Join me at a photography workshop in Guatemala

barrygutierrez — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:09:19 +0000

I am searching for a few photographers who would be interested in making documentary photographs for NGOs and non-profits. My good friend Mike Ross and I have launched a social enterprise initiative called Humanitarian Images.

Our inaugural expedition will be to lead a photography workshop in Guatemala in late October followed by a workshop in Denver this coming winter and Nepal within the next year. I can’t wait.

Humanitarian Images is an initiative to help photographers use their skill in support of the work being done by NGOs and non-profits around the world. Over an 8-10 day period, each participant will submerged into the Guatemalan culture to learn how to visually document life. The workshop will put emphasis on the vision of a photojournalist, location lighting, the use of and hunt for available light, relationship building with those you document, how to consult with an NGO about communications through images, and much, much more.

The first part of our Guatemala expedition will place participants at the Day of the Dead festival, where they will be enveloped by the rich culture of the small village of Santiago. The second part of the workshop launches participants on assignment with actual non-profits and NGOs to produce work for them.

One of the fundamental missions of my life is to to use my talent as a photographer and mentor to help make this world a better place. Humanitarian Images offers a great opportunity for me to serve students at any level — to equip and encourage them as they participate in serving humanity.

Volunteers arrive to work at a Salud Family Health Center mobile unit in Commerce City, Colo., in 2006. The organization serves low-income communities with health care services. Photograph by Barry Gutierrez.

More details: This initiative is part of The Omega Network, Inc., which uses revenue generated from participant fees to help fund women’s micro-economic projects in Nepal and Guatemala. http://www.humanitarianimages.org

“Breaking the Barriers” Portrait Series

barrygutierrez — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:17:15 +0000

I’ve gotten to be part of a pretty special project this spring. It’s called “Breaking the Barriers,” an exhibit built around showcasing African-Americans’ successes in tennis. The project includes more than a dozen of my photos.

The portraits were shot on location throughout Denver, and each one was shot with the mission to capture a little piece of their souls. Each image is uniquely posed, composed and lit. Yet they cohesively connect. I am proud of the series that has brought great pride the people I have captured. I thank them for the gift of their image, time and friendship.

Standing in front of a packed room of VIP dignitaries at the exhibit’s debut reception last Friday and being recognized as the project photographer was incredible. I was responsible for the 14 16×24 prints hanging in along the walls of the second floor of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, where the “Breaking The Barriers” exhibit will run through June.

Having the opportunity to meet and photograph some of our local heroes who broke through racial barriers to pursue their passions in tennis has been an honor and privilege. Through their stories, each person has encouraged me to grow as a man. I have learned the value of family and friendship, struggle and victory in a deeper, more meaningful way. I hope that my portraits have captured, in some way, the essence of their inner beings. Let the images be a celebration of their incredible stories and enduring lives.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT:
‘The USTA Colorado and the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library have partnered for the Colorado premiere of “Breaking the Barriers,” an acclaimed national exhibit honoring African American achievements in tennis and encouraging greater diversity in the sport. Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library Hours: Mon 12-8 p.m., Wed, Fri 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. through June 30. (Closed: Tues, Thurs, Sun.) Free and open to the public.

If you like, please view the portrait series on http://barrygutierrez.com or my blog http://barrygutierrez.wordpress.com/

Frank Adams

Dream Team aims to grant weddings to couples in need

barrygutierrez — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:04:57 +0000

Who among us doesn’t know someone who’s having a hard time these days? I recently signed on to donate my photography services to a nonprofit called the Dream Team, which is reaching out to the Denver metro area for applicants to receive a wedding to remember. The new, Chicago-based nonprofit aims to help couples who have experienced severe or heartbreaking personal challenges. Such challenges could be military deployment, death of a family member or life-threatening illness, for example.

If you know a couple who may fit this description, please go to http://www.dreamteamwishes.org/applications.aspx to apply or donate.

Here is more info on what Dream Team’s about:
Mission: The Dream Team is a non-profit organization committed to helping couples who have experienced severe or heartbreaking personal challenges plan a wedding to remember.

Vision: Our Dream Team’s call to heart is connecting with couples under pressure and granting them dream weddings despite all obstacles.

Purpose: We embrace the philosophy that love transcends all things, and we celebrate the union of marriage and the strength to persevere. When a couple’s dream is to be together forever, we work with wish grantors across the nation to ensure their wedding dreams come true.

