David Avant here with a warm hello!
After a bit of a hiatus for me to explore a side project, I'm back at it doing photography for hire again.
A bit has changed. I'm looking more for business marketing work, head shots, in-home family photos around the holidays.
Who knows though, maybe your project will entice me, so definitely don't hesitate to reach out.
I've started Forsyth Local, LLC out of a Facebook group I founded a few years back. A local business services, networking, and marketing organization.
My hopes are to help a lot of people make a lot of money providing awesome stuff and great service to the people of Forsyth County. You'll see a lot of my work on the website, and around social.
Facebook
Instagram
Facebook Group
Happy Fall!
Anyways, if you guys would like to help the Perez family, they have a gofundme set up as Elizabeth will be in a coma for awhile and unable to work for awhile after that.
Original news story.
I'm gonna finish up editing these, so I can go back to fun happy stuff.
God Bless,
-David
The reason my wedding work is on the level it is, is because there is an emotion attached to every picture that is transferred to the audience. For this reason, it really breaks my heart when my clients get divorced. It's probably not even an afterthought for most, but it severely affects me emotionally. I've got a great deal of time and energy dedicated to the images documenting that day, those feelings, and those moments, and when those people no longer even want to see those images, it really sucks. I know it's nothing in comparison to what the couple, their kids, or their families go through, but for the sake of at least making sure you've been exposed to my ideas on marriage here's a very short, but hopefully powerful description of my views on marriage.
Marriage is not a solution to a problem.
It's not necessary because of a kid, it's not that extra thing that will make your partner stop doing something, or start doing something else.
It's not holding grudges for past mistakes, or intentionally causing anything but good things to happen in the other person's life.
It's not being a victim nor overly dominant for the sake of control.
It's for people that can be 100% themselves around each other and accepting of anything the other person does as something they did to be happy.
It's for two people who are ready to commit to a life-long partnership for the betterment of both of their lives.
It's saying that no matter what they do, you have always their back because you know they'll always have yours.
It's trust.
It's love.
It's forever.
I just had to get that out. I heard this week that another one of the brides I've worked with is now single and it's popped up in my mind more than a couple times.
]]>Starting November 1, I will start transitioning from digital delivery into print delivery. For now both are available. This post is for prints.
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2016 Wedding Photography Print Packages Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3 1: Submit your budget, venue, and wedding date. Fine Print
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Packages Intimate Wedding $900 Medium Wedding $3600
$300 - Viral Wedding Post (*VWP): I will post edited, mildly watermarked photos of your guests, as well as select highlight images from your wedding to my weddings facebook page page so you and your guests can easily download, tag, and engage. Full Resolution Edited Digitals available for purchase .
Read all of our Wedding Photography Reviews at
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Timeline:
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Domains NorthGaPhotography.com and ngaphoto.com currently forward to photogdavid.net. I'm working on figuring out how to change that without losing traction on Google. Until then, everything will remain the same on the back end.
What will be changing:
Marketing. All marketing will be done under North GA Photography using ngaphoto.com as the primary URL.
Expansion: Over the next year we will be looking to expand North Ga. Photography. That means we're looking for photographers who want to turn a part time hobby into a paying career. People with interests across the board from sporting events, club, live music, product, wedding, equestrian, portrait, etc.
Keep posted for new team members!
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These photos were taken at the Cumming Fairground on July 3rd. Hopefully somebody with a better view will see them and invite me over next year. :P
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Wedding Photography Services:
- $250/hour with a 2 hour minimum. Book 6 hours or more and receive a free engagement, bridal session, or relearsal dinner.
- Extra Photographers $100/hour each
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My wedding photography services come with print release for all images, a personal web page that includes private, passworded viewing gallery/storage for 1 year, print ability from storage provided by Mpix Labs.
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Public album where friends and family can view and order approved prints.
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Print credit and gift cards in any amount available as a part of the entire package.
Photo Booth
Digital Only Self Service Photo Booth with Props. $699
Manned Photo Booth with On-Site Printing $999
Videography
(MKT) Price depends on videographer and availability. I can't do both photo and video, but I can definitely find the right professional who can! :D
Deliverables Timeline:
Wedding Day: 1-2 images delivered digitally to the bridge and/or groom.
