Meet Sean

Last week I talked about how I found my way into wedding photography and why it’s such a good fit for me. As I mentioned, part of the reason I like my job as a wedding photographer is that I get to work with clients who appreciate what I do and how I do it. And since you’re reading this, probably trying to figure out if we’ll be a good match, let me walk you through a few of the ways I set myself apart from other photographers.

1. I’m stealth-like in movement; one minute I’m there, the next I’m gone… You shouldn’t have to worry about where your wedding photographer is or what he’s doing (you’ll have plenty of other things to focus on, I promise!). So, I keep out of the way, popping up when needed, but otherwise taking care of what needs to be done in the background.

2. I’m very aware of and sensitive to my surroundings, which means I notice the smallest moments. Your dad holding your mom close during your first dance, your bridesmaids laughing in a corner as they prepare a surprise toast, the way your new spouse looks at you from across the room. These are the details and moments that make up your wedding; it’s my job to capture them on film.

3. You didn’t want the same engagement ring as all of your friends so I’m guessing you don’t want the same wedding photographs as them either. Which is why I work “outside the box” a bit, creating images that are different and push the limits of my clients’ expectations. When a couple says, “I’m not sure about this shot…” it usually means we’re on the right track – trying something new and unexpected, which often ends up as a truly unique photo.

4. Some might call it anal; I like to call it a high level of attention to detail. I always err on the side of over-preparation so the details are taken care of, I can stay in the moment and everything runs smoothly.

5. I come in with a highly organized, well-planned style of attack for your wedding day event coverage. Before we head into your day you’ll know who needs to be where and when. This takes pressure off of you and your guests and ensures we don’t miss photos of important moments or people.

6. I’m a communicator to the core. Not only am I good at verbalizing what I’m thinking, I’m an excellent listener and very capable of understanding your needs. All of my wedding packages include pre-wedding meetings so we can share ideas, get on the same page and get to know each other.

7. I really enjoy my job. I know I’ve said it before but I believe it bears repeating. I’ve worked hard to become an excellent wedding photographer – one who takes the pressure off of you and enhances the occasion rather than distracting from it – and I’m enjoying every moment of it!

I like to say that photography is in my blood.  Growing up I was heavily influenced by my grandfather, an All-American Basketball player, who parlayed his love of sports into a freelance journalism career for Sports Illustrated.  I started studying photography in high school and minored in it in college, knowing that I too wanted to be in the middle of the action, recording plays and touchdowns.

And I did.  After college, I dove into my career, working as a freelance extreme sports photographer, focusing on skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and fly-fishing. Then I moved into photojournalism, where I covered professional and collegiate sporting events for newspapers.  While I liked the action and excitement of the games, I really wanted to pursue photography in a more creative and personal ways.

So, in 2004 I made the transition to wedding and portrait photography.  Which for me, has been an excellent move.  I get to use the skills I picked up during my years as a sports photographer (quick reactions, ability to anticipate where the action will be going next, extreme preparation so I’m ready for anything…) for what’s often the most important day in people’s lives.

And wedding photography is a great fit.  I get to work with clients who really value the photography assignment and the person they’ve hired for the job.  I like the creativity of wedding photography which lets me push the boundaries of photography and come up with unique ways to represent heartfelt moments.  I really enjoy getting to know couples and their friends and family and determining what defines each couple and their wedding.  And most of all I appreciate my clients who invite me to capture their most personal moments on film and trust me to deliver true-to-the-moment images.

While it’s not exactly my grandfather’s career, I think he’d be pretty honored by it.

I became involved with photography in 1992, when I began working as a special events coordinator for Jackson’s Hole Mountain Resort. While my job entailed multiple responsibilities, it was in my role as event photographer that I found my true calling-capturing the excitement of a special occasion on film.

Since then I have grown as a professional photographer, both in style and subject matter. I now own and run Image Door Productions, a private photography studio based out of downtown Denver. I have shot weddings in Colorado, Wyoming, Virginia, Florida, Michigan,  Illinois, and Minnesota. As an advertising photographer I have worked with high-end creative agencies to create an array of eye-catching marketing material.

My love and appreciation for sports is in my blood and photography is the perfect outlet for it. My grandfather, Theodore M. O’Leary, a former All American for Kansas University, spent over 50 years in the field of sports journalism with publications such as the Kansas City Star and Sports Illustrated. My father also had a journalism career that began at Harvard with his own nightly sports news show. Later he wrote for the Detroit News. Both of these men’s appreciation of sports affected me, and more importantly, inspired me to document the world.

Since moving to Denver I’ve attended and covered events for the likes of the Colorado Rapids Pro Soccer team and Colorado High School Sports for MAX PREPS, a division of CBS Sports. I’ve shot football, basketball, tennis, golf, and lacrosse events including 4A and 5A conference high school prep sports. I also really enjoy covering the winter sports, like extreme skiing and snowboarding.

I have a laid back and confident style that seems to put people at ease. When people are comfortable, their portraits, wedding and lifestyle photographs look better. Whether senior pictures, maternity photos or baby pictures, I enjoy capturing what is unique and special about each person-even the ones that are camera shy!

My approach is very detail oriented, and I pay careful attention to light, motion and subject matter. Whether it is a high action moment or a still life arrangement of products, I strive to capture my subject with excitement and clarity.

I view the world from behind a lens and I am driven to photograph all that I see. Every day I am inspired to be better than I was the day before. I hope that through this blog I am able to ignite a deeper appreciation and understanding of photography-as an art and a practice. Welcome to my world of photography. Please check back with the BLOG on regular intervals, as I look forward to discussing important topics and approaches in the world of photography.

SeanO.

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