Fundamental Friday's - Equivalent Exposure
Today’s featured guest is Seth Lowe.
Seth is a lifestyle and portrait photographer in Peroria, IL. His portrait work always seems to host a unique perspective of his subjects.
His quote says it all. - "Get Shit Done."
It's about time we got blunt and got real for a change. If we can't get things done then what the heck are we doing. The 9-5 or part time job is honorable and there is no shame in it. If you want to go full time photographer do it right and do it gradually. Though, remember to get things done in all areas of your life to maintain order and a better end result by the end of each day. I can preach all day on shifting gear and moving forward but I think Seth expresses some great points in this interview. Listen to Seth Lowe on Take & Talk Pics and get the motivation to start or in some ways restart and crush your business.
I am a portrait and lifestyle photographer based in Peoria, IL.
I was born in farm town, and raised around people who work with their hands. My dad owned a construction company, and started taking me out on site from an early age. From that I learned what it meant to go the extra mile for people, to never give up, and how to creatively solve problems. I thrive on being challenged, finding new ways of accomplishing things, and connecting with people. Traveling, telling stories, and connecting with people are my passions.
On a personal note; my wife is English, and I wish I was a rally car driver. My dream is to own a breakfast cafe with a studio above it that has an after school program to teach kids photography and video.
Gratitude is the direction to better life. It is a peaceful motivator to begin a day and to end a night; it is the inner strength we have but often forget and we need not be without Gratitude.
The growth of your business can come from Gratitude.
Your health both physically and mentally can be improved with a daily practice of Gratitude.
There is a wealth of information on Gratitude and it is no secret. However it is a friendly reminder.
Listen to this episode where I share a story that reminded to practice Gratitude more often.
Fundamental Friday's - Depth of Field
There are three factors for depth of field.
We discussed one of them two weeks ago... Aperture!
listen or watch the video to learn the other two factors and start making great pictures with these tools!
Today’s featured guest is Lyndsie Schlink.
Lyndsie is a portrait photographer based out of Normal IL. However she has a full time job in addition to her photography business. Today I want to speak with Lyndsie about her full time work. See… Lyndsie is the Senior University Photographer for Illinois State University. After completer her Mass Communication degree in 2004 Lyndsie continued with her photography and in 2007 started with ISU full time.
I was inspired by my mom to become a photographer. My mom always took a lot of photos of my sister and I growing up, whether it was playing in the yard, at summer camp, or family vacations. Her love of the art led to my love of the art.
My professional career began as a student photographer at ISU taking photos for the Vidette, which led to a job at The Pantagraph and later the Herald and Review.
For the past eight years I’ve worked full time as the University Photographer at ISU documenting student life, events, and activities. I love the variety of work, which gives me the freedom of a newsroom as well as the creativity of art.
When I’m not working for ISU, I enjoy photographing friend’s families, children, pets, and special events like birthdays and weddings. I love getting the chance to meet new people and capture their emotion and interactions through my lens.
You’ll likely see my smile peeking from behind the camera as I photograph children playing in a pile of leaves at the park or a couple in love staring into each others eyes during a photo session.
I also have a love of country music and enjoy photographing concerts, as well as traveling and taking photos of my vacations around the country.
Recommended Resources:
Get on social media! Instagram especially.
illinois state university - tumblr page
The story she mentioned about a recent project. - Take a look HERE!
Hey Photo World!
Bonus episode today!
This is the second Take & Talk Pics webinar to date and it is all about failure.
I ask this question in every interview. "Tell Photo World about a time you failed." - this isn't to point out the times where a photographer messed up... No. It is meant to give insight to you Photo World on how to do things a little different that you maybe have been or to prevent you form making the same mistakes anyone of them has... or in today's case - mistakes I have made. I cannot count how many times I have failed it must be tens of thousands by now perhaps hundreds of thousands. Well, in this webinar I shared 3 failures/mistakes I made on my wedding photography contracts... 1 of them is such a big mistake it cost me thousands of dollars. Ouch! watch this webinar and tune in to future webinars for great content you don't get on the podcast right away. I have been toying with the idea of exclusive live content on the webinars only and not publishing them in any way. What do you think Photo World? Comment below!
Procrastination is a success killer! If you procrastinate your work your procrastinate your overall progress. Growth is driven by forward momentum.
Listen to today's episode and learn three tips that will help you from procrastinating in your work. This is great for those of you who are already making your business out of photography and this is especially awesome for those who are gearing up to start their photo business.
Take control of your day to day by applying these small but effective changes and watch the momentum build. You are on your way to bigger and better things Photo World keep it up!
and share this with your friends and photo family out there!
