This weekend, I am on my way to Las Vegas (hooray!) to the WPPI convention at the MGM Grand Hotel. WPPI, the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International is an organization that was created in the early 1970’s. In those early years, wedding photographers were considered weekend warriors, just part-timers on the low end of the status scale of photography.

The industry has changed dramatically since many of the most talented people in photography are entering into this field. Advanced technology has also made a big contribution.

It is on my list to attend ten lectures by some of the most well-known photographers in the world who will be addressing topics that cover best practices of posing and lighting, Photoshop, albums, and portraits. There will be a huge exhibition hall of vendors, so I expect to come back to my studio knowing the latest trends and hottest products and services offered in the industry.

Did you know that it is common to have one eye a little larger that the other? If so, make sure that your smaller eye is closer to the camera so that the photo reflects your eyes  looking  the same size. Just a little tip for you to remember.

Another pointer for enhancing your image in front of a camera:

Always place your feet diagonal to the camera. When the toes are pointed directly towards the photographer, the feet look like stumps. I don't know about you, but lumpy stumps in my photos are not an option!

The last week of January 2010, Gian Luca Marconi and Pier Giorgio Olivetti, respectively the president and director of Cittaslow International from Italy came to Sonoma to bestow upon our town the honor of being the first cittaslow city in the United States.

Excuse me. Cittaslow? What is that?

Emily Charrier-Botts of the Sonoma Index Tribune, sonomanews.com, best describes it: “The word literally means slow city. Born out of the slow food movement, member cities are committed to a quality of life that focuses on the environment, preservation of history, support of community members, hospitality and sustainable living.” The movement which began in Italy in 1999 has grown to 128 members in 19 countries.

During the week that Italians were here, they visited places in Sonoma that reflected the values of Cittaslow. Virginia Hubbell, Director of Cittaslow Sonoma gave me the honor of the being the photographer to chronicle the visits to three organic gardens.  

Green Strings was our first stop on the outskirts of Petaluma. This farm has an on-site country store which sells the magnificent bounty from the gardens. The farm also hosts a school that trains students in the art of organic farming under the direction of Bobby Cannard, who has been at the forefront of the organic farming movement. For years, he has been a major purveyor of produce to Alice Water’ s famed Chez Panisse.

Benziger Winery was our next stop where Chris Benziger invited us to get   on a small trolley that took us through the vineyards and to the various organic gardens on the property. The Benziger family began organic practices when they realized that the quality of their wine was deteriorating from improper soil management. Lunch was in the cave at the winery and was catered by Sondra Bernstein, esteemed proprietor of three popular restaurants in the Valley: Girl in the Fig, Estate and the Fig Café.

We ended our tour at the Oak Hill Farms in Glen Ellen. The owner Anne Teller with a patrician presence greeted us at the White Barn, a venue primarily used for events. Anne started growing organic vegetables and selling them at the Red Barn on her property to keep the farm work crew busy through the summer months to augment their flower operation.

Ten Tips for Enhancing Your Image

In Front of a Camera

For Sonoma Wine Country weddings, events or portraits  

ONE

Remember that prime time for photographing outdoors is one hour before sunset. The light is softer and warmer which gives you beautiful, rich, saturated colors.  Try to avoid a photo shoot in the middle of the day. The bright sunlight creates dark shadows under the eye sockets and under the chins.

TWO

Pay attention to body language. Put all of weight on your back foot. Bend your front leg at the knee to create the classic pose called the “S curve”. This position gives the body a nice look. Women should allow a slight space between the upper arms and the torso. When the upper arms are against the body, the width of the torso appears larger.

THREE

Be aware of the proper placements of your hands. Men look great with their hands in their pockets or with their arms folded. For women, you should show all of your hand or none at all. Raise the wrist slightly to give a curve line where the hand joins the wrist. Putting your hands on the waist  creates a triangular base. Such a composition visually attracts the eyes towards the face and minimizes the flat or flabby arm look.

FOUR

Get a leaner look by wearing dark or medium shades with no patterns. Cool colors recede and warm colors advance. Wear long sleeves which will give you a more flattering look.  Neutral colors emphasize faces and makes them appear warmer.

FIVE

In a large group shot, encourage the group to form a “U” curve formation instead of being in a straight line so that the individuals on the end are in focus. If you have positioned your group into different rows, make the first row wider than the top row to insure a better composition.

SIX

For those with gray hair or a bald head, make sure to have a background that provides contrast to the color of your hair or skin on top. Beware of a pale overcast sky which will fade out the top of your head.

SEVEN

To avoid any reflections on your eye glasses, either remove your glasses from your face or tilt them down slightly on your nose.

EIGHT

Photographer Bill Hurter advises turning your shoulders at an angle to the camera. When the shoulders face the camera directly, people look larger than they really are. With women, the head is often at a slightly different and opposing angle toward the shoulder nearest the camera. With men, the head is more often turned the same direction as the shoulders. Tilt the head slightly to make the pose more dynamic.  Do not sit against the back of the chair because it thickens the torso. Posing with your body at an angle to the camera is more flattering for older women. Also crossing your legs at the calf level will make your legs look thinner.

NINE

For women, make sure to use a foundation make-up with a matte finish to prevent a shiny face. During a midday shoot, use a little shimmer (not frosted) eye shadow as a highlight above your eyes to open them up to avoid having your eyes look like two darks holes in the image..

TEN

Flash photography used in low light will wash your face out. Makeup specialist Robert Jones recommends that the best solution for maintaining color and more dimensions in your face is to sculpt your face using highlighting and contouring techniques. First apply regular foundation to your entire face. Then you use a  foundation one shade lighter that highlights  your forehead, the center of your nose, the middle of your chin and the area right under your eyes. With a foundation one shade darker than what you use regularly, contour the sides of you face, the sides of your nose and the area below your eye brows down to the tops of your eyelids. Powder afterwards because it is the most important step in eliminating shines and helps the skins appear smooth and matte.