I learned this new macro photo trick, and thought that I would share it with you. This trick has been around a while. I am surprised that I have not heard of it before.
You will need:
A lens in the 100mm range.
A 50mm lens.
Lots of light.
An SLR
Optional:
Filter attachment ring.
Attach the 100mm lens to your camera. Set your focus on infinity. Then take a 50mm lens and focus it to infinity also. Place the front of the (detached) 50 to the front of the attached 100. Both lenses are not front to front and both set to infinity focus. There are lens attachment rings you can purchase to keep the lenses together. I recommend using a UV filter on all lenses, and especially when using this technique.
You should now be able to focus very very closely to your subject. Please remember that your depth of field will be minimized greatly. Lighting can be important with macro as well. Make sure that your images are well lit with off-camera strobe or a macro lens if you have one. Otherwise, use what you have to light the scene. Have fun! I hope you are able to use the trick in the future.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Marketing and Advertising
A little photo biz talk for this post... Today I'm going to talk about marketing and advertising, and what I know about each.
Most people put marketing and advertising on the same line, and for good reason. But it is also important to understand the differences between the two. Marketing is getting people to your door or site or phone. Many forms of marketing are free. Advertising is a paid channel for promoting your business name. Advertising is anything you do to sell yourself that you have to pay for. Most people like marketing because it is free. However, it can also be intimidating is you are challenged for ideas, or don't know where to start. Many forms of marketing (that are free) you are more than likely doing already. Your meeting new people, networking, talking yourself up, and showing off your latest work. It doesn't matter who as much because word-of-mouth travels fast.
Word-of-mouth can be your biggest asset or can ruin you quickly. WOM is known by most to be the best form of advertising, and the easiest form of marketing. People trust their friends opinion infinitely more than a sales pitch from a stranger, so potential clients take it to heart. It is the easiest marketing tactics because you don't have to do anything buy please your clients in the first place. Of course, you have to have clients for WOM to work.
As I am starting to rejuvinate my business, I see how it is important to get your name out there. People have to remember your name. You have to stand out. You have to offer something that is so different or unique that makes people want to at least check you out. Getting people to see your work is hard. But once they do, make sure that you leave a good impression. A big mistake I have made in the past is not balancing everything out. What I mean by that is I would try really hard to get people to check out my portfolio, and not so much making sure that my portfolio was where I wanted it to be. Sure people came to the site, or saw my port, but then what.
Speaking of balance, online and local advertising and marketing should be kept separate as well. You will be working with a potential for two very different demographics. Yes, there will be overlap or course as people who surf the net looking for photographers are also sometimes the same ones who look in the yellow pages. It is important to not treat them that way because you have (we all do) a tight budget, and you need to make sure that your dollars are working for you. Balance that budget to your needs based on what you know about your local demographic.
I once learned in a workshop to learn from the big guys. The idea in the workshop was upselling, but the technique can be applied to marketing as well. My favorite example was McDonald's and their "Would you like fries with that?". Seek out success from the heavy hitters and copy it! Find what works - ask questions, do research on your own, pose as a client, etc. See what attracts you to different businesses and ask yourself why.
Right up there with first impressions is your businesses (and personal) marketability. Your products and services won't be able to sell themselves, because you are selling your personality as well. Some photographers I know use their personality as their big competitive advantage. They were able to take a big step back and see things from a detracted perspective. Many people struggle with that, but if you can, taking a look at your big picture can help you evaluate what you need to focus on when marketing yourself.
Most people put marketing and advertising on the same line, and for good reason. But it is also important to understand the differences between the two. Marketing is getting people to your door or site or phone. Many forms of marketing are free. Advertising is a paid channel for promoting your business name. Advertising is anything you do to sell yourself that you have to pay for. Most people like marketing because it is free. However, it can also be intimidating is you are challenged for ideas, or don't know where to start. Many forms of marketing (that are free) you are more than likely doing already. Your meeting new people, networking, talking yourself up, and showing off your latest work. It doesn't matter who as much because word-of-mouth travels fast.
Word-of-mouth can be your biggest asset or can ruin you quickly. WOM is known by most to be the best form of advertising, and the easiest form of marketing. People trust their friends opinion infinitely more than a sales pitch from a stranger, so potential clients take it to heart. It is the easiest marketing tactics because you don't have to do anything buy please your clients in the first place. Of course, you have to have clients for WOM to work.
As I am starting to rejuvinate my business, I see how it is important to get your name out there. People have to remember your name. You have to stand out. You have to offer something that is so different or unique that makes people want to at least check you out. Getting people to see your work is hard. But once they do, make sure that you leave a good impression. A big mistake I have made in the past is not balancing everything out. What I mean by that is I would try really hard to get people to check out my portfolio, and not so much making sure that my portfolio was where I wanted it to be. Sure people came to the site, or saw my port, but then what.
Speaking of balance, online and local advertising and marketing should be kept separate as well. You will be working with a potential for two very different demographics. Yes, there will be overlap or course as people who surf the net looking for photographers are also sometimes the same ones who look in the yellow pages. It is important to not treat them that way because you have (we all do) a tight budget, and you need to make sure that your dollars are working for you. Balance that budget to your needs based on what you know about your local demographic.
I once learned in a workshop to learn from the big guys. The idea in the workshop was upselling, but the technique can be applied to marketing as well. My favorite example was McDonald's and their "Would you like fries with that?". Seek out success from the heavy hitters and copy it! Find what works - ask questions, do research on your own, pose as a client, etc. See what attracts you to different businesses and ask yourself why.
