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Archive for the ‘Photography Tips’ Category

Something’s fishy…

Posted in Photography Tips, tagged , on May 4, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

I was having a conversation with my blog recently, it went something like this:

Blog to me: I miss you
Me to blog: Me too. I miss you too.
Blog: What is it? Is it Facebook, Twitter…did you get a boyfriend?
Me: No…I’m just being dumb.

Ok but seriously, the lack of blogging has to stop. My only excuse is that I have been wanting to change up my content a little bit to make it more creative and to share photos and other things that are not just about the work I get paid for…that’s how my blog started…so I am getting back to my roots. I’ll still blog about weddings and babies and all that fun stuff (actually have some really great ones to share from this winter!), but that won’t be ALL I blog about.

Since one of my blog posts wouldn’t be complete without a few photos, let me introduce one of the newest members of my family – the fisheye lens. I think the name is pretty self-explanatory…this 16mm ultra-wide lens gives a 180 degree view and squeezes it into the photo frame, so there is some distortion, but that’s what makes it cool. Also, if this is how a fish really sees…well, I don’t ever want to be a fish…it’s a bit nauseating. Here are a few shots taken with it, I think it will become very obvious why this lens is not made for portraits, but it’s fun nonetheless!

Thanks to my friend and fellow blogger, Stephen Bugno for allowing me to show a sample of portrait lens (that’s the normal looking photo, taken with a 105mm lens) vs. the distorted fisheye. I swear to you that is the same guy.  If you have the travel bug (no pun intended, get it, bug…Bugno…I crack myself up), check out Stephen’s online travel magazines - gomadnomad.com and bohemiantraveler.com.

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Photography Holiday Gift Guide

Posted in Photography Tips, tagged on December 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

I think it’s very ironic that I am writing this post and I have none of my Christmas shopping done. Guess I better get on that!

Anyway, if any of you are stumped on what to get the photography lover or casual picture-taker on your list, here are some suggestions!  For any photo equipment, my favorite web sites are B&H Photo & Video, Adorama, and Abe’s of Maine, I swear I keep these guys in business. They usually have the best prices, and have free shipping on most products.

Gift: Canon Powershot SD780
Great for:  Anyone who likes to travel light and still take great photos (and HD video!)
Why: I have this camera and broke it in on my recent trip to Europe. It weighs practically nothing, is the same size as my iPod (I even us an iPod sock to protect it instead of a case!), and has way more megapixels than anyone really needs.  Oh yeah, and it comes in RED!
Price: $199 at Abe’s of Maine

Gift: Nikon D5000
Great for: The person ready to make the leap into SLR from point-and-shoot
Why: Ok, I admit, this is quite the splurge for Christmas, but if you have some coin to spend on your loved one they won’t be disappointed with this camera, and the deal on Adorama is fantastic for the camera body and 2 lenses. PLUS it takes HD video!
Price: $796.95 at Adorama, includes 2 lenses (18-55mm and  55-200mm)

Gift: How to Photograph Your Baby by Nick Kelsh
Great for: New parents, or anyone interested in portrait photography
Why:  When I took my first photography class, my instructor told us to get this book. It gives some very basic tips on how to get great photos of your new baby that will look professional! Bonus – you could read the whole thing in like 10 minutes.
Price: $16.47 at Amazon

Gift: Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 and The Photoshop Elements 8 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby & Matt Kloskowski
Great for: The serious amateur or semi-pro photographer.
Why: I used this program for years before finally upgrading to the full version of Photoshop, and I still go back to it from time to time because the full version is so darn complex.  And the book was (still is, actually) my bible for photo retouching! Personally, I think it’s not worth getting the program without the book.
Price: $64.99 after mail-in rebate at B&H for the program; $31.49 for the book at Amazon

Gift: Sony Digital Photo Frame
Great for: The indecisive picture-taker
Why: How many of you can’t wait for your screen saver to come on so you can look at a slideshow of your family photos? ‘Nuff said.
Price: $79.99 at B&H

Gift: A photo session with ME!
Great for: Anyone! But especially those who are always behind the camera capturing memories instead of being a part of them.
Why: Just because.
Price: 2 hour sessions starting at $175

Can’t end without a picture! This one was taken 3 years ago when I was playing around with my Canon G7 that I had gotten that year for Christmas, and that I used for my very first photography class!

