Get the Goods: Exclusive Workshop Discounts for My Blog Readers!

Still can't figure out how to work that digital camera you got for Christmas? Or need to brush up on some editing skills to WOW your studio clients?

Illuminate Photography Workshops owners Efrain Cruz has allowed me to announce new discounts on photography workshops to all Picture Your World Photography Facebook Fans and Blog Readers!

Just add the coupon code "PICTUREYOURWORLD" when you check out and get $15 off registration for any class offered.

Here are the detes:

1)The PICTUREYOURWORLD discount is good for new Illuminate students or ones who've previously taken classes.
2) But it's only available on new registrations only. Discount cannot be applied to previously attended or previously registered workshops.
3)Stack those discounts: This coupon can be used together with Early Registration Discounts amounting to a savings of $55 for some classes. PICTUREYOURWORLD Coupon can be used once. That's an awesome deal considering some of the workshops are as low as $75...so you net a 3 to 4 hour course for less than $30 a pop!

Classes span the gamut from learning how to use your camera to excelling in studio lighting and Photoshop and Lightroom techniques, as well as specialty classes including wedding, special event and product photography. Interested in a particular workshop you'd like to see offered at Illuminate? Efrain is extremely responsive to suggestions from students because he cares about making sure his participants remain viable in their chosen artistic field.

Just about everything I know has come from attending classes with amazing instructors at the top of their game including Efrain himself, certified PS Guru Armando Martinez and celebrated photographers Nathaniel Coalson and Richard Peterson, and business manager/photographer Jim Turley. I just finished a kickass Camera Raw class with Armando that has speed up my post-processing of RAW images...namely, I spend more time editing while the image is in Camera Raw and might not even have to open up PS at all!

Take advantage of these deals right now!

Get the Job Done: Second shooting for a photography instructor

This evening I will be second shooting an event with Efrain Cruz, director of Illuminate Photography Workshops in Denver. My readers know that Efrain Cruz was the instructor of my first digital photography class three years. His encouragement and support during those first crucial weeks is what I credit as the reason I'm a photographer now. I was all set to drop that photography class thinking everything was way over my head. Back then, I was too afraid to take my camera out of the box. All the dials and modes scared the crap outta me. And words that other students used fluently such as "aperture" and "depth of field" flew through one ear and out the other. I was lost and confused - a place no self respecting control freak likes to be.

It was Efrain who told me that he recognized I had "an eye" (even if I didn't know that what meant just yet) and that if I stuck it out in his class, he would make sure I learned something and became comfortable with my camera and the new language of digital photography.

And the rest, as they say, is history!!!

Tonight, I finally get to begin the process of thanking Efrain by being his second shooter! We will be covering the unveiling of a new alcoholic beverage, and the event includes a tasting and a cocktail party hour. Efrain has a quick turnaround in that he has to have images ready for his client within 72 hours I believe. So he said it was important for him to work with a second shooter who knew how to cover an event like this and understood their equipment because he doesn't have the time for complicated post processing. We have to get as much of it right as we can in camera from the get go. Efrain will take all of my images and edit them quickly himself, most likely using presets in Lightroom.

To think that Efrain has that kind of faith in my abilities has really helped me recognize just how far I've come since the first time he and I met. Thanks Efrain for your support and I can't wait to shoot with you tonight as a true photographic colleague! Let's rock it!

Get Connected: Free night photowalk! Join us...

My schedule has finally eased up a bit so I can have some fun with my photography. On Saturday, one of my favorite instructors, Efrain Cruz of Illuminate Workshops, will be hosting his free monthly night photowalk in downtown Denver. The gathering is open to anyone who would like to join us. It's so much more fun to practice photography with other like minded, creative photogs.



Check out this link to find out more information and what you need to bring.



This blog post includes images I shot during a night photowalk even last year. Check out this link on Flickr to see what other photography students have shot during previous photo walks.

Get the Goods: Baby steps with Lightroom

I am so glad I finally got the chance to take a Lightroom class! Illuminate Workshops instructor Peter Bryson was a blast and I can't believe how much I learned in just a few hours.



