Congrats on purchasing our brand new Photoshop Actions – The Uptown Collection! If you’ve never used Photoshop much you might be a little intimated but as you will see in this quick tutorial, you have nothing to worry about, installing & using these Photoshop actions are actually quite easy! How to Install Your Photoshop Actions…
We spend a lot of time talking about how to get technically perfect photo, but there is more to a great image than technicalities. A technically flawless photo doesn’t matter as much to a client if the photo isn’t INTERESTING, so let’s chat a little today about how you can enhance your photos with great…
We chatted recently about how to master shooting wide open, and I wanted to follow up that post with more discussion on achieving a nice blurred background, or bokeh, in your photos. Who doesn’t love it? It’s that creamy background that really separates your subject and helps them jump off an image to catch your…
One of the things that gets under my skin more than anything is stumbling upon articles insinuating that a new photographer must spend top dollar and go into inordinate amounts of debt in able to be considered a “real” photographer. As if the amount of money invested is what buys you a place at the…
Are you ready to take your photography business to the next level? Are you excited to show potential clients what you can do and grab their attention? Here are some simple, yet very important steps toward achieving your goals of becoming a professional photographer. How to Make a Photography Portfolio – 10 Simple Tips for…
We don’t talk about it much, but we’ve all been there: the doubt, the discouragement, the hidden, quiet thoughts rooted in the fear that we are not good enough. “Am I good enough to be a photographer?” “Do I have what it takes to be successful?” “Will I ever be as good as _____?” You…
If you’ve ever shot photos indoors, you know how tricky it can be. The lighting can be inadequate, and a decent backdrop can be hard to come by. If the nuances of shooting inside have you avoiding it altogether, today is the day that changes! Whether you’re wanting to capture candid shots of your family…
Are you struggling getting sharp photos when shooting wide open? There are several reasons you might choose to take photos with your aperture open as far as it will go, or as it’s affectionately referred to in the photography world, “shooting wide open.” One trademark of a professional portrait is that nice creamy, smooth background that…
Note from Cole – the tutorial & photographs are written / provided from Twyla Dawn Photography. I am sure by now lots of you have seen and heard the term IPS thrown around quite a bit in groups and discussions. IPS is In Person Sales which is referred to as a customer service based business…
Need Help Understanding Exactly What You Need to Know About Buying a Speedlight? Once upon a time if you wanted an external flash for your camera then your choice was simple. You would pay a small fortune for the manufacturer’s own brand built in flash. The end. Nowadays though, the amount of choice on the…
As a family photographer there are very few things that make me happier than feedback from a parent telling me I did a perfect job of capturing their child’s personality. The main reason I approach my family sessions with a lifestyle method is that there are so many things in this digital age distracting us…
Do the words “off camera flash” fill you with dread and terror? Many photographers, especially amateurs and those loyal to natural lighting, typically steer clear from flash photography of any sort due to its perceived complexities. However, once you start to learn the basics of controlling your electronic flash, you’ll quickly find that off-camera flash…
Are you finding yourself at shoots ripping your hair out trying to figure out how to pose your clients in a way that looks flattering and natural? Posing your clients can be a real stress point for not only you but your subjects but it does not have to be. I am going to show you…
Winter is upon us, and for many of us, that means SNOW. I love the challenge of taking photos in the snow: The scene is entirely different than what I work with the rest of the year, and it compels me to stretch my creativity and my skill level. Shooting good photos in the snow…
Let’s be honest: Family pictures can be STRESSFUL for the entire family. We’ve all been there, on the other side of the lens. As the parent, you’ve spent hours picking out the perfect coordinating outfits, you’ve stressed about the weather and location, you’ve scoured Pinterest for ideas and you’re so desperate to capture just ONE….
Because my heart for photography started with my desire to document everyday memories, it’s no surprise that I LOVE taking Christmas morning photos! But since we have had kids, I have found myself more and more aware of the fact that, most of the time, I am not in the frame with my family. For…