An Engagement at Horsebarn Hill by Zack Wussow

I was excited to work with Anastasia and Pearse before I ever met them. They're fellow UConn alumni, and live just across town from me.

We met just before sunset at Horsebarn Hill, a landmark well known to anyone's who's spent time at UConn. They brought along their nine-month old Scottie "Buckley", named for the UConn dorm where they met.

I can't wait to shoot their wedding next August. If they make this beautiful a couple on a random Sunday, I can't wait to see them on their wedding day!

"So, What Camera Should I Buy?" by Zack Wussow

This is a question I hear at least once per wedding from someone's date or Uncle Bob. Here's my answer.

Canon or Nikon?

It doesn't matter. 

That's a somewhat controversial opinion, but as far as I can tell Canon and Nikon are like Coke and Pepsi. Different, but basically interchangeable. I'll recommend a Canon because that's what I use, a Nikon user will suggest Nikon, and both will be perfectly good.

Whichever you pick, you'll stick with forever, because you'll have bought Canon lenses, flashes, etc. and it would cost too much to switch.

Ok, so what should I buy?

Get the newest Canon Rebel. It's their entry-level camera. It was my first DSLR, and I used it for five years, including the start of my professional career. It's a great camera, light, easy to use but has all the features you'd want in a DSLR. It's an affordable way to get started.

My old Rebel, about a decade old now, was my first "real" digital camera. Still works.

My old Rebel, about a decade old now, was my first "real" digital camera. Still works.

Then, if you feel like you haven't spent enough, invest in better lenses. You'll get the most bang for your buck from prime lenses (ones which don't zoom). You can get very affordable primes with good quality glass and wide apertures. 

Apertures?

The aperture is the hole that lets light in through your lens. It's described by the f-stop - the lower the number, the wider the hole. Low f-stop lenses are great - they let you shoot in darker situations, and give you the wonderful, blurry backgrounds that everyone loves.

The Canon 85mm f/1.8 prime is a great lens for portraits, for example.

And a Rebel will get me great photos?

No.

I mean, sure, they'll be better than your cell phone. But a better camera doesn't make you a great photographer. Practice does.

Which is why I'd suggest going a different route. Get the newest or second-newest Canon S-Series.

It's a point and shoot, small enough to fit in a pocket, which means it fits the old adage, "The best camera is the one you have with you." I carry my S110 with me every day. 

It's not just portable, either. The s-series is a powerful little camera, with tons of manual controls. it also shoots in RAW, the highest quality file format.

You can learn almost everything you would on a Rebel from the s-series, but it fits in your pocket, and it's cheap enough that if it gets lost, stolen, or broken (something I know nothing about...), it's not the end of the world. 

By far the best bang for your average photographers buck.


(Note: The links to specific recommendations are up-to-date as of the posting of this entry, but may be out of date in the future.)


Super Secret Side Project... Revealed! by Zack Wussow

One of my goals this year was to learn how to use a 3D modeling program. I did, at least the basics, and started making little trinkets I would like to have... And did like, enough to have a company called Shapeways print them for me. (I've ordered other people's designs before and the prints are awesome.)

Well, I've gotten a bunch of those things in the mail, and you know what? They came out amazing. Seriously - since the newest shipment arrived earlier this week, I've had everything lined up on my desk so I can stare at it all day.

I'm so pleased with them that I'm offering them for sale. My little shop is currently home to five pendants and two porcelain pieces, but I expect to add more of each in the next couple months.

I hope you all will check out the rest of my designs, and I also invite you to follow the shop's Facebook page if you're interested in learning about new items when they come out.

400 by Zack Wussow

My last couple projects have been of the proprietary sort, so instead, some of the best picks from my Photo-a-Day project, which just hit Day 400 this week!

Next week one of my side projects should be ready to be released to the world. Not strictly speaking a photo project, but will feature some great photos none-the-less. Can't wait to show you all!

Until then.

Happy Valentines Day! (+ an announcement) by Zack Wussow

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope yours is filled with love, be it from your special someone, your family, or friends.

One quick announcement:

Some recent changes on Instagram have made it much easier to have multiple accounts, so I am separating my business and personal postings. 

From now on, the home of Zack Wussow Media will be @zackwussowphoto. I hope you'll follow me there if you're an Instagram user. My personal account will probably get switched to private in the near future.

I've always been a little uncomfortable with my account pulling double duty, so I'm very excited about this change. I expect it will mean I'll post a lot more photos on both accounts.

See you there!

Marissa and Jan by Zack Wussow

(Finally, the third wedding from my very busy weekend in October.)

It's a fact of the wedding business that you are constantly popping into and out of people's lives. One day you sign a contract, months later you're part of the inner circle for one of their most important days of their lives, and then you're back to being strangers. It's weird.

Which is why it's always such a pleasure to work with people who really are good friends of mine.

Some of my clients will recognize Marissa - she has often worked for me as a second shooter at weddings. We met back in our college days, during long nights toiling in the darkroom.

Over the last couple years, she's caught me up whenever we worked together about her and Jan buying a house in the country, and then pouring themselves into fixing it up. (It helps that Jan is a contractor.) I could tell from the way Marissa talks about Jan that he was something special, but I've never had a chance to meet him until their wedding.

It's clear she's made a good choice.

I can't say how happy it makes me to see my friend so clearly in love with a man who so clearly loves her.

Congratulations, Marissa and Jan!

She Said Yes by Zack Wussow

For once I'm not posting about one of my clients. Yesterday I asked my girlfriend Heather to marry me, and she said yes.

Which of course means now we get all the joys (and stresses) of planning our "big day", with the added complication that I'm actually pretty opinionated about what I think works and what doesn't. (The dangers of working in the wedding industry...)

And of course, the ultimate question... Who do I get to photograph my wedding!?