photobootcamp

Project 52 | Week 19: AROUND THE HOUSE

Sat, 12 May 2012 20:34:41 -0600

Some interesting things around people’s homes. I like it!

Thanks for participating this week, ladies! Let’s share and see how many we can get to participate next week for Week 20’s theme: OBSESSION.

Project 52 | Week 18: SKY

Sat, 05 May 2012 11:55:37 -0600

One of my favorite things… the sky! Thanks to those of you who participated in Project 52 this week. Let’s share this with our friends and get even more people involved!

Crickets Clicks

Charise Wilson Photography

E. Vernon Photography

Y Smith Photography

Sara Lind Photography

Lauren Cummings Cornelius

That’s a wrap for Week 18. The theme for Week 19 is AROUND THE HOUSE! See y’all next week :)

Project 52 | Week 17: WHAT MUSIC LOOKS LIKE

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:07:45 -0600

As I thought about this week’s theme, I was a little worried no one would post. This theme is not an easy one. Even I had a hard time coming up with a concept. But so many of you did! This one required really thinking outside the box. Good job, as usual :o)

WHAT MUSIC LOOKS LIKE

Charise Wilson Photography

Crickets Clicks

E. Vernon Photography

Heather Long Designs

Sara Lind Photography

Shantal Sessions (That’s my nephew in the play Aida. I’m a proud auntie here!)

Y Smith Photography

Thanks again for participating. Week 18 Theme: SKY.

Project 52 | Week 16: SHADOWS

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:53:01 -0600

I love shadows. I love how sometimes they can be so soft and diffused they’re barely there at all. And then they can be sharp and full of contrast. They can really make for some interesting photos. Thanks everyone for submitting! Here are the shadows we see.

Charise Wilson Photography

Sara Lind Photography

Judy Nelson

E Vernon Photography

Tammy Schmidt

Y Smith Photography

Crickets Clicks

Please join us for next week’s theme: WHAT MUSIC LOOKS LIKE.

7 Creative Studio and Prop Ideas for Photographers on a Budget | Bootcamp Tips

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:23:00 -0600

I recently moved into a new home. And with that new and bigger home came a studio space for me! It’s been so exciting to find fun new ways to doll up my space. But for those of you who know me, I am quite the bargain hunter. I will see things online and think: that costs WAY too much! I can totally do that myself! So that’s what I end up doing most of the time. So not only have I gotten quite handy at finding a deal, I’m also pretty good at doing it myself. I’m even using power tools! Who knew?

So here’s a list of things I’ve figured out:

1 - Don’t buy an expensive backdrop stand or roller system. You can do it yourself for $25.

Materials needed: Wooden shelving bracket units, L brackets with screws, two extendable shower rods, two sets of metal closet rod hangers (to hang the shower rods on), paint. All of these items can be found at your local hardware store.

I made sure I hung the shelf brackets 60 inches apart to accommodate the 56” standard backdrop size. And make sure you buy the shower curtains that can extend to 72 inches. Remember that security and safety are very important. So make sure you screw the shelving brackets into some studs and then secure them with the metal L brackets (as seen above).

2 - Your local fabric store - Use a coupon. If you’re a newborn photographer, you know how important good fabric is. And if you can get it for a deal, then even better. Watch for sales, and use your 40% off coupon that many stores have.

3 - Fabric.com or other fabric sites online - You’ve probably noticed a bunch of people out there selling beautiful newborn fabric and backdrops for outrageous prices! Sometimes $50-$60 for 2 yards! Well, if they can get it for wholesale, so can I! Check out fabric.com and other online fabric sites. They have most of those gorgeous fabrics that many of the online retailers have and you can get it for half the price. And if you purchase $35 or more, they ship for free. So come with a list!

4 - There are online retailers that will charge you and arm and a leg to screenprint T-shirts. I go local. I usually get a better deal and save on shipping. Plus,they’re great advertising! And you thought your word of mouth was good. Just wait! I give these away with each newborn session.

5 - Raid your parent’s or grandparent’s house. Recently I went to my mother’s house and she loaded me up with all kinds of vintage goodies. Old suitcases, vintage radios and cameras. Even if they’re not willing to part with any of these goodies, at least ask to borrow an item or two. They’re usually willing to let go of their item for a short amount of time.

6 - Build it. Why would I spend $50-$60 online for a wooden box I can make at home? I totally bought one 1x8 and cut it into several pieces for this project. It ended up costing me $10. You can’t beat that! This little box will appear in my next newborn shoot. I can’t wait!!

Or repurpose it. Check your favorite thrift or antique stores weekly for good finds. Once you find something, sand it, paint it and distress it to keep that antique feel.

7 - Network. There seems to be a lot of lovely people out there who crochet, knit, sew or craft. Get to know someone in your neighborhood or online who sews, for example. You might be able to work up a trade where you receive items for free and in exchange you photograph their items. It never hurts to ask, right?

These are just some of the things I’ve learned along the way. I hope this has been helpful to you!

