Writing is not for photographers. This is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard, and as a photographer, I have heard many. Do you know what is even more absurd about this declaration? For a long time, I am the one who swore by it. This was following the demise of my first personal photoblog. You can say Continue Reading
The post 8 Amazing Hacks To Be A Pro Photographer Blogger: The Definitive Guide I’m Using To Write How I Shoot appeared first on Photodoto.
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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
The post What to Write on Your Photography Website (So That People Will Hire You) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.
If you want to sell your prints or get hired as a photographer, you can’t just put your photos on display. You’re going to have to use words too.
Many photographers struggle to come up with words about their photography. At one point, that was my biggest challenge to grow as a photographer.
I’ll show you how to come up with words for your photography website. We’ll start with a blank screen and finish with a finished web page.
If I post a photo of a baby or toddler on social media, I will get a lot of “likes.” All this means is that people like cuteness. But if I tell a story about a photo, it gets people thinking and talking. Nobody will know why we’re showing our photos if we don’t say something about them.
If you’re showing your portfolio on your website or social media, you need to understand a hard truth: Your photos probably don’t stand out to people.
Your photos may be beautiful, but there are many photographers with beautiful photos. People are overwhelmed with thousands of images all day long and you’re just throwing more images into the mix.
Don’t assume that people will see and understand what is unique about you as a photographer, or appreciate the beauty in your photos unless you tell them. Your words help people understand what to think when they see your photos. Your words can draw them in to hire you or buy your prints.
I heard a rumor that my old public school was going to be torn down. That meant that my son would never have a chance to attend the school I did as a kid. So I took him for a photo shoot. We ran through the fall leaves, climbed on the monkey bars and retraced the steps of my childhood. Maybe the reason it was so meaningful is that the chance would soon be gone forever.
Let’s start from scratch and write words for a photography business website. You don’t have to follow my entire approach. Just take the parts that will help you where you’re struggling.
Let’s pretend we’re going to launch a toddler photography business. However, keep in mind that you can use this approach for any sort of photography business including fine art prints. Keep these ideas in mind as you write for your blog too.
At this point, there is no pressure. The first step is to simply come up with a list of keywords and ideas. Then we’ll turn those ideas into the actual words on our website.
Give yourself at least 30 minutes for this. My suggestion is to turn off your phone, go somewhere you enjoy, and take a pen and some paper with you.
Consider who or what your subject is and then come up with a list of words and ideas that can inspire your writing. Your subject is whatever the main focus of your photography work is. Your subject could be CEO’s, landscape prints, weddings or seafood.
Our portrait business is about toddlers, so here is a list of words and ideas that I’ve come up with:
We could keep going, but that is a good list to start with. From this point on, whenever we have to write something, we have a list of words and ideas to pull from.
We’ll never have to sit down to a blank screen demanding us to fill it with the perfect words.
So far, we’ve only considered what our subject matter is, but we’ll also have to consider who we’re showing our picture to and who we are writing for. That means you need to consider who will be hiring you and write especially for them.
Though our subject matter is toddlers, we’re writing for moms. They’re the most likely ones to be booking a photographer. Yes, dads and grandparents will look at your website too. However, don’t try to write for everyone. Choose one main person to write for.
Every good business solves a problem. What problem does your photography business solve?
Let’s consider two levels of the problem.
First, there is the immediate problem. Mom is on our website or social media page because she needs to find a photographer. Here are some things she has in mind:
There is a deeper element to her problem too. Her little one is about to grow up. As much as she wants to, mom won’t be able to remember everything about this stage of life. These photos will preserve the toddler moments that are about to disappear forever.
Here are some ways the photos will help her:
How do you know that these are her problems? You listen. You listen to everything that moms say about their toddlers. Then you tell those moms (through the words on your website) that you understand, that you care, and that this is what you’re all about.
You need to show the person looking at your website that you can help them solve their problem.
Let them know that you understand their problem and are the perfect person to help. This is where words may be more important than the photos you show.
