Catch up on my latest work.
One tip, when going for fear or terror, have your model(s) actually scream, it works out so much better.
Watch the skies! There are unidentified flying objects flying around. They have travelled a long way to get here and they don’t intend to leave alone. The trick to this photo involved a lot of careful positioning, angles, and some photoshop work. Also, a lot of fun!
People watch the left hand watching them when they should be watching her right.
It is October, which is a great excuse to get out of your norm and try and create strange, spooky, scary, and fun things. In doing so, hopefully, you learn something new along the way. The only way to do that though, is to try. So, imagine something crazy and try and bring it to life. Research the lighting and props you’ll need to make it happen within your budget and go for it. You’d be surprised how easy some of these things end up being.
Be flexible with them and treat them right - they are just trying to make you happy but they may not understand how.
Pets are wonderful subjects to photograph! And also they can be a challenge too. I’d recommend approaching them like toddlers. Sure, you might be able to give them some direction but at the end of the day they are going to do their own thing. So for the first tip:
Tip 1: Have patience and flexibility.
Pets can be taught to understand basic commands by your average pet owner, but at the end of the day they are just animals and they will do what animals do best: whatever they please. So be patient and be flexible. If your cat wants to nap, then photograph a cat nap. If your puppy wants to play, then photograph puppy play. However, when they are doing what you don’t want them to do then my second tip comes into play:
Tip 2: Don’t get angry, frustrated, or annoyed.
Your pet loves you. They just want you to be happy. They don’t understand what that weird thing in your hand that goes “click” does. They likely have no concept of photography. But if you lose your cool and get frustrated they will know it in a heartbeat even if you manage to not vocalize it. Animals are masters at reading body language. That’s kind of their shtick. So maintain your cool because if they think you are annoyed or frustrated then they will get upset and your whole photography plan will get that much more washed away. Worst case scenario is to stop and try again later.
Tip 3: Have fun.
You are happy when you have fun. Your pet is happy when you have fun. You are both happy when you both have fun. So try to keep it fun. Besides, by making your photo sessions fun, you will find your pet more available for photo sessions. That’s a win-win.
Tip 4: Bribe em if you have.
Look, your pets are smart. And if you add treats to your photo session they will not only cooperate better but they will also associate treats with photography and will be more willing to work next time you pull out your camera. This is especially useful for dogs, because dogs like to work and if they associate your photography sessions with work that will make them happier. But you must pay them if you are going to make them work.
Anyways, good luck, and have fun photographing your pets.
Negative space can add intrigue and even act as framing. Give it a try!
Negative space and shadows in a low key lighting setup can add intrigue. Take time to learn how to work with those shadows to really help make a photo pop. A few well done low key shots can also help bring a subject nervous about getting their picture taken out of their shell. If you find your subject defensive then start with defensive photos and work from there.
I generally have an order to the pictures I want to showcase here on this blog, but I don’t want to wait for this one. We had too much fun and the results were just so far beyond our expectations for a first attempt that I am just going to bump this one up to the front of the line. Not to mention we are using it in our new banner on the portfolio page so I might as well jump to this one now.
FLOUR!
Yes, flour. I’ve seen other artists use this for dramatic effect and after talking to my team we jumped right into it. Well no, that’s not true, we actually waited 3 weeks and then jumped into it. The first week I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing first and did a bit of research and then it rained the next 2 weeks but we eventually had a nice enough evening to do it.
All I am doing is having the model throw flour in the air as she jumps or does a dance move. Then I have two unmodified speedlights off to the side and back a little to light up the flour – its along the same premise as lighting up fog from a fog machine. Light must bounce off that flour to make it really appear in the photo. I also had a strobe with a softbox facing the model near where I was photographing.
Which brings me to where I was photographing – I was AWAY. Flour and cameras don’t mix well. So, I put on my 85mm lens and got at least 12 feet back. Same with my strobe, except it was about 10 feet back. So, you might want to take a moment to brush up on the inverse square law of light. You do not need to do the math, just understand what is generally happening there and compensate as you see fit.
Then it is just a matter of catching the model in the air at just the right time when the flour is in just the right spot. It did take a few tries to get each pose we attempted right, but we eventually got it down and got a lot of pictures we were happy with.
Four things to keep in mind:
1) Do this outside. If we had to clean up the flour because we did this at an indoor location, we’d have gone insane.
2) I purchased 4 bags of flour for this. While we used all 4, I could have managed with just 2.