Keli

Project 52 | Week 15: PASTEL

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:04:15 -0600

I’m so glad we decided to do our Pastel theme when we did. I was astounded at all the beautiful spring images that kept coming in! Spring is, by far, my favorite time of year. There’s just something about the earth’s renewal that fascinates me. It’s also astoundingly beautiful.

Thank you so much for continuing to participate in our little Project 52. We would love for even more people to participate, so tell your friends. There’s always room for a few more in our growing community of photographers :)

I’m really excited to introduce week 16 to you: SHADOWS. I cannot wait to see what you come up with!!

Project 52 | Week 14: Crave

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:53:18 -0600

I loves weekly themes like this! This week’s “Crave” theme was not easy. You had to really think outside the box for this one. And when you finally figured out that craving to shoot, you had to do it creatively and differently. I think these ladies succeeded! Each “crave” photo was so different, but so true to the person who took the photo. Enjoy these cravings!

Charise Wilson Photography

Crickets Clicks Photography

E. Vernon Photography

Heather Long Designs

Sara Lind Photography

Y Smith Photography

Thanks for participating in our Project 52 this week! Next week: PASTEL.

Tuesday's Tip | Bring the Camera Along

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:16:38 -0600

You may not think that you should bring your camera with you on that trip to the DMV, but great pictures can come from the most unusual of places. Especially if you’re trying to improve as a photographer, having your camera handy may help you do just that. For example, if you’re walking up the street during your lunch break, you might find something really beautiful.

Or maybe even take it outside while the kids are playing. This is actually a great way to experiment with settings and play with depth of field or composition. The sky’s the limit when it comes to things you can try. Something may even “click” in your head and something you didn’t quite get becomes oh, so clear! (I know that’s happened for me when I’m just doing snapshots with my kids.)

Play around with your camera. Take pictures on Aperture or Shutter priority, and of course Manual! Set up your tripod and try shooting something with a long exposure just for fun! The only way you’re going to learn your camera is by playing with the settings. Don’t overlook supposedly uninteresting subjects for your photography. Something that you may have thought to be boring could be perfectly amazing if you look at it in a different way.

And finally, always be on the lookout for good light. When you’re driving past that meadow or orchard you’ve been dying to shoot in, observe what the light is like there and at what times of day. If you’re mindful of these things while you’re out and about, it will save you time when you’re in need of that information.

Have I convinced you yet? Bring your camera with you!

Project 52 | Week 13: WINDOW LIGHT

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:23:00 -0600

I think this was a popular theme. We got a lot of response this week! Thanks, as always, to those who participate. We love our growing community of photographers. It makes us very excited that you participate in our little project. Let’s spread the word and make it even better! You all rock!!

Week 13: Window Light~

Charise Wilson Photography

Crickets Clicks

Heather Long Designs

Jamie Price Johnston

Kayla Creamer-Photography, Design and Film

Keli Bruns Photography

Samantha Anne Photography

Tammy Schmidt

Y Smith Photography

Up next week is a theme I’ve been waiting for…drumroll please…CRAVE!

tuesday's tip {How to create Silhouettes}

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:35:00 -0600

I love silhouettes. They create great drama or mood to the photograph. This Tuesday’s tip is going to help you achieve some good silhouettes.

Follow these simple steps to create a stunning silhouette:

Make sure your objects is backlit. By having the light directly behind the subject you can get a better silhouette. This could be as simple as an open door, in front of a window, or in front of the sky, especially when it is low in the sky just above the horizon. The background needs to be brighter than the subject.
Look for strong lines and good shapes. If you are photographing people try to pose them in a way to create the mood you want to display in the photograph. Also, look for clean backgrounds. You can create a much stronger image when the object stands out from the background.
Use the rule of thirds. If taking a picture with the horizon in the background try to avoid placing the horizon in the center of the photograph. Also make sure the horizon is straight.

Meter your camera to the background. If you are shooting manual try to go down to at least and f/8 stop to creat a cleaner image, especially if you want it to be sharp. Make sure your focus is spot on. This can make all the difference! If you are not shooting in manual, aim your lens at the background, press the shutter speed halfway down to take a reading of the background and then click on your image.
Try to use the lowest ISO possible to avoid graininess in the photograph.
To shoot a sun star effect (as seen below) watch the position of the sun. In th photograph below I had my subjects move until I saw the sun in that exact spot. I metered my camera on the background, then focused on my subjects to get this effect. I kept saying, “Baby steps back, baby steps forward … Great! Now kiss!” I had to have the sun exactly where I wanted it!

Finally, use post processing as a tool to help boost your image. Play with curves, levels, and contrast to get the type of image you would like.

Finally, make sure you keep your silhouette uncluttered. The more simple, the better. This is the unltimate goal of a silhouette, to make a subject stand out and make the shape or composition defined. Get out there and start experimenting and shooting (trees, building, people, etc) and have a lot of fun. Silhouettes are a fun and easy way to challenge your composition and artistic mind.