Wednesday, March 30, 2011
chasejarvisLIVE: A Photography Conversation with Zach Arias
chase jarvis and zach arias on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loYF3528gP4
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Equipment must-have: TSC Quantum Turbo SC
Battery packs...ugh!
For a non-gearhead like me, buying new equipment can be stressful. I don´t want to spend money unnecessarily but at the same time, I want to be prepared for jobs that require special equipment.
One moment that I want to avoid is not being able to use my flash consistently throughout wedding receptions. Most wedding receptions take place in areas that are sparcely lit. It is inevitable that I will be using flash throughout the reception, which means 4 or 5 hours of coverage.
Most flashes that I use require 22A batteries. I have invested in rechargeable batteries, and carry around with me extras at all time. Nonetheless, the recycle time of the flash between shots is long AND I am never aware when the flash is losing battery power.
I invested in the TSC Quantum Turbo SC Slimpack about a year ago to resolve these issues. Using this battery pack attached to my waistbelt during weddings is a great solution to any problems I had in the past. I am able to take at least 400 pictures using full power flash AND the recycle time that I can take the next picture is less than 3 seconds. I am also able to monitor the power of the battery because it comes with a power gauge.
That being said, I am very happy with this purchase and feel more complete for weddings. I can shoot all day without any worries of battery fail. In the future, I will try out this pack for time lapse photography.
For a non-gearhead like me, buying new equipment can be stressful. I don´t want to spend money unnecessarily but at the same time, I want to be prepared for jobs that require special equipment.
One moment that I want to avoid is not being able to use my flash consistently throughout wedding receptions. Most wedding receptions take place in areas that are sparcely lit. It is inevitable that I will be using flash throughout the reception, which means 4 or 5 hours of coverage.
Most flashes that I use require 22A batteries. I have invested in rechargeable batteries, and carry around with me extras at all time. Nonetheless, the recycle time of the flash between shots is long AND I am never aware when the flash is losing battery power.
I invested in the TSC Quantum Turbo SC Slimpack about a year ago to resolve these issues. Using this battery pack attached to my waistbelt during weddings is a great solution to any problems I had in the past. I am able to take at least 400 pictures using full power flash AND the recycle time that I can take the next picture is less than 3 seconds. I am also able to monitor the power of the battery because it comes with a power gauge.
That being said, I am very happy with this purchase and feel more complete for weddings. I can shoot all day without any worries of battery fail. In the future, I will try out this pack for time lapse photography.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Bambi Cantrell´s Three Day Workshop on Creativelive
Day 1
Wedding photographer: Every time you are sitting there waiting for something, you are wasting time.
If something isn´t perfect, look for a way around it to take your picture.
"photography is my profession, not my religion"
"I don´t mind if they hate a picture I took, I just don´t want it to be boring"
"That´s what we´re here for, to connect families and document their spirit."
*Hey, the bride and groom requested that I sit in this seat. Do you mind saving it for me?"-what to say to sit in the second row of the church (70-200mm lens)
Working with fabrics: boudouir shots, pregnant women
Flat lighting-flattering for wrinkled skin
Typical portrait session-60-70 edited images in 1 1/2 hours
4 portrait sessions per day
Day 2
Equipment: (main light) Octo150 for Bowens continuous lights + (back light) Softstrip 140x40, 4-ft ladder,
Lightroom postprocessing recommendation: Marcus Bell B/W 22
Concepts can be applied because we have already rehearsed them.
Bride/Groom poses
*hug with your cheek
*put her hand in his hair
*him-take both of her hands and lean them up to your chest
when hugging:
bride...lean back and make him work for the kiss
bride...get flirty with your skirt (hold skirt w/thumb and middle finger)
Groom solo:
walk-kick one foot in front of the other
Friends poses
lean into her with your shoulder
wrap your arms around each other and lean into the photographer with chest
*push hip away from camera-makes person look thinner
*bend most limbs, leg forward
*roll onto front thigh
*tall with your back
*gaze upwards-chin up or down can make a huge difference (opening eyes without showing so much of the whites of the eyes)
Family sitting poses (bridal party):f/5.6 (5-10ft in focus)
lens:24-70 focus:on person in center of pic
look for triangular shapped compositions with bodies
sit at edge of couch (to keep legs from spreading out)
*edgy portrait-not everyone in the same direction
*very traditional portrait-symmetrical
*I make it my business to know who is in all of the group pictures...mom, dad, sisters, grandparents. Communicating with your clients before the wedding.
