I just attended WPPI in Las Vegas along with thousands of other photographers. The great thing about this conference is that it's focused on portraiture. There are all kinds of classes, but even if you only attend with a free expo pass, you can learn from speaker after speaker about tips for making the best portraits of your career and how to help your business grow. I've attended this conference for the last 10 years, as well as many other conferences. And you should, too. See new gear New gear won't make you a better photographer, but it … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: You need to get out more
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WPPI: What to know before you go
With WPPI officially under way, it can be challenging for first-time attendees to know where to go, what to do and what to expect. Here's a quick guide to get you started. Types of classes WPPI breaks its classes down into three main groups. Platform classes don't require any preregistration and are offered on a first-come, first served basis. You can come and go as you choose, making it easy to go next door if you aren't happy with the first one you walked into. PLUS classes are full-day workshop-type classes that require preregistration. … [Read more...] about WPPI: What to know before you go
Photography Marketing: Getting ready for your next conference
October is full of different conference opportunities for me, so as I start to take care of the usual client communication (not to mention deciding what to pack), there are a few marketing items that are on my list too. Business cards This is the most obvious thing, and it's one that many photographers forget to bring. Business cards are a tried but true method of getting your name out there. You can use these to network with not only other photographers but also exhibitors, instructors, and others at the conference your attending. Make … [Read more...] about Photography Marketing: Getting ready for your next conference
The InFocus Interview Show with Sue Bryce | Photofocus Podcast August 31, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/infocus-interview-show-with-sue-bryce-photofocus-podcast-august-31-2018/s-h48qP In this episode: Photographer and Educator Sue Bryce shares her insight on The Portrait Masters Conference coming up in September. Topics: Why we need a portrait specific conference How to maximize your experience at any conference Why you should build relationships with vendors Why you should network with other photographers Why portraits are the best business in the world and the best subject Why … [Read more...] about The InFocus Interview Show with Sue Bryce | Photofocus Podcast August 31, 2018
Pitch your way to Adobe MAX
This year, Adobe is doing something really cool for creatives. At its annual Adobe MAX Conference, taking place Oct. 15-17 in Los Angeles, the company is asking creatives to give them their most creative elevator pitches. But not just any elevator pitch — an elevator pitch on why you should win a trip to Adobe MAX. Using your most creative method (photography, graphic art, poetry, etc.), come up with a 15-second elevator pitch on why you should win a trip to Los Angeles. All you have to do is post it to Twitter and Instagram with the … [Read more...] about Pitch your way to Adobe MAX
Save the date: PhotoPlus Expo is coming up
I'm sure looking forward to PhotoPlus Expo, this fall. It's a singular event with educators and vendors from around the globe gathering in one spot. You'll be able to get your hands on all the great new cameras and lenses and tripods and Platypods and lights and software and who knows what else. The most important thing that happens at shows like this, however, is that you get to meet people like yourself who are passionate about photography and trying to learn more. I love getting together with old friends, making new friends, and seeing … [Read more...] about Save the date: PhotoPlus Expo is coming up
Adorama to Host INSPIRE Event Series, Celebrating Creative Storytelling Community
Camera retailer Adorama has announced plans for Adorama INSPIRE, a new, week-long event taking place June 25 through July 1 in New York City. INSPIRE will be filled with designed-to-share experiences featuring innovators and influencers Tamara Lackey, Mark Wallace, Gavin Hoey, Tracie Maglosky and more. The week-long conference will feature workshops surrounding cinematography, photography, music making and social influence. Specially curated workshops will focus on improving technical expertise and important industry decisions. … [Read more...] about Adorama to Host INSPIRE Event Series, Celebrating Creative Storytelling Community
Inspiration vs. Perspiration for Photographers
Education is so key to the photography business these days. If you can’t do it, you can learn it, and odds are, it’s free or very cheap. But how cheap is education? There is a stark difference between cheap education and education that’s cheap, and both are taking hold in the photography world now more than ever. Education is cheap now, but it might be cheap in more ways than one. Learning and educating yourself are no longer an accessory. They are a necessity. You are expected to know every part of your camera and the gear that you use. … [Read more...] about Inspiration vs. Perspiration for Photographers
