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Nikon offer lets you trade up any camera to a Nikon Z5 with a special $100 bonus offer

04 Aug

Nikon has announced an introductory trade-in offer for photographers interested in Nikon’s new entry-level full-frame mirrorless Z5 camera. From now through one month following the Z5’s August 27, 2020 release date, customers will be able to trade-in any working camera from any brand and save $ 100 USD on the Z5, in addition to the trade-in value of their camera. This deal is available retroactively as well, ensuring that those who already preordered through Nikon directly or through an authorized reseller can still get in on this new deal.

The basics of the deal are as follows. You visit Nikon’s dedicated trade-in website to get a quote for your camera. You then purchase a new Z5 (or Z50, Z6 or Z7, albeit without the $ 100 USD bonus). Next, you send Nikon your old camera, with Nikon covering the cost of ground shipping. Once the camera has been received and checked over, Nikon will send you a refund.

As an example, let’s consider the (plausible) case of a Nikon D750 owner wishing to trade-up to a new mirrorless camera, while still being able to use their existing full-frame F-mount lenses via Nikon’s FTZ adapter. Further, let’s assume that the camera is in excellent condition, meaning it shows minimal wear and functions properly. In this case, Nikon will offer $ 495 trade-in value, plus an additional $ 100 with the ongoing promotion. ‘Good’ and ‘poor’ conditions are also available to select, although all three conditions require the camera to function properly. You cannot trade-in a camera that is not functional.

If Nikon determines that the quality of the camera is less than you stated during the trade-in quote process, you will be eligible to return the Z5. However, you will otherwise forfeit the $ 100 bonus if you, for any other reason, return the camera. As expected, there additional terms and conditions to consider, the full list of which can be viewed here.

To participate in the trade-in program, you must have the Z camera shipped to a valid US address. You can trade-in multiple cameras when purchasing multiple Z cameras, but only a single trade-in can be applied per camera, so there is no way to combine $ 100 bonuses on a single Z5 purchase.

Nikon has published a Frequently Asked Questions list for their Z camera trade-in program as well. Before participating in the program, it is highly recommended reading. There is included information worth highlighting.

You can trade in any camera in working condition, not just a digital camera nor only an interchangeable lens camera. Cameras not listed as trade-in options are eligible and Nikon will send a quote within 1-2 business days of receiving your submitted information, in most cases. You cannot trade standalone lenses in as part of the promotion, however, some kit lenses are included in the promotion, such as a Nikon D3000 and accompanying 18-55mm VR kit lens, for example. If you are worried about being without a camera, fret not as Nikon will ship your new Z camera with free two-day shipping and you aren’t required to send in your trade-in camera until your new Z camera has arrived.

If you would like to learn more about the Nikon Z5, which was recently announced on July 21, you can read our detailed overview here. If you’d like a quick hit piece on what you need to know about the Nikon Z5, we have that too. New cameras aren’t released in a vacuum; click here to learn how the Z5 compares to the Sony A7 II and Canon EOS RP.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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How to Use Old Lenses with New Digital Cameras (with Bonus Video)

06 Feb

The post How to Use Old Lenses with New Digital Cameras (with Bonus Video) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Adam Welch.

They say time flies when you’re having fun. I’ve been having so much fun that I realize it has been over six years since I first talked to you about how to use old lenses with new digital cameras.

A lot has changed when it comes to going about using vintage camera lenses with our modern digital camera bodies. Well, things haven’t exactly changed but have rather “progressed” from where they were just a few years ago.

Let me show you now, how you can easily use classic glass with virtually any interchangeable lens digital camera…with a few exceptions.

Old lenses and new digital cameras

Understanding old lenses

Vintage lenses are a fantastic gateway into the world of photography. Many are usually cheap (relatively) and comparatively well constructed. Additionally, the majority of old lenses are surprisingly sharp with fast apertures, even by today’s standards.

Speaking of current standards, seeing as the majority of these types of lenses were manufactured for use with 35mm film, they are essentially ready-made to match with the growing number of high resolution full-frame digital cameras available to us today.

Vintage Nikkor 50mm lens mounted to Sony A7R

Some of these lenses also add a unique character to your images, which might or might not be desirable depending on your own expectations. Lenses such as the legendary Helios have become prized lenses for portrait photographers and videographers due to its distinctive “swirly” bokeh.

Photo of Nikon F3 taken with Helios 44-2 lens

This photo was made with the Helios 44-2 at its maximum F/2 aperture. Note the distinctive swirl of the background.

Check out this cool tutorial on how to simulate this effect in Photoshop

In short, vintage lenses bring a lot to the table in terms of sharpness, build quality and cost-effectiveness. This is all well and good, but how do you get these old lenses to fit your camera?

To find out, keep reading.

This is the cool part.

Adapting vintage lenses

When it comes to using old lenses with new digital cameras, there are two things to consider: lens mount compatibility and a little thing called “flange-focal distance.”