Click HERE to register for the next Take&TalkPics.com webinar!
Be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter!
2015 © Take&TalkPics
#HeyPhotoWorld
#PhotoWorld
Today’s featured guest is Jacquelynn Buck.
Jacquelynn is a full time portrait and wedding photographer based in Tucson AZ. She has been building her boutique studio over the past 9 years. Jacquelynn was a speaker at the 2015 WPPI Photography Expo for her 5 consecutive visit.
The quote Jacquelynn shared was great and so inspiring! "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" -Robert H. Schuller. Hear how Jacquelynn lives by this quote and how it brought her to her "I Made it Moment".
Keynote Speech for College of DuPage.
I was asked to speak at the 1st annual College of DuPage Exposed Photography Showcase. It was an honor to speak for a little over 400 photography driven individuals. I tell a bit about my journey and segue to becoming an instructor and podcaster. Not before I play with the question “Can I make it as a photographer?”.
I pulled out 3 minutes from an otherwise long speech. I think you can hear some excitement mixed with nerves as I share with the large group. Although it was a great practice to be inform of so many people. I would love to speak on a few different topics that I have been developing. A goal would be an hour talk for WPPI. I want to burst out now with the topics but I think I’ll save them for a while or at least till WPPI invites me. :)
Enjoy today’s Monday Message and tune in to Wednesday’s episode where I interview a photographer and WPPI speaker Jacquelynn Buck.
Stay Cool and Happy Shooting!
Rob
Aperture!
Hey Photo World here we are on another Fundamental Friday’s episode and I am so excited to bring us back to the basics of Aperture. Many of you already know that aperture plays a big part in depth of field and I am only going to scratch the surface on that piece to the aperture puzzle. Today I am really dialing back and walking us through the basics of aperture. Simply put it is the opening in the lens. Furthermore it is adjustable by you the photographer. There are many cameras out there where you would have a fixed aperture however I am speaking to those of you who are DSLR, hybrid, or mirrorless shooters. Basically those who have the full manual options to make exposure changes. Your aperture is the opening in the lens and the part that allows for that to be adjustable are a set of blades coming together making a larger or smaller hole. The numeric value assigned to each step or Stop are referred to as the F number or F stops.
Example of full stops:
F1.4, f2, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, f11, f16, f22, f32, f45, f64
F number… Aperture… blades… the hole in a lens…
What does all this mean?
Well, what aperture is designed for is – regulating how much light passes through the lens and therefore how much or how little of the scene is being projected onto the film or digital sensor. The F number tells us a few things:
1) the smaller the F number (like: f2.8) the bigger the opening in the lens and therefore more light passing through.
2) the larger the F number (like: f22) the smaller the opening in the lens and therefore less light passing through.
3) Aperture effects the Depth of Field – small aperture (large F number) the longer the DOF/large aperture (small F number) the shorter the DOF.
Again and just like Shutter Speed this is one third of the exposure triangle. (the 3 main setting that determine our exposure for an image)
Shutter – how long the picture is taken
Aperture – how much light is passing through the lens
and
ISO - … tune in next week (episode 63) to find out how this triangle is completed!
I also discuss how Aperture effects Depth of Field however I have that topic set aside for a future Fundamental Friday’s episode.
Hey Photo World pros! Comment down below to help out the newer photographers joining the Photo World!
Stay Cool and Happy Shooting!
Rob
Today’s featured guest is Sarah Claxton.
Sarah is a Photography Agent with her company: Claxton Represents. She is based out of Philadelphia Pennsylvania and represents commercial photographers and their work. After graduating from Brooks Institute she worked in many facets of the photography industry Sarah has found a passion in working with other photographers in helping them achieve their vision.
I am currently on vacation in Wisconsin Dells.
Something I do one every year to get away from all the work day to day. To celebrate for the little victories I have. Just like you do. I feel we need to take the time and spend the money to reward our driven motivation to succeed in our businesses. It helps continue the path to the big wins where we see the most change and ultimately growth in our businesses.
We'll I need to get back to my trip so enjoy this little Monday Message and great reminder to relax from time to time.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Shooting!
-Rob
Click HERE to register for the next Take&TalkPics.com webinar!
Today on the Take & Talk Pics Fundamental Friday's, I am really dialing back down to the basics.
I walk you through the basics of Shutter Speed.
Each week on Friday I will be adding new elements to the basics and tying everything together as we go.
Pros I would love for you top contribute to the conversation and share your knowledge with those starting out.
Follow along with the slides on the show notes page on Take & Talk Pics .com
I was having complications so the video will be ready next week. Sorry about that.
Today’s featured guest is Andre LaCour.
