New Year, New Website

Winter is the time I'm normally catching up on my website work.  Traditionally this has been a time to add the hottest new photos of the past year, and remove some of the photos wherein the people are wearing bell bottoms and Elvis sideburns.  This time around, I'm pleased to announce my entirely new website and domain, a two-in-one jobby which combines praguephotographer.net and berlinphotographer.net into one elegant-yet-simple place:  crphotographer.com.  This time around I am fully designing the site from scratch--no more templates.  I have been learning so much about web design these past years, that I have even designed a site or two as side projects.

I am still based in Berlin and commuting to Prague for winter weddings, portraits and events.  But rather than work on two websites individually, I've decided on one main site where you can see the best work I've done in Europe over the past few years in easy-to-view slideshows.  I've put a lot of time and effort into this new site, so if you happen to find this blog, please check out my new site and let me know what you think.  I am adding to it daily now, so it should be out of beta and into alpha (or is it charlie?) in no time.

As usual, I am available for event photography, weddings, and portraits anywhere in Europe.  Contact me for a quote for your photography project today.  And happy new year!

Prague Photo Tours

I would like to formally announce my Prague Photography Lesson Tours.

These 6 hour tours of Prague will take place in the most beautiful locations in Prague.  During your tour, you will receive personal guidance in the use of your camera by Craig Robinson, a freelance photographer with over 15 years of professional experience in the U.S. and Europe.


If you would like a professional photographer to guide your tour of Prague with hands-on assistance and guidance to improve your photography skills, please contact me through my website today!
I offer group discounts as well:  the first person is 3000 CZK, each additional person is only 1500 CZK!


MORE INFORMATION

Ultimate Laziness, Theft and Snakery In The Grass

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to posting on this blog.  I'll admit it, I'm one of those photographers whose real joy ends after I capture the images and present them to my happy clients.  After that, all this bloggery, web mastery, and cyber-tom-foolery is just a menial waste of my time.  I hate the very non-creative chores required to market and get my message out.  Let's just say I'm 80% creative, 20% businessman.  That's why you've never heard of me.  ;)  I have several blogs to maintain and a few websites to boot.  I've been shooting a low-to-average amount in Berlin and Prague recently.  One day I'll post more of my shoots.

But when I find out that someone has been stealing my old blog posts and posting them on THEIR photography website, well, that there is the ultimate laziness.  I know, nobody can write a photo blog as good as me and everyone wants a piece of my juicy words (heh), but REALLY?  Stealing my words?

Shame on you, George Troup Photography, you snake in the grass you.  Give me satisfaction, or money, you plagiarist fiend!

Here's my original post, plus a comment with a link to this sad sack o' dookie:

http://praguephotographer.blogspot.com/2009/08/keep-uncle-bob-away-from-your-wedding.html

Another Winter Wedding

Igor and Elena came from Israel to Prague for their winter wedding because they wanted something a little different.  After a brief ceremony in a small town outside of Prague, we had the rest of the day to take advantage of some fresh snow which had just fallen overnight.

With winter weddings, it's always best to spend an equal amount of time indoors and outdoors--especially when temperatures are below freezing!  With the cooperation of the friendly staff at the Hotel Savoy, we made full use of their lovely facilities for the indoor portrait session.  Afterward, we headed out into the sparkling snow for some bright white wedding pictures. The trees were frosty and the open spaces of Vyšehrad were the perfect setting for some winter magic.

Of course whenever I photograph a wedding in winter, I take care to keep the couple warm and happy with occasional tea and coffee breaks.  Fortunately, Vyšehrad has a charming little restaurant on the grounds for us to have a warm up break.

We had fun walking around the non-touristy side of Prague.  Vyšehrad is one of my favorite spots year round for the perfect portrait shoot:  it is the original fortress settlement of Prague, and ruins from the last millennium dot the site, as well as buildings added over the centuries.  Heroic statues loom large over a massive expanse of park lanes and trees, all overlooked by the impressive Neo-Gothic church of St. Peter and St. Paul.

