Creative Images | Masterfully Captured

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Digital
Q. Digital vs Film: Do you still shoot film or are you all digital?
A. I fell in love with photography while attending the University of Oregon long before anyone even conceptualized a digital camera. I loved the whole ritual of processing my own film & watching prints "come alive" in the developer and then tweaking images with burning & dodging & toning. But those days are long gone. I have been shooting digital since 1999 and exclusively since 2002. (I still have some old film cameras for sale, anyone?) Since I began using professional digital cameras while working for the Virgin Islands Daily News, the computer has become my darkroom. And I love it. There are no chemicals to breath and I can work with the lights on. And with Lightroom & Photoshop, I have more control than ever over the final product. What I find fascinating with the advancement of digital photography is that although we've been "advancing" for years now, it has actually taken us 3 steps back putting control of the final product back into the hands & mind of the photographer. (i.e. Ansel Adams never sent a roll of film to a lab or let someone else print his masterpieces.) We can no longer shoot a roll of film, drop it in a photo mailer, and hope the lab does a good enough job. The photographer now, more than ever, (or should I say, like it was in the old days) is responsible for the final out put. With Digital Photography, I can create B&W, Sepia, Selenium, & other artistic varieties of the same image. I use a soft filter on portraits to bring out the beauty of my subject & I can remove distracting spots. With digital photography, I have more control than ever to see my vision of beauty realized in my work....... And I LOVE it! --Ej
Q. With the convenience of Digital Photography, no film & processing expenses, why isn't it cheaper?
A. For one, professional photography equipment isn't any cheaper. I shoot my weddings with 8 megapixel & 16.8 megapixel camera bodies which are $4k & $8k respectively. But more importantly, there is the Lightroom & Photoshop time which adds tremendously to the overall cost. For a 1 hour beach wedding we spend a minimum of 4 hours in post-production creating a fantastic product that we can be proud to put our name on. At Paradise Pictures, we believe it is that extra time & personal care we put into each wedding is what sets us apart from the competition. I've heard of others who shoot in Jpeg & will burn & "give" you a disc to do as you please. At Paradise Pictures, we believe the beauty of the final product is our responsibility & if you compare portfolio's, you will see the difference. --Ej
Photographer
Q. When we contract with Paradise Pictures, are we getting Ej or possibly a staff photographer?
A. Unlike some Virgin Island photography companies, when you contract your wedding with Paradise Pictures, Eric "Ej" Johnson will be your primary photographer. I do have a qualified assistant accompany me with large weddings, and they will shoot some, but I am always the primary shooter. I believe it to be unprofessional and dishonest to sell an on-line portfolio and then send someone with less talent and experience. That's why you should always request to see "your photographers" portfolio & not just the owner of the company's. That said: Acts of God, extreme illness, my death, or other events out of my control are the only exceptions and we would first do everything possible to find you an acceptable replacement.
Q. Our wedding planner said we can't use Paradise Pictures but have to use their 'in-house' photographer, can they do that?
A. They can do whatever they want, it's their hotel / wedding company. It's unfortunate however, that to some, the big picture has become profits over quality product. You should remind them that it is your wedding and not theirs. If you really want me to be your photographer, then insist and go to upper management if you have too. Some hotels & wedding planners mark up tremendously their "in-house" photo company's services and you should be aware of that. i.e. One local hotel charged a bride a thousand dollars for bringing her own photographer to compensate for monies lost not using the photographer of their choice. If you want the biggest bang for your buck, you should hire your photographer directly. If they won't budge, then let me help you find a wedding company that will accommodate your wishes. After all, it is your day. --Ej