Covered in Color - A Bridal Session...

Another product for our Finding Color Collection, I would like to officially introduce: Covered in Color, A Bridal Session. Roughly 30 mins of behind the scene video on how TriCoast captured the images during an actual session.

Special thanks to TriCoast's Video Crew:
Inverted Pictures
and some of the most talented people I have ever meet in specialized clothing design and just about anything else you need/want
Get Siniched.com

Captured in HD Video you will see:
- Different Cameras and Lens, explaining why
- Using Video Lights
- Placing the subject in the right light
- Posing the bride
- How to get subjects to do what YOU want them to do
- How TriCoast uses the basics of wireless flash
- Detailed explanations while we are shooting
- Teamwork between everyone involved
- and Much, Much More!

A complete video session showing truly how TriCoast works and shoot during a session. All real photographic session with detailed explainations on what TriCoast is doing when they are doing it. If you ever wanted to come along on a TriCoast photo session and couldn't well this is truly the next best thing.

Here are a few images from the session which you will see the very moment TriCoast captured them.






A few behind the scene images showing the video crew and TriCoast capturing the session



Price: $100.00
Please EMAIL us for more information for now. The Finding Colors Website will be active within a few weeks where you will be able to purchase items directly from the website at that time.

Here is a small video clip from that day as well, however this sample is not on the DVD.

Covered In Color - A Bridal Session by TriCoast Photography

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Mike's Daughter is growing up!

Well today was Meghan's Sixth Birthday party and just like her bigger cousin she wanted to have it at the local bowling alley. We had a great time with her few closest friends and of course Mommy and Daddy, Aunt Traci and Grandma and Granddad. While our bowling was not the best the Pizza party, free goodies in candy and soda (pop) and all the video game quarters a little kids heart could ever wish for made the 2 hour party quite fun to say the least. Got to love those Canon Point and Shoot camera, small and fast and very easy to take images. Its nice sometimes to just be a dad and not a professional photographer I must admit!

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TrashTheDress.com - We made it Baby!!!

Had the chance to hang out with the founder of Trash The Dress website. Mark Eric. A popular new concept developed by several photographers originally using REAL clients who just enjoyed getting unique and one of a kind images which normally trashed their wedding gown. Sadly today many of the sessions are hired models and rented or bought for the session dresses, which was not the original concept but still make some very cool images. With that said our sexy beach images from one of our Day After Sessions found its way to Trash The Dress. If you get any images of this sort PLEASE submit them to these site, Mark has to be one of the best people I have meet in a very long time and well his blog ROCKS!

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Mastering Digital Wedding Photography - A Book

Well it is official TriCoast and our work will be in an soon to be released wedding book, which you can now PREORDER on Amazon.com along with amazing wedding photographer from Canada Mark Ridout.

Here is a little write up on the book which I got directly from the author today, James Karney.

More information on the publisher's website can be found HERE
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Introduction

Why This Book

Welcome to Mastering Digital Wedding Photography, a practical guide to the art, craft, and business. Perhaps you are just beginning a photographic career, maybe a seasoned professional looking for new ideas, or a film photographer making the change to digital. This book was written with all of you in mind. This book covers the entire endeavor, from setting up shop and choosing gear, through the event, to keeping the client happy and referring new customers after the prints are delivered.

It goes beyond just the basics. I’ve had the help of some really outstanding wedding photographers who have contributed both images and insights into their style or work and photographic vision. These are examples, based on years of experience, on how to gauge exposure, see and use lighting, pose subjects, and play with the image once it is captured.

I’ve been covering weddings since my days as a studio apprentice in high school. For over 30 years as a professional, weddings have always been a part of my income and passion. When I made the transition from film in 2002, it seemed simple. Big name cameras worked with my film lenses and offered familiar controls, PhotoShop was already on my computer, and all the other required photographic equipment (strobes, meters, etc.) still worked the same. And I had the advantage of ready access to expert advice and software updates as a computer book author frequent writer for PC Magazine. How hard could it be?

