Monday, February 20, 2012

Posing Guide



Yesterday I hit a road block. Yup...it stopped lurking over my shoulder and eventually took center stage.

Here's how it all went down. I started building a portfolio and enlisted the help of a few of my friends for practice photo sessions. I felt really confident about the outcome of the sessions because I had taken lots of great photos of my kids, I've read and continue to read everything I could possibly dig up about photography, I practice every chance I get and besides, I was taking pictures of friends. What could go wrong? I was feeling good! Well sad to say, that feeling was short lived. A few sessions later, I fell flat on my face!

What could go wrong? Well...everything! After each session I uploaded the photos to look them over, edit and hopefully make selections for the portfolio. As I did this, I thought about the session; what went well and what didn't. I'm sure you've guessed it...there was a lot that didn't go so well! Out of a few hundred photos, I was only able to chose two shots. I'm having second thoughts about those too! LOL!

I noticed that I was having a hard time finding things to say that didn't sound cheesy. I was now suddenly nervous behind the camera and it seemed as though I had forgotten EVERYTHING I had learned. My brain was on lock down in the worst way! To add to this, after a few minutes into the sessions I was running out of ideas, feeling exhausted and defeated! A sad state of affairs to say the least.



Fast forward to today, after a few handfuls of Hershey's kisses and reading this awesome post from "Fresh Sugar Photography" on "My 25 Biggest Mistakes". I'm feeling a little better about the experience. I've had a few hours to clear away the cobwebs of doubt and discouragement from my thoughts and realize that this is just part of the process...a call to my alter ego Mrs. Perfection to take a back seat for a while. A time to continue to grow, to hone my skills and appreciate my art for what it is...a work in progress. That being said,  my next few posts will focus on topics to help guide me through, over, around or under this pesky road block. I hope that the information I uncover can help you maneuver any obstacles you have faced in this regard.

Here are a few suggestions from seasoned photographers as to what to do when your brain freezes and you're fresh out of ideas as it relates to posing.

❂ Change your lens to gain another perspective.

❂ Capture the moments as your subjects interact with each other or with the prop that is being used.

❂ Change the location.

❂ Be a little goofy and make the client(s) laugh.

❂ Try a different angle of the same pose.

❂ Capture moments in between shots.

❂ Allow the client(s) to offer suggestions as to their vision for the shoot.

❂ When all else fails...use a cheat sheet! A posing guide can be really useful when in a pinch.

❂ Remember the triangle when photographing groups.

I've compiled my very own posing guide on Pinterest using photos from photographers I follow. The Pinterest app is installed on my smart phone and itouch and I can pull them up quickly when stuck. If you haven't checked out my Pinterest boards, now is a great time to take a sneak peek at some really great posing ideas. Make a few boards for yourself and take advantage of this really great tool. If you have ideas that have helped you, please share them below. I would love to hear your tips as well!

My boards include poses for Couples/Engagement, WeddingsMaternity, Infants, Children/Adolescents, Seniors, Individual Portraits and Family/Groups. Take a look and follow me here.
















Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Photography Tips n Tricks




I hope this week of goodies has been what you had hoped it would be. Since developing "Nikon Newbie", I have come across some really helpful sites chock full of photography tips and tricks that have helped me become a better photographer. If you take the time to explore what they have to offer, you will be rewarded as I have. Dig in!

❀Pioneer Woman Photography -  Great, grrreat series about aperture.

Photography Tips for the Newbie Photographer - My squidoo lens, a great place to start. A short and sweet introduction into the world of photography.


Photography Tips for Beginners - Oodles of well written information with beautiful images and useful tips.


31 Days to a Better Photo - I can't think of a better place to start. Everything from understanding camera basics to photoshop techniques.


Step by Step Photography - By far one of the best websites for the amateur photographer. It covers the fundamentals of photography in an easy to follow, step-by-step progression. Understanding Aperture in 3 Steps is an example of the types of articles to be found here.


