Derek + Alissa Engagement Session in Pontotoc, Mississippi

Expansive green fields. Old rustic shops. Roads with little more than dirt, trees, and deep blue skies...and my little brother and the love of his life.  We started the day off with lots of laughs and lots of coaxing. I never thought that I would shoot my greatest engagement shoot, but I must say that it happened.  I captured everything I wanted to capture in the full comfort of my craft (complete with family in tow).

To see the love in their eyes..the love in his eyes..the love she has for him and the love he has for her.  That's obvious to everyone.  But what people don't quite know is that these two met 10 years ago in middle school. I'm not quite sure if they knew it then that they were meant to be.  But, they are indeed the lucky ones.  They are the ones the see love for what it is and move forward with it. They take a leap and don't wait for life or social constructs to decide what is right. As Cartman from "Southpark" says "[They] do what they want." They love how they want.

Please enjoy a few of these pictures as much as enjoyed taking them.

Behind the Scenes: Boudoir

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What is the Difference Between a Copyright Release (CRR) and an Print Release (PR)?

This has got to be one of the most common questions I get.  It is also one of the most common terminology mix-ups between clients and photographers alike. I want to make this clear:  CRR is not interchangeable with PR although it’s pretty simple to confuse the two if you don’t have an understanding for what each one of them entails. I guess that’s what I’m here for.

     We have officially entered a digitally dependent world.  We make our plans with a computer.  We date through computers.  In fact, I think you can even make coffee with your handheld devices now.  In fact, everything I do is practically done online (pretty much). I network with clients, post their photos, and edit using some type of digital device.

       With digital dependency comes digital sharing, liking, and networking.  What does this means for the photographer? It means a lot of blurred lines and mass confusion.

     Back in the good old days, when we had the ultimate right and power of the photos, the only way you could share a photo was if you sent it via snail mail.  For those of you who don’t know what this is, this was when you actually hand wrote a letter, put something in an envelope, licked a stamp (before the self-adhesive stamps), and prayed your pictures got to its location. There was no social media.  There was no Instagram or Twitter. There was no Facebook.  There was only yours, the guests, and the photographer’s recollection of the event.

     Nowadays, however, most of my photos are shared within 2 minutes of my posting them to my business site.  What does this mean for the photographer? It means that my images will now be shared throughout the far reaches of the internet with or without my permission or with proper credit due! Yikes!

That is where a print release OR copyright release comes in.

What is a copyright release?

A copyright release is a document that releases a document or photo to the client. When this transfer is complete, the picture no longer belongs to the photographer.  I, the photographer,  am legally signing over my rights to the client.  Basically, I am giving up my pictures for adoption which means I can never use that photograph without the written or explicit permission of my client. It also gives my client the right to do whatever he or she wishes with the photos including edit, alter, use for commercial purposes (get money for or use to solicit business), or use to promote gang violence (or for type of promotion for that matter).

Why are Copyright Releases so expensive?

Because I am giving my work to you FOREVER! That would be like you really liking a Rihanna song then asking her to give up all the rights to her song JUST so you can play it on your cassette tape player.  This is my baby. This is my artistic creation that I have bled over…sweat over…and spent hours slaving over.  There are very few cases I give copyright releases and it is usually for commercial purposes depending on the situation.  But even in those cases, a print release can (and usually is) negotiated. As I read on  TheLawTog.com, it’s like allowing the consumer to “ have your cake (prints) and getting to eat it too.”

Ya….that’s not kosher….

Most people simply want to print their photos.  They want to be able to drop by CVS on their way to their cousin Tony’s Bat Mitzvah and drop off their digital proofs from last year’s wedding and get them printed in an hour or so. They also want to be able to print about 300 copies of their Bridal portraits for all 300 members of their family. They want to be able to make a little scrapbook lined with fur and lace with all their printed memories from that special moment.

That is how a print release is important.

It is how we calm the war between the worlds (client and photographer).

What is a print release?

It is a document that allows you to print for personal use all while allowing the photographer to retain the rights. It’s what professional printers will ask you for if you take my awesome photos to them and say “hey I want these amazingly unique works of art printed and back to me before the end of Tony’s Bat Mitzvah.” 

It gives you the right to print these photos anywhere while I still have all physical and intellectual rights to the files.  That means, I still have the right to tell you take my photo down if you are using it commercially or otherwise without my permission. I have the right to tell you to remove that Meme from my work of art because it brings shame to my photography game.   It allows me to protect myself just in case you want to take my photo and use it at a strip club.  Do I mind the fact that you like my photo so much that you want to use it at a strip club? No…that’s pretty awesome! But do I want my business associated with your strip club since I take family photos? Not really.  That is why I keep the rights to my photos.

How can a PR be good for the client?

You have the right to print as many copies of my photos as you want. You are allowed to post files to social media platforms (with provisions of course).  You are also allowed to use it for invitations and cards (with provisions also).  You get to retain the use of these files for the rest of your natural life. And, best of all, you never have to come back to me and ask me to mail you a new set of photos…well unless you lose the USB I sent you. That’s a whole other bag of worms.

