Protography 101

Inspire yourself! Give yourself a photography assignment.

2015-01-18T21:32:00.003-06:00

Same ole, same ole when it comes to what you shoot? It can get pretty boring going to the same parks, the same streets, seeing the same crowd every day. Don't you wish you could just pack up and go on some vacation to an exotic place and give yourself a fresh backdrop?

If you are like me (and most people), you probably aren't in a position to do so at a drop of a hat. But, you can still get excited about being in your own neighborhood.

Give yourself a photo assignment!

Assign yourself a daily, or monthly project to give yourself a reason to "wake-up" your photography creativity without having to buy an expensive plane ticket.

Planning a photo assignment is not as hard as you think.Give yourself the title "photo-journalist" and plan a day to tell a story of your surroundings. Go to your local museum that you've been to hundreds of times before and this time tell a story with your photos.

Another way to assign yourself a project could be as easy as picking a theme for your walk. You might decide to shoot only patterns for the week. Shooting different textures, pick a color, or try only shooting dogs at your local parks.

Thinking up project ideas can be just as fun as doing them!

Consider bringing along a photographer friend for added inspiration. If you want to be apart of a bigger group, try some online group projects such as the 365 day project if you want to commit to an every day project. There is also the 52-week project. Only make these commitments if you know you can have fun with them. After all, we don't want it to become a "job".

Do you get the idea of creating assignments for yourself? It's a way to see with new eyes and fall in love with your surroundings all over again.

Have fun with it!

Discover the Secrets of Beautiful Portrait Lighting!
Portraits Lighting The Shot

Click here to visit Digital Photography School.

*Some of our posts may contain affiliate links.

Really Easy Retouching with Adobe Photoshop Review

2014-10-28T12:01:00.001-05:00

Want to get essential retouching skills without the hassle?

I admit, I hate editing. Well, not really "hate", but when I have 300 wedding photos to go through, it's a hassle. I really like to make sure each photo is at it's best, whether it's of the beautiful bride, or the wedding cake.
So, retouching is a great option to quickly remove distractions and make them look more natural, but can it be done without looking plastic like?

When you’re already pressed for time, you can’t afford to waste weeks learning something that you could pick up in an evening.

In steps Really Easy Retouching by Laura Lim.

Find out more here...

Here’s what you’ll learn:

How to lighten dark under-eye circles.
The best tool for removing minor blemishes, fast.
Remove scars, scrapes and stray hairs.
Smooth uneven skin without making it look like plastic.
A simple way to decrease shine on skin.
Whiten teeth as much or as little as you want.
How to give eyes extra sparkle and really grab your viewer’s attention
Remove distractions – even major ones, like trash or signs!

Dark circles

How to slim down chins, arms, waistlines and have it still look natural.

Create a composite image from multiple photos (i.e. how to swap people’s heads!) – this is a life saver when you’re photographing groups!

Layers, panels and masks – when and how to use them.

My philosophy on retouching – what to leave, what to retouch, and how far to go with it.

A simple trick that’ll help you make sure your retouching looks natural.

Essential Photoshop® shortcuts so you can retouch fast.

Tips on saving your retouched files.

The hardware that’ll make retouching even easier

Chin thinning

It’s a skill every serious photographer needs to have.

Retouching is like magic. With just a few subtle changes, you can boost the look of your photos, your subject’s satisfaction, and your sales.

Head swapping

Really Easy Retouching is in digital download format, so you can start learning right away. The tutorial comes as a .zip file with 12 HD .mp4 videos that work on both Macs and PCs. Download them and they’re yours to keep forever! They’ll always be there for a quick refresher, or to play while you do your own retouching.

Get the tutorial now for just US$24.95!!

Best of all, this tutorial is going to make it so easy for you to learn. Retouching is the kind of thing that you need to see in action, if you’re going to understand how to use the tools to improve your images. And with Really Easy Retouching, you’ll get just that – a guide that shows you, step-by-step, how to fix all of the common retouching problems you’re going to come across.

This tutorial was created with Adobe® Photoshop® CC, but the techniques also work with Photoshop® CS6!

Now, you can skip the waiting and the frustration, and get the retouching skills you need, fast. With Really Easy Retouching, you get exactly what you need to retouch common problems quickly and naturally. No needless extras.

Imagine it. By tonight, you could have the skills you need and have time left over to test them out on your own photos. And seriously, when you see how easy it is to retouch, you’re going to be itching to get started.

As always, there is a 30 day money back guarantee!

Using Colors Effectively in Photography

2014-04-21T09:18:00.002-05:00

As with all photography you must always think before you shoot an image. Make sure you take time to ponder what you intend to achieve. Color can be an important part of how a photo will turn out. Decide how you want to include color and how to use it.

Using one color

Use this technique to achieve a bold photo. When you isolate a color, you create images that are bold and dramatic. Get closer to the subject to make the color the focal point.

Color is as much a part of visual communication as composition or light – but you need to learn to see and understand it.

In this photo, I wanted his blue shirt to be bold and stand out as the focal point of the photo.

(my submission for Blue Monday)

Be careful of light

Light can change the how look of a photo. A cloudy day can make colors more enriching, while morning light can give a warmer look. Be aware of light quality when deciding when you want to shoot.

Want to learn more about color?

In Captivating Color, a gorgeous, 48-page ebook, by award-winning photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich shows you how to see color—and use it to create stunning photographs.

