The Blog

I’m fortunate enough to have been a pro shooter for many years now. I shoot a wide variety of subjects, but they all tend to fall into the categories of commercial portraits and fashion work. I’m always photographing people—no still lifes, product shots, or architecture. To say that I always photograph people as a portrait and fashion photographer may seem like an obvious statement, but it has a crucial impact for me and the lenses in which I choose to invest. In addition to being a professional editorial and fashion photographer, I’m also heavily involved in training emerging photographers...


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Some people prefer to use continuous light and some prefer strobes, but if you combine the two you get a certain kind of magic. The continuous light gives you the smearing effect you would get from dragging the shutter, while the strobe will freeze the action. Photographer Erik Christian used that fact to create compelling portraits for a local newspaper annual basketball all-stars piece. After some practice with a light as a basketball stand it, Erik had the setup nailed. Each shot would start under the continuous gelled light and end at the exact spot where two gridded strobe would...


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Strip lights have become quite popular over the last couple of years, and we’ve seen numerous options released compatible with both speedlights, as well for continuous light. The StrobiStrip from Strobius presents something unique, not seen in these types of light modifiers before.  As well as being extremely thin, and usable with pretty much every speedlight ever made, the StrobiStrip is also collapsible, with the StrobiStrip 50 breaking down into a small pouch not much bigger than your average 105mm lens. Available in three sizes (50cm, 100cm, and 150cm), the StrobiStrip range...


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It’s not easy to find creativity in normal things. It is an art that changes your perspective toward looking things in certain way. Usually the simplistic approach to any problem is the correct one. There is some much to inspire from simple things. There is an impression “Creativity in simplicity” which states the power of simple things. José María Rodriguez Madoz, also known as Chema Madoz, is an amazing artist who had received many important awards and has this unique ability to look at simple thing somewhat differently and capture simple photographs with creative perspective that...


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Seeing a random person on the street that you’d love to photograph can rapidly become one of the scariest scenarios out there for many portrait photographers as soon as they start to consider how to approach them.  With “Don’t talk to strangers!” being drummed into us from a very young age, it’s just one of those things which seems hard wired into our system. If the thought of asking a stranger if you can create their portrait puts you in a frozen panic, New York based portrait photographers Miguel Quiles and Jeff Rojas are here to help with some tips on approaching people you don’t...


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Watch and learn as fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski takes us on a journey from concept to completion of a photo shoot on the streets of New York City. While the video does build on the foundation of a magazine shoot, almost all of the tips and suggestions mentioned can apply to pretty much any session you might shoot, whether it’s a commission for a client, a personal project with friends, or a professional collaboration to pad your respective portfolios. Beginning with creating a basic concept for the shoot, figuring out the story you want to tell, and how it can evolve...


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Whether you’re just getting into the game or are a seasoned veteran wanting to make a bit more cash from your photography business, one of the most challenging aspects is figuring out how much to charge. You don’t want to undervalue your own worth and time, but you also don’t want to charge so high that you’re out of the grasp of potential clients. It’s a fine line to walk. Thankfully, photographers Sue Bryce and Tiffany Angeles have not only walked that line, but decided to share her tips on what it takes to make an effective pricing platform for your business. In the three...


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As a photographer, few things are more important than your signature style. Your signature style is your defining mark on your photography – your own unique perspective that you share with the world. Capturing photos in a way that reflects your own style and creative vision is the best way to set your work apart from everyone else’s – and quite possibly, the only way to create images that stand out. Think of great photographers – or movie directors, artists, or authors that you admire. Often, when it comes to skilled, well-known creatives, you can recognize their work as soon as you see it. This...


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Photography Pricing How Much? I write this annual article to help photographers with one of the toughest parts of their job, pricing their work. In the 2016 version, I’m going to add some new elements such as a little advise for photography buyers (found after the state of the industry). Another section I’m most excited about is the question and answer portion at the end. Each year I receive many questions about photography rates in the comments. This year, I address some of the common and interesting follow up questions I have received over the past few years. The 2016 version is the best...


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As an artistically motivated photographer, my goal has always been to showcase model subjects in a flattering way that generates viewer interest.  It’s the out of the ordinary, extreme and WOW photos that usually drive viewers to your Model Mayhem page, increasing image views, comments and general popularity. The best way to achieve this from a lens selection standpoint is to toss aside your standard and ‘kit zoom’ lenses and grab some super-wide zooms and telephoto zoom lenses (the more extreme the better).  When shooting at an amazing place, or in extremely cramped quarters, a super-wide...


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