Digital ProTalk

Photos From My “LIVE” Wedding Shoot

2013-04-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon Everybody,

We landed safe and sound in sunny Orlando late Monday morning. We’ve been going a million miles an hour since we arrived, but we’ve been having a great time.

I had my “LIVE” Wedding Shootout scheduled from noon till 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Tuesday was looking like it was going to be a long day as I had a special meeting with Adobe in which they present all the latest, greatest new features of upcoming software releases. The instructors received instructional information on the new Lightroom 5 features – way cool. I’ll cover some of my favorites in an upcoming post.

I wasn’t able to stay for the whole meeting since I had to leave early to get ready for my noon class. We had quite the crowd gathering in the meeting room – about 45 people attended the pre-con class. The students that gathered was indeed an international group. We had photographers attending from not just across many states in the US, but also from the Dominican Republic, Canada, France, and even Australia! It was quite an honor to be presenting to such a wonderfully exciting, international group of photographers.

Heading Out On The Shoot

Over the course of the next six hours we covered lots of material. One of the things I like to do for my class is to provide an edited set of my images from the pre-con so I always ask the attendees to concentrate on capturing the overall views with their cameras time-synced to my camera. With my images and their reference photographs, the two sets of images together provide a wonderful learning resource.

Here are a few images from the class. All images were produced with my Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital Camera and Canon Speedlite 600EX-RTs, natural light, and my Zumbrella. Main lenses included my Tamron 28-300mm Lens, Canon 24-105mm, and my Sigma 12-24mm wide angle lens.

Image 1: We found a beautiful natural light pouring in through a large window in the convention center begging for a photograph to be captured. I loved how the white wall behind her was well illuminated too – a simple yet perfect high key background.

I used my Tamron 28-300mm Lens and zoomed in close to the bride.

Image 2: I had planned to photograph the groom on the third floor but the sun over lit the area where I wanted to make his portrait. I quickly resurveyed the scene and found another area that I thought offered a dynamic background, full of angles and lines, behind the subject.

Image 3: This next image is just a simple classic bridal portrait of the bride in the church sanctuary. I enhanced the photograph with a few new features in Lightroom 5. I’ll tell you about them in a later post.

Image 4: This photograph was made outside the church on a very bright, sunny day. I knew I wanted to use hi-speed flash sync to illuminate the bride and groom. I positioned the couple in the shadow of the church. I then made my exposure for the clouds and sky above the church and then added the power of three 600 the XRT strobes to the bride and the groom to balance the exposure.

Sometimes the gear appears in the photograph as it originally did in this image but, by using the “content aware” tool in Photoshop the gear was easily removed.

Image 5: This next image is a portrait of the groom in the Orlando Convention Center. The image was made about 5 hours later in the day and the bright sunlight was no longer a problem. My lighting is coming from camera right from 1 Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite fired through my Zumbrella.

We had a great day on the road and then returned back to the classroom for my wrap-up. During this year’s session I covered our sales presentations and marketing strategies for the class. This was a new experience for me and for the attendees who have attended my classes in the past. The class seemed to thoroughly enjoy the additional information. The class even ran over about 25 minutes, but nobody really seemed to mind ;~) I’d like to THANK everybody and I hope all enjoyed the experience.

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today. Time is tight around here but I’ll plan to do another show update from the cruise ship over the next few days. Yep, LaDawn and I are heading across the Atlantic tomorrow morning.

See ya’ from the middle of the Atlantic, David

Big Happenings On Friday!

2013-04-13T11:59:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everybody!

We’ve got lot’s happening before we jump the jet to Orlando, Florida early Monday morning. So let me tell you about some good things coming your way.

Our Budapest Master Class Officially Announced

Last year Clay Blackmore and I and 52 others (24 students, spouses, and friends) had a blast in Tuscany, Italy. We decided to do it again, but this year we’re in Budapest! Clay and I just barely announced our next Master Class to be held in Budapest, Hungry September 9-16, 2013 [link] and the class is over half booked already.

I have to say, it is the education bargain of the century. In addition to eating, sleeping, and breathing photography, lighting, and composition with Clay and myself for several days your registration also includes:

7 full nights in Budapest nestled on the beautiful Danube River,
Lodging at the famous Danubius Hotel Gellért and home to the world’s most famous spa,
A day trip to the stunning city of Vienna,
Most meals,
And plenty of fine wine.

I think there are about ten spaces available so if you are interested in a fantastic trip of a lifetime check out all the details right here or call this number right away 202-448-2895 to make your reservation.

BTW, here are a few links below to my blog posts about our Tuscany Master Class experience – checking out those posts will give you a flavor of the class. I think Budapest is going to be even more exciting!

[link 1] [link 2] [link 3] [link 4]

Heading To Photoshop World

I can’t believe it’s that time of year again! But in a few short days we’re off to another fun filled and brain frying week at Photoshop World. Photoshop World is one of our favorite conventions to attend. The amount of information one gets is overwhelming; the attendees are great to meet – we make new friends each time we attend; and the energy of the event is just outright contagious!

I’ll be instructing my wedding Pre-Con on Tuesday, and them two more programs during the rest of the week. You can also catch me at the PeachPit Theater presenting two additional programs. Just check schedules when you arrive. And, please be sure to come on up and say HI if you see me running around the show. Here is the link to all the Photoshop World details right here.

Dave Cross Coming To Creative LIVE

Hey gang, my good buddy, Dave Cross will be appearing on creativeLIVE [link] for 2 back-to-back 2-day Photoshop classes. On April 25 & 26 Dave will be covering Photoshop Automation & Productivity, and Photoshop Creativity on April 27 & 28. As always, it's free to watch live from anywhere in the world. Enroll now and join Dave for 4 days of Photoshop fun and education. Hope you can make it.

Session 1: Photoshop Automation & Productivity: April 25 & 26 [link 1]

Session 2: Photoshop Creativity: April 27 & 28 [link2]

On Twitter: Join @davecross for 4 days of #Photoshop training on @creativeLIVE April 25-28. Enroll now & watch live for free. http://bit.ly/Xioioq

Tim and Beverly Walden U - Best Portrait Class Ever!

LaDawn and I recently had the opportunity to sit in on Tim and Bev’s class and, I have to tell you, we walked away with pages of powerful and effective sales and marketing ideas that were worth their weight in gold! You can get all the info right here.

Walden U will be held July 28th and 29th, 2013 at the Walden's Photography studio in Lexington, KY. Sign up before April 28th, 2013 and receive the early bird discount of $100 when you enter the promo code EBWU.

The investment in Walden U is about the best thing a photographer can do for their business. This class is for any photographer wanting to take their business and profits to new heights. The entire experience - Bev and Tim’s warm hospitality, the generosity and passion of their sharing, and their insights and strategies to marketing portrait photography – make for a not to be missed learning experience!

Also, don’t forget to check out Bev’s blog [link] – tons of good info there too!

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today. I’m still planning to get a Technique Tuesday and Business Day Thursday posted before we leave on Monday. I’ll post them with Tuesday and Thursday’s dates so they will appear before this post on the DPT blog. Hope you enjoy them.

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you in Orlando next week, David

Business Day Thursday: Sales Success Secrets – The New Series: #2 – Show Them What They Want!

2013-04-11T13:45:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everybody,

I've got a brand-new Business Day Thursday coming your way that I think you're thoroughly enjoy. Last week I started my new Sales Success Secrets series and posted a great marketing idea by my good friends and outstanding portrait photographer, Greg Daniels and his wife Lesa. You can check out last week’s post entitled “Market Styles, Not Specialties!” right here.

In preparing that post I had a chance to really survey Greg's website. Not only are Greg’s image galleries beautiful but one of the links on his site must be indispensable for him in building the success that he enjoys. That link entitled “In Homes” shows his framed portraits hanging in his client’s homes. The beauty of having these “portrait installs” shown on his website is that it builds anticipation for his current clients and gives them a very clear idea of how to use his portraits in their own homes.

Portrait One:

Take a look at our first photograph below. It's a beautiful portrait of a young girl hanging above the fireplace in the clients home.

As he can see, this is a very nice home. But, this is type of clientele that Greg markets to. So, when he shows a photograph in this home setting he clearly intuits to his current and future clients that they should do the same thing with their portraits.

Portrait Two:

I love the presentation of this second portrait. My guess would be that the size of this portrait is 60 inches tall by 24 inches wide – a very large piece of wall decor.

Look how beautifully it fits the space. In Greg’s portrait session he consults with each of his clients as to where the final portrait will be hung. That way he's easily able to make recommendations with this client about size and frame color.

Portrait Three:

This next image shows a smaller portrait, I'm guessing 24” x 36" hanging in a different part of the home where the wall space was much smaller. The placement of the portrait in this space still insures the client’s enjoyment of this image.

It appears to be in a heavily traveled part of the home where all the family members can enjoy it every time they pass.

Portrait Four:

This next image again shows a special wall treatment for this family portrait. I particularly like the piece of wall decor hanging above the portrait. It seems to help round out the space on the wall. As you can see, portraits can be hung anywhere in the home but it takes careful planning with your client to be sure that the size of the portrait and the placement of the portrait in the home all work together.