It’s a book that will show to how to use color to ignite your photographic creativity.

Is Captivating Color for You?

Yes, if you want to:

create striking images that evoke strong emotions
capture photos that “speak” to the viewer
grasp the full potential of any photographic moment
master the use of color during the shoot
apply post-production techniques to create truly compelling images.

Not only that – this eBook has 6 practical exercises to go away and DO to help you implement what you learn.

Order for only 10.00!

*This post may contain affiliate links-it does not cost you anymore to purchase through my site.Thanks for helping support this photography community!

Lighting The Shot

2014-04-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

It's that time for another fantastic ebook!

When it comes to shooting stunning portraits, it's all about the lighting. the lighting is the X factor in making your pictures pop.

For 25 years world-renowned Portrait Photographer Gina Milicia has used lighting techniques to create portraits with true richness and soul.

In her follow up to Portraits: Making the Shot , she shares all her lighting know-how so you can start taking portraits like a pro.

About the Author, Gina Milicia

Gina has been a professional photographer for more than 25 years.

She has photographed some of the world’s most powerful and famous people including royalty and heads of state, billionaires and a-list celebrities and been on location in some of the world’s most exotic places.

Gina is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’ both in studio and on location.

In this eBook Gina shares her extensive knowledge and experience in an easy-to-follow way to help you fast-track your journey to capturing beautiful portraits.

Is Portrait Lighting eBook for You?

Yes, if you:

want to communicate emotion more powerfully through every portrait
want to better harness the potential of light in your photos
want to learn the techniques pros use to capture stunning portrait photography
want to understand the right gear you’ll need to light up your shots

Ready to give your portraits that extra pop?

Order Portraits: Lighting The Shot and you’ll be able to instantly download the book. It’s fully guaranteed for 2 months and you can either use PayPal or your Credit Card.

Buy the eBook for $19.99 above, or bundle Gina's 3 eBooks for $39.99 here..

Abstract Photography - Has photography come of age?

2014-04-09T13:01:00.001-05:00

“Never have I found the limits of the photographic potential. Every horizon, upon being reached, reveals another beckoning in the distance. Always, I am on the threshold.” -W. Eugene Smith"

The invention of the camera liberated painting from its reportage role. Gone was the need to produce a likeness, detail the events of the story, painting was free to express emotions. True what had gone before contained an emotional content but now painting could experiment and through imaginative interpretation allow the emotional content to predominate.

Freed from this constraint the painter was able to create a new language and explore the motivations of their art. As the 19th century evolved and throughout the 20th century painters from the impressionists through the cubists and expressionists to the minimalists could to use colour, line and form to go straight to the emotional content of their work. The representational aspect of the work become coincidental and was pushed to the point that it became akin to lying on the grass making shapes out of clouds.

Enjoyable as it may be it is secondary to the nature of clouds. The introduction of the digital darkroom has given this freedom to photographers. The range of tools to fix and enhance the camera’s capture when pushed to its extremes produces a range of fascinating effects. When added to the filters built into the better software, images can be produced that any comparison to the original photograph is purely coincidental. As photographers explore these tools and incorporate them into their photographs so their visual language will grow. The revolution of the medium with the development from black and white into color is taking its next step.

Now with the digital darkroom’s ever growing range of tools the only limitation is the photographer’s imagination. With the use of these tools, the skilled photographic artist can take the pop song and create, in visual terms, the lyric beauty of a baroque symphony or the down town jive of a jazz variation without a tree or a high rise in sight. Just the light captured by the camera and fine tuned into something completely different, something new that comes from the photographer. The photographer has been liberated like the painter before them by technology.

Now photographs can explore the full range of human experience including those they have no words to express. Large statements will be accessible by the photographer not only in physical terms. Although like their painter counterparts, through an additional feature of the technology, the large canvas is becoming the order of the day. That this canvas can express feelings rather than just illustrate them denotes that the photography has become an adult in the arts.

How to Buy the Right Digital Camera

2014-01-27T08:22:00.002-06:00

Finding the right digital camera can be a hard decision for you to make because there are so many different types, brands, styles, and sizes available on the digital camera market today. This article is going to show you the specific things you should consider when purchasing a digital camera.

Budget

The first thing that must be done is to budget the amount of money you are willing to spend on a digital camera and stick to it. Doing so will allow you to shoot directly for the cameras that are in that price range or lower. A digital camera can come with so many different, attractive features that it is easy to be lured into something you simply cannot afford.

What direction will you go?

Another key aspect in choosing the right digital camera for you is to consider how you intend to use the camera. This is important because a digital camera can snap pictures at different speeds. If you simply intend to take pictures of your family and friends, this may not have much bearing for you. However, if you intend to take photographs of moving objects, you will need a camera that will snap a picture at a higher speed.

Memory

Next, consider the memory of the digital camera and how often you will use it. These two combined should not be taken lightly. If you are simply going to use the camera every now and again, a smaller digital camera will be suitable. However, if you will use it often and maybe even professionally, you will need a camera that can carry a large number of photographs at one time.

Expert level

Consider your experience in using cameras. If you are a beginning photographer choose a digital camera that is uncomplicated and easy to use. You will also need to consider the lenses. Are they appropriate for both close up and distance shots or will you need a separate lens for either one?

Lens

Choosing to purchase the separate lens is of course a personal decision, based upon how you intend to use the camera.