Well… This new medium requires different shooting styles to get the most from the technology. The digital sensor is not film. It responds to light differently and are much more sensitive to white balance and color temperature variations. There may be magnification ratios due to a smaller image area compared to 35mm film, which turns a normal 50mm lens into a mild telephoto. The early cameras had small buffers that made timing a shot like the bouquet toss imperative.

The initial joy of instant feedback from the camera and the power of computer editing gave way to shock with the realization of the increased level of effort required by workflow issues and file management demands resulting from the mass of images taken at each wedding. In the days of roll film, we took perhaps 200 pictures; with digital a two-photographer wedding can easy result in five times the exposure. Multiply that by say, 20 weddings a year and you better have a system.

It’s one thing to take 15 or 20 minutes (maybe a day) editing a really fine image for fun, but multiply that by a hundred or so and a big wedding fee becomes slave wages fast. And that’s only one aspect of change. Printed proofs are becoming an endangered species, and the proof book album with them. That’s because it’s too easy for clients to scan and pirate the images. Enter online proofing and DVD-based slide shows. Masked albums have given way to digitally-creates flush mount designs and short run four-color press books.

The market is still shifting. We are in the third phase of a revolution. The technology is mature enough to rival film, and now the best photographers are raising client expectations with outstanding work. While much of the basic event coverage is the same, the style has shifted to a more fashion magazine style, accompanied by sophisticated DVD multimedia shows.

With all of this activity in the profession, the shelves in bookstores lacked a comprehensive guide. So, with a combination on my personal experience, and the help of several friends who are masters in their own right, the project was born. This book is a series of discussions and lesions that span the entire topic of wedding photography, from setting up the business, through covering the event, and on to processing the images, proofing, printing, and album design. And now a word…

About the Contributors

Four dedicated wedding photographers; Ontario-based Canadian Mark Ridout, TriCoast Photography Texans Mike Fulton and Cody Clinton, and Nikki McLeod of Scotland have joined with me to provide the photographs that brighten the pages. Mark, Mike, and Cody are also active on the photographic workshop circuits, and we are considering a combined short-course road show when our combined schedules permit. Here are short biographies on each of us…

-James Karney
James Karney has a unique viewpoint on wedding photography developed through many years as an award-winning professional photographer and teacher. He started his career as a wedding apprentice in high school and has covered weddings full and part-time for over three decades. He as also served as a Marine Corps photographer, newspaper photojournalist, medical photographer, and developed and taught the 18-month photography certificate program at South Georgia Tech.

He is an accomplished computer writer, whose work has appeared in PC Magazine, Windows Magazine, Computer Shopper and Internet World. His books include the Golden-Lee best-seller “Upgrade and Maintain Your PC”, “Discovering LightZone”, “The Power of CorelDRAW” and the Microsoft Press “Training Kit for A+ Certification”.

He is a graduate of the US Navy Photographic School, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications from Excelsior College as well as a Master of Science in Computer Technology from Nova Southeastern University.

-Mike Fulton
Born and raised just south of Houston in Brazoria County, Mike Fulton stared his career in photography as teenager with his father’s camera. The hobby continued through his high school years and on into college while studying Criminal Justice. The passion for the art of photography grew and he made the switch to professional shortly after graduating. Starting work fashion and glamour, Mike soon found his work being published publications ranging from art magazines to calendars.

After a short tour in the motion picture industry, he found his true passion in wedding photography. His work blends his love for fashion and glamour styles with a eye for capturing the beauty of the wedding day with an editorial flair. Mike is an instructor for Photography Allstars, a high quality one on one mentoring website as well is one of the instructors on his Illuminations Workshop which specializes in wireless flash and video light techniques and is taught around the United States. He is also offering a variety of editing tools and learning materials at his other website, FindingColor.com with his business partner…

–Cody Clinton
Cody is another native of the Texas gulf coast. Like his TriCoast partner, his love for photography began at a young age and began developing his skills photographing friends and co-workers local sporting events, family reunions and weddings. By Cody found his true passion, the art of wedding photography, and uses his high natural energy, artistic personal style and uniqueness, as well as his one of a kind personality, these key aspects to create special moments for the brides, grooms and their family and friends.

