❀  I had a great time photographing Ember last Saturday in Orlando, FL.

She is so smart & pretty. She didn't like my camera very much, but my camera loved her :)

Here are few favorites! ❀

 

Back in the olden days when photographers used film, it was very very rare that a photographer would ever give the negatives to his/her client. The negatives were the ONLY ones from the event and if something happened to those – there was no way to ever get a quality reprint of any images from the event. Most photographers stored these negatives for years on end just in case they were ever needed again. Times have changed and with it the method of not only taking the images but how we store them as well. There is no longer just one ‘negative’ of an image captured – there can be many and stored on many different media types as well. With it though comes the desire from the clients to also have that ability to have and store their negatives from the event as well – however not all photographers are willing to do so. Those photographers that do offer digital negatives will vary on not only what kind but also what size and finally what kind of copyright you get with those. Confused??? Here’s some things that will hopefully help you wade the waters of the negatives.

What is a digital negative?

A digital negative is the file straight from the camera without any editing. This can be in JPG, TIFF or RAW format depending on what format the photographer captured the image in.

JPG, TIFF and RAW?

That’s photographer speak!!! JPG is the file format that most point-and-shoot cameras shoot in. JPG is the lowest file size of the three and has the lowest dynamic range. JPG is the file format that most photo labs will require. TIFF is the next highest in file size as well as dynamic range but it is rarely recognized as a picture format by photo labs. RAW files are the largest file size but capture the most dynamic range that your camera is capable of capturing in a file. RAW files are not accepted at photo labs.

Dynamic Range?

Dynamic range is the range of color that your eye can see. Have you ever taken a picture at sunset and then looked at the picture and thought the sunset was much more vibrant in person? Your eye can see hundreds of thousands of different colors and can also see in shadow and in light at the same time. Your camera can only ’see’ a fraction of this amount, depending on the camera at most 200 or so, and can only see either the darks or the lights.

Why shoot RAW to go to JPG?

When a photographer shoots in RAW they give themselves the ability to capture both the lights and darks as well as the most colors possible so that in post processing, they have the most color and light information possible to make the best possible image. Shooting in RAW also gives the photographer the ability to lighten and darken an image if the exposure is not perfect. After perfecting the image for color and exposure, the RAW image is then saved as a JPG enabling the image to go to print.

What type of files will be on my disc?

You need to ask your photographer what files will be on your disc if you get one with your package. Most photographers do not release their RAW images files for varying reasons – the biggest one being that the general public typically does not have the ability to open these files. Some photographers give out the JPG images straight from the camera with no edits and some give out the edited images as they want them to be seen.

Does having the disc mean that I own the copyright to them?

No, the only person that has the copyright to the image is the photographer. This means that unless you have a written agreement with your photographer you cannot sell, distribute, print, change or release the images on the disc. Meaning that you are not allowed to take these images to Wal Mart for printing, you cannot submit them to The Knot for publication, you cannot sell the images to US Weekly if you had a celebrity at your reception, you can’t give out copies of the disc to everyone that was at your wedding as a favor, you can’t have a Blurb album made from the images, you can’t photoshop your blemish out, you can’t email the pics to your bridal party, you can’t post them to Facebook/MySpace/Flickr etc. and you can’t give the images to any other vendors that you have had (even if they ask for them!).

So what CAN I do with the images?

When given a digital negative disc with no copyright releases, that basically is a disc for safekeeping for you if something ever happens to your photographer’s set or your printed items.

What if I get a release?

Most photographers will not transfer full copyright to the client, but some will give out a Limited Copyright License Agreement stating that you are able to reprint the files. Keep in mind this is only applicable to the person(s) named on the release, this isn’t for Aunt Sally to take to her local store to print with. Many photo labs will ask for the release and will not give out images to anyone but the person(s) named in the release. Also take note if there is a restriction on the size of the file that you are permitted to print. This still doesn’t mean that you can do what you want with the image files – it only allows you to print the files out.

Low-resolution, mid-resolution, high-resolution – what!?

