Picture Your World Photography

Growing Pains: Obsessed with SEO for Photographers

2009-11-15T12:13:00.001-07:00

For the past two weeks I've been completely obsessed with Search Engine Optimization for Photographers. A lot of people think SEO are techniques that ensure my website comes up first when you type in the company name. But that's not right. When you search for "Picture Your World Photography," either my blog or my business website are usually among the top three listed search results. But that assumes potential clients already KNOW my company name. What I really should be striving for with SEO is making sure that my website ranks higher in searches on Google and other major search engines when leads type in probable searches such as "Denver Photographer" or "Denver Wedding Photographer," etc. etc.

I knew it was something I had to get up-to-date on quickly when I started noticing description tags that appear at the top of some photographer's web pages. You've probably seen them too...."John Smith Photography, New York-based wedding photographer..." or "Jennifer Smith Photography, Atlanta's premiere lifestyle's photographer," yada yada.

When I looked up my business website for www.pictureyourworld.net, all mine had for a description was this: var ssConfig = { AlbumID: '3505170',AlbumKey: 'f3ta9' newWindow: 'false', transparent: 'true'. What the heck? It took me a while before I realized it was coding from my bio page on my SmugMug site. That description is the only way clients have of knowing what my business is about and why they should hire me. Needless to say, I was totally blowing it by not having a valid explanation of who I am and what I shoot.

So far, I've been slowly implementing some techniques I found in the The Moments4Ever Photography SEO Starter Guide. Those include creating unique page titles, using description meta tags and keyword meta tags in my html page layouts.

I thought their directions were pretty clear cut, especially for a SEO noob like me. I was able to add new page titles and descriptions to both my blog and my website.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-11-14T12:52:00.001-07:00

I had to laugh when I read this "What the Duck!" I have been targeted twice for one of those "fund forwarding schemes" -- once while I was renting rooms in my house on Rooms.com and another time when a scammer contacted me from a referral ad on PPA. So far, I've been able to wise up to the scams before any serious damage was done.

Here is my favorite "What the Duck" comic from this week. Rock on Aaron! "What the Duck" is an online comic strip created by Aaron Johnson. I just love how Aaron's wry sense of humor reflects the current state of the photography industry. But what really freaks me out sometimes when I read his strip is how much they reflect whatever situation I'm currently experiencing too...whether it's working with clients or desperately trying to stay on top of technology like Facebook or Twitter or a host of other things that all add up to being a professional photographer.

The genius of his strip is the way viewers can interact with Aaron and his comic character. Folks are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Aaron also allows viewers to suggest titles for his individual strips, and post photos of their own plushy and stuffed W.T. Duck working or hanging out.

Guest Blogger: Photographer Jeff Clemons reviews AlienBees vs. Calumet's "Genesis" Lights

2009-11-13T10:16:00.012-07:00

Today, I'm happy to introduce my readers to guest blogger Jeff Clemons. Jeff, 28, owns Caught My Eye Photography in Hesperia, CA, and has been shooting for 15 years, and professionally for the past four. He shoots with a variety of gear but tries to stick to his roots with Canon. Jeff is a photography colleague as well as a 4-wheeling buddy of mine on the Colorado4x4.org forums. Clemons initially posted this product review on the Shutterbug forum. But he has given me permission to reprint his review here. Thank you Jeff for taking the time to do this and your willingness to share what you've learned!

I bought some AlienBees studio lights a while back and found myself wanting more. I was going to just buy more Bees, but after doing some shopping, I found Calumet's Genesis 200 2-Light Kit and after hearing good reviews on them, I bought a couple.

We'll start this review off with the AlienBees.

This is the "Beginner Bee" kit that you can get through Alienbees.com.
It includes the B800 flash unit, reflector, shoot through or bounce umbrella, light stand, sync and power cords and a carrying case for the flash unit.

Back of the unit...

This flash is pretty nice. Build quality is nice and the fit and finish on everything is top notch. The power is controlled via the slider in 1 stop increments. The modeling light can be turned on, off or can track (dimmer switch like) to match the power output. It has a standard 1/8" sync port and can also be fired via the optical slave which can be seen next to the sync port. The optical slave works OK on this unit. I'll get more into that when I get to the Genesis. The Beginner Bee kit sells for $359.

This is the Calumet Genesis 200 kit.
It includes the Genesis 200 Flash unit, reflector, shoot through or bounce umbrella, light stand, sync and power cords but no carrying case.

