks also to Samantha who did a great job with the hair design!

Be sure and check out my business page on Facebook for more images from this set!

A Morning at Salt Pond Pottery

2010-02-26T12:22:00.000-05:00

I spent some time the other day with a local potter, Jonathon, owner of Salt Pond Pottery in Wakefield, RI. His studio was full of great photo opportunities, including stacks of not-yet-kilned bowls, raw slabs of clay, and custom ceramic tiles he’s making by hand, one by one for his own kitchen remodel. We worked on gathering some new images for his website that included some ‘action’ shots of Jonathon at work, as well as some product shots, and studio detail shots. It was a great day. Thanks Jonathon for allowing me to photograph your space!

To see more images from this shoot, please browse over to my facebook fan page, and while you're there, become a fan!

My Favorite iPhone Photography Apps

2010-02-26T10:07:00.001-05:00

I've owned an iPhone now for about 6 months, and I love it. It's a tool that helps me to run my business more effectively by allowing me to schedule appointments, answer emails, and take note of various important things every day. As a photographer, I think the first apps that I sought out were ones related to photography and tweaking the images I made right on my iPhone. I wrote a post a while back about how the best camera is the one that's with you. Chase Jarvis coined the phrase, but it's a good thing to remember when you're out and about with nothing more than your camera-phone. Taking pictures of interesting things has never been easier. The images come out fairly low-fi, but with a few simple tweaks, you can transform your iPhone images into something worth looking at again. I get asked quite often about what apps I use to tweak some of the images on my photo-a-day blog, so I thought I'd put together a list of some of the common apps I use.

Chase Jarvis Best Cam ($2.99)
This app was released right around the time that I bought my iPhone. I've been a follower of Chase for a long time, and it was natural to pick up this app. It's got 13 different effects, all stack-able, and all able to be placed above or below others. You see the change in real time. This app does a great job on the back end, and it's here that I think it really shines. I can choose to send the completed image to Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, an email address, save it to my iPhone, or upload to the Best Cam website.

Tilt Shift Gen ($0.99)
This app is the starting point for most of the images taken on my iPhone, simply because it's got a great contrast, brightness, and saturation sliders that help the image get where I want it before applying deeper effects. It also allows for some selective focusing, which I like to use to draw the eye towards a particular part of the image.

CameraBag ($1.99)
This app is made up of 12 different effects, ranging from a Holga effect to instant film to a cross-process film look. Its settings aren't customizable, which is a bit of a downside to me, as I like to treat each image a little differently, and this app doesn't allow that. It does, however, do some cool effects.

Polarize (Free)
This app does one thing, and does it pretty well. It gives the image a distinct Polaroid look. The images come out looking greenish and weirdly exposed. The app also gives you the option of adding text in the lower white area of the frame.

PS Mobile (Free)
This is the Photoshop app from Adobe Systems. It can't be equated to Photoshop in any way, because there's far too much to be able to cram into a tiny app, but it does offer some tools worth keeping in your pocket. The crop tool allows me to crop manually, in a way that no other app will let me. There are adjustments for brightness and contrast which I like.

Hipstamatic ($1.99)
This is one of my newer apps, so I haven't gotten to play with it all that much. It emulates the old, plastic toy-like cameras of the past. Harsh vignettes, funky color washes, and blurred images take your images and make them appear vintage with a single swipe.

ShakeIt ($.99)
Another Polaroid-like app, you shake the iPhone as if you were developing old Polaroid film. It's the whole sensory experience.

Model Shoot in PVD

2010-02-15T10:12:00.000-05:00

As you could probably guess, the winter is a slower season for most photographers. I spend my time organizing things for the upcoming season, working on new marketing ideas and concepts, and taking care of those odds and ends that every business must deal with. While I may not be shooting the same number of weddings, portraits and senior sessions during the winter as I shoot during the warmer months, I think it's very important to keep my head in the game and continue to photograph, light, and interact with other photographers and subjects. These images were taken as part of a series of sessions that two other photographers and I put together for the sole purpose of creating images, lighting, learning, and having some fun while we're at it. So there's no real continuity, just some cool images. Enjoy.

New Album Samples

2010-02-04T11:07:00.002-05:00

I wanted to share some images of my a few of my new Studio Sample Albums. The four images below are the Parent Brag Books, and are popular add-ons to my regular wedding albums. Order one for each Mom so they can share images of your wedding day with her work friends! They are 4x4 inches square, and fit right inside a pocketbook. They can be exact duplicates of the main wedding album layout, or if you'd rather, a simple one-image-per-page layout. Either way, they're a great travel sized album, finished to the same quality standards as the larger albums.

(as always, click on the image to view it larger)

I offer three sizes of wedding albums, 8x8", 10x10", and 12x12". The following images are of the 12x12" wedding album. Our albums are made with the utmost care and craftsmanship. The pages lay flat, with images flowing across the center gutter, uninterrupted. Each album is custom designed with simple and clean layouts for a distinct story-telling flow, from page to page. The cover and binding is 100% full-grain, natural leather selected for their grains, strength, and quality. Full-grain hides feel better and are more attractive than fake, bonded-leather covers. Albums are available in seven great colors: Virgin White, Forbidden Green, Passion Pink, Redlight Red, Sultry Blue, Smouldering Brown, and Voluptuous Black. Black is by far the most popular, with brown and white being a close second. Will you be the one to order the hot pink wedding album?

