As traveling photographers, we all wear many hats—landscape photographer, bird photographer, portrait photographer, food photographer, etc. We may feel comfortable in some of the hats we wear, and some hats just don’t seem to fit well at all. I had my roots in landscape and nature photography then moved on to cityscapes. Photographing people on the streets in the places I visited always seemed a tough fit. So I pushed hard--taking a class, watching videos, reading some books, and making lots of pictures--to figure out how to get good shots … [Read more...] about The Traveling Photographer: Photographing People: Guidelines
Portraits
Gear Review: Angler Circo LED Ring Light (19″)
Over the years I've been adding to my lighting equipment. I started out with a standard on-camera flash and then progressed into my AlienBee B800 strobes. And now, with the Angler Circo LED Ring Light (19"), I'm adding a bit of flair into my setup. I was initially intrigued to get a ring light in order to get a crisp look in eyes when photographing portraits. Instead of using umbrellas on my AlienBees, I wanted a more-focused light that would help to better show off a person's eyes. The Angler Circo LED Ring Light (19") is a great starter … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Angler Circo LED Ring Light (19″)
Beyond Technique Podcast | Photofocus Podcast January 17, 2018
https://soundcloud.com/photofocus/beyond-technique-podcast-photofocus-podcast-january-17-2018 Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Please post a review on iTunes. Welcome to Beyond Technique, a podcast empowering photographers to bring their businesses to the next level! In this episode, Skip Cohen and Chamira Young dive deep into a discussion about the benefits of having special photography projects with Stacy Pearsall. We discuss in detail: How Stacy was brought out of a dark place through the Veteran's Portrait … [Read more...] about Beyond Technique Podcast | Photofocus Podcast January 17, 2018
How to Boost Your Portfolio and Build Credibility
One of the predicaments many new photographers find themselves in is quite painful - they don't have a robust portfolio of images to get new clients. Yet, they need new clients in order to fill their portfolio. It's kind of a chicken and the egg type of situation, isn't it? In this post, I'd like to share a few ways to get high-quality, targeted images in your portfolio without having to bang your head on the wall. Be Strategic About Your "Free Work" In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with doing a limited number of free … [Read more...] about How to Boost Your Portfolio and Build Credibility
How to Generate Buzz as a Photographer in Your Community
When I first started my photography business, one of the biggest things I struggled with was figuring out how I would stand out within my community. It's no secret that photographers seem to be a dime a dozen (sorry), meaning we tend to lurk around practically every corner. Do a quick Google search in your area, and I'm fairly certain you will find quite a few photographers within just a few miles of you. However, the good news is that there are practical ways you can begin to stand out. You don't have to automatically price yourself as the … [Read more...] about How to Generate Buzz as a Photographer in Your Community
Don’t Forget to Shoot Extra Portait Elements
From the course: Portrait Photography: Sports Portraits on LinkedIn Learning Shooting additional elements from Portrait Photography: Sports Portraits by Robert Vanelli While we have our actor or athlete on the set, we're also going to have him turn his back so I can snap a photo of his jersey number. I'm doing this because it gives me more options when I'm working inside of Photoshop. So, imagine having a beautiful portrait of him and then—in the background, just faded—is another shot of him with his head down, looking away. It could look … [Read more...] about Don’t Forget to Shoot Extra Portait Elements
Lessons from the Field: Coaxing a Smile Out of A Stubborn Portrait Client
One thing that has stood out to me over the years is the importance of having people skills in order to make great portraits. In my experience, learning how to use the camera has been the easy part. It's the people skills that can often make or break a portrait session. Below is a story from the field that taught me that lesson while shooting a small company's headshots at their office. "Gary tends to look like a serial killer in photos. Good luck." As soon as I arrived at the office that Monday morning for a small company's employee … [Read more...] about Lessons from the Field: Coaxing a Smile Out of A Stubborn Portrait Client
Fog… in a can?
Using a fog machine indoors—especially in a small, unvented room—can be challenging. The fog can sometimes linger too long or move in front of your subject, causing a hazy image. Here’s how to control fog using a neat little product called Atmosphere Aerosol, a.k.a Fog in a Can. What is Atmosphere Aerosol? Atmosphere Aerosol looks like hairspray, but without the choking fumes. It enables photographers to add fog or haze during a shoot. It’s a safe, non-toxic, clear spray that won’t stain gowns, suits, uniforms or garments. How it … [Read more...] about Fog… in a can?