We’ll talk more about flange-focal distance in the next section, but for now, let’s focus (haha) simply on how to get a lens from manufacturer A to fit on a camera from manufacturer B.

It’s all really quite easy – mostly.

You can use old lenses with new digital cameras by means of an adapter

You’ll need an adapter to use your old lenses with new digital cameras. However, this isn’t limited to vintage glass, as today, there are quite a few ways to use even modern lenses across a wide range of camera platforms. For our purposes, though, we’ll stick to showing you how to use older lenses.

The first problem an adapter solves is the conversion of your lens mount to the mount your camera uses.

Think of the adapter as a “connector” with one side matching the lens and one side matching the camera. This allows us to physically attach the lens to the camera even though they sport different mounts.

Here we see some examples of various vintage lens mounts.

There are all sorts of adapters available on the market today. They range from the alarmingly cheap to the shockingly expensive and everything in between.

Some are complex with electronic components intended to aid in metering/focusing with autofocus lenses, and some are as simple as small rings of metal.

Adapters for using old lenses with new digital cameras

A few adapters used for fitting various vintage lenses to new digital camera bodies.

Now, you may be thinking that all you need is an adapter that will convert a lens to a certain mount, but there’s a bit more to it than that.

Let’s talk about what might be the most important factor when it comes to using old lenses with new digital cameras – flange-focal distance.

Flange focal distance

No matter the lens, you will have to overcome something called “flange-focal distance” if you choose to adapt older lenses for your digital camera.

This is where you have to be careful because there are some lens adapters out there that do not take this very important aspect into account.

Without the correct flange-focal distance, your adapted lens will not be able to focus correctly. In some cases, it will not focus at all.

Flange-focal distance of the Canon 5D MK3

Although crucial, flange-focal distance is extremely simple to understand. Flange-focal distance is the distance (in millimeters) from the rear mount of the lens to the focal plane of the camera, which can be either film or a digital sensor.

Your focal plane is designated by that little symbol that looks like a ‘0’ with a line.

Image demonstrating the focal plane of a Sony A7R

Different cameras all have different flange-focal distances and vary widely between manufacturers. Compensating for this differing flange-focal distance is a key factor when it comes to determining whether or not your adapted lens will be able to obtain the correct focus.

So, in reality, your lens adapter needs to not only act as a mount converter but also be able to accurately correct for the specified focal-flange distance.

Flange-focal distance and the mirrorless advantage

Up to this point, we’ve only explained what flange-focal distance (FFD) is and why it’s important. Now, we’re going to discuss the practical aspects of FFD when it comes to actually adapt your old lenses to new digital cameras.

More specifically, we’ll touch on why mirrorless cameras are so versatile when it comes to adapting various camera lenses.

An old Nikon G-mount lens mounted using an adapter to a Sony A7R

Hypothetically, you can adapt virtually any lens to fit any digital camera. However, this is not always practical. In some cases, it would require massive modifications to your camera.

The reason for this all goes back to the importance of FFD. With a camera manufactured with a relatively large FFD, like a Canon DSLR (44mm FFD), it becomes quite easy to adapt the lenses for that camera to one with a smaller FFD.

Seeing as the majority of older lenses were made for cameras with mirror mechanisms, most of them will have a FFD larger than today’s modern mirrorless digital cameras.

An example of this is using Canon EF mount lenses with Sony mirrorless cameras like the A7R.

Since there is no mirror reflex mechanism, the A7R has a relatively tiny FFD of 18mm. So in our case, all that is required to achieve the correct FFD of the Canon lens (44mm FFD), and thus facilitate proper focusing, is for the adapter to provide 26mm of spacing in order to reach the correct 44mm FFD of the Canon EF lens.

Lens mount adapter for Sigma lenses

Sound a bit confusing? It’s okay! I’ve put together a super short video that breaks down how FFD works in simple terms.

As I mention in the video, you have to be mindful that you aren’t buying a lens adapter that does not compensate for the needed difference in FFD.

There are quite a few adapters on the market that are essentially only “mount adapters,” that just convert one lens mount to another while not enabling the lens to actually achieve focus. Not only that, you run the risk of damaging your precious camera should the lens intrude too far inside the body – more on this and other complications in the next section.

Common complications

Using old lenses with your modern mirrorless or DSLR cameras has a lot of benefits. Many of these older lenses are sharp, fast and brilliantly constructed. Unfortunately, with age comes a few problems. I’ve listed a few things to watch out for below. Some are obvious and some you might not expect.