And, of course, these albums are far better seen and handled in person, so if you'd like to thumb through any of my them, please feel free to email me at info@smithbrad.com.

An Ocean Cliff, Newport, RI Wedding

2010-01-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of shooting alongside RI Photographer, James Hazelwood at a wedding at Ocean Cliff in Newport about two weeks ago. It was a lot of fun, even if it was a chilly 15 degrees outside. These are just a few of my favorites from the day. Thanks to Jim for having me along.

Model Shoot: Providence, RI

2010-01-25T08:45:00.000-05:00

I spent a good portion of Saturday inside an unheated strip-mall storefront in Providence photographing these three wonderful models. We shot in a yet-to-be-completed skate shop, which features an entire wall that has been transformed by a graffiti artist into an amazing work of art. That provided a colorful backdrop for many of these photos.

We had a lot of fun shooting and were able to get some impressive images. Many thanks to the models for a good cold-weather performance!

And for the record, the model with the cool curly hair: No photoshop was done on her eyes. They're that awesome in real life.

More images can be seen on my facebook business page at http://tinyurl.com/smithbrad.

A Model Shoot In Mystic

2010-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

As you may know, I spent a couple of days in Mystic, CT a couple of weeks ago, while I attended a wedding photography conference there. While I was there, myself and my good friends at Strawberry Road set up a quick model shoot with Sarah, a lovely model from the South County, RI area. We spent some time walking around, finding interesting shots in an otherwise drab hotel interior. Here's just a few shots from our session.

The Importance of Pictures

2010-01-08T12:38:00.002-05:00

I attended a photographer's conference this past week called Mystic5. All of the speakers were inspirational in their own way, but David Williams really stood out to me.

One of the topics he spoke on was the importance of having tangible prints made - REAL images - not just a series of 1's and 0's on a disc somewhere in the back of your closet. In this age of saving images to hard drives instead of printing them and holding them in your hands, David Williams warns that we may have a whole slice of family history with no actual prints, very soon. It was just a half of a generation ago when pictures were taken, prints were made and put into albums and shoe boxes. Negatives were stuffed into a drawer, but they still contained tangible data that could be read many years in the future. That may not be so for your digital images. I have always, and will always include albums in all standard wedding photography packages for this very reason. Though it might seem like an unnecessary added expense to create an album immediately after a pocketbook-emptying wedding day, this may just be what your grandchildren and great-grandchildren (and beyond) flip through when they want to look back at the good old times. How would you go about viewing pictures on a 5 1/4 inch floppy disc? It was only a little over a decade ago that we used those to store information. I can still thumb through my grandparent's wedding album from 1950, today. Sure the pages are a little yellowed, but the people, faces, and the celebratory feelings of that day still hang on to those pages.

Another photographer, Judy Beedle, who also attended Mystic5 wrote on her blog about how this same concept affected her:

One of my favorite quotes from one of the presenters, the amazing David Williams, is "Put your hand up if you have EVERY picture you want of the ones you love."

No one raised their hands.

And every time I read it I literally get tears in my eyes. I think of my father. On Feb 2 it will be 5 years since he passed away from Mantle Cell Lymphoma. His death is still a very painful thing for me, and it certainly seems hard to believe I've been carrying this pain around for 5 years. But I remember that scramble to find photos of our family to share. That was my task. Logical, considering I'm a photographer. It was painful for me to realize how long it had been since he and I had been in a photo together. I found one from my wedding, the end of the night (we never did the father/daughter dance, sadly), on the dance floor we leaned in and smiled, my lips were bright red from the ring pop I had been eating. It wasn't a great shot of either of us. And, it was 5 years old.

The last photo I took of my father was on Thanksgiving 2004. He was sick, but we didn't really know why yet. He sat on the floor leaning against the couch, because it was the only place he could get comfortable. My nephew had climbed up on the couch behind him and was rubbing has hand across the top of my father's head. He said something and my brother started laughing. I took the picture. My brother said "He just said your head is square!"

We all laughed. We have always teased my father about his square head. I have been accused of having one as well. No surprise there, since I look like him.

It's not a great photo, but it's the last one I took of him so I remember that moment.

The point is - Take Pictures and Print Your Images!

Whether they are your snaps from weekend family get-together', or your wedding day, print them! Technology changes so fast, the only tried and true method of insuring that your images will be readable by future generations is to print them.

I understand that it's tough to think about the added expense of an album when budgeting for your wedding, but please consider it a historical record if nothing more. You owe it to your kids, grand kids, and great-grand kids to makes prints and albums of your images.

Walking away with just a disc is not enough.

If you haven't seen it yet...

2010-01-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen that I'm currently doing a photo-of-the-day blog aside from this blog, please check it out! Point your browsers to www.smithbrad.wordpress.com to see the first 7 day's images. It will run the entire year and will be a simple photo from each day. Nothing fancy. These images might be simple snaps from my iphone, or an image from that day's shoot. Either way, I’m going to do my best to post something every day. Check back daily for updates. It's great fun so far, and I'm looking forward to what this upcoming year may bring.

I'll continue to use this blog space for full posts about weddings, portraits, and senior sessions.

