Obtaining a model release from your clients is an important step for any photographer. This type of release can protect photographers and ensure you have the proper documentation in place for the use of the images you take. This tutorial will help you to understand what a model release is, why you need one, and…
I remember being so excited to take photos and get them back from the drugstore to put them in the album as a kid. I always enjoyed looking back at them every time we put a new set of photos in. I really wanted my children to have something to have and hold and reflect…
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…
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,…
I will never forget the day my biggest fear as a photographer was realized. It was gut-wrenching. And as much as I had feared this happening, there was nothing that could prepare me for the unfathomable sickness I would feel in the pit of my stomach when it happened. I was shooting a wedding, and…
14 Must Take Wedding Ceremony Photos! One of the major benefits of your job as a wedding photographer is you have the opportunity to observe beautiful and special moments between loved one. The wedding ceremony, in particular, is full of emotion, excitement, and joy, but can also happen so quickly you may have to scramble…
One of the common questions I hear floating around is how to take good photos in a dark church. As photographers, we frequently have a lot of creative freedom with where we photograph our subjects, but weddings are the exception. When you are photographing a wedding, you have to be prepared for just about any…
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,…
9 Wedding Photography Posing Tips from Roberto Valenzuela A wedding day is full of so many challenges, many of which are completely outside of your control. Posing is not one of those. With training and practice, you can master the techniques of posing. Today, we’ve invited ShootDotEdit to help you advance your posing skills and feel…
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,…
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…
It’s that time of year, photographers: Busy season is upon us. At one time, this season filled me with equal parts excitement and dread. Could I manage it all? What if I dropped the ball? How would I keep everything straight? I have a lot on my plate besides running my photography business. Sound familiar?…
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,…
Have you ever considered adding wedding photography to your current photography business? Do you love weddings but simply don’t have the time for the contracts, client meetings, post processing & logistics? Are you looking for a way to fill in your schedule gaps and make some additional income? Two years ago, I answered yes to…
Wedding ring photos – one of the most symbolic images you will capture on a wedding day. While every detail from the nuptials is extremely important to photograph, there is nothing that signifies marriages more than a photo of two perfectly polished eternal wedding bands. Shooting photos of the rings is also your turn as…