Help

While considering these aspects, use the power of the internet and conduct online research. This will allow you to check out different brands and styles, making your decision a little easier. However, it is recommended that you actually visit the store and actually hold and inspect the digital camera. This will ensure that you are getting a digital camera that is just right for you.

Comfort level

It comes down to choosing a camera that you are comfortable with because you will probably have it for awhile until you switch to a newer more expensive model. Choose one that you are happy with and will work well for your needs.

Order today

Blue Monday Photo Challenge

2013-04-22T14:44:00.002-05:00

I just found out about photo challenge, Blue Monday TODAY! So, I wanted to jump in and post a blue photo to get in the action. : )

My blue Monday is about how we love to buy movies. Not just any dvds, but Blu-Rays. I love the blue case and our collection has gotten so out of hand, but makes a very pretty display with all the blue when lined up.

Don't you agree?

Try your hand at Blue Monday. : )

Do you like taking photos of food?

2013-04-19T15:03:00.001-05:00

Lately, I have been dabbling in food photography. I have to admit that I love it. I'm not the greatest cook, but I'm learning and when I get a good looking dish, I photograph it. I even started a food photo blog to document it.

One thing I found is that you have to treat your food subjects just like you do your people subjects. Natural lighting works best, especially if you want to submit your photo to the big food sites, like foodgawker and tastespotting. I'm not a big fan of them since I think that their judging is based on whether they had their coffee that morning, or if their dog crapped on their ipad.

Seriously, I've seen bad photos posted, and I've had way better (I'm not just saying) photos get denied.

Really?

Ok, enough of that. On to taking great food photos. Of course, when I get inspired to take on a challenge, I jump on the Internet. Everything I know in life, I've taught myself from the Internet. Ok, not really, but I do my research. Upon searching, I found great resources to help me embark on this food photography journey.

My favorite right now is a very helpful food photography ezine series, Photographing Food., by Taylor Mathis. Taylor is a food and lifestyle photographer based in Charlotte, NC.

Right now, he has four issues:

Window Lighting

Color and Camera

Shooting at Night

Ingredient and Process Shots

Here is the best part-they are only $5 an issue!! You can't beat that. I have not seen that price for a photography book anywhere.

My favorite is...well..I love all of them, sorry! Each issue had something that I wanted to learn about, or had a solution to a problem I had. I'm a very visual learner, so I was glad to see all the images that show step-by-step how to accomplish the look you want.

If you are looking to dabble in photographing food., yourself, I think you should invest in these magazines and remember, I don't recommend what I wouldn't use myself.

Order Photographing Food today,

Hydroponics is Easy to Love

2013-03-02T07:05:00.000-06:00

Whether you are looking for nutrient additives to make your experience a success or perhaps a better selection of photography lighting kits, there are tons of photography lights and other supplies available at TheLaShop.com.

Hydroponics is basically growing plants without soil, but still using water and nutrients or whatever ends up being chosen. There are tons of helpful nutrients that you can add to your plants that will be able to help you grow more efficiently and safely.

Some of the nutrients that are available include tons of different hybrid mixes and whatnot that were formulated to help with the growth and health of your plants. Some mixes are only a dollar each, which means it’s very easy to keep your plants growing and happy! Some would recommend the “Organic Feeder” which would mix nicely with most plants, no matter what you are growing.

LA shop Hydronics has been BBB accredited since 2011 and is thrilled to keep serving its thriving customer base. Specializing in garden and plant life, LA shop Hydronics will surely help you create a garden that is easy to maintain and serves you well. Tons of indoor gardening supplies are available as well as quality grow tents and lights that will help any aspiring indoor gardener to get started. From organic to aeroponic and many other types of indoor gardening, you can be sure to find everything you need from LA shop.

Hydroponics isn’t hard at all and anyone who is curious should read a little bit more on it and see just how easy it is! After you have all the supplies set up, it’s really only a matter of maintaining. If you want to be successful in hydroponics, all you really have to do is research a little bit and then just make sure you maintain.

Food Photography-My New Love

2013-02-27T20:54:00.000-06:00

I can officially say that I am now retired from wedding photography. My heart just wasn't into it anymore. When I shot a wedding, I would find myself only loving shooting the detail shots. My favorite part of the day was when we made it to the reception hall and I could shoot the cake and food. When I should have made it be about the couple, I was making it about the cake.

It wasn't until after I found myself spending hours on pinterest looking up food images instead of wedding shots, I realized that I needed to go another direction.

Food photography.

I'm so thrilled to say that in the next couple of weeks, I'll be announcing my new blog (don't worry, I'm still keeping this one too!) showcasing recipes, food photography, reviews and giveaways.

In the meantime, if you are finding yourself looking at food porn, check out these awesome foodies.

Chasing Delicious
Seven Spoons
Cookie and Kate
Sunday Suppers
Not Without Salt

Also, here's a great book on food photography.

Tasty Food Photography

This post includes some affiliate links.

Pick Up a Brand New Portrait eBooks & Get a Free Companion One [Limited Time]

2013-02-19T21:48:00.002-06:00

Today I have great pleasure to announce a brand new dPS eBook that I know is going to help a lot of people improve their portrait photography.

Portraits: Making the Shot by Gina Milicia.

Bonus: If you pick it up during its launch we’ll throw in a special bonus eBook with it for free!