Dust and fungus – Older lenses can have dust and lint inside the lens as well as fungus growing on the lens elements. There can even be a separation of the optical coatings should the lens elements feature this. So when considering purchasing a vintage lens to use with your digital camera, make sure it comes from a reputable place. Also, examine the lens closely for any flaws.
The infinity focus problem – We’ve already talked about how important FFD is for focusing, and if you are primarily a landscape or astrophotography shooter, you’ll want to pay special attention to infinity focus. Should your adapter be only slightly too large, meaning it goes past the FFD for the particular lens you’re using, the lens will not focus to infinity. In most cases, the adapter will physically be minutely shorter so that the adapted lens will focus past infinity for this very reason.
FFD incompatibility – Perhaps one of the most important things to keep in mind when using old lenses with new digital cameras is that many lenses aren’t backward-compatible. This means, instead of requiring an adapter to compensate for larger FFD, the lens needs to be mounted closer to the focal plane. So, lens intended for mirrorless cameras (with short FFD) can’t be adapted to DSLR bodies (relatively large FFD). Refer to the video for a bit more info on this.
Potential camera damage – Always remember that it’s up to you to decide if you want to try adapting any lens to your camera. There is always a chance of damage, and this risk goes when electronic adapters are involved. Furthermore, some lenses can protrude inside of the camera body, which could possibly damage digital sensors and other internal mechanisms.

Some closing thoughts…

I sometimes wonder if the original makers of some of my vintage lenses ever thought about the manner they might get used thirty, forty, or even fifty years down the road.

Making use of old lenses with new digital cameras is not a new concept. However, with the recent rise in popularity of mirrorless digital cameras, their use is becoming more and more common.

With the correct adapter and a bit of basic photographic know-how, you can put many of these beautiful old lenses to work for you with minimal investment in both time and money.

So whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to make great photos or you’re simply a fan of the character of old glass, I believe you’ll find it worth your while to try out some vintage lenses for yourself.

Have you used some old lenses with your digital camera? We’re all camera geeks here, so we’d love to see your results! Feel free to post your images made with old camera lenses below.

The post How to Use Old Lenses with New Digital Cameras (with Bonus Video) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Adam Welch.

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Nikon Z50 Hands-On Review – The Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners? (with bonus video)

29 Jan

The post Nikon Z50 Hands-On Review – The Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners? (with bonus video) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

In November 2019, the Nikon Z50 debuted as an entry-level mirrorless camera for beginners. It is the first crop-sensor (DX) camera of the Z-series line, and it is much smaller and cheaper than the Nikon Z6 and Z7. This Nikon Z50 review will go over some key features of this camera and ultimately answer the question, “should you buy this camera?”

I tested this camera through the Nikon Yellow Program that allows you to try out the Nikon Z50 for 30 days, or return it for a full refund. This is a temporary pilot program that only lasts through March 2020, but I hope Nikon lets it run longer. The mirrorless camera market is a crowded one, and the only way for potential customers to truly know if a camera is suitable for them is to test it out for themselves.

Nikon Z50 Review

Nikon Z50 Specs

The Nikon Z50 features are competitive with many modern APS-C mirrorless cameras such as the Sony a6400, Canon EOS M6 Mark II, and Fujifilm X-T30. Compared to the rest of these cameras, the Z50 is the largest and heaviest, but it offers some features that the competition does not.

20.9MP CMOS sensor
Up to 11 fps shooting with AE/AF, 5 fps with live view
4K video at up to 30p and 120fps slow-motion capture at 1080p
2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder
Rear touchscreen tilts up by 90° or down by 180°
Built-in flash plus hot shoe mount to add external flash if desired
Single SD memory card slot
Deep grip for a comfortable hold
Approximately 300-shot battery life
Bluetooth-enabled Wi-Fi (via Snapbridge app)
Compatible with the FTZ mount adapter to use F-mount DSLR lenses
Priced at $ 860 (body-only) or $ 1000 (with 16-50mm) or $ 1350 (with 16-50 and 50-250)

Along with the Z50 camera body, Nikon also released two DX Z lenses to use with it. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR kit lens is super compact and basically a pancake lens. It’s a great size to keep your camera kit very small.

Meanwhile, the Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR is a telephoto lens with a great zoom range.

Both lenses are very plastic but lightweight and affordable as a result. If you want the maximum flexibility with the Nikon Z50, and don’t have any F-mount lenses to use, get both of these lenses.

One little quirk about both lenses: you have to rotate the zoom ring to extend the lenses before shooting with them. It only takes a few extra seconds, but it’s a strange thing to get used to.

Nikon Z50 Review

Ease of Use

Camera layout

The Nikon Z50 has a pretty straightforward layout.

All of the buttons and controls are on the right-hand side of the camera, making it easy to use one-handed. The biggest dial on top of the camera lets you select camera modes. There is Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, and Manual to appeal to the experienced photographer.

But the Z50 shows its colors as a beginner-friendly camera with the addition of several auto functions on the dial.

In addition to “P” and “Auto” modes, the Z50 has SCN or “Scene Mode” to automatically adjust the camera settings for a variety of situations, including Portrait, Landscape, Food, Night Portrait, Snow, Close up, and more.

