Sports Stars - Boston Mazlin (Basketball, Athletics, Touch, Oz Tag and maybe Aussie Rules.

This weeks star is Boston. Boston can do it all, and at his age he is having trouble deciding what sport he really wants to pursue. He is outstanding at Basketball, Oz Tag, Touch and Athletics. Aussie Rules is interested because of his athleticism, yet through it all he has remained very grounded. It is an interesting balancing act that his parents go through with all the sports that he is involved in. That goes for all the parents we have interviewed so far, the balancing act of allowing the kids to pursue sporting ambition while still being active on the school front.

ls: What sports do you play?
bm: Basketball, Oz Tag, AFL, Soccer.
ls: What clubs do you play for?
bm: Whirlwinds Basketball, Black Hawkes Oz Tag and AFL Hawkes
ls: What position do you play?
bm: Point Guard. 
ls: How long have you been playing?
bm: 7 years
ls: Who is your sporting hero?
bm: Kevin Durant from the Oklahoma City Thunder
ls: What representative honours have you achieved?
bm: Oz Tag I've represented Townsville and Queensland and in Basketball, Townsville and North Queensland.
ls: How did you get involved in these sports?
bm: Both my parents played basketball.
ls: How much time is involved?
bm: Training 3 time a week and shoot everyday.
ls: What is the best part of playing sports?
Lauren: Team mates and the trips away.
ls: What is the worst part of playing sport?
bm: Long hours training.
ls: What was your favourite event?
bm: The Classics (Basketball), travel with the team and play for a week in tournaments.
ls: Why did you choose these sports?
bm: I chose basketball because my parents played it and AFL because my cousins play it
ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
bm: Winning the under 12 basketball final and scoring 45 points.
ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
bm: Shoot everyday and listen to coaches.
ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?
bm: To play for Australia and to go to college in the United States
ls: How do you set your goals?
bm: It depends on the tournament I am getting ready for.
ls: What is the best advise you were ever given?
bm: Play hard and have fun.
ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
bm: You have to want to succeed more than you want to breath.
ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
bm: My Mum & Dad, they help me so much, without them I could not do what I do.
ls: What do you do in your spare time away from the sport?
bm: Train and video games.
ls: Do you have a pre-match routine?
bm: Stretch and shoot the ball.
ls: Anything else you would like to share?
bm: Thanks to all the coaches who have put time into me.

Bostons parents are both successful in their own right. I met Justin and Megan a few years ago while doing club photos for some of the Basketball clubs in Townsville. It was obvious that Justin had a love of photography similar to mine, so we have spent a lot of time taking cameras and action photography. Every time Boston is playing a sport, there is Justin with his camera trying to capture the perfect image.

ls: Thanks for bringing Boston in for today's shoot. How much time is spent driving and attending training and game days?
jm: We live close by so not much time in travel. Boston trains about 9 hours a week.
ls: Is there a limit to the number of sports they can play?
jm: Yes, they have started to clash so a decision will have to be made to choose only a few sports soon.
ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?
jm: Getting to know a range of different people and dealing with those people. 
ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to play the sport and in getting them to practice and train?
jm: No, Boston enjoys training.
ls: Do you enjoy going to the games?
jm: Yes.
ls: How much impact does the cost of the sports have?
jm: It hasn't yet, but as he gets older I'm sure it will start.
ls: Thanks for your time Boston and Justin, good luck in the future with you goals and ambitions. I have seen how hard you train so I'm sure you will do very well into the future.

I know that the background on the last image is not the Oz tag grounds, but you have to admit it is a spectacular background. This will be the last sports star for a couple of weeks, we are of to get background images. Please email the office if you are interested in participating in the project. We will get back to you.

Sports Stars: Lauren (Rowing & Netball)

Our week 3 sports star in Lauren, a student at Saint Margaret Mary College in Townsville. Leiden Studios has been fortunate enough to have know Lauren since she was very young and have watched her develop into who she is today.