Simplified helpful Photography Guide With Photo Cheat Sheet - Ok, if you do not check out any other site I have listed, stop in and visit this one. Great cheat sheets for exposure, aperture and photoshop to name a few.


10 Top Composition Rules - Beautiful images to illustrate composition tips.

Digital Photography School - Ok, I had to include this popular site as well just in case for some strange reason you have not encountered it in your searches. You name it, they've got it. A great read for me were the articles:  "How to Take Great Group Photos" and 19 Portrait Photography Tutorials.

How to Take Beautiful Photos in Full Sun - There will be times when we will have no choice but to shoot in full sun so why not prepare yourself. Read this article to do just that!

10 Photography Cliches You Should Avoid To Improve Your Photography - An eye opener as to what can potentially result in cheesy photography!

5 Top Photography Branding Mistakes - A good read with lots of practical advice.

How to Start A Photography Business - Lots of good stuff about how to kick off a successful photography business.


Become A Photographer without Giving Up Your Day Job - If you haven't read this as yet, nows a good time!

50 Timesaving Photoshop Actions for Enhancing Photos - You're gonna love this!

5 Elements that Add Variety to Your Photo Shoot - Mix and match elements for a variety of shots! You would want to read this!

ehow Photography - Over 400 articles related to photography...take your pick!


So much more to come! See you again soon and thanks for stopping by!




Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Developing Your Brand as a Photographer

As I started focusing more on the business aspect of photography, the "branding" buzz word kept popping up. Let me bore you just for a moment then get down to the goodies! What is branding? A name, sign, image or symbol that represents you, your business and the services or products you provide; a necessary tool in the development and success of your business.

What do you envision when you read or hear these company names: Target, McDonald's, Best Buy, Walmart to name a few? I immediately think of the image or logo associated with each company and how I feel about them. Do I trust the company? Am I satisfied with their service or product? Can I count on them to follow through with their promises? A customer's favorable response to these questions as it relates to your business will result in a strong brand because you have built their trust and created an emotional attachment to your product, services or company.

Branding is not something to overlook or leave to chance. It requires time and attention to make sure it reflects your style of photography, evokes the emotions you want to portray and essentially communicates to your potential customer the type of experience to be had.

As a photographer, a website, blog, social media, business cards and other branding tools serve as your storefront. You want to make sure they attract the ideal customer and convinces them that your service is invaluable and best fulfills their individual needs.

On that note, drum roll please...day two of goodies have to do with branding. I have compiled a list of really terrific sites that can to help you build your personal brand. Do you have others you would like to include? Add them below in the comment section! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!

Image courtesy of Fuel Your Photography


FUEL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY- An article about the importance of using typeface to build your brand.

PHOTOGRAPHY CONCENTRATE - A really helpful and fun article about the role color plays in branding. 

MCP ACTIONS - Read about the importance of evoking emotion in your photography branding.



Need a few ideas to get started? Check out these sites!



IDENTITY KITCHEN 




GO4PRO

KELLY RIDGELL DESIGNS 

ON THE SPOT STUDIO


DESIGN AGLOW



JAMIE SCHULTZ DESIGNS



PHOTOGRAPHER CAFE



MOO





THE THOUGHTFUL TYPE





PHOTOGRAPHY BLOGSITES





SMUGMUG








TEMPLATE MONSTER






PROOFING AND SELLING TOOLS 







Monday, February 6, 2012

Goodies: Model/Property Release Templates and Apps

Image courtesy of modernhepburn.tumblr.com

Welcome to a week of photography goodies! That's right...you heard me! I dug up a few goodies that were so awesome I wanted to share them with you!

After reading tons of inspirational quotes on Pinterest (Pinterest peeps...you know what I'm talkin' about!) I finally got up off my tush and decided to begin the process of starting a photography business. YAY me!

For some time now, I've been reading oodles and oodles of photography related content and to tell you the truth, I got pretty overwhelmed! Can you say road block? Has this happened to you?