Back of the unit...
Again, a well built, nice unit. First thing you will notice on this unit is, no slider.It's digitally controlled, which I've come to REALLY enjoy. It has the same stop range as the Bee, however, it is adjustable to 1/10th of a stop which is really nice for precision light work. This light also has an audible beep when it's charged and ready to fire. It also has an optical photo slave as well as a 1/8" sync port. Price for this kit is $199 for the 1 light kit or $369 for the 2 light kit(I bought the 2 light kit).

Biggest thing you will see between these two lights is a pretty substantial price difference. Where as with the AB kit, you get one light and all the gear for $359, you get twice the amount of gear with the Calumet for 10 bucks more. There is a power difference between these two lights to be fair...the AB800 is a 320 watt second light were as the Genesis are 200 watt seconds, but honestly, in a small to medium sized studio, they will both give more power than you'll ever use. Both are built well but IMO, the Genesis feels like a much higher quality light, especially the accessories it comes with.

The umbrella on the Genesis is about 8" bigger in diameter and obviously constructed of higher quality materials than the AB. The slave sensor on the Genesis is of much higher quality and it picks up the tiniest of flashes. In comparison, the AB slave takes a good amount of light to trigger. That's a moot point if your using cable or wireless sync, but it's a nice feature regardless. The light stand with the Genesis are lightyears ahead of the AB in terms of fit, finish and build quality. Take a look at the size difference. The Genesis is bigger in diameter and feels much more solidly built than the AB.

AB stand...

Genesis stand...

Flash performance between the two is pretty much indistinguishable, other than the AB offers a little more power. Again, not a big deal unless you really need it, and alot won't. The Genesis does seem to give a more consistent flash output and white balance at low power compared to the AB.

Don't get me wrong, the ABs are great lights, but dollar for dollar, they don't hold a candle to the Calumet Genesis kits. For the same amount of money, you're getting twice the lights and equipment. For budget studio lights, these are the ones to get hands down! I've had mine for a week now and have used the crap out of them so far, and they haven't missed a beat. Keep an eye out...the AB's might be going up for sale here soon!

Breaking News: One more chance to get marketing telesummit mp3 for $99

2009-11-09T12:28:00.003-07:00

You asked for it! Now the Telesummit Recordings are Back by Popular Demand!

Due to a continual FLOOD of requests, the Master Photographer's Marketing Series Telesummit mp3 downloads are available from 12:00pm Central, November 9 through 12:00am Central, December 13 for $99!

Here's one last chance to learn from the industry's greatest marketers - Kia Bondurant, Rod Evans, John Hartman, Jen Hillenga, Julie Klaasmeyer, Kevin Kubota, Lori Nordstrom, Sarah Petty, Allison Rodgers, Dane Sanders, Marilyn Sholin, Kent & Sarah Smith, Vicki Taufer, Beverly & Tim Walden, Ed Zemba & David Ziser.

Purchase all 16 hours of the Master Photographer's Marketing Series Telesummit, available as an mp3 audio download plus pdf outlines. Purchase the recordings today for the special $99 price. These recordings will be available for a VERY limited time.

I got mine and have been slowly working my way through all 16 hours of amazing marketing ideas! Don't miss out on this.

Instructor's Tip: Fog

2009-11-09T11:14:00.003-07:00

© Russ Burden

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

FOG
Foggy conditions elicit moody and ethereal feelings. The light is diffused and even, but very flat. Knowing how to take advantage of this is what makes a fog image successful.

As the elements that constitute the composition recede from the camera position, so does the intensity of their shape, color and contrast. By placing a dominant subject in the foreground, it becomes the primary element. All other parts become secondary as they melt into the background in a wash of mist. The mood this evokes is one of peacefulness. When created properly, photographs made in the fog tend to be very soothing to view.

Shooting in the fog requires precautions to protect your camera from the surrounding mist. Fog does appear in differentiating densities. Therefore its encountered density dictates what is necessary to keep the camera safe. Along coastal areas, fog can be so thick it feels like a misty drizzle. At other times it can be a soft layer of moisture thinly obscuring the sun.

Fog is most commonly found in the early morning before the sun has a chance to evaporate the mist created by the cool night’s air. In that fog is actually a ground level cloud, as the sun warms it, it dissipates. Listen to the weather forecast. A cool night followed by a semi warm morning are the right ingredients to produce fog. So pack a small towel and go out shooting.

