With the popularity of smartphones and compact digital cameras, there are a lot more self portraits being snapped these days. One look on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platform and you will see daily (if not hourly) doses of photos snapped of camera owners, thanks to an outstretched arm and a lightweight digital picture-taking device. Of course, not all of the self portraits posted on social media sites are frame worthy. I’ve seen some pretty bad shots of people trying to take photos of themselves, be it at a big event like a concert or lounging at a … Continue reading →

One of the most repeated tips on this blog pertains to the use of a tripod to avoid camera shake and the ugly blur that comes with it. However, there are cases when blurring actually adds to the overall look of a photo. Long shutter speeds allow for intentional blurring, which in most cases, help to enhance an image. For example, those cool shots of heavy traffic with blurred headlights or nature photos featuring waterfalls that make the flow of H20 appear streaky, like wisps of white cotton candy. When executed properly, this type of camera blur can turn ordinary … Continue reading →

I said I was over photo books, but they are just so dang popular these days it’s hard to imagine that the trend will fade anytime soon. If you can’t beat ‘em, stick with ‘em, I guess. The reason I am tiring of the books is that I find that the end result is not as wonderful as I’d hope it’d be. Then, again, that could be my fault. I’ve made more than a dozen photo books, but in each case I struggle to select images that tell a comprehensive story minus the text. It seems the key to creating … Continue reading →

Tis the season for taking pictures of food. The holidays are right around the corner which means many of us will be spending a lot more time in the kitchen cooking up our family’s favorite dishes. Whether it’s Aunt Sue’s famous Halloween Dirt Cake or Grandma’s scrumptious Christmas cookies, there is no shortage of good eats to chow down on from now until the New Year. Since we eat with our eyes first, you can bet that your favorite dish will be looking its best before it gets to the table. However, before you dig in you should consider snapping … Continue reading →

Workshops, tutorials, and plain ol’ persistence are not the only ways you can improve your photos. When all else fails—-edit. With digital photography growing by leaps and bounds at every turn, it’s almost impossible to print out a bad picture these days. What’s more, you don’t have to drain your wallet purchasing fancy schmancy photo editing software in order to create frame worthy images. Rather, all you have to do is surf the World Wide Web and with a few clicks of your mouse, you will be able to turn ordinary shots into extraordinary works of art. If you are … Continue reading →

My parents will be celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary this fall. According to those traditional wedding gift charts, my mom and dad should be on the receiving end of “developed real estate” to commemorate their milestone. I kid you not. Sadly, my brothers and I don’t have the funds to gift wrap Manhattan for our dearly beloved parents, so we’ve decided on the next best thing: a professional family portrait. Oh yeah, we’re real go-getters in the gift department. To prove that we aren’t slouches when it comes to gift giving, we’ve decided to meet with the photographer in advance … Continue reading →

The crisis in Egypt has dealt a blow to CNN’s Anderson Cooper—-a head blow. Actually, several head blows. According to the cable news network, Cooper, his producer and photographer were attacked by a group of rowdy demonstrators loyal to embattled president Hosni Mubarak. “The attackers pushed and shoved the CNN crew and punched them in the head, but no one was seriously hurt,” according CNN.com. Cooper’s colleague Steve Brusk tweeted that Cooper was “punched 10 times in the head.” Cooper himself revealed on CNN’s American Morning a few hours ago that he was spat on, kicked and pushed, as he … Continue reading →

Newborn photography can be very challenging. It’s hard to keep a newborn calm and sleeping while you are trying to put them in a cute pose. Here are a few tips for getting that priceless newborn portrait. 1. Keep it simple and ditch the clothes. Take your newborn’s photo on a soft, simple solid colored blanket. Drape it over the couch and smooth out all the wrinkles. Your newborn does not need a special outfit since newborns look the best when they are just as nature intended them. 2. Crank the heat in your home to about 82 degrees so … Continue reading →

If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it is that when you are presenting your photos, it is much better to have a few great pictures than it is to have a few great pictures mixed into a whole slew of mediocre and not-so-great pictures. Even the best photo, when paired up next to a poor photo, will lose its luster. One bad apple spoils the whole barrel; one bad photo spoils the whole portfolio. One of the things that separates the amateur from the pro is knowing which photos to keep and which to toss. … Continue reading →

There are subtle differences that make a big impact between images that look professional and those that fall flat. Lighting is a big factor, but a lot can hinge on how you, as the photographer, set up the shot as well. While pictures can always be easily cropped in this digital age, you can’t change the composition of an image without a lot of painting, cloning, masking and other advanced editing techniques. It can be done, but you’re not going to end up with a natural image. If anything, it’s more like digital illustration rather than photography. That is why … Continue reading →