Right up there with first impressions is your businesses (and personal) marketability. Your products and services won't be able to sell themselves, because you are selling your personality as well. Some photographers I know use their personality as their big competitive advantage. They were able to take a big step back and see things from a detracted perspective. Many people struggle with that, but if you can, taking a look at your big picture can help you evaluate what you need to focus on when marketing yourself.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Canon CPS
My Canon CPS membership welcome kit arrived today!
They don't really mention what all is included in the kit. They tell you a few things, but that they are subject to change. Either way, I think I received a neat package. The package arrived FedEx just 5 days after I was approved for membership.
Here is what cam in the kit:
- Plastic Member Card
- Small CPS pin
- Extra large lens cloth
- Tripod/monopod padded cover with CPS and Canon logo
- Repair center location booklet with 5D2 quick guide on back
- Canon Digital Learning Center promo card
- White folder contains pre-printed labels for repairs
- 2 coupons for free "clean & checks" of equipment
- 125 page Canon EOS Digital for professionals book showcasing every detail of the EOS line
- 61 page Canon Photo Printers for professionals book showcasing top photo printers
- 75 page Canon Professional Network book featuring info on CPS, photographers, and images.
- 61 page Spring/Summer 2009 EOS system catalog
- 258 page hardcover book titled: EF Lens Wrok III The Eyes of EOS featuring Canon as a company, their products, desings, products, and even tips for photographers.
All in all, I was very impressed. I am looking forward to going through everything and taking advantage of all the CPS and CPN has to offer.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
5-Star rating system
The super rating system in the new Lightroom is almost too expansive for me. I tend to rate my images differently from shoot to shoot depending on what the subject matter is and how many images I am going through.
Large weddings, for example get a star rating, or a reject flag:
X - Reject (flagged for deletion.)
1 Star - Acceptable, don't delete, Archive Only.
2 Stars - OK, Archive only, don't upload, DVD (if purchased).
3 Stars - Good image, deliver to client, put online.
4 Stars - Good+ to Very good image, Consider for album.
5 Stars - Great image, important moment caught well, consider for portfolio
Second run through consists going through all 3-starred images, then 4 and finally 5. Just to tweak and make sure every image is in its place. It helps when you see all of the images together in their 'class' together.
Smaller weddings may receive only a X (reject) flag, no flag, or P (favorite) pick flag. X images are deleted, Picks might be touched up a little, and images with no flag are uploaded with the picks.
For about every hour of shooting, I spend another hour online rating, reviewing, flagging, backing up, deleting, uploading, etc.
Large weddings, for example get a star rating, or a reject flag:
X - Reject (flagged for deletion.)
1 Star - Acceptable, don't delete, Archive Only.
2 Stars - OK, Archive only, don't upload, DVD (if purchased).
3 Stars - Good image, deliver to client, put online.
4 Stars - Good+ to Very good image, Consider for album.
5 Stars - Great image, important moment caught well, consider for portfolio
Second run through consists going through all 3-starred images, then 4 and finally 5. Just to tweak and make sure every image is in its place. It helps when you see all of the images together in their 'class' together.
Smaller weddings may receive only a X (reject) flag, no flag, or P (favorite) pick flag. X images are deleted, Picks might be touched up a little, and images with no flag are uploaded with the picks.
For about every hour of shooting, I spend another hour online rating, reviewing, flagging, backing up, deleting, uploading, etc.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Baseball Action
Stop that baseball in it's tracks! It's a lot harder than it looks.
I have been working on covering the new Prospect League team in Hannibal, the Hannibal Cavemen. The Cavemen's home base is located in the newly renovated Clemens Field. The grandstands have been repaired only, not redone. This approach allows fans to sit in the old historic grandstands. Really neat stuff.
A team effort consisting of myself, and Larry Coleman have been covering the team, games, staff, fans, and even the mascots Shoeless Joe and his pal Rascal the Raccoon. We have come up with some great images together. This images are to be used for promotional media, advertising, website, and even prints for players to sign for fans. We are also planning on making baseball cards of each player, coach and a few staff members.
My 20D, although its files are not as large as the 5D2, shoots at a much faster rate. The 5 frames per second versus the 4 frames per second can make a difference here. That said, I have gotten a number of great images with the 5D2 simply by timing just right.
Most DSLRs have almost no shutter lag. Compared to a point and shoot, its almost zero. -But not quite. That little bit of shutter lag, as slight as it may be, can mean the difference between having the ball in your shot or not. This may cost you your money shot. The only way to get by this is to know your equipment. Know when you press the shutter when the actual image is taken on sensor. This can be a lot harder than it looks. Baseball can be a great way to practice and learn this notion about your camera.
I have been working on covering the new Prospect League team in Hannibal, the Hannibal Cavemen. The Cavemen's home base is located in the newly renovated Clemens Field. The grandstands have been repaired only, not redone. This approach allows fans to sit in the old historic grandstands. Really neat stuff.
A team effort consisting of myself, and Larry Coleman have been covering the team, games, staff, fans, and even the mascots Shoeless Joe and his pal Rascal the Raccoon. We have come up with some great images together. This images are to be used for promotional media, advertising, website, and even prints for players to sign for fans. We are also planning on making baseball cards of each player, coach and a few staff members.
My 20D, although its files are not as large as the 5D2, shoots at a much faster rate. The 5 frames per second versus the 4 frames per second can make a difference here. That said, I have gotten a number of great images with the 5D2 simply by timing just right.
Most DSLRs have almost no shutter lag. Compared to a point and shoot, its almost zero. -But not quite. That little bit of shutter lag, as slight as it may be, can mean the difference between having the ball in your shot or not. This may cost you your money shot. The only way to get by this is to know your equipment. Know when you press the shutter when the actual image is taken on sensor. This can be a lot harder than it looks. Baseball can be a great way to practice and learn this notion about your camera.
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