Portraits: Making the Shot

Gina has broken down her guide to portraiture into 5 great sections:
The Rules: learn the 10 commandments that Gina uses to guide her photography to consistency (and brilliance)
The Gear: discover the best portrait gear with some tips on buying great second hand additions to your kit.
The 3 Amigos: This is where many beginner photographers get themselves into a twist, but it’s a lot simpler than you might think. Learn how aperture, ISO and shutter speed work together.
The Lights: Step-by-step instructions on using light meters, balancing daylight and flash and creating beautiful skin tone.
The Moves: Every pose you’ll need and how to create it, as well as tips on finding inspiration, the importance of preparation and insider tricks on directing the shot.

Free Bonus Portrait Recipes eBook

As a companion to Portraits: Making the Shot , Gina also put together a 2nd great ‘Recipes’ eBook in which she shows 14 of her favourite portraits and shows you the ingredients she used to take the shots. In each recipe you’ll learn about how Gina set the scene, what gear she used, how she lit the image, what settings she chose and how she posed her subject.

Once you understand how these different ingredients work together, you can begin to create your own signature style of shooting portraits.

This Recipe eBook will normally retail for $9.99 but pick up Portraits: Making the Shot today for $19.99 and we’ll throw it in for free as an early bird bonus (effectively a 33% discount).

Pick Up a Copy Today : Portraits: Making the Shot

As usual Portraits: Making the Shot is covered by a 60 day money back guarantee (if you don’t find it helpful just let us know and we’ll refund your money) so you can have confidence that it and the bonus Recipes eBook will be a worthwhile investment in your photographic learning.

Learn more about the eBook here or pick up a copy by clicking the ‘Download it Now’ button below

Five basic props for your newborn photography

2013-01-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

When I shot newborns, I went crazy with props. I hit up Etsy and every thrift store I could find. Looking back, I wished that I had sat back and thought about what I actually needed.

If you want to get into newborn photography, you really don't need tons of props (unless you want to!). You really just need some basic prop/items to make it work.

1. Blankets: I got real crazy with the blankets. When I was at Target (my favorite store-ever), or Walmart, I would pick up a new blanket just about visit. Now I have so many, I change up the blankets on my couches or all the beds just so I get my money's worth.
Simple blankets in a variety of colors and textures work best. I have found that Target and Gordman's have great choices.

2. Wraps: Gauze wraps are perfect to add to the session. It's probably good to have one per each blanket you have.

3. Faux Furs: Parents love fur with their newborn. That was the most asked for shot by the parents. You can use it in baskets, or on the floor. Make sure you at least have a white fur if you only get one.

You can find faux fur at your local fabric store sold by yard.

4. Hats: I probably was just as bad with hats and head bands as I was with blankets. Hats are a definite must for newborn photography-parents will ask and probably bring their own as well. Etsy is a great source for hats.

5. Baskets/Crates: You can do a lot with baskets and crates. Many poses can be done and incorporate the blankets and furs in them. You can find them at thrift stores, garage sales and Etsy.

7. Bean Bag: Bean bags are not rally a prop, but a prop helper. They can be handy for blankets and for those signature sleepy poses. Bean bags can be found at Walmart and other stores.

Building your prop supplies can be fun and inexpensive. Get creative and just remember to buy only safe props and think of baby first!

Black Friday Photography Marketing and Giveaway!

2012-11-22T14:38:00.001-06:00

I'm sure you are getting your turkey ready, or you already are eating. Some are already getting ready to shop. You photographers out there are probably wondering what kind of sale you might come across photography related. Over at Modern Tog, the sales are awesome! Oh, and did I mention there's a giveaway as well?

Modern Tog is doing an exclusive, limited time pre-release of her 6-week Photography Marketing Bootcamp e-book that will only be on the market through Cyber Monday before it is taken off again until Spring.

This e-book is going to give you 6 weeks worth of detailed marketing tasks to do to get more clients as fast as possible . It's the same things Jamie Swanson personally does in order to catch up on her marketing efforts after neglecting them during the busy season, and it's helped her go from a brand new business to completely replacing her household income in only 3 years.

It's incredibly practical and filled with specific tasks and directions that will get you moving in the right direction right away. You can get an exclusive copy of this 83-page e-book right now for only $29 by clicking here. Once Tuesday comes along, the sale will be over and the product will be unavailable for several months, so get it now!

This e-book was created as a companion to the more robust photography e-book that she wrote, but that book isn't going to be finished until spring, and will only be available in the future when you purchase that new e-book once it launches.

What the Bootcamp covers:

How to get as many new clients as quickly as possible for as little money as possible.

What the Bootcamp is not:

Branding or direction or more advanced strategies. This is a down and dirty, get'er done list of things you should be able to do right now without a lot of preparation. The more advanced stuff that takes additional effort will be coming in the marketing ebook this coming spring.

Get it now before it's gone. Only available for 5 days. Just $29.
Buy now:
6-week Photography Marketing Bootcamp

While you are there, enter to win an iPad mini!

Click here to view more details

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finding the right photo book for your clients-in time for holidays!

2012-11-14T10:31:00.001-06:00

Right now is the perfect time to start thinking about the holidays and your clients. Custom photo books are just the right personal gift to give a client.

As a photographer, I do a lot of photo books- a lot. I've been given the chance to try out many different photo book companies and while the books are okay, the design programs and prices aren't. Many are hard to be creative and only let you use their templates. Others are just plain confusing!