Right now, I'm using Lightroom 2.5 to help me import photos from cards and catalog them. I'm also learning how to create collections, and how to use the star system and the X for "don't want" and the P for "pick" to help me quickly choose between the keepers and the duds. Once I've gotten those chosen, I export them as JPEGS into Photoshop and then the editing process begins. The ease of metadata and keywording is great too since I'm terrible about taking the time to do that.

Right now, I'm still stuck largely in the Library module, as I've only tinkered with the Develop and Print modules. But there are so many instruction videos and free presets available online, it won't take me long before I'm just as crazy about presets as I am about Photoshop actions. I love the fact that Lightroom records every change you make in it's nondestructive format. Once you've reached 20 or so changes in a layer while in Photoshop, everything you were doing before gets erased, so it's harder to go back several steps if you've made a mistake or change your mind.

I've already created some cool presets for printing templates, and Bryson gifted class members with some coveted WOW presets for post processing. I even downloaded the beta version of the new Lightroom 3.0, and I'm having fun playing with it, too. Can't wait to be able to import images that already have watermarks on them instead of using actions in Photoshop to create them.

I doubt I would ever fully give up editing in Photoshop. I love doing it. But if Lightroom can help me stay more organized and make it easier to backup photos, then I'm a believer. I can't wait to take the followup in-depth Lightroom workshop in December.

Facebook Fan winners choose their free 8x10 digital downloads!

Alexa and Ian have chosen their free 8x10 digital downloads! Those two lucky fans of the Picture Your World Photography Facebook Page were randomly selected to pick one favorite image from my Cityscapes, Landscapes and Flora and Fauna website galleries. Garnering 200 Facebook fans triggered the drawing. The next free giveaway will happen once I reach 300 fans!



Ian's pick of this cute little chick I found nesting in a bush in front of my house really took me back. This was one of the first images I ever took with my then brand new 75-300 Canon lens two years ago. Studying this photo again after all that time has helped me see just how far I've come. Back then, I wasn't even really sure how I got that image because I was still trying to figure out basic photo concepts including shallow depth of field, isolating a subject and framing, not to mention how the heck that lens worked anyway. Since then, I've not only grown technically as a photographer, but I've focused my business on what I do best -- shooting portraiture and special events. This little feathered guy hasn't seen much action among viewers. So it was fun to have Ian chose this one.



Meanwhile, Alexa's pick is one of my personal favs. This shot of the Platte River in downtown Denver was one of my first captures ever taken at night. I and several others were attending a free night shootout coordinated by Efrain Cruz's Illuminate Workshops. I remember the evening well because it was also one of the first times I had to force myself to use my tripod to steady long exposures. My friend Tiffany Trott and others were laughing at me because I didn't even know how to attach my camera to the tripod, and spent most of the night fearing the camera would fall off, crashing to the ground. Yep, fun times!

It's good to know I've progressed, and I'm proud to be sharing these images with two studio supporters. Become one of my Facebook fans today to be eligible for future giveaways, photography session discounts and fans-only specials.

Get the Goods: Finally taking a Lightroom class!

On Saturday, I will finally be taking a Lightroom class with Illuminate Photography Workshops. Thank you Efrain! I know, I know. I can hear many of my photog buddies saying "It's about damn time!" Lightroom 101: Introduction is running from 10 am to 5 pm. I really love the intensive and quick hit one day formats, and I've heard great things about instructor Peter Bryson.

I guess I never saw a need for Lightroom before since I really did feel like I was barely scratching the surface with what can be achieved in Photoshop. Maybe, I've been resistant to learning Lightroom because it took me so long to become comfortable with Photoshop. I can remember that fear I felt when I opened the program for the first time years ago. I just KNEW I would NEVER be able to learn this huge program. But as with anything, step by step, class by class and tip by tip, I've gotten a strong handle on Photoshop. Post processing photos is now one of favorite parts of the capture system since I shoot almost exclusively in RAW. I'm a self-proclaimed "Actions Junkie." And it seems like everyday, I learn a new PS technique that I can't wait to make a permanent part of my workflow. Learning Photoshop has been a huge achievement for me, especially now when I hear people say they like editing I've done to a photo.



