I see this question a lot: My client is asking for the RAW files from their session, what do I say? This can be a hot topic, and everyone comes down somewhere differently on this one. Just do a quick search on any forum, or in your favorite photography group and you’ll see: the opinions…
Mirroring a background is a neat little Photoshop trick that can come in really handy. I have used this method to remove unwanted parts of an image, or to just add some interest to a photo. With a powerful tool like Photoshop, there is always more than one way to do things, but this is…
Some may call it trendy, some call it their style. I find that using the matte effect is lovely, and I incorporate at least a touch of it in many of my images. It’s a great way to add style, and dimension and even evoke emotion into some images. If you’ve wondered how to create…
Winter can mean slower business for many of us, especially wedding and natural light, non-studio photographers. And even more so for those of us who live in regions with cold weather. The inquiries are slower to roll in and for a period of time, work is slower. This can often be discouraging for many photographers,…
Have you been eager to try mini sessions but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’ve been there, done that, and just didn’t have the results you were looking for? After several years of success with mini session in my own studio, I’d like to share a few ways to help you maximize your…
Some of the most challenging client situations we run into as photographers can be avoided. Most of them stem from unmet client expectations. As the photographer, it is our job to manage our client’s expectations to ensure they know exactly what they can expect when working with us. When you are hired for a job,…
Culling a session can be one of the toughest things to master. It’s always so hard after a session; you get home, unload the card, and marvel at all the gems you have. And, if you are like many photographers you have taken WAY too many photos. There are 200 shots that you need to…
Every now and then, we run into things as photographers that can trip us up a little if we aren’t prepared. Have you ever had a client wearing glasses during your session, and the next thing you know they’re wearing sunglasses?! Transition lenses are incredibly convenient… unless you’re a photographer. If you have ever had…
I will never forget the first time I had to fire a client. It was SO uncomfortable. There were warning signs from the very beginning, but being overly-optimistic and being a people-pleaser, I ignored them. I learned a hard lesson that day: If you know a client will not be a good fit for you,…
How to Use The Radial Filter in Lightroom Today I want to discuss my all-time favorite tool in Lightroom – the radial filter. The radial filter is a tool designed to allow you to make edits to an isolated area of your image. Its functions come in handy particularly when I want to add an additional…
A client questionnaire is a valuable tool to not only establish a good client relationship, but lead a great photography session. It reminds people you are not just a person with a camera, you are a business, have goals, and care about their needs/wants. Using a client questionnaire has helped me to get to know…
It seems like everyone has a camera these days. And with such a wealth of information on the internet, learning how to use it has never been easier! It’s a double-edged sword, because while we have droves of information and know-how at our very fingertips, this also means that an industry that used to require…
At some point or another, if you own a nice camera and have at least minimal skill using it, the time will come (and probably more than once): Someone will ask you to work for free. Or maybe no one will ask you, but you’ll find yourself slow on work, worried about growing your business,…
Time is valuable. So much so that we often hear people say that time is money. This couldn’t be more true. Think about the choices we have with our time: We can spend it with the people we love… We can spend it doing things we enjoy… We can spend our time learning and growing…
I am telling you, every day it’s a party in the Cole’s Clique Elite Private Facebook group. But don’t get me wrong, it’s not only fun and games, we’re serious about improving our photography and for many like Leslie & Jessica – boosting their photography business too. None of this comes easy. You have to…
So…let’s be honest…what are the odds that your client is a former model? Probably slim ;). Back when I was shooting countless weddings, engagements and portraits, a big part of my job was not to simply just capture, but to also make every day people feel comfortable enough in front of the lens so I…