And then enters Blurb. The pricing is competitive, the quality is excellent and the program to make your photo book is user-friendly while at the same time allowing for the more detailed touch or professional to make minute changes. They have lots of different styles and they just added Planners too! Love it! This is the perfect time to get started at Blurb for the holidays.

I really stand behind Blurb and would recommend them even if they didn't have an affiliate program. They've been super good to me and they run lots of coupons, so I barely ever pay full price! They also notice when you order alot of products from them and they give you more specials. I've never felt like that from any other business.

Below are screen shots of one of my wedding books.

You can see on the bottom is all the pages. You can choose from their templates, or upload your own. I choose to make my own because of the style of books I do. Booksmart is the program you download to your computer so that if you don't have Internet, you can still work on your book, or create your own layout.

Shipping is super fast unlike other photo books I've ordered from other companies. You have the option of even faster delivery too. Perfect for getting out early for Christmas.

I've been with Blurb for probably 5 years now and I wouldn't go elsewhere. My clients love them and I use them for my personal use too. I would so be their spokeswoman if they would let me. ; )

Until then, I can let you know that if you order now from Blurb you can save 15% off! Use the code FALLTHANKS when checking out.

A sure way to kill your business

2012-11-08T11:06:00.001-06:00

Is this you?

You start a blog after planning and designing it for weeks. You are all pumped up and you start blogging every day. After a month, you start to lose your interest and the blogging starts slipping to three days a week. You know you have to blog to keep things fresh, but by the third or fourth month, you wonder if you are wasting your time because you really aren't seeing any results. By the fifth month, you don't even touch your blog.

Maybe you went the Facebook route and the first couple of months, you were excited because you know the Facebook will give you results. When you only see a couple of nibbles, you give up.

This is a BIG mistake

No matter what type of marketing you attempt, nothing will work immediately. I know everyone is used to instant results. Everything is fast paced on television, mobile phones, etc. Infomercials promise us instant riches with marketing magic. So why shouldn’t our marketing work just as quick?

In reality, people are bombarded with so much at once, it's hard for them to make a decision and most don't even know they need anything.

Why you should keep marketing

Let's take blogging for an example.

When you start a blog, here is what happens. Your first week, your blog is new. Nobody knows your blog exists. You start to post often and visit other blogs and comment.

After blogging for two months your blog starts to get few visitors. No sales yet.

By the third/fourth month, you start to get more visitors. Google starts ranking you higher and Facebook followers are recommending you. You get a couple of bookings. That's it? You decide to quit because it's not worth it. Now, there's no more content coming in. Google drops your rank. Facebook fans stop recommending you.

Your recognition is gone. Business is gone.

When you give up too soon, you’ve lost everything you worked hard to build up to that point. The only way to succeed is to put a marketing tool in place, keep working on it, and evaluate it along the way to build your business.

Don’t stop– keep doing it.

Success doesn't happen over night. Only the businesses that keep at it succeed and the rest hang a going OUT of business sign on their doors.

Your Images Do NOT Determine Your Success

2012-11-02T12:33:00.000-05:00

I've often wonder what makes a client choose which photographer to go with.

Price?

Package options?

CD included?

It drives me crazy when I meet with a potential client for a wedding booking and they seem interested, only to have them end up not booking. I never get a reason why. I have the urge to send a survey asking what made them decide to go elsewhere. But, then at the same time, I'm scared to find out why. I'm afraid that they might say something that will hurt my feelings, or I even let my imagination go crazy to think that they may have not hired me because they didn't like my hairstyle. I know that's ridiculous.

I think most of us photographers are very sensitive creative individuals. We take things personally when we shouldn't and it's enough to ruin our day (or week) when a potential client goes with someone else.

One thing we have to tell ourselves is that it's probably not because of our work.

Now, repeat that out loud to yourself.

It's not because of my work!

Most people cannot decipher a good photo from a bad one. Most don't even know what they want. It's your job to educate them. It does not matter how beautiful your images are on your website. With all that competition out there these days, it's even more confusing for people to choose where to go for photos. Thus, many simply look for the cheapest.

So, how do you convince someone to pick you over a cheaper photographer?

Sell the experience

I know you've probably heard this before, but it's true. Letting them know that going with you will create an experience that ends in a memory that is documented on quality products, it lets them decide with their heart. Giving them a reason to think you are worth it (because you are) let's them not think about the price.

Part of selling is to also show why your product is better and worth the extra expense. Explain that, while there are cheaper photographers, you value their memories to have them printed on quality paper/products that will last longer over the years. How important are those memories to risk losing them to poor quality documentation?!

Create a "friendship"

No, don't invite them out for drinks, but make them feel like they've known you forever. This creates trust.

When we shoot a wedding, we feel like we've made new friends and I get hugs and tears when I hand the bride over her products afterwards. I created a memory for them during their experience that we were a part of. She feels like (This also creates word-of-mouth recommendation-a whole other post!)

So, when you are consulting with someone about your services, don't just show your work. Talk about it and how you help create a lasting memory for your past clients-not just a photo on paper.

What does having an iPhone and taking great photos have in common?

2012-08-28T08:51:00.009-05:00

I used to swear that I wouldn't get an iPhone. I convinced myself I didn't need one and I was just fine with my old flip phone. Then, my hubby got me one against my better judgement-and I could just kiss him for doing it!

