Happy Friday! And welcome to this week’s installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday! Today I’d like to talk about my techniques for getting tack sharp images with very wide apertures, like f/1.2, f/1.4, etc.

Into the Great Wide Open

Shooting with very low apertures (like 1.4) creates absolutely beautiful, atmospheric images. Where just one small, yet important area is in focus and everything else fades into a soft blur, also known as bokeh. These f/stops can be difficult to work with. Below are my tips for attaining sharp focus with wide apertures.

My Top 5 Tips for Shooting with Wide Apertures

Like many things I’ve learned my technique for shooting with wide apertures through trial and error…lots of error. Through that error I have found my top advice for getting tack sharp images at f/1.4.

1. I set my focus mode to Continuous Focus. I love having Continuous Focus set when shooting with low f/stops because it is constantly adjusting focus, which is great because if your subject moves just a hair continuous focus mode will adjust for that and thus give you a sharp image.

2. I set my AF Sensor Mode Switch to multi-point. I then take my focus point and align it over, for example, my subjects eye. Having the focus point exactly where I want it is crucial to getting tack sharp images with low f/stops.

What happens when the area you’d like in doesn’t land in one of the focus points? The best way to adjust for that is to focus with that point on your subject and then very carefully shift on a straight plane either horizontally or vertically based on your composition. You want to keep your lens on an imaginary flat plane when doing this technique so that your distance to your subject doesn’t change. If you happen to angle your camera up or down – you have now changed the distance to your subject, which means the image will be out of focus.

3. Distance is a factor. The closer you are to your subject = less depth of field. Which means it will become more difficult to get a tack sharp image as the area of sharp focus may be down to millimeters. Conversely, if you move away from your subject your area of focus will increase. For a very precise and techy manual you can check out this depth of field calculator – here.

4. Take into consideration the amount of light hitting the lens. If you are shooting back-lit, with lots of sun flares, that flood of light will reduce your area of focus greatly.

5. Practice, practice and then practice some more

Technical info : Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 – ISO 200 – f/1.6 – 1/400

Happy Friday! And welcome to this week’s installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday. I’d like to talk about something that is vital to improving your photography and becoming a better artist – who you are as a person.

A Back Story…

When first learning photography, I was extremely focused on the technical. Getting the exposure right. Making sure I had a good composition. The standard things to create a descent image. As the years progressed, I wanted more from my images. I wanted them to go beyond just a ‘pretty picture.’ To say something about the person. To show emotion. Images that had that certain something that drew you in. A feeling that is beyond words.

I tried all the posing techniques out there…Still, something was missing.

The Missing Piece

I was the missing piece. Not a posing technique. Not a better composition. Not a fancy photoshop action.

It was me.

To create images with connection and emotion – I needed to truly connect, relate and understand – who my clients are.

So, how does one do that? Always, meet with your clients long before the photo shoot and talk. And talk…and then talk some more. When I say talk, I mean let them do all the talking. That way you can find out what they’re passionate about and who they are. Now, in a one hour meeting will you find out absolutely everything about them? No. But it will give you a fantastic start in understanding their personality. It’s also a good time to see if – you – connect with them. If you are feeling like they aren’t a good fit, chances are you are right. That lack of connection will show through in your images.

This is only the first step, and far easier of the two…

Who YOU Are Matters

You’re personality, your attitude on life and who you are as a person – greatly affect your images. There are pieces of the photographer in all of their images. As an example, if you are a very bubbly, bright, happy person, you most likely have images that reflect that view on life.

If you are struggling with getting your clients to connect and relate to you. Really take a look at how you are feeling at the shoot. Are you nervous? Unsure of yourself? Do you honestly care about who these people are? These things will block you from creating emotional images.

To quote the amazingly talented photographer, Jerry Ghionis, “To be a better photographer – You need to be a better person.”

Amen, Jerry…Amen.

Happy Friday! And welcome to this weeks installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday. Today I’d like to talk about why having another professional photographer take your portrait – will help you become a better photographer. This topic is very fresh in my mind as my good friend and fellow photographer, Jenn Martin and I photographed each other. We had an absolute blast and it was a fantastic learning experience.

Sympathize with Your Client

As a professional photographer it is extremely easy to forget what it is like – to be photographed. The nerves. Wondering if the pose I am doing is what the photographer wants. Am I making a goofy face. And, to quote Will Farrell from Talladega Nights, ‘I don’t know what to do with my hands.’

Having the tables turned helps build an understanding of what my client is going through. During the session of having my photograph taken – I take mental notes to implement when I am back in the role of photographer. Being able to relate to your client and their experience will make you a better photographer. It will help you find ways to direct, communicate and pose better.

If you can’t afford to hire another professional photographer, I would encourage you to reach out into your network of fellow photographers who you are friends with and offer to photograph them in exchange. If you don’t have that network, I strongly recommend building one. It may seem difficult to connect at first, but once you find that one person you really ‘click’ with (yay photography pun!) it will snowball from there.