I think it’s clear from these images that Greg and Lesa really have their act together when it comes to making those kinds of suggestions to their clients.

Portrait Series:

As you continue to explore Greg's images on his website notice to that he's not just trying to anticipate the wall portrait sale. He's also showing his clients many other options that they have with their photography. I love this next series of six images beautifully displayed on the wall next to the grand piano.

The secret to Greg's hefty portrait sales lies in the fact that he builds anticipation for the client by showing them just how images of their family and children to be displayed in their home.

Wall Portraits Are More Important and Impressive On A Client’s Wall Than On Facebook

I've always said to my clients. Even if one had purchased a completely new set of living room furniture, the first thing anyone would notice when they walked into that new living room would be the magnificent wall portrait hanging in that room. They always agree and it’s always the case.

So, the take away from today's post is that you need to show your client’s what options they have. Don't just show them a few sample photographs and frames. Show your prospective clients how your past clients have enhanced their homes with your beautiful works of art. We need to constantly build that client expectation!

Isn't that essentially what happens when we shop a furniture store? The room settings are always impeccably displayed. That’s to give us, the buyer, an idea of how we might bring those piece into our own home. That's exactly what Greg has done with his “In-Homes” tab [link] on his website. He has clearly made the point for his clients as to how beautiful and exciting portraits can look hanging in their home. I think it behooves each and everyone of us to create a page like Greg's on our site to give our client’s an idea of what we can do for them as well.

I sure hope you enjoyed today's post. I thought there was some tremendous ideas to be learned from Greg's website. I'll hope you'll go back and explore his site again, not just to enjoy this beautiful photography but, to also see how well he presents his photography for his clients and builds anticipation in them.

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Hey gang, that's it for me today. We got a busy week so I get back to work.

See you soon, David

Technique Tuesday: Big Lighting From Small Speedlights

2013-04-09T13:55:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everybody,

It's a busy week for us since we will be traveling for the next five weeks. Not only do we have Photoshop World to get presentations polished, power points reviewed….we also have to pack for four more weeks of travel after that. But, more on that later.

Technique Tuesday: Big Lighting From Small Speedlights

Hey gang, I’ve prepared a pretty cool Technique Tuesday for you today. I'm going to keep it short and sweet but I think there's a good lesson here. And it shows the added versatility that we can bring to our speed-lighting techniques.

Recently I had to the opportunity to photograph of family portrait. We were outdoors with the beautiful vineyards in the background. The problem was that the vineyards were in direct sunlight so I had to place my subjects in the shade. As a result, the direction of the natural light was flat and not flattering on my subjects.

Most of the time I prefer to use flash whenever I'm shooting outdoors. It just guarantees that I'll get the direction of light on my subjects exactly the way I want it. That was also the case in this portrait session – I wanted directional light on my subjects. But, I wanted that directional light to be a very, very soft and flattering light as well. Remember I’m in direct early afternoon sunlight.

The way I handled the lighting situation is what I demonstrate in our tutorial today. Why not hit the PLAY button below and enjoy the show. I hope today's lighting lesson helps bring greater flexibility to your speed-lighting as well and I hope you get even better portraits than ever before.

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Hey gang, that's it for me today. It's back to work getting ready for our next BIG adventure.

Everybody have a great rest the day and I'll see you soon.

Adios, David

”Stop and Smell The Roses"

2013-04-09T08:01:00.000-04:00

”Stop and Smell The Roses"
©David A. Ziser

This image is from our 2013 calendar LaDawn designed for several of our family and friends this past Christmas. I know I may have posted this image earlier this year but I wanted to put it out there again because the sentiment the verse describes is what most of us need to remember more often these days, me included.

Life is too short and too many of us go through life missing too many of those special moments. Even when I started my business many years ago, I always tried to “stop and smell the roses.” But then as one advances in career and success, those moments become even more fleeting and often more difficult to find. I’m working harder each day on changing that situation for me.

Life comes at us a million-miles-an-hour and sometimes the days can seem overwhelming. It’s during those overwhelming moments that sometimes the best solution is to just pause. But, you need to pause long enough. If you do, you may pick up that faint wonderful aroma of “roses” in the air. And, that pause you have just taken may be the most refreshing moment of your day. Ahhhhhhh……Food for thought.

Camera specs; Canon 5D Mark III fitted with Tamron 28-300mm lens at 42mm, F10 @ 1/250 second, ISO 1200. Enjoy! -David

You’ve Got To Check Out My New DigitalProTalk Flip Mag!

2013-04-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everybody,

I hope everyone had a great weekend. We sure did. We took Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off and didn’t even check emails any of the three days – what a welcomed break from our regular “new millennium” data filled days!

The Ball Game Of All Ball Games!

I’ve only attended two baseball games since the last 1994-1995 baseball strike – yep, I did hold a sports grudge of sorts after the players eight strike/lockout since 1972. Anyway, I began to get over, miss this American pastime sometime during last year’s baseball season and decided to purchase tickets. Great friends Kent and Sarah Smith were headed into town for the weekend and we felt the game could be a fun afternoon activity.

This past Friday we also had another couple of good friends coming in for an overnight stay and again decided to attend our second Reds Baseball game in many, many years and it proved to be the game of all games:

Reds win 15-0!
6 home runs!
1 grand slam home run!
Foul ball just barely slips through LaDawn’s hands!
A (well oiled) Reds fan jumps the fence, runs across left field, slides into second base and is hauled off the field handcuffed by four police officers. I’m guessing his game ticket ended up being very expensive!
And it’s Friday Night Fireworks – a 30 minute dazzling display to be sure.

It really was the game of all games, a bit chilly, but very exciting.

Saturday was spent continuing our visit with friends and Sunday with family – it couldn’t have been a better weekend!

p.s. All ballgame images captured with my trusty 24-1200mm Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Camera camera – a fine tool for fun sports photography ;~)

DigitalProTalk Flip Mag Now On Flipboard!

Folks, you’ve got to check out my new DigitalProTalk Flip Mag available at Flipboard. Just download (if you haven’t already) fire up your Flipboard app [link] on you iOS or Android device and search for “David Ziser” or “DigitalProTalk.” My mag should “pop” and then you’ll be able to follow my reads.

Over the past several years, I’ve been pointing you towards some of the more interesting things I find on the web with my Quick Hit Monday Series here at DigitalProTalk. Flipboard’s new “Flip-it” feature makes it easy for me to do the same thing even more conveniently for you to read those same stories.

Once I get started with my “surfing” I tend to get carried away a bit and before long I’ve got way too much information for the DPT blog and I’ve had to trim the content down substantially. My DigitalProTalk Flip Mag eases that content restriction and lets me put it all out there. Hey, my interests may not be exactly like yours but if you’re a regular DigitalProTalk reader I really think you’ll enjoy the diversified content you’ll find over at DigitalProTalk Flip Mag – ENJOY!

p.s. Let me know what you think in the Comment section below. Thanks, DAZ

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today.

Have a great rest of the day and I’ll see you soon.

All the best, David

Sales Success Secrets – The New Series: #1 – Market Styles, Not Specialties!

2013-04-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everybody,

LaDawn and I were recently honored with an invitation to attend the Camera Craftsmen [link] annual meeting this year held in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Camera Craftsman is a small group of some of the best photographers in the country. It is also one of the oldest and longest organized associations as well. Most of the members have been not only my friends but also my mentors for many years. I was really looking forward to spending some time with them.

The group has been holding these annual meetings for over 100 years during which the members share together any number of ideas from photographic inspiration to marketing success. Each of the 50 or so attendees take about 15 to 20 minutes to make their presentation to the rest of the group. You get the idea that there is some fabulous learning going on for all present during the three days of the conference.

I took notes on just about everybody's presentation but, one marketing presentation really stood out for me. The presentation was given by my good friend Greg Daniels [link] who hails from Titusville, Florida. Greg is one of the finest portrait photographers in the country and just a few years ago received one of the highest photographic honors for his fabulous photography. He was awarded the ASP Fellowship [link].

Greg is not only a fine photographer but he and his wife Lesa also run one of the most successful high-end portrait studios in the country. Their portrait photography is astoundingly beautiful. You can check it out for yourself at their website right here. But, let's get on with the reason for my post today.

Market Styles, Not Specialties!

How many times have you heard or seen photographers running their seasonal specials? I know photographers who run baby specials, high school senior specials, families portrait specials, etc. This seems like it would be the right thing to do at first glance. Heck, it’s what we learned in photo seminars for decades! And many photographers continue to think it is the right way to achieve marketing success in their business of photography. Me included till I heard Greg’s wise words of advice a few weeks ago.

Greg pointed up the one glaring fallacy of that assumption. He said that if we are going to market just for baby portraits we eliminate all of our other clients that might be looking for something other than baby portraits during the seasonal special. Greg's point was that we should never limit our client base during any of our seasonal promotions!

Greg suggested that during our seasonal promotions we should be selling styles instead of specialties. He suggested that by marketing styles we reach our entire target market every time we run a promotion. His idea hit me like a bombshell. He cannot be more on target with his advice.