3) We did this on a humid night when the grass was sweating. Both the models had to keep taking breaks to pull of globs of dough off their feet.
4) Again, flour will go everywhere, so you might need to hose down the area when done so your neighbors aren’t left wondering what all that powdery whites stuff and goo globs that are all over your yard are.
Regardless, this was a very fun photo session, and everyone involved was very happy with the end results.
This picture here was done with a single light and a reflector. The more you learn to utilize less, the more you will be to do when you start adding lights later and the less you will need to set up when you chose not to add a light at all because you know how to get the effect with it.
Currently, we own 5 lights. However, rarely do I put all 5 into action. That doesn’t mean I can’t, but I don’t really need to because I have a general understanding as to how to use my lights. And that is always where I recommend photographers start when it comes to improving their ability in their craft. You don’t need 5 lights most of the time and a lot of the time you can get away with just one light so long as you understand how to manipulate that one light.
If you only have access to a single light, be it a speedlight or the sun then great. Get out a reflector and see what you can do. Learning to manipulate the light you have when you are lacking options to add light will only help you be that much stronger when the time comes when you do have more light options. If you can master a single light and really explore all the different ways you can utilize it then when you do go to add a light all that knowledge doubles over to that new light. In fact, every time you add a light after you learn something new with a single light you can utilize that knowledge on every light you add.
So, it pays off to learn how to utilize a single light in as many ways as you can.
Throw a sheet into things to add intrigue. We were doing some light tests, but I never like to have models just sitting bored, so I try to pull some poses out of our test sessions. Here we throw on a nice blanket and everything else sort of fell into place around it. It doesn’t take much to make a photo intriguing, just a bit of creativity on the part of those involved. Once we saw the first few photos we knew we were on to something and just kept going with it. When all was said and done, we got a lot more out of our test session then we expected.
Your attempts don’t have to be your normal amazing results, especially if you normally do other types of photography. The exercise itself is what is important here.
All photographers should try still life photography at some point and especially during one of those lulls work that happens every now and then. Still life photography first and foremost forces the photography to be creative. How are they are going to set up their still life? What items will they use? It forces you to think about composition.
So, you have set up your still life, now you need think about lighting it. Do you use natural light or artificial lights? Will you be using reflectors? The good things about doing still life is that you really get ot play around with lighting. Usually when I photograph people I already have the lights set up, but when doing still life you can move the lights around during the photo session as your inanimate objects don’t mind waiting.
Finally, if still life photography isn’t your usually style, then do it understanding that. You are not going to be doing your usual amazing work. That is important because you go back to look at your usual work you might appreciate your skill in that photography a little more and have a little confidence in what you normally do.
Give still life photography a try, you have so much to gain and so little to lose from doing it.
One easy way to get a good expression, especially with younger kids like toddlers, is to just let things come about naturally with them interacting with people they know. Sit there with your camera, tell them you are just adjusting some settings, and let things happen. Usually, something shows up rather quick and it will be a more organic expression then saying “smile.”
“There’s a pandemic so you have to keep moving.”
That’s our motto at the moment. There aren’t many people out there looking for photographers or painters right now, but that doesn’t mean we are just sitting around doing nothing. Every week since this pandemic official kicked off in the US we have been working hard at our craft. Working on new techniques and mastering old techniques. We know that some day this will end and someone will come looking for our services and we want to be ready for that day.
So, every day we work and every day we get better and every day we can offer even more to our future clients.
For this shot, we were just playing around with our newly acquired fog machine (they are relatively cheap on amazon) and our gels. In this case, a red gel. Once you feel you are starting to get a handle on a photography set up or two, try adding new things into this mix. It doesn’t always have to be a fog machine; it could be a new prop or a new set of poses. But always be working towards trying something new or you will risk your photography becoming stagnant and eventually you will get bored of it and you will quit.
And when you do add something new, make sure it is something that excites you and understand that you might have trouble adding it into your routine. For example, we found out that fog very much enjoys being carried off by the wind – especially in directions you don’t want it to go. So now we are working on ways to control the fog as best as we can.
And now for a cheesy pun – by adding new things to your photography routines you will help ensure your photos are always a knock out!
The sun can help add so much to an image. From putting a nice glow to creating cool shadows, if you take the time to work with it you can really pull a lot out of the sun and the light it provides.
