Instructor's Tip: KISS Method: Keep It Sweet And Simple, PART 6

I hope you enjoy this week's "Instructor's Tip" by one of my favorite instructors, award winning nature photographer Russ Burden. To learn more about how Russ captured the above image, join him on one of his photo tours. Visit Russ Burden Photography to get more information.


Using Flash and Artificial Backgrounds to Control the Elements:
By using flash on small objects, lots of photographic problems can be solved yielding excellent images that otherwise would result in a bad image. By combining the following with the strategic placement of artificial backgrounds that look natural, successful photos can be made even in some inconceivable circumstances.

Flash can “stop” the wind and allow you to shoot at small apertures by using the power of the light emitted by the flash rather than the relying on ambient light. On a windy morning, an aperture of f22 with the ISO set to 100 should get you in the 1/15 sec. range. The obvious effect is a totally soft, wind blown flower. But the short duration of the flash will freeze the movement and allow the production of a tack sharp replication of the subject. An additional benefit is if the ambient light is too flat, flash can add sparkle to an image using it as a fill in light to give the subject more of a twinkle. By adding both a fill light to the side and a back light to create a modeling effect, in essence, a professionally lit portrait of the blossom is possible.

-Russ

Take a class with Russ or a fellow Digital Photo Academy instructor in your area, check out the Digital Photo Academy. I took Russ' intermediate and advanced courses last year, and he continues to be a strong source of knowledge and encouragement as I progress in my photography.

Don't forget to check Take Great Pictures for Russ' most recent tips. On the home page, click on the "Photo Tips And Techniques" button in the left hand column. Additionally, check out his "Digital Tip of the Month" found by clicking on the Digital Photography button.

Breaking News: Photographer diagnosed with cancer

I just received word about the cancer diagnosis of a photographer colleague Cal Cheney, owner of All Digital Photo and Video in Lafayette and a member of the Mile High Photographers. In these emotionally and financially trying times, many of us may be wondering how we can do something positive to lift spirits and morale. I think this is a great opportunity to do so.

Since I've only recently joined Mile High Photographers, I haven't had the chance to meet Cal, but he is very well-known. Here's an example of what other members are sharing about him: "Cal is such a caring and genuine person and gives so much energy and effort to everyone fortunate enough to know him."

A group of colleagues and friends have joined forces to put an event together in honor of Cal to let him know that he is supported and to offer him strength and recovery in our thoughts and prayers. What better way to show him how respected and valuable he is than to have a gala event and raise much needed funds to support him financially as well.

If you are here locally, please plan to attend the fundraising event on Wednesday, April 22nd at the Chateaux at Fox Meadows in Broomfield. Many area caterers and businesses will provide food and alcohol as well as donated entertainment and décor. Tickets will be $25 and cash donations in lieu of attendance are gratefully accepted. The group is hoping for 500 guests in support of Cal and his family.

There will be a silent auction to raise additional funds. We need donated items of any value!!! Any sort of certificate, item, service, or discount you or your company can offer would be much appreciated. We are hoping to collect everything by April 17th. Please contact Jessica Adler or Sidney Stoper (Jessica.adler@comcast.net or sstoper@magnoliahotels.com) to donate goods or services.

On behalf of Cal and those organizing this event, thank you so much! I hope to see you on the 22nd of April; and may all our joined positive thoughts and energy help a great person get through this difficult time. I believe that the Lord listens and answers prayers. Cal you are definitely in mine!

Saturday Morning Cartoons

I hesitated about throwing this up on my business blog because I didn't want any potential clients to think I won't do whatever is necessary to make sure they are happy with the final product. But this isn't some kind of comment about how I run my business. It's just stating a fact: photographers, like police officers, have to learn how to laugh off the more difficult parts of the job if they expect to be able to keep doing it. It's either learn how to cope or do something else.

"What the Duck" is an online comic strip created by Aaron Johnson. Viewers are welcome to link, post, copy/paste, or save the strips to their own sites, blogs, forums, newsletters, etc. Aaron also allows viewers to suggest titles for his individual strips, which I think is a great way to interact with his blog readers.

Get Connected: Forum criticism: motivation or madness?

I will be the first one to admit that as a developing artist, I'm still entirely too attached to my work so much so that accepting criticism is difficult. Your first instinct might be to just dismiss negative comments as just that, a negative opinion. Sometimes I can do that and let negative voices roll off my back. Other times, like this week, I allow them to eat away at me, driving me just to the near side of insane. If something keeps bothering you, maybe that's the universe's way of saying, "take another look, stupid." I'm glad I did.

So taking a line from the Sci-Fi series "Battlestar Galactica:" "what the frack am I talking about?" I received a host of negative criticism about my new business logo when I posted about it on the Dgrin forum. I was shocked and disappointed that so many posters to my thread disliked what I thought was a great idea. Part of it was me personalizing the critics as if they were somehow attacking me. Another issue was feeling defensive and trying to protect my friend who created this logo out of the goodness of his heart (and for free!). I loved what my friend created from the get-go. Out of all of my attempts to try to create one myself and by using canned clip art templates online, Paul's "logo" spoke to me, stood out and was drastically different from anything else I had ever seen before. Because I had such a visceral reaction to it, I was SURE that it was the right thing for my business.



But those negative comments needled me so much that I started doing more research about what actually makes up a good business logo. I talked with other successful photography business experts here locally that I trust and got their opinions, and I researched online. Unfortunately, I had to face the fact that Paul's logo wasn't it, namely because logos are usually very simple graphically and has to be something that can be recognized even when printed very small. Paul's logo would start to lose its readability if it were printed smaller than a business card, and even he agreed to that notion. But further inspection let me know that what Paul created will be good for another business prospect. I think it will look perfect on the new postcards I plan to mail out as advertising for my business as soon as I buy a mail list to targeted neighborhoods in Denver! If you remember, last year I sent out this postcard with some limited success in my neighborhood. Imagine how great Paul's logo will look on this with my business information on the back of the card!