First Time Attendee? Getting the Most Out of the WPPI Experience
The time has finally come — the WPPI Conference + Expo is here! It's my first time attending the show, and I couldn't be more excited to check out the expo floor, some classes and to network with other photographers. As a first-time attendee, here's what I wanted to do to get the best out of my conference experience. Three Types of Classes There are loads of classes at WPPI. They're broken into three groups — platform classes, PLUS classes and master classes. Platform classes These are 90-minute sessions that don't require any … [Read more...] about First Time Attendee? Getting the Most Out of the WPPI Experience
Portrait Tips: How To Remember Names
You've probably heard it said that everyone's favorite sound is their own name. Folks just like to hear their own name, and using people's names is a powerful way to connect for portraits. I shot a wedding the other day with about 30 people attending, and when I made a portrait of the whole group, I called on each person individually to get them into the right position. Not only is this more effective than saying, "You in the red tie, move over," but it's also a bit entertaining and distracts the others from being miserable while I'm getting … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: How To Remember Names
Attending WPPI’s Annual 16×20 Live Print, Album, and Filmmaking Judging Might Be the Best Overall Education You Ever Receive
WPPI 2017 is literally just around the corner! And with that in mind, the team at over at WPPI has issued another bust of awesome information!  If you're attending be sure to reach out to the Photofocus community and say hello. Maybe we'll see you at the events listed below! Access to Constructive Insight, Critique, and Knowledge from Renowned Judges Offers Unique Learning Opportunity; Represents the True Essence of WPPI and Its Community Amidst the abundance of seminars, workshops, photo walks, and other educational programming at the … [Read more...] about Attending WPPI’s Annual 16×20 Live Print, Album, and Filmmaking Judging Might Be the Best Overall Education You Ever Receive
WPPI 2017 Keynote Speakers Announced!
Hot off the presses from the fine folks at PDN and Rangefinder, the keynote speakers for this years Wedding and Portrait Photography International Conference in Las Vegas have been released! Check out the official release below for all the juicy details and I hope to see you all there! Renowned Photographers Offer Knowledge and Inspiration During Daily Keynote Presentations at WPPI 2017 Jerry Ghionis, Sue Bryce, and Me Ra Koh Discuss Valuable Career Lessons, Building Confidence as a Photographer, and Realizing Your Dreams New York, NY – … [Read more...] about WPPI 2017 Keynote Speakers Announced!
Learn to Leverage Powerful Prints at WPPI
When I started photography in high school, I spent the majority of my time in the darkroom making prints from the few negatives I shot. It took a lot of time to finally see what I'd recorded on film. When I started digital photography I the complete opposite experience. I could now see my photographs immediately, but getting prints took much longer since I had to send out for them. However, when I got those prints from the lab, the impact was powerful for both me and my clients. The pictures I remember most are always those I have handled and … [Read more...] about Learn to Leverage Powerful Prints at WPPI
It’s a New Year! Don’t Forget to Update Your Copyright Info
It's a new year, and that means updating your copyright information! For photographers, this oftentimes means making updates in more than one place, like your Camera, post-processing software, and possibly your website. On Your Camera All camera models will be a little different, but they should each have a place to enter your info. For this example, I'll show how to set your info using a Canon 6D. (If you have utility software for your camera, then you may be able to edit your information on your computer. Then, connect your camera for it to … [Read more...] about It’s a New Year! Don’t Forget to Update Your Copyright Info
Don’t Forget to Update Your Lightroom Copyright Preset
It's a good idea to add copyright information to your images. This allows anyone viewing your image on the web or preparing the file for print at a printing lab to determine who owns the copyright of the image and what they can do with it. The copyright metadata can also supply information on how to contact you if they need permission to use your photo. As the end of the year draws near, it's a good idea to review, update and create a new preset that adds your copyright information to your photos metadata automatically. Most cameras have this … [Read more...] about Don’t Forget to Update Your Lightroom Copyright Preset
The Fair-use Myth
A popular myth in both photographic and academic cultures is fair use. The doctrine provides situations where copyrighted works can be used without paying. It places restrictions on: The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes The nature of the copyrighted work The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole The effect of the use on the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work Students, … [Read more...] about The Fair-use Myth
Third Quarter is Over: Have You Registered your Photos?
