What is the one thing that will get you more customers?
Well, the answer is what you talk about on your website. In fact, it could include how you talk to potential customers in person.
Fixed vs Variable Aperture Lenses
Lenses are generally divided into amateur (variable) and professional (fixed), but it’s not that simple, it is more accurate to think of a “Quality Scale”. Yes, price is an indicator of quality, but you can get excellent quality lenses in the lower price range. Most...
How to stand out from the competition
There are a few things you need to do to stand out against your competition. STYLE - Be Distinctive PRODUCTS - Wall Art, Books, Poster SERVICE - Be prompt, polite, and attentive. Exceed the customer's expectations. GIVE BACK - Coach other photographers, Fund-raise...
Different Types of Photography
Abstract Wikipedia says that Abstract images are; Non-objective, experimental, or Conceptual Photography. I’m not sure what the market is like for selling abstract images but I do like them. I think they would look great as wall art in offices and homes. “This...
Pricing
How do I price my work? Before you start deciding on your pricing you need to find out how much money you need to make each month. This is your Break-Even Point. The point at which you have enough money to pay all your bills and give yourself a living wage. So now you...
Aperture Priority Mode
Is it OK to shoot in Aperture Priority Mode? Yes, it definitely is. I’m always talking about shooting in Manual Mode. Professional photographers need to be able to shoot in Manual Mode, it’s a must-have skill. You need to have control of your camera. There are...
Can you get started in Photography for under $500?
What do you need to get started in photography? To get started you need the basic setup. DSLR Camera Body 50mm Lens 2x Memory Cards Lens Cleaning Kit You could buy a camera bag, but you can easily get by without one with such a small amount of equipment. You might...
Preparing your images for printing
Why is my image resolution too low for printing? When you upload your images to an online image lab you need to meet their minimum size requirement. There are lots of different minimum sizes across all the print labs, so I’m not going to cover that now. What you need...
Live View of Viewfinder?
These are two different ways to look at and compose your image. On a DSLR the Live View is a video feed on the rear LCD screen, and the Viewfinder is an optical view through the lens. Mirrorless cameras have both the LCD screen and the viewfinder using a video feed....
What is Bulb?
Bulb is a shooting mode that is over one hundred years old. Most DSLR cameras have the slowest shutter speed of 30 seconds (30”), if you want it longer than 30 seconds you use Bulb. So Bulb is a setting that lets you keep the shutter open for as long as you keep the...
On or Off Camera Flash?
What’s the difference between On and Off-Camera Flash? Well, the initial answer is pretty simple. On-camera has the flash mounted to the hot shoe on top of the camera. Off-camera the flash is positioned away from the camera and is set off by a trigger attached to the...
How do I shoot products?
Different types of product photoshoots The two types of product shoots I’m covering here are lifestyle product shoots and still product shoots. Both these types are shoots you can do for yourself or offer commercially. This is one type of photography that you can...
Is this a Focusing Problem? and Blurry Landscapes
I don’t see this as a focusing problem. The problem is strong backlighting and the wrong metering mode. If you look a the photo the light is coming from behind the bird. The problem is that the side of the bird facing the camera is unlit and there is very little...
Can I use the 18-55mm lens in Manual Mode?
Yes, you can. The 18-55 kit lens can be used in Manual mode. Problems arise because of the lens variable aperture. At 18 mm the widest aperture available is f/3.5 and when zoomed in to 55mm it’s f/5.6. Compared to the 50mm f1.8 lens the 18-55mm doesn’t let much light...
What are the best settings for Portraits?
The answer is the correct settings are the best. Every time you take a photo you have to go through the step-by-step framework to get the correct exposure. That doesn’t mean there is only one group of settings that are correct. It depends on what you want to achieve....
How do you find your locations?
Location, Location, Location When a customer contacts you for a portrait session, wedding, or any type of shoot, you need to have a few places that you can use. These can be the local park or trails, or a local farm where you need permission from the owner. Not all...
Do I need to worry about Privacy?
** Now I am not a lawyer or solicitor and don’t want to be sued. So you should check out this information yourself or get professional legal help. As a professional photographer, you need to be aware of the privacy, intellectual property, and copyright laws in your...
Why you should take control and not shoot in AUTO
EXIF I mentor a few photographers and get sent lots of photos asking for constructive criticism of their work. Most of the time it only takes a couple of suggestions to get them on the right track. I really enjoy helping photographers, but there is one huge problem...
Common Mistakes #1
Centering your subject in all images Centering the subject in all your images isn’t great. It is fine in lots of situations like headshots, but not everything. I want you to think of the Rule of Thirds. The Rule of Thirds divides your image into 9 equal sections using...
Which Business? – Headshots
So what is a headshot? You’re probably thinking it’s a portrait, well I guess it is, but it’s really a subsection of portraits. The head and shoulder photo is used by business people, actors, and actresses all over the world as a promotional tool. Just think how big...
Which Business? – Wedding Photography
This week’s “Which Business” episode is on Weddings. Everyone that starts out doing family portraits wants to get into shooting weddings. It seems like it’s the next step on the ladder, but it’s not for everyone. My story I started out shooting sports...