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Read this personal note from Russ:

I just returned from an absolutely fantastic nature photo tour to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. The weather was amazing and we were treated to one of the most spectacular sunrises in Bryce I've ever had the opportunity to capture. I assure you that the travelers who were with me are nodding in agreement and smiling right now.
Every session proved to be very productive. We originated in Vegas and happened to be there on Halloween. As we were leaving to go to our sunrise session the next morning, the throngs of people were still out and about!
Join me on a tour so you can be one of the participants next time nodding in agreement and smiling. I'll put you in the right place at the right time! I intimately know every location in each park to which I lead a tour - you can't place a price tag on my enthusiasm and desire to get you great images.--Russ

This weekend: Pet Photography Workshop

2009-11-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Photo by Mike Haley
This weekend, I will finally get the chance to try something I've long been interested in -- pet photography!

Jaime Rowe of Jaime Rowe Photography pet shooter extraordinaire will be hosting a special workshop for Femme Photographie group members. Femme Photographie is a sub group of the larger umbrella Mile High Photographers group. Each month, one of the group's members tend to throw together a workshop where everyone has a chance to share their skills and learn together. I created one earlier this year for an engagement portrait workshop.

Jaime has gathered several furry models for us to photograph, and she promises to give us some of her pointers and tips for working with different types of dogs. So far, we have a border collie, a red heeler, a beagle/basset hound mix, and a maltese/poodle mix. I seriously thought about bringing trying to bring Raina and Isis, my husky and malamute, but my dogs are so crazed with energy that they would have thought it was social hour instead of being quiet and modeling for us.

I toyed with the idea of adding pet photography in my studio offerings, but then I decided that dealing with those pets' humans was work enough for me! :) I'm still looking forward to a chance to try shooting a new subject because it's pretty common for soon-to-be wedded couples or family portrait shoots to include their furry-loved ones in the shoot. So it would be good for me to learn how to catch and hold a pet's attention long enough to get a good shot.

So if you see several photographers chasing some dogs around Wash Park tomorrow afternoon, that would be us!

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-11-07T01:00:00.001-07:00

Here is my favorite "What the Duck" comic from this week. Rock on Aaron! "What the Duck" is an online comic strip created by Aaron Johnson. I just love how Aaron's wry sense of humor reflects the current state of the photography industry. But what really freaks me out sometimes when I read his strip is how much they reflect whatever situation I'm currently experiencing too...whether it's working with clients or desperately trying to stay on top of technology like Facebook or Twitter or a host of other things that all add up to being a professional photographer.

The genius of his strip is the way viewers can interact with Aaron and his comic character. Folks are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Aaron also allows viewers to suggest titles for his individual strips, and post photos of their own plushy and stuffed W.T. Duck working or hanging out.

Get Connected: Free night photowalk! Join us...

2009-11-06T07:42:00.005-07:00

My schedule has finally eased up a bit so I can have some fun with my photography. On Saturday, one of my favorite instructors, Efrain Cruz of Illuminate Workshops, will be hosting his free monthly night photowalk in downtown Denver. The gathering is open to anyone who would like to join us. It's so much more fun to practice photography with other like minded, creative photogs.

Check out this link to find out more information and what you need to bring.

This blog post includes images I shot during a night photowalk even last year. Check out this link on Flickr to see what other photography students have shot during previous photo walks.

Get the Job Done: Google ad scores again!

2009-11-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

One of my ads that appeared on a Google page search netted me another client! I'm still only now beginning to understand the power of SEO and improving my studio's visibility on the internet. But it looks like what little I've done has helped a tremendous amount.

Peggy, my client, called me earlier this week to book a boudoir session for next month. During our initial consultation, I asked her to explain to me how she found me. She said she did a Google search for "photographers in Denver." That pulled up a long, unwanted list of wedding photographers. She modified her search, typing in "glamour shots." That's when my Google Adwords ad appeared on the right hand side of the screen as one of the sponsored links. My company's name piqued her interest...and the rest was history!

For my current Adwords campaign, I spend no more than $1 a day for automatic placements of my ad on a Google search based on specific keywords typed in by potential clients. I've spent less than $10 on advertising since I opened my Adwords account on Oct. 22, and I've secured two clients who found me solely after completing a search online. It takes some time to be able to choose an appropriate budget amount and eligible keywords that will help increase the times your ad will appear online and the likelihood of someone clicking it. But Adwords gives you plenty of recommendations and a handy keyword generator list to give you a leg up! As my earnings increase, I'll start increasing my ad budget.

If you haven't started an ad campaign for your business on Google yet, what are you waiting for? It works!