If you have an iPhone and you are a photo geek, you’re already taking one of the most important steps to getting great photos – you’re taking your camera everywhere with you.

Now, did you know that you could create beautiful photos with just an iPhone?

The iPhone is currently the most commonly used camera in the world, with millions and millions of snap shots taken everyday, but only a few photographers are using the full creative potential of the camera.

That’s about to change…

I'm excited to announce that there's a new ebook launching today, iPhone Photography, that will help you learn how to create photos no-one will believe were captured with an iPhone.

The 3GS, 4, or the 4s are all compatible with what this eBook covers.

If you want to dramatically change how you take iPhone photos, this eBook is for you!

Within its 106 pages, this book breaks down iPhone Photographyinto the three main skills you’ll need for complete creative control – Shoot, Edit and Share.

As you progress through each section you’ll discover:

-How the iPhone Camera works and how to use it to take great photos

-How to take more control of your iPhone using Camera Replacement Apps (with a rundown of the best ones)

- Advanced shooting techniques with the ProCamera App to gain maximum control over focusing and exposure

- How to find compelling subjects including; with the family, on the street, in nature, while travelling and at night

-How to develop your own editing style

- A rundown of native iPhone editing functions

-An overview of the best editing apps including one touch apps, filter based editing apps and professional editing apps and techniques

-How to add text and graphic elements to your photos

-How to share your images with family and friends through popular photo-sharing apps including Instragram

-How to get your images ready to print

Are you excited yet?!

There are plenty of illustrations, screenshots and diagrams to help you visualise what you’re reading. Don't know about you, but I need visualization!

This book also includes a handy list of key iPhone photography resources, including blogs, competitions, photographers and the best apps to create your own iPhone photography toolkit.

iPhone Photography is available in two formats for your convenience; a PDF version and an ePUB version.

Download it now and save 25%!

To celebrate the launch of our brand new eBook we’re offering it for a limited time at $14.99 USD – a saving of 25% on the normal price of $19.99 USD.

If you want to take beautiful photos with your iPhone that impress your friends – download a copy of iPhone Photography today!

Customer Service-how important is it?

2012-08-23T09:05:00.003-05:00

As a business owner, I'm very conscious of how other businesses handle customer service. I can't help it. I'm constantly comparing my standards to theirs, or how I would handle the same situation if it had happened to me.

I'm always shocked when I see an obvious way to make a new client, when other businesses throw the opportunity away.

Like for instance, a couple of Saturdays back, I cracked a tooth. My dentist doesn't see patients on Saturdays, so I decided to check out some dentists that were open on Saturdays. I had been thinking about changing dentists since my favorite dentist in the group moved away and I really didn't care for the other dentist. So, I figured that if they could squeeze me in, maybe I would end up liking them and become a new patient.

I called around and found a dentist that was open on Saturdays and asked if they could possibly at least look at it. I mentioned that I was looking for a new dentist and one that was open on Saturdays would be perfect for my schedule as well. She put me on hold for a couple of minutes and when she came back on the line, she said that they didn't have room.

Hmm.

My entrepreneur brain was horrified. If I had the opportunity to make a client for life, I would make the room. I would stay open later if needed, or at least met to get that initial meeting. Maybe that's just me and maybe the dentist didn't need anymore clients, or maybe she had important plans after lunch.

I ended up waiting until Monday and made an appointment with another dentist and now that dentist will be my new dentist. Score for new dentist. Too bad for that other dentist who lost a potential client.

Now, on the other side, I've seen great customer service from our favorite fast place we go to on Sundays. We have two in our city; one that's close to our house (and more convenient) and another one that's on the other side of town (way out of our way).

We would go mostly to the one closest to us and to the farther one when out that way. We found that we would get rude service and wrong orders at the place closest more often than not, and when we went to the inconvenient one, we got excellent service. The manager even remembered us and started giving us VIP discounts for coming.

So, where do you think we go when we want to eat there? Even though it's out of our way, we go there because they go out of their way to keep us as a returning client.

Customer service is the soul of a successful business-remember that!

A new space

2012-07-30T11:55:00.006-05:00

Yes, I've been MIA for quite some time from Pro-tography 101. My business has kept me super busy this summer-to the point of considering hiring an assistant to handle scheduling and other time consuming tasks.

Now, I'm back and in full blogging force! I can tell you how many times I've thought of a blog post to write about to do with photography while out on a photo session, or at a wedding. I'm hoping that I can remember those thoughts now because they were good ones! : )

I do have some news I'm excited about- I'm getting a new office! Last year, I found a little studio in a great location of town. The "Village" had lots of cute little stores and the old buildings and park nearby was great to use for photo shoots.

Unfortunately, the nice couple that owned the building wanted to retire, so they sold the building and I didn't want to sign on with new owner. So, I went back to running it (studio) out of my home again. I wasn't sure I wanted another studio, since I mainly shoot weddings and wondered if I could save a bundle in rent.

Some months went by and while I didn't miss the shooting space and high rent, I did miss being in a business district. When I met with potential clients or picking up products, I missed having the professional look of an office. I decided that I would look for just an office to meet with clients and shoot at my house if needed. Soon, I found myself scouring on Craigslist for building space again.

For the longest time, nothing seemed to be available. Either it was too expensive, wrong part of town, or too big/small. I was about to give up when I saw an ad for an office space that jumped out at me. It was close to our house. It was inexpensive. It was the right size. It sounded perfect!