But I think it's time for me to move on now, gain some new skills and stop being resistant to change. With all of the cool presets available for Lightroom users and the increased speed everyone tells me they have with Lightroom, I'm sure I will be able to find the best way to make it gel with my own workflow process. Plus, this will be the first class I've taken in a while in a formal setting that wasn't a webinar. I'm looking forward to interacting with the instructor and other students. A lot of my buddies have said they could teach me how to use this program in a snap, but over the years, I've discovered that I really do learn well initially in a classroom setting and then get backup support and tips from friends later.

Here's what I will be learning:
Learn the basics of managing your image library and making your photos look their best in Lightroom.

Overview of The Lightroom Interface
Inside the Lightroom Catalog
Importing and Exporting
Metadata Essentials
Develop Module Basics
Visualizing the Complete Workflow
Presentation Options in Lightroom



After taking ALR 101 a student will be able to import, sort, name and retrieve files using keywords and metadata. In addition, the student will learn how to use the Develop module that allows total manipulation of an image, all in a non-destructive manner. The student will have a firm knowledge of the Histogram and Curves, and how one would use those tools.

Next, I will be signing up for an indepth Lightroom 2 workshop where I will be learning how to locally adjust areas within the image, making it less likely that one would need to use Adobe Photoshop. I have a hard time believing that, but I'm glad the instructor will be emphasizing how to seamlessly move from one program to the other and back again. Plus, we get to learn how to present images, and create web-ready galleries.

If you need to brush up on your Lightroom skills and live in the Denver Metro Area, consider taking a Lightroom course with Illuminate Workshops.

Get the Job Done: Shooting opening night of a film festival

This evening, I will be shooting the opening ceremonies for the First Annual DocuWest Film Festival hosted by the Foothills Art Center in Golden. The event organizer asked Efrain Cruz, director of Illuminate Workshops, to provide student photographers to cover two days of festival. I told Efrain I would be able to work tonight's shift, photographing the reception, first moving screening and after party from about 6 till 10. As part of my compensation for the work, I get free access to film festival which as an interesting line-up of featured works.

I've never attended a festival like this, so I can't wait to see tonight's film "Kimjongilia." Accepted into the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Kimjongilia reveals the shocking truth about North Korean forced labor camps as survivors talk about the horrors the experienced.

The event organize has asked for primarily posed shots as well as a few candids to show people enjoying themselves, both of which I'm very good at. Tonight's event should offer me more foundation building experience of shooting indoors in low lit areas. Plus, I am looking forward to meeting new artistic contacts in Golden, a city I haven't spent much time in, and gaining exposure for possible future clients. I'm glad to know that Efrain's referral network is working, providing opportunities for his students to be successful in their craft.

An Aside: Local photography instructors in the news!

Photo Credit istockphoto.com

An article I wrote in today's Denver Post "Inside & Out" section features four local photography instructors! My editor thought it would be a great idea to write an article explaining to readers how to take better vacation photos. And since I'm the budding photog in the department, she thought I would have the perfect perspective to help demystify the process.

I turned to nature and people photographer Russ Burden, who's weekly photo tip appears on my blog on Mondays, Efrain Cruz, the director of Illuminate Workshops, Jeffrey Rupp, an instructor at the Denver Darkroom and Greg Cradick, executive director of the Working With Artists photography school and gallery. What I found interesting about these interviews was how each photographer was able to offer a specific piece of the photographic pie in an easily digestible format.

Get Connected: Free night photo session with Illuminate Workshops

It's been several months since my hectic work schedule has allowed me the chance to attend a free night photo session with Illuminate Workshops. The shoot is a great way to connect with other photographers and experience Denver at night. It's a good way to be introduced to the talented staff of Illuminate Workshops because several of the instructors are regular night shoot attendees, including executive director Efrain Cruz and Photoshop guru Armando Martinez. Here are some examples of a my favorite shots I took while out with my buddies in downtown Denver last year. Plus, come on....you know you can't beat FREE!