All these years I've been attending seminars learning how to run baby specials or high school senior specials. Greg Daniels hit the nail on the head and clearly pointed out that all of us have been severely limiting our marketing possibilities and our sales potentials by limiting our target audience!

Greg defines his styles in three separate categories: Today’s Classics Environmental, and Fine Art. When he runs a seasonal promotions he features one of those three styles. In doing so he can reach his entire target audience with each and every one of the promotions. He's not limiting his audience in any way by offering, say a baby special for the month of June. By offering his environmental style promotion during the month of June he can reach his entire client base – a much smarter way to promote than the way most of us have been accustomed to marketing in the past.

The more I thought about it, it was like a breath of fresh air when it came to marketing photography. Why shouldn’t we try to reach out to our entire client base every time we market instead of just a limited segment of our client base? I think Greg hit the nail on the head with how he decided to transform his marketing strategy for his studio. His sales success has certainly proved his point.

So, How Are You Going To Make That Happen In Your Own Studio?

I suggest that you sit down with your friends, staff, fellow photographers and brainstorm some of the different styles that your studio could offer. Heck, don't want to spend the time doing that? Then just copy what Greg Daniels is doing in Titusville, Florida. Like they say, why reinvent the wheel? All kidding aside, I’m sure you could come up with your own styles that fit you and your studio’s “personality.” It’s important with any new marketing strategy that you get started NOW!

Greg’s presentation offered a great insight into how each and every one of us can be much more successful in our own studios. High-fives to my good friend Greg Daniels for one of the best marketing tips I've heard in years! I also recommend that you be sure to check out Greg Daniels website right here to get a better idea of how he is defining and differentiating his styles and also how he presentations has worked with his clients. Greg’s work is gorgeous and you won’t be disappointed by spending a few minutes hanging out there and viewing his galleries.

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Hey gang, that's it for me today. I hope you enjoyed the post and I certainly hope it brings you some margin of success in your own business. On that note, I'm out here.

Everybody have a great weekend and I'll see you soon.

Adios, David

Technique Tuesday: “Babyface Kisses”–A Lighting and Lightroom 4 Tutorial

2013-04-02T10:43:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon Everybody,

Can you believe it, a brand new Technique Tuesday today. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve posted one. It actually felt kind of good getting the post together today, even with the computer hic-cup during the process. And since I haven't posted a while I thought to make it kind of a long Technique Tuesday too ;~) “Really, he just can’t stop talking” from LaDawn All joking aside, even though the tutorial runs about 33 minutes I think you’ll really enjoy the information. It covers Portrait Lighting and Lightroom 4 techniques.

The Shoot – The Simple Lighting Set Up

As I mention in the tutorial we recently had a portrait session at the studio. The portrait involved us photographing a newborn baby, actually young Jacob was about five or six weeks old. We photographed Jacob’s big sister about three years ago – you’ll also meet her in the lesson today.

I wanted to make the portrait process be a smooth and as comfortable as possible for the client. When working with babies you have to remember that babies just don't have the patience of older children, high school seniors, or brides and grooms. You have only a few minutes to get the photographs. Babies also have a habit of “messing things up” in a portrait session. And that “mess” can come from either end of the baby ;~)

We only had to deal with one mess (and upper mess) since the mother had just fed the baby right before the session. But Jacob was in good spirits throughout the session and we got some great photographs.

The point of this tutorial is to show simplicity and ease of my lighting set up. My lighting set-up allowed me to shoot very quickly and efficiently – a necessity when photographing babies. And the lighting set-up along with a few Lightroom tweaks allowed us to get some great images for our clients.

Keep Your Post-Production Simple!

The second part of a lesson shows those Lightroom tweaks. I demonstrate how quickly I can use Lightroom in my postproduction to create a wonderful series of “preview” images for our clients. The techniques I demonstrate in the second part of the tutorial are not rocket science. But, what I do show you is how to work efficiently during the postproduction session so that you can get a series of images that are pretty close to the final result when producing the final images for your clients.

The process was simple, fast, efficient, and produced results that the clients absolutely loved. A few comments from Mom and Grandmother:

“The pictures are amazing!!! All of them. It is going to be hard to choose. And we had so much fun visiting you too!” Jacob’s Mom

“These photographs are so beautiful they make me cry…Lilly and Jake are so precious.” Grandma

Why not hit the PLAY button below, sit back relax, and enjoy Babyface Kisses.

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Hey gang that's it for me today. I hope you enjoy today's tutorial and guess what, I plan to be back here again this Thursday with a very cool Business Day Thursday.

Hope to see you then.

All the best, David

Related Links:

Westcott Spider Lights and 4x3Ft. Softbox [link]

MORE Photos [link]

A Very Personal Invitation To 2013’s Best Seminar Series!

2013-04-01T13:08:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Everybody,

I hope everyone had a great weekend and a Happy Easter /Passover . Things have been busy as usual around the studio and are looking to become even busier these next few weeks.

We’ve got Photoshop World coming up in just two weeks – one of the most exciting, educational and fun conventions we attend each year. I’m currently fine tuning my programs for my three presentations .

After Photoshop World LaDawn and I are planning some more serious travel across the Atlantic and onto England. We’re traveling 14 days via the Celebrity Eclipse from Ft. Lauderdale down thru the Bahamas, across the Atlantic then continuing up to Norway for 8 more days – Wow! Three weeks on a cruise ship. I have to say, after last year’s Mediterranean cruise I’ve never found anything so relaxing in the whole wide world. We are really looking forward to it.

Hey, just a quick head’s up. I’m planning a pretty cool Technique Tuesday episode entitled “Baby Face Kisses” coming up tomorrow so plan to stop back and check it out. The tutorial will cover photography, lighting and Lightroom. I’m putting the finishing touches on it right now – pretty!

OK, time to get on with some great news about the best tour of the year coming your way. Let’s get to it!!!

A Personal Invitation To 2013’s Best Seminar Series!

Today I am offering a very special, personal invitation to all my readers. I mention them to notify you about something I feel is really special and is a wonderful educational opportunity you simply won't find anywhere else.

I have to tell you, I'm really stoked about the brand new Look Fabulous Tour featuring two of the the industry's leading photographers, Lindsay Adler and Lou Freeman.

First off, I know Lou and Lindsay personally and they are two of my favorite people in the industry. Lindsay is one of the new "young gun rock stars" who makes headlines wherever she presents her programs. Lou is a consummate professional in every sense of the term and one of the nicest people I know.

Their brand new Look Fabulous Tour kicked off last week in Fairfield, NJ right after WPPI. This week they're traveling the southern loop through Louisiana, and Texas. You can see their entire schedule right here.

In addition to being one of the hottest tours of 2013, I also get to offer our DigitalProTalk and Newsletter readers the best price anywhere for the tour - how about over 40% savings! Here is the deal: The regular discounted price is normally $69 but with PROMO CODE LFTDPT the price is only $39. This is a "no-brainer" for a seminar of this caliber.

Here is why I'm so excited about this tour. First, both Lindsay and Lou are fabulous photographers. They both have an easy, engaging style that audiences love. They have jammed packed more information into a 4 hour program than you can ever imagine. Plus Lindsay and Lou are offering a full day workshop the next day. The same promo code LFTDPT will save you $50 off the day long program! Just check out the Look Fabulous website right here. The site itself is super cool; their images will knock your socks off; and the door prizes and goodies are amazing.

Here is the quick lowdown on the seminar:

Lindsay covers the concepts of fashion photography, the many elements used to create stunning images for clients. She discusses how to utilize concepts, locations, styling, props, and posing to differentiate yourself from the competition with examples from previous portrait and wedding clients.

Given the importance of telling a story with each shot, Lindsay advises how to engage clients, capture personalities, and forge relationships on the fly. In the midst of it all, photographers can sometimes feel confined by the traditional rules of photography, so Lindsay reveals her favorite in-camera creative techniques and some of her most striking studio lighting to illustrate how breaking these boundaries can generate images that stand out from the crowd.

Lou shares the art of creating controlled, candid portraits for lifestyle photography. By examining samples of her best work, you learn exactly what makes these images profitable. Lou guides you through the concepts that lead to relaxed, successful photography shoots and sets you on your way to creating great lifestyle photos.

She reveals the tricks to creating natural-looking light in full sun and with on-camera flash units, as well as how to direct people and create ambiance so that your images sell. While it's important to produce work that intrigues your clients, Lou also focuses on the aspects of photography that keep it fun and exciting for years to come.

This tour is once again being backed by my good friend and tour producer, Jeff Medford. Over the years Jeff and I have had many discussions about how to bring the best value to the seminar experience for all seminar attendees. He produced a number of very successful seminars that have received RAVE reviews from all that attended. That's why I know this tour will be one you won't want to miss!

Jeff was also very gracious to offer my Digital Newsletter and DigitalProTalk blog readers not the regular $69 price but the absolute BEST PRICE ANYWHERE - only $39! Folks, once again, this is the best price you'll find anywhere on the web for this tour! Use PROMO CODE LFTDPT when registering [link] to get the special $39 price.

