Editor's Note: Don't miss this week's free event on when to jump from Lightroom to Photoshop. For some reason, people laugh at me when I make a picture with them. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining: laughing makes a wonderful expression. My subjects crack a big smile, and usually also bend in half with the joy of it. They're moving, and my photograph allows us to enjoy that blissful movement forever. I love it when they laugh. The thing is, I also love a sharp picture. I'm usually using a tripod to make their portrait, and I'm also … [Read more...] about Blurry Pictures Feel More Genuine, and Photoshop Can Help
video
Adding Light – The Difference Just One Light Can Make
When I first started out with photography, natural light was my best friend. I didn't have money for lights, so I learned to shoot using what was available to me. Shoot after shoot, I'd tuck a little money away into a gear fund to save up for lights. Natural light can get you pretty far, but adding just one light can really take you up to the next level. On a recent video shoot, I was able to snap a comparison frame between a shot lit naturally and a shot lit with a mix of natural and artificial light. The building I was in had massive … [Read more...] about Adding Light – The Difference Just One Light Can Make
The Process of Shooting a Music Video with a Canon…and Just One Lens
Editor's Note: This is a guest post from photographer and cinematographer, Anders Lnnfeldt. This was the second time I worked with the Finnish artist Jannike. I made her first music video in 2013 which we shot partly in Greece and partly in Helsinki. This time the plan was to find even more fantastic locations and make the video both bigger and better. Jannike's manager contacted me in the beginning of 2014 and told me about their plans about shooting a music video in Los Angeles and he asked me to come along. This was a deal I didn't want … [Read more...] about The Process of Shooting a Music Video with a Canon…and Just One Lens
Shooting Turntable Product Shots
A recent addition to my bag of tricks is a motorized turntable. This type of product is perfect for creating moving footage of products or detailed items. This works well for things like product demonstrations, award shows, and marketing videos. In my case the Turntable is from eMotimo and it attaches to the TB3 robotic head. Size: 7? x 7? x 2.5? Weight: 2 lbs. Supports: 75 lbs. Precision: Repeatable to less than 100th of a degree. Product Includes: 27:1 geared stepper motor with revolve motor mounts, four bracket X pieces, and 6.5? … [Read more...] about Shooting Turntable Product Shots
Finding Contractors for Video Projects
Many photographers are finding their clients asking for video projects. But video is often a team sport... it takes multiple people to get the job done. Finding other professionals to work with can seem quite daunting at first. This is especially true if you are changing markets or professional focus. Its important to realize that the film and video community is well established with its own professional groups and even unions. Finding qualified video crew is not difficult (if you know where to look). Craigslist is Not Your Friend Before we … [Read more...] about Finding Contractors for Video Projects
Super-Telephoto Killer: Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro Hands-on Review
The Olympus M.Zuiko ED 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens with its 1.4x teleconverter has helped me make a bunch of good pictures and allowed me to do a good job for my clients. Over the last few months, I've used it to shoot a variety of subjects from wild horses to aerial photos to portraits to college graduation. I'd like to show you how it performed for me, and make an argument for why you will never need to buy a $12,000 lens. Let's start with the horses. This Lens Will Tame Wild Horses The thing about these horses is they are fairly tame (people … [Read more...] about Super-Telephoto Killer: Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro Hands-on Review
What’s New in on1 Perfect Effects 9.5
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcBbZrZtu5E] In this video I show the new and updated features inside of on1's Perfect Effects version 9.5. Here's what is covered: Luminosity Mask Line Mask Tool Double-click Chisel and Blur Tools Feather In and Out with Blur Tool Mask Contextual Menu "O" key to toggle mask preview Updates to Borders filter options Improvement to Temperature slider (now yellow, not orange) If you would like to learn more about Perfect Effects, please take a look at my full video course by clicking here. … [Read more...] about What’s New in on1 Perfect Effects 9.5
The Essentials of Three-point Lighting
This article was cowritten with my friend James Ball Three-point lighting is the basic starting point for film and video. It can also be used well as a portrait lighting approach for photography. What's ideally happening is that the subject is light in a way that illuminates their face (with one side more dominant) and some separation from the background. This method utilizes three light sources focused on the subject from different angles. Mastering this technique is the foundation for more advanced lighting strategies. This approach is the … [Read more...] about The Essentials of Three-point Lighting
Getting through a Tough Video Interview
A key ingredient to any video project is an interview. As photographers, adding a talking subject to your next video montage or slideshow takes it to the next level. It can add a story to your project, and stories are what people want to watch. One of the most common video projects Im hired to shoot are interviews and testimonials. While Id like to be behind the camera, most of the time Im running the camera and asking the questions. Some people are very personable in front of a camera. Others . . . are not. A Recent Tough Shoot During my … [Read more...] about Getting through a Tough Video Interview