We have a lot of ideas about our photos and the people we’re writing for, so let’s start writing our web page.
Keep these 4 things in mind as you write:
People need to know very quickly that your website is just what they’re looking for. If somebody is searching for a toddler photography session, they need to know they’ve found the right place.
The first thing you should do is make some sort of statement regarding what your website is about. It should come right before or after your first image.
I photograph the toddler years because they’re some of the most wonderful times of development in your little one’s life. They’re also the years that go by the quickest.
This makes it clear what I offer and why I’m offering it.
That opening image and statement is followed by a more extensive gallery. After the gallery, I like to add some sort of story that digs into the deeper reasons that a mom would want a toddler photo session.
“We tend to love the things that are most scarce. The less there is of something, the more we value it. But far too often, we didn’t realize it’s value until it was gone. One day our babies outgrew the constraints of infancy. They learned to crawl and then pulled themselves up by whatever they could. They mastered our language – or their version of it! And now they think they’re going to keep growing right up! But not before we document them as toddlers. So that you’ll have photographs that make all those overwhelming feelings of motherhood and fatherhood come rushing back.”
While people are looking at your website, there are going to be many distractions. They get constant social media notifications, their minds wander, and their toddlers interrupt them! So write words that will keep them engaged. Being brief but powerful is good.
The “About Me” section reinforces why I offer this sort of photography session and why I’m the right photographer for the job.
“My favorite thing to photograph? Toddlers, without a doubt. Because they hold nothing back. Just watch how they explore the world. Their imaginations soar. And they don’t fake their emotions. My littlest guy is a toddler. I’m always racing to grab my camera because he’s almost not a toddler anymore. I can’t wait to see him grow up, but I’m going to miss the toddler him.”
My concern in the about section is to connect with my reader. I want them to know how much I love the toddler years too.
The final words are about packages, pricing, and contact information. It’s important to reinforce exactly what you’re offering. Remember, you’re not just offering photos.
You might be selling fine art prints, but they’re not just prints. They’re a source of beauty and inspiration in an otherwise dull living room.
You might be selling a photo session, but it’s not merely a session. It’s a way of remembering those precious moments that are about to slip away forever. It’s easy to forget this in the midst of a chaotic life. Let your words remind them.
When their toddler years have long passed, you’ll have frozen time. And when you replay their video or hold their photos in your hands, all those feelings of motherhood and fatherhood will come rushing back.
Some people write quite quickly, others take a long time to get the words out. I worked on the toddler page for about six hours spread out over three days. That’s a lot of time invested in a small amount of writing, however, I’m happy with what I’ve come up with. Along the way, I sifted through photos, reminisced about my own childhood and thought about many of the conversations I’ve had with other parents.
In the end, this was all for practice since I don’t actually run a toddler photography business. Practice is the key to getting comfortable with writing about your photos.
To fill out the rest of the website I would add a blog with several articles. Topics would include:
These articles are there to engage interested parents, show them that I truly do understand toddlers, and settle their curiosity about whether a session like this is worth it.
When I sit down to write these articles, I’ll follow a similar approach:
What I’ve given you is a simple formula for getting to the heart of what you want to say about your photos, especially if you would like people to hire you.
These basic principals hold true in all sorts of photography writing contexts. What sort of problem are you solving with your photography blog?
Perhaps your readers are new to photography and your writing offers a window into the photographer’s life.
Maybe your readers are bewildered by all the technology choices and your writing simplifies things for them.
Over time you’ll discover many interesting ways to write about your photos.
It won’t be long until people respond more to what you said about your photos than the photos themselves.
This doesn’t make your photos any less important. If anything, it will make them all the more memorable in a sea of endless images.
The post What to Write on Your Photography Website (So That People Will Hire You) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.
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Sony has announced it will introduce the next generation CFexpress memory cards this summer, and promises read speeds of up to 1.7GB per second and write speeds up to 1.48GB/s. The Type B cards will use the third generation PCI-E interface that allows them to read and write at twice the rates of current models.
