Suite M Photography Blog – Brian Hamilton

I just updated the bio section on my web site and I thought I should place the same information on my blog. So here it goes.

Me and You
I feel it is very important to know and feel comfortable with your photographer.  That is why I want to share so much of me with you.  On your wedding day your photographer (sometimes your coordinator) is one of the only people you hire that is with you consistently throughout the day.  So I do my best to establish a good working relationship with the couples I shoot for.  They know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from them.  This helps both of us feel that we have made a good decision.  For the couple, it is the decision to include me in the most important day of their lives.  For me it is the decisions I make as to how to capture that day.  This is why I include a detailed planning session and a signature session (usually engagement session) in all of my packages.  I learn what is most important about their wedding day, about each other, and about how they like to be photographed.  I get to find out if a couple prefers a modern journalistic style or a more traditional approach to their pictures.  This knowledge helps me fine tune shots to meet their needs.  If I know what they are looking for I know how to capture their day so when they look at their album they remember the details that made it special.

My Photographic Story
As long as I can remember, I have always owned a camera and enjoyed taking pictures.  I remember learning from my dad, who was a photographer himself, about basic techniques and most importantly composition.  The thing I was frustrated with was that on any given picture I had to wait for developing to see how they turned out. And the learning process was slow. When I was first married, my wife and I took a vacation to Austria.  I wanted to capture that trip with some amazing pictures.  When I came home and got them developed, the results were’t always what I had pictured when I originally took the picture.  So, needless to say, when I began shooting digital a whole new world opened up to me.  I was able to experiment with different techniques and learn about my results instantly.  I was truly in my element. Combining photography, art, and technology was truly great.

My Studio
My wife and I were looking to expand our small photography business which led to the purchase of Marsyla’s Studio.  Marsyla’s Studio was originally owned by a renowned photographer, Russ Marsyla and his wife Sandra. Years after Russ passed away the studio was taken over by Mike Steffens, owner of Essence Entertainment.  I began photographing for Mike and a few years later, my wife and I purchased the studio.  That led to a name change.  We chose Suite M Photography for several reasons.  First, and most simply, we are located in Suite M.  Second, in order to honor Russ and Sandra and the legacy that they have built, we wanted to establish the M (as in Marsyla) as a significant letter.  You will notice on our website that all of the tabs begin with an “M.”  Finally we noticed that many things we enjoy in our lives begin with an M, for example: marriage, music, menus, movies, memories, and moments.

My Wedding Story
When I first began shooting digital I was intrigued by things in nature.  A favorite picture in our home is a picture of a leaf dripping with dew.  I was encouraged to put this picture and others in a coffee shop that featured local artists.  I sold that picture as well as another of a bird in flight.  This was my first real experience of success with my photography.  I have had many positive comments from family and friends up until that point, but this was the first time I made money.  It was an exciting time for me.  I started out shooting weddings when a friend of mine was getting married.  He and his bride to be were paying for the wedding on their own and had a limited budget.  I wanted to help him out, so I gave it my best shot.  From that wedding, I received three other referrals, which led to more referrals.  I began to refine my technique and my style, specifically for weddings.

My Likes and Dislikes
I have many interests. Pick a couple of topics and I can probably talk to you about at least one of them. Some of the things that I enjoy beyond photography are sports, music, theater, traveling, and technology.  The list of the things I like is almost endless.  My dislikes are simple.  I don’t like being disappointed and I don’t like to disappoint.

My Family
I have a somewhat unique situation when it comes to my immediate family. The first thing you should know that I have been married to my wife (and business partner) Holly since 1998. We did the usual traveling, relaxing, dining, and various activities that accompany a married couple without kids.  In 2004, our lives changed forever.  We welcomed our twin boys, Connor and Cade to our family.  They are endless amount of laughter and fun.  When our boys were around eighteen months old, we decided to add to our family again.  Hoping for one more we checked with our doctor about the possibility of having a second set of twins.  Comfortable with her answer that it was very unlikely, we decided to try for our third.  We soon learned that some things are beyond our control.  In March of 2007, we welcomed home our second set of twins, this time a boy and a girl, Grant and Brooke.  Everyone asks us what it was like when we found out we were having a second set of twins.  The truth is that my wife and I were surprised but not shocked.  We did spend the first hour not knowing what to say to each other.  We would simply look at each other and shake our heads.  But once we warmed up to the idea the whole thing became more of a blessing.  Our children have been a complete joy to us and although we had to give up going to the movies on a whim, we would not have our lives any other way.  We feel so fortunate to have four beautiful and healthy children.

My Education
Education has always been very important in my family. Both of my parents were teachers as was my wife. In fact there are nights I still wake up in a cold sweat, haunted by those four words my dad would ask me every single day, “Is your homework done?” I would even hear it on occasion when I was attaining my master degree. Fortunately I knew he meant well and just wanted to make sure I succeeded. I know now he is very proud that I attained my bachelors and masters degree and that I am a professor at Long Beach City College as well as run my own photography business.  Without my education, and of course my parent’s support, I definitely would not be where I’m at today