As we continue into the double digits of the 2000’s, we can’t deny the ongoing transition to digital media storage. Even though it personally worries me to live in a completely digital world (i.e. not having access to physical storage of files or a backup in case the internet/network/technology fails) I realize it still has its benefits. Here are a few types of cloud storage that you can use with your photography. Most have a baseline tier that is free, but if you think you will need a great deal of space, you will have to purchase a plan that has a bigger storage capacity. Dedicated website The first option many people think of when they hear “the cloud” is probably one of these sites. From Dropbox to OneDrive, there are many different options to choose from. iCloud This is specific to Apple devices, and is great if you find yourself working between your iPhone, iPad, and/or Mac consistently. Google Drive If you already have Gmail and use sheets, docs, or their other Apps, this is a good option that is readily available to use. Your personal website There is a limit to maximum file […]
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I’ve never personally lost files from a computer crash, but I know there are many who have and didn’t take the precaution to back their files up. Don’t be that person! It’s much better to be extra paranoid about what could go wrong and be overly prepared by having multiple backups. I’ll talk about the infamous “cloud” in another post, but for now, let’s stick with the tangible. Depending on your computer’s storage, you may find that it has enough room to store all of your images and more. However, many of us don’t have a great deal of storage space to work with, so we put our photos on external drives. Wherever you decide to store items, you still should back them up. I recommend backing up two separate devices and storing those in different locations so if one is damaged and/or lost you still have another to recover from. External hard drives are more affordable than ever but prices will vary depending on the size & brand you choose. I have a large 2TB that I typically work from, and two 1TB backups. All of those are Seagate, which is one of the highest rated […]
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There are many different ways to store your camera gear. Some people are fortunate enough to have large studios with plenty of space, but many of us have to make due with much less. Here are some ideas of places to store your gear. On bookshelves If you have some space available on your bookshelf, consider putting your gear there. Whether on the top or mixed all in between, this would be an easy place to keep track of everything. On hanging shelves Similarly, if you have shelves hanging on the wall, you can display your camera body & lenses on them. They can become a part of the décor when they aren’t in use. In camera bags If you’re like me and have more than one camera bag, there’s always the option of storing items within them. Keeping your most used gear in a bag you can easily grab before a shoot will help leaving much faster. In baskets, boxes, or bins This is my preferred area for other lenses, flashes, batteries, etc. What’s great about this is you can put small items in little pouches or containers and group all the items together […]
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So one thing I’ve learned over the past years of traveling is that I often don’t use (or need) as much as I think I do. When I first began traveling I would always bring 3 lenses with my t3i: my wide 10-18mm my medium 18-55mm & my long 55-250mm. This allowed me to cover a vast area and there were no duplicates among the choices. But after a while with my upgrades to prime lenses and eventually upgrade in camera body, I found that I didn’t really need to bring a bunch of variety. Unless I was specifically out with the mission to shoot (like a lot of my NY trip was) I typically was fine with just one lens. That one was usually the 40mm or 50mm, because of their normal field of view. Though I enjoyed their small size & convenience, I did find it limiting at times when I couldn’t adjust myself to allow for more or less of the scene. So finally, after about 8 months of using primes only, I finally acquired a zoom lens to use on my 5dmarkIV! I was looking at older models to save a little bit, […]
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This post is definitely geared towards beginners. When starting myself, I didn’t have a guide showing the different types of lenses available. I basically used that kit lens until I wanted to achieve other results & realized there was more out there. I’ll explain not only various lens types, but also focal lengths and touch on different brands as well. Categories There are three different categories of lenses photographers’ wind up using: prime, zoom, & specialty. Within those categories, are different types including: wide angle, normal, telephoto, & macro. Prime Lenses These are the preferred choice for many portrait & lifestyle photographers. They come in a variety of focal lengths, apertures, & price ranges. Recommendations: 24-28mm – helpful when shooting interiors and can also show wide sweeping landscapes. 35-40mm – great for showing environmental portraits as well as interiors. 50mm – the holy grail of a walk-around lens. Excellent for most street, lifestyle, event, portrait, landscape, product work, etc. 85mm – the popular choice for portraits. 135mm – excellent at capturing close ups & makes the most dreamy portraits. 200-300mm – typically sports, other big events, or nature. Zoom Lenses Typically not as fast as prime […]
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There are 3 different sizes of bag that I can choose from depending on needs for a particular shoot. They are all crossbody style & are of the leather variety i.e. they don’t look like typical camera bags. I’m not really a fan of how the nylon bags look aesthetic-wise, plus they call more attention to yourself while out traveling as opposed to a messenger bag. These are what I use at the moment for occasional freelancing, but I expect I’d need heavier duty types if I worked commercially and traveled a lot with a lot of gear. Small (One camera body with lens on it + one extra lens, extra batteries, cards, charger.) This is the perfect size for a casual day bag. Dimensions: 9″ W x 6.5″ H x 7″ D I found this brand new from Goodwill, but here it is to order. Medium (One camera with lens on it + two extra lenses, one external flash, extra batteries, cards, charger, etc.) I like to use this as my everyday work bag or for simple shoots like headshots. Dimensions: 13″ W x 8″ H x 4″ D This one I also found secondhand at […]
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Oh boy. This topic surely is one for discussion. Obviously both a lens and a camera body need to be joined for a DSLR to operate, but the question many photographers have when starting out is “which should I invest more in?” Here I want to share my experiences from working with both Canon Rebels & a Full Frame as well as a variety of lenses. Camera Bodies Cropped sensor Rebel T3 I actually started out with the T3 but I grew tired of not being able to see myself for recording vlogs. I didn’t take many photos with the T3, but I found a definite increase in quality compared to my previous Powershoot. Cropped sensor Rebel T3i I sold the T3 & upgraded to the T3i and really delved into photography more. I found that this camera really helped me become better, and felt no shame at it being a comparatively ‘beginner’ body compared to others, because I was still able to produce images I was proud of. After many years of use, I was starting to crave an upgrade, so I began saving and set my eyes on a full frame body that would aid […]
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