Off Camera Flash Sally and Patryk

Okay, I forgot to post a few killer off camera flash shots I grabbed from Sally and Patryk's wedding so I wanted to share. I get allot of emails from other photographers asking me how to go about using the off camera flash technique so I thought I would share a few tips.

- I always start with my flash(s) set at manual 1/8 power to start and then adjust from there. I use a Canon 5D, 3 - 580 EXII flashes (one on my camera with a diffuser attached) plus 3 - Pocket wizards w/ light stands.

-The first thing I always try to do is grab a test shot with the available light so I can adjust the power on my flash(s) and camera settings. Use your assistant or 2nd shooter if available.

- Once you find your correct settings it's really all technique and creativity from there.

- Make sure your subject is in between you and your flash. The tricky part for the rim lighting effect is making sure you can't see the flash in your viewfinder. It's best for the flash to be either behind your subjects head(s) (about 10 feet) or just out of the frame in your camera. Although, sometimes you can get some really cool effects with the flash directly in your sight. It's all relevant to your style and the "look" your going for.

- Sometimes to make it easier, I will set up two flashes to offset the couple dancing and hit different angles (can be tough when they are moving quickly). Of course the slower they dance the easier it is to track your flashes and place them where you want in your frame.

- And last but not least, be creative! Put the flash or flashes all over the place. On the floor, 10 feet in the air or even across the room. It's all trial by error from there.

Here are a few from my last wedding.


Here the flash was on the ground pointing up towards heads.

Here the flash was about 10 feet behind the brides head.
Here the flash was just out of my frame on the floor which allowed the cool burst effect.
This one broke my own rules with the flash directly at the top half of the frame. I love this one because of the light shower effect.
Again, just off the outside of the frame. This gives an awesome light streaking effect.

I enjoy using the flashes to give the dance shots life and to create atmosphere. I think it works.

Eric

Foley Farms Maple Syrup = mmmmmmmmmmm!

As some of you already know, we bought a new home this past December. One of the coolest things this home has to offer is a 1/3 acre yard with a handful of sugar maple trees. And you know what comes from sugar maple trees right? Maple syrup!!!!!! So I took some tips from my good friend Gabe who taps his trees in Tolland and gave it a whirl. Needless to say it was nothing short of amazing!! I guess it gave me a sort of "primitive" sense of accomplishment (or something like that????) to utilize mother nature in her purest form.

I'm still collecting sap so I can have enough to throw a Foley Farms French Toast party featuring my wife Erin's famous pumpkin french toast. Seriously, so stay tuned! The one draw back is that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 cup of syrup. That's right! 40 to 1, and now you now why the real stuff is sooo expensive.

Check it out! 1st batch = 2 1/2 cups

XL Center - Hartford Bridal Expo! 2.22.2009

I will be attending the Hartford Civic Center (XL Center) this Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

I have 4 tickets available so if your interested in going and would like to save the 10$ bucks, shoot me an email asap! Come down and say hello and check out all the stuff we will have on display.

Hope to see you there!

The Cascade - Sally and Patryk!!

Welcome the 2009 wedding season! Congratulations Sally and Patryk! This was a great way to start off 2009. This wedding was awesome in so many ways I can't even begin to explain. Okay, so of course I'm not going to leave you hanging like that. 1st off, my girl Sally is from my home town of Hard Hittin New Britain so you know she's cool. 2nd, I went to school with her sister Concetta, who almost killed me because I couldn't remember her (it's been a loooooong 16 years). And 3rd, she had her whole family flown to the states from the old country (my families native land, Sicili). It doesn't get much better than that :)

Oh, by the way, Patryk is an awesome guy too! Seriously! I'd have to say, these two are my most laid back couple of 2009 (so far?) Sally was a true BRIDE CHILLA and Patryk was like "what ever". We had a great time and I know they did too.



These 1st four are taken at the Salon Medusa in W.Hartford. Wow, this place was screaming with color. I fely like I was inside a comic book. Very cool.


So I guess this was Medusa?
When I look at this image I hear Jefferson Airplane ringing in my ear.