Well I FINALLY pulled myself up by my boot straps, set a few goals and prioritized them. The result was discovering some really useful resources. So here you have it, something every photographer needs: releases, releases, releases! In this post, I'll be sharing with you links to sites with free templates and samples of photo releases, adult and child model releases and property releases to get you started. Photography services contracts, event photography contracts, wedding photography agreement etc. can also be found on these sites. I've listed quite a few, choose the forms that work best for you.  Come back and visit with me to see what else I uncover this week!

American Society of Media Photographers - This site has a few quick and easy pocket release forms that are great when you need something signed quickly that provides a reasonable amount of coverage. Child model releases can also be found here. 


Brighthub - Has just about every form you could possibly need. 


BetterPhoto.com - Release forms as word documents...very helpful!




Easy Release Model Release App - Model release forms designed for the Ipad and Iphone. Rated among the top 100 apps for 2011. Priced at $9.99. Recently made available for android phones as well! Find out more about the Easy Release App at cnet.


iDRelease - A FREE app for the iphone available on itunes. Provides industry standard release forms that are used by Getty images. Read cnet's review here.


irelease App - Another app available for the iphone and ipad. Customizable templates that allow you to add your logo! Neat! Priced at $9.99. Read cnet's review of the irelease app here.


Photographer's Contract Maker - Suitable for both the iphone and ipad. Priced at $2.99. Read cnet's review of this app here.



Photographer's Rights - This isn't an app for releases, however I decided to add it because it's such a handy tool. It helps photographers understand their rights when visiting different countries. A steal at $1.99. Read cnet's review of this app here.



I am not being paid to mention any of the above products. I included them because of their potential benefit to your business.

Have you used any of the above apps? Are there others I failed to mention? Add them below in my comments section.




Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Get Noticed with Pinterest



Hi, my name's Warnesa and I'm a Pinterest addict! LOL! Just had to do that! There is however a bit of truth to that statement :) I discovered Pinterest a few months ago, but it wasn't until the last week or so that I became totally immersed in it when I realized the great potential it held for photographers.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, let me give you a bit of background. Pinterest is just as its name suggests...a virtual pin board that allows you to share with others things you're interested in. You're able to connect with people who have similar interests, to inspire and be inspired from other's pins.

Pinterest is a great way to learn about new and exciting things and share information, tips and ideas you have found helpful as well. A truly innovative tool for personal and business uses as you will soon see.

At first, I used Pinterest for fun... to create (pin) boards just to share with others photos and quotes that inspire me, places I want to visit, my style etc. and then it become much more. I started to focus more on how I could use it to improve my photography skills as well as how I could use it to help others on a similar path. It was then that I began adding my blog posts, photographers I follow, photography related articles, photography ideas, tips and do-it-yourself photography projects. The result was a treasure chest of resources...a wonderful thing!



What you'll find as you explore Pinterest is that many photographers use it to showcase their photography. Millions of pins are added and viewed daily which opens the door for increased traffic to their website or blog. I've read of photographers who have booked sessions because their work has been seen on Pinterest. If you haven't requested an invite as yet, it's worth  the effort if you are ready to be noticed!

It's so easy to get started and it's fun! I think I may be having a bit to much fun right now...but that's a great problem to have!!!

I took screen shots to give you a snap shot of a few of my boards. If you want a better look, click here, you may also click my Pinterest button (sidebar) to pay me a visit. If you like what you see, follow me for more goodies.

After receiving your invitation to Pinterest, you may want to visit this site to add a pin button to your toolbar (good idea) oh! and don't forget the button for your website as well. Happy pinning!


BOARD: Photo Shot-What to Wear




BOARD: Poses...Children



BOARD: Photography Props



Here are a few other boards worth checking out!:


Angie Sandy



J. Nicole




I ♥ Faces 




Kelly Lemmons - WOW! 126 Boards...this you have to see!