Also, if you or anyone you know is recently engaged, please make sure and point them to www.smithbrad.com. I would love to speak with them (or you) about wedding photography coverage.

Thanks for looking - and here's to a great year!
Brad

A Day in NYC

2009-12-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

I spent a day last week walking around New York City with a good friend and fellow wedding photographer, Dave Field. There was no assignment, no client, no real plan other than to take in the city sights and capture what we hoped would be some interesting images. We started in Midtown Manhattan, then up to Central Park and Columbus Circle. From there, we travelled down to Chinatown. It's such a sensory experience there, with the smells of fresh fish (some of which was still flopping around in the bins it was so fresh), the colors of the street level stores selling things from dried mushrooms to children's toys in the same storefront. We hopped back over to Queens where the day started and the car was parked and met up with my brother for some dinner and a frosty brew to end the day.

All in all, I had a great day. It's a good feeling to get out and shoot for yourself, whether you're a professional photographer, or an amateur who just likes to take pictures with your point and shoot camera. There was no schedule, no rules, and no expectation of greatness at the end of the shoot - and that's what made the day so fun.

The above photographs are just a sampling of what I took last week in NYC. To see the rest of the set, please become a fan of Brad Smith Photography on facebook at

http://tinyurl.com/smithbrad

Take your camera out - pro or amateur - and take some pictures!

Megan & Dave: Engaged

2009-12-09T12:25:00.001-05:00

I recently spent some time on a chilly November evening down at the local beach with Megan and Dave. We shot some images celebrating their recent engagement. Thanks Megan and Dave, for being troopers on such a chilly, windy evening!

As always, click the images to make them bigger!

Limited Edition Landscape Print Available from Brad Smith Photography

2009-12-04T11:11:00.001-05:00

Brad Smith Photography is pleased to announce the limited release of a short-run fine art print of beautiful Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Limited to just 25 signed and numbered fine art prints, this stunning landscape would look great anywhere in your home. Buy for yourself or have it shipped to a friend or family member for the Holidays.

While not normally something that I offer, after suggestions by friends and family I am making this print available for purchase for the 2009 Holiday Season. It will come to you professionally matted and ready to be framed and displayed. The print itself measures 12x18 inches and will be matted in an archival quality, snow white mat, at a size of 18x24 inches.

This image was taken on a beautiful October evening just off of Ocean Road in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The rocks on the shores of this area of South County hold beautiful tide pools that reflect the evening sunset light wonderfully.

This limited edition print is available for
$150.00 (Local pick up or drop-off) or $160.00 shipped (US Only)

Email brad (at) smithbrad (dot) com

(there is no watermark on the printed image)

The deadline for ordering is December 16, 2009.

Krysten & Eric: Day After Session

2009-11-08T18:29:00.001-05:00

Maybe it isn't a "Day After" session. But it's close.

I recently spent some time shooting with a past bride & groom - they were married back in September, but were up for a little more time in front of the lens. They were great, both the first time, and the second time around!

We worked quickly at Morris Farm in Warwick because we were losing light fast, and it was getting too cold to run around in a wedding dress, but we were able to get some really amazing images that they'll be able to add to their albums.

It was a little more relaxed than the time spent shooting couples formals on the wedding day, because we weren't held to the short amount of time between the ceremony and the reception.

Thanks Eric & Krysten for another wonderful session!

A Musician Publicity Shoot

2009-11-04T10:17:00.000-05:00

Here's just a few shots from a recent local musician's publicity shoot that I shot this past weekend with my friend and fellow photographer, Mike. They're going to be used for album art, publicity, and for his website.

Melissa & Lloyd: Married

2009-10-29T12:49:00.002-04:00

Melissa and Lloyd were married on this beautiful fall afternoon in Narragansett, Rhode Island. The ceremony was held at the South Ferry Church in Narragansett, a tiny one-room church that lacks modern conveniences like heat, or a bathroom. Despite all that, it's probably one of the cutest churches I've shot in. After the ceremony, we stopped by Newton Rocks off Ocean Road in Narrangasett for the bridal party pictures. The light couldn't have been any better; Melissa and Lloyd couldn't have paid for the sunset they got that night. On to the Towers for the reception, and an evening of dancing, celebration, and even a humorous slideshow introducing Lloyd to Melissa's family, hosted by the groomsmen.

Thanks Melissa & Lloyd, I wish you both all the best!

The Best Camera Is The One That's With You

2009-10-09T08:30:00.002-04:00

It's a phrase recently coined by commercial photographer, Chase Jarvis. He's making reference to the fact that most of us always carry a phone or other device capable of taking pictures. And during the course of our days, even the most boring and uninspired of days, there's bound to be something worth taking a picture of.

Chase has released a new iphone app called, "The Best Camera", of all things, and it's aim is to make it easy for you to shoot and upload and share those moments with the world. It's not always practical to carry a camera with you, or in my case, a larger DSLR. But you'll always have your phone on you. The app makes it easy to share your quick snapshots - via email, facebook, twitter - with the world.

The images are decidedly low-fi and grainy. By today's standards - not that great. But that's not what it's about. It's about seeing the world around you every day and sharing it with others.

So to all iphone users, go to the app store and download "Best Camera" - and use it. It'll change the way you look at everyday things.