The Look Fabulous Tour is happening NOW! Don't wait to register - register now! The tour is traveling to 35 cities around the country. Hey, if one of the stops is not right next door, just grab a friend or two and make the drive to the nearest city. I promise you, it will be worth it! You can find all the info and register right here.

Remember, be sure to use the PROMO CODE LFTDPT to register for only $39!

I hope to see you there! -David

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Hey gang, that’s it for me today. Plan to stop by tomorrow for a brand new episode of Technique Tuesday – I know you will enjoy it!

See you then, David

All Is Good In DigitalProTalk World Headquarters!

2013-03-15T17:00:00.000-04:00

Hello Everybody,

The comments have been getting a bit more serious lately and a lot of folks are wondering what is going on in my Digital ProTalk world. The blog has been quiet, I’ve been off the radar to some extent, and photographers are beginning to wonder “What’s Up”?

OK, today I’m here to answer that question. Things are really good at DigitalProTalk world headquarters. I can’t say I’ve been taking it especially easy and every day seems jammed packed with activity. But, If I had to be honest, I would have to admit that I have slowed things down i n my life.

That said, let me bring you up to date on exactly what's been happening around here.

PhotoPro Expo 2013 Was A Hit!

That’s right, I just did the numbers this week and the results are in. PhotoPro Expo 2013 was attended by nearly 1,200 photographers from over 21 states around the country – WOW!

That’s about 20% more that last year! PhotoPro Expo is quickly becoming the best value photographic event in the country and people are beginning to notice.

The trade-show was also 30% larger with 114 booths fully occupied by exhibitors from around the country and Canada.

I hope to have a full convention report up sometime next week so please stay tuned.

I Presented a Brand New Lighting Program For Google

That’s right, we wrapped the convention activities on Tuesday and then LaDawn and I jumped on a jet to beautiful San Francisco on Friday of that week – 2.15.13. We were planning to spend some time in San Jose then a few more days in the city of San Francisco. Fortunately for us, my daughter, Elizabeth joined LaDawn and I on our week-long visit. We certainly needed a vacation after the very busy days of PhotoPro Expo 2013 .

During our visit I presented a brand new lighting program to the good folks at 1600 Amphitheatre Way in Mountain View, CA – Google. It was Elizabeth’s first trip to Google and she really enjoyed the visit. My program went great and we even hung around for a while to chat with some of the attendees. My thanks to my good buddy, Mike Wiacek for setting up the program and being an extremely gracious host during our visit.

Now On To Mexico – Sunny Cabo San Lucas, Mexico That Is!

After leaving Elizabeth to enjoy the Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco, LaDawn and I boarded an early flight to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Cabo is one of LaDawn’s favorite places to visit on earth. I know we were just there last December for three weeks but Camera Craftsmen, a very esteemed group of photographers, asked LaDawn and I to join them at the annual meeting which just so happened to be in Mexico this Spring. THANS to Kent and Sarah Smith for their awesome hospitality!

I have to admit, I was really looking forward to the trip. The members of Camera Craftsmen have been photographers I have looked up and admired throughout most of my career. It was great to be able to hang with them for an entire week and renew the friendships forged so many years in the past. Want to check out some great photography from some of the members, you can find the link right here – enjoy!

I picked up a few tips from many of the morning programs I attended. I’ll plan to share a few of them with you in some upcoming posts.

From Sunny Cabo To Snowy Park City, Utah

After a great time visiting with friends in Cabo for over a week, it was time for the next leg of our journey – Park City, Utah. My son Aaron moved there about 6 months ago. We haven’t seen him in over a year so it was good to catch up. THANKS to good friend Dennis and Sherry Walsh for their warm hospitality!!!

Aaron works a the Park City Ski Resort and set me up for a day off skiing the high peaks of Utah. I love skiing but coming in from the Cabo sunshine to the snow covered slopes of Utah was definitely a bit of a body shock ;~) Still a good time was had by all.

The highlight of the trip was on Day 2 of the visit. Aaron arranged for the three of us to ride the Olympic bobsled run at the Olympic Park. Yes, the REAL Olympic Bobsled run on the REAL bobsled track that they used for the 2002 Olympics and still use today for Olympic training. It’s like the second fastest bobsled track in the world!

So, just how fast do the Olympians travel down that treacherous ice covered track – about 85MPH! How fast did we travel for our hair-raising 54 seconds death defying adventure – over 80 MPH. And, let me say – there are NO SEAT BELTS in a bobsled! You just hang on for “dear life!” as you fly through 15 turns (you lose count after 6) experiencing up to 4G forces on your body which BTW, asks why in the world you do something like that on purpose.

I have to say, it was quite the RUSH – so now I can cross that one off my bucket list ;~) LaDawn and I were up for the Skeleton run but unfortunately we were leaving too early the next day to make that happen – maybe next time.

Finally Heading Home

We finally headed home last Friday after our three week journey/adventure. We covered a lot of geography and had some great experiences during that time, I know I wouldn’t have traded the time for anything else.

We’re back in town for about four weeks and then it’s off to Photoshop World – also a grand adventure in itself. So things are calm around here for a few weeks and I’m hoping to get a post or two up for our loyal DigitalProTalk readers. I sure hope you’ll stop back.

Have a great one everybody.

See you soon, David

Watch Joe McNally “LIVE” Plus Rick Sammon, Kevin Kubota, Zach & Jody Gray, and More!

2013-02-13T14:20:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Everybody,

WOW! What a Weekend!

PhotoPro Expo 2013 just wrapped and I’m stoked and exhausted all at the same time. We had a fabulous speaker line-up and they all rocked the house! If you were NOT a part of the more than 1,100 photographers that attended PhotoPro Expo 2013 this past weekend – here is just a taste of what you missed.

One of the highlights of the convention is the fact that we streamed it “LIVE” for most of Sunday. Sandy Puc, the genius behind the brand new SPTV called me last Wednesday and proposed the idea to me. In the next few days we arranged for her to be on site and stream Joe McNally’s presentation along with several interviews from our speakers.

These next three videos, courtesy of SPTV’s “LIVE” streaming of the show on Sunday will only be available for viewing for one week, that is till next Wednesday, February 20th, so don’t delay, watch them today ;~)

Video 1: This first video is from Joe McNally’s standing ovation presentation on Sunday.

Video streaming by Ustream

In addition to Sandy’s ”LIVE” streaming of the programs, she also interviewed several speakers and honored guests. Don’t miss Zack and Jody Gray, Kevin Kubota, Rick Sammon, George Larson, and even myself. Watch the next two videos – you won’t be disappointed!

Video 2: Featuring Zach and Jody Gray, Tim Walden – current Professional Photographers of America President, yours truly, and Kevin Kubota.

Video streaming by Ustream

Video 3: Featuring the second part of Kevin Kubota’s interview; an interview with lighting innovator, George Larson; and completes Video 3 with a great interview with Rick Sammon.

Video streaming by Ustream

Each of these videos is a special treat and you don’t want to miss any of them. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy at least a part of PhotoPro Expo 2013.

Win an iPad Mini – Register Early For PhotoPro Expo 2014 For Only $129

Oh, and by the way, you can sign up for next year’s PhotoPro Expo 2014 right now! The dates are February 7, 8, and 9, 2014 with a FREE Bonus Day of Thursday 2/6 and an all day program 2/10 to be announced.

We opened registration early. If you are one of the first 100 to register, you are eligible to be in the running to win an iPad Mini. I just checked and there are still 59 spaces available. Registration to next year’s event is only $129 till tomorrow Thursday, February 14th at midnight.

REGISTER HERE! ONLY 59 Seats Left!

I can personally promise you a dynamite line-up just like this year’s rock star speakers. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of next year’s super exciting event – PhotoPro Expo 2014! See you there!

________________________________________________________________

Hey gang, that’s it for me today. I’ll see you again tomorrow with an additional recap of the event.

Thanks for stopping by, David

How To Get The Winning Scores In Print Competition and Judging

2013-01-31T11:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Everybody,

I can’t believe it – PhotoPro Expo is right around the corner. That also explains my being MIA for the last several days. Since PhotoPro Expo is about 30% bigger this year than last year’s event we’ve had to work extra hard and have been putting in 12 hour days for the past two weeks making all the final arrangements and aligning the last minute details. BUT, it has all come together and is going to be a unbelievably exciting event! NOW………….

How To Get The Winning Scores In Print Competition and Judging

That said, let me fill you in on one of our very exciting events: The PhotoPro Expo Print Competition and Judging. I want you to enter – it’s “hands down” the best way to learn how to improve your photography. And, if you are a studio owner, it’s definitely the best way to improve your work for your clients!

Today I want to point you to a slew of resources so you can do your best at your next print competition. First, the judges are looking for 12 main aspects of an image and basing their score on that criteria.

The Twelve elements listed below are in accordance to their importance:

Impact, Technical Excellence, Creativity, Style, Composition, Presentation, Color Balance, Center of Interest, Lighting, Subject Matter, Technique, and Story Telling.

