Buying used camera equipment
When writing this article, a 2013 Chevy Silverado LS has an MSRP of $30,500. On the used market, the 2011 Chevy Silverado LS is worth $19,000. So in roughly two years, the truck has depreciated by nearly 30 percent. Next, take a look at the 2013 Toyota Tacoma v6 Base, which has an MSRP of […]
Read More...
Is Canon Professional Services Worth It?
In 1977, Nikon released the 300mm f/2.8 ED-IF which was the start of a revolution. It was the first of its kind, being fast enough to capture action under stadium lighting and practical enough to lug around. Previous super-telephoto lenses were either too large in size or too slow (aperture) to keep up. Ever since […]
Read More...
Canon 5D Mark III Mini Review
Almost a year ago, Canon announced their plans for a EOS 5D Mark III, which was expected and highly anticipated among wedding photographers. At the time, the 5D Mark II was the most popular body being used by wedding pros, and it had them, including myself, banging our heads against the wall come reception time. […]
Read More...
Three must have equipment pieces for wedding photographers
A few years back. when I was restoring my house, I frequented Lowes more than the grocery store. Most employees called me by my first name, and I could probably navigate the building blindfolded. When talking to one employee about my next project of refinishing my baseboard trim, he was adamant that I buy a […]
Read More...
Four things to help you feel better as a photographer
Spending 12 hours behind the camera on the day of a wedding can take a tole on your body. The day after, Stacy and I joke about how sore we are, but the thing is, we’re not joking. We’re masquerading the fact that moving around with cameras strapped to us is actually… hard work. Really though, each one of […]
Read More...
Gear doesn’t dictate sales
In 2012, we met with, and presented to around 30 engaged couples in hopes of shooting their wedding. You know how many times we got asked, “What camera did you use to take that picture?” Once. Most clients don’t care, and don’t know the difference between the EF 85mm f/1.2 versus the f/1.8. What you’re […]
Read More...
What a perfect time for DVDs
Usually, when six inches of white pow hits the ground, I strap myself to a board and see if I can avoid the ER or I fire up the ATV to plow the neighborhood sidewalks in hopes of getting fresh baked cookies from the old lady that lives a few houses down. The one thing […]
Read More...
Three tips for sharper photos
Before you snap the picture, either you or your camera decide three things that make your picture. Shutter speed, aperture and ISO. The tips below will help you achieve sharper photos based upon the subject or scene you’re shooting. In this article, we’ll focus on shutter speed and how it correlates to making sharp pictures. For those of […]
Read More...
Photographer Lingo
The following list should help you understand other photographers as they ramble on about their profession. Equipment Shooting Wide Open – Every lens has a maximum and minimum aperture opening. When you shoot wide open, you’re allowing the most light the lens will allow to pass through. Shooting wide open narrows your depth of field and give […]
Read More...
Get it Right the First Time
A while back when I started to really get into photography, I would often tell myself, “I can always fix that later.” The problem with this approach is I ended up sacrificing too much. I either spent too many hours post-processing, or never got to it at all, because of the time required. Photoshop is […]
Read More...
Rim lighting explained
In a few short paragraphs, we’ll find out how to use a light source to create a rim light and what are proper uses of it. In order to rim light a subject, you need to position your light source somewhere behind your subject. As you vary the angle, you vary what gets highlighted . […]
Read More...
Using light to separate your subject from the background
While shooting headshots for several clients today, I had short breaks in between each appointment. During this time, I varied my secondary lighting to illustrate two methods for separating your subject from the background. Formal business portraits are commonly taken against a black backdrop, which can result in the subject looking like a cardboard cutout because of the black […]
Read More...
Using Gorilla Pods for mounting flash heads
When Joby first introduced the Groilla Pod lineup, my initial reaction was they were a gimmick. Who would use such a silly looking device? I now own two of their products and use them on nearly 50% of my shoots. Not necessarily to mount a camera though, but rather a flash gun. As a wedding photographer, your always […]
Read More...
Three tips about going business for self
Last night after Stacy and I finished our short conversation about the presidential election, we started talking about small businesses, and how most of them fail to turn a profit in the first or even second year. If I had to take a guess, I’d say that most entrepreneurs understand this even before starting up. So […]
Read More...
The best way to make lighting diagrams
When winter hits and the wedding photography slows down, I usually pick up a few commercial jobs to keep myself occupied. Some of it being product photography, which isn’t the most creative use of my time, but it still needs done. Upon delivering professional results, companies often continue to send me additional product to be […]
Read More...