I’ve written on print vs digital (both have pros and cons) but for this post I want to share why it’s still important to have physical printed copies of your images. Call me a traditionalist, but until humans evolve past the confines of corporeal form, they will still dwell in physical buildings with walls & tables just screaming to have art on them. Some of that art should be the photos you’ve made. Here’s why: Personalization Whether your work is hung all over the house or just in your room, whenever people see it they will know you live there. Our work reveals a great deal about ourselves as artists. Not only does it show our aesthetic, but it also reveals unspoken bits of our personality as well. Recollection Through the hustle & bustle of life and stresses of adulthood, sometimes we can lose sight of why we chose to pursue this path. We may get in a rut or question our worth as photographers. When your pieces are displayed, you pass by them every day. You can’t help but look at the work you’ve done and remember how exciting that session was. The joy the client […]
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This may contradict my why finding your niche is important post, but I’ve realized over the years there is a definite benefit to variety. Shooting things you don’t usually shoot results in the following benefits: Practice The age old saying “practice makes perfect” rings true. Though no one should be striving for that unreachable precipice, we can all strive to be better than we were before. Whether that improvement is in technical skill or conceptual prowess, we can gain some good from extra shooting. Volunteer Sometimes there are projects or organizations that really speak to you. What if instead of donating money, you donate your time & skill? A few photos of their work in the community that they could post online or put on a sign could really help bring awareness to their cause. Remember I love to travel. On every trip, I never leave home without my camera. I of course snap a few with my phone, but even the most advanced ones to date don’t offer the versatility & performance that my DSLR does. I love going to a new place and capturing a different culture. Instead of clamoring by all the stores […]
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Sometimes our favorite activity becomes less than fun and dwells in the “chore” category. This especially applies to people who do that particular activity for work on a daily basis. I’m not sure about you, but when the days are short and full of more darkness than light, I feel less motivated to actually do my craft. Photography becomes something that I do on occasion when I have to, not a daily task I enjoy. It isn’t always easy getting out of a photo rut, but here are a few tips that might helpfully inspire you if you’re going through it as well. Write about it You don’t necessarily have to blog, but journaling about different issues in your life can help you determine what really is preventing you from shooting. Each time you feel uninspired or bothered by the photographic process, stop for a moment and write down why. Try to be as detailed as possible, it could be a recent interaction or stress is really bogging you down and you’re transferring that negativity onto your photography. Look for inspiration Whether online or in photobooks, try and find something that speaks to you. Sometimes, a great […]
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I don’t know about you, but it felt like this year flew by. It seems that the older we get, our perception of time feels faster and faster. Although I won’t be able to share every detail, I will be able to look back at all those posts as a kind of journal of the year. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the process, there were ups and downs for sure. Here are some specific things I noticed: Found a flow about a third of the way in and really caught up on posts. Just over halfway I felt a bit bored with it. Didn’t feel challenged because of being so on top of my schedule. Was disappointed when subjects had to reschedule/cancel for my shoots so had to settle just to post for a challenge. (Or miss like in November because I had no back up plan.) Enjoyed focusing more on writing. Felt like I didn’t have enough images for a “photo blog.” Appreciated when people in real life told me they found my tips helpful. I’m glad I finally decided to consistently blog. Because of the planning beforehand and picking […]
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In this fast paced world we live in, it’s always smart to have a plan ahead of time when you’re preparing for a shoot. In part 2, I’ll talk about what I do before shooting a conceptual photoshoot. The “Vision” Much like Raven Symone seeing fragmented bits of the future, I too get “visions” of my conceptual shoots. I see something in my mind and know I have to recreate it. Research I go on a pinning storm, looking up techniques, wardrobe, makeup, location, & props for this shoot. I not only make a moodboard on Pinterest, but I also have a document with all the details laid out for reference as well. Scouting If I’m able, I check out the location I have in mind beforehand and do a few test shots. If not, I ask around to see if anyone has any tips regarding this area. Casting I’m fortunate in that I have a great deal of amazing friends who don’t mind helping me out with shoots. It could be I’m biased because I know them or am able to see the beauty within after getting to know them, but they are all […]