Here are the details for the event Saturday, May 9, 2009

RSVP: If you have RSVP'd you're confirmed for tomorrow. If you have not yet called/emailed, please let us know to expect you.



Weather: 54°, 40% chance of precipitation.

Time: 8:00 pm.

Location: Illuminate Workshops/Mark Hayes Studio, 23 Lincoln Street, Denver, CO - click here for directions
Parking: you can park in the church lot just 1/4 block north of Ellsworth/Lincoln, (left lane).

Moon Phase: Moon will be one-day past Full.

Plan:
We will meet in the church parking lot.
From the lot, we will walk and shoot through the alley between Lincoln and Broadway, traveling 2-blocks south to Maple Ave. I thought that this could be a good opportunity/location to play with creative flash and portraiture.
We'll cross over to Broadway and walk north getting photos of neon signs along the way, up to the Mayan Theater.


End time: 11:00-ish, depending on the group's energy level.



Notice: Not everyone will make it for the duration, in fact, depending on group-exhaustion, we may end earlier. Please note that some will become tired earlier. If you would like to end the night early, please find someone with whom you walk back to the car. Additionally, please let me know if you leave early. This helps us keep track of everyone.
Due to the nature of this outing and the number of adults attending, Illuminate Workshops cannot be responsible for your safety.


Contact Information:
During the evening we may have to keep in touch with one another, please keep my cell phone number on-hand in the event that you may need directions or get separated. Efrain Cruz (720) 324-0111.
If you haven't already, please submit your cell phone number.


What to Expect:
Our night shooting event is an opportunity for photographers to get together, meet and share in their passion. This is a community event, where anyone can be comfortable no matter what their level of experience. If you have no experience in night photography all you need is a camera, tripod, a self timer (or other shutter release for your camera), Instructors will be available for basic instruction.

Samples from previous night outings and night photography in general: http://bit.ly/h9rlb

We are all looking forward a great evening. Feel free to email with any questions.


Happy Shooting,
Efrain


Efrain Cruz
Director
__________________________________________
Illuminate Workshops
P.O. Box 6023
Denver, CO 80206

website: http://illuminateworkshops.com
email: efrain@illuminateworkshops.com

720.324.0111
__________________________________________

Growing Pains: A Photographer Pool

My instructor and colleague Efrain Cruz, director of Illuminate Workshops, has come up with a great idea helping photographers land paying gigs. If you remember, Efrain's kindness and sincere interest in helping his students succeed is what not only convinced me to continue pursuing photography but was also the reason why I got my first paid assignment. He sent out an email to his students letting them know that an opportunity existed that he couldn't shoot, and that he had referred our names to the contact instead. I was the only one reached out to the contact and thus, I got the job, which led to another job and another and another....well, I think you get it! :)

Now Efrain has developed a structured way to refer students and upcoming professionals who may be available to shoot a special event. He has created a web form for collecting names, experience level and interest of photographers who would like to know of such opportunities.

If you would like to be included, please fill out the form here at Efrain's Illuminate Workshops site. I have filled out the form, expressing my specialization in portraiture. Good luck!

Meanwhile, fellow photog and business management specialist Jim Turley wants to form a network of photographers who will refer business to each other, giving the referring photog a 10% commission. So far, he has five people in mind each with a little different set of skills/experience. He believes my portrait work sets me apart and has asked me to join. First off, I am honored Jim even thought to include me and very pleased that he believes I have the skills to make his idea a reality.

I want to thank Efrain and Jim for their continued support in my photographic efforts. Having and maintaining relationships like these are the bread and butter of any successful business. But I'm glad to know too that both of these talented men are also good friends, and I know that my progress and happiness is important to them, so it makes it easy to trust them and want to do your best for them as well.

Get the Goods: My Holiday Wish List

Hope never dies. At least that must be the thing that's driving my holiday wish list, because Lord knows I can't afford anything on this list right now ;) But if Santa were in a giving mood, here's what I would be asking for:



PHOTOGRAPHY CLASSES: The educational opportunities to improve my photography skills seem almost endless in this wonderful creative age of digital technology. I am still loving every new technique I'm learning in Photoshop and have yet to truly begin my Lightroom studies. High on my wish list is classes with Illuminate Photography Workshop, Denver Darkroom and Digital Photo Academy, all of which have contributed to the solid foundation in photography I have gained over the past year.



