My definition of a professional photographer is figuring out a way to get paid to take pictures. It sounds flip, but it’s not meant to be. Making a living from photography means thinking differently about the business. You’ll be trying to break into an industry where the traditional avenues of making a living are fairly [...]
Archive for June, 2011
Making Money In Photography
Posted by chris on June 29th, 2011
Urban Photography
Posted by chris on June 27th, 2011
Some of my favorite subjects are big cities and crowded places. I love the vibe of urban landscapes and being able to freeze a moment in a hectic urban lifestyle. Another advantage is urban dwellers have a certain cultivated insulation from distractions. So a photographer taking pictures barely raises an eyebrow, those that even notice. [...]
Rule of Thirds
Posted by chris on June 24th, 2011
Today I’d like to step back and review one of the basic rules of composition. Normally, I’m not big on rules. Truth be told I have a tendency to flout rules, particularly in photography, because that’s part of developing your style and challenging perceptions. But the rule of thirds is one of those that even [...]
Posted in Articles 
Tags: cameras, Composition, compositional elements, grid lines, photography, point of interest, visual arts 
No Comments »Panorama Photography
Posted by chris on June 22nd, 2011
Panoramic Photography Sometimes a scene is just too big for a single frame. If you switch to a wide angle lens, suddenly the subject looks a million miles away. Time for a panorama. There are all kinds of specialized cameras for taking ultra-wide angle pictures. If you have a spare $35,000 laying around, you can [...]
Posted in Articles Tags: panorama photos, Panoramas, panoramic camera, panoramic photo, panoramic photography, panoramic shots No Comments »Wedding Photography
Posted by chris on June 20th, 2011
I haven’t done an article on wedding photography in a long time because it’s been a while since I shot one. It’s one of the first bread-and-butter markets most photographers venture into first, and, for people like me, one they work diligently to get out of. That is one of the ironies from the perspective [...]
Posted in Articles Tags: cinderella, photo journalist, photographers, portrait artist, wedding photography, weddings No Comments »Your Photography Studio
Posted by chris on June 17th, 2011
If you have some extra space, the logical course is to build your own. A lot of people suggest renting, which is fine if you live somewhere rental studios are available. If you live outside a major market, chances are slim of finding one advertised. That means building one. Unless you’re a professional and need [...]
Posted in Articles Tags: alien bees, backdrops, background material, lighting options, reflector, ring flash, studio flash No Comments »Understanding Color Temperature
Posted by chris on June 15th, 2011
Color temperature is a theory that underlies all of photography. More to the point, it’s the basis for the relationship between light, color and temperature. To understand that relationship, we’re going to need to take brief detour into quantum physics. Light has a temperature equivalent because of something called blackbody radiation. A term first used [...]
More Indispensable Gear
Posted by chris on June 13th, 2011
There are three things on a photography assignment I can’t live without: One is my camera, which would be obvious, the other is my photography vest, which is basically a wearable camera bag, and the third is my monopod. Your Vest Picking a vest is the most important accessory you’ll own as a photographer. The [...]
Posted in Articles Tags: better photography, monopod, pockets, stable platform, versatility, vest No Comments »Necessary Accessory
Posted by chris on June 10th, 2011
Bringing home your shiny new DSLR is a proud moment. You’re poorer by a couple grand, or more, but you’re not done yet. There are a handful of accessories you’ll need to protect and extend the functionality of your new DSLR camera. LCD Screen Protector Usually less than $20, these are cheap insurance for your [...]
Help me pick my next flash
Posted by chris on June 8th, 2011
This may seem like a switch, me asking you for help. But even the pros need to bounce ideas off one another from time to time and this is one of those times. I got my Canon 7D last year and haven’t gotten around to getting a new flash. But I’m going to need one [...]