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To make the most of the new cards a faster card reader will be launched — called the MRW-G1 — that will be backward compatible with existing CFexpress cards as well as XQD memory cards. The new cards will be more drop-proof than their predecessors and will be able to withstand a force of 70N.
The cards are aimed at industrial users as well as professional photographers. The first cards will come in a capacity of 128GB, but later units will offer 256GB and 512GB of space. For more information see the Sony website and the Compact Flash Association.
Press release:
Sony today announced the development of the CFexpress Type B memory card (CEB-G128), a new ultra-fast next generation memory card2 that is ideal for professional and industrial use. With its super-fast speed of up to 1700MB/s (read) along with highly reliable toughness, this memory card supports the future evolution of digital devices.
Enhancing Sony’s high performance, value-added memory card line-up, the CFexpress Type B is designed based on a new specification which adopts the latest interface, PCIe®3 Gen3, standardised by the CompactFlash Association.
The Sony CFexpress Type B memory card offers a 128GB capacity, with higher capacity models of 256 GB and 512 GB planned for the future.
Incomparably fast
The Sony CFexpress Type B memory card is around 3 times faster than Sony’s fastest CFast memory card (with 530MB/s read speed). With a write speed of up to 1480MB/s, this card meets future requirement needs for secure industry data-recording or requirements from professionals to capture hi-resolution images or high-bitrate video.
With an ultra-fast read speed of up to 1700MB/s, even large-sized data files can be transferred quickly, when compared to existing memory cards. For example, when making copies or backing up large-sized data from multiple memory cards, transfer time will be dramatically reduced. This greatly improves work efficiency.
The new CFexpress Card Reader, MRW-G1, is optimised for Sony CFexpress Type B memory card and takes full advantage of the card’s fast read speed. This reader is also compatible with Sony XQD card G series and M series.
TOUGH performance
The Sony CFexpress Type B memory card has superior strength, surpassing the CFexpress standard by a factor of three, being able to withstand 70N of force in bend, and five times greater withstanding falls from up to 5m high.
The card is also temperature proof, X-ray proof, anti-static and has a UV guard so it can perfectly support usage in tricky or tough environments.
Peace of mind
Media Scan Utility and Memory Card File Rescue are available as a free download to Sony CFexpress card users.
Media Scan Utility is PC software that automatically scans your Sony CFexpress memory card every time you connect it to a PC via your MRW-G1 card reader4. The software keeps you informed of the condition of your card and lets you know if you’re nearing or have reached the flash memory limit.
Memory Card File Rescue eradicates every photographer’s worst nightmare – deleting photos accidentally and losing your precious work. The software recovers accidentally deleted files including RAW or high-resolution images and videos, so your work is safe from whatever obstacles are thrown your way.
The Sony CFexpress Type B memory card and the CFexpress MRW-G1 Card Reader will be on the market in early summer 2019.
– Ends –
[1] Based on Sony internal testing. Actual performance may vary and is dependent on environment and usage.
2 Based on memory card standard announced from the CompactFlash Association in 2017 as the next generation of XQD memory card and CFast memory card. CompactFlash is a trademark of CompactFlash Association.
3 PCIe is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.
4 MRW-G1 is required to scan Sony CFexpress memory card
[1] Based on Sony internal testing. Actual performance may vary and is dependent on environment and usage.
2 Based on memory card standard announced from the CompactFlash Association in 2017 as the next generation of XQD memory card and CFast memory card. CompactFlash is a trademark of CompactFlash Association.
3 PCIe is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.
4 MRW-G1 is required to scan Sony CFexpress memory card
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”?
Today we meet Jim Goldstein.
I have been behind a camera perfecting the art of photography since the mid-1990′s. I honed my skills in the days of film and have been growing every day since as a photographer, digital and otherwise.