My good friend and Professional Photographers of America Print Jury Chairman, Dave Huntsman, has put together a wonderful 34 slide presentation covering each of the elements above in great detail.

You can view and download the PDF right here. It is a “MUST READ” if you plan to excel in your next print competition.

Two More “MUST READS” For Photographers Wanting to Score BIG in Print Competition

Next let me point you towards two very informative posts about Print Competition. The first, “Doing Print Competition Right” [link] helps you ramp it up notch and points out one of the easiest things you can do to your images that almost guarantee a point or two increase in your score.

This second link, “Technique Tuesday: Print Competition; The Winners Please, Re-Broadcast, and More!” [link] will give you a guided tour through the entire process and a peak at some very beautiful images. It even features a re-broadcast of the print competition we did last year – all very good information! And finally………..

Tune In To The “LIVE” Webcast!

And if you don’t feel confident to enter, don’t forget to tune in to the “LIVE” webcast. IT’S FREE!! REGISTER HERE!

Here are a few of the comments from our past “LIVE” studio audiences:

“Its was great. I started competing this year and it was so much fun…" John V.

“I am learning SOOOO much. Thank you!” Cindy S.

“I enjoyed the presentations and the judges comments on the images. Thanks for all the hard work for this wonderful learning opportunity.” Chuck C.

“This is great! I think I'm going to look into the master photographer classes on PPA.” Mary D.

“This is the first time I've experienced anything like this. GOOD to hear/learn what the judges look for.”John D.

“…Thank you… Seeing the images and listening to the judges comments was invaluable and educational.” Jamie . G

“Judy and I really enjoyed the Webinar. We learned a great deal from reviewing the photos and then hearing the experts comments. We appreciated your hard work in support of photographers all over the globe.” Judy and Chuck H.

Free Trade Show Pass For PhotoPro Expo 2013

I know everybody is busy so if you can’t stay all three days, you can still come by for any one of the three individual days. Check the daily schedule right here then choose and register for your favorite day right here.

Just want to come by the Expo Trade Show? You’ll still be able to attend the Expo Theater programming and have a blast at the Westcott Fantasy Model Shootout. Hit this [link] or the image to the right, save the image, and print it out. It’s your FREE EXPO TRADESHOW PASS. Just drop it off at the registration desk Saturday or Sunday to pick up your badge.

There you go folks – a fabulous “smorgasbord” and photographic opportunity of a lifetime right at your finger tips. I hope to see you there!!!

-David

"Cinque Terre Wonders"

2013-01-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

"Cinque Terre Wonders" ©David A. Ziser

Here is another image from our 2013 calendar that LaDawn designed from our trip in 2012. This is certainly one of my favorite images I captured during our European adventures last October. We had just made the long three and a half hour hike across the mountains and as we descended the other side of the mountain we were presented with this stunning view of the tine town of Vernazza, Italy.
It was picture postcard perfect. I made a few exposes as I stood there transfixed by the view. We headed down to the little village, found a comfortable place at one of the local restaurants and just enjoyed a peaceful, relaxing rest of the afternoon enjoying the people, sun, and sea.... heavenly!
Camera specs: Canon 5D Mark III fitted with Canon 24-105mm IS lens at 45mm, F5.6 @ 1/400 second, ISO 800. Enjoy! -David

”Memories Of Rapallo"

2013-01-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

”Memories Of Rapallo"
©David A. Ziser

This image was captured early on in our Europe travels last September. We had just spent 4 days in Florence and then headed up the Northwestern Coast of Italy to Rapallo, Portofino, and Santa Margarita. We spent three days exploring the area and were just blown away by the natural beauty of the surrounds.

Three things that struck me about this part of the world were the colors of the buildings and landscape, the kindness of the people, and the awe of walking through centuries of history. This image reflects that first set of feelings. The symmetrical interplay of the bright red colors of the windows against the rich beauty of the beautiful foliage nearly covering the building completely. The scene nearly begged for a photograph.

LaDawn and I occasionally disagree over who took a few of these types of photographs as we venture out on our photo-walks but I believe I took this image. Nevertheless, I give LaDawn full credit for all the post production on this image which was part of our 2013 calendar she designed for or family this year – very beautiful.

Camera specs; Canon 5D Mark III fitted with Tamron 28-300mm lens at 42mm, F10 @ 1/250 second, ISO 1200. Enjoy! -David

Top 12 For 2012: My Top Viewed Technique Tuesday Posts, …Way Cool Stuff!

2013-01-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Everybody,

Hey gang, I’m back at it this week coming to you with some exciting tutorials that you guys and girls ranked as your favorites during 2012. Total DPT video loads for 2012 worldwide amounted to over 1,000,000 - WOW!!

I checked in with Vimeo, where all my videos are currently residing, and did a quick tally of the numbers associated with all the 2012 videos. From those calculations, today’s post lists my TOP 12 videos for 2012. I’ve also listed some notes with each video to give you a quick peek as to each one’s content. There is some really good information in the listing, you might have missed, so I hope you enjoy giving a peek. ENJOY! -David

Here we go…

1. Give Me A Show Of Hands: [link]

Good portraiture is not all just smiles and pretty faces. It's about making the client look the best they can. And, that means right on down to the details. Those details include, in addition to so many other aspects, how the client's hands look in the image. It's our job to make them look flattering and pleasing in our images.

Most photographers pay NO attention to such things, but artists in the past had to be sensitive to the finer points of the portraits they painted as they were painting for the royal court. If those in the royal court looked bad, heads would roll.

Why not hit the LINK above and enjoy the presentation.

2. Exciting Event Lighting: [link]

I'm pretty excited about today's post because I want to review with you some new lighting techniques that we just instituted at a recent wedding. I've mentioned that several times that the new high ISO cameras offer us all kinds of easy, efficient lighting opportunities when photographing our events. That’s what I want to talk about today. And, I have to tell you, after this past Saturday's shoot, I am more stoked than ever to make these lighting changes to all my upcoming events.

The bottom line is this – this weekend everything went as smooth as silk and we captured some great images. Why not hit the LINK button above and I'll share with you the lighting techniques that I’ll be using from this point forward on all of our events.

3. Lightroom 4 Breaths New Life Into DOA Images! [link]

I've selected two horribly under exposed images and two horribly over exposed images, let's call them my Lazarus images. I'm going to see if I can save them in Lightroom 4.

Remember, I'm NOT trying to make a "silk purse" out of a "sow's ear" - OK, yes I am. All joking aside, I'm not trying to make a visual masterpiece out of these 4 images. I'm only trying to get them to a sell-able condition for, as example, the bride's wedding album.

Why not hit the LINK tab above and enjoy the show.

4. Lightroom 4 - Never Miss A Shot Again! [link]

Lightroom 4 is introducing some very cool new features. Much better integration with video is one of those features. The other is the new Book module which let's you design albums and picture books effortlessly.

But, it's understanding how these two features can work together that open up a whole slew of new possibilities for the wedding/portrait photographer. Hit the LINK button above on this video to see what I mean.

5. Fast, Easy Event Lighting - Part 2: [link]

Two weeks ago I posted a lighting centric Technique Tuesday. It was a big favorite among our DigitalProTalk readers. Because of a new high ISO cameras I was able to change up my lighting techniques at a recent wedding reception. The new lighting technique gives me a tremendous amount of versatility and ease in capturing the reception candids.

I received a few comments and emails from several of our DigitalProTalk readers asking me how I would change up the lighting set up in a smaller space. Well folks, that's exactly what happened this past weekend. I was working in a much smaller space and didn't have the benefit of second-story balconies in which to place my lights.

The cool thing this weekend was that my technique was exactly the same as two weeks ago. I chose to use one eight-foot light stand and one taller, 12 foot light stand. I attached my Quantum T5d flash heads to the light stands with each powered by the Quantum Turbo 3 power packs.

Because of the high ISO capabilities of my Canon 5D Mark III, I was able to use ISO 1600 for all of these candids. This allowed me to set the power on my Quantum strobes to only 1/16th power. At 1/16 power I was getting nearly instant recycle time from my strobes for the fast paced wedding reception.

Why not follow along with me on my video tutorial, LINK above. I walk you through exactly how I set everything up, how I covered the various locations on the dance floor, and got a great coverage at this past weekend's event.

6. Stylized Image Enhancement: [link]

I've been saying for months that we photographers have two tremendous resources at our disposal when it comes to creating great images. First off, we have the best digital cameras ever that let us capture the image like never before.

But more than that, we have the best software available, too. Today's iterations of Photoshop CS6 and Lightroom 4 are the best ever and are necessary upgrades to make. Today it's not just about the hardware we use on the job, it's the software too that helps us finish that job the best we are able. The combination of both gives us an unbelievable amount of versatility in creating our finished images.

Even though I captured a great image in the camera, as you'll see in this tutorial, the brand new Lightroom 4 allowed me to push the image to an even more wonderful stylized result that the hardware could not so easily do by itself. But more that that, Lightroom 4 saves me a few more steps over to Photoshop making our post-production duties even that much easier and quicker.