There is also a dial selection “EFCT” for shooting in “Special Effect Mode,” where you can automatically see effects such as Night Vision, Super Vivid, and Pop applied to the scene before you snap a photo.

Many cameras have a similar scene and special effect modes in their settings, but they are usually buried deep in the menus and hard to find. On the Nikon Z50, these modes are literally at your fingertips, making them very accessible.

Touchscreen LCD

While you can use the physical buttons and dials on the camera to control settings, you don’t have to. The Nikon Z50 LCD touchscreen is very responsive and lets you select settings, set autofocus points, and swipe and pinch to zoom when previewing images.

The LCD screen also can flip down so you can see yourself when taking a selfie or filming a vlog. This is a feature that seems great at first – until you realize you can’t see the LCD screen if the camera is attached to a tripod. Ideally, the LCD screen would flip out to the side as it does on most Canon and Panasonic mirrorless cameras.

Speaking of selfies, I used the Z50 to snap a few family group portraits where I had to set the camera on a timer and run to be a part of them. A useful feature was the self-timer setting that included the option to take up to 9 photos in a row. This is so helpful in group settings when you will inevitably have closed eyes or goofy faces in some shots.

Nikon Z50 Review

Autofocus

The Nikon Z50 comes with hybrid (phase and contrast detection) autofocus (AF) with 209 AF points. It also includes Eye AF and Subject Tracking. When paired with its 11 frames-per-second continuous shooting mode, this makes for a decent portrait and sports photography camera, in theory.

In practice, the autofocus performed decently, but still pales in comparison to other cameras, namely Sony, which is still king of autofocus. However, this is only a negative point for shooting fast-moving subjects. When working with still or slow subjects, the Z50’s autofocus is generally good.

I found the camera performed the best when left in single-point autofocus, where I could select the focus point myself. Word of caution – there is not a joystick for autofocus point selection. Instead, use the wheel or touchscreen.

Wireless transfer and smartphone connection

With the inclusion of extra auto modes and a flip screen, this is a camera geared toward influencers and those wanting to post photos and videos to social media.

Luckily, the Nikon Z50 is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it easy to transfer media to your phone. All you need to do is download the SnapBridge app to your phone and enable the Wi-Fi connection on the camera.

When using a Samsung Galaxy S10, photo transfer was very fast and intuitive; video transfer took a bit longer, which is understandable considering the larger size of video files.

Another cool feature is the ability to use your smartphone as a remote monitor to control the Z50. This function also worked very seamlessly.

Image Quality

When it comes to colors and image sharpness, the Nikon Z50 does not disappoint. For those who gripe about Sony color science, you won’t be disappointed with Nikon’s. Photos are great as JPGs straight out the camera, but you can also shoot in RAW format for more flexibility when editing photos in post-production.

As an APS-C camera, the Z50 does not have the best low light performance when compared to a full-frame camera. However, images captured at ISO 6400 are acceptable with just mild color speckles and image grain.

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 250mm (in 35mm: 375mm), 1/400 sec, f6.3, ISO 12800, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Video features

For those interested in filming, here is a quick Nikon Z50 review of the video features. Just like its big brothers, the Z7 and Z6, the Z50 can film in up to 4K30p resolution, plus 120fps slow motion at 1080p.

Unlike the Z6 and Z7, the Z50 lacks IBIS (in-body image stabilization). This means that shooting handheld video or photos at low shutter speeds will be more challenging on the Z50.

However, this can be slightly alleviated if shooting with a lens that has VR (vibration reduction). Note that VR on lenses must be enabled via the Optical VR setting in the camera as the lenses do not have a VR switch.

The Z50 comes with both an Interval Timer Shooting Mode and a Timelapse Movie Mode. Both of these settings result in a timelapse, but the former will produce individual images that you must edit and stitch together in post-production.

Meanwhile, Timelapse Movie Mode automatically creates a timelapse video in-camera, and it is a wonderful feature that is very easy to use.

While the Z50 has a mic jack for attaching an external microphone, it lacks a headphone jack for simultaneously monitoring audio.

In terms of ports, the Z50 has only two: a micro HDMI port for adding an external monitor or viewing media on a TV, and a micro USB port for charging. It’s puzzling why a micro USB port was added instead of a USB-C port, but very helpful in that you can charge the camera via a wall plug or external battery.

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 15mm (in 35mm: 25mm), 1/50 sec, f3.5, ISO 2000, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

In conclusion

If you are on the market for a beginner-friendly mirrorless camera, you have a LOT of options out there. As of January 2020, the Nikon Z50 is the newest of them all, and it offers many of the same features you’ll find on other similar cameras.

While it is not the best camera when it comes to features like autofocus, it is still a very capable camera that will give you high-quality stills and video in a small form factor. Its usability is also very intuitive, and its extra auto settings will get you up and shooting fairly quickly, even if you are a photography novice.