I was a full-time professional outdoor photographer for sometime, but given my knack for social media & marketing I was recently recruited by BorrowLenses.com to help head up their marketing department.
That is much easier said than done, but I would say Outdoor Photography.
I began writing for Darren the first day he opened his site to authors other than himself in early 2008. I pursued writing for DPS because I’m deeply passionate about sharing with the photography community at large. I strive to share my expertise, ideas and inspire others.
These days I shoot with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III when ever I have the opportunity, but always have my trusty Canon 5D Mark II with me as well. My favorite lens at the moment is a Canon EF 50mm f/1.0L lens as it is the newest lens to my collection, but the bulk of my work is shot with a Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L lens.
Be persistent. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I was frustrated along my journey as a photographer. Very early on, when I was 15, I stopped because of it. Only after college did I return back to try again and to push my way through the learning process. Ever since I’ve embraced each challenge to push my limits and test my creativity.
My next big project is a follow up to my ebook Photographing the 4th Dimension – Time.
People can see my photography and writing on my blog: JMG-Galleries blog, my social media pages Google+, Twitter & Facebook and my ebooks/webinars at InspiredExposure.com.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Jim Goldstein
You’ve been reading their articles for months or years. Have you ever wondered: “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today meet San Diego based photographer Jason Weddington.
My first camera was a Kodak disk camera, similar to the ones shown here. I must have been 8 or 9 at the time. Around the same time, I took a black and white photography course during summer vacation. I learned how to develop black and white film, as well as how to make prints. I remember being very proud of an image of an empty root beer can that I’d photographed in the street. That photo sat in a frame on my dresser for a few years.
Then I went several years without having a camera or being exposed to photography (pun intended). In 1998 I joined the Marines and was stationed in Japan. I bought a Kodak Advantix film camera, because I wanted to be able to capture and share scenes from my time in Japan. I wouldn’t say I was interested in photography per se, I was more interested in ‘taking pictures’, if the distinction makes sense. I was happy to point and shoot, and drop the film off at the lab. I would flip through the prints and say things like “too bad that one didn’t come out.” In those days I thought cameras made photos, not photographers. Pushing the shutter was like rolling the dice, sometimes the pictures came out, sometimes they didn’t. It would be a few more years before my awareness changed.
By 2001, I was really into computers. The Internet was still pretty new, technology was racing forward, and some exciting things were becoming possible. I bought a digital camera, because it was yet another cool thing I could do with my computer. I was more into computers than cameras – digital seemed like the logical camera choice.
In early 2001, I saw some fine art nude photographs on the Internet. I was amazed and inspired. I hadn’t seen much fine art photography before, or maybe I hadn’t given it much notice. But this time my eyes were opened to a whole new world. I became aware of photography as an art form, rather that simply a tool for capturing moments.
I’d just married a beautiful woman, and I had a 1.2 megapixel (!!) digital camera. It seemed so simple. Knowing next to nothing about photography, I asked my wife to model for me. The pictures weren’t very good. Suddenly I became aware that photography is a skill, and a skill that I needed to learn.
The short answer is “neither one.” The long answer is more complicated. I left my full time job as an IT manager at the end of 2012 to start my own business. My goal is spend more time on my personal photography projects, and more time with my family. I’m building a business around my interest in photography, but I don’t plan to work full time as a photographer.
Going forward I hope to make a living from a combination of activities. I’ve just finished a book of my photography, and I’m beginning to market prints on my website. I’m also in the process of launching a software company. We’ll be producing products and services for photographers.
Photographer Jason Weddington
That’s a hard question, I hope I’m never in that position. I guess if I had to, I would limit myself to photographing people. I like portrait work, I’m inspired by the idea of creating a portrait that really captures the sitter’s personality. I love it when people are happy with a photo I’ve made of them, since most people don’t enjoy being photographed.
I wrote a trial post for dPS in September of 2012, and was accepted as a regular writer in October. I’d already made the decision to leave my full time job to pursue my own business, and I wanted photography to be a big part of that. I genuinely enjoy teaching and sharing, when the topic is something that I am passionate about. So writing for dPS is a good fit, and the timing was perfect.