So, get out there and practice. That relating and understanding will help you better connect to your client. And that connection is what takes images to another level.

Happy Friday!! Welcome to this week’s installment of TGIFF.

Trust YOUR Gut

This may not be a technical post or one about the latest equipment – BUT – it is something that has made a huge difference for me.

A little story, years ago…Of Shannon of yore (I finally got to use yore in a sentence!) I used to go about my photo sessions and every so often I would feel this pull. Something that said there is something here. The lighting would be amazing. Or an object/background would catch my attention, etc. And for whatever reason, fear, being overwhelmed or unconfident in my abilities, I would just note the feeling, but did nothing about it and continue on my shoot.

Until one day – I listened.

When I listened to my gut feeling, I ended up getting better images. Now when the light draws my attention in and my gut tells me there is an awesome image waiting over there. I do not hesitate. And I have never looked back.

A Quick Example

After driving back from a high school senior session, I passed by an empty lot with a VW bug with lots of ‘character.’ Even though we had wrapped the shoot and were on our way home, I asked my client if we could stop, as I knew there was a great opportunity over there.

So, listen to that gut of yours, it’s got good things to say. And right now mine says it’s dinner time

Welcome to this week’s installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday!! All about J*, the fix and 11 photographers on a party bus.

Back in the day (what does that mean anyway??! forgive me it’s the best I could do besides ‘once upon a time’) anyway…Sitting through one of my last graphic design classes in college, a friend and fellow design student knew that I loved photography. Brandi told me I had to check out this wedding photographer in Orange County by the name of Jasmine Star. At the time I had no idea who she was. I googled her name, found her blog and right there in my portfolio building class to graduate college…I stopped listening to our professor. And the rest is history…

Okay, so that was a bit over dramatic, but it was true.

The stories Jasmine shared on her blog about her dog, love of indie music and her struggles with photography were so refreshing. Her fashion inspired, yet natural photographs were unlike anyone’s I had seen at the time. It was a breath of fresh air and I was hooked on reading her blog.

Fast forward 4 years…I get an email from my friend Brandi inviting me to join her and her group of friends to see Jasmine Star’s latest workshop – The Fix, in San Francisco. I think I may have shrieked with excitement Did I mention there was a party bus involved?

The Fix

Jasmine walked on stage with a gorgeous white ruffled dress (Love ruffles!) and began her hour and a half lecture. The lecture was inspiring and I was able to take away a few key elements that spoke to me and are just good advice in general -

1. Learn how to navigate your struggles. - It’s the struggle that pushes us forward to new places.

2. Celebrate the small victories.  - by breaking down a giant goal or task into manageable bite size pieces is much easier for most of us to wrap our brains around and thus, get it done. Not only that, but we should celebrate the small victories.

3. Define success. - what does success look like to you? with out knowing that, we may arrive at a destination we did not intend.

4. Don’t be tied to the way you’ve always done it.

5. Make a list of strengths and weaknesses.

And lastly and most importantly…

6. Reach out to others and create a network.

Speaking of creating a network…Did you see what I did there? That’s what I call a not so smooth transition…anyway…On Monday, I was so lucky to meet 10 amazing photographers. A big thank you to Brandi, Trizza, Heidi, Heather, Isabel, Aimee, Lisa, Katherine, Jessica and Melissa. I had a blast dancing and chatting with all of you. So, here’s to more fun times in the future.

And last, but certainly not least. Thank you, Jasmine for all that you do. You bring so much positivity and community to the photography industry. I am so grateful for that day I first read your blog. And the rest? Well that’s history Oooh…you see what I JUST did there? I brought it all back around… Clever, I am ….not.

Happy, happy Friday!! And welcome to this weeks installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday. Today I’d like to go over my favorite tips for creating natural looking poses.

1. Gather Inspiration & Previsualization

One of the things I recommend doing before going into a photo session is to gather images that inspire you. Take each image and try to dissect what is going on in the image. From there I like to previsualize how I would move my subjects into that pose. That previsualization is key, as it lets me play out ahead of time what I need to say, how I would frame the image, etc. Do I plan every single image to the enth degree – No. But I always go into a session with a core group of images that I feel will fit that particular subject, as not all poses work for every person.

2. Communication is EVERYTHING!!

If I had to only give one tip to help create natural looking poses this would be it – NEVER STOP TALKING.

Let me explain… In general most people are not comfortable in front of the camera, with exception to professional models and actors. It’s just an unnatural state to have this big camera in your face. To help people feel comfortable in front of your camera it’s best to keep a conversation going. And even more importantly – always be communicating at every point what you’re doing because as soon as you go silent… looking at the back of your camera or even while shooting – clients get nervous and can often times worry that THEY did something wrong. Instead, let them know what’s going on, for example, ‘Okay, I’d like you both to stand over here and just relax for a minute as I test the lighting.’ Simple and not technical because they don’t need to know any technical info nor do they care to.