I scheduled an appointment to see it and couldn't wait to see if this was what I was looking for. It was! I sign the lease on the first and move everything in. I can't wait!

I ordered some more canvases and a new desk and chairs. I'll be sure to get some before and after photos for you to see.

Do you work out of your home?

A grant

2012-06-25T11:38:00.002-05:00

This is kind of late in the game, but we want to try for a chance to get a $250,000 small business grant!

We are planning on expanding and have a great idea the no other photographers in our area are doing and this could really help!

But we need at least 250 votes at missionsmallbusiness.com. Please type Tess Moody Photography and vote for us. Thanks!!!

Overload

2012-06-14T09:04:00.005-05:00

I am terrible about cleaning out my computers. I keep gigs upon gigs of wedding photos and unedited jpegs. I always intend to delete them or put them on a cd or other storage, but never get around to it. I think part of me thinks it's safest on my hard drive for some unknown crazy reason.

Last week, I decided to defrag my laptop because it was running so slow. While I was starting it, my husband came home and asked what I was doing. When I started to complain about my computer running slow, he looked at my C drive and yelled out, "HOLY MOLY! You're drive is almost full! You are a data hoarder..."

A data hoarder? I thought about it for a minute and then shook my head in agreement.

That's what I was.

He turned and left the room and came back with an external drive. It was the one he had bought me for Christmas three years ago that I never touched. He plugged it into my computer and said, "See? It's easy to use. Just drag the files to this and delete them off your computer."

I started to go through my files and deleted ones I really didn't need and copied the rest to this drive. I fell in love immediately. I could have the best of both worlds. I didn't need to totally get rid of all my treasured images and have a computer that didn't whine for power.

My husband came back over to me and my happy laptop and noticed how much fun I was having. He casually mentioned that there were external hard drives that were even bigger than the one I had.

OMG.

I looked at him and just said, "I know what you are getting me for Christmas-and I'll use it this time..."

Featured Photographer-Sue Bryce

2012-05-04T10:16:00.004-05:00

If you are a long time reader, then you know that my idol is Contemporary Glamour Portrait Photographer, Sue Bryce. When she agreed to answer my interview questions, I was thrilled! If you haven't read about her journey, please do so-she's a rags to riches photographer, and her story is wonderful!

Featured Photographer

Sue Bryce

Where is home?

Although I was born and brought up in New Zealand, home for me now is Sydney, Australia

How long have you been a photographer?

I have been in the Professional Photographic industry for 22 years, the first 4 years as a photographic retouch artist for professionals while I was shooting part time and the last 18 years in studio shooting portraits.

When did you get the ah-ha moment when you knew you wanted to become a photographer?

Working as a retoucher and seeing my first glamour shoot come though. It was 1990 Glamour was the biggest trend in Photography in the world at the time. I saw it and said to myself “I want to do that!” I was a girlie girl, I was never interested in shooting weddings or families.

How would you describe your style?

Contemporary Portrait. Modern Glamour or Fashion Inspired Portraits

What is the best part of being a photographer?

Being Creative. I never want to work in an office and I love that I can work my own hours. I don’t imagine working in the same place everyday. Wearing a grey suit. I love the hours and the creative process behind shooting and marketing my business.

Can you tell us what's in the bag?

Canon 1Dmk iv, Canon 5dmk ii, 50mm 1.0, 35mm 1.4, 24-105mm f4, Fuji X100

Which lens is your favorite and why?

35mm because it shoots at 1.4 and it just gets you close enough but it’s also wide, it’s great for video. I love it! In saying that I have had the 24-105mm in my kit for years. It is the most versatile shooting lens for close quarters/

Give us one way you market your business, please!

Only one! But I have so many!

Marketing should be the most creative part of your business not just photography. Once you learn to be creative in your marketing and think outside the square you will stand out from the rest.

Also, create a marketing plan to work for your business – don’t look at what every other photographer is doing, look at what others in the consumer markets are doing.
65% of people are watching YouTube over TV if you are not creating multimedia product for your business you are not competing in today's market. Connection communication is the new marketing.

What advice would you like to give other photographers?

Listen to your clients! They are one that is paying you. Ask them how they truly want to be photographed and then really listen to the answer. I know they choose a particular photographer for their style, but We are there to provide a service.

Seven essentials to starting a photography business

2012-05-03T09:02:00.004-05:00

Photography is not a cheap business to start.

A lot of people think that all you need is a good camera and talent and you are good to go.

THIS IS NOT TRUE.

The truth is, there are many investments to make when starting a photography business. This is probably true with most start up businesses. It takes money to make money-plain and simple.

But, what do you really need to start a photography business?

There are many hits and misses in the photography field. You have to experiment with products and you might end up with purchases you find out your don't need. There also are many people out there trying to cash in on the growing amount of newbie photographers out there, so it's hard not to get talked into unnecessary products.

That being said, let's talk about the bare essentials...

1. Gear

Having the right equipment goes without saying. You will need a good body and at least one good prime, though you will want different lens for different situations-and I haven't met a photographer yet that could stand just having one lens! ;)

If you are setting up a studio, you'll need the proper lighting equipment which can be purchased inexpensively if you do your research. I found a great deal for under $400 on Amazon.

I would recommend a good flash as well. Depending on what brand you use, there are many off brand flashes that are compatible with your camera.