In the beginning of the year I wrote, "Have You Created Your 2015 Metadata Copyright Preset?" reminding us to update our copyright information for the New Year. This quick tip made sure we added our copyright information to every photo we imported into Lightroom. Our next step to protect our images is to register them with the Library of Congress. Lightroom makes this final process just as fast and easy. I thought my images were already protected? The moment you capture an image, you automatically own the copyright of the image. If someone … [Read more...] about Third Quarter is Over: Have You Registered your Photos?
Creating a Signature Watermark with Adobe Photoshop CC
I wrote a Tutorial for this over a year ago and I've been humbled by the response. It's time to update the article with the new and improved tools Adobe Photoshop CC has to offer. You can find the older version of the tutorial here. 1. Practice Grab a few sharpie of different sizes and practice your signature over and over with different sizes and widths. I found that the thinner sharpies were better in regards to more detail in the ink. Remember, it's not a bad idea to use a "stylized" signature and not the exact same one you use to sign … [Read more...] about Creating a Signature Watermark with Adobe Photoshop CC
First Quarter is over: Have you registered your photos?
In the beginning of the year I wrote, "Have You Created Your 2015 Metadata Copyright Preset?" reminding us to update our copyright information for the New Year. This quick tip made sure we added our copyright information to every photo we imported into Lightroom. Our next step to protect our images is to register them with the Library of Congress. Lightroom makes this final process just as fast and easy. I thought my images were already protected? The moment you capture an image, you automatically own the copyright of the image. If someone … [Read more...] about First Quarter is over: Have you registered your photos?
Clear: Securely Wipe Old Drives
Check out the rest of Organize Your Photos: DAM Foundations Consolidate Conform Cull Copy Clear You have rebuilt your photo archive. Now, you have a collection of hard drives, USB drives and CF/SD card that need to be addressed. To start, decide which drives stay and which should go. Here are a few things to consider: How old is the drive? The older the drive gets, the more likely it is to fail. How big is the drive? If you only shoot stills, field drives of 250-500GB might be worth keeping. If you shoot video, 1TB might be … [Read more...] about Clear: Securely Wipe Old Drives
Updating Your Copyright for the New Year
It's a new year, and that means updating your copyright information! For photographers, this oftentimes means making updates in more than one place, like your Camera, post-processing software (such as Adobe Lightroom), and possibly your website. On Your Camera All camera models will be a little different, but they should each have a place to enter your info. For this example, I'll show how to set your info using a Canon 70D. First, go into the Menu and locate the setting for the copyright information. Next, select Enter copyright details to … [Read more...] about Updating Your Copyright for the New Year
Create a Signature Watermark in Under 2 Minutes with Adobe Brush
As photographers, it's always a good idea to watermark your work. Not only is it an extra level of protection, but its also a chance to brand things a bit. In this tutorial I'm going to show you how to use Adobe Brush (a free app for iOS soon for Android). What is Adobe Brush? I first heard about Adobe Brush while watching the keynote from Adobe Max earlier this October. At first I figured its not an app I would EVER use. I do not use a lot of different brushes and I am terrible illustrator. Then it dawned on me. I could turn my signature … [Read more...] about Create a Signature Watermark in Under 2 Minutes with Adobe Brush
Have You Created Your 2015 Metadata Copyright Preset?
Now is the perfect time to create a 2015 copyright preset that will add your copyright information to your photos metadata automatically when you import them using Lightroom. It's a good idea to add personal details to your images so anyone viewing that image on the web or preparing the file for print at a printing lab can determine who owns copyright of the image and what they can do with it. If the image is copyrighted the metadata can show this and give information on how to contact you if they need permission to use your photo. Where to add … [Read more...] about Have You Created Your 2015 Metadata Copyright Preset?