The Value of a Second Shooter at Your Wedding

2009-10-07T08:14:00.000-04:00

I wanted to post a few words about the value of having a second shooter alongside the main photographer at your wedding. Below are some images that I shot, as a second shooter for the talented James Hazelwood, at a recent wedding in Stonington, CT. As the main photographer, as much as you wish you could be in two places at once, you cannot. And since the bride and groom often get ready for their wedding in two different areas, it can become a tough balancing act for main photographer to handle. Having a second shooter ensures that you can capture the important moments from each location without having to worry about missing something at the other.

Here are some images that I captured while in the men's getting ready area.

Also, during the ceremony, the second shooter will take pictures from complimentary angles that the main photographer may not be able to cover at the key moments.

He or she will get alternate angles during formals, as well as some non-standard shots, details, and other shots that the main photographer cannot because of time contraints throughout the evening.

I include a second photographer in all my wedding packages because I feel that it's important to capture as many moments as possible that go on throughout the wedding day.

A Recent Family Session

2009-09-26T07:55:00.003-04:00

I had the opportunity the other day to shoot a family session. I don't normally do a ton of these, but it was so much fun to do this one recently, especially since this family was so easy to work with. We spent some time running around Lincoln Woods State Park in Lincoln, RI right around that beautiful time of day when the sun starts to get lower in the sky which makes for great light. Thanks to Jake & Family for letting me hang out with you for a while.

Melissa & Lloyd: Engaged

2009-09-08T10:30:00.000-04:00

I can't wait to photograph Melissa & Lloyd's wedding this October, as it will be my first time back in the Towers in Narragansett for a wedding. Interestingly, the last one I was there for was my own.

We spent some time last week running around Narragansett taking some engagement shots.

Courtney & Luis: Married

2009-09-08T09:30:00.001-04:00

Courtney and Luis were married on a picturesque Thursday afternoon complete with an amazing sunset and perfect temperatures. Here's just a few images from their day.

Krysten & Eric: Married

2009-09-06T22:04:00.012-04:00

Krysten & Eric were married recently at one of the most unique locations I have photographed. It took place at his family's home, which included a barn, a great outdoor entertaining space, and all the best farm animals. The whole evening had a whole hoedown, relaxed vibe to it.

Remember, you can always click on the images if you want to view them larger. Enjoy.

The light was amazing during the ceremony which was held in the yard beneath beautiful shade trees.

The details at this wedding were amazing. Here's just a few of the ways that the couple and the location really made this wedding stand out from all the others:

A country band came and taught line dancing inside the barn throughout the evening.

Mistakes Happen

2009-09-02T21:39:00.005-04:00

Mistakes do happen. In this case, however, I think it's a pretty cool mistake. Here's a quick image from an engagement session I did this evening with Melissa & Lloyd, where my lens seemed to have defocused just as I hit the shutter. I think it's a pretty interesting effect. I think they should order this image as a sofa-sized canvas gallery wrap.

An Overnight In Maine

2009-08-28T08:45:00.000-04:00

I spent a few days in Maine this past week to take part in a photography networking and shooting event. It's always great to step out of your normal day-to-day routine to try something new and different. A couple of willing models joined us for the afternoon and helped produce some great images. We took some engagement style images:

And also took some individual portraits:

It was a great time to get away and enjoy the beauty of Maine. I had a great time shooting with some new people in new locations. Thanks Cole and Courtney for being such great models!

Julia & Nick: A Bristol, RI Wedding

2009-08-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

Julia and Nick were married in Bristol, Rhode Island last week. The day was great; hot and humid, but great. The weather held and we were treated to beautifully warm light just before the sun went below the horizon. The reception was held at Lindon Place in Bristol, a great venue for a classy summer wedding.

Jen & Chris: Married

2009-08-26T08:44:00.003-04:00

I wanted to share a few images from a recent wedding down in East Greenwich, RI. Jen and Chris were married and celebrated at a beach side home overlooking Narragansett Bay. It was a beautiful day for a wedding, the weather cooperated nicely and the bay breezes were refreshing. They served a great dinner of pulled pork, beef brisket, corn-on-the-cob, and pecan pie! My kind of menu! Thanks Jen and Chris for allowing me to be a part of your day!

The following picture is more of an outtake. While getting her hair done, Jen was brushed with the curling iron, and I happened to catch it at just the right moment!

Ferah & Nate: Engaged

2009-08-17T08:45:00.000-04:00

These two really knocked it out of the park!

Ferah, a friend of mine from college days, and her fiance, Nate, spent the weekend with us and while they were here, took a few minutes to run around Providence and take some amazing pictures. We were on our way to Trinity Brewhouse for dinner, so we kept the session short, but with a city like Providence that has so many great spots to shoot, it was easy to get several different locations within a few block radius.

They are naturals in front of the camera, and I can't wait to shoot their wedding next fall up in Maine. It's going to be great! Thanks so much, both of you, for a great session!

Seniors: K & M

2009-08-14T08:55:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing two local seniors on a recent overcast afternoon. The rain held out just long enough, allowing us time to finish out shoot before the sprinkles starting coming down. These girls are best of friends and wanted a few pictures together as well as the ones we took with each singly. Thanks so much girls - for a great shoot!

Here are a few silly ones where the girls were practicing their "European model" technique.