15 Seconds of Fame: Preview Videos for Instagram
Videos slideshows are a powerful way to show pictures, and I think Instagram offers a unique opportunity. The thing is, my clients love to watch a slideshow of themselves, but few other people are willing to watch a long slideshow these days. Instagram has a 15 seconds limit on slideshows, though, and that's just about perfect--I don't know about you, but I watch almost every video that comes through my feed 'cause it's only 15 seconds. https://vimeo.com/128199972 So, let's use Instagram to make a short impactful slideshow that acts as a … [Read more...] about 15 Seconds of Fame: Preview Videos for Instagram
Sanibel Island Skim Boarding
Passion fuels creativity In between jobs, a few friends and I took a trip to the beach for a little rest and relaxation. Teddy, Alec, Vanelli and myself trekked out to the Sanibel Island Lighthouse just outside Fort Myers, Florida. Some of us, Vanelli, couldn't sit still long enough and decided to come up with a challenge. Armed with just a few beach chairs, a skim board, and our phones, we set out to create something unique - just for fun. After all, thats where you get your best ideas. Alec is an athlete. He's a great lacrosse player, … [Read more...] about Sanibel Island Skim Boarding
Color Correcting and Enhancing Video in Photoshop
Whether you want to fix a problem or simply give your video more style,Adobe Photoshop can help. I've put together an in-depth article to walk you through all the essential steps of fixing your video shots using tools you may already be familiar with. Why Color Correct Video in Adobe Photoshop? When Adobe unveiled the robust video editing capabilities with Photoshop CS6, the response from many was a simple Why? In some regards this is a legitimate question as for most, Photoshop is closely linked with digital photography. Its the tool used … [Read more...] about Color Correcting and Enhancing Video in Photoshop
Spider Pro Hand Strap
I don't use neck straps, and I generally advise everyone against them. I think they're a poor design and dangerous to your body--with as much shooting as I do, carrying a camera was damaging my neck. You may have read my review of the Joby wrist strap when I said it's the only strap I'll use. Well, I've got to take those words back: the new Spider Pro Hand Strap is now with me all the time and it's truly the only strap I'll ever use. It's perfect because it's secure, and well designed. Safety First Neck straps let you keep a camera handy, but … [Read more...] about Spider Pro Hand Strap
A Closer Look at Sony’s New “Touchless Shutter” app
We've all been there. Out in the middle of who knows where, setting up for a shot that absolutely requires the camera to be perfectly still. You reach into your camera bag to grab your remote cable release only to realize that it is sitting all comfy on your desk at home. Or worse, you don't even own a remote cable release. Now, you're playing into the risk of introducing micro shakes with your camera as you reach for and press the shutter button. If you're a Sony photographer, though, you're in luck thanks to the release of a new free app in … [Read more...] about A Closer Look at Sony’s New “Touchless Shutter” app
Lightroom CC’s New Brush Feature For The Graduated Filter
Adobe released Lightroom CC/6 this week much to the delight of its loyal users. I put together a tutorial video that walks through a few of the new features, notably the new Brush tools with the Graduated Filter, auto pano stitching, and some other smaller odds and ends that you may have overlooked. If you have any questions about Lightroom, let me know in the comments section! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQweZqAaUV0&w=1280&h=720] … [Read more...] about Lightroom CC’s New Brush Feature For The Graduated Filter
Arizona Highways Photo Workshops – A Different Kind Of Workshop Experience
_______________________ I recently had the pleasure of attending the Arizona Highways Photo Workshops "Horses & Cowboys" event in Tucson, AZ. AHPW is a 30-year-old non-profit that offers photography education for everyone from beginning shooters to advanced professionals. The Workshops tie to the famous Arizona Highways Magazine which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. Few things in this world can last nearly a century and the way Arizona Highways Magazine has done it is simple. They have provided some of the best photography this … [Read more...] about Arizona Highways Photo Workshops – A Different Kind Of Workshop Experience
My Most Profitable Light Is Also My Cheapest
Six years ago I started making pictures, and I dove right in planning to make a portrait business. The best thing I did was attend David Ziser's workshop where he taught me that shadow and light are the most important technical things to learn in photography. He showed image after image of stunning portraits, and they were almost all lit with the same modifier, and I bought one from him that night. Six years later, that Zumbrella is still my most profitable tool, and while it's seen better days physically, it's still the fastest and easiest way … [Read more...] about My Most Profitable Light Is Also My Cheapest
Which GoPro Battery Lasts the Longest?
While GoPro cameras offer awesome point of view shots, they don't have the best battery life. I went into the test labs to see which battery lasted the longest. Learn how close the third party (and much cheaper) batteries were to the expensive GoPro batteries. This tutorial will help you decide which battery is best for your setup. Watch the follow-up movies within this series at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JswRVx2q_q8 This specific tutorial is from the Video Gear Weekly series presented by lynda.com authors Rich Harrington and Robbie … [Read more...] about Which GoPro Battery Lasts the Longest?