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In this fast paced world we live in, it’s always smart to have a plan ahead of time when you’re preparing for a shoot. In part 1, I’ll talk about what I do before shooting a client’s headshots. Typically, someone has reached out asking me to take some shots for them. Whether it’s for their acting website, model portfolio, or professional profile images online, I follow the same process. Date/Time Figuring out a date in which to actually go out and take the images may be the hardest part. With different schedules, I try and pick a day I have off and at a time later in the day (after they’re done with work or class.) I make sure to allow myself at least an hour as we may move to a couple locations during the shoot. Location I pick a place we both have been to before & that is relatively close to where they’re coming from. In this case, I’d rather keep things easier for them so that they may focus on getting their headshot done. Attire If a client ever wonders what to wear, I suggest picking their 3 favorite tops that […]
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Over time, you have probably learned many fail-safe methods for a successful photograph. When I first started, I abided by many of the following rules: stay in focus, use the rule of thirds, refrain from cutting off your subject’s limbs, maintain even exposure, among others. It is helpful in the beginning to really get a handle on the technical aspects of an artform so that you can work more efficiently later on. Here are a few “rules” I continuously enjoy breaking with some examples. Cut that subject up! Deciding what to include in an image is more important than being afraid of what’s removed if it makes that image stronger. If this means amputating someone, so be it. Make that subject feel like they’re in a J.J. Abrams film! Oh lens flare. The technique that has grown so popular it’s actually less of a thing to avoid & more of a thing to embrace. There’s something inherently mystical about the golden glow it provides. Center that subject! Something they teach every visual artist in every medium is to avoid putting the focal point in the middle. I say bump that. Centering a person reinforces symmetry as […]
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If you’re a portrait photographer, chances are you’ve come across all different types of people. And though someone may have hired you to capture their image, unless they are a model/actor/musician/or other professional performer, they’ll probably be a little (if not a great deal) shy once you point that lens at them. All is not lost though, here are a few ways to ease their anxiety and make some great photos. 1) Get to know them. If this happens to be a friend, great, you’re already halfway there. Ask them about their recent trip, their pet, their job, anything they really enjoy. If this is someone you’ve just met, do the same thing. Try and find out what they are passionate about, what really gets them riled up. Building rapport isn’t too difficult after a bit of practice. Once you find a similar interest, share some tidbits about yourself. Often times if a photographer doesn’t speak, they seem on a different level or even less human than the subject. Break the silence. Show them you are a person behind the camera as well. 2) Be authentic, yet eloquent. There’s a difference between being polite and being fake. If […]
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As we advance further with technology and approach a mainly virtual world, the notion that ‘print is dead’ has grown a great deal. And though many aspects of our lives are more convenient in a digital format, there are still advantages to having print incorporated one way or another. Here are some pros & cons to each format in regards to photographs. Print Pros: Archival Can be displayed on a wall for other people to see Can be shared in books, magazines, & cards Can be made quite large (depending on resolution/megapixels), so every detail can be seen Cons: Can be subject to wear & tear if handled frequently Can be damaged by fire, flooding, & all other natural disasters Uses ink & paper (will eventually be thrown away) Digital Pros: Convenient Uses light to be seen, no physical products (better for the environment) Can be posted online for potentially the world to see Can be sent quickly in email or messages to others Cons: Can be lost, deleted, or corrupted Relies on internet connection or data plan in order to be posted/sent Needs electricity or battery power on the device to be displayed […]
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Let me first explain what I mean by “pseudo.” Or rather, I will explain what it is not. To me, pseudo is not someone at any level (beginner, hobbyist, amateur, or intermediate) who truly has a love for taking photographs and couldn’t imagine life not doing so in one way or another. They may want to do this professionally one day, or keep it as a fun activity, but the passion is there all the same. I associate pseudo with the following: An individual who doesn’t take the time to learn how to improve An individual with a lot of extra money to spend on gear An individual who doesn’t understand the hard work it takes yet craves notoriety An individual who doesn’t take advice/criticism from other photographers 1 – “I’ll just rock it on auto mode and hope for the best!” This is a trait I see in many beginners. They have a fear of failure, so they let the camera decide what’s best. The problem with this is that they aren’t allowing themselves any creative freedom. They aren’t using light to their advantage, heck, they don’t even know how the camera is using light because […]
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