I Just signed up for Mystic 5

2009-08-13T09:50:00.001-04:00

I've just signed up to attend a great wedding photography conference this January in Mystic, Connecticut. I'm excited to see some of the photography greats, including Joe McNally who has shot for National Geographic, LIFE Magazine, and Sports Illustrated to name a few. In addition to the speaking, it's a time for networking with fellow photographers for all to share ideas that help build a community of wedding photographers. I'm really looking forward to this event.

Link to the Mystic 5 Event Page

A Newport Engagement Session

2009-08-12T13:30:00.001-04:00

Here are just a few images from an engagement session from Newport a couple weeks back. We started along Bellevue Avenue, near the mansions, and finished over by Castle Hill Lighthouse just around Brenton Point. It was a beautiful day for pictures, although I somehow managed to get myself quite the sunburn on my neck and face. I'll be sure and use sunscreen next time I'm out on such a crystal clear, sunny day. Thanks guys for being such a great couple, I can't wait to shoot your wedding!

Destino: Band Promo Session

2009-08-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

I've had the pleasure over the past couple of weeks to photograph a great Portuguese band based out of the Rhode Island area called Destino. I caught up with them the other night for a great session in downtown Providence with a stop in the down-city area, and then over to the waterfront. These guys are great - a real tight band with great music. I've always had a love of live music of any sort. I can't even hold it against them that I can't understand the words that they sing; their music is great. Maybe they'll release a special album for us non-Portuguese speakers someday. :) They recently rocked a cool outdoor festival in Providence complete with dancing and amazing smelling food all around. Thanks a ton, guys (and girl!) for a couple of great performances and thanks for rockin' the portrait session! Best of luck to you!

Update Your Headshots - August Special

2009-07-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

Professional headshots are an important part of many businesses today. They put a face to an otherwise faceless company. Realtors have been using professional headshots in their marketing to connect with clients on a more personal level for years. With many businesses coming into their own with online presences such as twitter and facebook, having a professional headshot really puts a face to your name.

During the month of August, I am offering a headshot special. There's no better time to update those headshots, or to get some done for the first time to help connect you with your clients on that personal level that's so important to today's marketplace.

I am offering this August Special to anyone needing the above services for the flat rate of $200. This includes up to 1 hour of shooting time, either in your office, or outdoors in a more natural setting, and includes a CD with up to 5 high resolution images for use as you please in your marketing and online presence.

This offer is only available if booked by August 31, 2009, after which, my rates goes back up to $300. Contact me today to schedule your appointment. I have availability days, nights, and weekends.

Jessica & Jared: Images from a recent wedding

2009-07-26T11:57:00.008-04:00

Here's just a few images from Jessica & Jared's wedding a few weeks ago. It was my first time shooting at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI. A great venue for a wedding reception! Congratulations Jess and Jared, your wedding was beautiful, and thanks for letting us be a part of it!

Erica & Leon: Married

2009-07-09T10:15:00.007-04:00

We took a couple of relaxed portraits at the bride's house before going over to the Dennis Inn for some last minute prepping.

July 4 was the perfect day for a wedding! Leon and Erica were married at the Dennis Inn in Dennis, MA under clear, blue skies. The breeze and perfect white clouds kept everyone comfortably cool. Following a garden ceremony by the pool at the inn, guests were invited to the patio for drinks and a bounty of passed hors d'oeuvres. Guests mingled and chatted outside under a beautiful Cape Cod sunset.

From the cocktail portion of the reception, guests were gathered into the dancing area of the house where the bride and groom danced their first dance, cut their cake, and were toasted by the father of the bride.

Later, guests were presented with sparklers and then gathered on the lawn to enjoy a celebratory display of fireworks put on by an uncle of the bride dressed as Uncle Sam. It was a great way to end a Cape Cod 4th of July wedding!

Happy (belated) 4th of July!

2009-07-05T19:37:00.001-04:00

Here's an image from Leon & Erica's 4th of July wedding on Cape Cod.

Happy 4th of July from Brad Smith Photography!

Shootstyle Shoot

2009-06-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was invited to shoot with a handful of New England area wedding photographers at an event called ShootStyle. This is a group of amazingly talented photographers with beautiful work that meet a few times a year to shoot. It was a collaborative effort between these photographers and a local dress maker. We shot at the Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley, MA.

Here's a few of my favorite images from the day.

Thanks so much Stacey, for inviting me along, it was great to shoot alongside you all!

Amanda & Brad: Married

2009-06-21T20:51:00.005-04:00

Here's a sneak peek from a great wedding this past weekend, where the bride also happens to be my cousin. The ceremony was held a Woodlawn Baptist Church in Pawtucket. The rain held off long enough to get some great shots at Slater Park in Pawtucket, RI.

Amanda and Brad, thanks so much for allowing me to be part of your day - it was great!

Senior Session Images

2009-06-15T13:16:00.004-04:00

Here's a few images from a recent senior session shot in East Greenwich, RI. I always think it's great when you find these kind of backdrops in areas where you wouldn't think you'd find them. East Greenwich is one of those places. I always picture the manicured lawns and pristine Main Street, but just steps off the main roads, you'll find great shooting locations like these.