One to three days following the wedding: I will make my selection of web-worthy images, edit them and upload to my Weddings Facebook page. These will include shots with family and friends who are eager to share via social media. I will also post a public album on photogdavid.net where family and friends can order prints.
Two to five days after: The remainder of the NSFWeb/unedited images will be lightly retouched and posted in a private, password-protected gallery where the bride and groom may make selections of any additional photos they would like me to edit. They will have full print release, the ability to print at cost from the private gallery as well as the ability to download all images in full resolution jpegs. A personal print release is granted for all weddings. Written release is available here.
The Finished Product: Once all selections are made and edits are uploaded, the final product will be delivered via USB flash drive to the bride and groom. Images in the private album will be available for print and download in their location for a minimum of 1 year. So long as I have the ability and means to store them and keep them available to you, I will.
Other Considerations
Editing
I will upload edited images to public and private albums. Editing time depends on workload, number and intensity of edits. Artistic editing styles available upon request. #filter. Don't know what you want? I'll send you some variations until we find something you like.
This day was one of those magical days where everything came together perfectly. I had a great sidekick, Tess Yaney, who had great attention to detail and knew that being a second shooter sometimes means putting the camera down to assist. Emily, the bride, knew exactly what she wanted photographically and how to get it, nailing her poses with minimal instruction. The Densmore Farm was also a wonderful venue. The layout of the property, the natural light in the bridal suite, and the reflective ceiling in the reception area helped to create amazing shots.
I have to confess I’m kind of a sucker when it comes to mushy stuff. To anyone embarrassed for getting caught crying, know I get teary-eyed every time I see these pictures. Just one reason why I love what I do.
I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do.
Below are a few of my favorite images. The rest can be found here.
The red sky in the following pictures was a result of Auto White Balance mixed with a huge rain cloud overhead.
I think it's pretty neat.
Save the date / engagement session for Emily & Collin
Fall Couples Session for Hillary and Cody
Hudson Family shoot at Kinsey Family Farms
Ally Country Shoot
My lady Crystal LaCole showing off her curls. :D
Jordan Reid Fall Portrait Session. This is my favorite shot of Jordan to date. I believe this is our 4th or 5th shoot.
Sarah & Kyle engagement session
Pettee Family Shoot
This usually isn't my style, but I saw this pic in camera and knew I had to go dramatic with it. This is also from the Pettee family shoot.
That shot from Susan & Drew's wedding.
Second shooting at a wedding in middle GA for Brannon Photography.
Intimate Studio shoot for allislost. Go check out their music! :D
This of course is not all of the photos I took this month, but a few that I enjoy.
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The main purpose for me as a photographer taking pictures of you as a client, is to capture you looking like you in the best light, best quality, and best, most natural pose possible, while attempting to show your personality in 1/200th of a second. You see these girls in the photographs I release, and you put them on a pedestal. What you don't realize is that most of them aren't models, we took hundreds of pictures to release a few, and yes I do some minor editing. So what if you're awkward, or don't like pictures? Well, that's where my experience, and ability in making you feel comfortable comes in to play. Most people I've asked who've told me they don't like pictures is because they always look awkward. Free tip, think about something that makes you smile when you want to smile rather than thinking about smiling. Your brain telling your mouth to smile for a picture is not saying the same thing as "OMG! That's funny!" I've worked with hundreds of people, maybe even thousands at this point of all personality types, and I know I can get you being you. A goal I attempt to achieve with every client is to take THE best pictures, they've ever seen of them self. For some, this is quite a task, as they've shot with many other photographers before me, still I achieve this goal more often than not. For the people I'm aiming this blog post at, I'm confident in achieving this goal with ease.
Before I ever picked up a professional camera, I knew the value of a good photo. My grandmother spent thousands on photography equipment, and prints for her children and grandchildren. Looking back after she died, and my grandfather sold the house, each one of their 6 children had a huge box full of pictures of their families. Pictures capturing memories from childhood, birthday parties, school events, and just random days with the family. Beyond family photos, my other grandfather's wife was the first woman ever on the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine in October of 1954. (Photo below) Since I've been alive, she's been old and senile. For me being able to look back at who she was 60 years ago is crazy. Had I never seen it, I wouldn't have believed she was EVER an attractive woman. Granted, I learned all of this years ago when I was still young, but one day you'll have a young member of your family curious about you.
