So every conference I submit 100 photos for consideration, and as you can see from my previous post, I am lucky if 10 percent of those are used. I always try to get a good variety of things and I am always surprised at what makes it through the editing process and gets chosen to accompany the talks. Here are a few of my favorite shots that weren’t published.

One of my favorite things about conference is meeting new people. I’m naturally shy, so it’s great to have something like a camera to break the ice and be able to interface with people. People just open up and I love that. Maybe it’s just because some people think I have something to do with getting their photo in the Ensign. Who knows. I actually like it when people ask me to take their picture, as long as they are willing to work a little. I’ll usually take 10-20 photos of them and if we aren’t in a good spot, I’ll make them walk a little. Contrary to popular belief, just because I take your picture, it doesn’t mean that your photo will be in the Ensign. But there are some things you can do to improve your chances!

If you really want to be in the Ensign or Liahona, it’s not hard. If you are the right kind of subject you will most likely have your photo taken. If no one takes your photo, you can always ask. I know I don’t mind at least. Here’s a few tips:

• Be in the right place at the right time. The photographers hang out where there is good light and good background scenery. The photographers keep shooting during conference, and there are usually few people outside on Temple Square during a session. If you have tickets for the morning session, stick around for the afternoon session and listen to it outside. There will be even fewer people outside when it’s cold or bad weather.

• Represent a faithful Latter-day Saint. Remember your photo will be accompanying the words of the prophets, so if you are dressed immodestly or you have a big scraggly beard or haircut, your chances are slim. You’ll do best if you are wearing a suit, white shirt and tie, or a nice skirt or dress. Forget the flip flops.

• Be diverse in age, or ethnicity. Remember that the church wants to represent it’s worldwide membership in these photos of people that show up to a meeting in Utah. They want old and young, white and black, and everything in between.

• Be a family, or at least a group of clean cut youth. Don’t leave mom and dad home. Many of the messages are about families, and surprisingly few families are willing to drag everyone downtown in their church clothes for a meeting that they could watch on TV. If you get your family down there, hang out for a while instead of rushing to your car. One of the photographers will probably find you.

Here’s some people that asked me to take their picture this time. I loved the family. They told me that they forgot their camera and wanted a picture of them at conference. I loved how they all gathered around their autistic son/brother and tried to get him interested in having his picture taken. I think this is the only photo that he peeked out from his blanket. Mom was excited to tell me that he was quiet and relaxed during the session, a miracle since he is usually restless. In the other photo, the guy was really funny. He was outside between sessions on Saturday with a few friends and they asked me to take their photo. I ended up asking him to step out for a photo, because he hadn’t shaved in a few days, and I thought he looked a little scraggly. Well sure enough, he tracked me down after a session the next day, on Sunday. I don’t know how he even found me because I’m usually all over the place. Anyway he was there, with his mom, and he had shaven and had a suit on. Anyway, I thought that was pretty hilarious.

So there you go. Next conference, get your family together, bring your scriptures and come hang out on temple square for a session. At least you know the talks will be good, even if you don’t get your photo in the Ensign.

So the Conference report Ensign is out, and if you have seen it, you have noticed that all of the photos are in color instead of the traditional black and white. I wondered how it would come out, but I have to admit I like the change. I especially liked shooting with color in mind. It was always disappointing when an awesome color photo became a mediocre black and white photo while editing the shoot. Now I can be disappointed when I can’t simply desaturate a mediocre color photo to a black and white image. Anyway, I love the blue sky over the conference center at twilight (seen on pg. 113).

Descending and ascending stairs. There are no shortage of stairs around the conference center (pages 13 and 39).

Don’t worry, you don’t have to take the stairs if you don’t want to (pages 107 and 84).

(pages 81 and 90)

I started photographing these cute girls (unpublished) and decided to get the whole family in there just in case (page 22).

The Christus statue in the North Visitor Center, using the tilt-shift lens to set the focus on the nail prints and the face (page 76).

Inside the conference center (page 3).

* Edit: So I was looking through the printed Ensign and I noticed that this photo of the First Presidency was actually used on page 9. I originally put this as one of my favorite unpublished photos.

All in all, it was a good conference. I’m still making my way through the talks, trying to catch what I missed. I have a few other favorite photos that didn’t get published that I’ll try to throw up in the next few days.