Both Mike and Cody offer photographic workshops and a collection of learning materials and PhotoShop add-ons focused on the needs of the wedding photographer.

-Mark Ridout
Mark Ridout is a creative photographer whose expertise extends to a range of mediums and formats. He has worked as a photo journalist for major newspapers and magazines, with major advertising agencies on corporate accounts and on special assignment for corporate clients. Mark has been the principal photographer on contract shoots in the United States, France, England, Cuba the Dominican Republic, and locations throughout his native Canada.

He has an aptitude for staging exceptional posed compositions as well as putting people at ease for more informal style portraits. Mark has photographed Richard Petty for STP,Al Jarreau, Sheila E and sipped champagne from the Stanley Cup after photographing it for a New York Rangers hockey player. His wedding business started with a couple of weddings a year, and has now grown to over 20 weddings per year

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Bubble - Bubbles EVERYWHERE :)

While photographing an Sports Radio 610 Event a couple months ago I (Mike) had the luck to be introduced to one of the nicest people I have ever meet. Jordan with Bubbles Express Wash here in Houston is truly one of the kindest and best people on this earth. A great business man yes, but more importantly a person who actually cares about people, strong in his faith and honestly wants to help out people while doing his job. Bubble Express Wash hired TriCoast to capture some images of their H2 Hummer with their wild and crazy decal wraps and real bubbles flying out of the top of the H2 Hummer. We spent the better half of the day driving around Houston taking pictures on a beautiful day. These images will be used in thier advertisments in and around Houston so keep an eye out for them as they should be hitting the streets very, very soon!

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Welcome a new member of the family - well actually two...

TriCoast would like to officially welcome the newest member of the family, Cindy. Cindy will be wearing a lot of shoes for TriCoast, from office manager to assisting Cody and I on session in the lighting department, anwering telephone calls for our amazing clients and will be the backbone of our new senior marketing business. So with that said this very well might be my (Mike) last blog, which in reality is a good thing cause if you look at the entires I am not the best at keeping up on this stuff :) Needless to say Cindy has brought some baggage along with her to the family in the way of a four legged wild and crazy dog named Moose. So on behalf of myself and Cody we would like to officially welcome Cindy into the mix of the wild and crazy life of TriCoast. We are growing as a business and it is nice to have someone like Cindy whos personality and laughter seems to put everyone around her in a good mood. So if you see Cindy around at one of TriCoast's National Speaking Engagements or assisting Cody and I at a session make sure you stop and say hello!

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A new Wedding Album

Thought I would post one of our latest wedding albums. Captured down at The Biltmore at The Coral Gables just outside of Miami. Hope you enjoy!

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Finding Colors - Our New Product Line

Hey everyone just a quick note to let you know about TriCoast's new product line coming out in the next few weeks. Quality Products to ENHANCE the Daily lives of YOU, the PHOTOGRAPHER, the Finding Color product line has already sold over 50 sets BEFORE we even officially release the product.

Right now we have two products which are ready for release

The Finding Color Action Set and the Finding Color Processing DVD.

Here is a little more information on each product including a printable PDF file and a small Video clip showing you how we process the images and the Video DVD on our processing style.

Over 125 Actions in all divided into 5 different groups

Group #1 - TriCoast Proofing2 simple actions (one single and one a double) which allows you to reduce the size of your images, no matter if they are horizontal or vertical and save them into a certain folder or folders. These files come with a text file to help you understand how to use them. Very useful for batch processing of images from RAW to PSD or JPG or even online forums and Blog posting, it speeds up your workflow greatly.