My point to all of this is you are as young as you'll ever be right now. Every day that passes is another possible wrinkle, scar, or passing. We can all hope for none of these, but life ultimately only goes one way. Your children and grandchildren are going to want to know what you looked like in your prime, and you are going to want to have that to share. Yes, you can take pictures with your camera phone, or even with your point and shoot, but when you're old and wrinkly you'll wish you had something a little better quality, taken by someone who spends the majority of their life striving for greatness in photographs.
If you'd like to schedule a photo shoot, please contact me directly. I have sessions starting at just $100 which offer huge value for the cost.
Thank you for reading, you guys make it all worth it,
David Avant Portrait Photographer
So you want to be a model?
Step 1: Decide what type of modeling you want to do. Decide your boundaries, and write them down. I say this, because the industry has a bad habit of tainting your ideas of what is and is not for you.
Step 2: Find a reputable photographer. It's not hard to find a photographer these days with Facebook and other social media. The easiest way is just to post a status asking if anyone knows a good photographer. Your friends won't steer you wrong. They will genuinely want to help, and you will be bombarded with more names than you care to look through depending on how many connections you have online. Some may suggest photographers they haven't shot with, so they can't give a reliable character reference which is important. There's no worse enemy to a good photo than awkwardness, and just as important, you don't want to shoot with a creepy photographer.
Step 3: Once you've chosen a photographer, ask if they do TFT shoots. (Trade for Time portfolio building shoots) Most good photographers won't unless you're a bombshell, and even then most photographers only shoot TF with certain people, and people they contact first. (A friend request counts as first contact by the way!) Don't get your feelings hurt if you get told no. You have to remember, that photography is our way of making money, if we did TFT shoots for everybody who asked, we'd never make a dime. As well, there's a lot of post processing WORK that has to be done for portfolio shoots. This is on top of thousands of dollars worth of photography equipment, lighting, nice computers, and time spent learning to do what we do best. If you end up paying for your shoot, remember that you're making an investment in yourself, and shooting with a photographer well above anything you've earned as a model yet. Their experience working with people will seriously help you out in your first shoot. Never pay more than a few hundred. Companies that require you pay thousands, then take modeling classes, then shoot with their photographers, and promise the world are a huge waste of your money. They prey on the naive, and you're better off without them. They would tell Quasimoto he had a chance to be a fashion model for that check.
Once you have your portfolio shots done...
People are going to say make a model mayhem account. If you want to do lingerie or nude, go right ahead. Otherwise, skip this step for now, and here's why. Model Mayhem has a search feature that allows people to search for new members. In other words naive, eager-to-make-it, attractive girls. There are people who have many ulterior motives including check-cashing fraud, convincing you to do things you normally wouldn't, promising you the world for a free shoot, promising you a magazine cover in a non-porn skin magazine, but only if you shoot ______. Fill that blank with anything that's beyond what you should be shooting for free, or at all if it beyond what you wrote down as your boundaries. Not all jobs that come from model mayhem are a scam, but if it sounds too good to be true, then it's fake. Point blank, there's no, "It might be legit." It's straight up a waste of your time. If their first message requires you to read an entire page, it's so that you have already invested so much time into them, that you feel obligated for your own sake. Almost anyone who legitimately does this for a living, will keep it short enough for a twitter post.
Try to get with an agency. It's not a must, but they will take you in a good direction. Click, AM&T, and Factor Atlanta are some reputable agencies for those of you in Georgia. There are others, but no matter who you decide to go with, do your own research. This is your career, reputation, and life at stake here.
Realize that you will do a lot of free work before you get paid. You'll probably do anywhere from 10-20 shoots before you ever make a dime. Anything you make in the first 10 shoots, you can consider yourself in the right place at the right time and lucky. After you have your portfolio shots done, your chances of getting TFT shoots with better photographers goes up. Work your way up. As more photographers get to know you, and enjoy working with you, you'll have good references, as well as more photos to show your abilities.