To book your winter wedding photo session (wedding or pre-wedding engagement photography) in Prague, please contact me.

My Working Method: Fun!

The way a photographer works with you is as important as the quality of the photographs themselves.  I strive to make your photo shoot fun!  I am easy-going, flexible and professional.  I do not pose you in awkward, uncomfortable poses for hours.  Instead, I arrange scenes of beauty and harmony which allow you to relax and enjoy your photography.  I use a light touch when suggesting the best poses for portraits and I’m open to any suggestions you have.  Did you see a great shot in a magazine and you want to duplicate that?  No problem.  Are you new in town and have absolutely no idea where to get the best shots?  You can trust me to take you to the best locations and give you the best results you can imagine.

There are many things in my camera bag besides the gear.   Sensitivity:  a photographer needs to be sensitive to the client’s needs and wishes.  Humor:  a good sense of humor is a must; how else do you get natural smiles?  Experience:  the newest camera in town cannot beat a good eye and seasoned professional training.  I don’t buy a new camera every six months because it is a waste of money.  Camera technology is leveling off and more mega pixels won’t give you a better shot.  It’s the eye behind the camera itself.  But you can rest assured that I have all the tools necessary to get the job done and I upgrade my gear yearly.

On your wedding day I am unobtrusive and capture each moment of your special day with out getting in your way.  During your portrait shoot you will have fun and the time will fly faster than you can imagine.  I strive to make the best pictures you have ever seen and I want you to enjoy the process.  During the shoot I always ask if my clients are having fun.

And the answer is always an enthusiastic “YES!!!”

Please contact me to schedule your portrait session today!

Family Portraits in Prague

It was a lovely day in Prague when I photographed the Mycroft family in Kralovsky Letohradek last Saturday.  Taking natural, relaxed portraits in beautiful surroundings is one of my specialties and I was more than happy to work with this lovely family.  The children were quite young, but that didn't stop them from having fun playing and laughing with Mom and Dad.  Keeping the attention of small children is no easy task, but I am lucky that I have a way with children.  This makes the job that much more fun for everyone involved.  I'll just let the family's own words tell the rest of the story:

"Craig recently did a photo session with my family (me, husband and our 11month old twins). He was great, really friendly and personable. He kept our twins entertained for the whole 3 hours. He is professional and reliable. He got the photos to us the same day. What can I say about the photographs....amazing! He took over 200 and there are just too many to choose from. He captured our twins personalities perfectly - they are truly wonderful. I couldn't be happier. I will be using him again when our twins are older and I will be passing his name onto any friends who want photos taken of their children."

More reviews of Craig Robinson Photography on expats.cz.


For more information on family portraits in Prague, please contact me.

Discounts on All Wedding and Portrait Packages !!!

I understand the budget concerns of the average couple these days.  And in response to several requests from my clients to lower my prices, I am announcing my permanent discounts on wedding and pre-wedding portraits in Prague!  You can now enjoy the same discounts offered in my off season--up to 20% off regular low prices--all year round!

Advance booking is required.  Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or to reserve your booking for a certain date.

Off Season Photography Discount Extended!

For couples who wish to get married in Prague or have their pre-wedding portraits taken in Prague, I have great news!! My Off-Season Discount has been extended until the end of May! Previously my low season discount ran from October 1 through April 30 of the following year. Now it will run permanently from October 1 through May 31 every year!

Several clients have expressed their budget concerns due to the higher costs of having their wedding or portraits taken in Prague. While the rest of the world seems to still be adversely effected by the global economic situation, Prague seems to live inside a bubble of prosperity: tourists flock to Prague in droves, investors throw the dice and keep winning, and the Czech currency is one of the strongest in Europe. But this doesn’t mean you have to cancel your dream wedding in Prague!