GEAR: The Canon 24-70 2.8 is the missing tool in my gear bag. I've got the wide angles covered with my Canon 16-35 2.8 as well as the long distance shooting with a 70-200 2.8. All are great lenses to use in poor or low light situations, which seems to be the majority of situations I and other photogs find themselves in! The 24-70 would be a great everyday, mid-range lens to add to my photographic arsenal. The trouble is this though: I'm having a hard time finding one locally and all the ones I see online are for sale. That usually means a new similar lens is probably either in production or just about ready to be released!



NATURE PHOTO TOUR with Russ Burden Photography. Last week I posted about taking more time out to shoot for fun and experimentation. It's easy to get overwhelmed with the business aspects of your studio, trying to satisfy clients and keep a constant stream of income. You can lose focus of the simple joys and wonders of photography. Since my business specializes in people, events and portraiture, I shoot landscapes and cityscapes for fun. What's great about a tour with Russ is that he takes you to some truly unforgettable locations in national parks such as Yellowstone and Bryce Canyon. His knowledge of these sites (including the best times to shoot and the wild life you will encounter) combined with his passion and experience as a professional photographer makes for a great adventure.



SCRIM JIM: I have been coveting the Westcott 72 x 72" Scrim Jim Standard Kit ever since I saw photographers featured in the Photovision Educational DVDs using them in studio and location shoots. I have one of those 5-1 circular reflectors with a stand to hold it, but the stand always seems to keel over unless I use a sandbag (or an assistant) to hold it steady. The Scrim Jim diffusion and reflection system is collapsible and stands on its own because of a lightweight framing system, but is durable enough to withstand strong winds.



ROLLING CAMERA BAG: Either I'm getting old and back more worn out or my camera bag is just too darn heavy. Every new piece of equipment makes my old Tamron camera bag harder and harder to lug around. When I saw other photographers gracefully rolling their camera bags while we were shooting the holiday lights in Denver, I could barely stop salivating. I've got my eye on the M-Rock 524 McKinley Rolling Backpack. It comes with a telescope handle, large wheels and room for my 17-inch Mac Book Pro. It's not cheap, but it will save me sore back and arm muscles!

SOFTWARE: For the last month, I've been trying out free downloads of onOne Software Photoshop plugins, and I've fallen in love. They solve common and often time consuming photographic issues such as masking, enlarging and color correcting, but what I've really enjoyed playing around with is the professional effects and actions you get from award winning photogs like Kevin Kubota. It's easy to layer one affect on top of another for customized looks. I've only recently gotten into layers and using frames and edges to enhance images too. The Professional Photographers of America association gave all of its new members the Photo Toolbox CD as a free gift from Graphic Authority featuring frames, edges, brushes and drop and drag templates for cool affects.




And if I can't get any of this (at least anytime soon) then I will pray and hope for good light because that is still the essence of great photographer, and it's completely free if you know how to use it! Happy Holidays everyone!

Get Out There: Shooting by the light of the Full Cold Moon

Today a full moon will grace the skies in Denver, making for a wonderful night photo opportunity. Hopefully it will light up your skies where ever you live too! Known as "The Full Cold Moon," December is the month "when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The moon is also called, "The Moon before Yule," or "The Long Nights Moon" by some Native American tribes. The term is appropro because the midwinter night is indeed long and because the moon is above the horizon for a long time.

A bright moon should make for some great captures of the Denver City and County Building tonight when I join several other photographers during a digital photo meet up. Don't be intimidated by night photography. I let those baseless fears keep me away from it for far too long. Once I finally got up the nerve to attend a night photography workshop with Illuminate Photography Workshops, I LOVED it! Watch this video on the Digital Photography School forum to get some tips for shooting in the dark. There's a very different world out there when the sun goes down...learn how to capture it!

Get the Goods: Black Friday Discounts on Photography Classes!

