Stay on the sunny side, but this made me chuckle

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know it's a little early, but I'm hoping to take a l'il break from the Internet in the coming week. Don't worry ... I'll be back the first week of December, ready to serve you! You can still contact me via e-mail anytime, at todd@toddovermanphoto.com.

Photography as a diversion

I feel fortunate to be working as a part-time contractor. Sure, I miss full-time pay. The flexibility, however, is awesome. Whenever I need a break, I might take a walk outside. These first two photos were taken from the office where I work a couple of days a week. I noticed the gentleman fishing and loved his classic-looking outfit and the reflections. This was taken a little after lunchtime one day.


I stepped onto the back patio as the sun was setting (and I was about to begin my night duties at my job), and the man was still there. He was no longer fishing, but rather just enjoying the scene. For me, his enjoying the scene was part of the scene.


For this casual shot, I liked the way the sign contrasted with the relaxing pasture on the other side of the barbed wire. Where I was, there was a public park and hiking trail. A few steps further down the trail, there was a curious llama, but he was in too much shadow to fire off a good shot without stepping closer and spooking him.

Taking random photos is one way I like to beat stress (besides bicycling, jogging or taking a nap). You don't need a fancy camera or any plan to do it. Just go.

Portraits of a sweet family

I had the opportunity to photograph a wonderful family on Sunday. We chose Prairie Creek Park (shhhh, don't tell anyone about the waterfalls ... it was crowded enough!) and it ended up being a wonderful location.




The grandparents tagged along, too (see above and below images).

Another cool aspect of this shoot was that I went to high school with the mom. It was very nice to briefly reconnect with her and meet her beautiful children, too. I have more edits to do but am striving to complete them this week so the family can pick the ones they like best.

Live in DFW and love the location depicted here? Contact me to set up your family's portrait session soon! Eventually the trees won't have any leaves left at all. If possible, I'd recommend a weekday for the session. That's sometimes tough to do, but this particular Sunday wasn't even all that busy. Still, we had to dodge other families and photogs.

Rainy-day Wedding

I had the opportunity to help photograph a wedding last month in Mansfield. The ceremony was originally scheduled to be outdoors, with the couple and bridal party beneath a gazebo. The guests, however, were to be seated in the open. The weather had another idea, with sporadic heavy showers forcing the entire wedding indoors to the reception hall. Still a beautiful ceremony, but dark! The tables were decorated with beautiful fall flowers.


The couple's cake was elegant, with the initial of their last name beautifully added on the front.


The groom's cake was stunning, topped by chocolate cowboy boots on top, edged with little chocolate Texas shapes and with realistic chocolate rope.


The venue featured a photo booth, and people had a great time dressing up with the available props and taking photos of themselves. The booth produced a strip of little pictures that served as souvenirs for the wedding (complete with the wedding couple's names and the date).


I got a great shot of the kiss during the ceremony, but usually my favorite is the moment right afterward.


Most of the weddings I've photographed with other photographers, I've ended up being the one with the widest lens. At 17 mm, the people begin to become a little distorted at the edges similar to a photo taken with a fisheye lens. But here's everyone there!


Here the couple shares some quiet time alone in the reception hall before making their grand exit.


By the time the couple went to leave, the rain had momentarily slowed to a drizzle. Guests lit sparklers, which mixed with the orange lights under the porch made for some interesting colors. Here the happy couple gets ready to step into the Rolls Royce that was rented for the occasion. What a beautiful car! And what a sweet couple. I had time only to talk briefly to the groom.

Getting married or know anyone who is? So far I have two bookings for 2010. I would love to be considered to document and share your special day!

Inside Cowboys Stadium

We went to part of a high school playoff game today at Texas Stadium, but I don't have any photos. Well, I didn't take many and didn't take any of my camera gear (we had my wife's point-and-shoot). The rules weren't strictly being enforced, as it was high school football, but the published rules at the Stadium Web site say that still cameras are allowed if the lenses are 3 inches or smaller in length. Sad to say, but I no longer own a lens that fits that spec! Maybe Santa can bring me one for Christmas so that I don't have to feel guilty about taking a camera the next time I get to go.

The place was awesome. From a photography standpoint, at mid-day with daylight-balanced artificial lighting, it would've been dream conditions to shoot in. There were several credentialed photogs on the field with monster lenses having a good time of it, I'm sure!

Hello, lovely!

It's a good thing I'm not in the market for a new camera. This will be Canon's new top-of-the-line professional digital SLR, shipping to the public sometime next month.

Be clear that a photographer's knowledge, experience and instincts have more to do with the type of image that emerges much more than the camera used. Cameras are merely tools. If one needs a camera of this caliber to make pretty pictures, something is wrong.

But who said anything about need? I want one!