From now until the end of May, simply book my services for any of my wedding and wedding portrait packages in Prague and receive a discount of up to 20% off my regular low prices!

For details and prices of my wedding photography packages, please contact me today.

Choosing a Wedding Coordinator in Prague

I have worked with many wedding coordinators in Prague and I feel confident in recommending Thelma and Monika of Prague Wedding Planners. They are the most professional, courteous, friendly and fun wedding coordinators I have worked with over the past 10 years in Prague.  They have a genuine passion for what they do and they will go well beyond the call of duty to ensure you have a perfect wedding day.

When you are planning your wedding in Prague, many factors need to be considered.

Where to get married?

Do you have a dream of getting married in a lavish Gothic castle in the Czech countryside?  The famous Czech castle Karlstejn is the perfect fairy tale dream castle wedding, and as such, is very popular and quite difficult to arrange for weddings.  But Prague Wedding Planners can hook you up.  They organize many weddings in Karlstejn and other beautiful Czech castles and they know what they are doing.  They are also the best choice for the most popular Prague wedding sites like the Old Town Hall.

Karlstejn Castle

A Civil Service or a Church wedding?

As a foreigner getting married in Prague, there is often a lot of red tape and bureaucracy for you to work through.  Prague Wedding Planners take on all of this for you and they deal with the mundane details of forms and paperwork so you can concentrate on the most important part of your wedding day:  having fun!

Wedding Photography

Well, as a wedding photographer, obviously I'm a little biased on this point.  These days it is common to choose a wedding coordinator and a wedding photographer separately.  Most of my clients have told me that wedding photography is one of the most important parts of the wedding day.  And so they wanted to see a full website of photography from the best Prague photographers.  It is quite acceptable to hire a quality wedding coordinator to help you plan the most important day of your life and then choose your own photographer. I feel confident in recommending Thelma and Monika to plan your dream wedding in the Czech Republic. They are tops!

P.S. Tell them Craig Robinson sent you!

A Winter Wedding in Prague

In early February I had the pleasure of photographing Natalie and Levi’s Winter Wedding in Prague. Prague is amazingly beautiful year round, but when the fresh snow sits on the cobbled streets of Old Town Prague and dots the red rooftops of the Castle Quarter, you have the recipe for a picture perfect fairy tale wedding.

Prague can be very cold in winter and so whenever I photograph outdoors we always take precautions to keep us warm. This means wearing overcoats over the wedding clothes (which are taken off briefly for portraits and then quickly donned again) and frequent Cappuccino breaks. Fortunately for us there are cafes everywhere in Prague happy to pour steaming hot coffee and tea into us to keep our cheeks rosy and the smiles from cracking our faces.

Normally when I photograph winter weddings the couple doesn’t want to stray too far from the reception venue, but Natalie and Levi were real troopers and didn’t mind strolling for hours in the snow. Levi is in the military and Natalie is Canadian, so they weren’t afraid of a little snow. They wanted a full day of portraits between their ceremony in Old Town’s Tyn Church and their reception. And in true winter spirit, they BOTH wore all white wedding clothes! The sheer vivid brightness of the Prague snow and the happy couple’s white clothing may require you to wear shades while viewing!

We covered the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle and Vyšehrad, Prague’s forgotten castle. Vyšehrad is one of my favorite locations in Prague because it is off the beaten path and has very few tourists. It also has fantastic sprawling gardens and statues, an old cathedral and a stunning view of Prague. I am happy to share my love of Vyšehrad with my more adventurous couples; and they love the photo results as well.

For more information on Prague winter wedding photography including my current winter wedding discounts, please visit my website.

A Little Fun

"PIMP MY BRIDE"

A parody on the MTV series 'Pimp My Ride' about radical car customization.

While I'm a serious wedding photographer who displays the utmost professionalism and respect while working, I still think the following video is funny (and you may as well):

Keep Uncle Bob Away from Your Wedding Photography!!!!!

