Depending on your learning style, you may find that you gravitate towards a certain type of medium. Some find written instructions most helpful while others prefer audible means. I’m mostly a visual learner, but I also find that doing the actual thing teaches me the best (kinesthetic.) While videos are a great way to learn many things, I find it hard to focus on the task at hand due to music, the voiceover, effects, and/or constant pausing if I get stuck. An alternative way to visually teach others is through photos laid out chronologically paired with informative text. This allows people to follow along at their own pace. Whether it is recipes, crafts, editing, or home repair, you can share how to do any of them with tutorial photography. Here are some tips on how I’d go about doing a given project. First, determine the project. You should know how to make it pretty well so that explaining the process to others won’t be difficult. You should also actually enjoy making it. That joy will come through in both your writing and in your photos which will get people even more excited to do the project. […]
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On occasion whether through work or other projects, you may be asked to shoot certain events. I thought I’d share some tips on what I’ve learned over the years & show a few recent shots for inspiration. Find out as much as you can about the venue beforehand. You want to know if the event will take place indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both. This will allow you to adequately gauge lighting, size of space, schedule, etc. Overpack. You don’t want to be mid-event with a dead battery and no backup. I’d suggest having extra memory cards & batteries to be safe. Make sure everything is charged the night before as well. Wear something comfortable yet appropriate. If this is a black tie event, dress up a bit. If it’s a casual get together, stay simple. You basically want to blend in with the crowd as much as possible. By doing so, guests will notice you less and be more genuine in your photos. Here are a few images that I feel communicate three big ideas in regards to events. The Emotions This is my favorite photo. Even though Barney is beyond blown […]
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I’ve written about travel photography, street photography, & lifestyle photography, but this post will be a little different. I’m still going to use the tips mentioned in those posts, but I wanted to have a specific assignment or prompt that my images had to address. For this go-round, I decided to pick my favorite color: red. Any & everything with that color was fair game, so my goal was to capture a variety of images. I was fortunate to be on vacation so I had even more reason to get out and explore. This prompt really challenged me to delve deeper into what I saw and find interesting shots vs typical touristy shots. Here are my favorite photos. A prompt can be anything you want–like people walking dogs, or sports cars—so really it’s up to you on how focused or generalized you want it to be. I hope you also try and give yourself an assignment challenge, whether on a trip or even in your own town. May the light be with you. Follow
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There are different types of promotions you may find yourself asked to shoot. A business could want to show their new menu item, a performer could want some shots of them on stage, or a perfume brand just released a new scent. Basically these images are shot with the purpose of having the audience respond in some way. They should be inspired to visit the place, try the product, browse the website, call the number, donate the money, etc. So all the photography you see used in advertising would be promotional photography. Here are a few pointers to think about when you tackle this subject. Client Is this a single person or a whole company? Learn as much as you can about the client before and during the initial meeting. Questions are your best friend! You need to know what the project is, exactly what they’re looking for, the time frame, deliverables, & payment. During this meeting you should bring your contract so it can be signed as well. Style More often than not, you will not be able to use the full extent of your style. The client will want what most appeals to their […]
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Types: 1) Standard (with seamless white background) This is great for selling or providing space to write different descriptions on parts of the product. Some tips: instead of trying to get the whitest of white backgrounds in camera, just knock it out in post. It’s so much quicker & more consistent removing the background when you edit it. Also, because the product is taking center stage, it needs to look pristine. Retouch any lint, fuzz, or imperfections. 2) Flat on an interesting background This provides a more lifestyle approach to the product. The background can vary, but it should always match your branding. Sticking with 1-3 that you can change out depending on the color of the product will be the simplest way to have variety. 3) Being worn/used This is my personal favorite way to see a product, especially clothes & accessories. Use yourself, or find models to really show the item in action. It helps prospective customers to have context to where the product will be used. It will also make them more likely to buy. I hope these three tips on displaying your products help! May the light be with you. […]