Engaged at DAM: Christie and Aaron

barrygutierrez — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:06:04 +0000

When Aaron Cole got on one knee on the sixth floor of the Denver Art Museum in February to propose to his high school sweetheart, Christie Miller, chills ran through my veins. The special moment that will stick with me. It happened to take place in front of Christie’s favorite painting, “Childhood Idyll” by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, in the European art exhibit. Aaron had asked me weeks before to photograph the proposal.

For their engagement portraits, we headed downtown to see what we could find, and it was a jackpot of great pictures and moments. Christie and Aaron were so much fun to work with, I spent nearly five hours on their engagement portrait session. We dodged down alleys, climbed stairs, went shopping at Rockmount Ranch Wear, snuck into elevators and laughed a lot. We had coffee and even capped the day off with an adult beverage at the Cruise Room in the Oxford Hotel.

I love to serve my clients. Well, I love to just plain serve. It’s in my moral makeup. I find that I am happiest while giving to others. Especially while using my talent as a photojournalist. A mentor of mine once said that every great image is a gift from the person you are photographing. So in a way, to give is to receive.

We had an organic relationship from the start with a direct connection Aaron and I share with newspapers. And the fact that the two of them have been in some way connected since high school makes for an incredible connection that is beautiful and poetic. They are scheduled to make it official in June in Salt Lake City, Utah. I can’t wait.

"I know Christie and I would like to do whatever it takes to ensure that you can shoot our big day and her bridals." -- Aaron

"My favorite memories were just the day itself. I tend to be self conscious in front of a camera and I wasn't with you. It was fun running around downtown Denver taking pictures. " -- Christie

Obama photo on Der Spiegel magazine cover

barrygutierrez — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:24:42 +0000

I recently had a fun conversation about Googling your name. The last time I searched, “Barry Gutierrez” returned 16,700 results. Granted, there is a dude in the Philippines with the same name.

It’s great to see a lot of my work is online. When I started digging around after the last search, I found a 2008 Der Spiegel magazine cover with my picture of President Obama on it. I shot it in Pueblo, Colo.

After I used Google Translate to order a copy in German, it wasn’t long before the magazine showed up in my mailbox. My wife, who has 2,300 Google results, called me a rock star.

From the magazine’s website: DER SPIEGEL is Germany’s most important and Europe’s highest-circulation news magazine. Almost 1.0 million copies are sold on average every week throughout the year. DER SPIEGEL is characterised by its in-depth information, sound research and reliable quality. The editorial spectrum ranges from politics and business to science, medicine and technology and from culture, entertainment and media to society and sport. The main focus of the reporting is on events in politics and society. The magazine’s unique concept and journalistic reputation manifest themselves in the judgement of SPIEGEL readers. The time spent reading an average issue of DER SPIEGEL is more than 2.5 hours, according to a SPIEGEL response analysis.

Loveland Ski Area’s Marry Me event: 3 couples’ stories

barrygutierrez — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:58:47 +0000

Loveland Ski Area celebrated its 19th Annual Mountaintop Matrimony Marry Me & Ski Free event on Valentine’s Day.

Dozens of couples took the chairlift to the top of the mountain, at over 12,000 feet, where they gathered to be officially married. Most couples were renewing their vows and some were saying, “I do,” to each otherfor the first time. Every couple has a story, but here are a few I picked out to share.

Summer Sciez catches a bouquet thrown by a neighboring bride, who was married at the Loveland event, while her fiancé Ross Pounders looks on. Wanting the timing to seem a coincidence, Ross brought Summer to Loveland to celebrate Valentine's Day on Sunday. As they arrived at the top of the mountain, where dozens of other couples were gathered to get married in a group ceremony, he could barely hold himself together. "We're not supposed to be here," Summer exclaimed. But Ross kept her interest and convinced her to stay and watch. They did stay and when the officiant asked the gentlemen to get their rings, he went into his jacket to get his. A surprised Summer began to cry, and the paragraphs of words that Ross had rehearsed and rehearsed were reduced to, "Will you marry me?" She said yes. By Barry Gutierrez

Stephanie Goloskewitsch, center, and her new husband, Nick Goloskewitsch, of Denver, celebrate with a champagne toast after getting married during Loveland Ski Area's annual marriage ceremony event Feb. 14, 2010. "I've been skiing there my whole life. We always wanted to do this. It was fantastic. We had a wonderful time," says Nick. By Barry Gutierrez

Meredith and Jason Adams kiss and toast at the bar after getting married and skiing down the mountain during Loveland's wedding event Feb. 14. My lens fogged up after coming in from the cold, which created a haze on the outside of the lens. By Barry Gutierrez

How to select a wedding photographer: Sign the dotted line

barrygutierrez — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:56:54 +0000

10) Sign the dotted line: A good wedding contract protects both the client and the photographer.