If you have any Nikon F-mount lenses, the Z50 is a great option, since you can use those lenses with the FTZ adapter. Even if you don’t have any lenses, the two optional DX kit lenses are a great deal and result in an ultra-lightweight kit with a flexible zoom range.

I hope you enjoyed this Nikon Z50 review. Please leave any thoughts or questions in the comments below!

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 16mm (in 35mm: 24mm), 1/25 sec, f3.5, ISO 3200, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 29mm (in 35mm: 43mm), 1/50 sec, f6.3, ISO 280, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 29mm (in 35mm: 43mm), 1/80 sec, f6.3, ISO 280, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 210mm (in 35mm: 315mm), 1/800 sec, f6, ISO 250, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 75mm (in 35mm: 112mm), 1/320 sec,...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 75mm (in 35mm: 112mm), 1/320 sec, f6.3, ISO 250, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 250mm (in 35mm: 375mm), 1/400 sec, f6.3, ISO 1100, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 105mm (in 35mm: 157mm), 1/1250 sec...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 105mm (in 35mm: 157mm), 1/1250 sec, f6.3, ISO 250, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 250mm (in 35mm: 375mm), 1/640 sec,...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 250mm (in 35mm: 375mm), 1/640 sec, f11, ISO 250, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 50mm (in 35mm: 75mm), 1/250 sec, f...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 50mm (in 35mm: 75mm), 1/250 sec, f11, ISO 250, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 31.5mm (in 35mm: 47mm), 1/50 sec, f...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 31.5mm (in 35mm: 47mm), 1/50 sec, f5, ISO 2500, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 34mm (in 35mm: 51mm), 1/320 sec, f5...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 34mm (in 35mm: 51mm), 1/320 sec, f5, ISO 320, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Image: Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 16mm (in 35mm: 24mm), 1/800 sec, f6...

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f3.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 16mm (in 35mm: 24mm), 1/800 sec, f6.3, ISO 320, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Nikon Z50, Nikkor Z DX 50-250mm f4.5-6.3 VR, Focal length: 125mm (in 35mm: 187mm), 1/200 sec, f5.3, ISO 2200, Aperture Priority, pattern metering

Bonus video: The Nikon Z50 review.

The post Nikon Z50 Hands-On Review – The Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners? (with bonus video) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Suzi Pratt.

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10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips)

19 Dec

The post 10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

Everyone loves to see a nice portrait of the kids at Christmas. But it can be tough to brainstorm new Christmas portrait locations year after year.

Whether you’re photographing your own kids, or you’re a family photographer, this list of Christmas portrait locations will give you plenty of ideas including tips for lighting and composition.

1. Golden hour

Christmas can feel magical and golden hour is a magical time of day for light. You can find some evergreens for the golden sunlight to filter through and create a magical feel for your portrait. Consider using the golden sunlight as a beautiful source of backlight.

Golden hour is approximately the first and last hour of the day when sunlight looks almost golden. Personally, I love to work with the last 15 minutes of sunlight. I scout my location a few days in advance and take note of the exact time the sun is at its best.

2. Christmas lights in the background

Christmas lights can also be a good source of warm light. They work especially well if you prefer to stay indoors. Keep the tree back in a darker corner and use a window to light your person (this works well when photographing holiday food too).

You may find that a fully decorated Christmas tree can be a bit of a background distraction. A simple tree with lights adds a festive feel without being overwhelming.

The Christmas lights in the background echo the golden polka dots of her shirt. The catchlights in her eyes (created by the window light) help to bring the portrait to life.

You can see where she was positioned in relation to the window and the tree.

If you don’t have a window for a light source, you can use the flash on your camera. If you’re using your camera’s flash, there are two things to keep in mind. Keep the person away from the Christmas tree and get close to them with your camera. By staying close to them and keeping them away from the tree, the flash will light the person nicely but not overwhelm the tree with light.

3. While it’s snowing

If you live in a part of the world where there is snow, this is really fun for a Christmas portrait. But there are a couple of problems that you will likely run into.

The first is that your photo may turn out looking very dark. This is because the snow is so bright that your camera meter naturally wants to darken the photo. One way around this is to shoot in full manual mode, then you can get the exact brightness that you want. Personally, I shoot on aperture priority and use exposure compensation to get the correct brightness for my photo.

The second problem that you will run into when photographing during a snowfall is misfocused pictures. Your camera may autofocus on a snowflake in the foreground, leaving your subject out of focus. So, make sure to check your photo closely before packing up your camera. That way, you won’t be disappointed when you sit down to edit your photos and realize they’re all out of focus.

A darker background makes the snowflakes stand out more.

Be sure to protect your camera in cold weather too.

4. Christmas tree at home

This is a perfect opportunity to capture both posed and candid moments. Again, window light will be your friend when lighting your subject.

Notice that in the first photo I positioned the subject so that he is against a clean background. This way he stands out more and is not lost among the decor.

