Blog

Charging people money is scary. Having people I’ve never met ask me to produce something I have metaphorically promised the world I can do at a professional level, that may or may not meet their expectations, is terrifying. There is so much I can’t control – the weather, the mood of everyone involved, my camera suddenly deciding to jam without warning, that nerve condition I Googled last night where something snaps in your eyeball without warning and you go blind in mere seconds. Never mind that every single time I leave my house, I’m pretty sure that I am completely out of any possible creativity, creativity that will never renew itself, and it’s only a matter of time before everyone realizes I’m just a fraud that got lucky for a while.

And that’s on a good day.

In this article you will get some solid tips for planning and executing a sunset portrait session. Learn how to take the images that you and your subjects will love.

Plan ahead for a successful sunset portrait

Many photographers feel overwhelmed when they start photographing portraits, professionally or for fun.

Where should I shoot? How should I pose people? What lens should I use? What settings should I be using? When should I move them to/from a great spot? What should I say to get great emotion?

By Bryan Caporicci

This article (and the journey, listed below) is a long one, so I’m going to keep the intro here very short. Let’s get right into an example journey (customer experience) that you can guide your clients through as a portrait photographer.

When the client is visiting your website

• Have an outstanding portfolio. Make sure to keep some images “up your sleeve” though.
• Make sure your images are large and look great (they’re sharp, not pixellated, etc.).
• Make sure your website looks great on a mobile device.
• Ensure your website delivers a simple, streamlined experience on the web.

Wedding photography is one of the largest and most varied areas of photography around. Different photographers have different styles, and no wedding album will be exactly the same. Many wedding photographers have kit worth tens of thousands which can be quite off-putting for somebody just breaking into this industry. So what kind of kit do you really need in order to take stunning wedding photos?

How to Wow Your Clients

by Vanessa Joy

“How did you DO this?!” I remember watching her exclaim with her jaw on the floor shortly before turning to her bridesmaid standing next to her and saying, “Can you believe this?!” She was holding her wedding pictures, in her hand, before the wedding reception had come to a close and I was her hero, even if for just that moment.

Family photography can be incredibly rewarding, although is not without its potential pitfalls. Some children love having their photos taken and will perform for the camera. Others would rather be anywhere else than standing in a posed group shot with mum and dad.

As with many situations, preparation is key to remaining calm and unruffled—even when a small child makes a nose print on your shiny new lens!

Which is Better, Natural or Artificial Light?

You’ve heard of Frank Lloyd Wright, but have you heard of Ezra Stoller? A few years ago, NPR ran a story on Stoller with the headline The Photographer Who Made Architects Famous. You’ve probably seen some of his iconic images, including black and white interiors of the Guggenheim Museum, Seagram Building, and T.W.A. Terminal. Stoller was famously unpretentious. He once said, “I’m not interested in art photography. I’m interested in architecture as it is, to look at and enjoy.” Still, he was a master with a singular command of light.

By Randy Klein

Anyone who has ever tried to take pictures of children knows how challenging it can be. They don’t have attention spans, they don’t listen, and they switch from happy to grumpy within seconds for seemingly no reason at all.

As a professional family portrait photographer, I’ve picked up a few tricks over the years to get good photos with uncooperative kids. Below are all my ‘secrets’ for working with kids, and creating a successful photo shoot with children and families.

Nature is offering up some perfect backdrops, here's how to take advantage of them

To me, taking portraits during the fall feels like cheating. If you live in an area where the leaves provide amazing colors, it seems like it's tough to take a bad picture. But, that doesn't mean it's OK to get lazy and complacent. here are a few tips to make sure you're getting the most out of those awesome fall portrait photos.