Andre is a Chicago based wedding and portrait photographer. His award winning work has been published in many magazines such as: Chicago Style Weddings, Wedding Guide Chicago, Chicago Social Brides, and Range Finder. As a member of PPA Andre has certificates as a Craftsman and Master Photographer.
Andre LaCour, Master Photographer, CR, is an award-winning photographer with more than 25 years of experience capturing relationships and important moments in the lives of his clients. Andre’s sophisticated and distinctive approach is grounded in the principles of art, and combines the best of photojournalism, classic and fine art styles. One of Chicago’s most established and reputable wedding photographers, Andre will photograph his one thousandth wedding in the summer of 2010. His portfolio of work includes all aspects of wedding, portrait and fashion photography.
Andre’s passion for photography was ignited early on by an educator who eventually became an employer and mentor. He honed his skills by apprenticing at a number of top Chicago studios, and gained experience in both wedding and commercial photography. Andre strongly believes in the importance of ongoing education and development, and continually invests in opportunities that keep him on the forefront of the latest technology and post-production techniques.
Andre holds Craftsman and Masters degrees from the Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and is a two-time Kodak Gallery award winner and a recipient of the Fuji Masterpiece award. Andre is a sought after speaker at professional and industry engagements, and has presented at numerous events throughout the country. He has also shared his expertise and passion for photography by training hundreds of professional photographers over the last decade. Andre LaCour Photography has been featured in wedding and photography industry publications, including ChicagoStyle Weddings, Wedding Guide Chicago, Chicago Social Brides and RangeFindermagazines. Andre’s wedding photography has taken him to destinations across the country and abroad, as well as many of Chicago’s major landmark locations, museums, hotels and other unique reception venues.
Monday Message 010 – The Snooze Button
“Just 5 more minutes” Rob thinks to himself, as he rolls over. His phone, rudely blaring, interrupts the perfect dream.
BEEP- BEEP- BEEP- BEEP-
“nooo” he utters, thinking about his dream, being keynote speaker at WPPI 2016.
Swipe. Such a simple move to earn a bit more time of rest, no work, no problems, and an overwhelming guilt trip for wasting that time.
So many of us do it though. We sneak by reality and think we just earned something because we are tired. There are enough things happening day to day to justify the 15 minute crave for rest each morning.
At what cost? I would argue one of the worst parts of my day are those brief moments in the morning; that transition from laying down snoring my brains out to sitting up rubbing my eyes.
It is one of the worst parts to my day!
If I hate waking up so much why do I hit the snooze 3-4 times? It doesn’t make sense.
I hate it… let’s do that 4 times.
Now Photo World is this Monday Message really about waking up each morning? Did I really just spend the last 4 minutes to tell you about a 12 second routine I conquer each morning? – No. I want you to understand how often we hit the Snooze Button in our business every single day. I know I do it all the time and I feel like there is a later time where I can pick up the slack. 10 weeks ago I started the Monday Message and introduced many of you to the book “Do the Work”. I would like to take a second and remind you that nothing gets done if you don’t put in the time. Nothing gets done well if you do not do the work… all the work. We find these excuses in our business- these Snooze Buttons. It is a way to blame everything else for our mishaps in our systems.
I don’t care if it is family, friends, a job, a prior commitment, or anything else we can justify reasoning for our lack of commitment to a job task… By blaming others you give up the power to change. Change and therefore grow.
Tomorrow when you wake… and I will do this too set your alarm, turn off the Snooze Button option, wake up on that first try and spring out of bed. Find a mirror and smile at you. Say out loud “by blaming others I give up the power to change.” Acknowledge that change is good and you are ready to do something today without hitting that Snooze Button.
Just one day is all I ask in this challenge. As silly as you may feel and tired as you might be; do this and as you look back on your day before you go to sleep reflect on your day and how well you felt by choosing a fresh fast start. Analyze that task where you wanted to hit the Snooze and see how you feel about it.
If you don’t feel at least 10% better about that day and all you accomplished (be honest you probably did a ton) I will give you your money back. 100% all of it.
Every cent you paid for this knowledge and new challenge goes right back in your pocket if you are not 100% satisfied with the outcome. (To be clear this refund will amount to the exact investment of $0.00)
Make the small changes in your business and life today so you can expand upon the growth tomorrow.
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Shooting!
Hey Photo World!
I am so excited about the next chapter here on Take & Talk Pics and I hope you are as well.
First of all a reminder: I will be conducting the first ever webinar here on Take&TalkPics.com and I want you to be a part of it. Click HERE to register!
Friday interviews are saying good bye for now as I want to respond to the countless emails and connections asking for a different addition to the show and blog.
