Meet The 5th Avenue Digital Photographers: Great Locations For Engagement Photography In NYC

Location, Location, Location!  What’s the best location to capture those special engagement photographs?  Want to know what top NYC photographers think?  We asked our professional engagement  photographers at 5th Avenue Digital to share their favorite spots in New York City.  Here’s what they had to say. Read the rest of this entry »

Best of 2012: Wedding Portraits

Here are some of our favorite Wedding Portraits from 2012.

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10 Things I Learned at This Year’s Women Presidents’ Organization Conference

Here are some of the kernels I took away from my participation in the Women Presidents’ Organization 2013 International Conference:

1. Women are starting to understand the power they have in numbers. They are mentoring each other, empowering each other, and creating businesses that are making a difference in their communities and in the lives of other women.

2. I am lucky to have heard Linda Applegate a few times as the head of the OPM program at Harvard Business School. Every time I hear her lecture, even if I’ve heard the content before, I hear something new. This time, I heard the term pivotal growth, and I think that’s the stage we are now in at 5th Avenue Digital. Read the rest of this entry »

5th Avenue Digital Welcomes Photographer Amy Etra

When Amy Etra was aspiring to be a cool hippie at her high school on Long Island, photography was the new cool art class so she signed right up, and got hooked.  Later she studied photojournalism at Boston University, moved to NYC and worked as a photo assistant in the exciting world of advertising.  In the 1980’s she moved to Los Angeles and became a national magazine portrait photographer, shooting celebrities and business leaders for Newsweek, Time, Forbes, USA Today and other top publications.  In 1999 she moved back east to Connecticut where she “fell” into the wedding biz when a photo editor at Business Week asked Amy to shoot her wedding on Block Island.  “Wow, it was the perfect  fit for me” Amy recalls. “Creative, fast paced, and all about photographing people and artsy details.”  Today Amy excels in wedding photography, engagement photography and bar mitzvah photography in addition to her corporate work.  Amy shares more of her thoughts with us.

How would you describe your signature style in five words?

My style is: artistic, fun, creative, spontaneous, photojournalism.  My favorite photography expression is:  “Fortune Favors the Prepared Mind”  which is perfectly illustrated in my photo of Alex and her veil blowing.  I set her up with her bridesmaids on her street and all of a sudden a strong wind came up and I clicked.  But everything was in place already, location, lighting….and I got lucky..because I was prepared!!  Call it photographer’s luck, whatever. Read the rest of this entry »

5th Avenue Digital Welcomes Photographer David Ducane

David Ducane smiles when he thinks about how his passion for people and adventure turned into a career in photography.  Growing up in southern California, his many family camping trips spawned his initial love for adventure.  At 14 his family relocated to New Jersey where he met his great friend Jon who introduced him to photography.  From the moment he picked up the camera he knew he loved taking pictures.  “I love light, and locations with minimal settings or many lines and shapes” David reflects.  “Every event, every session is a new opportunity for me to push myself, to create images that impact the viewer but are still classic and timeless.”  David is equally fabulous as a wedding photographer as he is shooting bar mitzvahs. David shares more of his thougths with us.

What was the first event you photographed when you knew for sure: ‘This is what I want to do’?

The “This is what I want to do” moment for me was when I was traveling in Nepal 5 years ago. I got to meet many amazing people and take tons of photos while hiking in the mountains. One day it just hit me that I didn’t ever want to stop taking photos.

What job or person gave you your first “big break”?

My big break moment came when the salon where my sister works – Arrojo in Soho – asked me to photograph 25 fashion bloggers who came to get makeovers.   After that job I was asked by a big fashion designer to do her e-commerce and the ball has continued to roll.

How would you describe your signature style in five words?

The five words to describe my style are:  quite, moments, fun, classic, dynamic.

Who or what inspires you the most?

The person I work with, the location and the type of lighting I have to use inspire me in a new way at every shoot I’m part of. Read the rest of this entry »

Meet the 5th Avenue Digital Photographers: Best Locations to Photograph in New York City

Scouting possible NYC locations for your wedding photographs and want to know what a professional photographer might say?  We asked some of the professionals at 5^th Avenue Digital to share quick thoughts on their favorite NYC locations in which to shoot. Read the rest of this entry »

Meet the 5th Avenue Digital Photographers: Best Time of Day to Take Photographs

Perhaps you are giving thought to what time of day might be best for your engagement or wedding photographs and are wondering what the professionals think. Of course, professional photographers are able to produce great shots at any time of day, indoors or out.
Even so, they do have their favorites, so we thought we would ask some of the professionals at 5^th Avenue Digital to share quick thoughts on the best time of day in which to shoot. Read the rest of this entry »

Meet the 5th Avenue Digital Photographers: Camera Lens of Choice

Curious about the more technical aspects of photography, such as just how do the professionals get those amazing shots, and which camera lenses get the best results? We asked some of the photographers at 5^th Avenue Digital to name their favorite camera lens and share how it helps them deliver consistently beautiful images of such high quality. Read the rest of this entry »

Meet the 5th Avenue Digital Photographers: Favorite Wedding Moments to Shoot

There are so many wonderful moments to capture in a wedding, from the bride and groom in their last “single” moments, to the ceremony, and on through the celebration with friends and family. It’s not surprising then that professional photographers, though adept at capturing stunning images from every part of the wedding, may feel a special thrill during a particular part of the Big Day. We asked some of the photographers at 5^th Avenue Digital to share their favorite part of the wedding to photograph. Read the rest of this entry »

Meet the 5th Avenue Digital Team: Dakota LeBoeuf, Digital Technician

The Digital Technician is a team’s image specialist, and here at 5th Avenue Digital, Dakota LeBoeuf is the resident expert  in managing the digital image files from the moment they leave the photographer’s camera through delivery to the client, whether that be in the form of a DVD, Web Gallery, Download Link or set of Proof Prints. The process is complex, involving file type conversion, image selection, image reorganization and integration of multiple cameras’ or photographers’ work, color correction, image processing, storage and archiving and, finally, export in the client’s preferred delivery method.  Consequently, the Digital Tech must be well versed in photographic technology and current media platforms as well as have a sharp and artistic eye. Dakota is also the go-to maven for jobs that call for special retouching (anything from removing a blemish, to placing Elvis Presley’s hair on every head in the photo), the addition of logos or special branding elements and all other creative adjustments to the images. The result: gorgeous final images that can be accessed and shared in any desired format.