This weekend one of my favorite local photography schools is having a special "Black Friday" discount on Gift Certificates and classes. Shop early and save.

I'm telling all of my friends to buy me gift certificates for classes. It's the perfect gift for the photographer in your life who already seems to have everything. Besides, the things photogs need are too expensive anyways....like new lens and stuff. Education is much better, and your friends will know they are contributing something useful.

Before going to the malls, you can do some of your shopping online. Buy someone a Gift Certificate for a class in photography. You could also buy them a class on his or her favorite topic: Lighting, Photoshop, Wedding, Architecture and more. Hey, if you are looking for gifts to give to your favorite photography blogger (that would be me of course! ;) I would LOVE to be able to take Armando Martinez's Photoshop 3 class as well as Andrew Clark's wedding class! HINT HINT!

Now through Sunday, enjoy big savings on classes and gift certificates. The sooner you buy, the more you can save.

Starting Friday, save 25% on classes and Gift Certificates. Beat-the-Clock and save more.

Gift Certificates can be applied toward classes and workshops. Gift Certificates can be mailed or emailed. Please provide your mailing address with the Google Checkout, your Gift Certificate will be mailed immediately.

If you prefer to pay over the phone call: (720) 324-0111 or email: info@illuminateworkshops.com

Get the Job Done: Creative Post Processing with Photoshop

I have grown more adventurous in my photo processing now that I have had several Photoshop classes under my belt, including two offered at Illuminate Photography Workshops by instructors Nat Coalson and Armando Martinez. I decided to try some creative retouching with some of the photos I took during a family portrait session earlier this month.

Overall the photos I took of the Newell family were very successful. However, I had a devil of a time making sure that both boys were always looking at me during the posed shots. Their attention spans were very short, since they are only 4- and 2-years old, and one or both would often look away right as I pressed the shutter.
Thank goodness there were plenty of other images where both boys are looking straight ahead. I was able to combine success aspects of one photo with another to create a new photo composite.

Here is the BEFORE, RAW unprocess image. After I carefully posed the family on the rocks near the South Platte River and took a few steps back to compose my image, something caught little Tristan's eye, and he looked to the side right as I shot the photo.


and here is the AFTER, processed. I copied a portion of Tristan's smiling face (in the looking straight ahead at me) from another photo and placed it on top of the other image where he is looking off to the side.


The first step in my photo processing in Camera Raw included cropping the image, and making some color balance and curve adjustments. Once the image was called up into Photoshop, I used some glamour processing to whiten teeth and eyes, heal out wrinkles, and balance out overblown skin tones. I also used "Clone" to take out the distracting orange markers in the river in the upper right hand corner of the frame. I saved that image as a TIFF keeping all the adjustment layers intact and opened this new image that had Tristan looking directly into camera.




I carefully selected a portion of Tristan's face that included his eyes, his noise, lips and rosy cheeks, feathering the selection so the edges would blend in seamlessly and copied it. Then I dragged that selection onto the other original photo, which automatically created a new layer.

As it turned out, the new image of Tristan's face was much larger than the original, so I had to use the Free Transform mode (under "Edit") to reshape the face and fit it smoothly over the original. I combined the layers and healed the edges of the new selected face to make sure it blended with the existing head.

I don't think I'm done with this image yet. I like Liam's smile in the second image better as well, so I may try to replace his face in the main image. That featureless white sky is bothersome to me, so I may add a new blue sky with some puffy clouds into the photo. And I don't like the bottom of the bridge at the top of the frame. Does the post processing ever end? Only when I get it right in camera the first time like I'm supposed too, I guess! ;)

Get the Job Done: Anne is Back!

A very cool thing happened to me this morning. I got a message from a very talented model asking me if we could get together to take more photos of her to help build our portfolios. Even though she says she's not a model and she only likes to pretend to be after a glass of wine to tame her shyness, I completely disagree! Anne Filler takes some amazing shots, and having her ask me to shoot her is a great honor.