Introducing the Fundamental Friday’s!
Each Friday I will be bringing us back to the basics and walking through a new segment each week. I am serious. Shutter Speed, Aperture, I.S.O., White Balance, Grey Cards, Composition, Full Frame vs. Cropped Sensors, etc…
This change will help educate the introductory and hobbyists photographers out there. Heck I feel like I learn something new each time I teach a Photo 1100 class at the College of DuPage. Also I would like to invite you intermediate and professional photographers out there to join the conversation. Leave helpful tips and tricks in the comments below each show notes page to help contribute to the learning photographers out there. You never know… you may have the perfect way to say something – if it resonates with one person you have done an excellent thing.
Lastly, I want to share another grand change, rather, an addition to Take&TalkPics.com. I have invited several photographers to become contributing writers for the blog and share their take on photography within their specific fields. Yes, I am a professional photographer but I am not an expert in every aspect of the medium. I have a handful of excellent photographers who will be sharing their expertise and broadening the scope of Take&TalkPics.com.
Thank you Photo World and Happy Shooting!
-Rob Krueger
I’m really excited about all the changes that are happening here on Take & Talk Pics I believe it will all be huge growth for the podcast and contribute to the photo community at large.
Thank you for hanging out today. I will see you next week Photo World – Happy Shooting!
Be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter and automatically you will be entered into our weekly iTunes gift card giveaway!
2015 © Take&TalkPics
#HeyPhotoWorld
#PhotoWorld
Today’s featured guest is Lauren Kinsey
Lauren is a wedding photographer based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida who has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Weddings Illustrated, The Knot, and many other luxury wedding resources for brides. Lauren is a unique wedding photographer compared to most these days as she shoots on film 100% of the time!
Weddings are a living, breathing phenomenon. Every couple has a love language that is unique to them and I am privileged to be able to capture that language on film. I live for it. The organic nature of film allows me to slow down and turn a discriminating eye to detail and real moments that tell the story of you. I want my art to express beauty, life, and most importantly- love. My vision and aesthetic are so important to who I am as as artist. I want to tell your story in a way in a meaningful and pure way.
I have been honored to have my work featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Once Wed, Style Me Pretty, Weddings Illustrated, The Knot, Southern Weddings Magazine, Utterly Engaged, Belle Lumiere, and many other luxury wedding resources for brides.
The Gulf Coast of Florida is home to me; the idyllic seaside community I grew up in strongly influences my work today. I regularly photograph weddings all along the panhandle of Florida and the Southeast, but have also been fortunate to travel the world, photographing weddings in destinations across the U.S. and abroad.
052 Monday Message 009 - Grey Market
Grey Market equipment... should you buy should you pass by? Rob shares his take. Also he reminds us of the first ever Take & Talk Pics webinar.
Hey Photo World -- Big Changes in the Works - Honoring 50
So today is a bit different because I don’t have an interview for you.
I thought about making a bonus episode and releasing this information on a Thursday but I felt this was too big of an announcement and too big of a time in the Take & Talk Pics Photography Podcast that this needed to be a true episode on its own.
First of all I would like to thank each and every one of you for your dedicated support and continuing to follow along. Sending me questions, sharing things you are finding within the photo community, and getting to know the amazing photographers and business owners we have on the show. When we launched on April 6th 2015 I never gave a thought to an episode 50 existing. You can hear it on my end with the early episodes for sure… I had no idea where this was taking me. Getting to know the amazing team over at ImprovePhotography.com, being introduced to many of the instructing photographers associated with Out of Chicago conference, connect with the guys behind Mirrorless Minutes, and meeting photographers I have followed for years; such as: Jared Polin and Lee Morris.
Episode 50 is truly a milestone for the show and for me. I have stared 4 or 5 blogs over the past 6 years and have never come close to 50 posts. I can honestly say I love doing this and I am passionate about it.
However, it is time to evolve.
I have been getting a lot of feedback from you Photo World and I hope what I’m about to say doesn’t tick anyone off, but rather get you pumped about the next chapter for the show.
As of June 1st I pulled the interviews back a bit and made it 2 interviews each week. I didn’t drop the 3 episodes weekly, no… I introduced the Monday Messages. Much of the feedback has been due to that change. In short the Monday Message each week has been a hit!
Because of this, I have a few more alterations in the works. I don’t want to announce everything just yet but I will tell you: starting the first week in August I will reduce the interviews to only Wednesdays and I will have something a little different set for Fridays. No worries I will be sticking with the Monday Messages. Fridays are the new thing to look out for.
That’s one announcement. The other big announcement is… Webinars!