Get Connected: Facebook targets advocates for your business

2009-11-03T15:17:00.013-07:00

I have been doing a lot of research on how to utilize Facebook for growing my photography studio. Now, I have a first-hand experience about how amazing Facebook can be for creating advocates for your business. It's so simple, you just might smack yourself. When people on Facebook become Fans of your company, they also become its advocates. Think of gaining Facebook friends or business fans the same way you think of increasing your email subscriber base to help build your network.

I got a message from Jenn, a friend on Facebook, wondering how I knew her best friend Alexa? Turns out Alexa became a Fan of my studio Facebook page because her best friend Jenn did. Just by coincidence, Alexa actually won a free 8x10 digital download of one of my cityscape photos during a randomly generated drawing from among my Fans List.

Unbeknownst to Jenn, she became an advocate for my business. When she interacts with my Facebook Page, stories linking to my page go to her friends via the News Feed. As these fans interact on my Page, News Feed keeps driving word-of-mouth to a wider circle of friends. And I think this instance is a great example of the fact that new Fans are more likely to become a fan of a page if they see their friends have already signed up for it too. It's one of the reasons I have more than 200 fans since creating my page a few months ago. Your friends also become advocates because an ad will show up on their page saying for "Jenn is a Fan of Picture Your World Photography," for example, enticing their friends to join as well. Plus when someone becomes a fan of your page, your updates on the page show up on their wall giving additional exposure.

For more exposure, set up an advertising campaign for your page with Facebook Ads paying for clicks or impressions showcasing your page to targeted audiences on Facebook. So far I've successfully run several ad campaigns on Facebook, paying no more than a set amount per day for running my ad.

Breaking News: Denver SMUG Date Change!

2009-11-03T12:05:00.005-07:00

Whoops!

Due to an unforeseen date/venue conflict, the first Denver SMUG meeting has MOVED to:

WEDS, November 18 at 7 p.m.

Speaker, Location & Coolness is the same, just the DATE is changed. Read my blog post to get a refresher on what we will be discussing.

Hope to see more of my SmugMug usergroup buddies at the event at:
Blake Street Tavern (map)
2401 Blake Street (@ 24th)
Denver, CO

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-10-31T10:43:00.004-06:00

Spooky Halloween Photograpy Tips

2009-10-31T10:14:00.008-06:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. "Trick-or-treaters, jack-o'-lanterns, costume parties, and decorated haunted houses will surely be a part of your Halloween weekend" according to Ritz Pix's photography instructor Digi Pixels. This cool episode should help you get some unforgettable photos:

Costumes are the centerpiece of any Halloween celebration. They come in many varieties, from last minute masks to elaborately planned group themes. Wearing a costume on Halloween is expected almost anywhere you go, but my number one piece of advice for photographing costumes is to take the pictures early! The makeup is still fresh, the masks are on, and the kids' sugar rushes have not yet hit their peak. Take several photos: group shots, individual shots, posed shots, and candids. Use backgrounds to enhance your photo, like a spooky tree or a decorated yard. Also, compose your photo to be appropriate for the costumes in the picture. For example, a beautiful princess will look better on a grand staircase than at a haunted cemetery. Encourage your subjects to act the part of the costume...you'll be surprised at how quickly both kids and adults will get into it!

Nothing says "Halloween" like a picture of a jack-o'-lantern, but many people never seem to get a good shot of their favorite carved pumpkin. Usually, the problem is your flash. Most cameras will pop the flash automatically, especially if it's dark. However, the tone of the flash is cold compared to the warm glow from the jack-o'-lantern, so the photo doesn't turn out like you want it to. To fix this, turn off your flash, raise your ISO to 400 or 800, and slow down the shutter speed. Also, try using a tripod or table to avoid a blurry photo.

- The autumn leaves and colors make a great background for Halloween photos. Weather permitting, be sure to capture the autumn colors in your photos.

- Play around with night mode on your camera. It will pop a flash but allow for ambient light to show in the background, which can create a wonderful (and sometimes spooky) color shift.

-Try shooting from different angles rather than straight on. A unique angle can turn an ordinary photo into a fantastic one!

- Try a few different techniques a day or two in advance, so when Halloween arrives, you'll know how to get the perfect shot!

- Convert your Halloween photos to black and white or sepia to add suspense or enhance their overall "spookiness."

Get Connected: Finally a Denver SMUG!

2009-10-28T11:26:00.008-06:00

Yeah! Just got an email today letting me know that a Denver SmugMug User Group (SMUG) has finally been organized!

