Aspiring Photographer: Photography Advice and Inspiration

Flash & Studio Photography Lighting Videos

I just wanted to share with you the most fantastic set of videos hosted by Mark Wallace. You can find the videos at Snapfactory's Youtube channel.They are free, and each one is short and sweet and very informative. Mark's teaching style is clear and organized, and the videos are even a little amusing at times. (Much more than I say for some of the other instructional videos I've been trying to sit through lately!)  Scroll around (the navigation is a little funky and the episodes are listed in order) and start with Episode 1. He walks you through understanding how to work with flash and studio lighting, giving product recommendations where appropriate. I can't recommend these videos highly enough. 

Photographing Families Outdoors

I find photographing families outdoors to be one of the more difficult and intimidating lighting situations for me. In the studio I have total control, but outdoors there are a lot more variables going on. During most parts of the day, if you don't use a flash you end up with several problems. If the sun is high in the sky you run the risk of having raccoon eyes, which are dark sockets in people's eyes where the shadows land from the overhead sun. You also have the challenge of balancing the light on their faces with the light in the background. Frequently what ends up happening is that if you get the family's faces properly exposed, then the background is too bright, or the other way around. And when you add a flash, what frequently happens is that the family is properly exposed, and the background goes really, really dark.

So here is one method for using flash to light families outdoors. This article by Peter Friedman was just published on ShootSmarter.com, which is a really great site with terrific educational articles. You may find that you have to sign up with their site to read the article, but registration is free.

Colorado Springs Studio Photography Class October 25, 2010

The Professional Photographers of America (PPA) offers "Super Monday" classes all around the country twice a year. Professional photographers volunteer their time to teach other photographers in their area. I am getting ready teach my fifth Super Monday class here in Colorado Springs. This one is Photographing Babies & Children in the Studio. I'll talk about (and show) how I use studio lighting, and how I work to get genuine expressions and non-posey poses. Registration just opened today, and is handled directly through PPA. The classes will be held on Monday, October 25th. Sign up by October 11th, and get this full day of instruction for $99. On site registration is $120, space permitting. PPA members earn one merit toward a degree.You can visit PPA's Super Monday page to see a list of classes and register.

These classes are always a good time. It's great to see what your fellow photographers are doing in their studios, and you're pretty much guaranteed that you'll get to hang out with a group of fun, friendly people for the day.