Who to Ask for Help and Who to Avoid: Not All Photographers Are Friendly.

Just a quick thought.  Most photographers are very friendly and will share all the info they can with you.  They are happy to share the tricks of the trade. I am one of these photographers.  It makes me feel good to think I can help others become better photographers. But, there are certain times when you don't want to ask a photographer for advice or information.
Never ask for advice from a local portrait photographer. Some are friendly, most are not. Most of the time, if they think that you might take away business, they will either give you bad advice or they will get upset.
Digital photography has caused a lot of pro photographers to lose business. Digital cameras have made it easier for the masses to learn photography.
A lot of pro photographers get upset when they see novices with digital cameras start shooting weddings and portraits.
I had a run in with a photographer in a group I had joined on stock photography. I asked a simple question and this high and mighty photographer thought it was his responsibility to slam me.  It wasn't nice and I think the reason he did it is because he sees photographers like me as a threat to his income.
The whole point is that you need to watch where you get your information and who you ask for help. Especially when you might take business away from that photographer. Always err on the side of caution.  In this economy pros are working hard to get all the business they can. They can't afford to lose any business and will do whatever they can to get as much of the pie they can.
Let me know if you agree with me.

I always try to find a photo that goes along with the post, but I could not find one that fit with this post so I have included a photo of my family's jack-o-lanterns.

How to Light People, Golf Balls, and Books With the Same Set Up.

O.k. So here is a really easy way to do a portrait. It's called a window light portrait.  The reason it is called a window light portrait is because you use a window to do it.  It works best if it is cloudy outside. Direct sunlight should not be on the subject. Here is the diagram below.

Basically, put the subject a few inches to a few feet from the window and the light from the window should do the trick.

Here is an example of a window light portrait.

Nice Huh?

The fun part about a window light portait is that it does not have to be a person. Look below...

Or this...

All of these shots were lit with window light.

One note to remember is that when doing window light shots, position the subject near the back 1/3rd of the length of the window, so 2/3 of the glass is in front of the subject. Remember we are lighting the front of the subject, not the back. Other than that, window lights are extremely easy to do. Now that you know how to do one all you need to do is try it. So make a promise that you are going to try it. Have some fun. Get a friend to pose for you!

If you have any questions, let me know.

Thanks:)

p.s.  I know pros who use this set up.

How to Price Your Wonderful Photographs

I have been asked to give some information on how much to charge for photographs.  This lesson is for Teri. Enjoy:)

There are several aspects to look at when figuring out pricing for photographs.

1.  Look at your competition.  If there is an excellent photographer in town and he is charging $35 for an 8x10, it makes no sense to charge $55. Usually you want to stay in the in same range. If you are just getting started, charge less. The problem is when you decide to raise your prices later on, it might alienate your customers. The way to combat this is to charge the same amount as the other photographers in your area and then give a discount.  Here is how it works: Bob's photo studio down the road from you is charging $35 for an 8x10. You need to be lower than he is because you are just starting out. So, what you do is charge $35  for an 8x10 and give a $10 off discount. Now your prints are selling for $25. As you move along in your business, you can take away the discount and you don't have to raise prices.  This way you don't upset your customers.


2. The second way to price your photos is to consider your costs and time. Take into consideration the cost of your camera, money for gas, printing, studio costs (utilities, rent), part time employees, and all the other expenses that you will accrue over a year. Divide that by how many jobs you plan to have and this should give you the average amount you need to charge per job. Remember that you still need to be in the same ball park as your competition, but you should never be in a situation where you don't make enough to live on.

These are the two best ways of figuring out prices that I have found.  There are probably others, but these seem to always work.  It is very hard to figure out pricing and sometimes it is trial and error until you find the groove.  Remember to always take into consideration the quality of the work you do.

Another interesting tidbit:  I've found that the higher the price, the easier the customers are to work with.  If you are charging $300 to do a wedding (this is way too low from my point of view) you will get a $300 wedding. I you charge $2,000, you will get a $2,000 wedding.  Not to pick on the poor ( hey, I'm poor right now) but that is just what I have found.

Thanks for checking out my site and if you have questions, let me know!

The photo below is for sale for 5 grand if anyone is interested. LOL!

How Do I Begin and What is the Best Way to Start a Photography Business?

Recently I have been asked what is the best way to start a photography business?  Well, there are several ways. 
Here is the thing: you need to know what you are doing to a certain extent before you to out and get paid for a job. 
So, read this blog and practice. I am serious when I say I will answer questions that I am given. So if you have a question let me know.
After you are comfortable with your camera, go out and get some experience. Build up a portfolio. Go to a wedding as a guest and just shoot away, and give the newlyweds the photos as a present (but don't get in the way of the pro photographer there).
Take photos of your kids or hubby, or the families in the neighborhood.  Do it for free and use the photos to build your portfolio.  
Start to shoot stock photography (if you don't know what this is, ask me).
Take photos of the local businesses around town. Then take them to the owner and offer to sell them the photo of their business. Go out and shoot soccer games just to get experience.  Sell the photos to the parents if you like.
Doing these things will not only build the portfolio, but will also give you more confidence.  
After you have learned how to use your camera and are more confident, go out and find some business. Put an ad on craigslist, or hand out cards. Go to bridal shops and florists. Put up posters around town, or put an ad in the high school newspaper. If you live near a college, go to the drama department and offer to do head shots for the students. 
There are lots of ways to start a photography business (I started a blog)  People are always saying they would love to own a photo business but never get around to doing it. Are you afraid of failing? If you are, that's o.k. Most people are. Remember, the first step in succeeding is to start.  