You should not sign anything before you read it. Make sure that everything that is important to you is covered and it all sits right with you. Wedding photographers can be in high demand and having a contract to protect your date and the service you are purchasing is very important. You will always have to pay a deposit for this security.

HINT: Find good information on contracts in the article “Wedding photography: Contract Essentials” on theknot.com.

This month, I am sharing 10 tips to help in the wedding photographer search. Find the earlier tips here:
1. Look for personality
2. Moments and style
3. Experience
4. Price
5. Time
6. Ownership
7. Emotion
8. Second shooters
9. Technology

Josh and Ruth sign their marriage license with their rabbi at Cheesman Park in Denver in June 2009.

How to select a wedding photographer: Technology

barrygutierrez — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:41:52 +0000

9) Technology: Today’s professional digital SLR cameras have equal or better quality than most film cameras of just a decade ago. Make sure the photographer is well equipped with more than one camera body and numerous lenses in case of equipment failure.

During the post-production and the editing process, it is common practice to have your images made into black and white or other artistic-looking effects. Ask your photographer about this process and any fees involved. Make sure your photographer offers an online gallery. This is very helpful so you are not responsible for getting images out to your individual family members. That can add up to quite a task.

HINT: Be sure to ask your photographer candidates about their equipment.

Groomsmen play a practical joke on Andy, the groom, during the reception at the Evergreen Lake House in Evergreen, Colo., in July 2009.

How to select a wedding photographer: Second shooters

barrygutierrez — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:28:31 +0000

8) Second shooters: You should consider a second photographer if you have more than 150 guests, you would like extensive portraits taken, there is complicated travel surrounding the wedding ceremony and the reception, you want to make sure both the bride and groom are covered while they are getting ready, you have too much going on to be covered by one photographer, are getting married in very tight quarters that will limit the photographer’s movement or have important surprises that must be captured perfectly.

HINT: Remember that what is most important is capturing as many emotions and moments as possible.

Jabon prepares for his marriage ceremony as they celebrate their wedding week in Las Vegas, Nevada, in September 2009.

Nicole gets ready at the Evergreen Lake House in Evergreen, Colo., in July 2009.

Elegance abounds at ISES wedding showcase

barrygutierrez — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:27:36 +0000

While photographing an elegant table setting designed by Tony Rosacci’s Fine Catering, the first detail I noticed this week were pocket watches. One at each place setting, the watches doubled as place cards with the names of the guests placed inside the hinged silver cover.

The Tony’s table was among about a dozen tables in competition at the 5th annual International Special Events Society, or ISES, Vintage Romance wedding showcase. The event took place at Mile High Station on Jan. 26.

Lissa Rosacci of Tony Rosacci's Fine Catering designed a romantic setting for the 5th annual International Special Events Society, or ISES, Vintage Romance wedding showcase at the Mile High Station in Denver on Jan. 26, 2010.

Lissa Rosacci of Tony Rosacci's Fine Catering designed a tablescape that included pocket watches used as place cards during the ISES wedding showcase.

As I wandered around the room to absorb exhibits from some of the best event designers in the Rocky Mountain region, I was drawn to two exhibits that Cindy Ollig at The Perfect Petal helped design.

One of the details that really caught my attention was an upside-down garden rose that appeared to be a cupcake. Here is the description Cindy sent me after the event:

“The inspiration was Romance in the orchard … so we imagined  hanging open filament light bulbs from tree branches, ticking covered  picnic benches paired with vintage chairs, open garden roses in  apricots and frosty pinks, atop white cake-plates stacked high. ‘County  Fair’ admission tickets wound throughout the river of floral … hand  carved wooden birds held placards around their necks and chandeliers  of weathered forks and spoons were hung with sturdy twine above trays  of pear preserves and short rib sandwiches. To add a singular  compliment to each guest the ‘bride and groom’ have placed a tiny  cake-plate at each setting with an upside-down garden rose that  couldn’t look any closer to a fondant iced cupcake!” — Cindy Ollig, The Perfect Petal

Upside-down garden rose made to appear as a cupcake by The Perfect Petal during the ISES event at Mile High Station.

A model sits at a display The Perfect Petal created for the ISES Vintage Romance wedding showcase.