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Entries in tips (4)

Saturday
May152010

Photography 101: The Subject

What makes a good photograph?

This, of course, is a very subjective question but I wanted to try to answer it in the most basic, simple way possible.  If we were to deconstruct a good photograph to its most basic element, what would it be?

The Subject.

Sounds too obvious, right?  But think about it.  When you have your camera out and taking pictures, think about your subject.  When you look at your photos, is the subject obvious?  Is it clear to anyone who looks at your photo, what the subject is?  

Keep the following questions in mind: How is attention focused on the subject in the photo? How is your eye drawn to the subject?  Is it the focus, the depth of field, or how it's composed? 

You should try to simplify your photos as much as you can.  Try to take out the distractions; keep your backgrounds subdued.  I know you’ve heard this one: KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid.  Don’t overly complicate your photos.

Remember, it's not about what camera you have.  These are principles that you need to know, no matter if you're taking a photo with your cellphone or a Canon 5D Mark II. To quote one of my favorite photographers, David DuChemin, "Gear is good, vision is better."

 

Friday
May142010

Coming Soon... Photography Tips, Tricks, and How-tos!

I'm pushing myself to update my blog more so I started to brainstorm for ideas.  I have many ideas but most of what I came up with are tips, how-tos, and tutorials.  I have purposely tried to stay away from posting content that only appealed to fellow photographers.  I wanted to really focus on what my potential market would be interested in.  And in that vein, I realized that everybody takes pictures, and who wouldn't like some tips on how to take better photos

So I've decided to go ahead and integrate more "behind the scenes" content into the blog.  It creates a dynamic to my blog that I hope appeals to many of you; hopefully I can make it interesting for the casual photographer as well as fellow pros.  It also serves to fill in the gaps I have between gigs when I'm not otherwise posting anything.

If you have anything specific you would like to write about or have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, send me an email, post it on Facebook, or send a tweet

This is not just limited to photography but could also be post-processing, software, Photoshop, Lightroom, lighting, social media, business, anything really.  Go ahead...ask me anything!

 

Random BTS Photo:

Wednesday
Jan062010

What Not To Wear

Clothing Tips For Portraits

Keep it simple.

Dark or black clothing is slimming.  Avoid crazy patterns or bright colors.  You don't want the clothing to draw attention to itself.  Portraits are about you.  Its the face, the body language, and the expression that is important.

Be comfortable.

Choose clothing that's comfortable and that you like.  Clothing can make you confident as well.  All this will show up in the picture, so choose comfort.

Short sleeves & shorts.

Avoid shorts especially.  Long sleeves are the superior choice, even with casual portraits.  Too much exposed skin can be distracting, especially when the skin tones vary too much.  Remember, this is a general rule and doesn't necessarily apply to all situations.  Women can get a pass on this much more than men.

Classic & timeless.

Remember, these pictures are going to be around forever.  Try to stay away from trendy clothing that will be out of style next year.   

 

Thursday
Dec312009

Tips For Hiring A Wedding Photographer

1. Meet Your Photographer

2. Look At Their Previous Work

3. Testimonials/Referrals

4. Engagement Session