Why not hit the LINK button above to see what I'm talking about.

7. Great B&W Conversion Techniques For Wedding Portraits: [link]

I really like the B&W look in my wedding portraits. There’s something about those soft shades of gray that let the viewer forget all about the color and place all their attention directly on the subject.

But converting those portrait images to B&W, although easy, demands a bit more tweaking to get the look I want. The adjustments I make are NOT your normal B&W adjustments either. I use some sliders in Lightroom that you may have never considered using for B&W enhancements.

The finished result is what counts. Let me walk you through two images that will show you how a beautiful B&W portrait can be produced in Lightroom 4. Simply hit the LINK button above.

8. Central Park Revisited – Three Lighting Tips To Make Your Lighting Exciting! [link]

Hey gang, I think I've got a very cool Technique Tuesday for you today. I reviewed all the images I did at my B&H Shootout last week and selected about 15 images I want to share with you today. The gist of today's program is to focus on three specific lighting techniques I demonstrated during my shoot out.

The point of all this is that too many photographers around the country, no, around the world are satisfied with ordinary lighting on their subjects. Folks, it comes down to this - put ordinary lighting on your subjects and you get ordinary results.

Let's change it up a bit – let’s put exciting lighting on our subjects and get some exciting results. That's the point of today's lesson - how to make your lighting exciting, easily and effortlessly, without breaking-the-bank with a ton of expensive gear. Why not hit the LINK button above and see what I'm talking about.

9. No Flash Pizzazz: [link]

In today’s lesson I’ll walk you through about two dozen images discussing why I think these images stand on their own without any use of extraneous additive lighting.

In this tutorial you’ll get a peek as to how I compose my images, what I’m seeing in the camera before pressing the shutter button, and how I utilize all the elements of the scene to capture exciting images without secondary light sources.

Hit the LINK button and enjoy the show.

10. Magical Sunsets - Using Photoshop's Content Aware Fill Tool To Add Impact To Your Sunset Photos: [link]

Check out this video and see how easy it can be to add a more dramatic look to your sunset wedding photographs. It's super easy and you get a great result.

11. The Only Wide Angle Lens You'll Ever Need! [link]

Using the Canon 8-15mm fisheye on my Canon 5D Mark III full frame body, I will show you can achieve a true rectilinearly corrected image with a “Field of View” that ranges from 150 degrees down to a still super-wide 133 degrees depending on the zoom setting of the lens.

I’ve spent a lot of today developing and organizing the data and the images for this post. Why not hit the LINK button above and enjoy one of my favorite Technique Tuesdays ever.

12. High Flying Party Photography: [link]

I'm always looking to create images that neither clients nor, photographers for that matter, see very often. I want my images to grab the viewer's attention immediately.

One way to grab the viewer's attention is with a dramatic change of "camera position". A shot taken from overhead fills the bill. We've all seen those overhead shots from the Goodyear blimp taken during a football game. But, to see them taken at a wedding or Bar Mitzvah is quite the treat.

So how can we capture those kinds of images at a party. Let me show you my very easy "Pole-Cam" technique that produces images that are both fun to take and excitingly different to view.

As a bonus with today's lesson, I'm throwing in a bit of multi-lighting reception coverage too. Enjoy! I think you'll get a kick out of this week's "High Flying Party photography" tutorial. Hit the LINK button above and enjoy the show.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Hey gang, that’s it for today. I hope you enjoy the walk back in time and get a kick out of re-visiting some of my Technique Tuesday audience favorites.

See ya’ soon, David

The Best Photographic Learning Opportunity In the Midwest Is Only 3 Weeks Away!

2013-01-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Everybody,

You guessed it, things are hopping around here with PhotoPro Expo 2013 kicking off on February 7-11, 2013 and I still a few loose ends to wrap up…but thankfully not too many. The best photographic learning opportunity is only weeks away!

Here’s A Quick Expo Update

PhotoPro Expo Print Competition “LIVE”

Hey gang, let me tell you about an extraordinary experience coming your way on Thursday, February 7, 2013. We are going to be streaming the PhotoPro Expo Print Competition “LIVE”.

That’s right you can there with the competitors, the images, and the judges. You’ll see the images and hear the judge’s critiques, comments and scores.

Webinar doors open at 8:00 a.m. Judging begins bright and early at 8:30 a.m. We’ll plan on “streaming till 6:00 p.m. Plan to stay for all or part of the fantastic educational event. Here is the link to REGISTER RIGHT HERE!

It’s FREE and it’s coming to you from the PhotoPro Expo Print Competition on Thursday, February 7. I hope you’ll take some time to tune in.

HUGE EXPO Trade Show!

The Expo Trade Show, is now the largest photographic tradeshow in the Midwest with over 100 occupied booth spaces! But - look at all the other fantastic learning opportunities taking place in the trade show:

Our Brand New Expo Theater!

That’s right, we’ll have a total of 15 programs taking place right in the trade show area. Our guest speakers include Zack and Jody Gray, Kent Smith, Rick Sammon, and many, many more!

Westcott Fantasy Model Shoot Out

What a HOT item this was last year! You could hardly move around the Westcott booth but everybody LOVED it! What a great way to add to your portfolio images and also have an opportunity to watch, hear, and learn from top industry leaders.

Individual Portfolio Reviews and Image Critique

You still have time to sign up for your portfolio review with a Master Photographer who will review your best images with you one on one. You need to contact LaDawn at ladawn@ziser.com to make your reservation. This filled up last year so email LaDawn today to schedule your 30 minute appointment.

Attendees are invited to bring up to 10 portfolio images to be reviewed by one of PhotoPro Expo print coaches. These may include images in an album, on an iPad or actual print images 8x10 or larger. It’s FREE if you’re a PhotoPro Network member and only $25.00 for non-members. Another FANTASTIC learning experience!

Folks, when you add up everything - it’s an unbelievable photographic learning opportunity you won’t want to miss. Come join the fun and make 2013 your luckiest year ever!!

-David

Kicking It Off For 2013!

2013-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Everybody,

Hey gang, I'm back! And I’m fired up! First of all, I've got some hot news I want to tell you about. I'm reorganizing DigitalProTalk and posting the hottest tips, tricks, and tutorials from 2012. In fact, tomorrow I'll list the Top 10 tutorials from my Technique Tuesday series. And, I have to tell you, it's a very exciting set of videos.

I'm also working on the Top 10 posts for the entire year in all categories which will include my Top 10 posts and Top 10 Business Day Thursday posts. That you give you something to sink your teeth into for 2013 as I get things revving up around here again.

This coming weekend I'm also heading down to Atlanta, Georgia to visit Imaging USA, one of the top photography conventions in the country. If you see me at the show, please come on up and say HI! I'll plan a few posts from Atlanta next week to get you up to speed on what's going on at the convention.

So, let's kick 2013 off with a blast and get things cranking again!

Glad to be back, David

Happy New Year Everybody!

2013-01-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everybody!

My wish to each and everyone one of you reading this post today is that, regardless of how your 2012 unfolded, I wish you the absolute best for 2013!

As Dylan Says: The Times, They Are a-Changin’

2012 was a year of transition for LaDawn and I and 2013 promises to offer more of the same. We are “adjusting” things at the studio to eventually slow things down a bit. I want to spend less time working on the day-to-day studio activities and redirect my focus more to writing, teaching, traveling, and shooting with emphasis on landscape, fine art, and abstract images.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not getting out of the wedding/portrait business. But we have decided to shoot for only my VIP clients – that is clients we have worked with in the past. I still love the wedding day “chase”. I continue to relish capturing images that tell the entire story of the day. I still get “goose bumps" composing my dramatically exciting images for my brides. And I still love creating images that my clients will cherish forever.

Time To Visit Some Old friends

But it’s time to move on with so many other things I still want to do photographically with my life. Have you ever told yourself that you need to visit that old friend that moved away so many years ago but you never get around to it and then hear that they have passed away? That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling these last few years. I was fortunate to visit “old friends”, that is projects I’ve been putting off for too long because life, business, work, something always got in the way.

This past year we traveled almost 5 months of the year and 3 months of that travel was for pleasure. My goal is to see the world and we saw a lot of it traveling over 25,000 miles last year! I’m happy to say that we’ve already scheduled 3 months of travel (so far) for 2013. God and the pixels willing, we’ll expand on that time too ;~)

New Energy For DigitalProTalk

Does that mean that I’m giving up on my beloved DPT blog? Not really, but I will be making changes to my posting schedule. As you’ve probably noticed, it seems I’ve come out of hibernation to get today’s blog up and online ;~) Remember those old friends I was talking about earlier – I’ve been spending a little more time with them instead of hitting the keyboard for two or more hours everyday. Personally, the break has been centering, re-energizing, and much needed.

My thanks for so many of my DPT readers that go out of their way to say “Thank You” for all the time, effort and information shared here at DPT. Your words and thoughts are very much appreciated – I really mean that. My plan is to continue posting to DPT, but not on a daily basis.