ls: What sports do you play?
Lauren: Netball & Rowing.
ls: What clubs do you play for?
Lauren: Phoenix Netball and Saint Margaret Mary College Rowing.
ls: What position do you play?
Lauren: WD, GD, GK (Wing Defense, Goal Keeper and Goal Defense) & I row in 3 seat.
ls: How long have you been playing?
Lauren: 6 years netball and this was my first year of rowing.
ls: What representative honours have you achieved?
Lauren: Div 1 Townsville Netball 2012-2013, Div 2 TCNAI 2013. I won the under 14 single sculls rowing at the Queensland State Titles  earlier this year.
ls: How did you get involved in these sports?
Lauren: With netball, my mother started watching and encouraged me to join. With rowing my brother, Tom, had started the year before and I was determined to give it a try 
ls: How much time is involved?
Lauren: When both sports are going it is about 18 hours a week, only including the official training sessions.
ls: What is the best part of playing sports?
Lauren: The feeling that you have achieved something you never thought was you could accomplish.
ls: What is the worst part of playing sport?
Lauren:The worst part is making a mistake that affects the whole team.
ls: What was your favourite event?
Lauren: I loved the State championships because of the friends going and because of the bus ride and competition.
ls: Why did you choose these sports?
Lauren:I chose netball because it is fun and always challenging. I chose rowing because all my closest friends are also doing it and it's an all round fitness sport.
ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
Lauren: Winning the under 14 single skulls at the QLD State Titles.
ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
Lauren: Always pushing how hard I can go, how strong I really am.
ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?
Lauren: My ultimate achievement would be to win the under 15 single scull for Queensland and maybe to go to the nationals, eventually.
ls: How do you set your goals?
Lauren: I set my goals with small distances so that I can have something to look forward too.
ls: What is the best advise you were ever given?
Lauren: YOLO (You only live once).
ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
Lauren: Life is not measured by how many breaths that you take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Lauren: My Family.
ls: What do you do in your spare time away from the sport?
Lauren: watch movies.
ls: Do you have a pre-match routine?
Lauren: I talk to myself coming up and crack my right thumb.
ls: Anything else you would like to share?
Lauren: Not at this stage.

After the first couple of interviews we were getting quite a variety of responses. We also had a range of parents asking what the requirements were to be included in this project with a couple not being able to go to representative sides due to a variety of reasons. So we though we get get a bit of feed back from the parents as well.

ls: Thanks for your time deb and for bringing Lauren in for this shoot. How much time is involved  with travel to training and to compete?
Deb: The bus takes Lauren to school, but for the rest about 2 hours a week with pick ups and drop offs.
ls: Is there a limit to the number of sports they can play?
Deb: Not really as long as there is a balance with their sport and school work.
ls: Are there benefits to them playing different sports?
Deb: the diversity of friends and the different muscle groups that it works. 
ls: Are there difficulties in getting them to play the sport and in getting them to practice and train?
Deb: SMMC helps with transport but netball we have tot drop off and pick up.
ls: Do you enjoy going to the games?
Deb: Always.
ls: Thanks for your time Lauren and Deb, good luck in the future with you goals and ambitions. As a rower I know how difficult and time consuming the sport can be, so good luck defending the title next year.

Sports Stars 2 - Chloe (Netball)

Our week 2 sports star is Chloe, who currently plays for the Phoenix Netball club in Townsville. She plays in the under age team and the Premier League. She has represented Townsville at the State Championships and made North Queensland sides. She is currently going through the trials process to made the QLD state side. Chloe attends Saint Margaret Mary School. We sad down with Chloe and her grand mother to talk about what she has achieved so far in Netball.

ls: What sports do you play?
cc: Netball & Touch.
ls: What clubs do you play for?
cc: Phoenix Netball and Brothers Touch.
ls: What position do you play?
ls: GD & GK (Goal Keeper and Goal Defense)
ls: How long have you been playing?
cc: 8 years.
ls: Who is your sporting hero?
cc: Laura Geitz from the QLD Firebirds and Australia. (Laura is currently the captain of the Australian Netball side)

ls: What representative honours have you achieved?
cc: Townsville, North Queensland and QLD Netball Squad.
ls: How did you get involved in these sports?
cc: Through my mother and friends. 
ls: How much time is involved?
cc: 6 days a week
ls: What is the best part of playing sports?
cc: Going away to carnivals with my teams.
ls: What is the worst part of playing sport?
cc: Having to balance sport with school work.
ls: What was your favourite event?
CC: Going away with my North Queensland netball team.
ls: Why did you choose these sports?
cc: I chose to play netball as my older sister played netball and my mum loved the sport. I chose to play touch because I wanted to participate in a fun sport with all my friends.
ls: What is your biggest accomplishment in your sport?
cc: Winning sports women of the year and making the Queensland Under 17's State Netball team.
ls: What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
cc: Always try my best and push myself each training session and game.
ls: What would be your ultimate achievement?
cc: To make a Queensland and then Australian team for netball.
ls: How do you set your goals?
cc: I set my goals by creating new challenges.
ls: What is the best advise you were ever given?
cc: Never give up, try your hardest, play hard but enjoy yourself.
ls: Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
cc: Be the best person that you can be.
ls: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
cc: Famous sports people, my coaches and my mother.
ls: What do you do in your spare time away from the sport?
cc: Spend my time with my family and friends.
ls: Do you have a pre-match routine?
cc: I eat a small snack.
ls: Anything else you would like to share?
cc: Not at this stage.
ls: Thanks for your time Chloe, good luck in the future with you goals and ambitions. Thanks also to your grand mother for bringing you to the shoot. 

