Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Bride Paperback – March 29, 2011

I fell in love with Jose's work when I was planning my own wedding. There was just something so undeniably gorgeous about his work that just didn't compare to anyone else's. It was dreamy, romantic, and timeless. The colors to. die. for. We ended up booking him for our wedding and couldn't be happier with our wedding collection.I started off in the wedding photography industry shooting digital. It wasn't until a year ago that I had a bit of an epiphany. All of my favorite photographers shoot film, so why was I shooting digital? Truth be told, I was scared. I was really used to checking my LCD for the exposure. There were so many unknowns and what ifs with shooting film, but the best advice I received was to just do it. I bought myself a Contax outfit and started shooting personal stuff only in film. And was I hooked!! I made plenty of mistakes back then and wish I had this book as a guide to help me out. But I still have so much to learn about shooting film in different lighting situations and this book is filling in those spots and giving me the information I need so I can try them out. With Jose's book I feel less blind and much more confident.I'm now shooting film at most of my sessions, but have yet to shoot an entire wedding 100% film. What I love about this book is that it takes a lot of the fear away from shooting film. Where before, I was making educated guesses and trying things out, I now have a guide on how it's done by someone whose work I've admired for years. I found the section on his gear very useful as well as the information he gives on shooting low light with flash. That's something I have yet to try because I just wasn't sure how to do it, but now I have a good starting point and am really excited to try it out. I also like the sections telling us how he works his typical wedding. What's loaded in which camera, what he uses each camera for, what's being done when another camera is being loaded with film, etc. It's little things like that that I know will help me become a confident film shooter at actual events.All in all I highly recommend this book. It's filled with gorgeous pictures and tons of useful information. It's easy to read (trust me, when books get to technical for me, I tune out) and will be helpful to anyone regardless of whether you shoot film or digital. But if you are wanting to shoot film, you should get yourself this book! Quell some of that fear and go for it.

Jose Villa is one of, or if not the best wedding photographer of today's generation. It is common for photographers of Villa's skill and talent level to keep the secrets to their success to themselves, but with this book, Villa does the complete opposite. He freely shares with the reader everything he has learned, and provides step-by-step instructions on how to replicate his trendsetting look.This is no book of rhetoric or theory. It is a book of application whereby Villa provides stunning fine-art imagery of weddings/engagements he has documented in the past with examples explaining his method (s). Classic and timeless, these breathtakingly beautiful captured moments of tranquility effectively show the reader what can be achieved by following the books instructions effectively.Villa has produced a must read for beginning or professional wedding photographers alike who aspire to produce high-quality fine art wedding images with film. It is simply written and full of useful advice that photographers of all genres can use as a source of inspiration and education to satisfy today's generation of brides.It is for the aforementioned reasons the I am thrilled to recommend, "Fine Art Wedding Photography: How to Capture Images with Style for the Modern Bride", by Jose Villa for film photographers interested in learning his craft as based on his experiences.Respectfully,Jamusu.

This book is a great library addition for those seeking different ways to express their photographic style. It's all centered on the use of film and that is what makes it unique.It will open your eyes to a "new frontier" that is foreign to most modern digital shooters. It highlights (pun intended) and demonstrates the advantage that film has over digital, concerning Dynamic Range.Wedding photographers need to use all tools available that will place them one step above the competition.At first impression, the thought of using film may seem like stepping backwards and enslaving yourself from something you spend thousands of dollars to free yourself from. But upon reading this volume you will learn that film possesses certain attributes that digital is still not capable of reaching...mainly, retain detail and color in extreme lighting conditions. Interestingly enough, the author of this book actually exploits these very extreme conditions and that, in my opinion, is the major reason to take a good look at this book.You will be armed with knowledge and educated on how to push the limits of film--to not only--work under a difficult, contrasty lighting condition, but to actually seek this very condition to expand your shooting style and augment your portfolio.You will lose the fear of shooting in bright sunlight, albeit at the expense of purchasing, developing and printing film.I must point point out that, even though, Villa uses film as his main medium on all his weddings, digital shooters can actually take advantage of his knowledge to simply arm themselves for "that dreadful day" when you have to shoot under the mid-day sun.Digital shooters can use film only for the harsh lighting condition and then photograph the rest of the event with digital. You will save the day at the expense of a mere couple of rolls of film, especially if you shoot 35mm vs. medium format (which is Villa's choice of format).