OP - Ordinary Photography

If I had to choose 1

2010-12-31T14:44:00.000-05:00

If you asked me 10 years ago what single piece of gear I wanted if money was no option, I would have said a monster professional camera. Back then, as a novice, I though by simply getting a "better" camera I would take better pictures. For many budding photographers this feeling lasts for years. That is until you take that "killer" photo and realize it isn't the camera, it's the skill. Of course

"Simple" child portrait

2010-11-20T10:39:00.000-05:00

So when I say simple, I mean the setup. Working with a 2 and a half year old is never simple. I took a shot (below) to show you my lighting setup. YOU can do it too. Well I went into a quiet room to set up my lights and before I even fired a single test shot, in walked the subject - my daughter. (I should have had a child wrangler outside the room!) Well I knew I'd have her attention for 2

Plan B

2010-10-08T21:38:00.001-04:00

I was reminded recently of the importance of always having a plan B. I was photographing a 3 month old and her mom. I had set up a one light shot right in the living room. I set up my stand and light, put up a soft dark blanket as the background and we put baby on stage! As you can see -from one of the shots above- it was a success. But not without a fair share of problems! First, I bounced

Dusk Head Shots

2010-08-22T17:41:00.000-04:00

You don't need to buy a background. Nature offers free ones. I used a single light source and bounce card. I actually darkened the background further in post (up'd the blacks until only a little green remained for a little interest) If you blow up the shot and look closely, you can tell the single light source is an umbrella. Actually it is my 60" shoot through. A large light source like

Summer-time Fun

2010-07-02T22:53:00.000-04:00

We have recently gotten back from Lake George, NY and I was able to get lots of great shots of my girl. Here are just a couple. Have a GREAT Fourth of July!!

I got silver...on a cloudy day

2010-05-31T12:44:00.002-04:00

I photographed a client recently and took advantage of the warm outdoor temperature and OVERCAST day. Using an overcast day for outdoor shoots is like using a huge softbox. Though the lighting is complimentary to skin tones and very even, you can still step it up a notch. For the shot above, I used a silver reflector under her face (you could use a gold one also). This added a little more light

Swing Shift

2010-05-09T14:15:00.001-04:00

Portraits don't need to be "set up". Here is a perfect example that is in line with the topic of a former post, "Child's Play". Instead of posing them (which I did too), I allowed them to play (in good lighting) and they decided to swing. I captured the above shot. Would look great in a black wood frame, white matte. The bonus is they forgot ignored the fact that I was even

Head Shots

2010-04-04T15:28:00.000-04:00

In the world of portrait photography, the "Head Shot" is a classic and usually simple way to capture a subject.The picture to the left is a classic head shot. To get a more pleasing and flattering angle, the subject looked up at me at about a 45 degree angle and I stood at about a 45 degree angle to the front of him. This caused him to look up at me and placed his shoulders at an angle (

New Shoes

2010-03-21T14:40:00.002-04:00

Kids and new clothes = good photo op! When I saw my daughter run across the sidewalk chalk in her new shoes, it just clicked. I knew I needed to grab my camera! 20 mins in post work: increasing "blacks", contrast and vibrance. Great spring/summer type of shot.

The Chair Portrait

2010-02-26T11:32:00.000-05:00

Any amateur can set up this shot with just 2 elements. One light source and a chair. Many professional portraits on location have been done using a backwards chair. It helps the subject's posture and if the camera is set to a 45 degree angle, the shoulders set up at a pleasing angle. Of course the subject can look at you or not and the hands can do what ever you want. Woman can claps them

Stop the Madness

2010-02-15T01:21:00.001-05:00

I needed to put up a brief post today for all of my amateurs and beginners. A friend of mine put up a new website recently. He asked me to use my graphic artist eye to check it out. One page was a slew of photographs of his employees. They were all headshots done quickly. I am all fine with quick and dirty BUT the photographer committed a cardinal sin. There were dark creepy shadows behind all

Cory Vincent - Northern NJ Photographer

2010-01-27T22:25:00.008-05:00

CORY VINCENT PHOTOGRAPHY- Professional Services - Cory Vincent Photography specializes in portraits of children, newborns, individuals, families and corporate executives. All sessions are done on location, making the client (especially children) more relaxed and comfortable. Weather permitting, I like to shoot outdoors for the natural, warm lighting. The setting is your choice: I prefer

Window Lighting

2010-01-23T11:42:00.001-05:00

When recently photographing a child, I shot the necessary posed shots. After a few setting changes, I let him walk around and I followed with the camera. He started looking out the window to see who was coming. With just the natural light I captured this shot. I performed some post work and rendered a great candid portrait. Window light is important. Especially for the amateur

Aim, don't smile, SHOOT!

