EYE OF TOBIA PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG » Photography

Looove doing Wedding albums

Tobia — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:44:29 +0000

They may take a while to get just right. They may take lots of input and emails back and forth.
Choices.
Layouts.
Covers.
More emails.
But how cool is it to hold in your hands THE document of a wedding. A big heavy piece that the grand kids will look through some day when they are planning their own weddings.
Pretty darn cool.

It’s her portrait-let her cry if she wants to | Baby Portrait Photography

Tobia — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:06:09 +0000

Why don’t I mind if a baby cries during a portrait? Why would I keep my camera to my eye and keep snapping while parents comfort?
Perhaps because there is something so endearing about a being who can go from absolute Happy to, well, absolute NOT Happy and back again in a matter of seconds.
Or because a photo of a crying child makes me want to pick them up and hug them and make it better.
Or because there is something so purely raw about a baby’s emotion. Something most of us learn to a mask as we get older. It is an innocence I want to document in my own children (and sometimes do)

And it really never takes long to find the range of Happy in a 9 month old.

And the Joy.

And the Love.

I love my job.

Why I won’t be quitting my day/night job.

Tobia — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:50:07 +0000

When I was young and daydreamed about becoming a photographer I used to imagine going on safaris for national geographic and capturing rolling landscapes for self help posters. Okay, the poster part isn’t entirely true. But I did find an allure to landscape photography, getting to go out and capture the area I was in and make it look like a postcard.
But now I know better. Landscape photography is NOT for me. See below example:

The top image was taken at 5pm of the skyline from a window at the MIT faculty club during a recent wedding.
The bottom one was taken at around 8pm. See the difference the light will make on the image?
Now, if I were a landscape photographer, I would have to spend my time waiting around for hours, previously scouting out my best vantage point in hopes of getting the weather and quality of light to sync up with my vision. No interacting with the subject, learning about what makes it tick from afar. I cant very well ask the Hancock building to turn towards the light for me. Luckily I make my living doing a craft that is much better suited to my style. I get to talk to my subject and let them be a part of the image I am creating. I get to see people having fun, on the best days of their lives, the first days of their lives, the days that they will now get to tangibly remember forever because I helped document it. How cool is that?
Not that I don’t admire landscape and nature photographers. There is something incredible about the hunt and execution of a great shot. And when it is done well, the loveliness of the world around us through another eyes can take your breath away. But for now, I will stick with people. I think finding the thing that makes someone who they are themselves and then preserving it for future generations is pretty darn awesome.

Thinking of Opa and Dziadziu| Grandparent portraits

Tobia — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:07:03 +0000

We are in the process of moving. Moving means there are a lot of things to be done and boxes to be packed. Where does this leave me?
Looking through old photos of course. And by old photos, I mean the kind that are printed on paper and sit in boxes and albums from generations ago. I came across a couple of me when I was younger taken by my American-Polish Grandfather (Dziadziu) who was quite the talent behind the camera. I will have to post them at some point. But better to wait until a time when my poor husband wont have a heart attack when he finds me scanning photos instead of, well, packing.
Any how. So I was strolling down that lane of memories while sorting through some present work (the kind that lives on my computers) and came across these photos.

Wouldn’t everyone want a photo like this with their grandparent? I know I don’t have one of me with mine. I have to remember to get my camera out the next time I see my parents with the kids and when we travel to visit my parents in law in the end of the summer. Anyhow, thought I would share.

Squeeze a wedding into your summer vacation | Cambridge Wedding Photography

Tobia — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:02:35 +0000

I had such a great time at this wedding. K & J wear their fondness for life and each other in a way that makes my job easy. Everyone else at the party seemed to shop the same designer. See here for yourself…
The event itself was lovely (even with the heat)

St. Paul’s Parish in Cambridge.

This is my shot titled “Hey there, wanna go to this dance with me tonight? All the cool kids are gonna be there…” It pays homage to the fact that this wedding was made possible by the fact that the couple met while teaching. No, they didn’t have their reception in a school gym, but the very lovely MIT faculty Club with the awesome view of Boston. I had just happened upon this row of lockers on the way downstairs to scout out some shots outside.

You can stage a good shot- but happiness is unmistakable and unmissable if you are ready to catch it when it runs past.

paaking in Haavad | Cambridge Engagemnt Session

Tobia — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:54:34 +0000

I got to go around Harvard Square little bit ago to make some photographs with this great couple.

They were pretty great.
I grew up just outside of The Square but it was great to see it through the eyes of a student at the Graduate School of Design.

The (now closed down) Crate and Barrel store in the former Design Research Building. I had actually never noticed it before as a building. Designed in 1969 by the former Harvard Graduate School of Design chairman of architecture, Benjamin C. Thompson.

Here is the Larson Building
I actually went to preschool here. Thats right. I went to preschool at Harvard.
I was discharged once I started pronouncing my ‘Rs’.

They are sycamore trees. Drove me crazy – I had to look up what kind of trees lined Memorial Drive. I love that row.

The divinity building for a couple of divine photos. (yes, I can hear you groaning)

Such a great afternoon. Looking forward to the wedding guys! It is coming up soon!

They brought-the-fun Booth | Boston Wedding Photobooth

Tobia — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:59:31 +0000

This was an AWESOME wedding. How can you tell, you might wonder?
You start with an incredible couple. Then check:
IF the engagement session started like this…(click here to see more)

IF the DJ tells you at the end of the night that he wishes he could have 2 more hours with the group… (Rock on Mr. Ed!)
IF the speeches are able to make the photographer cry…
and
IF the photos from the Photo Booth we had set up come out looking like this…

officially the cutest mother and daughters shot.

This sister of the bride and her husband were awful excited to gain a brother.

Bunny ears shall never go out of style and neither will happy couples.

This couple was too cute… And I think their own wedding may be coming up soon? Congrats!

People were being hung upside down. Thankfully there were no chandeliers within reach!

um…

aww…

These ladies brought their own sweetness to the party. Something to do with chocolate… Now I am distracted.

Dear K&J, Even when the world turns you upside down- may you find happiness.

If the bride’s parents look this happy, you know good things are to follow for a couple.

Sadly this couple didn’t leave a forwarding address.

Sometimes a girl just needs to be dipped and a guy just needs to be held.

da guys.

K and her married-for-62-years-grandparents. A couple who can cut a rug and leave the young in the dust.

Seriously. How wonderful is this family?

All the “new” parents together celebrating the arrival of their newly acquired, bouncing son and daughter in law.

I can’t wait to get through the actual wedding photos. I will be posting some sneak peeks soon!
Congrats again Kyle and Jeff! (And please don’t be proof reading my post- it is really late at night and the dog ate my spellchecker)

Crying Tiger Hidden Griffin | Providence wildlife photography

Tobia — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:44:57 +0000

I picked my kids up from a benefit for Brown Street Park in Providence. Griffin had had his face painted like a tiger and they had both received balloons. When we got home I ran inside to get my camera to catch the animal he had transformed into and left them with our neighbor. But when I made it back out, camera in hand, I found poor Griffin and sister in a state of pure dismay. His balloon had slipped off of his wrist (Mommy failed at the simple balloon preservation knot)
Is it terrible is it that I still took this picture? He was so heart broken as we watched it, a little speck, traveling up into the clouds.

Luckily he is 2 and his innate Happy isn’t that far from the surface of whatever Tragedy he has just endured.

And it wasn’t too long until his inner tiger came out again.

And he was on the hunt for a new adventure in no time.

I hope that he is able to endure all that life throws at him with the same flexibility he managed to muster with this loss. He still talks about that balloon and asks if we will find it someday.
My little tiger-griffin.

A few of my favorites | Newborn and Family Photography

Tobia — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:37:20 +0000

Let’s start with Little Rose. Who is perfect and sweet and in these photos, 5 days old.

Now that we have noted her perfection, I think it is time to address her head of hair! Who comes out with hair this cute and thick? Or looking like she just had it shaped at the salon?

For that matter, what parents look so good while managing a newborn and a toddler in a cast?

And what toddler looks this happy and adorable while immobilized in a leg cast?

And… who would place a newborn in a chair with as much family/sibling history* as this one?

* I don’t know all of the specifics, but it seems the chair was used, on a few occasions, as a weapon by Rose’s Aunt during Rose’s mother’s own childhood. Since I have a few similar accusations held against me as an older sibling, I will refrain from any form of judgment. We are all hoping that history does not repeat itself.

She worried he wouldn’t smile for the camera | Connecticut Wedding Photography

Tobia — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:53:43 +0000

Some people feel less comfortable in front of the camera than others. I am one of those people myself.
I know, the irony.
These photos were from a great wedding down in New Haven, CT. The bride loves color and she did such a great job bringing her choices together.

One of the concerns that this lovely bride had was that I wouldn’t be able to capture her fiance (now husband) smiling. I won’t claim that he never resisted some of my attempts, BUT…

it turns out, all it takes to get him to smile was to look at her.

That is a good sign.

Below are some of the folks that lined up outside the church ready to shower the new husband and wife with bird seed.
The brides brother is the one below with the expression of GLEE at the prospect of pelting his sister and new husband.

Gotta love siblings.

Congrats again guys!