I will be conducting my first ever live webinar for you photo world. Head to Take & Talk Pics to register for the webinar today!
I’m really excited about all the changes that are happening here on Take & Talk Pics I believe it will all be huge growth for the podcast and contribute to the photo community at large.
Thank you for hanging out today. I will see you next week Photo World – Happy Shooting!
Today’s featured guest is Anna Jaye Goellner.- goal-ner
Anna is a wedding photographer based in Portland OR. Her photography career started with photojournalism and that is the story telling approach she uses in her wedding work. Anna stays somewhat quiet and in the background while capturing authentic love stories, at each wedding she has throughout the world. As her approach and style is constantly honest; her weddings are far from consistent. Each love story she captures is unique and keeps her on her toes from start to finish.
Anna tells us that passion is everything and we talk about how being honest and keeping a good heart combined with a positive genuine attitude truly drive passion.
Resources:
Monday Message 008
By: Rob Krueger
I recently received an email containing 6 questions about starting in Wedding photography.
This Monday Message is just my thoughts on these questions. I am just one photographer in thousands so I do not try to act like my answer is the 100% best choice, but I am completely honest is saying what I think.
The Questions:
1) What is the most versatile lens?
2) What size should the images be that you give your clients?
3) What is the best way to fins a photographer who will let you second shoot for them?
4) Is it unreasonable to charge $1000 or so when getting started doing weddings?
5) Someone told me I should put an ad on craigslist. Is that ever okay?
6) Best way to light up a dark reception hall?
Listen up for my answers
Today’s featured guest is Tom Phelan.
Tom is an artist using his photography to document the changing Midwestern landscape. Although he does this in a way like I have never seen before. His subjects include dilapidated barns, rusted out cars, and a variety of objects accosted with rural life.
Shot In The Dark
I like to explore. Since just about everything in the Midwest has already been "discovered," my journeys of exploration, such as they are, tend to have as their aim the rediscovery of things either forgotten or existing in relative obscurity. Whether old cars or farm buildings, I am fascinated with objects that have essentially outlived their usefulness, but whose presence says something about the society that generated them, as well as the individuals who once used them. In this sense, my photographs comprise a record of some of the places and objects I have encountered during the course of the past several years. I find greatest satisfaction in the discovery of objects that might well be placed in a museum, but which have remained in their original context.
My preference for night photography arises primarily from the unique qualities of light that are available, particularly when the moon is present. This more subdued lighting makes it much easier to bring time in as a photographic effect. For example, the use of long exposures allows the cumulative effects of wind to be visible on objects like leaves and clouds, and creates opportunities for seeing things in a slightly different way. A lesser but still important consideration is that shooting after dark also lessens some of the tension created by a society always on the lookout for new and potential threats. That is, I am less noticeable by night, and there are fewer people around to notice me.
My photographs are by no means a random sample of what can be found in Illinois. They are dependent, above all, on the sorts of things that grab my attention. Nowhere is this more true than in the case of old vehicles, and particularly cars. To me, many of the vehicles of the 1950s have a sort of character that is simply not present in modern vehicles, given the emphasis on aerodynamics and efficiency of the latter. Abandoned farms, which occasionally include old cars, are another favorite subject. Since unusual atmospheric conditions (e.g., storms, fog) also appeal to me, many of my photographs bring these in as ancillary subjects. And of course the stars frequently make their appearance, acting as a perpetual reminder that there is a much broader context to our individual lives.
A primary goal in my photography is to bring the viewer to contemplate the redeeming qualities of objects that may not otherwise seem to possess any, and to perhaps feel a bit of the excitement that I have felt upon their discovery.
Today’s featured guest is Ben Chernivsky.
Ben is a wedding photographer and owner of ThisIsFeeling.com. Ben’s philosophy is quality over quantity. He uses this strategy in the building of his business and Ben along with his team of 3 photographers capture nearly 100 weddings per year with that same high standard.
"It's Not About You" - Ben
Ben understands all the problems that come when trying to plan a wedding and going into every email, every meeting, and every phone call knowing that it is not about him, but about the client in need of his service and this has been a game changer - not just in his business but in his life. The ability to visualize yourself in others shoes can help build stronger business relationships and personal relationships.
HELLO, I’M BEN // BOSS-MAN, PHOTOGRAPHER, CONSULTANT
I’m a man of few words until I begin talking. I feel many, many things in life. I am a blubbering blob of body and bone, full of passion and positivity.
I like cats.
The ocean both fascinates me and scares me beyond belief.
I wake up each day and look forward to watering my grass, tomatoes, and basil garden.
But I usually scamper towards the espresso machine first.
I adore my wife.
I love photographing love.