Leiden Studios has been lucky enough this year to have photographed both Chloe and her older sister this year. I would like to thank the Cooper family for the privilege and offer both girls all the success in the future.

Christmas is Close

Christmas is Looming.

Did you know it is only 120 days or so until Christmas? Where has yet another year gone? So how have you gone with your plans and goals for the year? At this time of the year, it is a great time to assess how you are going and put plans in place for the rest of the year. Did you notice how much the kids have grown? So when was the last time you had some family portraits done?

Baby Portraits.

So are you stuck for a Christmas idea? What are you going to give your family? What about parents, grandparents and the rest of your family? Always a great idea is to get your family photographed by a professional photographer. An annual trip to a professional photographer will allow you to document your family as time goes by. There is nothing like today to get it done.

Studio Portraits.

Family photography can be done in a number of ways. The quickest, but not always the easiest is to use a studios with studios lighting. While some studios may be set up to utilise natural light, most will rely on studio flash. Studios shoots can be very creative because of the ability to control light and at various times of the day may be the best option. Daylight can be very harsh and while it is possible to do portrait shoots at midday, it is easier to do these in the studio.

Themed Portraits.

Location photography can bring a different dynamic to your shoot as you can customise the shoot to your family. Props like chairs, balloons, picnic set, even family pets can be used. Once captured, these images will last forever. Procrastination is the worst thing when it get to family portraits and as everyone knows, time passes so quickly.

Senior Portraits.

As we get closer to the end of the year, our grade 12 students are getting ready to leave school and enter society. A great memento for both the parents and the student is a senior's portrait shoot. The students schooling life can be incorporated into the shoot to give a pictorial history of the last year at school.

Summer Portrait Offer.

Our summer special just in time for Christmas is the family mini session. Thirty minutes along the river or in the studio and we will provide up to 20 digital images for you to select from. Places are limited so phone in to book your place. The offer is valid until the end of September.

Thanks to everyone who has used our services during 2013. We have had wonderful couples, family's and a couple of new sports clubs over the years as well as our regular clubs. We love doing your photographs and are looking forward to working with you next year. 

Over the next few posts we will provide a few tips on how to get the best out of your portrait session. Stay tuned.

Finding Your Wedding Photographer

Previously, I wrote about the process of finding you wedding photographer. It is a very difficult decision, made harder by the sheer number of people calling themselves a professional photographer. There is a wide range of abilities and price differences between the photographers and I have to say, like all professions, you get what you paid for, Generally.

There is a lot more to wedding photography than being able to compose a photograph in camera. Most people that get into wedding photography, start with an interest in photography and then get asked by friends to cover a wedding. All very well, except there is a big difference to taking photos for fun and the expectation of a wedding shoot. Suddenly, if you stuff it up, there is no come back. No real way to go back and re shoot the event. Even if you had the resources, the photos are never the same.

So the basics of wedding photography begin with an understanding of the camera and it's settings. Modern cameras are amazing. Really, anyone can pick a camera up and take a really nice, well composed photographs. Cameras come with face recognition technology, large file size, incredible low light capability, motor drive, this list go on. What is does not come with is composition, lighting and posing. Your photographer has to be able to do that.

Where you separate yourself as a professional from the want to be, is in the use of light, positioning of those being photographed, exposure and in the end, how the image is finished using programs like Photoshop. On Photoshop, when you start is amazing. It can "fix" a range of photographic problems that the professional photographer should get right in camera. There is a limit to how long you can fix it in Photoshop before you get sick of it and go back to the basics of the original in camera capture. Get that right and the rest is easy, sort of.

One of the great ways of getting a good photographer is to check their professional association memberships. The Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) or Australian Commercial & Media Photographers (ACMP) are two such associations. Membership requires an assessment by fellow professional photographers as well as a continuing education and assessment process to maintain membership. This means you constantly have to remain up to date with current technology and trends in the industry.