There is so much great content on-line these days, much more than was available 5 years ago when I started DPT. It’s really impossible for us to keep up with all of it. If I can give our DPT readers “solid gold nuggets” of information on a semi-regular basis two things happen. It gives you a reason to stop back and it gives me an opportunity to explore so many other exciting life possibilities which, of course, I will share with my DPT readers.

Resolve To Be A Moment Catcher

So, let me end with how I began – Happy New Year Everyone! May all of us accept the changes, challenges, and blessings this new year will surely offer each and everyone of us. May we be strong when we need to be and bend with the wind when necessary.

May we not miss even one of the special moments 2013 is sure to present to us. Missing those moments - soft breezes, beautiful sunsets, butterfly kisses, warm hugs, loving glances, a special embrace from a loved one are simple too valuable to let pass by. Treasure each one and promise yourself to be the best “moment catcher” you possible can be for 2013. With those thoughts in mind, 2013 could be the best year ever for all of us.

Happy New Year Everybody! -David

Merry Christmas Everybody!

2012-12-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas Everybody,

I’ve said it before - this is my favorite time of the year. I love the bright twinkling lights, the rich colors of the season, the wonderful carols playing on the home stereo, car radio, Pandora, I-Heart Radio, Spotify, Rdio, et. al. And, I love the wonderful fragrance of pine in the air – yes, we put a REAL tree up every year ;~) I like looking over the Christmas card list in the mail and reminiscing about the good times, over the years, I've shared with all the special friends and family on that list. I like reading every holiday card that crosses our inbox or mailbox. And I love what this season stands for compassion, love, joy, peace and sharing. And we all know the world needs a lot more of that.

That indeed is the most important thought to keep in mind during this wondrous time of the year. Christmas isn’t made special by shopping till we drop, rushing from one party to the next, or heading to the latest opening movie on Christmas Day. Christmas is a celebration of life and love. It’s about touching others lives and hearts in our own thought, word, and deeds. Christmas is made special when we take a pro-active approach in doing just that.

Most of us will be spending time with family and friends enjoying this wonderful (day)season. From kids to grandparents and beyond, families and friends will be enjoying everything this holiday season has to offer - friendship, laughter, good food, and love. But, take an extra step and reach out and help make Christmas special for everyone you come in contact with these next few days. The easiest way in the world to have a great day is to help someone have a great day first – Christmas season is a good place to start.

I wish each and everyone one of you the most wondrous of holiday seasons and pray that they too find peace, caring, compassion, and love at Christmas.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

-David and LaDawn

"Day’s End At Land’s End"

2012-12-13T11:01:00.000-05:00

One thing you have to admit while in Cabo, Mexico is that the sunsets are fabulous just about every evening. Last evening was no exception. We were visiting new friends up the beach from where we are staying and this was the view of the Sea of Cortez from their back yard property – simply breathtaking!

The challenge for sunset photographs is getting the exposure just right so that you preserve the color and richness of the sunset and still maintain details in the shadows. Leaving the camera on “P” for program just will not do it. I choose to set the camera to “M” manual, then adjusted the aperture and shutter speed to capture just the result I wanted.

I should probably mention that I used the camera’s viewfinder as my exposure guide. That seemed to work just fine because the image on the camera looked the same when I imported the image into Lightroom. I love how the cameras give you decent feedback on your exposures when using their built in viewfinder.

Composition was easy for this image. I positioned the sun in the bottom right quadrant of the viewfinder. That opened up the rest of the frame for the beautiful cloud formation filling the sky. A tweak of the “vibrancy” slider and a slight saturation push for the blue tones gave me the color values I wanted. I added clarity to the water with the gradient tool to get my final result.

Camera specs: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Camera zoomed to 40mm (35mm equiv) at F8.0 @ 1/200 second, ISO 200. Enjoy! -David

Have Yourself the Photographic Blast of a Lifetime!

2012-12-13T11:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Everybody,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to DPT. Even though we’re in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for the last few weeks, I’ve been spending many long days wrapping all the FINAL arrangements for our “blow-out” PhotoPro Expo 2013. I can’t wait to tell you the details so today I’m “spilling the beans” and officially announcing one of the BIGGEST and BEST photographic events of the year!

"If you love photography, you've got to be there!"

So, why should you attend? Easy answer:

Learn from 26 of the best instructors in the business presenting nearly 40 programs over 5 days!
You can bring a friend for only $99!
You could win an iPad Mini for registering early.
You can visit the largest photographic tradeshow in the Midwest!
You may win some of the over $15,000 in prizes given away during the convention!
Add to your portfolio at the Westcott Fantasy Model Shoot-out.
Hear 14 FREE “LIVE” programs at the Expo Theater from top instructors.
Schedule a personal portfolio review with a top photographer – what a great way to learn!
You have a chance to enter, sit in and learn during our juried Print Competition.
You get a $99 room rate – the best of any convention – at a four star hotel!

Check out all the details below – pretty cool stuff happening, including 1 in 50 chance (great odds) to win an iPad Mini.

"If you love photography, you've got to be there!"

Rarely does a photographic event this big and exciting come to the Midwest. And I want to tell you about a very special opportunity for all of our DPT readers!

On February 7, 8, 9, 10, & 11, 2013 you have the opportunity to attend the region's most exciting photographic event of the year, save some money by bringing a friend for only $99, and have a great chance to win an iPad Mini if you're one of the first 50 to register with Prize Code PPEDPT13!

Learn from the BEST Instructors in the business!

The speaker line up is amazing and is, hands down, one of the best for 2013. These superstars include National Geographic photographer, Joe McNally; Photoshop guru, Julieanne Kost; the hottest wedding photographers on the planet, Zach and Jody Gray; top shooter, best-selling author, & social media expert, Rick Sammon; Saturday Night "Live" HDSLR legend, Alex Buono; high school senior & marketing geniuses, Kent and Sarah Smith; the legendary Kevin Kubota; fashion photographer, Lou Freeman; top commercial, digital illustrator, Woody Walters; and many, many more. A total of - 26 amazing speakers presenting nearly 40 programs!

The Biggest and Best Photographic Tradeshow Ever!!!

PhotoPro Expo 2013 will also be home to the largest photographic trade show in the region. With over 100 booths in the tradeshow, you can expect to see some of the top photography vendors from around the country!

The Expo trade show will once again be hosting:

A two-day, Fantasy Model Shoot-Out sponsored by Westcott.
14 LIVE programs in our new Expo Theater.
A fully juried photographic Print Competition with $5000 in awards.
Over $15,000 in prizes and awards when using Prize Code PPEDPT13 upon registering.
Personal Portfolio Image Reviews with photo experts.
Three great parties.

PhotoPro Expo 2013 is the NOT TO BE MISSED photographic event of the year!!!

Bring A Friend For Only $99 - Offer good till 12/31/12

Book Early - First 50 Registered Eligible for iPad Mini Drawing!

OK, how much does it cost? Good question! A convention like this with a 26 speaker talent line up can run as high as $600. But the cost of PhotoPro Expo 2013, with our Prize Code PPEDPT13 is only $159 and lets you bring a friend for only $99 more! Using our code also allows you to be eligible for over $15,000 in prizes!!! The convention is taking place near downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.

$99 rooms rates at 4-Star Marriott RiverCenter

$99 room accommodations have been arranged at the 4-Star Marriott RiverCenter hotel, conveniently attached to the convention center.

Only $159 for all three days! Add a second person for only $99 - that's only $129/person and great room rates! That makes it a "no-brainer" to attend. PhotoPro Expo 2013 is not only the best education destination for 2013, but also the best place to have yourself the photographic blast of a lifetime!

Check it out at www.photoproexpo.com. This offer expires December 31, 2012 so register NOW! Don't forget - make your hotel reservations right away - the hotel will definitely be sold out if you wait.

Remember, use Prize Code PPEDPT13 to register for only $159, bring a guest for only $99 and be eligible for over $15,000 in prizes and awards! Offer expires 12/31/12! So REGISTER NOW! You can't afford to miss this event and you may even win an iPad Mini for registering early.

___________________________________________________________

Hey gang, that’s it for me today. We leave for home on Saturday. Once the dust settles from all our travels and holiday activities, I’m hoping to get the blog postings back to normal and on a regular schedule. That said, everybody have a great rest of the day in your part of the world and I’ll see you soon.

Adios till later, David

"Morning Magic"

2012-12-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

I captured this image about two days ago while on a sunrise walk with LaDawn through the estuary in San Jose del Cabo. The days are kind of short around here so we’re finding ourselves up before the break of dawn. That has given us a great (photographic) opportunity to explore the surrounds of this beautiful part of Mexico when the sun is just breaking the horizon. The ocean breezes are more intent and the morning sunrise colors are often quite breath-taking.

Compositionally - I placed the sun at “nodal point” #4 – bottom right of the tic-tac-toe grid – for the visual balance I wanted in this image. After exercising a small amount of patience, the ducks were perfectly positioned in the composition just as I clicked the shutter. I know that I could never be a National Geographic, or such, photographer waiting for hours for the perfect position of the animals in my composition. After 60-90 seconds I’m ready to move-on.