Each photographer is different on what size of files they offer the client. Some only offer low-resolution files which means that they are only suitable for web use (Facebook, MySpace and the like). Mid-resolution files are usually sized to be printed off as a 4×6 so you can have physical proofs from the wedding but for higher image sizes you have to order prints from the photographer. If you try and be sneaky and print the image off a mid-resolution file at a larger size you may find yourself pretty surprised at how awful the image looks. High-resolution files are the file unsized and should be able to be printed to whatever size your heart desires.

This disc will last forever right?

No, DVDs do have a shelf life of 5-10 years or so on the average. I highly suggest that you back up your images on an archival disc every 3 years or so to ensure that the images will be there for a lifetime. You also may want to back up the images on an external hard drive or another means of data storage in case something ever happens to your disc. Finally, I also highly suggest keeping your disc in a cool, dark space – preferably in a safe.

How long do you keep your files?

I keep my files for one year in a external hard drive. I do not repeat backing up the files. Once you recieve a disc, you are responsible to ensure that the images last a lifetime. Each photographer is different, ask yours how they backup and how long the files are available.

I hope this helps solve a few of the questions that you may have about digital negatives and what all that mumbo-jumbo really means. If you have any questions, please comment and I will do my best to answer them!

I recently visited some of Georgia's State Parks located in the mountains. The first was Tallulah Falls. Home of Tallulah Gorge, an ancient, awesome 1000 foot chasm carved over millions of years by the Tallulah River, Tallulah Falls is actually a series of six waterfalls cascading down through Tallulah Gorge. We visited just 2 of its six water falls, and plan to go back soon to finish the adventure!

The Town, named after the falls, is conveniently located on Highway 441/23 in the Northeast corner of the scenic Georgia mountains, 1 1/2 hours North of Atlanta, and 2 hours south of Asheville, NC.

Along with being the site of Tallulah Gorge State Park, the Town overflows with natural wonders, recreational opportunities, and quite an interesting history. At the dawn of the 20th Century, Tallulah Falls was a bustling resort town that rivaled Niagra Falls. People came from all over to see the waterfalls and the awesome gorge. Go check it for yourself what others have been enjoying for years!

 

Second park: Black Rock Mountain Park

 Amazing views and home of the Foxfire Museum!
Georgia’s highest state park encompasses some of the most outstanding scenery in Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Roadside overlooks provide spectacular 80-mile vistas, and four hiking trails lead visitors past wildflowers, streams, small waterfalls and lush forests. Visitors enjoy the summit visitor center for its views, gift shop and picnic tables.

Mountaintop cottages surround a small playground, while campsites are nestled under rhododendron and gnarled oaks. Tent campers will appreciate the walk-in sites that allow extra privacy. The park’s small lake is popular with anglers and circled by an easy walking trail. At an altitude of 3,640 feet, Black Rock Mountain is often cooler than other Georgia parks and may close during icy weather. RVers should be comfortable driving on steep, winding roads.

 

 

Foxfire Museum:

If you’re traveling anywhere near the mountains of northeast Georgia, plan a visit to Mountain City and take a walk through the past at the Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center, a look at a unique time and place in America's past that is very nearly gone - a glimpse of a rich past captured by local high school students who truly valued their heritage.

There you will find homes, tools, trades, crafts, and a look at the lifestyle of the all-but-vanished pioneer culture of the Southern Appalachian mountains. Foxfire students began interviewing their families, friends, and neighbors in 1966. Many times, these folks would give the students some old tools or the finished hand-crafted items they were discussing or documenting. Very quickly, Foxfire was growing an extensive artifact collection. When The Foxfire Book became a national phenomenon, Foxfire gained a source of capital (book royalties) to fund new growth. In 1974, Foxfire students elected to purchase land on Black Rock Mountain and created a physical presence in the community. From the beginning, the students intended this property to be a place of interaction between themselves, their work, and their community.

 

 

Third Park: Amicalola Falls

Spectacular scenery and hiking trails make this one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascade in the Southeast. Visitors have choices on how to best view the tumbling waters, ranging from an accessible pathway to a challenging trail with staircases. Those who tackle the latter can join the park’s Canyon Climbers Club. An 8.5-mile trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the famous 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail. Numerous other trails provide shorter day hikes. We already got our anual pass for Georgia's State Parks and are commited to explore them all! :)