Here is a photo of a future photographer, my daughter!

Travel Photography Without Traveling? I'm Serious!

Here's a good idea. You want to get into travel photography but don't have the money or time?  Well, do it from home.  You don't need to travel to sell your photos. Here is an example. I live in Southern Utah. I want to do travel photos but can't afford a trip to Japan (I really would like to take a few weeks off and visit there). But, where I live, there several national parks that are within a hundred mile radius. I could visit Zion's or Bryce Canyon.  You say you don't have any national parks near you?  Photograph your town. Now you say it is too small? Come one. I lived in Malad, Idaho, population under 3000 and I still found tons of stuff to shoot. So, there is no excuse not do travel photography. After you get a few good ones, go out and sell them. You can use the money you get from them to buy more photo equipment.  Have fun and don't forget to bookmark this site and visit often. Thanks and enjoy!

Here are a few of my "local" travel shots.

The New Lumix DMC-GF1! Does it Compare to the Olympus E-P1? How About DSLR's?

Most of the camera world is excited over the upcomming release of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 digital mirco 3/4 camera (12 megapixels). The big question is: How will the GF1 will measure up to the Opympus E-p1, and how will this camera compete with DSLR’s ?

Comparing this to a DSLR is tough since I would not put this in the same catagory. There are quite a few differences. To mention a couple, it doesn’t have a mirror, or an optical viewfinder like DLSR’s. However the  GF1 does have an electronic viewfinder that is optional and attaches to the hotshoe (which gives it a step up over the e-p1 in my book). It will be interesting to see how well the autofocus works since it is based on the autofocus system of  EVF cameras.

When it comes to comparing it to the E-P1, it is easier to compare than with a DSLR.  It shares a lot of the same functions and technology. However, we will have to wait for the test results to find out who the winner is.

The price is supposed to be around $900 ( which kicks butt over the Olumpus E-p1) and is geared toward DSLR customers who don’t want the bulk of the bigger camera but still want the creativity,quality and performance.

Here is my question. Can  you call it a rangefinder? Seriously, I don’t know. With traditional rangefinders, the viewer doesn’t see through the lens.  With the electronic viewfinder, you will see through the lens. I will leave that for the marketing department to decide.

The two really big benefits for me are the fact that I can attach Leica M  lenses to this camera and the viewfinder.  You can attach the Leica lenses to the E-p1 also, but I really like the fact that the GF1 has a viewfinder. That steals the show!

Building a Triangle: Composition for Two or More People.

Today our lesson is on how to photograph a family. This idea also works great for couples.  It's really simple. When posing more than one person at a time, build a pyramid.  Here is an example...

Do you see the pyramid? If you don't I have made it easier to see below. Take a look...

Now it is easier to see.  A lot of photographers will pose a couple or family standing up. I think it creates a more pleasing composition when the family (couple) is sitting.  Don't get me wrong, there are some times when a standing pose looks great, but I like it better when families and couples are sitting.  Also, traditionally the male's head should be posed above the female's head.  Notice also that I used the arm of the man in this photo to complete the triangle. This is not a perfect photo. There are a few things I could do better in this shot, but the point of this lesson is to show how to pose a family (or couple).  The idea of the triangle or pyramid can also be used in posing a person by himself or herself.  When shooting a portrait, put the subject's hands on their hips or in their pockets.  Never pose a standing person with their arms straight to their sides.  So, to wrap it up, always create a pyramid.  If you have any questions let me know. Thanks for looking and don't forget to bookmark this page:)

The Easy Way Out For Me!

Well, I was looking around the web and I found some good info that I think all should know about.  I am going to post another video. This one is really good and everyone needs to take the time to view it. Rick Sammon is a world famous photographer. I have always wanted to go to one of his classes but have never had the moola. Anyway, check out this video I found. There is some good info here. As always please let me know what you think and if there are any requests for post let me know.
Thanks:)

Shutter Up? I Want to Know!

 So you are wondering what shutter priority is on your camera? You know, Tv or S.  Shutter priority allows the user to choose a shutter speed (like 60th of a second or 15th of a second) while letting the camera choose the aperture to ensure that the exposure is correct. It is different than manual mode because in manual mode the photographer chooses both values.

Shutter priority, when used with longer exposures, can create a motion affect. A waterfall will appear blurred and fuzzy if shot with a slow shutter speed. Panning also requires a slow shutter speed and using Tv or S on your camera can help you get this type of shot.  Shutter priority is also very useful when photographing sports. Shutter priority can also be used to "stop motion" in an image.

Shutter priority is usually abbreviated with Tv (Time Value) or S on your camera as mentioned above.

