I am a Photographer

My name is Ethan Righter, and I am a Photographer. I was inspired to become a photographer after my mother passed when I was 15 years old. The only thing I inherited from my mother was her Nikon 4004S. Living in a small town called Sunol (the neighboring town is Niles Canyon, where Charlie Chaplin’s films were made), I began adventuring through the woods and photographing everything I possibly could. I was captured. After finding out every generation in my family had been amateur photographers at one point or another, I made it my life’s goal to become a successful photographer. I began shooting on black and white film and then shot color. Once accepted at Hallmark Institute Of Photography when I was 19, I graduated to Medium Format, and Large Format film. Even shooting with a Digital Aptus back connected to a Mamiya 645 AFD. My love for capturing fractions of a second is endless. 

I am a Geek, a Dreamer, an Entrepreneur, and most important, a Photographer. 

I want my work to move people, like my mother’s camera did to me.

 

Keys to a Great Engagement Session

First things first! 

When you and your sweetheart are ready for an engagement photography session sit down and figure out what sort of photographs you are looking for. Do you want casual or formal, posed or candid?

When meeting with your photographer make sure to express exactly what you're looking for in engagement photographs.

Second!

Where do you want that photo session to take place? 

Backgrounds reflect a couples personality and create a story. The more creative the better.

Great places:

The place you met for the first time

The Ice Cream store you used to go to

Your Favorite Restaurant 

Local Landmarks 

Botanical Gardens 

Third!

Don't be too matchy-matchy. The worst thing you can do is both wear blue jeans and the same color shirt. Seeing that you will be hugging and holding eachother through out the session, similar colors blend together and create a BIG two headed human. Stick with the same tones. Dark colors works well, as they are slimming.

 

FINAL THOUGHT. DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE! HAVE FUN.

What Makes a Great Portrait?

Comfort

When I am photographing a subject, I don’t immediately pull out my camera and start shooting away. I want my subject to know that I’m not just a photographer. I want them to talk to me as a person and become my friend, and that I happen to have a camera. In most cases (especially shooting short sessions) you have to make a 5 minute friend. Let your subject know you’re not just a photographer. There is nothing more I enjoy than to meet new people. Your subject’s comfort is number one priority, everything after that is cake! True feeling can be expressed when everyone is relaxed. The best portraits I’ve captured are when my subjects and I are connected and comfortable.

Here are a few examples.

A Few Favorites

                

Every wedding I photograph is a blast. The mood of the day is always happy and bright. Love is in the air! 
When photographing, I am constantly on the prowl for the angle no else envisions.

The best part of the day is knowing that I am capturing an event that will only happen once in my clients life. I hope you enjoy the photographs as much as I enjoyed creating them.

- Ethan