I’m a Canon guy. My main camera is the EOS 5D Mark III. I also have an old Canon AE-1 film body, and a Canon EOS 7s (aka ELAN 7) film body.
I like prime lenses. My favorites are probably the EF 135mm f/2L and the EF 50mm f/1.2L. Is is cheating to pick two?
Become a student of light. Practice visually deconstructing photographs and picturing where the light comes from. Do the same thing in real life, as you walk around your city or neighborhood. Notice what light does to a subject when it comes from above, from the side, from behind, from in front, and from below.
You can learn the technical stuff as you go, and modern cameras will take care of exposure for you most of the time, at least well enough to get you started. But no camera will teach you how to find the good light.
I’ve just hired a software and web developer to help me build a social media marketing service for photographers. The goal of the service is to provide a set of online tools to help photographers get more exposure for their work on major social sharing sites like Flickr, 500px, Facebook, and Tumblr. We will start development in March and I hope to launch the first version of the service in May.
I’m also working on my second photography book which will be a collection of photos from Japan.
My Portfolio Site – This site features my portfolio, fine art prints, and my books.
My Blog – This is my personal blog. The focus going forward will be photography tips and tutorials, information about my photography projects, and eventually some premium training materials.
Uncovered Beauty – This is the brand for my fine art nude photography. You can see some of my work here, and later this year I will launch a fine art nude photography training course from this site.
Facebook – Like my Facebook page to get updates when I have something new to share. I post links to my dPS articles here, and also share photos and tips. As my other projects move forward, I’ll post updates from time to time. I try to make sure that the things I share on Facebook are genuinely useful.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Jason Weddington
You’ve been reading their articles for months or years. Have you ever wondered: “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today meet New York State photographer Rick Berk.
I’ve been shooting since 1992, so about 21 years now.
I have a full time job within the photo industry, but my full time job is not that of a photographer, if that makes any sense. I photograph for my own creative outlet, and as a part time job on the side. Part time, I photograph weddings and portraits, and I shoot landscapes as a creative outlet. I have a website set up to sell my fine art work as well.
Photographer Rick Berk
Probably landscape photography. I love nature and the outdoors and love capturing nature’s beauty. And mountains never complain that you made them look fat!
I started writing for dPS in September, 2012. A friend saw that they were looking for writers and suggested I apply. I had taught photo seminars as part of my previous job and thought this would be a great way to continue to share my love for photography.
I shoot Canon gear. Right now my cameras of choice are the EOS-1D X and the EOS 5D Mark III. I’m not sure I can choose just one lens as my favorite. My favorite landscape lens is the EF 24mm f/1.4L II, but I also love the EF 14mm f/2.8L II. For portraits, I always go to the EF 85mm f/1.2L II.
Learn to do as much in camera as possible. I’m all for using Photoshop to complete the thought but there is a difference between “fixing” in Photoshop and enhancing in Photoshop. I would rather spend more time shooting and less time editing.
I haven’t planned anything yet for 2013, but I will have at least one or two trips dedicated to photography. Right now I’m eyeing the Oregon coast, and possibly the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
My website.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Rick Berk
You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today we meet Alex Smith, another of the newer writers brought on to dPS last year.
I have been shooting for the past 7 years in some way, shape or form.
2.) Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?Photography for me is a hobby that has gotten out of control. I am not a full time photographer and spend my days as a member of one of the scariest, most fear-inducing professions in the world. I work as a dentist.
This is a tough one. I really enjoy all aspects of photography and love to push myself into the different genres as I find I always learn something new. If I had to limit myself though, it would be to conceptual portrait/fashion photography. I love pushing my own creativity and it is a blast to come up with an idea and see it through to the final image. Not to mention you get to meet a lot of great people with which to collaborate and create.