Christmas portrait locations

5. A quaint storefront

Our downtown street is filled with beautiful storefronts throughout December. These storefronts are a perfect Christmas portrait location. When using a storefront for a background, remember to frame the person neatly.

Once your subject is framed, go for a natural smile! You’ll probably have to say something funny.

Notice how the boy is framed in this photo. He is balanced by the tree on the left and the windows on the right. His head is in a clean space with nothing distracting protruding from it.

6. Rustic barnboard

If you like a rustic aesthetic at Christmas time, look for an old barn to use as a Christmas portrait location.

In this first photo, she is placed right up against the wall. I’m using a 50mm lens with an aperture of f/1.8 so the boards are a little out of focus.

I brought her a few feet away from the wall in order to make the background go more out of focus.

7. Use props

You can use all sorts of props in your photos. Sometimes a prop to sit on is more than enough to add visual interest to your portrait.

With an overcast sky, you can make portraits any time of day without having to worry about harsh shadows from direct sunlight.

8. Wrapping paper backdrop

Find a wide roll of paper with a nice design to use as a backdrop. Place it next to the window and you will have a wonderful natural light source.

Christmas portrait locations

9. Decorate the wilderness

It’s so much fun to bring a sack of Christmas ornaments on a hike and decorate a tree deep in the woods! Once you’ve done that, you’ve got a perfect Christmas portrait location.

Christmas portrait locations

10. Choose a theme

When thinking of Christmas portrait locations, consider building your portrait around a meaningful theme.

When my son was just two, I couldn’t resist creating a portrait inspired by Charlie Brown.

11. Storytime

Create a storytime theme using a big book as a prop. Remember that a window is a great source of light.

Try a posed portrait.

Once you have a nice pose, try a photographing a candid moment too.

12. Go to a tree farm

Perhaps you don’t have any nice scenery nearby. If that’s the case, then find a tree farm to use for your Christmas portrait location. If you don’t like the manicured look of rows of trees then go for an angle that doesn’t make it obvious that you’re at a tree farm.

10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips)

The perfect gift

Have fun trying out several of these Christmas portrait locations! When you’re finished, your printed portrait will be one of the most meaningful gifts you can give to friends and family over the holidays.

Do you have any other ideas for Christmas portrait locations? If so, please share them with us in the comments!

The post 10 Christmas Portrait Locations (with Bonus Lighting and Composition Tips) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.

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Winners of the Defrozo Contest Plus a Bonus for All dPS Readers

14 Apr

A huge thank you to everyone who entered our recent contest to win one of five prize packs from Defrozo.

Defrozo 1b

The response was great with numerous valuable suggestions left for the Defrozo team in the comments. The Defrozo founder, Demetrio Fortman, even decided to add a bonus offer for ALL of the Digital Photography School readers (details below).

And now to the winners. . .

Below a list of the five winners, their comment, and a note from the Defrozo team to each of them:

Winner #1 – bv

“At 51, my initial foray into a more serious version of my photography as me a top 20% popular photographer on ViewBug, a Facebook page with 2K+ fans, and the ability to sell and donate a couple of items.

I need something serious that elevates my game to a viable new level. I would love to see a one-stop command center that unifies everything a photographer may be doing. Uploading photos to multiple sites, contact with friends lists and email contacts with newsletters/messages featuring my contact information, it would be awesome to tie-in to invoice program, calendar, run contests, Somebody needs to step up and create a Photography Business Mothership! Are you that company?”

Note from Defrozo: Photography Business Mothership? We couldn’t say it better. We look forward to creating one together with you.

Winner #2 – Domien De Clercq

“I do however have some questions before making any decisions.
Will there be a plugin with lightroom to ease exports? With inclusion of metadata such as tags?
Will the images be uploaded in raw or jpg?
Will the images be protected with a watermark?
Will there be a separate image bank (not all pictures go on your website) to which clients can search and purchase images?
Will the processing of different image resolutions happen on the server side or client side?
How is the pricing, commission and rights handled? Do the images stay property of the photographer or is it like Facebook and they become property of the site via some loophole?
If an image is sold for 6 months, will it automatically reappear in the stocklist after the contract is completed?
If you upload images to the site, can you mark them as sold (images taken for a paid shoot) for a given time so they appear in the stock after this time without us having to worry about this?

I could go on but these are the main questions for now.”

Note from Defrozo: Domien, this is just the beginning for both of us, we look forward to making Defrozo your best companion as your grow your business.

Winner #3 – MelissaL

“I am at a point in my life ready to switch careers, and make the scary leap from photo enthusiast to professional. Defrozo looks like it might make my venture a little less intimidating, since I really have no business background, and want to hit the ground running. I would like a way to optimize my name and future website to be at the top of search lists for people looking for a photographer in my area, with easy and fast downloading of my work, and I want a beautiful aesthetic quality to my site. A critical element is also making sure my clients can see the products and framing they will purchase in detail, and having easy, safe, and robust payment options at their fingertips. I am excited to learn more, and also find out if the pricing listed is per year or month, beyond the free site, and what bonuses are included. Storage is such a key part of online photos, that I would want to be sure that I have enough spade for high res files and that the images can be password protected for the privacy of my clients. I am excited to find Defrozo and learn all about it. By the way, what’s with the name “Defrozo” anyway?”

