Security at the Federal Reserve is very tight, I had to provide my licence plate number and vehicle type the day before I arrived. I was instructed to enter a specific gate, press an intercom button and give my name and my contact persons name. I was also told not to be alarmed when armed guards come out and search my car.

Sure enough, the day I arrived I was greeted by 2 armed guards and a uniformed guard carrying a mirror on a pole used to check beneath my car for a bombs. Yeah, security was tight. Once I was permitted to park my car, I went to the glass booth and presented my ID. My contact was informed of my arrival and I was escorted into the lobby of the Federal Reserve Bank.

My assignment was to photograph the assistant vice president and branch executive economist. The photos were to be used for their monthly magazine "Ten". I was shown around the building, allowing me to scout a couple of locations for the portrait. I wanted to provide my client a "safe" corporate style portrait as well as something a bit more edgy.

During my scouting, I noticed the elevator interior and I just knew I had to shoot there. The light modifier that I choose to use was a ring flash. This was the perfect solution for the environment my subject was in. The back wall was a reflective service and the use of the ring flash provide a intensity of light around her. This is the final image I selected from the shoot.

The ring flash I used is made by RoundFlash, this is a very clever ring flash which is collapsible and fits in a small bay. The opened size is about 17" in diameter. My friend Eric Krugl in Austria sent me one as a gift, I really like it and the size is great.

For the second portrait, I need met my subject at the Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. This portrait was a straight forward corporate style portrait, I'm also including two set-up shots to show you the lighting.

In the photo below, you can see where my subject and I was standing. On the left, I bounced a flash off the wall and on the right you can see a flash fitted with a grid for a rim light.

If you have any questions regarding the set up, feel free to comment.

I am very excited to be teaching at the Julia Dean Photo Workshops this summer.  I'll be teaching a SSBR workshop August 12-16.  I hope you'll join me for this one week intensive.  You can learn more about this workshop by visiting The Julia Dean Photo Workshops Web Site.

For sometime now, I've been using a wonderful light modifier I picked up at Cowboy Studio.  I bought a 22" beauty dish which came with a diffusion sock and grid about a year ago.  The beauty dish has a wonderful look to it, sort of hard and soft at the same time.

The photograph above is of my friend Chris, he needed some corporate head shots and I wanted to do something for myself.  I used the beauty dish with the honeycomb grid, this is the only light used for this portrait.  The light on the background is the fall off of the main light.  I had Chris stand about two feet in front of a piece of fabric I bought at a local fabric store.

These Beauty Dishes are designed for Speedlight shooters.  I really only use it around town as traveling with it can be a problem because of it's size.  These are really inexpensive, under a $100 dollars!  DT

Check out this new article about me on Nikon's Learn and Explore Site

I've just returned from my 4 days teaching at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in Santa Fe, NM.  I had a wonderful time and I want to thank all those attending the workshop and the fine staff at the SFPW's.  I look forward to teaching there again soon.... DT

I was just given a discount code for this workshop.  If your interested in joining me on this Trek and saving a few bucks, use discount code  NLE50 at check out.  :-)

It's fun looking back over last years work in my Lightroom Catalog. Here is an image I did last August for Franchise Time Magazine. I was asked to photograph the CEO Jeff Jervik of Fitness Together. 

The lighting here was quite simple, a FourSquare™ softbox with one SB-800 in it to camera right and a separation light camera left. I used a Rouge Grid fitted with a full cut CTO gel for the separation light and it was placed camera left and back pointed forward on the subject. Here is another variation without a jacket on. 

Marti has changed employers several times since our first meeting, because of your friendship I have been able to continue providing photography where ever she has moved. In any business, turning a customer into a client is key.

I have several clients that I've worked with over a period of years and years.  Many of those folks, I have never met personally. Face it, there are tons of photographers out there that know what their doing (photographically). I can tell you from personal experience, that if your a decent person and provide great service you'll have clients for years.

I have another friend (client), named Mark. I have worked with Mark for that many years. As a matter of fact, we have know each other of about 30 years. We've traveled on assignment together and have had tons of laughs together. I cherish my working relationships and you should too.  I know you most likely have heard this statement before, believe me it's true.  I so much easier to keep a client then to find a new one!

Take care and nurture the relationships you have, really. The photo of the bolt above illustrates something important to me regarding this subject of relationships.

Late last year I was shooting with Marti somewhere in West Virginia, I was working on her annual report shooting various Oil & Gas type stuff. We were on site at a well head shooting an employee with his truck checking on things. While walking back to the rental car, Marti spotted a bolt on the ground and asked if I would mind shooting that for her.  The first thing out of my mouth was, "You bet Martie, something for your wall?"  She stopped, looked at me and said, "You know what I love about you David? Most anyone else would have said your crazy Marti, but you just go with the flow and ... something like that"  I could have very easily said your nuts and walked on, it's all about the client. 

Here are a few more images shot for Marti on this particular assignment. Hope you enjoy. DT

I was on assignment in Florida when I took this photo down at the beach in South Beach, Miami.  Here are a few more images from that same trip, these are from Key West area.

This is a screen shot of what I would call a cheap shot!  Adorama Camera store in NY is sponsoring a workshop with a very similar title to my series of workshops called Small Strobes, Big Results.

This was brought to my attention by a person named "A Concerned Citizen"  Thanks for bring this to my attention.

I started Small Strobes, Big Results back in 2008, I have worked hard to built my branding. I absolutely think Adorama is trying to benefit from this hard work.  Shame on you Adorama!  I have taught Small Strobes, Big Results all over the world.  I teach at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, Maine Media Workshops, GPP (Dubai), Private workshops in Saudi Arabia, Manila, and Austria.

I've sent an email to Adorama, I'm hoping they might reconsider the naming of there up coming workshop.  Your thoughts?  DT

Update:

I just received an email from Adorama apologising for the similarity in the title of Tyler Stableford's workshop. They've changed the title of his workshop to Shooting Action Sports and Portraits with Speedlites.  I want to thank Adorama for the fast resolution regarding my concerns about this issue, your a stand up group. Thanks.