I realize we are all under pressure from The Global Crisis, Inc. (hereafter referred to as ‘the Global Thingy’) and that we all must cut corners. I also recognize that a lot of my work falls under the category of ‘luxury services’, i.e. ‘not bread and butter necessities.’ However, people will continue to get married and they will continue to want photographs of their wedding.

But if I read one more email from a client who got cold feet and decided to have a family member take their wedding photos—I’m gonna give up my 15 year career as a photographer and become a florist or a baker. At least THOSE craftspeople are still doing a brisk trade at weddings—and people respect their work. Yes, Uncle Bob got a fancy shmancy new Canon digital recently. Yes, he took some photos of his trip to Thailand and most of them were in focus. But UNCLE BOB MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE MOST IMPORTANT PHOTOS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVEN OF YOUR LIFE.

‘Why not?’ Well, probably for the same reason that if I suddenly got a Baker’s Super Duper French Oven, I most certainly will not be able to give you a five-tiered wedding cake with all the flowers and icing and cute little skating bride-n-groom figurines. I’m pretty sure you’d get a soggy cupcake. The same goes if I were to get a stack of flowers and chop ‘em and mix ‘em and stick ‘em in a bucket for you. Et voila, le fleurs du wedding. Right.

This post is not a plea for your wedding photo dollars in a tough Global Thingy world. I get by alright. This is a plea for respect for the Arts. The first thing on the chopping block in every recession is the Arts. It is also an urgent request for you to respect your wedding day. The cake will be consumed in 4.5 – 20.5 minutes, depending on the size of the cake and the crowd. The flowers will wilt in 12 – 24 hours, depending on the amount of lacquer applied to the petals.

But the wedding photos are forever, baby. If you let a drunken Uncle with a new camera trample through your wedding, you may regret it for the rest of your life. Especially if you value the fine art of photography and the wonderful magic it can provide you. But if you are one of the growing number of victims of the Global Thingy who regard photography as something anyone with an expensive camera can do, then I am saddened. Of course, I should get used to the idea that those people may be right. If so, I’d better get myself a fancy shmancy French bakery oven and get some blueprints for the five-tiered wedding cake. I mean, how hard can it be? Flour, water, sugar and a hot oven, right?

Kibris / Kypros: A Photo Documentary in Progress

I am currently involved in taking portraits of the people of North and South Cyprus. The two territories have a shared history and a divided present. Since 1974, Turkey has occupied the North of Cyprus, while the South remains under Greek Cypriot control. According to Greek Cypriots I have spoken to, this division was against the will of both Greek and Turkish Cypriot alike.

My photography is not political, nor do I claim to have an opinion or answers to the Cyprus Situation. The first series of photos of Turkish Cypriots was taken in various cities and towns of Northern Cyprus in February and March. I am currently involved in photographing the second series of portraits of Greek Cypriots in Southern Cyprus. My photo documentary is not meant to draw racial or cultural boundaries. By separating the two parts of the whole photo series I intend to portray the unique qualities of each culture.

By bringing the two sets of images together in one space, I endeavor to show that despite our differences, we are all the same.

For my current photography projects and more about what I do, please visit my website.

Thanks for viewing my photographs.

Craig Robinson

Cyprus

March 19, 2008

Portraits in Paris

Recently I had the pleasure of flying to Paris to take wedding portraits of a nice couple from Singapore. They saw my website and thought that my style of photography suited them perfectly. Chong Wui and Peck Tze came to Paris from Singapore to have their wedding portraits taken. The following month they would be married in Singapore.

We started off our portraits in the Paris neighborhood of Montmartre. This is the quarter favored by famous Paris artists, writers and musicians over the centuries. The air was crisp and the sky was blue that day late in October and we ascended Montmartre to the famous Sacre-Coeur Basilica on the top of the hill. There was also a fantastic garden park behind the church which captured our attention for a spell. We did a tremendous amount of walking that day, which is the best way to take advantage of all Paris has to offer.