The sun is the cheapest form of light available, you just have to play by its rules. The best time use it will be during the golden hours, which would be just after it has risen or just before it sets. The light during this time is very soft and helps improve the overall image.
Contrast this with a high noon sun. During this time, you will get very harsh shadows on the face because the sun is directly above you. These sorts of photos don’t tend to make the subject look very flattering and really tend to flatten the image. During this time, I’d recommend either using flash or finding a shaded area or both.
Don’t forget all the natural tricks nature does to manipulate the sun light. For example, you can eclipse the sun with your subject and have a bright shining light behind them. You have just have to be willing to find the correct angle to that. You can also do the same thing with trees and other things. Just be sure the object is between you and the sun and there is enough space for the light to shine around the object being used to eclipse the sun.
You probably have lots of stuff you can use for props to put something together for a photo session. Just tinker around and see what you can come up with.
If you got time (and who are we kidding, you probably got time around the date of this post) then tinker around in your stuff and find props. Towels, blankets, bins, all those things you put up to store and never really ever use - grab those and put something together to use as a prop.
In the case of this photo I grabbed a galvanized wash bin, some towels and sheets, a curtain hanger, and of course duct tape and put together a boat to use in my shoot. A good rule of thumb is if you think you could throw it in a garden for decoration then you can probably throw it in a photo to use as a prop.
And I really could have grabbed anything, old books, old clothing, pots, etc. The trick is to just figure out what sort of photo you are going for and play to that. Don’t know what sort of photo you are going for? Then start by considering who the photos are for and play to those people (in this case I had grand parents in mind).
Don’t be afraid to try new things in photography.
Last night, I got out some $5 string lights from target, got my models, and headed outside after dark. I don’t typically do night photography but I had the time (most of us have an abundance of time with this pandemic) and wanted to try something new. When all was said and done, I ended up with some photos I was happy with but more importantly a better understanding of light and some kindling for other potential ideas I have in mind.
In photography, it is important you explore and try new things. Even if you really just want to photograph your kids, I’d suggest experimenting as this will always lead to a better understanding to photography and unconsciously you will start to apply what you learn from your experiments to your regular photo sessions. Experimentation broadens your skillset and leaves you with more options when you go to do your typical photoshoot.
And it does not have to be string lights or some off the wall sort of photo session. If you typically photograph people, then try nature photography and vice versa. Limit yourself, if you like to zoom in then try not touching the zoom feature at all. Go on a photo walk and only take 10 photos.
Who knows, maybe you will discover a whole other type of photography that you enjoy.
She’s just been told it is bed time.
The “Too long, didn’t read version”:
- Strive to better understand human emotion
- It is easier to understand the why if you understand the what.
- Example: Angry can be more clearly expressed as frustration, annoyance, fear, or a combination of all three.
- The more clearly can describe an emotion the easier it is to photograph it.
- People want pictures that tell stories, tell the story of emotions by better understanding them.
Photographers play the part of a wannabe psychologist in that we try to get into our subject’s head so we can best represent them in our photos. The catch is, we can only get into our subject’s head as we understand them. We don’t usually have a whole plethora of psychological studies we are pulling from as we do this. Now I am not recommending you go and get a PhD in Psychology, but I do recommend you try to understand human emotions better.
What and why are good places to start. What emotion are they feeling? Why are they feeling that emotion? With kids this can be easier, though not always. As we get older we figure out a whole set of psychological tricks we use to not only mislead others on our feelings but also to mislead ourselves. So obviously there is a “who” in this and I’d argue the first who to start with is yourself.
Try and figure out some of the psychological games you play. Find something that makes you angry and try to explain to yourself why it makes you angry.
If you succeeded with that bravo but I really do not believe you. We all know what people do in anger, but the word itself is vague. Most times when it is used it likely refers to frustration, fear, annoyance, or a combination of all three and it sure would be a lot easier to deal with “angry” people if they’d use any of those words as opposed to “angry.”
And that is part of the trick as a photographer – to identify what the emotions really are and tell the story of them. You don’t take a picture of a family; you want a picture of a family that tells the story of their love for each other. You don’t want a picture of your wedding day; you want a picture of your wedding that tells the emotions of that day. People don’t want pictures of their kids or pets, they pictures that capture who and what their kids and pets are – that includes emotions.
The better you understand emotion the easier it will be to photograph them.
Yesterday, a young girl beamed with pride as she managed a viictory over gravity. After weeks of hard practice she earned the title of juggler. It’s moments like these that make life and photography the amazing experiences they can be.