Contributing to a book

2009-06-08T10:43:00.006-04:00

I am pleased to announce my involvement in an upcoming book, "Changing The World on a Tuesday Night", which profiles 50 people from each of the 50 states who have full-time jobs or otherwise busy lives, but make time each and every week or month to volunteer with a cause they are passionate about. I was paired with John Varlaro, (also of Rhode Island) who is a small business consultant and a volunteer with the Rhode Island Parent Information Network where he now serves on the Board of Directors. I met John at RIPIN, then again on the East Side of Providence to take some images for the book.

From the website: "‘Changing The World on a Tuesday Night’ will be a self-published title which features the profiles of 50 people from around the country who work full-time jobs or have otherwise busy lives, but find time once a week or once a month to volunteer on a consistent basis for a cause that they are passionate about.

The purpose of the book is two-fold, one is to celebrate and acknowledge the working Americans all across the country who are making a difference on a regular basis. The second is to inspire and encourage would-be volunteers and give them real-life examples of how to fit volunteering into their daily lives and showcase some of the many different opportunities that exist in the diverse non-profit world."

Thanks John, for being a great subject!

Emily and Chris: Married

2009-05-19T16:07:00.004-04:00

I wasn't on official photographer duty this past weekend, but why not bring your camera along with to you a friends' wedding just in case something awesome happens? I brought just the 5d2 with the attached 50 1.4 to the Newport Yachting Center to try and see how far I could push the ISO, without the aid of a flash, or off camera strobes to bring up the light levels artificially. The last image you see above was shot at ISO 12800! I'm very pleased at what I see this camera produce at such low light levels, but rest assured, I'll still be bringing my lights with me in the future. Thanks Em and Chris, you're wedding was wonderful - thanks for putting on such a great party!

A few from my latest wedding

2009-05-12T19:25:00.002-04:00

Here is just a few images from my latest wedding. These were taken at the Quonset O Club, in North Kingstown, RI. We had a beautifully sunny day and great temperatures!

A Few from the Farm

2009-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Visited a local farm for a little bit the other day, here's just a few random images.

One from a recent workshop

2009-05-01T16:50:00.004-04:00

I wanted to share this image from a recent photography workshop in South County. It was all about light, and using small strobes to create very dramatic images. This was taken just moments before sunset near Point Judith, using the sun plus a single off camera flash in a portable softbox.

Abandoned

2009-05-01T12:43:00.004-04:00

A few in color, a few in black and white. I revisited this abandoned building & grounds again, I had been here a few weeks ago, and posted some images from it. Here's a few more from inside this time. $10 still stands for anyone who can tell me where these images were taken.

Spring is here!

2009-04-24T09:36:00.001-04:00

Captured in East Greenwich, RI
Straight out of camera (jpg)
5d2, f 2.0, 1/3000, ISO 100

Tree Top

2009-04-10T11:19:00.003-04:00

A sunny afternoon in the city

2009-04-06T16:56:00.003-04:00

Just a few images from a recent session in and around Providence. It was a beautiful spring day, great for some pictures!

Random Cloudy Day Images

2009-04-01T20:33:00.005-04:00

There's really no point to this image set. I took a walk today around mid-day with nothing in mind but to take a few shots. I found this little spot in town and took some pictures that are a quite different than what I usually shoot. I think they came out pretty cool. These were all shot with the Canon 5d2 and the 50 1.4 lens. Great combination; my favorite actually.

$10 to anyone who can tell me where these shots were taken.

Canon Unveils New DSLR: EOS Rebel T1i

2009-03-26T13:06:00.005-04:00

Taken from the Canon USA press release:

"Canon has just announced the release of the Canon EOS Rebel T1i, the 6th generation of Canon's popular entry-level DSLR camera series. The Rebel T1i improves upon earlier Rebels by incorporating many features formally found on Canon's pricier mid-level EOS 50D. Among the Rebel T1i's key attributes are a 15.1 Mega pixel CMOS sensor, Live View, continuous burst-rates of up to 3.4 fps, a DIGIC 4 image processor, and a bright, High-resolution 3" VGA LCD screen."

This announcement brings the higher level technology commonly found in the top of the line models down to more affordable prices. The integration of HD video will be desirable for mom's and dad's looking for an all-in-one solution to still and video recording.

Click here for more information on the new Rebel T1i.

Rachel & Dave : Married

2009-03-22T19:29:00.004-04:00

Here's a sneak peek at a couple of Rachel & Dave's wedding. It was such a blast to photograph your special day, thank you for allowing me to be a part of it.

This may very well be my favorite of the
whole day - they look like a pair of models!

The pouring rain didn't stop them from getting some
great images outside at this train yard.

This little guy may have been photographed more times than
the bride and groom. I'll have to count the
pictures just to be sure. He's just so darn cute!

...and a beautiful venue, the Lee Club at Fort Lee in Virginia.

Amanda & Brad : Engaged

2009-03-21T11:49:00.004-04:00

I spent some time the other day walking around the great streets of providence with my cousin amanda and her fiance, Brad. They're getting married this June! We wanted to create some nice images for them to have, something more casual, something that they may hang on their wall. (hint, hint!) They were a lot of fun, and despite some chilly mid-march winds whipping down Westminster Street, it was a great day for a shoot.
Thanks Amanda & Brad!

A few more of Kara

2009-03-11T19:31:00.002-04:00

Just a couple more from Sunday's session. Enjoy!