How can a PR be good for the photographer?

I maintain control over the disbursement of my stuff.  I can make sure no clients are altering my photographs and circulating bad versions of my work.  Remember, our images are our marketing. It allows me to keep the originality in my work. It prevents my work from being used for things and purposes I may not support or agree with (commercial).

You have to think, the digital world has essentially stripped artists of some of their power.  It is a double edged sword.  While our work is marketed and shared at a staggering rate in comparison JUST to work of mouth, we are constantly on guard for those seeking to change our work for their purposes. We cannot soon forget how the internet has circulated pictures of unsuspecting people, thereby, branding them for life with shameful associations (i.e. distasteful pictures, unflattering pictures, pictures with memes). With that being said, photographers have to see if anyone is  using their photos on blogs without creating links back to our work. We HAVE to monitor the integrity of the work we do on a daily basis. That’s pretty hard. Especially when people don’t understand or respect why and how this is so important.

Biggest Question of All:

Can I let my friend borrow my print release to print photos?

No.  Negative. Not a chance.  This is a no go.  Did I say NO?

This is stealing.  I put the name of the person who purchased the print release on the card.  It is for their use only. If your friend wants to print photos, she can either ask you to print her a copy or she may purchase a copyright release from me. I would prefer the latter, but I am also a realist. It’s about respecting the work it takes to produce a photo.  Plain and simple. Just as it is illegal to make copies of movies without permission, the same goes to my photos.  It’s about integrity.  So, I urge my clients and those reading this blog to consider what it took to give you this photo. Respect that.  Spend your money…Lots of money.  Smile and Say “Cheese.”

Gabbi + Byrd Engagement Shoot @ UNCC Botanical Garden

Gabbi and Byrd met in college, became friends, fell and love, and now they are getting married.  One thing that was completely evident in shooting this friendly and loving couple is that they have an undeniable balance that radiates.  I had a great time shooting this couple and can't wait to shoot their wedding in 2016.

Hello Tulsa!

I'm coming. I'm shooting. I'm having a righteous reunion.  Get ready to get on my calender.

I'm coming for you Tulsans. I'm coming for you.

NEW Custom Packaging for Blue!!

The devil is in the details.  I say again, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS. 

I have always been one for the details.  Symmetry is best friend.  In recent months, I have worked on a design I felt would fit the new image of my business.  When Blue Arden was Ollie Wills Photography, though my business had a name, it didn't have brand.  It did not showcase the things I love which are: antique, vintage, rustic, modern, and simple.  I like bold colors.  I like aged things.  I like new things made to look old and old things made to look new.  That's my SCHTICK.  My brand, instead, was all over the place with constantly changing watermarks, editing styles, and imprints, as I tried to find myself. 

Finally, this year, the name Blue Arden found me and with it came a brand.  What came with it was specificity and direction. What came with it was a THANK YOU NOTE.  I believe my clients should always know how thankful I am for them choosing me.  It is a huge honor to be the number one choice! With that being said, I am proud to introduce what will now come standard with all large packages and weddings. It's so cute, I think I'll make one for myself.

Baby Shower: A Party and a Reunion

Pleasantries and great fun from the 40th birthday and Baby Shower of my dear dear friend who I had not seen in over 10 years. Such a joyous reunion and amazing occasion.

Photographers Recollect Life Quite Differently

When people consider memories, they think of them as in good or bad memories. Photographers are a slightly different breed of rememberers (if that's even a word). We remember in "how good we thought we were" at the time we took a photo. We remember by "what camera we used." We also remember by "how we edited at that time" and "what was I thinking by posting that photo."  We are quite the eccentric bunch of individuals.  I can honestly say that my memories of my work have been love/hate memories.  Though I now have an incredible following (which I am humbled by everyday) of over 1K likes, it is still not enough. I want more...I want to be better...I want to be recognized...I want to be the best....until something reminds me of how far I have actually come.

When I look back at some of the work I have done, I am in awe of how my style has changed, yet how my vision has remained intact.

This very night, while putting together a new downloadable pricing packages, I came across one of my first Senior sessions. What struck me was not how many of the photos were bad, but rather how many were STILL good. Despite the fact that I didn't understand lighting and under exposure to the extent that I do now.  Despite that fact that I wanted to pretend like I knew everything and now I openly admit "I'm a forever learning photographer." Despite that fact that now I am amazed I was even paid for my earlier work, my earlier work is still my art. It is still my experience. It is still something I can enjoy.

What's more is that no matter how much I despise the techniques I used at the time, someone will always have my memories somewhere in their album, Facebook page, school year book, or even wedding album.  I am forever engrained in this family. That is something for which I can be very proud.

So how does this overcritical, perfectionist, sadist photographer feel about this shoot? I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to shoot such a beautiful and intelligent young woman. But really, it doesn't matter what I think. What matters is what my clients will remember about their experience.

-Ollie