I met Anne last year during one of my first digital photography classes at the Denver Darkroom with instructor Efrain Cruz, who is now director of Illuminate Photography Workshops. Efrain always ended his classes with an opportunity to shoot a model in studio, and Anne was one of ladies who came up from Colorado Springs to model for us. I will always remember this particular shoot because it was the first time when I really felt brave enough to pose the model myself. Anne was open for pretty much anything, and I had an idea of standing up on a ladder and shooting her from below.



"Look up at me as if you are sultry siren and you are coming to get me!" I said. Yeah, yeah, go ahead and laugh because even I can admit that was extremely cheesy. But look at this amazing shot! It's one of my favorites and is one of the most popular shots on my website. Anne is a dear, and I can't wait to shoot with her again. What's her big idea: "an edgier lingerie shoot with some paint poured all over me!" Bet you wish you could be my assistant for that shoot, don'tcha?!

Growing Pains: Don't Become a Debt Collector

Several lines from an email I recently received from one of my photography colleagues worried me to the core:

"I'm having trouble with one of my clients...they expect the work done on their terms and expect the photos before payment. So, I'm holding the photos ransom. I've become a collector, and I hate it."

One of the most difficult things to deal with for any business is securing payments. Because of that, I've been requiring clients to pay before I start shooting. Clients must pay half of the shooting fee to book me, and then pay the rest before I actually take my camera out the day of the event. Most people haven't had an issue with that once I explain to them why it is a necessary business practice (I think it helps that all of my work has been from referrals as well, so others have vouched for my work ethic). Even my business management instructor Jim Turley told students he hates having to chase people down for payments. So I asked Jim to share with me some strategies for remaining a business owner rather than a debt collector.



JIM SAYS: "Get full payment before the event.

Once an event, especially a wedding, takes place and the total cost is
known (weak budgeting on the part of the bride and/or mother - not
unusual) the motivation to pay in a timely manner can wilt.

If a wedding photographer is providing an album or DVD, then
definitely do not release any photos, even on Pictage or any other online hosting site, until the bill is paid in full. But this should be a last resort if monies are not collected prior to the event.

Businesses that typically carry accounts receivable (few today, since most require credit cards) build in a cost for collections. Photographers are unlikely to do this. And the cost is not only in dollars but in time it takes to pester your client for unpaid balances. Add to this the brain-damage of wearing a bill collector's hat, and the cost is even greater.

An up-front payment is a sign of good faith on the part of the client, but more importantly allows a photographer to make the reserved date unavailable to anyone else. What could be worse than reserving a date, which may be a popular date, and then not getting paid or paid-in-full? Not only does a photographer suffer from losing anticipated income, but she/he was prevented from booking that date for someone else!"

Jim also recommended that if anyone is interested in allowing clients to pay by credit card, then they should check out PayPal, which has a no-monthly-cost plan. In the early stages of a photography studio, Jim explains, owners need to be aware of fixed costs, even when it seems small such as $20 per month. Even established studios should think twice about monthly costs since it's not wise to take on fixed costs that yield no benefit certain months.

If any of this information has been helpful and you are in the Denver metro area, you should take Jim's course "Passion & Profits: Managing Your Photography Business," offered through Illuminate Photography Workshops. The next session starts Oct. 22 and runs for $199.

Breaking News: Covering the Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Convention is converging on Denver this coming week, and I've just been given my press creditentials to cover the event as both a print and photojournalist! The features and entertainment editors at the Denver Post said I have been given free range to keep my camera on me and shoot whenever possible in addition to my normal written assignments. We are so short staffed that everyone is pulling together doing double and even triple duty to cover this historic event.

I feel proud to know that my bosses at the newspaper support and encourage my freelance photography. They have seen me grow in my new craft over the last year and they know it's not some passing fancy, but a legitimate skillset that can make me a more well-rounded journalist. Look for shots I will be taking throughout the week here my blog!



If you are in the Denver area or will be traveling here to catch some of the action, use these photography tips from Illuminate Workshops executive director Efrain Cruz.

"The opportunity to make important, historical photographs is less than 48 hours away. If photojournalism is your forte or if you just want to go out and see what you can see, here are some tips for you to take great photos and stay out of trouble.

