Who Am I?
Web developer and consultant by day, photographer by nights and weekends! I proudly accept the title of “weekend photographer” though I still take the art and process of a photo shoot as seriously as any professional. I’ve had an eye for composition and a love of photography for a long as I can remember. I began with the Minolta and Yashika SLR cameras of my parents, owned several APS and 35mm point & shoot cameras, and I made the move to digital SLR’s in 2005. Though even from my point & shoot days I am happy to have had my some of my work purchased or published by various marketing firms. I am a married father of one, and my favorite subject is my daughter, who is a natural ham for the camera and loves to get dressed up for a photo shoot. I am currently residing in the suburbs just outside of Atlanta, GA.
My Style
I prefer to shoot with available light, capturing a scene as it is. When the need for light modification arises, I generally take a strobist (flash) approach as opposed to a studio light setup. In terms of post-processing, for people I prefer to just work with things as they are, and avoid over-the-top touch-ups (no glowing eyes/teeth or porcelain skin retouching, sorry). Though for some situations or when artistic expression strikes, I occasional give the HDR treatment to my subject. Overall I prefer a photojournalist (candid) style as opposed to a traditional (posed) style of photography. I’ll be honest, I prefer not tell someone how to pose or “act natural”, especially if I don’t know what is natural for them. I’d rather just capture the moment as it happens, and not try to make it in any way artificial.
Would I shoot (X) event for you?
For casual shoots such as corporate events, engagement sittings, or family portraits I’m more than willing to discuss your needs. However, for life-changing/one-time events you owe it to yourself to consider an experienced photographer. Your memories of your special day (wedding, etc.) are precious, and I cannot in good conscience offer my services for such an event that would be better fulfilled by a full-time professional.
What is your pricing for print packages?
My standard rate is $150/hr with a 1 hour minimum. I am also willing to negotiate a fair commission for my work based on your exact needs. For reference, this hourly rate includes both the shooting of the event and time for post-processing and delivery. As for print packages, I prefer to deliver print-ready/non-watermarked images in digital form. This tends to make the most sense for sharing via social media and allows you to print exactly the size and quantity of photos you need.
Can you bore me with technical details?
Absolutely! I shoot in RAW, meaning all images are pristine and original, exactly as the camera recorded the scene. This allows more flexibility in post-processing but more importantly no loss of quality between the camera and my software. I catalog and process photos in Adobe Lightroom 4, which is nicely integrated with Adobe Photoshop CS6 for more advanced retouching needs. Given that digital photography is a data-driven service, and since my background is in IT, you can rest assured that all reasonable precautions are taken to carefully store and curate your photo files just as one would do with precious negatives of film.
Can I buy prints or image rights?
Yes. My library of work is available for prints or other usage, though I would prefer to negotiate the price depending on how you wish to use my images (read: commercial vs. non-commercial).
How can I get in touch with you?
I tend to answer emails more quickly, so you can contact me at photo@dustingrau.com. I can also be reached by cell at 678-597-8798, if you prefer.