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FAQs
- What do you believe is the greatest asset a photographer should have besides a camera?
- Do you believe that the camera does, to an extent, make the photographer? Or is good photography possible with lesser devices such as a disposable camera?
- How do you get your clients to accept your interpretation of what you want?
- Do you seriously consider the wants of your clients, or do you do your best to give them what they don't know they want (if that makes sense
- Is there such a thing as someone's "good side
- Do you ever catch yourself needing to take a picture of something random that you see in everyday life?
- I wanted discuss settings to use in an indoor arena such as the At&t center. I'm going to the rodeo today and I wanted some tips before I go. I will be taking some action shots of the xtreme bull riding and of the concert. I will be using a Nikon D-40 w/ a 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens.
- Just want to get some feedback from a well-known and respected professional photographer about lighting equipment and other professional photography equipment. I already have some pro gear, but I want to purchase a really good set of lights. It is the big purchases now that make things progress a little slower than I would like. I am concerned about cost, about my increasing debts, etc.?
- How do you feel about the value of a degree in photography when compared to self taught or attending seminars etc.?
| Q. | What do you believe is the greatest asset a photographer should have besides a camera? |
| A. | I need to give you two: determination with a positive attitude and true internal need to give people what they envision. |
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| Q. | Do you believe that the camera does, to an extent, make the photographer? Or is good photography possible with lesser devices such as a disposable camera? |
| A. | Knowing your equipment is the key. I read an article about two years ago about a photographer in California who uses only disposable cameras!!! He only photographs Weddings and has only one price: $5000 . And he is booked for over one year in advance! I don't think anyone else can get away with that. Knowing your camera very well (knowing what it is capable of) is the key to taking beautiful pictures. |
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| Q. | How do you get your clients to accept your interpretation of what you want? |
| A. | I don't. I sit down with them and find out what they want. Then I give it to them. |
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| Q. | Do you seriously consider the wants of your clients, or do you do your best to give them what they don't know they want (if that makes sense |
| A. | That actually is a great question! I absolutely want to hear their wants, of course I hear their wants through my point of view as a professional photographer. Many times when someone is considering my services its the first time they have ever done what they are doing (Wedding, business event, etc). So I know that they don't know everything. They have a million things that they do, and knowledge of photography isn't one of them, so they describe what they want and I interpret it and make suggestions. Working together we find exactly what they want. |
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| Q. | Is there such a thing as someone's "good side |
| A. | :) Sometimes! Many people do believe this, and sometimes they are right. Because of hair styles, especially long hair, often the "good side" to the photographer is the side that shows more of the face. But you can change the look of someone's face based on how you allow the light and shadow detail to hit it. So you can make what they consider to be their "bad side" very beautiful, if you know what you are doing. |
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| Q. | Do you ever catch yourself needing to take a picture of something random that you see in everyday life? |
| A. | :) My parents would definitely have a story or two to tell you about that! We would be out on our family vacation (always a road trip) and I would see something that I just HAD TO take a photograph of; I would tell them that we had to stop -a lot of times they did!!! That feeling still happens, luckily I don't have to convince anyone to stop the car anymore! |
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| Q. | I wanted discuss settings to use in an indoor arena such as the At&t center. I'm going to the rodeo today and I wanted some tips before I go. I will be taking some action shots of the xtreme bull riding and of the concert. I will be using a Nikon D-40 w/ a 18-55mm and 55-200mm lens. |
| A. | Even though your eyes can see things very well, your camera doesn't have a brain to interpret the info, so to the camera you do not have enough light. I would only shoot in manual mode in these situations. So you will want to: 1. Choose an ISO of 400 - 800 (you can go to a higher ISO if necessary but, you will increase the size of the grain and you will see digital artifacts (little pixels that are completely the wrong color - like a neon green in the middle of a black shirt) 2. As slow a shutter speed as possible that will still stop the motion (easier said than done, because the bull is moving very fast) so probably 250th of a second. And for the concert a 60th of a second. You should play with it but unless you want to show motion you don't want to go below a 30th of a second unless you are able to get really close (like on stage) and use a flash to stop the motion and a little more light (called dragging the shutter with a rear sync). 3. Open up your aperture all the way. I don't know what is available to you on those two lenses, but whatever the lowest number f-stop you have, use it. This will mean a shallow depth of field and an increased probability that you get an out of focus image, but you need the light! 4. Take a lot of photographs. For sure, most will not be what you wanted, do take a lot and maybe you'll end up with a few that you really like! 5. Use a tripod. Especially if you are going to be using your 55-200 telephoto zoom lens. |
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| Q. | Just want to get some feedback from a well-known and respected professional photographer about lighting equipment and other professional photography equipment. I already have some pro gear, but I want to purchase a really good set of lights. It is the big purchases now that make things progress a little slower than I would like. I am concerned about cost, about my increasing debts, etc.? |
| A. | The main thing of importance is to "know your equipment". You DO NOT
have to have the best equipment in the world to take great photographs (although
the more you learn the more you want that great equipment!). Use what you have
and grow your equipment as you can without going into debt. Be persistent.
1. Make a list of your "wants" include their cost. |
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| Q. | How do you feel about the value of a degree in photography when compared to self taught or attending seminars etc.? |
| A. | I have Bachelor of Science in Photography from a great school. Now, its great for teaching - I have taught one-on-one photography classes for the last ten years. But I recommend to my students (that are planning on also taking college classes) to major in business and/or marketing, not photography. You might be the best photographer in the world, but if you cannot run a business, you will have to have a full-time job to support your photography habit! You also asked about seminars; Take seminars at every chance you get (I enjoy them!) - they are not always what you expect, but it is something that you should invest your time and money into. Some are free or very inexpensive - like my once-a-month photography club -its only $10/meeting!!! (ask me about it) . |
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