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Alright you foodies, this one’s for you. It seems that ever since cellphone cameras’ quality improved, people have enjoyed taking snapshots of their meals. Whether you’re trying out something new & want to remember the presentation or are shooting items for a recipe or for a blog, these tips are for you! Dish Figuring out what you want to shoot will be the first step. Is it a simple meal? A drink? A fancy dinner selection? Once you decide what you want to make, you (or someone else) will have to prepare the food before shooting. Technicalities The 4 main things you want to make certain are accurate: lighting, white balance, exposure, & focus. In this instance, more light is better. If you aren’t able to shoot near a window to allow natural light in, put your camera on a tripod and set a slow shutter speed. Artificial light could always be used, but unless the bulbs are set to “daylight,” white balance could be off due to the color temperature of the bulbs. White balance can be fixed in post however, & should be set to look as close to the scene as possible. Exposure […]
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Next to portraits, fashion (or more accurately style) is my favorite subject matter to shoot. Whether you’re shooting your own outfits or other peoples’ here are some tips! If you’re shooting yourself you’ll need… A tripod Camera with a self-timer or remote shutter 35mm-50mm lens (avoid wide angle because of distortion & telephotos because you’ll have to stand further away which will make previewing more difficult.) Patience It would be helpful (though not required) to have a camera that has an articulating screen or a way to connect it to a different screen so you can set up your composition quicker. Setup Once you’re at the location, set up your tripod facing your background. Many like to shoot in front of a wall because it makes focusing easier. Finding a wall that compliments or matches your outfit is usually recommended too. Turn your camera to portrait orientation & take a few test shots. Settings In order to get your entire outfit in focus, you’ll need to have a smaller aperture. 5.6-8.0 should be just about right. Due to this however, you will need to have adequate light. Keep your ISO low and make your shutter speed […]
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Something I’ve always admired about different bloggers I follow is their consistency with making photography a part of their daily life. Not necessarily behind the scenes of a shoot or out on assignment, but a simple portrayal of enjoying lunch with friends or a walk in the park. So on my yearly trip up north with loved ones, I decided to challenge myself to create a few images that really capture that tradition for me. (And I didn’t even use my phone!) Here are my favorites with thoughts to consider the next time you tackle this particular niche. 1) Put some life in it. 2) Hone in on the details. 3) Try to share a specific mood. 4) Capture humor. 5) Don’t forget the food & drinks. 6) Make some unconventional portraits. 7) Refrain from being a perfectionist. 8) Find an interesting texture. 9) Show an overview of the place. 10) Get in there yourself. May the light be with you. Follow Save
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This niche is closely related to other specialties such as lifestyle & documentary photography, but it differs in a major way. Typically subjects are strangers who you just happen across out and about, not models or clients hired for the job. There are two methods street photographers usually take: conspicuous & covert. Conspicuous Fearlessness is a must when going this route. Much like asking someone out, the photographer must be prepared for the chance of rejection. A help would be to compliment the person, tell them you’re working on a project, and/or have a business card ready to hand over with your email so they have a way to reach out and ask about the photo (then concurrently, you will have a way to send it to them.) You have a chance to guide this individual and if they’re willing, they can even do different poses for you. Covert This is the method I go for because talking to strangers is still nerve racking to me. Stealth is a key skill with this route. Blending in with your surroundings, or going to an already bustling area where people are focused on what they’re doing will yield more […]
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This is one area where even non-photographers can’t help themselves from taking at least a few photos. Whether a quick snap with a phone or a patiently planned out camera shot, travel photography is an essential part of keeping those memories intact. Here are a few tips on making your next trip a beneficial documentary experience! Gear First and foremost, you should know what you’re going to bring. Depending on how long your trip is, if it’s for business or leisure, if you’re a hobbyist or professional, or if you’ll be in an area where you can bring out specific gear, you’ll need to decide how much you think you’ll use & how much you’re willing to carry around with you all day. If you’re only using your phone, this will be easy as you can fit that in a pocket or purse. Though, I recommend bringing along those clip-on lenses just so you have a bit more flexibility. They are quite affordable as well as small and can be fun to use. If you’re going compact or mirrorless you’re also going to fortunately have a smaller pack. This would be my most recommended route just […]
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