Outdoor light with flash:
use flash light one stop down from ambient light
example: camera/5.6 flash: 4
Clamshell lighting: flat light very flattering
Glamour shots
Main Light source above the camera with fill (reflector) below camera
Camera tilt: makes vertical lines softer
Step 1: what lens (what will be in the pic)
Step 2: shutter speed and f-stop (meter to rehearse)
Light-it gives everything its shape (highlights & shadow)
Day 3
Find the location depending on where the best light source is first
*Use unique backgrounds to create imagery---anything can be a background
*the overall experience is just as important as the photograph
*if the picture itself is so powerful, we can overlook mistakes
*multiple catchlights...not natural, retouch one out (BUT a single catch light in the eyes draw you in to the soul of the person)
*"Gobo"-something that blocks portion of the lightsource to the subject, changing the direction of the light source
Reflector-silver (darker skin), white (lighter skin), black (thinning), gold (warms up picture, but never uses it)
Taking portraits without it being a portrait session...so if she isn´t a bride that doesn´t like to pose
If grainy...(ISO 3200), add more grain in Photoshop
*time so that step ladder is set up for dance, with video light 45* from camera while assistant takes standard flash pictures
Camera angles that flatter:
1)drop chin and photograph from above: eyes look larger, shadow under the chin
Shooting in sequence to help with the story
Silouhettes tend to hide mistakes on walls, etc..
Photoshop tips:
clone in lighten mode will only erase the darken lines(for wrinkles)
clone in darken mode will erase highlights from sweaty spots
Liquify tool-brush density 20 and brush pressure 20 (small facelift on left side of chin
workflow...
a)download cards onto portable hard drive during wedding...look at them, back them up, no problem cards
b)import into lightroom, rename files, rough edit (pulls out blanks, keep it/lose it)
c)formal pictures-best 2 pictures of each group, edit best 600-700 wedding pics/60-70 portraits
d)convertions to black/white or other effects
e)rename with last name of group, put them in sequencial order
Recommendations:
photoshop actions
nikcoloreffectspro..with brown eyes (color infrared)
yervants b/w
Showings:
portraits: 2 weeks to show clients 1st time
weddings: 3 weeks to show clients 1st time
start wedding job 3 hours before wedding at bride´s house
1 hour before wedding...groomsmen
ceremony...low profile
group shots 20 minutes
reception...photograph all people, details of party
stay to almost the end of reception
charge enough to show up
concept: calculate to do the job (albums, assistant, proofing, sales tax, retouching,etc...)
+ profit for skill level and time
bounce flash off wall during reception...10-15ft is fine from white wall
farther away, higher ISO
5 years into career, accepting wedding payments:
1/3-reserve services
2/3-90 days before wedding
3/3-one week before wedding
Wedding photographer: Every time you are sitting there waiting for something, you are wasting time.
If something isn´t perfect, look for a way around it to take your picture.
"photography is my profession, not my religion"
"I don´t mind if they hate a picture I took, I just don´t want it to be boring"
"That´s what we´re here for, to connect families and document their spirit."
*Hey, the bride and groom requested that I sit in this seat. Do you mind saving it for me?"-what to say to sit in the second row of the church (70-200mm lens)
Working with fabrics: boudouir shots, pregnant women
Flat lighting-flattering for wrinkled skin
Typical portrait session-60-70 edited images in 1 1/2 hours
4 portrait sessions per day
Day 2
Equipment: (main light) Octo150 for Bowens continuous lights + (back light) Softstrip 140x40, 4-ft ladder,
Lightroom postprocessing recommendation: Marcus Bell B/W 22
Concepts can be applied because we have already rehearsed them.
