>>Listen To Pro Photo Show #52
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Host Gavin Seim: Seim Studios
Special Guest: Rick Sammon
Show notes…
This week we talk about nature, travel and general photography tips with Rick Sammon. Rick travels all over the world for photography workshops and has written 30 books in his career as a photographer.
The Pro Photo Show Winter contest has begun. Enter now.
Rick Sammon workshops are coming all over the world.
Rick uses Photomatix for HDR and Aperture for general post processing.
Rick uses magic tricks from Tannen’s Magic in New York.
Rick uses the Wescott stand and diffuser for his flashes.
Seim Effects and the new PW2 LR presets.
Gavin’s HDR portrait gallery.
I was a guest on this weeks Camera Dojo podcast with Kerry Garrison talking about all things HDR.
We chatted about the various techniques and tools, and I shared my techniques for HDR portraits. I just listened to myself this afternoon. It felt different being on the guest end, but it was relaxing. This won’t be in the PPS podcast feed, but If you’re interested head over the Camera Dojo and give a listen. While your at it you can drop by iTunes and subscribe to their show… Gavin
by Gavin Seim — With winter coming on, as well as an economic downturn (at least in the USA), you may find yourself looking at the numbers in horror. OK maybe I’m going too far, but I have seen people chatting about grabbing new work their schedule. I am blessed, and while I’m booking weddings well into next year, I still need more on my calender.
I’m going to keep this short and list six tips to help bring in bookings. I also found a nice article by Sean Clayton about this very thing.
I’m not the chief authority however. What works can vary greatly by your situation. What are you doing in your market to drum up photography business? Share your tips. There’s rarely a magic bullet, but we know business is hard work. Share your ideas in the comments.
- 1. Send a newsletter:
I collect email addresses of clients, and people who sign up at weddings and events. Then I send an occasional newsletter. I’m about to send my fall edition to over 800 emails as a way to get past and future clients thinking about my work. If you want to see mine, you can sign up on my photo site. Sending a newsletter is a great way to put your business in front of many eye’s for a low cost. It does take time to build your list, but it’s worth it. Just don’t email too often, and don’t buy lists of emails or you’ll be marked a spammer for sure.
- 2. Send Images to Venue’s:
Sending out prints with your logo or name on them is a great way to make venues remember you. It’s also a great way to use that extra time during the slow season. This year I plan to send a simple venue packet with a letter, some free images taken at their venue, and plenty of business cards.They’ll appreciate the free images, and you may well get some free advertising, and that’s the best kind.
Continue reading ‘Freaking Out In Slow Season? Build Your Photography Business:’
I get email from photographers asking me to look at their photography, and give my thoughts. In ten seconds I can usually tell them how to improve it. Other pro’s can see things in my photo’s as well. There’s nearly always something we can improve, no matter the experienced we have.
Many rules are universal to any photographer, of any style, any experience level. Of course rules are made to be broken, but we all need inspiration and reminders. These are things that I try to remember in my own work, and I’ve spend the past week compiling them. Share yours in the comments, then post some of your work in the forums and get some personal feedback. OK let’s go…
- Omit needless objects:
- Simplicity is at the heart of great images:
- Bold colors make bold photographs:
- If a background is too cluttered, blur it:
- If a background still doesn’t add to a scene dump it:
- Light; Where’s it coming from? how can you leverage it?:
- Don’t center everything. Use the rule of thirds. It works:
- Eye’s? Watch them close. They control emotion:
- Blur used right can be magical:
- Keep it vivid. Watch your shutter speed, and movement:
- Crop out needless space:
- Harsh sunlight is usually bad:
- Shadows are dramatic. Use them:
- Clouds are your friend, they give shade & put you in control:
- Go with your gut. Have an idea? Then try it:
- If the weather is foul, it doesn’t mean pictures will be:
Images & Content By Gavin Seim
<<Click To Listen - Photography Roundtable #8 PPS#48
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Todays Panel…
Gavin Seim ~ Seim Photography - Effects & Presets
Kerry Garrison ~ Camera Dojo - L7 Studios
Dennis Zerwas ~ DZ Photography
Show notes…
Episode Forum Discussion
Nikon launches the D700, the Sb900 flash, and two new lenses.
A cool article about sharpening in Photoshop
What brides and clients think of photo websites.
Is NILMDTS (Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep) doing things right? (@27:10)
The Hassleblad H3d has 50mp. A nice camera.
Boda Bag
. Looks interesting, but is it all that great?
Tamrac Modular Accessory Belt is what Gavin uses to carry gear during shoots. He just attaches MAS pouches to it.
Dynamic Photo HDR. A PC only HDR program that looks pretty cool.
Kerry has been reviewing out the Photo Basics Strobe Lights. from photobasics.net
Ken Rockwell has articles on setting up your camera.
Rocket Air for cleaning sensors.
Visable Dust is a popular cleaner for heavy duty cleaning.
Picks of the week.
Kerry Likes the Black Rapid R Strap.
Dennis says Phanfare is now his anti-pick because they have taken away features.
Smugmug is his new most favored one.
Gavin is excited about his MP3 Tape
~by Gavin Seim~ Last year I wrote an article about using true HDR techniques with people. Yep, portraits, fashion, and wedding images can be utterly amazing using High Dynamic Range photography. HDR is not just reserved for nature and still life shooting. We’ve been using it at Seim Photography for over a year now! Here goes six nitty gritty tips and tricks to get you moving with HDR, and a few of my own HDR portraits to start things off.
1. What is HDR all about anyways?
First lets cover basics. If you’re already an HDR master you can skip this part. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. It’s better seen that talked about, so other than the images I’ve included in this article, you can see more of my HDR portraits, on my website and \you can also check out my HDR nature photos. HDR is the combining the light/dark tones of multiple images taken at varied exposure levels, and then blended using software like Photomatix, Photoshop, or another HDR program.
Basically this software blending allows the photographer to selectively choose how much lighting he wants in various parts of the image. You’ll have a light to dark range that’s much higher than that of a normal exposure, thus giving you a LOT more control over the finished image.
You can also check my two PPS episodes from 2007 year, that talk all about HDR portraits in detail, and will also get you started on HDR in general… HDR Podcast Part1 & HDR Podcast Part2
Continue reading ‘HDR Portraits, Wedding & Fashion Photography 2nd Edition’