A Fun Way to Learn About Copyright
Did that headline get you attention? Trust me... you want to check this out. The folks at Duke University's Center for the Study of the Public Domain has produced a comic book that explains copyright in both a clear and interesting way. Learn about the delicate balance between intellectual property and the public domain - the realm of material that is free to use without permission or payment. Get this free comic book (yes, a comic) Free digital versions Bound by Law translates law into plain English and abstract ideas into visual … [Read more...] about A Fun Way to Learn About Copyright
12 Tips for Getting the Most out of Photoshop World
Photoshop World is my time to be selfish. All year long I help others develop their skills in Photography, Photoshop and yes Martial Arts. When I attend this conference I get to relax and have fun while learning new skills and meeting old and soon to be new friends. I plan my days to get the most of PSW. Kelby One host two Photoshop Worlds every year; East Coast and West Coast. I have had the honor to attend all of them (except for 1) since 1999. Most people don't have the luxury to attend the conference twice a year so selecting classes may be … [Read more...] about 12 Tips for Getting the Most out of Photoshop World
Someone used my Photo without Consent
My son Alec was excited to tell me he saw on Instagram a photo of his Lacrosse hero Kyle Harrison receiving a gift from a well known sock company, ROCK EM. They sent the lacrosse star a pair of their socks with his name and his famous number 18 on them. Along with the socks, they sent him a photo I took of him during a game in Florida. Kyle used the image on Instagram and it was one of his most viewed images of 2013. Alec commented, "still using the shot haha. Love it!" He was excited to see the image as was I. Later that day a friend … [Read more...] about Someone used my Photo without Consent
Dave Black – Photographer, Teacher, and Author
I first met Dave Black at Photoshop World several years ago. He was setting up a balance beam in a lecture hall for a live shoot he was doing with a champion gymnast for a session he was teaching. As I watched him set up, interact with the gymnast, his assistant, and the room full of attendees; one of the things I was struck with the most was how much Dave loved photography. Daves career as a world-renowned sports photographer spans 30 years, hes covered every kind of sport you can think of, including 12 Olympic games, but the joy in his face … [Read more...] about Dave Black – Photographer, Teacher, and Author
Ten Reasons YOU Should Go to Photoshop World
In less than one month, Scott Kelby and his crew will head out to Vegas for Photoshop World. The conference is held twice a year: once in an "East Coast location", and then in Las Vegas at the end of the summer. This upcoming Photoshop World will be the seventh one I have attended! (And the fact that I am now an instructor on KelbyOne is pretty cool, to top it all off!) If you have never been to Photoshop World, you're missing out on a whole lot of fun, photography, and (very frequent) goofiness. I put together my "Top 10" reasons that YOU … [Read more...] about Ten Reasons YOU Should Go to Photoshop World
Five Top Reasons Why You Should Attend Photo Conferences
With Photoshop World quickly approaching and other conferences creeping up this fall, I want to plant some seeds into your head that hopefully can help you understand the benefit that these types of conferences can have; both personally and for your business. Yes, Photoshop World is a partner and they are dear friends of ours, but regardless of that relationship, I want to be very candid about the positive and priceless experience these types of conferences can have for you, regardless of your photography skill level. ---- 1. … [Read more...] about Five Top Reasons Why You Should Attend Photo Conferences
How to Protect Your Online Galleries
This past week, many site owners of Zenfolio and SmugMug that shoot Boudoir photography had found out private and unlisted galleries were being accessed by people who were using these photos for ransom, personal pleasure and other terrible things. There are forums and chats specifically dedicated to figuring out passwords, sharing links and finding other ways to access these private galleries. Many of these photos can be damaging to careers and lives if pictures are released in a public forum. So you can image how upset photographers and … [Read more...] about How to Protect Your Online Galleries