Note from Defrozo: Melissa, hopefully, we’ll make this leap towards your professional photography career together!

Winner #4 – Andrew F

“Defrozo looks like it could have a lot of potential. As a professional photographer it is important to keep all your client interactions in one place. Otherwise you waste a lot of time trying to manage a mess of relationships. I am currently using ShootQ and ShootProof as my CRM and Gallery. Here is what I would like to see in the full version of Defrozo:

1) Fully interactive CRM with:
• Lead management – follow up reminders (with alerts sent right to your phone), lead workflows with auto emails and tasks, appointment requesting, calendar sync (with google AND iCal), & relationship management/group marketing
• Online booking – online contracts and auto invoicing, proposal and estimates, image usage options for business and corporate clients, auto emails, client portal for payments and shoot progress
• Client management – Shoot workflows, auto emails, invoice reminders, email templates, etc.
• Email marketing capabilities to specific groups or client types
• Easily understandable interface

2) Online gallery with:
• intuitive yet easily understood interface
• client collaboration
• easy to download images – setting a limit on # of image downloads, allowing download of web and full res files.
• auto emails and templates
• ability to show photographer’s favorite images
• Print fulfillment through partner labs
• Image archiving/ cloud storage

3) Interactive client or event websites

4) Everything must be mobile friendly and easily accessible

I don’t have much use for the website site of things, as I would imagine most photographers don’t. There are plenty of affordable options out there on that spectrum.

I would use this in my everyday workflow. I’m sure there are a ton more options you could add down the line, but I think these are the main ones to get people to switch over to your product.”

Note from Defrozo: Andrew, your comment was a goldmine of valuable suggestions. We hope one day not so far in the future we’ll become your ultimate tool for managing your business.

Winner #5 – Emily M

“I have been venturing into photography for the last year now, an enthusiast who wants to turn a hobby into a successful business. I have a two year plan of which I am in year one, one of the goals for this year was to start up a blog as I build my portfolio; Unfortunately starting up a blog from scratch for a newbie is kind of complicated from the loads of research I have done. Defrozo seems to be an awesome way to go; especially being a marketing platform tailored for photographers. Marketing has never been easy but with the right tools you can get your product right onto the doorstep of prospective customers. Defrozo’s setup is very chic and professional. I honestly think that Defrozo is the partner I need to transition from my day job to a fully fledged photographer.”

Note from Defrozo: Emily, with a clear game plan and goals, you’re on the right track to becoming a successful photographer. We look forward to walking this route together with you!

Winners will be emailed with details of how to collect their prize by the team at Defrozo.

A message from Defrozo and a special bonus

We’re excited to receive so many great entries on this contest. Your feedback and suggestions help us create truly useful software for enthusiast and pro photographers, so thank you for all the valuable tips you sent us via comments!

If you were not lucky enough to win, don’t be upset. Here’s our extra bonus for ALL Digital Photography School readers:

50% OFF our most popular Kickstarter reward ($ 50 value)

To receive your special discount, pledge $ 50 toward the Defrozo Kickstarter campaign by April 17th. Leave your Kickstarter username in the comments below this post, and we will immediately DOUBLE your reward to the $ 100 level. You get our juiciest pack of goodies with 50% off – an opportunity that will never repeat again.

Thanks again for all the awesome entries,

The Defrozo Team

Thanks again to everyone for entering and to Defrozo for sponsoring this competition. Don’t forget to sign up for your free Defrozo membership and contribute to creating the ultimate photography business platform.

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The post Winners of the Defrozo Contest Plus a Bonus for All dPS Readers by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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L’Officiel Ukraine + Bonus Workshop Day!

09 Jan

I say it so many times that I’m beginning to annoy even myself! But I can’t empathize how important it is to work with really talented people. The success of your shoot depends on the talent of your team members. And their ability to work with each other. That’s why when the opportunity came up to work with Donald Lawrence again, I jumped on it. If you remember my “Huskey Shoot” (which we have affectionately begun calling it), you’ll remember that Donald Lawrence styled the 4 Asian girls on that editorial. The shoot was so good, we featured it on our DVD! And….on a side note, that editorial was chosen as one of the top 10 Asian stories of 2011, which made us very proud! At any rate, I loved working with Donald on that shoot so when he told me about a L’Officiel Ukraine shoot and that his wife, Tracy Wingrove, would be doing the sets, I jumped on it. I Tracy needed extra time to put the set together so I told her to come in and start working on it while I was shooting another editorial in the same studio we’d be using the next day. It worked out great that I was shooting two days in this studio, allowing us to have some of the clothing and props delivered to the studio the day before.