I am new to dPS as of Oct/Nov 2012. I applied to write for dPS because I feel that I have learned a great deal from the site. I wanted to be able to give back to the site by contributing and communicating what I have learned to others. Also, I hoped to be a good motivational factor and example for all the other self taught hobbyists out there that are working hard to learn photography.
I started with a Nikon D80 and moved to a Nikon D3s a few years ago. Really, my favorite lens is whatever is on my camera, but if forced to choose it is likely the Nikon 24-70 mm f/2.8. It is extremely versatile and I find that it is on my camera most of the time.
My number one tip to anyone starting out in photography is not to let fear rule you. This is a craft and skill that takes time to learn and you should approach it as something that you will be continuously learning more about. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, try new things and get out of your comfort zone. You have to practice and make errors to get better and you can’t let all your blunders stand in the way of your progress. Just remember that all photographers start at the same point…the beginning. Don’t be ashamed of your skill or progress and just continue to work at areas you feel you need to improve.
Currently, I am working on a series of themed or conceptualized portraits in collaboration with a local make-up artist. I have been getting into more styling and planning with each shoot and am excited to see where these shoots are heading.
You can find out plenty about me here on dPS and also at www.shutterhogs.com which is an ongoing project that I am trying to develop with a colleague. Also, I am on Twitter as @shutterhogs and my portfolio can be seen at 500px.com/alexsmith88.
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Alex Smith
You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today we meet Helen Bradley, a long time writer on the site.
I have been shooting seriously for about ten years. I started quite by accident. I needed some slides for an art class so I borrowed a Pentax K-1000 film camera, got some quick instructions on how to use an SLR and headed out shooting. It was love at first click!
2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?I am a full time freelance lifestyle writer and part of what I do is to write tutorials, and produce videos and books about photography, Photoshop and Lightroom.
I also write about Microsoft Office and iPad apps so I get to include my photographs in what I do every day. If my photos aren’t the subject of a photography or post production tutorial, they’ll be illustrating a tutorial on some application or other.
It would have to be street photography. I love city streets and the noise, dirt and bustle of big cities. I get a thrill from finding a really great piece of street art, stencil art or cool person to shoot. I like the buzz of shooting on the streets and interacting with people that I meet. I’ve met some really interesting people whom I’ve either photographed or spent time talking with because they too have a camera in their hand – or a paintbrush.
I started writing for dPS in December 2008. I’d seen a note saying Darren was looking for writers and being an Aussie I felt that that might tip the balance in my favor. I love writing about fun and interesting stuff. I’m a strong believer in something I once heard Guy Kawasaki say – that you should eat like a bird and poop like an elephant. He meant you should learn and absorb everything you can then spread the information far and wide. This is what I live to do so dPS was a logical fit for me.
I am a camera junkie. I have boxes of film in my fridge, I own a Holga, a refurbished Polaroid land camera, a point and shoot converted for IR capture, a Lens Baby and my trusty Pentax K-7 and a bag of lenses.
My favorite lens is a 28-200 3.8-5.6 Tamron lens. It’s a great everyday lens – it’s the only lens I carry when I am out on the streets, it can capture pretty much anything and it’s not too heavy or awkward to hand hold.
Carry your camera with you. All the time. Everywhere. It’s really, really difficult to take a photograph without one.
Thank you for asking! I’ve just launched a book in the 57 Secrets series. The book is 57 Secrets for Working Smarter in Photoshop and you can learn more about it at http://www.57secrets.com/photoshop.htm. It is available as a Kindle ebook and a printed book from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/57-Secrets-Working-Smarter-Photoshop/dp/161038010X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357091649&sr=8-2&keywords=57+secrets+photoshop
My web site and blogs are all at: http://www.projectwoman.com
I have a craft blog at: http://www.craftinggoodness.com
Find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/projectwoman
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/helenbradley
YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/HelenLBradley
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/116149445148279071329/posts
I also offer classes on Photoshop, Photoshop Elements and Lightroom and one on one training. Details here: http://projectwoman.com/articles/44PhotoshopTraining.htm
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Helen Bradley
You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today we meet Anne McKinnell, one of our brand new, fresh and minty smelling writers.