I usually don't use this mode on my camera, but if I were shooting sports I would probably use it a lot more. So, next time you are out shooting your kid's little league game, use shutter priority.

Thanks, and if you have any questions let me know.  Don't forget to bookmark this page if you feel it is useful.

I used Tv on  the image below. It was a 10 second exposure.

I'm Freaked Out by my Camera! What is Aperture Priority?

Aperture priority, also known as Av or A on your camera, is a setting that most cameras have to allow you to choose a specific aperture while the camera selects a shutter speed to get the correct exposure. In manual mode you have to choose both aperture and shutter speed.
The main reason for using aperture-priority mode is so that you can control depth of field (I have a post on depth of field if you don't know what it is. It is further down.). Aperture priority is useful in many situations. It is very handy in landscape photography when you want to have deep depth of field and everything in focus. Using f/22 is great for landscapes where you want everything in your picture in focus. In Av mode, all you have to do is set your aperture to f/22 and your camera will adjust to get the correct exposure. In low light situations you might need a tripod to steady your camera. Av is also every useful in portrait photography where most pro photographers shoot at f/8. f/8 is used by most pro portrait photographers because it allows you to have your subject in focus while throwing the background out of focus.
I use aperture priority almost every time I shoot. It is easier than shooting in manual mode and gives me more control than setting the camera on full automatic mode. I have used Av to shoot waterfalls, portraits, and landscapes. I think it is one of the best features on cameras when it comes to getting the correct exposure. If you are shooting on full auto mode, you really need to try it out. All of the photos in this post were taken with Av mode. If you have any questions, let me know and I will do my best to answer them, and please leave a comment letting me know what you think, Thanks, Brian:)

Check out this short video. Smile!

I found this video on the site of a friend of mine.  Yes, I have friends. Anyway, it's good to watch  and as a little tip for photographing people, if you smile they will smile.  If you are serious they will be serious. Let me know what you think about this film. it's about 15 minutes long
Thanks:)

Did Your Mom Ever Tell You to Get Out?

Did your mom ever want you to get out of the house? Mine did.  Just to shoot, not to move away. When I left the house for college my mother cried. When my brother Mike left she cried too, but those were tears of joy. Well, like your mom said, you need to get out now. In most places in the northern hemisphere this is the time for getting those nice Autumn shots.  I got some good ones yesterday.  Here are a few. Hope you enjoy. If you have questions let me know and don't forget to bookmark this page. Thanks, and again GET OUT now before you miss the shots!!

Where and What to Buy For My Next Camera?

I have had several questions in the last month on where and what to buy for equipment. Well, you should buy from me at very high prices so I can become a millionaire.  No really, don't buy from me. I have never been able to offer discount prices.  Here is the deal.  I always buy local, from a small camera shop. If I can't find it there I alway buy from B and H out of New York City.
When I lived in Missoula, MT, I got to know Mike and the other employees at The Dark Room on Higgins St. I even sold my Hasselblad through them. It is always nice to have friends who will help you out and I consider them my friends.
If you do not have a local camera shop, use B and H. I have worked with several other online sources and the experience left me sour.  With B and H you get a good price and great service.  I trust them.  So, buy from me at double the price, or use local, or B and H.
Now you want to know what kind of camera to buy to get started?  Hmmmm. What I would buy and what you should buy are going to be two different things. I want the Leica S2, and I really think Santa should get that for my Christmas gift. Realistically I probably won't be getting that for Xmas ( I will be lucky if I get coal).
What should you buy to get started?  I was a Canon guy and still believe that you get the best bang for your buck from getting a Canon Rebel with the kit lens and then go and buy a 50mm 1.8 lens and a 70-200 l series lens.  The Canon system is a good one to start out on.  But what about Nikon?  They are good too.  I just don't know a lot about the Nikon system since I have always used Canon.
 I now use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1K. The reason is because I am a camera snob.
Not really, I just really like Leica lenses the camera I use comes in a package with one.
I hope that answers some of your questions. Let me know if you have any questions and please leave comments and bookmark this page.  Thanks:)

Oh  here is the camera I want. It costs $23,000 for the body(then you have to buy the lenses). What a screaming deal!

When Blur is a Good Thing. Dedicated to Head Bangers.

So, most of the time when a photo is blurred it is a bad thing. Well, would you say I was crazy if I said sometimes blur is a good thing? I knew it, you think I am crazy.  I am a bit, I mean I can act weird sometimes. My wife says....uh well, let's leave it at that.
Anyway, I believe that blur can be very effective if used in the right situation. Sometimes you find yourself thinking, "What am I going to do? I forgot my flash and now my photos won't turn out."
That is what happened the other night. I went to see Korean dancers. I really could have banged my head against the seat in front of me, but then the police would have asked me to leave.  I had forgotten my flash.  Instead I just figured I would make the best out of it. This is what I got:

Not too shabby eh? this was taken at f2.8 at 4 seconds.

Well, next time you get in a situation like I put myself in, don't be a head banger, just have fun and do the best you can.

I would love to hear your comments, leave a few :)