Victoria Anderson and McKenna from Wilhelmina NY were our two gorgeous models from this shoot. The issue hit the newsstands this month so it was a pre-Spring story. Donald pulled very colorful pieces and wild prints. Donald had the genius idea of hiring body painters to paint gloves on the girls depending on what they were wearing and also bringing some painted color to their faces. I loved it! The thing about working with someone like Donald is that he always pushes the envelope and goes that extra step ensuring you have killer images! And not just another dull fashion story…..

Gee Whiz, I wish I could break off some gnarly lighting secret here for this shoot but the plain truth is that I used one light again and that light was the Elinchrome Octabank. One big, beautiful source of soft light was all I need to light the girls on the set. We had Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexis Bittar, Michael Kors and Etro clothing which made me swoon as I truly am a fashion addict and love great clothes! I shot with my D800 and used my 85mm, 105mm and my trusty 24mm for one wide shot, which ended up being the lead page on the editorial. I shot at ISO 100 and I used around an F8 through out the day with my shutter set at 100. I didn’t want to shoot super tight at 11 or higher because I didn’t want total sharpness on the backgrounds but depending on the shot, I didn’t want them to totally be in focus either.

I love this shoot and I really value knowing people like Donald Lawrence and Tracy Wingrove because working with them is not only really fun, I get great images at the end of the day. And the editor was so thrilled with the shoot she ran all 10 pages!

I get a lot of fan mail. I’m not trying to brag, just letting you know the facts here. And a consistent request is how people would LOVE to come watch me shoot. I can’t tell you how many requests I get for “Can I just be a fly on the wall and watch you shoot?? I’ll get the coffee, hold your light stand, anything….I just would LOVE to watch you shoot!!” I can’t normally really allow that to happen as I have to keep my sets closed and not have any distractions while I’m shooting. But we came up with a great idea for those attending my workshop next month! On Monday, the day after our weekend long intensive learning workshop, I am inviting all those who participated in the workshop to come join me the next day, Monday March 18th to watch me shoot a 10 page editorial for Ben Trovato! Marius Troy has asked me to shoot another Ben Trovato Exclusive and he has worked out a theme for me. I will take my students from the mood boards that Marius and I have sent back and forth and how I chose the models for the shoot, hair and make up and stylist too. And then you’ll watch me shoot each look for each page and how I execute an editorial. We’ll have lunch delivered and we’ll shoot through the day, getting every image done to perfection and in the can before we call it a wrap! So there are a few seats left for those of you who are considering coming to LA and participating in the workshop!

Hope to see some new faces in one month! xoxo

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Hand-painted Olympus E-P5 comes with bonus… Vespa?

10 Aug

Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy you some pretty weird things. Luxury London store Harrods has a long history of catering to the 1%, and its exclusive ‘Olympus Pen Art Edition’ kit includes two Olympus E-P5 camera bodies – one hand-painted – with an assortment of lenses and accessories, all bundled together with a customized Vespa scooter. We presume this must have made sense to someone. Just how much will it set you back? Click through for more details.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

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L’Officiel Ukraine + Bonus Workshop Day!

16 Feb

Fashion Photography Blog

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Nikon D700 Training: 26. Bonus – The MBD10

28 Jan

Nikon D700 Training
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Photoshop CS5 Top 5 NEW Features (plus bonus)

27 Jan

Narrowing Photoshop CS5’s features down to my top five was almost impossible, but here you go… Follow me: www.gavtrain.com http twitter.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

SUBSCRIBE! Here’s how this video came about: I have never done this with my kids. I usually avoid this kind of stuff but i thought it would a great opportunity for both of them to hang out together as the sisters they are. This Alexa and Eliana getting pampered at Pigtails and Crewcuts. Alexa confesses about her boyfriend. (noooooooo aghhhhhhh!). And of course Eli’s awesomeness. One of many moments with my little ones. Enloy a step in our journey.- Jorge ( HERE ARE SOME PICS FROM MY FANPAGE www.facebook.com Who are we? Please read: ENGLISH manofthehouse.com Who are we? Please read: SPANISH telemundoatlanta.com For amazing photography albums, bios and awesome weekly family moments, add us on facebook! www.facebook.com Finally!! Have an opportunity to purchase a T-shirt that will help pay my student loans! Go to: www.gonnawhistle.com OR www.jorgeandalexa.com Would you like to reach out? Donations? Support? Use: 3910 University Ave #300-RC San Diego CA 92105 or use e-mails below I’M JUST A FATHER OF TWO WORKING MY WAY THROUGH COLLEGE CHECK OUT THE REST OF OUR CHANNEL!! SUBSCRIBE!! BECOME PART OF OUR EXPERIENCE!! CONTACT US AT GONNAWHISTLE@GMAIL.COM
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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