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Tips for taking great vacation photos!

Posted in Photography Tips, tagged , on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

It’s that time of year we all love – vacation season! The kids are almost out of school, the weather is warming up, and whether it’s a trip to the Jersey shore, or that European vacation you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll want to document your vacation with the people and places that will make it memorable. So grab that fanny pack, some snacks, and your digital camera, and let’s go on vacation!

 
  1. Let’s start with the obvious: make sure you have your battery fully charged before a day of shooting, and that you have plenty of memory cards to hold all of the fabulous pictures you’ll be taking. The last thing you want to happen is for your battery to die just as little Nicky emerges from the ocean covered in sand and seaweed. If you’re traveling abroad be sure to buy a converter so you can recharge frequently!
  2. Keep people out of direct sunlight. Aside from causing unflattering shadows for the people in your photos, they’ll also be squinting and uncomfortable while you take the photo. Put them in the shade or, if that isn’t an option, position the sun behind you and to the right or left. 
  3. Take landscape shots in the early morning or late afternoon. These times of day provide the most dramatic lighting for landscape shots. If you want to get a fabulous photo of the Grand Canal in Venice, hit it late in the afternoon when the sun is about to set and the light is skipping on the water. When you get home and look at this photo, you will forget about the thousands of sweaty tourists, and remember the great ambience and romance of Venice!
  4. Look at how you position people in front of landmarks. Sure, we all want our picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, but if you center someone right in front of it, not only will it make for a boring photo, but the Tower will look like it’s growing out of their head. If it’s a photo straight on, position the person to the right or to the left of your landmark. But don’t stop there, try taking photos from different angles, and position the people in your photos in interesting ways. Instead of standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, maybe have your subject sit on the grass and take the photo from low on the ground looking up at it. 
  5. Take sharp night-time photos. Ever take a picture of fireworks on the 4th of July only to come out with a blurry mess? That’s because when you put your point-and-shoot camera on the night setting, your shutter stays open longer and the slightest shake of your hand will cause a blurry photo. There is an easy fix for this! Place your camera on a stable surface (mailboxes and cars are always great for this!), frame your photo, and click. You’ll get a much sharper result. If you have a person in the photo, make sure your flash fires and the person stays very still – you’ll get an illuminated person and cityscape/fireworks/whatever!
 
Here are some of my favorite travel photos from over the years…if only Conde Nast Traveler would hire me to travel around the world and take pictures, I’d be one happy gal!

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Tips for showing your best YOU on a social networking site!

Posted in Photography Tips, tagged , on April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

5 Tips for showing your best YOU on a social networking site!

Nowadays who ISN’T on a social networking web site? Whether it’s Facebook to catch up with old friends, LinkedIn to make business contacts, or Match to search for that special someone…why not show your best YOU in your photos? You don’t need a fancy camera to get some nice portraits of yourself, so solicit a friend to be your photographer, grab your point-and-shoot digital camera and follow these 5 simple tips for getting a great portrait of yourself (and for that matter, your kids and pets too)!
  1. Taking a photo that is “technically sound” is simple! No need to get into photography mumbo-jumbo, typically the most flattering portraits are taken using indirect light (think window light, or outdoors but in the shade), and with subject of the photo (you) looking slightly upwards toward the photographer. A photo of yourself in direct sunlight will produce some not-so-nice shadows, and really, how comfortable is it to stare directly into the sun?
  2. Choose a photo that shows off your personality. Get your photographer to take some candid photos of you, have a conversation with them, play with your dog, do whatever is going to make you relax and look like your natural, sunny self. And if you are not so sunny, that’s fine too. I don’t judge.
  3. Stay away from distracting backgrounds. This is a photo of YOU. If there are people walking behind you, cars zooming by, or your messy bookcase in the background, it will only distract from what we really want to see – you!  A photography teacher once told me that a background should be “a little bit of something but almost nothing”, it’s something I consider all the time!
  4. Turn off your camera flash! It washes you out, highlights shiny spots on your face, and can give you a deer-in-headlights look. Don’t use it unless you desperately need to.
  5. Get up close and personal. Tell your photographer not to be afraid to get close…the entire photo should be you from around the waist up, with a little bit of background.
Following these simple steps can mean the difference between this…
sun1

…and this!

img_1779
The weather has been fabulous so get out there and take some pictures! Happy shooting!

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