It’s also moments like these that remind me what glory there is to be found in application and hard work.
We think it is going to be a good year, we hope you do too!
This picture was taken in a parking lot - not a park, but a parking lot. In order to get it I had to get my camera out, turn it on, take the lens cap off, position myself, and push the button. In other words - I had to do photography.
Sunday I was out photographing an amazing school dress rehearsal of She Kills Monsters when a student approached me and asked me a very good question: how do you get good at photography? And I answered with the truth: Go out and do photography.
I intend to write posts that offer advice on how to improve your photography on this blog (in addition to small business advice, and posts on fine arts here and there), but this post will skip 95% of that and tell you the ultimate secret. If you want to get good at photography then you have to go out and photograph things.
Imagine a book about history that is sitting on your desk. Now there are lots of things you can do with that book – use it as a door stop, a paperweight, use it to balance out an uneven table, maybe combat a mosquito with it, etc. But the only way you will ever acquire the knowledge that is written in that book is if you actually sit down and read the book.
The same is true about photography. Whether you have a top of the line brand new mirrorless camera or 2006 smartphone – if you want to get good at photography than I’d suggest you go out and do photography. Early on, it will fill clunky and awkward but as you start to take more and more pictures you start to become more comfortable with the process and your equipment. Eventually, you will get good enough that you will start to know what questions you want to ask to improve your own photography. Once you know what to ask, your research into improving your photography becomes a lot easier.
This is also true of the creative side of photography. I am a bit stronger on the technical side of photography and early on I struggled on the creative side. My advice: don’t view creativity as an all or nothing asset. Think of it more as muscle, the more you build it the easier it comes to you. Sure, when you start off it might look very simple, but few artists start with a flawless and limitless well of creativity. No, they usually build it up over time and you can too. It’s never too late to start and even if you are older when you do keep in mind that your creativity will have a much stronger base of lifetime experiences with which to build upon.
So, if you want to get good at photography then I’d suggest starting with actually photographing things with whatever camera you have access to. Don’t wait for the fancy $10,000 camera with the fancy $10,0000 lens falls in your lap. Just take what you have and go photograph. You won’t regret it.
Framing is a great way to put focus on the subject of your picture and adds intrigue to the overall photo. The best part of all, though, is that it often isn’t very difficult to do and if done successfully can really take a good subject and make it incredible.
Focused on play.
So how do you frame? You simply find something that will overlay around the subject of your photo. For example, in the photo here where the toddler is busy at play. I quietly took one of her toys with a hoop on it and positioned it and myself in such a way that she was in the center of it. Now the important thing to note here is more often then not you’ll have to position yourself and the frame around the subject. It is usually easier to have the subject stay put and you move rather than the other way around. If I moved this toddler, it would have disrupted her focus and good luck getting a toddler to focus on anything in exactly the same way.
See nothing around to frame with? Two solutions:
1) Bring something.
2) Think outside of the box.
Bring something – you don’t have to limit your photoshoots to just photography equipment. If you are familiar with an event, location, or even family you are going to be photographing you can bring items that compliment that shoot including items that might help you do some framing. For the toddler above, I could have brought a literal frame and had her hold it as I took the picture. It just takes some planning ahead, but you should be planning anyway.
Think outside of the box – You are rarely photographing in a void. In the picture above there were toys. When I shoot weddings, I grab two wine glasses and position them in a way that they frame the subject. If I am outdoors, I grab some long grass and hold it close to my lens to great nature frame or use the branches of a short tree. The point is, there is always something to be used for framing. It just takes a little outside of the box thinking. Yes, it can be a challenge, but the good news is the more you challenge yourself to come up with things to frame with the better you get at thinking up things to frame with. So just keep trying.
Just got home from shooting a surprise wedding engagement for an incredible couple on the Schooner Woodwind in Annapolis (if you haven’t been, check it out). The photos are downloading to the computer now and the processing of a few of the photos begins just after that. My pillow probably won’t feel my head until 3 or 4 in the morning. But it is totally worth it. The young happy couple are still out there celebrating with their wonderful family and amazing friends. If I do this right, then they likely will be seeing a few teaser photos just after the celebrations are done and hopefully, they will get to keep that joy for even longer.
The best part about photography is that there are so many ways to do it right that will result in someone else having more happiness.
Photos to come, but not until the happy couple sees them first.