2. A Way to Connect with Potential Clients

If you want the world to know you are open for business, you will need a website or blog. Almost everyone these days has at least a blog or Facebook. It's our way to let people know we exist. For businesses, it's an extension of their storefront, or for people working from home, it is their storefront.

There are inexpensive blog platforms, or even free ones (I still believe in Blogger). Especially when you are just starting out. If you want to invest in themes, or hire a designer, that's cool too.

Once you figured out the route you want to take, you'll need to think of a good domain name. Using your business name is the best route. After you set up your website or blog, start writing. Add lots of photos to showcase your work. Submit it to search engines and connect with other businesses related to yours.

3. Invest in Marketing

Marketing is a must for any business. There are many free marketing routes (a whole other post) but, you really need to invest in a good marketing source until your business gets rolling.
A cheaper investment are business cards. Vistaprint is awesome, as well as Moo Cards (I love Moo!) Hand them out to everyone you come in contact with. I know this will be hard at first, but once you get used to it, it will come naturally. You never know who might be your next client!

4. Get Insured!

Yes, there was an exclamation point there. It is very important to get yourself insured. You never know what might happen. Even if you don't do weddings, things can go wrong.

5. Editing Software

Even the best photographers use some kind of editing software. If you are into actions or textures, you will need to invest in editing software. There are expensive ones, like Photoshop, and there are more reasonable software like Paint Shop or Lightroom. What you choose is mainly your taste and what you can afford. Photoshop does have a lot of free help on the Internet and many assume that everyone uses Photoshop, so they gear products towards that product.

6. Training
I suggest ongoing learning. This does not have to be expensive. For every paid training out there, you will find double free help. I cannot afford $400 for an ebook, can you? Check YouTube-this has taught me a lot.

7. A Computer

Having a computer is a must. You don't need a Mac, but it has to be able to handle big files. I actually have three computers now, but I started out with one. You can find good deals at Walmart or eBay if you wait for sales.

One last tip: Make sure you invest back into your business and start a savings for unexpected expenses, like broken camera lens or marketing.

Don't let these steps discourage you from starting your photography business. Have fun and though it's an investment initially, soon you will reap the rewards!

Featured Photographer

2012-04-30T08:42:00.006-05:00

There are some photographer blogs that I follow just to drool over their amazing photos. I like certain styles, and PeekaBoo Photos is one of my favorites! I love the backgrounds she uses. Very tasteful and vintage looking. Photo envy!!!

Here is how she knew that photography was her calling...

As long as I can remember I've been into art. I grew up with both a grandma and mom that we're very talented artists. However, I didn't start playing with a camera seriously until college. I majored in graphic design and was required to take a couple of photography classes. I was immediately hooked. After winning a few school awards and feeling pretty confident, I got a job doing some product and lifestyle shots and learned a lot.

Once I had my first baby I decided I wanted to quit my job and start a photography studio in our basement. We invested in some lights and basic studio equipment and went for it. After a couple of years we got so busy that my husband quit his job and started helping full time. He started doing all the outside family shoots and weddings. I started focusing more on newborns and kids in the studio. We continually try to keep things fresh and new and not get stuck with the same backdrops, floors, styles, etc. We don't get bored and people keep coming back for different looks. With #4 child on the way, we're now in the process of trying to scale back the number of shoots we do by continuing to raise our prices. It doesn't seem to work. But it's a good problem to have.

Learn how to use Natural Light

2012-04-26T09:01:00.006-05:00

I'm so excited!!

Digital Photography School has done it again-another great ebook has just launched!

Natural Light- Mastering a photographer's greatest tool.

As the title says - this eBook is all about learning to observe and harness natural light to take beautiful images. I was just thinking about natural light the other day and how photographers should use it more. Images just look more beautiful and natural.

I understand that sometimes it's impossible to use natural light, but when you can, wouldn't it be great to know just HOW to take advantage of it?

What's in the book:

-Learn to understand the essential qualities of natural light
-Master the technical components you’ll need to work with natural light, including exposure, metering, and the histogram
-Learn expert methods to control natural light to suit your creative needs
-Grasp the potential of harsh light, diffused light, fog, twilight, and other settings
-Learn to sculpt light, create light interplay, reveal silhouettes, and more
-Practice professional post-processing techniques to enhance natural light
-Harness the countless creative possibilities that natural light affords

Lots of detailed photos and great advice for photographers wanting to bring natural lighting into their world.

Because it’s packed with real-world advice, Mitchell has built a successful photography career by learning to harness natural light in any situation. His hard-won advice will save you years of trial and error, and help you get more from your photography, starting today.

This ebook covers all aspects of photography using natural light. It gives you the skills you need to conduct your own experiments with natural light—to breathtaking effect. Mitchell’s hands-on advice leads you from the essentials to more advanced aspects of natural-light photography. His field guide to natural light is supported by detailed case studies, tips and tricks, and clear illustrations to help you build up your skills super-fast.

Here is the great part...

You don’t need an expensive camera, high-end equipment, or stunning subjects to get real value from this ebook. Mitchell targets his advice to the photographer who wants to use natural light to maximum effect in every image they make

Wait. There's more!

It's 25% off - normally $19.99 we're launching this for 14.99!!
(for a limited time - 2 weeks)
If you were wanting to learn how to use natural light, now is a great time to purchase this!

Buy here