The First Denver SMUG meeting is:
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 | 7:00-9:30PM
Blake Street Tavern (map)
2401 Blake Street (@ 24th)
Denver, CO

SMUGs are FREE and open to everyone who loves photography.
No RSVP is needed, but SPACE is LIMITED, so get there early for the best seats.

New SMUG leaders Chris & Katie Humphreys and Sara Frances & Karl Arndt welcome Smugmug's chief marketing guru Jeff Jochum. Jeff will reprise his Igniting Fusion presentation at this month's meeting. Featuring incredible videos videos by Bob Davis, Robert Evans, JVS, Chris MacAskill, The Bebbs and The Bui Brothers, as well as the NEWEST video from Vincent Laforet's SmugMug project in Hawaii - Igniting Fusion was a big hit at this year's Collision Conference, hosted by the LA Film School, a few weeks ago. If you are wondering "WTH is Fusion (and why should I care)?" - this is the meeting for you.

Learn how it's done (good, bad and ugly) and how to GET STARTED in this next generation market opportunity. Old Skool is still cool, but the success of the Canon 5D MkII (and excitement around the new 7D), coupled with the exploding consumer demand for vid-media (thanks to Animoto.com and the Apple iPhones and iPods) is driving Fusion photography as the next BIG step up in the world of digital photography. Become a Fusion leader (or find one) at this month's SMUG.

So what the heck is a SMUG? It's a place where you can learn, teach and meet up with other photographers who share your passion. Attendees will get the naked truth straight from the source and preview stuff in the pipeline like new features, bug fixes, and promotions. (Can anyone say PACKAGES and COUPONS!!!!! Hint, hint!) Now you can finally put a face to all those strange usernames on the Dgrin Forum. I'm thenimirra!

Guest speakers will light up the room with their wisdom for shooting great images and making money with photography. Attendees also get to share our opinions about features and potential business deals. It's a bulletproof way to know the SmugMug Gods are actually getting our message, the way we want to be heard, unfiltered and face-to-face. Plus, SMUGs are a great way to connect with other photographers and add a few weapons to your creative arsenal.

After the initial launch meetings, local volunteers will take over as SMUG Leaders. They will organize and announce monthly SMUGs times, locations and topics.

Want to find a SMUG in your area? Check this link.

Want to start a SMUG in your community? Contact Jeff so he can help you get one going.

Or, if you would like to start a SMUG in your community, talk to Jeff, SmugMug's chief marketing dude, about getting one going. Here is his information:

Jeff Jochum: smugs@smugmug.com 310.773.0770 Twitter: MugToMug

Hope to see you there.

Get the Goods: Baby steps with Lightroom

2009-10-28T01:00:00.000-06:00

I am so glad I finally got the chance to take a Lightroom class! Illuminate Workshops instructor Peter Bryson was a blast and I can't believe how much I learned in just a few hours.

Right now, I'm using Lightroom 2.5 to help me import photos from cards and catalog them. I'm also learning how to create collections, and how to use the star system and the X for "don't want" and the P for "pick" to help me quickly choose between the keepers and the duds. Once I've gotten those chosen, I export them as JPEGS into Photoshop and then the editing process begins. The ease of metadata and keywording is great too since I'm terrible about taking the time to do that.

Right now, I'm still stuck largely in the Library module, as I've only tinkered with the Develop and Print modules. But there are so many instruction videos and free presets available online, it won't take me long before I'm just as crazy about presets as I am about Photoshop actions. I love the fact that Lightroom records every change you make in it's nondestructive format. Once you've reached 20 or so changes in a layer while in Photoshop, everything you were doing before gets erased, so it's harder to go back several steps if you've made a mistake or change your mind.

I've already created some cool presets for printing templates, and Bryson gifted class members with some coveted WOW presets for post processing. I even downloaded the beta version of the new Lightroom 3.0, and I'm having fun playing with it, too. Can't wait to be able to import images that already have watermarks on them instead of using actions in Photoshop to create them.

I doubt I would ever fully give up editing in Photoshop. I love doing it. But if Lightroom can help me stay more organized and make it easier to backup photos, then I'm a believer. I can't wait to take the followup in-depth Lightroom workshop in December.

Get the Goods: Attending a free lighting webinar

2009-10-27T06:21:00.006-06:00

I'm excited about "attending" a free tricky lighting webinar with guest speaker John Bentham. It's one of a continued series hosted by the Digital Photo Academy and Panasonic LivingInHD.com. There's still space, so if you want to check it out too then go to this link to register right now. It starts at 8 p.m. EST

LivinginHD.com brings you advice and tips from Digital Photo Academy professional photographers across the country that will help you take better pictures. Learn about color, lighting, motion, landscapes, portraits, pets, digital manipulation, camera settings and more!