About 6 years if you add it all together.
The first time photography was part of my life was in university 20 years ago. I wrote for the student newspaper and bought a used Canon AE1 so I could take photographs to go with my stories. I used to roll my own film, develop it, and make prints in my bathroom. After university I did some travel photography in eastern Europe.
Back then I lived in a darkness. My images were journalistic in style and focused on problems in the world, sad stories, homeless people, and I even had a whole series on graveyards. It is as if I lived in a world full of only bad things.
I photographed less often during the time I was building my career in software and working to pay for my house. When digital photography came out, I gave up on it all together thinking now anyone could make a perfect photograph.
A decade later I realized that digital photography does not mean anyone can make a perfect image. I renewed my interest in photography and purchased my first DSLR about 4 years ago.
2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?Well, about a year and a half ago I made a rather huge change in my life. I sold my house in Victoria, BC, closed my software consulting business, bought an RV and hit the road for the life of a nomadic photographer.
I decided that if I ever wanted to be a travel photographer I should just start living that life and see what happens. So I’m a full-time photographer now, it’s my second career, and I’m having a happier and more fulfilling life. I don’t make as much money as I used to but I’m happier.
When I got back into photography four years ago I did it for a specific reason. Photography is the tool I use to become a happier person and so I decided to only photograph beautiful things and leave the darker side of life for other photographers.
I have a tendency to see and focus on all the negative things in the world. I wish I was one of those positive people who see the bright side of life, but I’m not. Being inspired by Dewitt Jones, I try very hard to focus on “what is right with the world” and I use photography to help me do that. It really works and has changed my perspective greatly.
So my one genre of photography would have to be landscape and nature. When I see something in nature that is beautiful it reminds me that the world cannot be all bad. My favourite thing is to get out in nature and find beautiful things that inspire me and keep me sane. Seascapes at twilight is what really does it for me.
I’m new! I just starting writing for dPS a couple of months ago. I have always loved writing and I did a lot of teaching in my software business so it seemed natural to combine writing, teaching and photography this way. It also helps me bring my photography to a wider audience.
I have a Canon 7D. My favourite lens is my 24-105L lens, probably because it’s my only L lens and it’s the perfect range for those times when I go out with only one lens. It’s extremely versatile. However I have to say that on a couple of occasions I have rented the 400mm f/5.6L for wildlife photography and I LOVE that lens.
Slow down. You have to change the way you go about photography to progress from making snapshots to making great images that have impact. Spend some time thinking about the scene and what you want to say about it. I like to spend a little time coming up with adjectives that describe the scene and then use those adjectives to decide what kind of image I want to make. For example, if I come up with adjectives like “peaceful, calm, blue” I might use a very different technique then if my adjectives are “dramatic, stormy, gritty.”
I’m currently writing a series of eBooks for new photographers that will help them enhance their vision, exercise their creativity, and learn new tools and techniques along the way.
It’s a bit of an unconventional approach because I believe in learning a bit of everything at the same time. When you get your first DSLR it’s no fun to memorize your camera manual until you understand what every single button does without making any images. It’s no fun to study composition endlessly without trying some fun techniques too.
I think of it like a chemistry class in high school. Sure, you have to learn the formulas and memorize some stuff, but you also have to melt things and set stuff on fire or you’ll get bored and start to hate chemistry.
You need to learn a bit of each thing and progress in all areas simultaneously and that’s how I try to guide new photographers in my eBooks.
The best place is on my website where I have a blog about my travels and how I make each of my images. I also have two free photography eBooks available there.
My website: http://annemckinnell.com
I’m also on a bunch of social networks:
Google+: http://gplus.to/annemckinnell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/annemckinnell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneMcKinnellPhotography
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/annemckinnell/
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Anne McKinnell
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