Gear Review: Vellos Ringbox Flash Adapter
I am slowly getting hooked on my new Vellos Ringbox Flash Adapter. Not only do I get beautiful on-location headshots and portraits with my flash when using the Ringbox, but it makes my life a lot easier, and I like things easy. I use to carry around a light stand and softbox when I knew I needed more than natural light. Not anymore--I just take the Ringbox. I am also looking forward to trying it out on my next trip. It is very light and will not take much room in my suitcase. What is a Ringbox Flash Adapter A Ringbox Flash Adapter is a … [Read more...] about Gear Review: Vellos Ringbox Flash Adapter
Dragging the Shutter Part Two: Shake, Spin and Zoom
Dragging the Shutter, as we learned in Part One, is a tricky technique where you light the subject with your flash, and then use a slow shutter speed to pull in the background light. All the basic how-to information on how to balance light to make it “correct” is laid out in the previous article. Now we are going to break the rules and have fun! The Venice Carnival is the perfect place to play with this technique because of the extravagant and colorful costumes combined with gorgeous scenery. I love dragging the shutter, but I like to play … [Read more...] about Dragging the Shutter Part Two: Shake, Spin and Zoom
Portrait Tips: Great Eyes Start At The Toes
The eyes are the most important part of a portrait, and the expression in the eyes makes the difference between a well-lit picture and a stunning portrait. You'll notice that when people look into the camera you have about .026 seconds before the eyes start to glaze over. The eyes quickly look disengaged and even frightened. The majority of pictures posted on the internet have dull, uninterested eyes. But there's a simple way to help you get fresh eyes in every picture. "Look down at my toes, please." Whether I'm photographing old friends, … [Read more...] about Portrait Tips: Great Eyes Start At The Toes
How to Take Better Portraits of Women with Matthew Jordan Smith
Are you looking for some great tips form an expert photographer? We've got a great video here from Matthew Jordan Smith How to Shoot and Develop Better Portraits Learn from celebrity photographer Matthew Jordan Smith as he quickly shows you How to Take Better Portraits of Women and finish them off with LUCID by Athentech. These same presets are also in Perfect Skin and Perfectly Clear Complete for Photoshop and Lightroom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOMkqXyriMY Who's Matthew Jordan Smith? Matthew Jordan … [Read more...] about How to Take Better Portraits of Women with Matthew Jordan Smith
How to Keep a Family Portrait Session Under Control
You want your clients to have fun during a portrait session—but some clients take it too, far leaving you with unusable images. Bunny ears and goofy faces are great for outtake shots; but if that’s all you have, your client won’t be happy and they will blame you. Here’s how to take command of your set, keeping your family portrait session under control while having fun. Establishing a Time Limit Ask the client how much time they have and if there is anyone who needs to leave early. Plan on photographing those family members first. This will … [Read more...] about How to Keep a Family Portrait Session Under Control
Color Correction for the Best Skin Tone
Editor's NOTE: Photofocus is proud to welcome master photo educator Lee Varis to our roster of authors! Subtle Adjustments Make all the Difference Every photo needs some amount of adjustment to enhance its presentation, even really good photos can benefit with the right adjustment. However, if you ask 5 different people what needs to be done, you'll get 5 different answers, or worse, no answers, simply, "it looks fine!" Things become really difficult when there is no obvious problem. There are simple things to check for, like making … [Read more...] about Color Correction for the Best Skin Tone
Photographer of the Day: Robert Armstrong
Category: Children Photograph: “Wonderful” by Robert Armstrong Robert captured a great expression and pose from this little girl. The shallow depth of field keeps the viewer's attention on her beautiful face. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Robert Armstrong
Photographer of the Day – Steve Lavelle
Category: Portraits Photographer: Steve Lavelle - Vietnamese Lady Since I’m a new contributor here at PhotoFocus, I’ve been perusing the Photofocus Flickr community in order to highlight some of the group’s fantastic portrait photographers. At our DC portrait studio, we shoot portraits every day, but this one totally stood out! Steve Lavelle has hit it out of the park with this one! All too often, portrait photographers go a little too far when smoothing skin in portraits. The reason why we love this image, is because of the overall … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day – Steve Lavelle
Photographer of the Day – Jeremy VanderMeer
Category: Portraits Photographer: Jeremy VanderMeer – Sad Man Calling this portrait ‘striking’ is putting it lightly! This portrait just stopped me in my tracks! While Jeremy VanderMeer seems to predominantly photograph babies and nature, he sure is a talent when it comes to portraits too. We can also see that he has a fabulous knowledge of the dodge and burn technique, as illustrated in this shot. We here at DC Headshots like to think we know a thing or two about portraits and retouching. Keep up the great work, Jeremy! As per … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day – Jeremy VanderMeer