You’re communication style and energy will influence your subjects and thus the look of your images. If you are looking for high energy, lots of laughter and playfulness in an image, then you have to bring that to the table and vice versa.   If you are a shy person this can take awhile to learn, but if that is the style of image you are after it is vital to learn. Or if you’re like me, I LOVE laughing pictures, but I am TERRIBLE at telling jokes, but somehow in the failure and poking fun at myself, I get the job done and… they laugh Not to sound like a cliche but…If there is a will – there is a way

3.Action

One of the simplest ways to create natural looking poses is to have your subject recreate an action they would normally do. Walking, drinking a cup of coffee, dancing, etc…It makes them feel comfortable and is a great way to start the shoot. Action and movement keeps things natural versus being too ‘posey’ and stiff.

4. Body Language

Sometimes there are poses and images I’d love to create, but just aren’t right for everyone. Pay very close attention to your clients body language and subtle verbal cues. It will help you figure out if they are feeling comfortable and engaged with you. If they are uncomfortable and disengaging – move on to something else. And… Keep talking!

5. Confidence is a Two Way Street

Being 100% confident and comfortable posing and photographing people takes awhile to achieve. There is so much going on when you are first starting…worrying about exposure, what aperture, is my white balance correct, focusing properly, how do I get them to move into this perfect pose…it’s overwhelming to say the least. With practice it does get easier. In the beginning I recommend to truly believe in yourself, to really feel confident. That feeling of confidence will put your subjects at ease and thus get you better images. Not to mention your clients will have a better time because they trust in you. And that trust is priceless.

Happy Friday! And welcome to another installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday. Today I’d like to tackle some myths that have continued to float around in the photography realm. So here we go…

Myth #1 – Gear Garauntees You to be a Better Photographer

This myth will most likely never go away. As photographers we are always interested in the next fun new gadget that we think will change our life. The fact is that the new expensive, top of the line, camera, lens, etc…. isn’t going to make you a better photographer. It’s just not. What makes a better photographer? You. You’re hard work. The day-in and day-out practicing. The trial and error. The joy and the tears. It’s through those lessons that you learn technique and your photographic vision. Because it’s not the camera that ‘takes the picture’ it’s the photographer who ‘makes it.’

Myth #2 – Photography is Easy

The truth is – Photography is very challenging. It takes years of practice to learn the perfect moment to click the shutter. To capture emotion perfectly. To have impact in your images. It’s a marriage of technical understanding, artistic vision and patience. One of history’s greatest photographers, Ansel Adams has some great quotes on this subject…

“In my mind’s eye, I visualize how a particular… sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice.” – Ansel Adams

Myth #3 – Success Happens Overnight

Whatever your measure of success is with photography the truth is – it doesn’t happen overnight. For the longest time I would beat myself up for not getting THE perfect shot on the first try. I was obsessed with becoming a better photographer and to this day I still am, but I realized that becoming an artist doesn’t happen overnight, I freed myself from that guilt. Of not being ‘perfect.’ I still strive each and every time for perfection, but when I fall flat on my face I no longer beat myself up. I start over realizing that perfection isn’t a place, but a journey. Cue the public service announcement music… Apologies for the cliche comment, but it’s true. Striving for and working towards your definition of success is an everyday adventure.

I made this image using my iphone with my favorite camera app, instagram.

Happy, happy Friday! And a big welcome to this weeks installment of Thank Goodness it’s Foto Friday. Today I wanted to share with you a few fun, inspirational photography resources.

1. TWIT Photo

Co-Hosts Catherine Hall and Leo Laporte interview a wide variety of top photography professionals. The latest episode featured the always entertaining, international wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis. TWIT Photo airs live every Tuesday at 1:30pm, PST and is also available for download. They also have an archive of previous shows which I have been digging into. This show is highly entertaining, informative and professionally produced. A new favorite of mine. Check it out – here.

2. reDefine with Tamara Lackey

I recently stumbled upon photographer and incredible business person – Tamara Lackey. Tamara tells it like it is and is full of tons of no-nonsense, get-things-done photography business advice. Not too long ago she launched her educational and inspirational show – reDefine. She frequently interviews leading professional photographers, but also will interview celebrities and other artists. The shows are a perfect bite size 10-15 minute an episode. Check out reDefine – here.

3. PetaPixel

PetaPixel is a blog dedicated to photography related news and gadgets. This blog is updated at a rapid pace. Blink and there is new content. It’s very easy to loose large amounts of time digging through all the fun articles. For the latest and greatest in photo news and toys check out PetaPixel – here.

4. Katelyn James

I am so happy that I stumbled upon the vibrant, enthusiastic and talented – Katelyn James. Katelyn is a very successful wedding photographer based in Virginia. Her blog is full of beautiful wedding and engagement photography, as well as, fun personal posts, photography and business advice. You can find her lovely blog – here.

5. Vintage Camera Pillows

I WANT THESE!!!!! That is all.  You can purchase one of these cute little camera pillows – here.