I've taken several classes with the DPA; in fact, it's how I met Russ Burden. He was my DPA Denver-based instructor!

© Allen Birnbach

Here's the literature from the webinar:

Have you ever encountered the frutrations of observing a picture perfect setting without the knowledge or tools to recreate it in your photograph? You are not alone and learning to deal with that is a right of passage for every photographer worth his or her salt. The challenging situations and examples of capturing accurate lighting conditions are unending and Webinar Narrator, John Benthem, will draw from the vast experience offered by the 60 Digital Photo Academy Instructors. He will show the captivating images, from around the world and offer insights on how the photographer achieved the effect and provide technique on how you might use the strategies in your own photos as well.

© Vasna Wilson

Hope to "see" you there tonight! If you were unable to view any of the past webinars, check the DPA site out under "Instructor Tips" on the home page to view the archived webinars which are labeled as such in the drop down menu.

Instructor's Tip: Selective Focus

2009-10-26T12:15:00.004-06:00

Photo by Russ Burden

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

REMINDER: There will be no Instructor's Tip next Monday as Russ will be in Bryce and Zion National Parks leading his photo tour. If you really want to learn a ton about composition, depth of field, how to read the light, and so much more about the art of making great images, I strongly urge you to sign up for one of his photo tours. With over 30 years of teaching experience and his passion for photography, I ensure you'll come home a much better photographer in addition to bringing home lifetime memories.

Selective Focus
Lens manufacturers continuously pour large chunks of research and development money into creating faster and sharper lenses. Zoom lenses are now the standard where at one time, if you wanted a sharp image, they were considered amateurish at best. The sharp zooms of today combined with precise autofocus technology allow tack sharp images to be made fairly easily. Ironically, the out of focus areas in a photograph are equally as important as sharp ones if the picture is to be successful. Herein lies the concept of selective focus.

Selective focus images have very little depth of field. The technique is often used in situations where the background would be distracting if it was sharp. Some of the ways to render an out of focus background are to use wide open apertures, long lenses, get the main subject away from the background, move closer to the subject, and change your image making angle. The purpose is to render a sharp subject or section of a subject immersed in a wash of background color. It allows the subject to pop off the page so the viewer zeros in on the area that’s sharp.

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Get Inspired: Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest Winner

2009-10-25T01:00:00.000-06:00

When I saw the above image, I knew I just had to show it on my blog as a source of inspiration to both you and me. It's always a good idea to study another photographer's work so that you can use similar ideas, techniques, editing or compositional elements to craft your own images. Congratulations Bernardo Medina. What an imazing, storytelling image...the kind I strive to capture.

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - October 22, 2009) - From among 12,500 entries, Bernardo Medina's incredible photo was selected as the Grand Prize Winner in the 2009 "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest" (NYSE: ENR) with National Geographic. Medina will now receive the "ultimate" grand prize: a trip of a lifetime for two to the Galápagos Islands and seeing his photo grace the pages of National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries.

Last spring, Medina, an architect by trade, submitted his photo -- Peddling Bicycle in Wind -- in the Inspiration/Keep Going® category. In August, his photo was named a Category Finalist by Jim Richardson, a National Geographic photographer and the judge for the "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest." Then America was asked to go online to nationalgeographic.com/lithium to vote for a favorite in each of the six categories: animals/wildlife, nature, travel, people and cultures, weather and inspiration/Keep Going®. After four weeks of voting, Medina's photo advanced to become a Category Winner. Richardson went back and reviewed all of the Category Winners, and in the end, he selected Medina's photo as the "ultimate" best and named the Houston photographer the Grand Prize Winner.

"Each and every finalist in the 'Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest' would have been a worthy winner, but one photo so captured the essence of its category that I ultimately chose it as the Grand Prize Winner," said Richardson. "I have no idea what sort of storm this rider faced, but the photographer drew on every creative tool available to produce an image that truly captured the heart of the theme: Inspiration/Keep Going®. Congratulations to one and all!"

Energizer, the company known for innovative solutions to power people's lives, partnered with the world-famous magazine National Geographic for the second annual "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest" to highlight Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries, which last up to 8x times longer* in digital cameras.

Medina will now begin planning his once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Galápagos Islands, and his photo will be featured in the December issue of National Geographic magazine in an ad for Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries. Medina will also receive a prize pack of a 2.0 USB scanner, an assortment of Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries, two National Geographic books: Organize Your Digital Life and National Geographic: The Photographs, and a framed and signed 16x20 print from Richardson's photography gallery.