Photographer of the Day – George Prapas
Category: Portraits Photographer: George Prapas - GP_MG_8774 Hey guys! My name is Kristina Sherk and I’m a professional retoucher and portrait photographer from Washington DC. At our DC headshot studio, we like to think we know a thing or two about photographing and retouching people, so I’m going to start featuring some amazing portrait photographers on Mondays, here on Photofocus! Here’s our first featured portrait photographer: Bulgarian photographer George Prapas has got a keen eye for photographing people and it absolutely … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day – George Prapas
Photographer of the Day: Pat Callahan “Off to Market”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Pat Callahan This nicely composed street portrait by Pat Callahan shows beautiful light on a great wall in Antigua, Guatemala. Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Pat Callahan “Off to Market”
New Category & Curator for Photographer of the Day
Travel Photofocus' popular feature "Photographer of the Day" has a new category--Travel. Susan Kanfer who herself is an amazingly talented destination photographer curates Travel. The Weddings category is on hiatus. I'm excited about evolving Photographer of the Day. If you have category ideas or other thoughts, email me at [email protected] Be a Photofocus Photographer of the Day The POTD curators scour submissions to the Photofocus groups on Flickr, 500px & Google Plus. Upload photos that you have made with one of our daily … [Read more...] about New Category & Curator for Photographer of the Day
Photographer of the Day: Nick Pemberton “Preying Mantis”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Nick Pemberton This shot by Nick Pemberton proves that faces in shadows actually can yield great portraits. Of course having a few cool bugs never hurts... Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Nick Pemberton “Preying Mantis”
Photographer of the Day: K.a.J.a “Creo en mi”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by K.a.J.a This beautiful portrait from K.a.J.a that harkens back to classic Hollywood glamour portraits of the 1930s. Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: K.a.J.a “Creo en mi”
Photographer of the Day: Owwski “Marla”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Owwski Owwski shows how light and dark shapes can add depth to a portrait. Of course a lovely face never hurts... Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Owwski “Marla”
Photographer of the Day: Jim J.H. “Taking the Moment”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Jim J.H. As location portraits go - it's hard to get much better than this: Great Face. Great Location. Great Light. BOOM! Well done, Jim!!! Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Jim J.H. “Taking the Moment”
Photographer of the Day: Miloš Vujičić
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Miloš Vujičić Here's a truly stunning portrait by Miloš Vujičić that proves dark can be sexy... Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Miloš Vujičić
Photographer of the Day: Gary Radler
Category: Children Photograph: “Toddler girl pouring water out of her boot” by Gary Radler As adults, we know boots are supposed to keep water out, not store it. The fact a toddler is pouring water out of a boot, makes the image cute. We can see the toddler had a great time playing and sitting in the grass -- as seen by the grass still attached to her bottom. Gary kept a shallow depth of field to keep the focus on the toddler and action. Originally shared with the Photofocus Flickr community right here. To learn how your work can be … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Gary Radler
Photographer of the Day: Manol Z. Manolov “The Odd Couple”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Manol Z. Manolov Hats off to Manol Z. Manolov for capturing this great portrait of contrasts! Bravo!!! Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Manol Z. Manolov “The Odd Couple”
Photographer of the Day: Fitz Crittle “Money on the table”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Fitz Crittle Here's a lovely portrait by Fitz Crittle that proves you don't have to understand the title to appreciate the artistry... Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Fitz Crittle “Money on the table”
Photographer of the Day: Stephen Wolfe “Doo Dah Portrait”
Category: Portraits Photograph: by Stephen Wolfe This portrait by Stephen Wolfe, of Columbus, Ohio, shows the LOVE that lured LeBron James back to Ohio. Originally shared on the Photofocus Flickr Community. To learn how your work can be featured on the site, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Stephen Wolfe “Doo Dah Portrait”
Quick Review: Tamron 90MM F/2.8 Macro VC Lens
These days when you hear Tamron, most people seem impressed with their lenses. My go-to lens recently has been their 35mm f/1.8 lens which is a must for landscapes. I’ve also found myself using it frequently on weddings. Tamron has been a breath of fresh air in providing high quality, inexpensive options for lenses. A Look at the 90MM F/2.8 Macro VC Lens Recently I was able to get my hands on the new Tamron 90mm f/2.8. My normal favorite macro lens has always been the Canon version 100mm. The lens is available on the following … [Read more...] about Quick Review: Tamron 90MM F/2.8 Macro VC Lens
