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…
Today I’d like to address an ailment called ‘P.K.B’, or Photographer Kid Burnout. If you’ve ever tried to photograph your own kids, you may recognize the symptoms: Pouting. Screaming. Crying. Grumpy faces. Rolling eyes…. and that is just from us parents! The kids are at it too! Running away, hiding under the bed, making ridiculous…
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,…
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…
Well hello there new aspiring photographer! So you want to make money with your photography? That’s great…as long as you’re prepared for the bumps, peaks and valleys along the way. In fact, did you know that 85% of photographers fail? According to Dane Sanders in his book Fast Track Photographer: In the 1st year, 60%…
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…
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…
I love 50mm lenses, mostly for their versatile and natural focal length. Whether you are shooting portraits, smaller details, lifestyle, or just looking for a good every day lens, you really can’t beat the focal length of a 50mm. I recently had the opportunity to rent a Canon 50mm f/1.2L lens from our friends over…
I believe photographer self-doubt can cripple many of us. It’s always there, in the back of our minds. Am I good enough? Should I really call myself a photographer? Will anyone even hire me? Should I even charge for my work? Will this session go ok? Will I be able to handle the lighting, the…
Wish you could nail white balance consistently? Now you can. I’m going to be honest with you. When it comes to White Balance, I have always been one to shoot in Auto White Balance (AWB) mode and “fix it later.” “It’s such a quick, easy fix in post-processing,” I told myself. Until it wasn’t. I’ve…
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…
A few weeks ago, my husband and I took our family to a local Fall Festival. What started out as a typical fun day with our family very quickly took shape as a huge lesson for me. As we strolled along with our shaved ice, corndogs and handfuls of tickets for all kinds of rickety…