This is how the image looked at the moment of capture. It’s easy to see why we like visiting San Jose del Cabo so much.

Camera specs: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Camera at F8.0 @ 1/250 second, ISO 500. Enjoy! -David

My New Favorite Camera Gets The Shot Other Cameras Miss!

2012-12-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning Everybody,

OK, I have to admit it…. The Cabo sunshine, sandy beaches, sound of the waves crashing the shoreline can get you in slow motion pretty quickly. But that said, it’s not all play in sunny Mexico. We are on the verge of kicking off our PhotoPro Expo 2013 promo blast next week so that has taken up quite a bit of my time while on vacation. Isn’t technology wonderful – I still get to do the work by the beach ;~)

My New Favorite Camera Gets The Shot Other Cameras Miss!

Let's get on with today's post. On Tuesday I shared with you my fun experience with my brand new Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Camera. It's been getting great reviews on the Internet but what is most amazing about this camera is the zoom range. It's currently the widest zoom range available of any camera on the market ranging from 24mm all the way out to 1200mm in one small, lightweight, compact package.

You may be asking yourself, "Why in the world would Ziser be using a consumer grade camera?" I alluded to the answer in Tuesday’s post. Let me spell it out today. As a professional photographer there are some instances when I would really like to get up close and personal to the action going on. A perfect example would be when the bride and groom are exchanging wedding vows. Sure, I've got a 300mm lens that I can use on my 7D which will give me effectively a 480mm telephoto lens.

But, what happens if I want to get even closer than that? You might think I could call my buddies at B&H and order one of Canon’s 1200/5.6L USM monster lens priced at $125,000!!! Uh… I don’t think so!

So, back to my new favorite fun camera, Canon’s PowerShot SX50 HS Camera at a whopping $450 US dollars. I have to say, from my early tests I am mighty impressed with the photographic capabilities of this small, little consumer camera. Let me review a couple of my test images I've made in the last few days.

Photo One:

This image was taken from the front door of our home in Kentucky looking out across the city and it was taken at the 24mm wide-angle setting. Keep an eye on the water tower in the center of the image.

Photo Two:

This image was taken from the same place, at the full 1200mm zoom, but in this case I targeted closer into the water tower that you can barely see in the distance in the first photograph. Amazing, don't you think?

Photo Three:

While on a walk around the neighborhood I continued to experiment with the telephoto capabilities of this little jewel of a camera. Notice how sharp and crisp the detail is on the pumpkin - and this image was also captured at the 1200mm setting of the camera …amazing!

Photo Four:

Recently I had the occasion to be at an event at one of our local churches and I thought the occasion would offer the perfect opportunity to experiment with the long lens capabilities during an actual church service. Take a look at the next photograph.

This image was taken with me standing at the very back of the church with the camera in the wide-angle 24mm setting. You can see I get quite a wide view of the church and image sharpness looks just great on my computer.

Photo Five:

Take a look at this next image. It was captured in the exact same location as the image above, but this time I zoomed in just a bit to the 60mm setting of the camera. Again, the image is quite sharp and perfectly acceptable for any 8x10 I might deliver in a clients album.

Photo Six:

In the following image I zoomed into the pipe organs in the back of the church. This image is the zoom equivalent of a 500mm lens on a 35mm camera. Color and definition of detail looks good in the image.

Image Seven:

This next image was taken of a church statue so obviously it wasn't moving but what I want you to notice are the camera specs of this image. This image was taken at 700mm (35 mm equivalent), 1/10 second at F5.6, at ISO1600. Yes, I said 1/10 second. The SX50 is capable of 4 1/2 stops of image stabilization built-in at all of the focal lengths!

I think it's quite amazing that this is a handheld photograph! It points up one more time some of the amazing possibilities of the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Camera

Photo Eight:

This image was taken during the actual church service handheld at 1/80th of a second at F5.6 but this time I zoomed into an 800mm setting. Once again you can see the detail is crisp and sharp throughout the image.

Photo Nine:

Moving onto the next image - this image was taken from the back of the church but in this case I zoomed all the way to the 1000mm setting. This image was also handheld at 1/60th second at F5.6 and shot at ISO 1600. I’m finding it pretty incredible, but wait there’s more!

Photo Ten:

This image was taken from the back of the church at full magnification of the zoom lens. The camera was racked out to 1200mm and I clicked off the image at 1/60th of a second handheld at F5.6, 1600 ISO. I think it's an amazing and again highlights the capabilities of this little camera.

In Conclusion:

It's just thrilling the technology Canon built into this camera. I’ve printed out 11x14 hard copies of all the images I’ve featured today. Everyone that looks at them thinks they look great. The camera also includes the DIGIC 5 processor, a decently sharp lens, a super compact shape, HDR capability, 1080p video, and many other wonderful features that I haven’t even shown today.

So, is there a place for this little power shot camera in your professional camera bag? There certainly is for me. I really like the idea of being able to zoom in so closely on some key moments of a wedding and be able to do it without breaking the bank by buying a “monster millimeter” lens. So, tell me, if you are making the choice would it be for the $125,000 lens you can’t even carry or the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Camera for $450? For me I think for what I'm looking for I think $450 model fills the bill just perfectly.

Anyway, I'm not promoting the fact that we should purchase amateur equipment for a professional jobs but, what I am suggesting is that there might be other solutions much more reasonably priced for the occasional situation in which we might need a few super close-up images. Anyway, food for thought.

_________________________________________________________________

Hey gang that's it for me today. The sea breezes, sandy beaches and snorkel gear are calling – I’ve got to go ;~) Have a great rest of the day and I’ll see you soon.

– David

An Amateur Camera For Pro Use??? Never, Well Maybe

2012-12-04T19:00:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon Everybody,

I have to admit, that while we're in Cabo San Lucas Mexico, I'm having a great time with my new, early Christmas present, a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Camera.

The cool thing about this special, little camera is the fact that it will zoom from 24 mm all the way out to 1200 mm – 35mm equivalent – without changing lenses! If you let that zoom range sink in, just for a second, you understand why it is such a fun camera to use. While in Cabo, I've been photographing everything from sunrises to sunsets, landscapes, cactus flowers and plants, macros of baby sea turtles, goggley eyed crabs, wildlife photos, and even taking close-up photographs of the moon.

It's the unbelievable zoom range of this camera that makes it so much fun to use. It produces a 12 mega-pixel RAW file which I can import into the latest Lightroom 4's beta release. Lightroom gives me plenty of control in enhancing the camera's images. The 12 mega-pixel file size is the same as my size as my beloved Canon 40D camera of just a few years ago. So I suspect I'll be able to print an acceptable 24x36 inch print from these files just as I routinely produced and delivered from my 40D.

The camera is also responsive enough for me to capture most of the photographs that I want to take. The time it takes to write the file to the card is a little slower than I would like, meaning that I rarely do any burst shooting and that can be a real hindrance for any wedding photographer. Don' t get me wrong, I'm not suggesting you trade in your Canon 5D Mark III of Nikon D800.

This camera is small, convenient, light weight and what I REALLY love about this camera is the zoom range. It is that fantastic zoom range that offers not just an amateur photographer some added shooting versatility but the professional photographers as well. I know some of you reading this must think I'm "nuts" about now, but hang in there with me. I ran a few tests about a week ago just to see what kind of real image quality I could produce out of the camera. I was really surprised with my first tests!

I have several sample images that I quickly printed 11x14 prior to us leaving for Cabo. I plan to share with you these images in a follow-up post this week. So, be sure to tune in, I think you'll be surprised with the results I was able to obtain!

Hey, for $450 US dollars, this camera is one sweet little gem that I am thoroughly enjoying using while on vacation. Galileo would have loved it ;~)

_________________________________________________________________

Hey gang, that's it for me today. Everybody have a great rest of the day in whatever part of the world you're in and I'll plan to see you again later this week.

Adios, David

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Good Morning Everybody,

1. Give Me A Show Of Hands: [link]

2. Exciting Event Lighting: [link]

3. Lightroom 4 Breaths New Life Into DOA Images! [link]

4. Lightroom 4 - Never Miss A Shot Again! [link]

5. Fast, Easy Event Lighting - Part 2: [link]

6. Stylized Image Enhancement: [link]

7. Great B&W Conversion Techniques For Wedding Portraits: [link]

8. Central Park Revisited – Three Lighting Tips To Make Your Lighting Exciting! [link]

9. No Flash Pizzazz: [link]

10. Magical Sunsets - Using Photoshop's Content Aware Fill Tool To Add Impact To Your Sunset Photos: [link]

11. The Only Wide Angle Lens You'll Ever Need! [link]

12. High Flying Party Photography: [link]

The Best Photographic Learning Opportunity In the Midwest Is Only 3 Weeks Away!

Good Morning Everybody,

Kicking It Off For 2013!

Happy New Year Everybody!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Merry Christmas Everybody,

"Day’s End At Land’s End"

Have Yourself the Photographic Blast of a Lifetime!

"Morning Magic"

My New Favorite Camera Gets The Shot Other Cameras Miss!

An Amateur Camera For Pro Use??? Never, Well Maybe