One of the assessments is the APPA's, the AIPP's annual professional photography competition. Four images are submitted and assessed by Masters of photography, people who have been in the industry for years and have a wealth of experience. This is the best way of learning what is required as a professional photographer. Judging can be brutal, but as a learning experience there is nothing like it. Does your photographer enter the APPA's?

Silver award 2012 APPA's

For further information please contact Malcolm during office hours.

Choose your wedding photographer

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Forward

Booking your Wedding Photographer. The selection of your wedding photographer is one of the most difficult decisions that has to be made before the big day. Depending on when the wedding is, it might have to be made months or years in advance to ensure that you get who you want.  In terms of photography, the web has a huge amount of information available. This allows you to go to the photographers and scan their images to get a sense of what they are about. Have a look at what the photographer has on their website. Are the images current? What style do you like? Are you after traditional images or more candid images? Once you find a photographer with the style that you like, you need to meet them, preferably in their studios so you can see images and product first hand. Talk to them, have a look at the images they have taken, look at their products. Look for experience, associations that they are members of, gear they use. The question is, are they serious about the photography or just someone doing it for a bit of spare cash. Big question. Will they still be here in 12 months or 2 years or 5 years if something happens to one of your products?  These questions will allow you to gauge where they are in the professional world. One of the big questions is, "do I get on with them"? You spend a lot of time with your photographer on the day. You need to trust that they can do the job you have employed them for and you need to be able to get along with them. Are they great at keeping the day moving? Can they organise a lot of people into images that look great? Do they know what to look for on the day? Can they give advice on what to look, for what you need and where to go. It is a hard decision, who will photograph your wedding, but when all is said and done, all the memories that you have of your day will be the photographs. There are a couple of wedding expos coming up. One is at the Mercure and the other at the Venue. Get along and ask questions. Good luck with your choices. Summer Wedding Offer Getting married or know of someone getting married later in the year? We have several spots open from October through to December for weddings. As a special incentive we will throw in a 16x24" print valued at $300 to your package for anyone booking a wedding during this time. Education Leiden Studios is looking to do a weekend photography course that would cover basic camera function, lighting and posing on day one, image processing on day two including Lightroom and Photoshop. The course will contain a large amount of information. Expressions of interest are welcome.

May News Letter

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Forward

Wedding Season Wedding season in Townsville is now in full swing with weddings being held every weekend. We have a couple of Fridays booked as well as the traditional days. In fact we booked a Monday wedding yesterday, so they are not limited to the traditional Saturday. Your wedding photography is one of the most important aspects of the day. After it is all over and the guests have gone home, all that will remain is your memories and images captured during the day. Don't risk it. Find an accredited photographer that you get on with. It is a long day if you do not get on with them. Occasionally you get the most amazing skies that can add drama to your wedding images. We were getting ready for Alyce and Jason to go into their reception being held at the Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club. We were hoping to get a good sky, but could not dream it would be like this. Once the sky turned to these beautiful shades we had barely 10 minutes before it was gone.  To do this you need to be proficient in off-camera flash. Exposure is set for the background so that you get the beautiful colours, in fact you can under-expose a little to increase the drama. The couple are exposed using off-camera flash with a diffuser. The flash exposure is balanced to the sky's exposure. There are a couple of ways to do this, one of the easiest is simply moving the flash closer and further away, depending on the desired result. Even diffused, the flash does need to be a little distance from the couple. Here I had my assistant on the rocks and to the right. The final image can be manipulated so that more of the detail of the club can be seen. It would be an excellent final image in an album, with lots of impact and nothing really required in Photoshop except to bring out the detail in the background. This image has had a bit done in Photoshop. The original capture is taken on a 10-20mm Sigma lens that caused quite a deal of distortion. The verticals have been corrected so that the building does not look like it is going to fall over. However there is still a little horizontal distortion.  I do like some of the effects that wide angle lenses provide and often use them on my group photos. You have to be careful that you do not have the group too close to the edge of the image as that is where most of the distortion occurs. Other than that, the image has been darkened to add drama, and using a layer mask, the couple bought out so they are more obvious in the image. The sky is real so already had a bit of drama to it. This image became our most liked Facebook image at more than 140 likes at last count. Summer Wedding Offer Getting married or know of someone getting married later in the year? We have several spots open from October through to December for weddings. As a special incentive we will throw in a 16x24" print valued at $300 to your package for anyone booking a wedding during this time. Education We will be announcing the next photography course and Lightroom course in the next week. Any enquiries please call the office or send us an email.