The references I listed above, are just like job references. If you're late or no show at a job, what happens? You get a bad review or get fired. If you're difficult to work with or come unprepared, it's the same thing. My best suggestion to you is bring a big bag full of everything you could possibly need, and be at least 15 minutes early. Come in a good mood, ready to have fun. Real smiles speak volumes over fake ones. A big topic of concern among photographers is cancellations. Canceling same day is unacceptable in most cases. Sometimes real stuff does comes up, but if it's a TF shoot you probably won't get another chance with that photographer. Just keep that in mind when scheduling.
Some people will say, "Only nude models get paid." What they're really saying is, "I'll only pay you if you get naked." Fully clothed models make money all the time for being good at what they do, and having a look that people like. This is one way people use to talk you into getting naked. You can almost guarantee they will try to get you to shoot past your comfort zone. If their work is worth being pressed, do a TFT shoot, but remember your boundaries. It is okay to say no, just like if you were on a date, and a guy tried to do something you didn't want to do. This is your body, your face, your reputation, and your career. Once you shoot nudes, there's no going back. It's also good to know that unless you pay for the photos, the photographer owns the copyright and can do as he/she wishes with the photos regardless of what you say. Most will respect your wishes, but not because it's the law.
Be just as weary of girl photographers as guy photographers. Once a photo is shot, it has been done. Period. Girls like girls too you know, and some are more heartless and pervy than any guy you've ever met.
Escorts. A touchy subject for some. There are two types that don't like escorts. Really good photographers that find it an insult or inconvenience, and creeps that want to pressure you or proposition you. My thoughts... Bring one, and not one that will go down as easy as you. If you have to bring a girl, bring your mom. She'll die before she lets anything happen to you, and the photographer knows it. On the flip-side, escorts can seriously get in the way. Especially jealous boyfriends. A big part of what a photographer has to do to get good pictures, is to produce natural reactions and emotions. Flirting may occur. In most cases it's harmless, and just a way the photographer has found to get good shots. If they haven't pressured you to take off cloths, or made sexual comments, you can almost guarantee it's harmless. Jealousy blinds, and you can't possibly have a good time if your boyfriend's being a douche. If you're having a bad time, your photos suck, and you may as well have not come. If you're going to a group event, escorts aren't as important. Especially when in a public place. Open calls do not count as group events. You should be especially weary of any open call you find on Craigslist at a residence.
Know that depending on the photographers skill, your ability and looks, and most importantly the chemistry between you and the photographer all affect the photo quality. Even after shooting well over 100 shoots, I've had some where I'll take 1200 photos, and use 3. Opposite end of the spectrum, I've had shoots where I take 50, and use 10, or 800, and only don't like 5. You probably won't get all the photos from any shoot, and if you do they won't be high rez. Every photographer takes photos they wouldn't release, it's the super picky ones that you want to shoot with. Would you rather the photographer release bad photos of you, or only awesome ones?
I could go on and on about this subject, but I feel like I've covered most things a newb might need to know before starting on their journey. If you would like to know more, or schedule a portfolio building shoot then get in touch with me. My contact info is available here. I keep a short list of models that I do TFT shoots with, and that list only has room for a celebrity at this time. My rates are very fair, and my finished product is well worth the money.
God Bless, and Good Luck! :D
**ADDENDUM**
If a photographer tells you he can make money selling your photos, promises you money AFTER the shoot, a magazine spot, or anything of the sorts, he is usually full of it especially if you don't have a portfolio. Magazine submissions are done by photographers, and are only picked by the magazine. Big names like Maxim and FHM will not pick your shoot before it's shot, so anyone who promises this stuff, is filling your head with false hopes in order to get something for free from you.
If a photographer ever starts to get weird, then there is an emotional involvement, and red flags should be raised.
Even if you don't plan on bringing an escort, which I don't recommend on first time shoots, make the photographer believe you are going to bring an escort.
DO YOUR RESEARCH. Google is your friend! If you've never heard of a photographer or they don't have hundreds of tagged models in their social media portfolios, find out why. The best publicity is to tag people. The ones that don't, don't want you contacting these girls for one of many reasons. Some being legit, but others being vile and deceiving.