Bride/Groom poses
*hug with your cheek
*put her hand in his hair
*him-take both of her hands and lean them up to your chest
when hugging:
bride...lean back and make him work for the kiss
bride...get flirty with your skirt (hold skirt w/thumb and middle finger)
Groom solo:
walk-kick one foot in front of the other
Friends poses
lean into her with your shoulder
wrap your arms around each other and lean into the photographer with chest
*push hip away from camera-makes person look thinner
*bend most limbs, leg forward
*roll onto front thigh
*tall with your back
*gaze upwards-chin up or down can make a huge difference (opening eyes without showing so much of the whites of the eyes)
Family sitting poses (bridal party):f/5.6 (5-10ft in focus)
lens:24-70 focus:on person in center of pic
look for triangular shapped compositions with bodies
sit at edge of couch (to keep legs from spreading out)
*edgy portrait-not everyone in the same direction
*very traditional portrait-symmetrical
*I make it my business to know who is in all of the group pictures...mom, dad, sisters, grandparents. Communicating with your clients before the wedding.
Outdoor light with flash:
use flash light one stop down from ambient light
example: camera/5.6 flash: 4
Clamshell lighting: flat light very flattering
Glamour shots
Main Light source above the camera with fill (reflector) below camera
Camera tilt: makes vertical lines softer
Step 1: what lens (what will be in the pic)
Step 2: shutter speed and f-stop (meter to rehearse)
Light-it gives everything its shape (highlights & shadow)
Day 3
Find the location depending on where the best light source is first
*Use unique backgrounds to create imagery---anything can be a background
*the overall experience is just as important as the photograph
*if the picture itself is so powerful, we can overlook mistakes
*multiple catchlights...not natural, retouch one out (BUT a single catch light in the eyes draw you in to the soul of the person)
*"Gobo"-something that blocks portion of the lightsource to the subject, changing the direction of the light source
Reflector-silver (darker skin), white (lighter skin), black (thinning), gold (warms up picture, but never uses it)
Taking portraits without it being a portrait session...so if she isn´t a bride that doesn´t like to pose
If grainy...(ISO 3200), add more grain in Photoshop
*time so that step ladder is set up for dance, with video light 45* from camera while assistant takes standard flash pictures
Camera angles that flatter:
1)drop chin and photograph from above: eyes look larger, shadow under the chin
Shooting in sequence to help with the story
Silouhettes tend to hide mistakes on walls, etc..
Photoshop tips:
clone in lighten mode will only erase the darken lines(for wrinkles)
clone in darken mode will erase highlights from sweaty spots
Liquify tool-brush density 20 and brush pressure 20 (small facelift on left side of chin
workflow...
a)download cards onto portable hard drive during wedding...look at them, back them up, no problem cards
b)import into lightroom, rename files, rough edit (pulls out blanks, keep it/lose it)
c)formal pictures-best 2 pictures of each group, edit best 600-700 wedding pics/60-70 portraits
d)convertions to black/white or other effects
e)rename with last name of group, put them in sequencial order
Recommendations:
photoshop actions
nikcoloreffectspro..with brown eyes (color infrared)
yervants b/w
Showings:
portraits: 2 weeks to show clients 1st time
weddings: 3 weeks to show clients 1st time
start wedding job 3 hours before wedding at bride´s house
1 hour before wedding...groomsmen
ceremony...low profile
group shots 20 minutes
reception...photograph all people, details of party
stay to almost the end of reception
charge enough to show up
concept: calculate to do the job (albums, assistant, proofing, sales tax, retouching,etc...)
+ profit for skill level and time
bounce flash off wall during reception...10-15ft is fine from white wall
farther away, higher ISO
5 years into career, accepting wedding payments:
1/3-reserve services
2/3-90 days before wedding
3/3-one week before wedding
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