13.11.09
Californian Wedding Photographer Jeff Newsom Interviewed
Jeff Newsom brings a rock'n'roll American attitude to his wedding photography that we find hard to resist. Love it or hate it you can'y ignore it- or him. So we asked fellow American and wedding photographer Crash Taylor to find out more about his awesome world and his awesome images.
“I wear my excitement on my sleeve and I think that my clients pick up on that” - Jeff Newsom
Crash Taylor: Tell us a little bit about Jeff Newsom.
Jeff Newsom: I like awesome people, awesome places and awesome things.
Where is home?
I live in San Luis Obispo, California.
Before we continue, what is your current state of mind?
Running on three hours of sleep.
Did you go to college to study photography?
Yes, it took me a whole six hours before I dropped out.
How long have you been working as a photographer?
Not long, maybe five years.
And as a wedding photographer?
About the same.
What or who got you started in wedding photography?
I wasn’t a big fan of wedding photos at the time and thought I could contribute something new and different.
How would you describe your style?
A voltron of awesomeness.
How many weddings do you average per year?
I shoot about 50 each year.
What cameras do you shoot with?
I shoot with two Canon EOS-1DS MkIII bodies and I carry an EOS-1D MkIII as a reserve.
If you had to choose one lens which would it be?
I’d have to say the 24mm f/1.4. All my favourite photos come from that lens.
What lighting equipment do you take on a shoot?
I have two Canon Speedlite 580EX II flashguns, two 580EX guns and an LED light panel.
Can you describe how and when you use flash, video light, reflectors and natural light during a wedding?
I only use flash to capture dark receptions and I only use my LED light occasionally for portraits. Everything else I shoot with available light.
Other than your computer, what is your favourite accessory for editing work?
My dual 30in screens, they look glorious together.
How important is Photoshop in your final images?
Very unimportant. In fact, I barely touch it. I finally feel I have mastered my own workflow.
Can you describe your photographic workflow after a wedding?
It’s all really simple. I download my cards, flag my photos in Lightroom, process and export. Quick, easy and awesome.
How do you feel about cropping an image?
I crop all the time, feels good.
What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such amazing imagery?
My clients inspire me. I love awesome people and I believe I have the most awesome clients on earth!
How many images do you average per wedding and how many do you usually present to your clients?
I shoot between 2500 and 3000 on average. I typically deliver around 600 finished images.
How do you make everyone feel relaxed in front of your Canon EOS-1DS?
I wear my excitement on my sleeve and I think my clients pick up on that. We basically just have a good time hanging out, and next thing you know, we have a ton of photos.
Have you ever had anything go wrong at a wedding?
I don’t have any crazy war stories, unfortunately; just standard stuff like broken gear, dropped lenses and a bottle of wine on a wedding dress. I bring extra gear and a bunch of wet wipes.
What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?
Waking up early.
What do you think of the wedding photography industry at the moment and where do you see it in five years from now?
I think it is an incredible industry. People are getting so good so fast! And the overall quality of work gets better every single year. There seems to be a rise of an extremely anti-competitive attitude and willingness to help colleagues improve and grow. I hope in five years to get my mind blown more often and I really hope to keep up!
Name a wedding photographer who inspires you?
Every wedding photographer who is making art for themselves, for the sake of art and who isn’t motivated by money.
A website and/or blog you visit often…?
Gizmodo.com.
www.jeffnewsom.com
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