Kara in the City

2009-03-09T07:36:00.002-04:00

I had a great time Sunday taking some senior pictures of a great local senior - she was super easy to work with and was up for anything. We walked the streets of Providence looking for great light, and along the way we found cool old doorways, gritty back alleys and even an orange stairway right inside a parking garage. I love this type of senior session because it really allows the senior to let loose a little and doesn't confine him/her to a studio setting with the same backgrounds as their friends.

Zach Arias Inspires

2009-02-24T10:42:00.002-05:00

An Early Winter Morning

2009-02-11T20:55:00.003-05:00

Woke up the other morning and saw this out the window. The moon sat in the crisp blue sky behind the bare maple tree in my yard. Enjoy.

A couple of old cars

2009-02-05T15:01:00.003-05:00

As seen on a recent trip up to Maine while taking a walk to explore Old Orchard Beach on a frigid January day.

Chariho Basketball

2009-01-29T22:11:00.003-05:00

I just finished editing a Chariho high school basketball game that I shot earlier this week. Here's just a few samples for the moms and dads that are anticipating that uploads to the proofing gallery. Thanks for letting me shoot, I had a great time!

Will video change the way wedding still photographers work?

2009-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

I don't have that answer. But this is an amazing example of what can be done with the new batch of HD video capable cameras. Very inspiring, but how does it fit in?

GigaPan View of the Inauguration

2009-01-26T13:40:00.005-05:00

This is really really neat, whether you're into photography, politics, technology, or none of the above. It's a shot taken with a robotic system, allowing a camera to capture an enormous area on 'film' within a very short period of time. The file is 59,783 X 24,658 pixels or 1,474 megapixels. It's an amazing thing to be able to take a seemingly simple inauguration photograph, and zoom into points like you were standing there in person with a pair of binoculars in hand. It's a cool view that we don't get to see every day. Enjoy. Click here for the image

Special this week: Nikon D3 and 14-24mm f/2.8 lens

2009-01-22T15:49:00.005-05:00

It's always heart warming for a Canon guy like me to see a Nikon as nice as this in this rough of shape. Sorry, Nikon shooters. It's nothing personal.
Nikon D3 and 14-24mm f/2.8 lens

5d Mark ii

2009-01-15T14:51:00.002-05:00

It has arrived! The new beast, a photographic marvel, the 5d mark ii. This was the camera that I was waiting to upgrade to, and it finally arrived. This will allow me to offer my clients larger and cleaner enlargements, more detail than ever before, and better low-light images. I'm excited to test it out this weekend at the Maine Strobist Event.

Watch this page for some images from the new camera early next week!

All quiet at the cemetary after the ice storm

2009-01-08T15:14:00.001-05:00

Strobist Meetup: Jan 1, 2009

2009-01-02T22:51:00.003-05:00

Here's just a few images from yesterdays Strobist Meetup in Providence. Strobist is really just a way of thinking about light, using tiny portable speedlights to create lighting setups compared to the larger, more studio-type strobes. It's amazing what can be done with these small, but powerful little lights.

I had the pleasure of working with several talented models as well as several very talented photographers. It's amazing the ideas that can be thought up in a space that's little more than a glorified garage.

Visit www.strobist.com for more information.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T22:10:00.001-05:00

Kaela at the Christmas Tree Farm

2008-12-16T17:11:00.003-05:00

It was a little cold, but we worked quickly and got some great shots at a local cut-your-own Christmas tree farm.

Adobe is always thinking ahead

2008-12-01T11:04:00.002-05:00

Below is a quick video showing what a few folks over at Adobe are working on these days. They're always on the forefront of technology, and this seems to be no different. It's pretty cool, I just have to figure out a way that I could use it.

Interactive Video Object Manipulation from Dan Goldman on Vimeo.

A chilly late fall afternoon

2008-11-22T16:33:00.005-05:00

My cousins came over with their little guys the other day for lunch - after which we spent a little time playing with the kick-ball and looking at the ducks. Here's a few pictures from that day.

Interior Shoot in South County

2008-11-05T22:07:00.004-05:00

As much as I've been loving the fast-paced shooting of events, portraits, and senior sessions these past few months, it's nice to be able to slow down at an interior shoot. Slowing down allows you to take some time to examine the frame and all the aspects of what's going on within it before making the exposure. It's a privilege that you don't get when shooting quickly and under time constraints.
This shoot was for Natale Design & Build, a great family-owned business located in Charlestown, RI. They will be revamping their web presence in the near future and needed some updated photography in the process. They were great to work with and their work is stellar. If you're in the South County area, and are planning a remodel or new construction, check out Natale Design & Build.

Desktop image of the week

2008-11-04T16:42:00.002-05:00

Feel free to download and use as your own desktop image. Now that the weather is getting colder, I need something to remind me of the warm, late summer weather. This should do the trick.

Some shots from a recent photography workshop

2008-10-29T10:27:00.007-04:00

I had the opportunity to attend a wedding photography workshop this past Monday that was run by James Hazelwood, a great wedding photographer here in Rhode Island and the PPA. It was great to work alongside other great photographers and observe everyone's individual point of views. Thanks to Jim for running the workshop, and thanks Heather, for being a great model.
Here are a few images from the day.

