The storm came, scared everyone and left. It left behind some amazing clouds. My friend and client helped Manchester High School’s Boosters do a fundraiser of Smoked BBQ. I wasn’t there for very long, but they asked him a ton of questions which he was happy to answer. Three different smokers, including him donated time and energy to help the high school with their fundraiser. He asked me to provide a few photos. To see more photos from this or other events, check out my Facebook Page.
As someone who really enjoys photography, photography as a career or your passion, can lose its excitement. It’s important to find a one to two hour window where you can go out and just shoot. In outdoor photography, weather plays an important roll which is why I was excited when I found an opportunity to go to Brown’s Island for the blooming trees. It was a beautiful overcast day. When I had taken all the photos I wanted was when a few rain drops began to fall.
It’s good to get in a little camera time without any pressure. It helps to mix things up, try new things and keep the process fun. It can be hard to find that window, but when the weather is right, it is important to go out there and have a good time! Take an little adventure. Explore somewhere new or visit a place that you haven’t been to in a long time (like Brown’s Island or Bell’s Isle).
Not only did I enjoy the process, but I also took in the beauty of the blooming trees, the sound of the river, ducks and even the train. The fresh air (thank you allergy meds!) and breeze was wonderful. The wind blew some pedals off the trees which made me smile (scenes from the “Twilight” series popped in my head). This photo session may have lasted only 30 minutes but it was well worth it and I got some beautiful shots from it. In fact, I enjoyed it enough that the following day, I visited another park and did another session. Be on the look out for those!
Where are some of your favorite places to shoot?
There are reasons why group photos should have a limited color scheme and why we like the white tops and khaki pants group portraits. They look unified. It’s a clean look. The focus becomes the people, not the outfits. Simplicity makes for a image better. Too many colors (and patterns) don’t make pretty photos.
The other reason is because you are a group, a team. You should not have any particular person stand out (except in wedding photos - bride and groom should be a strong focal point). If anyone is to stand out at all, it should be the Alpha (boss, president, etc.) but even then, that person should only stand out slightly.
Unless the team wants to look like the furniture grouping from a country magazine, stripes, florals, polka-dots and plaids should not be worn. Try to keep it to solids with maybe one optional pattern (for ties or shirts under a solid jacket or sweater). Be nice to the photographer and your team members and follow the instructions.
Remember to make sure the background and “staging area” is clear of clutter for a cleaner, tighter look. Plants visible over the shoulder or poking out behind people will look like goofy headdresses or tails! This becomes a distraction from the faces of the team and possibly cause the team to look less professional.
A huge thank you to www.robsbbqcatering.com for continuing to hire me as his photographer for capturing his products for his website (plus building and managing his site as well)!! Stock photos won’t do his food justice! Only the real deal will do!!
A picture is worth a thousand words.
When displaying samples of your work, you want it to be your very best and you want it to look professional. You are proud of your work and you want to display it as such. When creating a website, a Facebook fan page, a blog or any other form of advertising, your want it to look its best! I recommend hiring a professional photographer to help you with these pictures.
Here are a few tips on why using a professional photographer will enhance your publications ad social media:
1. Date Stamp: A professional photographer will not “date stamp” the picture. Having the date in the bottom right corner will bring the quality of the photo down tremendously.
2. Clean Photo: A professional photographer will be sure to have a “clean” photo. For example, if you are in construction, the photographer will take the picture so the huge pile of garbage is not in the shot. He/she will make sure that the area is clear so that if you are a landscaper, you won’t have hoses drawn across the lawn, shirtless workers or trucks in the background. He/she will recommend removing the children’s toys from the side yard so it doesn’t distract from that gorgeous flower bed you just created. He/she will recommend removing your tools from the counter top and stain cans from the area so you have a great shot of your work.
3. Lighting: A professional photographers will adjust the lighting to enhance the photo. The photographer can advise on how the weather will affect the shot. They also know what to do to prevent or avoid the extreme shadows and highlights that reduce the clarity of the photo. Experts know how to make the picture a clear, clean, sharp photo of your work.
4. Clear Photo: Simply, a good photographer will keep him/her self out of the photo. It can be difficult to keep your finger, your shadow and your reflection out of your shot. Taking a picture of a room with lots of mirrors is particularly hard. Professionals know how to make the photo work without being in the middle of the shot. Sometimes it is better to take detail shots (close ups) of the space verses a full area shot.
Great photos have a positive impact on your website. There are some other options if you are unable to hire a photographer or have a friend does photography as a hobby. If this isn’t an option, you can use representations of your work. Stock photography is a great option. I recommend www.IstockPhoto.com for great looking photos (just don’t put them in your gallery/portfolio/samples area). Be sure to read the fine print of other photo sample sites. They may have hidden fees where Istockphoto.com does not.
If you want to show off your work, talent, and skills, having your own professional looking pictures is the best way to go.
