I have been building my photography business for a few years now. I thought I would like to shoot pretty weddings, for people who are in love, that want images with feeling and an artistic style. Special pictures for special people.  What I have encountered, about 30 percent of the time, what looks to be like a rude email. “What are your rates? I am on a budget!” No Dear so and so, no Thank you, no sincerely and most importantly, no I love your work and it is exactly what we are looking for.

I received an email yesterday along those lines, with another similar to it, that said, I only want to communicate through email. My response, delete delete! I am not a desperate photographer or artist. I do it because I love it. I don’t have to make a living at it. I only have to create work I am proud of.  I am free to choose whom I want to spend time with, whom I want to photograph. I can’t express how great it feels to be free.  People don’t understand, I have to like my subjects in order to capture great pictures. Why? Because I am going to bring my perception of my subject to the image. Ansel Adams said, the image is a marriage of the subject and photographer. I don’t do email because I need to hear the tone of my client’s voice. Voice tone says everything. I can determine from the first conversation whether it is yes or no for me. If we like each other, then we meet and the deal is usually sealed. I am interviewing them too. 

Once I did a wedding for a bridezilla. Once and final time. I knew it when I booked her, but I thought it would be OK. I was with her for 9 hours and that was doable, but I had to look at her face in the editing room for another 40 hours. Every time I looked at her I was in a bad mood. Never again. 

For this reason, to stay true to my compass, I have taken on the job of managing our local chamber. Which allows me the creative freedom to work with whom I want, when I want? The condition of  my job is the Board’s flexibility to allow me to photograph weddings, they were very generous with me about this. My issue is time. I must be discerning about how I spend it and with whom.

Dave called me a few months back and explained he was a photographer from Chico. Creative imagery is very important to him.  That he has also photographed weddings and that he was looking at the regional talent and he found that my work impressed him most. We had a great first conversation and then a really nice meeting where I met Karen. I felt great about them after our meeting and we booked each other for their October wedding.

I  realize with this attitude I won’t be shooting 6 weddings a month for a thousand each and I really don’t want to. What I am and will be doing is one or two a month for for 3k to 5k  and working with people I want to spend time with and who also want to work with me. Maybe I sound like an ass, but I have worked very hard for a long time to find this sweet spot.

I am confident I can shoot anyone, but I can’t shoot for everyone. My clients know who they are and what’s more important is I know who they are and we like it like that. They are looking for special pictures and I am looking for special people.

Her mother worked for me for years while I managed the Bidwell House B and B .  Alli began working summers for us and weddings. I moved on from there 5 years back and isn’t funny…we have one more wedding to do together and I couldn’t be happier about it.

I am so happy to be photographing Liz and Jimmy’s wedding in June in Chico. They are such a sweet couple. I think this may be one of my favorite images ever.

On the Dock

I love this image I think it’s sweet. One of my favorites from the Sam and Crystal shoot. I am headed to the Centerville Estates tomorrow to photograph their wedding and Bacio is catering I can’t wait to see what they will do they are such an amazing company.

Tomorrow marks 19 years of marriage although we have been together for 22. We are off to have a day alone and get a break together.

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I  am shooting Sam and Crystals wedding in Chico at the end of the month. We did a little Engagement session in Chico the other day. This is what we came up with. I loved the location and will shoot there again.

In the Oaks

I am really excited to be photographing Ethan and Lauren for their destination wedding here in Lake Almanor. They are a great looking couple and great together. Ian shot this with me. Ethan is cop in Monterey and Ian ia a PCSO Deputy here in Lake Almanor it was cool to have things in common. Lauren is an Equine trainer..English.  She is going to be a stunning bride I can’t wait.

I have captured 12000 images in the last  4 weeks. Many jobs, many personal. This set is from a Sonoma Chic Wine Tasting and Dinner gathering at the Imagery Estate Winery in Sonoma owned and operated by the Benziger Family who also have the  Benziger Family Winery. The Gathering was the first of three events that I covered for Alison and Paul’s  wedding, which ended a week later in Manhatten.

The Imagery Estate Winery has a wonderful Art Gallery and exceptional wine shop. It was visually stunning. The lighting was interesting and challenging dusk, ceiling canister lights, gallery lighting ARG…trying not to use on camera flash too much to wash people out. I shot with a 50mm 1.2:8 with my aperture wide open. 

The most memorable part of the evening for me were the speeches. It was obvious to me that Paul and Alison were equally loved and adored by friends and family. I love the speeches because I get to hear about the people I am photographing from the people that have known them and loved them the most and the longest. It is another way for me to get to know them and it is an intimate opportunity to tune into their emotions and relationship connections. When the speeches start my ears listen intently and my eyes open wide. I am looking for the  reactions to words and if I look deeply enough I see them.

I covered this wedding useing my photojournalism skills and style.

For a glimps of more of this event www.kimjamesphoto.com under Images under Paul and Alison at  I M A G E R Y.

The Drink

I Loved this mock wedding. That’s right I shoot mock weddings. The real one is in Manhattan this weekend. Ian, Erinn and I fly out Wednesday to shoot it. I LOVED SHOOTING them!!!

Her dress

HER MOTHER

I photographed Bob and Katherine and Baily up at Lassen Meadows Ranch just outside of Chester. I will be photographing their wedding in August at the Ranch. I love my job anyway but I really love it when the people I get to work with are so great and also the location. It’s unreal. I felt like I just had to see the values and paint essentially with value color and light.