For more information on the "Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest" and to see Medina's photo and the other five Category Winners, go to www.nationalgeographic.com/lithium.

This Weekend: A little bit of editing

2009-10-24T08:30:00.004-06:00

Unedited proof from Galen's senior portrait session

This weekend, I'm looking forward to taking it easy. I've got no photography sessions to shoot and just a little bit of editing to do. And it's a good thing too because things have been so busy that I've run out of clean clothes and my dirty dishes piled up in the sink are threatening to kill themselves unless I clean them soon.

One of my photography buddies is having a surprise birthday party, so I'm looking forward to making it to that. I so rarely get to just hang out with my colleagues, and I think it's important to be able to get together, have fun and try our damnedest NOT to talk about work or photography. Fat chance, I'm sure!

I've got just one senior portrait to edit from a recent session I had with Galen. His photo is due to his school by the end of the month, so we spent some time in studio getting that shot. Then we will take part two of his session outdoors.

Wanna get a sneak peak of Galen's studio session? Check out his unedited proofs in this gallery. The password is "Prairie View" Galen wants number 48 for his senior pic while his mother prefers number 51. It's kinda funny how the act of choosing a senior portrait often becomes a push for independence among high school seniors who want to have control over how they are portrayed in their class yearbook. Galen's mother gave in and told me to edit number 48, but I will definitely edit number 51 just for her.

Here's Galen's pick: Number 48

Here's his mom's pick: Number 51

In the proofing process, I don't do much more than sharpen, fix white balance issues and cull for keepers. So these images are pretty much right out of camera save for a few that I just couldn't help but do some quickie edits like these favorites from Galen's session:

As part of a special discount I'm running on senior portraits, I'm offering a quickie session that nets clients a one hour photo session, two 8x10s, four 5x7s and a sheet of wallets for just $150. The senior photo session is pretty much over since photos are often due to the yearbook staff by Oct. 31. But if you've got more time to get your photos turned in and need to hirer a photog, take advantage of this discounted session by booking me today!

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-10-24T07:41:00.005-06:00

Facebook Fan winners choose their free 8x10 digital downloads!

2009-10-23T10:51:00.005-06:00

Alexa and Ian have chosen their free 8x10 digital downloads! Those two lucky fans of the Picture Your World Photography Facebook Page were randomly selected to pick one favorite image from my Cityscapes, Landscapes and Flora and Fauna website galleries. Garnering 200 Facebook fans triggered the drawing. The next free giveaway will happen once I reach 300 fans!

Ian's pick of this cute little chick I found nesting in a bush in front of my house really took me back. This was one of the first images I ever took with my then brand new 75-300 Canon lens two years ago. Studying this photo again after all that time has helped me see just how far I've come. Back then, I wasn't even really sure how I got that image because I was still trying to figure out basic photo concepts including shallow depth of field, isolating a subject and framing, not to mention how the heck that lens worked anyway. Since then, I've not only grown technically as a photographer, but I've focused my business on what I do best -- shooting portraiture and special events. This little feathered guy hasn't seen much action among viewers. So it was fun to have Ian chose this one.

Meanwhile, Alexa's pick is one of my personal favs. This shot of the Platte River in downtown Denver was one of my first captures ever taken at night. I and several others were attending a free night shootout coordinated by Efrain Cruz's Illuminate Workshops. I remember the evening well because it was also one of the first times I had to force myself to use my tripod to steady long exposures. My friend Tiffany Trott and others were laughing at me because I didn't even know how to attach my camera to the tripod, and spent most of the night fearing the camera would fall off, crashing to the ground. Yep, fun times!

It's good to know I've progressed, and I'm proud to be sharing these images with two studio supporters. Become one of my Facebook fans today to be eligible for future giveaways, photography session discounts and fans-only specials.

Breaking News: And the winners are...

2009-10-21T06:16:00.006-06:00

Photo by Kim Shuman

Picture Your World Photography has reached a new milestone. The studio now has 200 Facebook fans (actually now 205 since this morning!) To thank all my new supporters and potential clients, I promised to do a random drawing to give one lucky fan their choice of an 8x10 digital download print from my landscapes, cityscapes or flora and fauna galleries on my website.

SURPRISE! Since I've gotten 200 fans, I thought I would give out TWO downloads. And when I reach 300 fans, THREE downloads, etc. etc.