1) keep your ID (and photography business card) with you
2) be mindful of your camera gear and pocket-contents
3) travel light (a tripod may not be advisable)
4) be mindful of your surroundings
5) keep someone's phone number handy.

If the crowds and hoopla isn't your cup-of-tea, then perhaps heading into nature may suit you better. There are plenty of beautiful scenes in nature this month. Wildflowers are in full bloom, streams are flowing and the elk look majestic.

1) Make sure your batteries are charged
2) memory cards are ready to fill
3) bring suitable clothing for changing weather and temperature
4) for great photos, "get close", while maintaining a safe distance from wildlife. Read park literature for more information.

There's plenty to do this month. Whatever you chose to do, be prepared, be safe and bring your camera."

This Weekend: Editing Senior Portraits, Shooting Another Senior Portrait

This weekend, I will be editing photos I took during Jordan's senior portrait session in downtown Denver last Saturday evening. I am also schedule to take senior pics of Jordan's buddy, Nina, this Saturday, so wish me luck. Jordan's session was very fun. She was open to try just about anything I could throw at her during the shoot. Shooting in the early evening right before sunset and into the night was the perfect time and I couldn't have asked for more wonderful, even lighting! Felisa did a fanstatic job with Jordan's makeup. And it was wonderful to hear her growing excitement about her senior year. The photo session made her feel special, and she said "This year really is about me, isn't it?" It certainly is, and I wish you all the fun and happiness in the world, Jordan! Congratulations.



I will be trying a new editing process with Jordan's photos, and I'm a little uneasy about it, so I thought I would share it here and get some advice. Last night, I took a business management course hosted by Illuminate Workshops. Wedding Photographer Jim Turley was the instructor. This is the second time I took the class because I really wanted to make sure I understood and retained the information since I know how important it is to have a good solid business foundation.

Some information Jim shared with the class last night made me fear that I had been really messing things up concerning my time management in my editing process. Jim said that he only does an initial edit of images for lighting adjustments, sharpening and noise. Then he shows proofs to the client. The client picks out the images they want in their album, and Jim then edits only those images.

Seem as if I've been doing everything backwards! I usually edit ALL of my images before I let the client see them. It makes me feel uneasy showing clients a basically RAW, unfinished product because part of my skill set (and consequently what I'm selling) is my Photoshop skills. The client can't visualize what the image will look like after I'm done crafting it to my particular style.

But Jim explained that it was wasting my time on images the client might never want. Plus, a turn around time of two weeks might be too long for the client who wants to see their images now, whether they have or haven't been edited. Other colleagues say they notice their sales drop off significantly if clients don't get to see images within a few days. My hope is that since I have photographed Jordan's family many times now, they will feel comfortable letting me try this new procedural change with her.

What has been your experience with this and what would you recommend I do?

Monthly Photo Assignment Due This Sunday

July's monthly assignment "HISTORY" is due by Sunday. Please email submissions to shebawheeler@picture-yourworld.com or post them to the new Picture Your World Photography Flickr group.

A painful knee swollen to as large as my head kept me sidelined all weekend. That's what I get for getting back out on the volleyball court too soon before my last knee injury healed. So I didn't get to go to Dinosaur Ridge or the night shoot with Illuminate Photography Workshops. So I've got one week to get my History assignment done too! Good luck with your images everybody!

This Weekend: Working on My History Photo Assignment

Photo Credit: Friends of Dinosaur Ridge


July's monthly photo assignment is due next Sunday, July 27, and I finally figured out what I want to shoot for the topic: Dinosaur Ridge. On Saturday, I will be heading up to the ridge, which is a spine of sedimentary rock about 3.5 miles between the towns of Morrison and Golden, where numerous dinosaur foot prints and fossils have been discovered, including skeletons of Stegosaurus, Apatosaurs, Diplodocus and Allosaurus. What is more historical than the remains of a creature that roamed the Earth 150 million years ago? Ok, maybe I'm stretching the concept here, but I think it works! :)

Saturday evening, Illuminate Photography Workshops will be hosting another night photo shoot. I am addicted to night photography now, and I have a much better working relationship with my tripod now, so I can't wait to see how much my shots will improve.