I've asked Paul to make a few more tweaks to the postcard advertisement, namely to separate the business name from the globe so that it stands on its own and can be more clearly seen. I am considering starting a logo campaign with logomojo to see what they can come up with. I've learned that there is STILL so much to learn about running a successful business. I should have created a logo right after I came up with a business name...but I guess it's better late than never. I've also learned that not every negative commenter is out to get you. It's really in how the information is thoughtfully presented. I've trusted responses from dgrin posters in the past, and their sincere comments have helped me during times of crisis when I needed advice on how to shoot weddings, runway shows, and deal with other aspects of photography. I'm glad I didn't let my defensiveness get the best of me....at least not for TOO long! ;)

Breaking News: A fond farewell to old friends

I am so sad to learn that one of my favorite local photography stores is closing! The Wolf Camera store at 1802 S Havana St., in Aurora is shutting down. The email just came across my email today from David Ritz:

"Over the past few months, most of us have become painfully aware that that the U.S. economy has tumbled into very turbulent times. At the same time, Ritz Camera has invested millions of dollars in many of our stores to bring you the latest in digital imaging over the web. As an unfortunate consequence of these economic difficulties, the store you have ordered from has closed.

Please use our Location Selector to find another store conveniently located in your area of work, shopping, or home.

If your search returns no stores in your area, we encourage you to try our mail order service. Get the same great quality, delivered right to your door!

We would like to take a moment to express our thanks for your continued patronage, and as a special "Thank You!" we would like to offer the opportunity to receive 30% off the combined total of your next order. Simply enter the promo code THANKYOU30 at check out and hit "apply" to receive your discount. Treat yourself or a loved one to something special, without putting a dent in your wallet, at your NEW location!

THIS IS A ONE TIME OFFER FOR OUR SPECIAL RITZPIX.COM CUSTOMERS
This offer may not be combined with any other promotion currently advertised.

This offer is valid on all of the hundreds of items available on Ritzpix.com, including:

Prints & Enlargements
Custom Photo Books
Picture Perfect Photo Greeting Cards
Calendars
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So much more!

We thank you for your continued use of Ritzpix.com to fulfill your printing and image product needs, and look forward to continuing our relationship in the months and years to come."

The staff at the Aurora store have been instrumental parts of my journey to become a freelance portrait photographer. Several of my first classes were taken with Terry who was always quick to help me with advice on equipment or business strategies whenever I walked into the store. And if you remember, Jeff Lawson answered a Q&A about aspect ratios that helped me understand printing. I will always appreciate both of your time and willingness to help a newbie like me out. I also wanted to wish all the staff there the best of luck, and I hope to be seeing you at another Wolf in the metro area. I will miss the convenience of the Aurora store, which was closer to my home.

Get the Job Done: Subtle Changes, Big Customer Impact

Since I'm still plugging away on the new redesign of my website and blog, I took advantage of some subtle marketing strategies suggested by photographer and business manager Jim Turley. Jim runs Sweet Water Images and teaches a "Passion + Profits" business management course at Illuminate Workshops.

Jim suggested that I delete the references related to up-front deposits in my Service/Fees. Jim says to handle those kind of conversations during the consultation and contract signing when/if someone wants to book you. The way I had it, stating that a deposit had to be made to secure the session, comes off as a negative first impression among clients. Instead, Jim suggests to aim for "pulling people in" with what you DO offer, and then deal with the terms once your prospect is interested.

Jim thought it would be better if I downplayed the price by putting it at the bottom. He uses a smaller font to lesson the impact on the eye. In such trying financial times when many still view photography as a luxury item, it makes sense to me that you want to convince the potential client of the quality of what you are offering before learning the cost. Although Jim didn't suggest this, I changed out the wording from "cost" to "investment" to push home the fact that this is something to be cherished well into the future.

Placing my "contact me" email link at the end is another subtle way of helping prospective clients see what you offering and then take the next step of contacting you. Jim says he's not reinventing the wheel here, folks, all of this is "just more natural" ways of fostering a more positive first impression.

If you want to learn more knowledgeable nuggets like these and you either living in or planning on visiting the Denver-metro area, take a class with Jim. The next one is scheduled for April 22. I've taken this course and the information Jim shares to help you workout that all-so important business plan is essential to the success of your company!

Get the Job Done: Tips for first runway shoot

I wanted to wish my photo colleague Art Scott good luck on his first runway shoot. Scott is one of my buddies on the Digital Grin Photography Forum where we often chat about the business aspects of photography. In this forum thread another member posted a great video to help Scott answer some of his questions on how to light such a challenging session. I thought the information was so useful that I wanted to share it here too.

I think runway shows can be extremely difficult shoot. They are usually very dark, club-like settings with very little available ambient light. That means you will need to use powerful on or off-camera strobes to freeze motion in low light. That means you need to have a ton of batteries or a battery pack to keep recycling the flash as quickly as possible. I have the Canon battery pack recommended in the video and it has served me well in low-light environments including indoor weddings and runway shows. I can't wait to pull my strobes off camera and have them flash remotely with my Pocket Wizard in a setting like this. So far, I've only used my PWs in studio settings. I want to use them in a live event the way they are used in the video.

Also, get there early and stake your claim on the "sweet spot." You don't want to spend the evening pushing, fighting and vying for limited space near the stage if there are a pack of additional photographers shooting the event. One of the things that has served me well during this kind of event coverage is to gain rapport with as many of the models as possible before they hit the runway. That almost guarantees that they will lock eyes with you when they strut and pose, making for more intimate shots.