In The Viewfinder is a new series that allows you to learn a bit more about your favorite FYP Writers. While we know your enjoy their articles, sometimes you just want to know what makes them tick! We are pleased to provide that insight for you.
Chris Gronde was born outside of Chicago and raised in Indianapolis, IN.  He spent seven and a half years serving in the US Navy including two deployments on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in the Western Pacific and a deployment as part of Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar Team 2 in Baghdad, Iraq.  He met his wife and fellow photographer Brandy while on board USS Ronald Reagan where they traveled the world together and then when Chris discharged from the military he and Brandy got married and moved to Washington DC where she is now stationed and still on active duty. As a well versed IT professional, Chris became a government contractor for the US Navy at the Pentagon where he now works.  He was pursuing a degree in IT, but was not very motivated about it. Although he is good at what he does, it was just a job to him and not something he wanted to devote that much time to. His wife and friends spent some time trying to convince and then twisted his arm and got him to change his major to Photography.
Chris, the member of the dynamic duo who contributes to FYP,  writes about the ever changing wedding photography business as well as photography education and his experiences in getting a formalized degree in photography.  If you want to shoot weddings you have to love weddings.  His wife Brandy eats sleeps, and breaths weddings.  If she’s at home on the couch, it’s because she is probably watching the wedding channel. You have to keep up with what’s trending and relevant in weddings and wedding photography.  If you don’t keep up and stay fresh in your shooting style and show off their details and their fashion in a way the bride wants they will quickly find a different photographer.  Chris tries to let you know what to look out for and the things to keep in mind if you really want to jump head first into this business.  There are a growing number of people with entry level DSLRs out there passing as wedding photographers and at one time Chris admits he was one of them, but he didn’t shoot a wedding until he was sure he was ready and he wants to make sure if our readers want to shoot weddings they are as ready or more ready than he was.
Chris describes his style is a “Naturalistic Dramatic Portraiture”. Naturalistic meaning that although he and Brandy encourage posing, they don’t really pose.  Brandy is phenomenal at encouraging movement and placement.  Instead of placing your hands and tilting your head, she’ll just ask “can we get a kiss?â€, “Hold her closeâ€, or “Now, pretend you two love each other.” (That typical gets a nice laugh or smile).  The subject does each movement the way they naturally do it and it looks like there is no posing at all. Dramatic means we’re telling a story, but instead of journalistically we tell the story you want to tell. When Chris was a child, a wise man once told him, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!† Also, it means that the photos are enhanced either through framing, effective lighting, or post processing to add drama and create a striking photo that is worthy of being treated as art; something worthy of being in a gallery or hanging on your wall.
Brandy and I both shoot Nikon.  Chris’ weapon of choice is the Nikon D300.  It’s a very sturdy body (He’s been known to drop cameras out of trees), shoots quickly, and has very low noise at high ISOs. Brandy’s favorite is the Nikon D7000.  It’s currently the Boss of the midrange DSLRs for Nikon. High megapixel count, dual SD card slots, and the best video Nikon provides are some of its key features, as well as being small and light enough for her to hold up for 8 hours of a wedding. His favorite lens is probably one of their most inexpensive.  The good ol’ 50mm f/1.8. If you’re going to shoot weddings you need a quick lens for those low light situations and it has such a great bokeh. Brandy is the details person so if it’s a Macro, it’s her favorite lens, anything to capture those remarkable ring and shoe shots the brides love so much.
Chris’ interest in photography started at a very young age.  Since his first experience with a  110 film camera he borrowed from his dad to take to the circus as a child, he had been in love with photography. It grew as a hobby and became his passion.  Ironically, while serving in the Navy, he met a woman who shared that passion!  From 110’s to her first 35mm Vivitar, Brandy has always loved capturing memories. While overseas the dynamic duos first date was spent taking pictures together at Disneyland in Hong Kong, China with the Nikon D60 that she bought Chris for his birthday. They traveled the world photographing everything they could. After Chris’ time in the Navy was up, Brandy and he got married and they were not too impressed with their experience with their wedding photographer. The pictures were decent, but they had to direct the shots and the photographer just wasn’t personal about it. It was just business.
After their own wedding experience, Chris and Brandy opened Gronde Photography in April of 2010. Â They had finally found their calling. Â Although Chris maintains his IT job, his career and his life is photography. Â First and foremost they are wedding photographers, but they also provide family, maternity, boudoir, senior, and newborn portraits. Â Occasionally when they need to feel so inspired they help young models with their portfolios or do some fashion or editorial style shoots. Â Their resident makeup artist Victoria Barth is always happy and available to stand in as a model for them. As far as writing for FYP, Chris and Brandy met Patrick Onofre through Union 206 Studio of which they are all members. Â Patrick offered Chris the opportunity to tell his story and share his knowledge through Fuel Your Photography.
There are many places online to view their work.  The first of which is their main client website.  You can also read Chris’ personal blog, Gronde Photography: Behind the Lens.  Some of their editorial and fashion work can be seen on 500px.  If you want to see sneak peeks of what they working on right now, please feel free to “like†them on Facebook and follow Chris on twitter @grondephoto and Brandy’s twitter @photog_princess.