Group #2 – TriCoast Special GlowA special action which has been developed over several years of trail and error, this action is applied to 90% of all TriCoast images as a finishing touch.

Group #3 – TriCoast’s Color Nut Collection – A Collection of 61 actions of all colorsA collection of multi-colors most in 3 different stages to fine tune the specific color you need for your images. Color Nut Collection was designed to be either applied fully to your images or as a subdued layer to slightly change the tone of the final product. With several versions of Sepia and Black and White actions as well as TriCoast’s personal favorite true color tones in Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, Red and Purple this collection the best color collection out on the market today.

Color Nut (tones 1,2,3) – Lightly used colors which are designed as a layer mask to blend and fine tune the specific area you would like to have the color.
Color Nut Sepias – From simple to glows to Chocolate tones there will be a sepia tone just right for every image
Black and Whites – Straight forward B/W to sepia mix to glows to even color blends its all here as seen used in TriCoast’s work.
True Color Collection – With specific names these actions are strong true colors which when applied solo or with other tones make your images unique and full of color.

Group #4 – TriCoast’s Weird-O Collection – A Collection of 43 actions if various tones, processes, all unique to TriCoast’s processing and bright colors.

Designed to be many actions built into one, these actions will work as an endless supply of tones. Many created to apply a layer on top of your original image, so you can control the opacity to get the ultimate tone or tones you would like. While one image my require 30% opacity another might be 60% or more, leaving you with almost endless results.

Group #5 – TriCoast’s Short Cut Collection – A Collection of 20 actions designed for you to attach to a F-Key to speed up your workflow.
A simple collection of everyday used steps within Photoshop designed to speed up your workflow. No more keyboard shortcuts to remember simply assign an F-Key to your favorite shortcut and its one click on the keyboard and your good to go!

A PDF File on these actions:
FINDING COLOR INFROMATION SHEET

A small sample video on the Finding Color Actions:
VIDEO OF FINDING COLOR

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FINDING COLOR by TriCoast Photography provides photographers with detailed “secrets” of TriCoast’s post-processing, which gives them their unique style. With over 2 hours of in-depth screen captured videos, the viewer will learn and understand TriCoast’s thought process with each image. From simple black & white conversions to detailed, multi-layered masks, you will watch TriCoast process some of their most popular portraits. A must for any level of photographer, this DVD covers both wedding and portrait images showing you how easy it is to create amazing images from a standard photograph.

INCLUDES:Over two hours of in-depth videos

Using PS and ACR to complete the imagesTriCoast

GlowLayer Masks

Infared processing

How to over expose on purpose

Creating award winning portraits from trash images

And Much Much More!!!

A PDF file on more details on the Finding Color Processing DVD:

PDF of Finding Color Processing DVD
A sample video telling more about the Finding Color DVD:

Finding Color Processing DVD

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EMAIL us for more information if you have any questions

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Miller's Lab and WPPI

WOW I did not even know this was in the WPPI official magazine but it was brought to my attention today so I thought I would throw it out here on our blog.
I had to say Miller's is a great company with wonderful people and along with our other Sponsor Collages.net they completely solve all our of printing, online hosting and just about any other problem we have in this business.
So thank you Miller's for the great ad and supporting us in our dreams and passions!

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SEXY couple with PASSION in Florida on a beach :)

What a great couple, so full of love, passion and just what everything a young couple in love should be about. We had a great time covering these guys wedding weekend on Ana Maria Island South of Tampa Florida. With great sunsets on the water and amazing beautiful white sand and blue water, well it was not long that their passion came out. Sadly these images did not display the full amazing love this couple have for each other, I don't think you could ever capture it completely but we do our best. I hope you enjoy this steamy session!

THE MISS SUZY ROBERTS helpped us with this session, she is so much more than an assistant in talent with a camera so it is hard to say what her status is, I would say it would be more like a 3rd camera to TriCoast when she is there.

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