Predators are smarter than you. Or at least they think so. The game they play, is one they play over and over and over. They're good at it, and have failed enough to know what works, and what doesn't. Again, I stress... If it seems too good to be true, or fishy in the least... IT IS!
Touching is never okay! Those who say it is, are self serving perverts! You draw the line on what you are comfortable with, and you should NEVER let someone push your boundaries in order to "make it."
I wrote this addendum because I heard some alarming information about a local photographer who's contacted quite a few ladies I know. He hides behind a false persona of a gay foreigner. He preys on the inexperienced, and pushes for what he wants with a complete disregard for the girl's wishes. He builds the girls up for a month or so making sure they've put a lot of thought into the shoot. Then at the last minute, when he has them one on one, springs things on them in a way that makes it hard and very awkward to say no. All the while making empty promises, and building up false hopes. He shows images he promised would be private in an effort to talk others into doing the same things he pushed for with the model before. This is the kind of predatory behavior that gives all photographers a bad reputation, and people like him make me sick to my stomach. I feel it necessary to do something about it, but am unsure of what. I hate that he is taking advantage of inexperienced girls with a dream to make it big.
The photos below are people I had never worked with prior to the shoot these were taken in. A little of what you can expect in a portfolio session.
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Hi, I'm David. I'm a portrait photographer, primarily glamour portrait photography, but I’ll take pictures of anything.
TLDR version at the bottom. Otherwise, I’m going to talk about myself, and my ideals on photography for a bit here in my first entry.
What is glamour portrait photography?
People ask me all the time, "What is 'glamour?'" Well according to Dictionary.com, glamour is: The attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing or special: "the glamour of Monte Carlo". or Beauty or charm that is sexually attractive. My definition of glamour portrait photography is that it is for everybody. It's for people with realistic stats and measurements: our friends and family, that girl at the gas station, or that UPS guy. There's something beautiful in everybody, no matter age, shape, or color.
Unreasonable Standards
I've come to believe that almost all girls hold themselves to the standard of Victoria's Secret Lingerie models. They seem to believe that THAT look is the definition beauty. Well, that’s fine, because they are all beautiful, but if you’re going to compare yourself to them, at least put yourself on a level playing field. You can’t take a picture with your camera phone, and expect it to come out looking anywhere near as well as what they release in the magazines. There’s so much professional make-up, practice in front of and behind the camera, and editing, going into each photograph that gives darn good reason that you consider them your standard of beauty.
Be Different
Part of my job as a photographer is to be able to shoot you, the client, in the setting that you want. If a white background and a fan, an old wood barn, or a body of water isn’t your thing, tell me what is. I’m open to ideas, and willing to collaborate to help make your idea become a reality.
Shooting is Fun
Almost every single girl/model I’ve shot has left with a huge smile on their face. Come ready to have fun, joke around, and play. Talk about your day, tell a story, or jam out to your favorite music, and laugh as I try to twerk it with a camera in hand. The idea of taking pictures of a person while they are mad or upset kind of turns me off to taking pictures. I’d much rather immortalize one having fun.
Escorts/Safety
Which brings me to escorts. I love them. However, if your escort is your spouse, and they happen to not appreciate their mate being told they are pretty by anybody but them, you may want to pick another escort. I’ll say from experience, that I’ve shot 400 shots trying to get something usable with a very pretty girl. The second her boyfriend left the room, we got 20 good pictures out of 100 shots. I’ve gone back to that album 100 times trying to find something usable in the first 2 outfits. Where this ties in is that if you’re going to come shoot with me, try be happy, and uninhibited. What’s the point if you’re upset, or made to feel uncomfortable? You WILL see it in the pictures.
If you need to know that you’ll be safe, check Facebook. Ask a few models. I tag anybody I can that I have a picture of. My reputation is my livelihood, and I plan on taking pictures for a long time right where I am.
Picture publicity
I can make pictures as public or private as requested. I keep encrypted detached, and safe stored drives to store confidential photographs, but also offer the ability to sell all rights to images.
TLDR: I’m David. I take pictures of people and try my best to make them look pretty. I edit photographs to put people on somewhat of a level playing field with mainstream media. (VS models etc.) I’m for hire.