A senior shoot at the beach

2008-10-14T16:57:00.003-04:00

Fender Deluxe

2008-10-08T14:29:00.001-04:00

Tilt-Shift Lens with the new Canon 5d MarkII Camera

2008-10-08T13:23:00.003-04:00

The tilt shift lenses are one of those rare lenses with a small amount of legitimate uses, but when it is used well, it really looks great. The tilt-shift effect as used in this video blurs all but a small plane of focus and gives the impression that we are looking at a scale model. It's a real neat look.

Additionally, the 5d MarkII is due to come out in the next month or so. It's what was used in this video. If all goes well, I will be updating shortly thereafter.

Bathtub III from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Senior Shoot

2008-10-06T12:08:00.000-04:00

Just a couple from a recent senior shoot.

Nationally Published

2008-09-22T15:12:00.003-04:00

My photography is featured in this month's Country Business Magazine. It's a retailer profile that I shot back in July at Brown and Hopkins Country Store.

Macbook Pro

2008-09-15T14:31:00.003-04:00

Eagerly awaiting arrival of my brand-new, 17" Macbook Pro. Just sharing my anticipation.
Thanks, Brad

Waterfire 8.30.08

2008-09-03T16:40:00.003-04:00

Took a drive up to Waterfire in Providence the other night. Brought along the camera because there's always some great opportunities to shoot things and people while walking around the city while it's bustling with people.

Except, on this particular afternoon, there was nobody in all of downtown it seemed. Here's a shot of an alleyway near PPAC.
And even though the store was open, no one was around to go inside. Very quiet for a Saturday afternoon in the city.
Once Waterfire started to gear up for sundown, people started to wander around. Here's an old man who was drooling over the pastry selection like a seven year old boy. Note the neck tie.

Waterfire isn't complete without the street performers that come out and do their thing to the amazement of everyone around.

Even the cowboy was captivated.

Once the sun went down, things started to get going in Waterplace Park. The rain held off long enough for plenty of people to show up, but the sky was an eerie color from the low clouds and city lights.
Check out the rest of the season of Waterfire at http://www.waterfire.org

Cruise Night

2008-07-24T10:55:00.007-04:00

I went down to Oakland Beach in Warwick the other night to check out their weekly "Cruise Night." Tons of antique and vintage car owners drive their pride and joy down to the beach and park on a nice section of grass that overlooks Narragansett Bay. Car enthusiasts and families come out to peek into the windows and check out the engines of these neat old cars. There's a lot of chrome at Cruise Night. It'd be a fun night for anyone!

Brown & Hopkins, Chepachet, RI

2008-07-11T13:14:00.004-04:00

I had the privilege of shooting "America's Oldest Country Store In Continuous Operation" the other day. I have lived in RI all my life and never visited the village of Chepachet, and I must say, it was a lot of fun. Brown & Hopkins will be featured in an upcoming trade magazine article profiling the country store. Congratulations to them for getting into the magazine! Below are a couple images from the day.

Doesn't everyone have a ski-lift in their front yard?

2008-07-07T15:13:00.006-04:00

I don't. But the home I shot last week did, in fact, include a clear cut, north facing ski slope, complete with tow rope, snow making machine, and lights for night skiing. The shoot was for the interior designer, Patti Watson at Taste Design. She did a great job transforming this home into a work of art!

sky: 6/25/08

2008-06-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

A 95 degree day of shooting

2008-06-19T09:43:00.003-04:00

Recently, during our late-spring heat wave, I shot some portfolio images for a talented local interior designer. Here are just a few of a very impressive (and central air-conditioned) home in Jamestown, RI.

A Willing Model

2008-06-06T11:39:00.001-04:00

Playing with a few new lighting setups.

Wedding

2008-05-09T11:17:00.001-04:00

At a wedding a few weeks ago for my wife's cousin - this little ring bearer loved the spotlight - and loved getting his picture taken.

Arturo Joes Restaurant

2008-04-23T12:08:00.002-04:00

I recently shot the brand new Arturo Joe's Restaurant in Narragansett, RI. It had suffered a fire a while back, and is recently reopen for business. It looks better than ever in there, and though I didn't try anything, I'm sure the food is as good as it used to be.

The Ignitors

2008-04-16T10:49:00.004-04:00

Had a chance to photograph a great local band out of Providence, Rhode Island called The Ignitors. We did some promotional shots before a packed house at the Water Street Cafe, in Fall River, MA. They put on a great show and they really know how to rock!

New Blog!

2008-04-16T10:28:00.003-04:00

Hello, This blog is brand new, but I'd like to get something on here right off the bat. This blog will serve as a supplement to my web site, smithbrad.com, so please check that out if you haven't already done so.

A little about me, I have been involved in photography for quite some time, only recently beginning to use my talents in a more professional capacity. I began photographing architecture, both interior and exteriors, for real estate agents and tradesmen in the Rhode Island area about 5 years ago. I have slowly developed relationships with several different businesses and have enjoyed photographing historic churches, million dollar homes, waterfront cottages, lighthouses, schools, and a variety of other buildings.

As this blog begins, I am developing my talents a little further, into natural portraiture, band & concert photography, as well as building on the architectural and commercial strengths as well.

Thanks for checking out my blog, and check back often (or bookmark / subscribe) , as I hope to be posting recent work and other points of interest rather frequently.

Thanks,
Brad