The Groom.


They had these awesome individual wedding cakes for their guest, how cool.
I just love the texture overlay combined with the patter on the wall.
The beautiful bride!


This ring shot was taken on top of a piano with a christmas tree behind it. Love the lights!

Laura and Steve....Happy New Years Wedding Part 1

Okay, so everything is slowly getting back to normal. Yes we are still living out of boxes and bags (which I can't tell you how crazy that drives me. Those who know me well know I am very particular about my stuff) but it's all coming together. As much as I thought buying a house in the winter was crazy, I couldn't imagine what it would have been like doing so in the middle of the wedding season.

Anyway, introducing one of the first couples of the new year, Laura and Steve! Two of the coolest cats I've met in a while. They had to be that cool because it was like 6 degrees at their wedding at the Pond House in West Hartford. We were running in and out of the Pond House in between shots just to stay warm. Needless to say, I think Laura made Steve, Craig and I look like wimps. She totally toughed it out while I was looking for every excuse to warm my bald head.

There where so many awesome shots we grabbed so I will post more later. And you know there is going to be more off camera flash :)

Another special thank you to Craig Freeman for shooting this one with me as well.



I used a custom white balance for the tungsten lighting on this one. Some times my 5D over compensates for the lighting but for this one I think it came out pretty cool.


It wasn't hard making Laura look beautiful. She pretty much took care of that naturally. I love this image, it reminds me of a European fashion magazine ad



Steve had such a great, natural smile. How in love are they!

I was Impressed with the Pond House decor. They had quite the winter spread.

Back From The Dead!

Finally!!!!! Internet is back up and we are ready to roll! I have some back posting to do so sit tight. I have two weddings coming up including a winter new years night wedding.

Almost there!

Okay, so this whole moving/transition into the new house is for the birds! We are still staying at the in-laws place so we can straighten things out. Right now I have bathroom stuff in the basement, bedroom stuff in the kitchen and things that will eventually end up in the attic in my living room. So to say the least, we are still moving. On the brighter side, tomorrow night will be the first night we officially stay at our new house.

The cable is hooked up and the studio renovations are in the works! I will be completely up on line tomorrow and ready to handle business as usual! Can't wait!

Please Bare With Me :)

As some of you already know, my wife and I just bought a house in Unionville, CT. That being said, I am going to be without internet service until Thursday. I will be checking my email and blogging from my in-laws house until then. We moved during that ridiculous snow storm on Saturday so we pretty much just dumped everything in the new house.

I will tell you this, I don't plan on moving EVER AGAIN!!! And if I do, you better believe it will be in a house that we have built new. That means no painting and no fixing up before we move in. Oh yeah, and we are going to hire Mayflower movers too!

So please, as the title states, bare with me until then. BTW, the new house is also going to be the home of my new studio! It has a separate entrance, vaulted ceilings and it's completely enclosed. It's about a 12x20 space, I'll keep you all posted!

IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!

Finally, after months of weddings (26 to be exact), e-shoots, kids, procrastination, technical difficulties and just a plain ole' lack of time, the new and improved Eric Foley Photography website is live!

I have to thank my wife Erin for dealing with me and supporting me (as she always does) while I stressed and stressed over the site since May. I am completely relieved and can now, hopefully, get some sleep. I'd also like to thank the Livebooks crew who did a great job on the site (especially Sherwin, Jericho and the rest of their awesome customer service team).

Click on the link to see the site! www.ericfoleyphotography.com

Kristen and Mike - Via Candace Jeffery

I got to hang out with one of my good friends Candace, from Candace Jeffery Photography last week. We hit up H-town for a crazy chilly e-shoot with Kristen and Mike. Here are a few images I grabbed. She also took a ton of shots of me in action so click here if you want to check them out.


Here is a shot I grabbed of Candace getting busy.
You could just see the love on their faces




I call this image "American Love" Notice the U.S. Flag?


I love this image with the texture accept for that damn yankee hat!


When I told them to jump in front of the bus they looked at me like I was crazy. Hey, at least it wasn't moving.

More crazy lights from Constitution Plaza.