2010-01-03T00:48:00.001-05:00

I do not enjoy studio work as a general rule. To each his own, but to me the lighting is contrived, flat, boring and typically unflattering. I do not have much of a choice in the winter, I need to shoot things indoors and if I am forced to do it, I like to make it interesting. I usually play around with the lighting until it looks, well, UN-studio like. In the shot above the lighting is more

New Logo

2009-12-25T08:44:00.000-05:00

This is the new version of my logo. I started my photography business years ago, specializing in event photography. I got caught doing too many weddings (which was never my passion). I have shifted my focus and specialties to portraits of children and families. Let me know what you think, and if you need a portrait photographer, please email me: coryvince@hotmail.com.

Child Christmas Portrait on a Budget

2009-12-14T23:05:00.001-05:00

Portraits at a mall studio are cheap. You can sign up for a yearly package and spend next to nothing (I'm told). And the results are "OK", but as you know, I HATE studio portraits. Living in northern, NJ I will allow them at only one time of the year. Christmas. So my friend takes her son to one of those studios and has new portraits hanging up every month. They do a nice job but she was not

Step it Up

2009-12-05T15:18:00.000-05:00

I loved this photo as soon as I saw it. The lighting was great, the coloration perfect and the smile; simple and uncoaxed. I did, however, think I could tweak it up a notch in Photoshop Elements, and that is exactly what I did. I played with the contrast and saturation as well as the exposure. Since she was in a stroller and I wanted to downplay that, I burned the edges. It helped to make

Colorful Standouts

2009-11-29T02:05:00.002-05:00

Continuing on with some Photoshop ideas.....I often see the below effect done in wedding photography. The photographer highlights the bridal bouquet by keeping it in color and making the rest of the photo black and white. I was at a car show and saw this sideview mirror that captured the reflection of an American flag. When I converted the picture to B&W and kept the flag in color, it

Dodge and Burn your Way to Better Photos

2009-11-21T12:54:00.010-05:00

I don't believe very strongly in Photoshop for two reasons. The first reason is that the full version is well over $500 and the second reason is that most "Photoshoped" pictures reek of, well, Photoshopedness. (It's a word; trust me.) The two part solution? Buy Photoshop Elements and use it at the right times. The picture above was Photoshoped. I slightly darked the exposure and

Directional Lighting

2009-11-14T00:47:00.004-05:00

Off Camera Flash: Part One of Many One thing that I tell people getting into photography is - get out there and shoot different things. In order to expand your skills you need to push yourself; that includes getting past your comfort zone. I recently followed my own advice and photographed a friend's band practice. I never did anything like it before and asked permission, just for my own growth.

Fine Arts

2009-11-08T14:18:00.002-05:00

There are a few elements I use to get artsy shots. I wanted to share a few of those tips so you can make some ordinary shots a little more....interesting. The first thing you can do is choose to go black and white. There is something about black and white shots that often strikes up more of an emotional response. I don't always use it but the beauty of digital is that you can always

Child's Play

2009-11-02T23:58:00.011-05:00

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX Or at least photograph your kid playing in it If you are anything like me you occasionally stumble across a good idea, simple in its design, and think: why didn't I think of that?! A few years ago this happened to me. I was getting into portraiture and kept over-thinking the set up to my shots. Where could I bring this person? Is there cool

Natural AND Flattering....And All You Need To Do Is Lie

2009-10-30T23:55:00.006-04:00

My mother is one of the most difficult people to photograph. She hates having her picture taken and it shows when you force her to smile for the camera. Well I was thrilled that this one turned out. And how did I get it? Easy, I lied. You see, when you are an amateur you have some built-in excuses. People expect you to fumble around and take time to "get things right". Do you know how many

Sun Worshiping

2009-10-30T21:31:00.012-04:00

If you asked me what my favorite light source was when I started in photography 15 years ago, I'd immediately say the sun. If you asked me today, with over a decade more experience, I'd still say the sun. It is very pleasing for skin tones, it's large and even, it's often available when you're outside, and it's free! It is almost perfect. Almost. IT'S ALL ABOUT SHADE AND

What's Your Point of View?

2009-10-30T00:20:00.013-04:00

Point of view (POV) is one of the most important aspects of setting up every shot. You need to start with that and you can build all other aspects up from there. Choose your POV (sometimes called perspective) and then worry about shutter, aperture, lighting etc. In this shot, the subject was sitting at a table and I jumped up on a chair with flash in hand, close to the ceiling and bounced. I