Mini Review: Drobo USB 3.0 4-Bay Storage Array
I was pretty excited when I received my new Drobo. I'm brand new to Drobo and how they work and heard some pretty good things about them so to finally get one in my hands is a big deal for me. I'm always in need of more space and backups because not only do I do photography but I keep busy shooting and editing videos. I have used a variety of hard drives and backups in the past and I can say hands down, Drobo was easiest set up I've ever done. The Unboxing I open the box and the 1st thing I see is a white box that says, "Welcome to the World … [Read more...] about Mini Review: Drobo USB 3.0 4-Bay Storage Array
Capture Cinematic Weddings Seminar Review
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending Capture Cinematic Weddings with Ray Roman in Fort Lauderdale. The in-depth seminar took place at a hotel just steps from the beach. We learned how to maximize picture quality with proper exposure settings, understanding how to master the speeches and get perfect audio every time, and how to price & position our work to gain high-profile clients. It was great watching some of Rays favorite wedding films to help illustrate everything we were learning. The next day, Rays master class put … [Read more...] about Capture Cinematic Weddings Seminar Review
Exporting Video From Lightroom
Let's continue our look at working with video in Lightroom. In part 1 we explored Uses for Video, in part 2 Hard Drive Requirements for Video, in part 3 Playing and Trimming Video, and part 4 Adjusting the Tone and Color. Now let's talk about exporting video from Lightroom. … [Read more...] about Exporting Video From Lightroom
Adjusting the Tone and Color of a Video Clip in Lightroom
Let's continue our look at working with video in Lightroom. In part 1 we explored Uses for Video, in part 2 Hard Drive Requirements for Video, and in part 3 Playing and Trimming Video. Now let's talk about adjusting tone and color of video clips. … [Read more...] about Adjusting the Tone and Color of a Video Clip in Lightroom
Playing and Trimming Video
Let's continue our look at working with video in Lightroom. In part 1 we explored Uses for Video and in part 2 Hard Drive Requirements for Video. Now let's talk about playing video back and trimming clips. … [Read more...] about Playing and Trimming Video
Hard Drive Requirements for Video
Let's continue our look at working with video in Lightroom. In part 1 we explored Uses for Video. Now let's talk about the type of hard drive you need to work with video in Lightroom. … [Read more...] about Hard Drive Requirements for Video
Uses for Video in Lightroom
Photographers are being asked to shoot video more and more these daysand Lightroom can help. All the same features you use to organize and develop your still photos can be applied to your motion footage. Plus, explore additional tools for playing, adjusting, and trimming video so you present just the best parts to collaborators and clients. This class is perfect for users of all experience levels. Why Use Video in Lightroom There are lots of reasons to use Lightroom as a catalog, or even a developing tool for your video files. More and more … [Read more...] about Uses for Video in Lightroom
Naming Your Price: Using a Base Price to Drive Profits
This is a guest post by wedding cinematographer Ray Roman, but it applies to all photographers. Ray's currently on tour helping photographers expand their job opportunities by adding video.In our industry, every client is angling for a deal. How do you create lasting memories for your newlyweds without putting a hole in your own pocket? Your hard work filming, editing, and producing wedding films should be reflected in your pay. But so many photographers & videographers are selling themselves short by using the wrong pricing and sales … [Read more...] about Naming Your Price: Using a Base Price to Drive Profits
Bad Music = Bad Video & How To Beat the Shakes
I attended a workshop tour put on by David Ziser a few days before my first DSLR arrived, and he got me hooked on hybrid slideshows. I used to use Animoto to make these, and more recently I prefer ProShow Web, but I also like to make my own productions using Photoshop (Richard Harrington has a good introduction for video in Photoshop right here). These hybrid slideshows are always a win for weddings and family and senior portrait clients, but I also make them for some non-profit clients. The thing is, nothing is more moving than powerful … [Read more...] about Bad Music = Bad Video & How To Beat the Shakes
Shooting with Digital Cinema Lenses
Looking to up your video game? Consider stepping up to a Hollywood class lens for your next "big" project. Digital Cinema lenses offer great booked, fast shooting speeds, and great tone and color. These lenses are beautiful, but come with hefty price tags. But why drop all that money if you don't need to. In the video industry its very common to rent lenses for a higher end job. This will give you the flexibility to build out the right kit for the project. I recently rented several different lenses from LensRentals.com and was quite … [Read more...] about Shooting with Digital Cinema Lenses
A Complete Lesson on Editing Video in Adobe Photoshop
With the release of Photoshop CS6, Adobe introduced the ability to edit video footage. If you're a Photoshop CC customer, it gets even better. These seven videos walk you through the entire process from building a sequence to working with audio and exporting your video in a variety of high-quality formats. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoiqCTW9eCROt39tuAxXeZtLQjb0CLJfS Learn how Photoshops strongest feature, its image enhancement toolset, translates over to video, from fixing under or overexposed footage, performing color balancing, … [Read more...] about A Complete Lesson on Editing Video in Adobe Photoshop
Guaranteed Smiles: Lensbaby Composer Pro Review
There are very few things you can buy that will make your photography better. The truth is, you just have to practice more. The good news is, I can practice more--I've got a lifetime to do so, and so do you. But if I can buy a tool that will help me have fun while practicing, then that might just be worthwhile, and I'd say that the Lensbaby Composer Pro system is just such a tool. Lens-what? LensBABY. They've been making lenses for years, and they're made right here in Portland, Oregon, USA. The distinctive thing about Lensbaby lenses is that … [Read more...] about Guaranteed Smiles: Lensbaby Composer Pro Review