We had an amazing 8 hour whirlwind portrait tour of Paris (punctuated by occasional cafe stops), which included Pont Alexandre III Bridge, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees, and last but not least, the Eiffel Tower. 

 
We finished our shooting day in Paris at sunset and dusk with the Eiffel Tower lighting up the background.

Prague Boat Ride

Ronen and Izabela came to Prague to be married. Like many couples before them, they needed a professional, English-speaking photographer to document their marriage vows and take portraits around Prague. The weather was beautiful that afternoon and we took portraits around Prague's most beautiful settings.

Spontaneously, Ronen and Izabela decided to take a Prazske Benatky (The Prague Venice) Boat Ride on the Kampa Certovka stream, which winds through Kampa and opens up to a gorgeous view of the Charles Bridge and Prague. The small boat was the perfect size for a non-touristy, romantic boat tour of Prague. With the exception of the boat Captain piloting the vessel and me taking photos, the couple had Prague all to themselves in a Venice style boat ride.

For more information about wedding and portrait photography in Prague, please visit my website.

All Hail The Mighty Goat!

THE DAY OF THE GOAT (DEN KOZLA):

BEER, SAUSAGE AND GOATS AT A CZECH BREWERY NEAR PRAGUE.

The first time I saw His Mighty Goatness, His image was plastered on a bottle of Velkepopovicky Kozel Czech Beer. I stared in awe and wonder at the image of this giant black shaggy goat with twisted horns rearing up on his hind legs, clutching a massive foamy beer in his hooves.

I immediately wondered if The Goat was EVIL. I mean, just LOOK at the thing: it reminds me of all the forbidden hard rock album covers of the 70s which would doom my soul to hell if I were to listen to them backwards. Album covers featuring devils, rock stars and goats. I never quite figured out the goat thing, but the Goat certainly scares the bejesus out of millions of fundamentalist Christians each year.

So I grabbed the camera and headed to the brewery in Velke Popovice, a small town where the beer kegs outnumber the residents a million to one.

These are some of the many pagan things I saw at Goatfest 2007:

My Homies, Goat Doggie Dogg and G Money

Goats, goats and more goats

Praise the Mighty Goat!

Beer relay races involving children, empty kegs on

handcarts and empty beer bottles. Hell, my

parents wouldn't even let me run with SCISSORS as a child....

And the mascot, the Great Goat Himself, and MAN does he look WICKED!

Dog Day Afternoon

I went to a dog show last weekend and took some photos. That's a phrase I never thought I would churn out on my keyboard. For one, I don't own a dog; secondly, I usually photograph weddings and portraits in Europe. Portraits of humans.

But there you have it: after the urging of my Czech girlfriend to come to photograph her walking her dog in front of some judges, I became a dographer (dog+photographer, not on wikipedia yet).

Well, photographing dogs turned out to be a pleasant surprise, mainly because I happened to meet famous Czech photographer Jan Saudek at the dog show. He was just strolling by with his lady and baby. No dog, no camera. Mr. Saudek is not a dographer.

I told him how I admired his work and that it was a pleasure to meet him. He even let me take his photo.

If you haven't heard of Czech photographer Jan Saudek, you have probably seen some of his more 'tame' images on postcards. His work is not for everybody, as it involves nude figures in various odd situations. He uses black and white film and colorizes the final print with subtle blues and tans.

So after tearing myself away from my photographic blubberings with the Famous Photographer, I resumed my dography in earnest.

First and foremost: I took no photos of dogs sniffing other dogs butts, fighting with each other, or all the other things we have all seen dogs do. I try to find the unique moments in every shot I take. However, getting a shot of dogs playing poker was the last thing I expected.

Nor did they hold Japanese tea ceremonies in the park. They were just being, well, dogs. And with a few hundred of them in the park, it was a real miracle that the place wasn't strewn with doggie doo. In fact, I didn't see one doggie land mine the whole time I was there.