Each fan has been assigned a number based on when they joined starting with Tiffany Trott as No. 1 to Kristi Crosson, fan No. 204. If the random drawing lands on me, I will redo it. So here goes. Drum roll please....

Using this random number generator and plugging in the numbers from 1 to 205....the first winner is Ian Saunders, Fan No. 79 and the second winner is Alexa Livingston, Fan No. 117.

Congrats Ian and Alexa! Please choose one image from either of these photo galleries:

Cityscapes, Landscapes and Flora and Fauna galleries.

Instructor's Tip: Wildlife Photography

2009-10-19T11:00:00.001-06:00

Photo by Russ Burden

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.

Wildlife Portraits

Besides running nature photo tours to some of the most glorious scenic and wildlife rich locations in our country, another aspect of my business is portraiture. Whether it’s a portrait of just one person or a huge extended family, I persevere to capture the image in the best light, with the best composition, with the best background, with the optimum lens, and with the best expression. Well what does this have to do with wildlife portraits? Many of my nature photographer friends ask a similar question regarding why I get involved with people portraiture and weddings when I have a strong love for nature photography. My response is always the same. First off, I’m behind the camera which makes me happy regardless what I shoot. But mostly, if you really think about, one helps the other. What difference does it make if I’m trying to capture a great head shot of a mountain goat on Mt. Evans vs. a pleasing portrait of Aunt Sally? For both, I’m taking into consideration all the aspects I referenced at the top of this paragraph. My goal will always be to capture the essence of the animal / person I photograph. Besides, each has a big plus - I can always direct the people I photograph to smile or move to a better location and the animals I photograph never complain that I photographed them from their bad side!

As with a large majority of nature images, the best are made when the sun is low on the horizon close to sunrise and sunset. Mid day light is too harsh with severe contrast issues of dark shadows under the nose and chin in addition to eye sockets that often reveal no detail. Early and late light is soft and warm in tone and provides a much more pleasant image. I try to front light my animal portraits as much as possible especially when bathed in the warm glow of first or last light. Sidelight works, but one side of the face may go too dark depending on the color of the animal and if there's anything bouncing light back onto the shadow side of the face. Here’s the bonus - portraits look fantastic shot in overcast light which can’t be said for most scenics.

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Get the Goods: Just 9 Fans away from another freebie 8x10!

2009-10-15T07:09:00.005-06:00

Sometime over the evening, I gained several Facebook fans bringing the number to 191 people all supporting Picture Your World Photography.

That means we are just 9 people away from reaching 200 -- the number that will trigger another giveaway of an 8x10 digital download.

When I reached 100 fans, I chose my highest print seller, "Teri's Rose" as a freebie.

This time, the winner gets to choose one image from my Cityscapes, Landscapes and Flora and Fauna galleries.

Get the Goods: Amy-Rose King Photography selling her personal workflow Photoshop actions!

2009-10-14T15:32:00.009-06:00

"Taste the Rainbow action plus Eye Pop."

The secret is out! Amazing portrait photography Amy-Rose King is selling her coveted work flow actions as a set! They'll be on sale through October for $100 then going up to the regular price of $125 after that.

Click on her product page here or visit her home page for more information.

Just press "play" and have access too the following actions:

Taste the Rainbow - color pop
Make it Lovely - skin softening
Make 'em Shine - eye sharpening
Make it Clear - sharpening
Select the focus - blur
Make some Romance - blur
Feel no pain dodging and burning
Make it look good on the web - color profile
Black and White
Black and White with a touch of Chocolate
Web size image wide (4x6 print size)
Web size image tall (4x6 print size)
Quick border
Make some style 1 - portrait contrast
Make some style 2 - portrait contrast
Reminds me of the good ol' days
If ya like it like that - lomo
Just a dab'll do ya - skin softening
Lens blur
White softening
Grapevine
Blueberry Patch
Pot of Gold
After the Rain
Sneaky Leprechaun
Earth
Sky

For some examples click here: tastetherainbowactions.blogspot.com/

My blog readers know I've been drooling....er, I mean, admiring Amy-Rose's work for a long time now, as I receive email updates from her blog showcases wonderful work she's done for clients as well as lovely photos she takes of her own children and family. ZIn July 2008, I wrote a blogpost about how refreshing her transparency was as a professional photographer as well as her willingness to share techniques to newbies like me who are still developing our own style of imagery storytelling. This set of actions is yet another example of how Amy-Rose's can help you be a better photographer too! Get your hands on these goods, for sure!

Amy, if you are reading this post, I would love to see what you would come up with to enhance this photo using some of your actions: