PHOTOGRAPHY
JOURNEY AND JOURNAL
Thoughts on the life I have chosen as a professional photographer
An event is a moment in time. What you do with that moment — how you document it, distribute it, and extend its reach long after the last guest leaves — determines whether it lives on or disappears. After a decade behind the lens in Columbus, I've built my event coverage around one principle: the work doesn't end when the event does.
Not sure which spot is right for you? Here's how I help my seniors decide:
Think about your personality.
Consider the season.
Don't overthink it.
Mix it up.
It is easy to get overwhelmed with all that goes into a wedding. Fortunately, the right pro will be able to provide professional services that include more than their expertise. I try to offer all the advice I can for couples leading up to the big day. Booking with me includes a 24-hour open line. Text me at 3am if you can’t sleep; run ideas past me; keep me updated on the latest moving part of your wedding day.
Professional commercial lifestyle photography is more than just pictures—it’s about telling a story. For retirement communities, that story includes active living, strong community ties, exceptional services, and comfort. That’s exactly what we set out to capture, using a strategic mix of real-life settings, paid models (talent), and authentic moments.
Event photography isn’t just about documentation. It’s a key tool for marketing & promotion, social media content, media & press coverage, internal communication, and keepsakes of the special, engaging moments.
Other people in the community have to recommend your business to be published on Voyageohio.com Click the link to read the entire article HiddenGems: Harry Acosta
There are occasions where a simple phone photo will work, like when I need to capture a QR code or receipt. I find it so important to hire a professional for your event and portrait photography and here are the best reasons to do so.
What do you like most about your job? Would you be doing something else if you could? Why do we continue to do work if it doesn’t pay well or it isn’t fulfilling?
What do I do with my hands? What should I wear? What is the difference between headshots and portraits? How long does it take to get digital images back? How do I pay? Where is your studio located? All fine questions, I address in this article.
I have one client who cannot afford to have me travel the US with her, but whenever she has photos taken of me, she asks the photographer if they are agreeable to having me retouch her photos.
My latest project was a commercial photography shoot for a card game by Keymaster Games. The game is called Fuego. I was advised that it would have an ultra-lounge, fiesta feel with a touch of Uno.
How do you review the performance with only one song? They escort you out of the building to secure your camera gear in your car before coming back in to watch the show. I’m just not going to drive 25 minutes to pay $10 - $20 in parking to photograph one song, and risk having 10k in gear stolen out of my car in order to write a concert review (without pay) to support an artist who does not want me there.
I often tell clients that come in for portrait and headshot photography, it does not matter what they wear as long as it makes them feel comfortable. It will show in their facial features and create the best imagery possible. I realize, the same holds true for me. If I have it in the back of my mind that I should be doing some other photography rather than the assignment in front of me, I’m not going to get the best imagery possible either.
In order to keep the surprise, we moved forward with the proposal, but the photos did need some extra retouching. There is a lot of AI tools to choose from to retouch photos. I tend to stay in Photoshop with a modest array of AI tools that help me keep the integrity of my focal points.
From time to time, I like to display galleries, so other clients know exactly what to expect from their session. I always shoot a little dark to ensure that when editing in post-production, all pixels have information that can be edited. This is the end result of a professional photography session at the best floral park locations in the Columbus area taken earlier this month in Columbus, OH.
I hope you recognized that one of the headshots above does not really belong. One of the attendees from this event asked me to give him a horrible image that he could send to his wife as a prank.. Coincidentally, his facial expression would match mine before the end of the conference.
I interact with you and bring out the best I can for the best photography. I help calm nerves, and creates candid reactions that are worthy of a photograph.,That’s the kind of support I offer when photographing weddings … and proposals!
Over the past 2 years, for one of my clients, I have been the event photographer for more than 20 events. When I first worked these events for them, they used to tell me what to expect at the event and I was given direction on what they’re hoping to capture. They would request I show up a little early and maybe even give me a little direction as to how to get the shots.
It is similar to wedding photography or event photography, but with some limitations. With wedding photography, you should be allowed to capture everyone at the ceremony and reception in the moment. With this type of photography you’re only allowed to capture the likeness of people if they agree to signing a waiver.
On April 3, 2024, I received an email from Google that said tehy had disabled my business listing for the reason that the “Business Did Not Exist”. Right, right. Nice try scammers. Fast forward 6 weeks and I’m having a conversation with my wife about how the market must just be slow and that people may not have the budget for photos right now. I’m making about half as much as I was in each of the last 3 years since the pandemic.
I understand if you have gone to a photography studio before, every photographer sets up their own individual process. It can be even scarier when you’ve never been to a photographer before. I also know from my own experience as a photographer that I don’t know what to expect either from client to client.
Google has declared that my business does not exist. This means I do not exist online when someone is looking for a professional photographer in the Columbus area. I currently have no listing or reviews, so while I try to fix their viewpoint, I’m, once again, taking every assignment that comes my way.
It was the hottest day of the year so far, but that didn’t stop me from getting the shot from atop a 10’ foot ladder. The coaster is surprisingly fast at the beginning as it literally ramps up. These commercial photography sessions are always a lot of fun because I love capturing the action and I have a 20-year background in marketing!
Event photography allows me to showcase my talents as a fly-on-the-wall-photographer capturing great candid moments for a very important day, even if the graduating class is only 55 people. It is a great opportunity for me to be invited back year after year for my business, but it also helps me check myself.
I returned to these images several months later to realize, I might be able to make it work. Most of the images were backlight with a flood of blue from the front. If I went the usual route for editing these photos, I could not publish them.
The RAW file was dark and grainy. I needed to back out of the blue and add in some pink. First I adjusted the levels in Camera Raw, just like you would also do in Lightroom classic. I almost always leave the shadows alone. I used to be afraid of the dark, but now I embrace it like a sith lord.
Certainly not the first time I’ve photographed during an OSU game, but it was the first time I was allowed to photograph in the horseshoe during an OSU game. The first time I shot on campus during an OSU game was for Home Depot a sponsor for ESPN College Gameday. When you’re photographing for a sponsor rather than for the media as an editorial photographer, you may sometimes get special privileges.
Photographers, hold firm in what you are willing to do and make it an official policy, Be consistant with everyone. Make it part of your brand or it could damage your business. Steve has contacted me about another photo session since, but I declined. It wasn’t too complicated, I was already booked.
Not sure which spot is right for you? Here's how I help my seniors decide:
Think about your personality.
Consider the season.
Don't overthink it.
Mix it up.
It is easy to get overwhelmed with all that goes into a wedding. Fortunately, the right pro will be able to provide professional services that include more than their expertise. I try to offer all the advice I can for couples leading up to the big day. Booking with me includes a 24-hour open line. Text me at 3am if you can’t sleep; run ideas past me; keep me updated on the latest moving part of your wedding day.
Professional commercial lifestyle photography is more than just pictures—it’s about telling a story. For retirement communities, that story includes active living, strong community ties, exceptional services, and comfort. That’s exactly what we set out to capture, using a strategic mix of real-life settings, paid models (talent), and authentic moments.
Event photography isn’t just about documentation. It’s a key tool for marketing & promotion, social media content, media & press coverage, internal communication, and keepsakes of the special, engaging moments.
Other people in the community have to recommend your business to be published on Voyageohio.com Click the link to read the entire article HiddenGems: Harry Acosta
There are occasions where a simple phone photo will work, like when I need to capture a QR code or receipt. I find it so important to hire a professional for your event and portrait photography and here are the best reasons to do so.
What do you like most about your job? Would you be doing something else if you could? Why do we continue to do work if it doesn’t pay well or it isn’t fulfilling?
What do I do with my hands? What should I wear? What is the difference between headshots and portraits? How long does it take to get digital images back? How do I pay? Where is your studio located? All fine questions, I address in this article.
I have one client who cannot afford to have me travel the US with her, but whenever she has photos taken of me, she asks the photographer if they are agreeable to having me retouch her photos.
My latest project was a commercial photography shoot for a card game by Keymaster Games. The game is called Fuego. I was advised that it would have an ultra-lounge, fiesta feel with a touch of Uno.
How do you review the performance with only one song? They escort you out of the building to secure your camera gear in your car before coming back in to watch the show. I’m just not going to drive 25 minutes to pay $10 - $20 in parking to photograph one song, and risk having 10k in gear stolen out of my car in order to write a concert review (without pay) to support an artist who does not want me there.
I often tell clients that come in for portrait and headshot photography, it does not matter what they wear as long as it makes them feel comfortable. It will show in their facial features and create the best imagery possible. I realize, the same holds true for me. If I have it in the back of my mind that I should be doing some other photography rather than the assignment in front of me, I’m not going to get the best imagery possible either.
In order to keep the surprise, we moved forward with the proposal, but the photos did need some extra retouching. There is a lot of AI tools to choose from to retouch photos. I tend to stay in Photoshop with a modest array of AI tools that help me keep the integrity of my focal points.
From time to time, I like to display galleries, so other clients know exactly what to expect from their session. I always shoot a little dark to ensure that when editing in post-production, all pixels have information that can be edited. This is the end result of a professional photography session at the best floral park locations in the Columbus area taken earlier this month in Columbus, OH.
I hope you recognized that one of the headshots above does not really belong. One of the attendees from this event asked me to give him a horrible image that he could send to his wife as a prank.. Coincidentally, his facial expression would match mine before the end of the conference.
I interact with you and bring out the best I can for the best photography. I help calm nerves, and creates candid reactions that are worthy of a photograph.,That’s the kind of support I offer when photographing weddings … and proposals!
Over the past 2 years, for one of my clients, I have been the event photographer for more than 20 events. When I first worked these events for them, they used to tell me what to expect at the event and I was given direction on what they’re hoping to capture. They would request I show up a little early and maybe even give me a little direction as to how to get the shots.
It is similar to wedding photography or event photography, but with some limitations. With wedding photography, you should be allowed to capture everyone at the ceremony and reception in the moment. With this type of photography you’re only allowed to capture the likeness of people if they agree to signing a waiver.
On April 3, 2024, I received an email from Google that said tehy had disabled my business listing for the reason that the “Business Did Not Exist”. Right, right. Nice try scammers. Fast forward 6 weeks and I’m having a conversation with my wife about how the market must just be slow and that people may not have the budget for photos right now. I’m making about half as much as I was in each of the last 3 years since the pandemic.
I understand if you have gone to a photography studio before, every photographer sets up their own individual process. It can be even scarier when you’ve never been to a photographer before. I also know from my own experience as a photographer that I don’t know what to expect either from client to client.
Google has declared that my business does not exist. This means I do not exist online when someone is looking for a professional photographer in the Columbus area. I currently have no listing or reviews, so while I try to fix their viewpoint, I’m, once again, taking every assignment that comes my way.
It was the hottest day of the year so far, but that didn’t stop me from getting the shot from atop a 10’ foot ladder. The coaster is surprisingly fast at the beginning as it literally ramps up. These commercial photography sessions are always a lot of fun because I love capturing the action and I have a 20-year background in marketing!
Event photography allows me to showcase my talents as a fly-on-the-wall-photographer capturing great candid moments for a very important day, even if the graduating class is only 55 people. It is a great opportunity for me to be invited back year after year for my business, but it also helps me check myself.
I returned to these images several months later to realize, I might be able to make it work. Most of the images were backlight with a flood of blue from the front. If I went the usual route for editing these photos, I could not publish them.
The RAW file was dark and grainy. I needed to back out of the blue and add in some pink. First I adjusted the levels in Camera Raw, just like you would also do in Lightroom classic. I almost always leave the shadows alone. I used to be afraid of the dark, but now I embrace it like a sith lord.
Certainly not the first time I’ve photographed during an OSU game, but it was the first time I was allowed to photograph in the horseshoe during an OSU game. The first time I shot on campus during an OSU game was for Home Depot a sponsor for ESPN College Gameday. When you’re photographing for a sponsor rather than for the media as an editorial photographer, you may sometimes get special privileges.
Photographers, hold firm in what you are willing to do and make it an official policy, Be consistant with everyone. Make it part of your brand or it could damage your business. Steve has contacted me about another photo session since, but I declined. It wasn’t too complicated, I was already booked.
This is Winter Guard International, “the Sport of Art”. For my client, it was turn and burn, spray and pray while they bank on the potential that any images would be purchased. They don’t even want me to shoot in RAW format. They want everything as is in JPEG format with no edits. That’s fine, as long as I remember to change to RAW format for my next session.
Harry's approach to event photography is characterized by a commitment to capturing authentic moments and emotions. He emphasizes building strong relationships with clients to ensure they feel comfortable and relaxed during sessions. This approach has led to high client satisfaction, with many praising his professionalism and the quality of his work. His services are competitively priced, with event photography starting at $225 per hour.
I can happily say I didn’t lose any photo cards; my batteries didn’t die; I didn’t get caught in the rain with my gear; and I didn’t lose my car keys in the muddy pit. That’s all behind me now, right? This was the best music festival experience for me so far and inadvertently the bands, fans, and management all helped make it that way for me.
See how professional retouching transforms a studio headshot from RAW file to finished portrait. Columbus photographer Harry Acosta walks through the full post-production process on a real client image.