Brian and the Roadster

Posted by Chris on January 29, 2012 · 4 Comments

We had no idea when we met him at the Lookout on Ortega Highway on New Years day who Brian was. He rolled up in this amazing Hot Rod, looking like he walked right out of the 1950′s. When we made contact and he agreed to meet us back at the Lookout Road house early on a Saturday morning, we had no idea how great the shoot would go.

However, Brian is as authentic as they come. He wears many hats: He designed and built the awesome hot rod himself. He is a painter of amazing talent. A clothing designer with unmatched style. A musician with a rare set of lungs. A surfer that can rip with the big boys. A minister that is filled with gentle spirituality. He is a devoted, husband and an amazing father.

Everything happens for a reason. A spur of the moment decision to go for a ride; taking the camera on a whim; snapping the photograph that lead to a conversation. The conversation that lead to this collection of photos. You never know what is coming down the road, or why. Sometimes you just have to go with it, and see where it will lead you.

Filed under For Photographers, Individuals, Just Because, Moments Shared, Portraits, Recent Posts, Speedlite Journal, Theme Shoots · Tagged with Brian Bent, hot rod, roadster, u50, vintage

After the Wedding

Posted by Chris on November 3, 2011 · Leave a Comment

When we first met Angelica and Mark, it was three weeks before their wedding, not enough time to shoot an engagement session for them. But we got together recently for a “Day after” session, at the Montage in Laguna Beach. It was a dreary, overcast afternoon. The threatening rain never materialized but it was down right chilly at times. Angelica’s radiant smile, never faded. She looked like a princess. Mark looked like the luckiest guy in the world. This fun, truly happy couple are one of the reasons I love wedding photography. Being able to be a part of life affirming moments, and sharing in the joy, never gets old. Thank you Angelica and Mark, it was a pleasure, again.

These photos were lit with 1 or 2 Blackbelt Lighting Speed light kits.

Filed under For Photographers, Recent Posts, Speedlite Journal, The Day After, Weddings & Engagements · Tagged with

Orange County Photo Club September Meetup

Posted by Chris on September 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Well, it wasn’t supposed to go like this. Kerry, who organizes the club was out of town for our September gathering. He asked me if I could handle things while he was gone and I thought it would be fun to do a little mini shoot with my photography friends. Debra served up her lovely daughter as a volunteer, and since she just graduated high school, we thought it would be fitting to do a “Senior Photo Session”. The only problem is when you have one model and a dozen photographers, you lose some of the nuances of a portrait session. So this shoot quickly became more of an editorial type shoot I guess. None the less, it was great fun shooting with the group.

Filed under For Photographers, Recent Posts, Speedlite Journal · Tagged with

The Day After with Ryan and Candice

Posted by Chris on August 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Candice and Ryan were married in June but we got together for another shoot at Laguna Beach on Saturday. Candice wanted something unique, something that reflecting the nature of their marriage. The sun was hidden by a thick layer of clouds that looked like a storm was blowing up. There were signs warning about the high surf. But Candice and Ryan braved the chilly air and the rough surf . Sometimes a cloudy day can yield some shining results. Ryan watched while his bride climbed up on the rocks, bare foot and beautiful. He was watchful, but never told her to be careful. While the surf crashed around them, and tried to pull us out too, we dug in deep and found some good light, made some of our own.

Candice with her fun loving,wild spirit–is married to a man whose patience, calm, and strength made him an anchor in her life.

Filed under For Photographers, Recent Posts, Speedlite Journal, The Day After, Weddings & Engagements · Tagged with "The Photography Blog of Chris Diset a wedding photographer based in Orange County, bridal portraits, California, Chris Diset Photography, engagements, Laguna Beach, orange county, Orange County Weddings, photographer FAQs, photojournalism, photojournalist, trash the dress.photo blog, wedding photographer, Wedding Photography

Let There Be Light!

Posted by Chris on July 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment

It doesn’t happen in Southern California very often, but occasionally you get one of those days when the marine layer is so thick, you have no idea where the sun is. Shooting an outdoor wedding in these conditions are going to leave you with very flat images. You can adjust for this kind of situation and still get great images but without any light you are void of any contrast and shadows. When night falls it gets even more interesting. You can slap a flash on your camera and add a kick of light that will make the colors pop a little more. But I think even better, is to set up an off camera light source as I did here for these images. What do you think?

: Laguna Village Bride

Filed under For Photographers, Recent Posts, Speedlite Journal, Tips and Suggestions, Weddings & Engagements · Tagged with

Sometimes you gotta ‘gel’

Posted by Chris on March 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Sometime photographers use a colored gel on their flash to modify the color of the light.

Silhouette with Speedlites

I like to occasionally bust out the gels for dramatic effect.

In the silhouette, our model is facing away from the camera. We used 2 flashes above and in front of the subject. One flash was a bare bulb shot at the model to create the silhouette and cast a shadow behind her. On the second flash, which was aimed down the face of the wall, we used a blue gel for effect.

The photo of my sons toy car was fun. I placed it on a upside down checker board that had a surface that kind of looked like asphalt. Behind the car I placed a bare flash that almost gives it a look of another cars headlights or a street lamp. Camera left was a red gelled flash and camera right was a blue gelled flash.

I did the same thing with this conch shell with the addition or an orange gel to the 3rd light. So if you are a photographer with a flash, pick up some gels and color your images!

Cobra

Conch shell lit with 3 gelled speedlites

Filed under For Photographers, Recent Posts, Speedlite Journal · Tagged with

Photographer Fun

Posted by Chris on March 20, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Occasionally photographers like to get in front of the camera. Well, not this photographer, but Photog Debra and Photog Tamara got decked out for a fun little shoot at the Lab in Costa Mesa. Photog Kerry and I rolled up a little before 4:00 and checked out a couple spots we thought would be fun to shoot. At the same time, the ladies were in a bar getting their drink on before the shoot. Armed with a handful of flashes, a soft box and other light modifiers, we set up for the shoot. Heres a little collection of some of my favorites.