Despite this week’s wicked winds and freezing cold temperatures, we’ve experienced a very mild autumn. When you live in northern Wisconsin you never take for granted a rare 12-day stretch of 80 degree days in late September/early October. As a result of the unseasonably high temperatures many of the flowers that frame our home are still in bloom. We’ve only had one night that dipped below freezing, so many of the blossoms are still sturdy and bright. The unusual occurrence has inspired me to get outside to document the pretty sights. While my photo specialty is not floral and fauna, … Continue reading →

(A real hot dog.) Take a look at this photo. This is the Halloween costume I wanted my 7-year-old to wear trick-or-treating. She refused. She also turned up her nose at Old Navy’s other tasty costumes, including the cupcake, ice cream cone and hamburger. I told her that she would surely score double treats if she went door-to-door looking as cute as the hot dog in the photo above. Actually, I bet the dog would rake in an even bigger haul by donning Old Navy’s Banana Split costume for pups. I know I would surely snap a shot of a … Continue reading →

Some people despise going to the dentist, while others can’t stand the thought of standing in long lines at the DMV. For my mom, nothing ruins her day more than having to pose for a family picture. The woman can’t stand being in front of the camera, and it shows. If a picture speaks a thousand words, then the images my mom reluctantly appears in clearly shout: “I don’t want to be here.” If you are as camera-shy as my mom, you might find the following tips helpful for those times when you are forced to smile on cue: Lips: … Continue reading →

In a previous post I shared my excitement about scoring a manager’s special coupon to Sears Portrait Studio. I was told that I would be saving hundreds of dollars by booking a session to get my daughter’s photos taken—-so I did. Turns out, I didn’t save hundreds of dollars. In fact, whatever I saved, I ended up spending in order to purchase extra prints for various family members and friends. I’m pretty sure Sears planned it that way. That’s okay, though, I knew the coupon was incentive to book the session, and the employees at our local portrait studio didn’t … Continue reading →

Sure, the vibrant autumn leaves are stunning and the portraits of kids in their Halloween costumes are delightful, but there are other signs of fall that also yield frame worthy shots. Are you ready for some football? More importantly, are you ready for some football cheerleading? Not for nothing, but I have daughter, and unless there is some cataclysmic event that suddenly allows girls to join high school football teams, then I will likely be focusing my camera lens on the sidelines in order to snap action shots of my girl being thrown in the air, all in the name … Continue reading →

Autumn officially arrives in my neck of the woods bright and early Friday morning (around 4 a.m. CST, according our local meteorologist), though we’ve been dressing for the season for the last two weeks. Our high temperatures for the day have barely gotten out of the 50s and the leaves are already changing. The countdown to peak leaf peeping season is on, and for avid photographers that means reviewing the rules for outdoor shooting. If you are planning to document the stunning fall foliage consider these simple tips when you are out and about: Perfect Position: Never let the sun … Continue reading →

Oprah is a huge fan of parents photographing their children’s hand-drawn works of art and creating a picture book courtesy of online photo editing services. I am with the Great O in regards to the book idea rather than having millions of drawings cluttering the front of the refrigerator. However, it helps to know how to properly photograph artwork if you want to craft a decent-looking book. The number one consideration when photographing art is lighting. Without proper lighting there is no way you can preserve any of the drawing’s details. This is true regardless of whether or not you … Continue reading →

Making money from hobby picture-taking is not something that happens overnight. Pursuing photography as a career, which generates an income you can actually live off of, can take years. As in many industries you need expertise in your field, sound business sense and marketing savvy. Fortunately, there are a slew of genres that need quality photographers. It’s a good idea to review your options before marketing yourself as an expert in a specific niche. For example, just because most of your experience comes from shooting weddings, don’t limit yourself. The same techniques used in wedding photography can be employed when … Continue reading →

My local camera shop is offering an end-of-the-summer photo workshop at a really good price. I considered registering, but the end of August is such a chaotic time around our home. However, if you have the means and the time, then I would highly suggest taking advantage of these types of opportunities to hone your photography skills. Whether you are new to digital photography or you simply want to learn how to use more of your camera’s features, workshops and seminars are great ways to obtain professional advice. In addition, they provide you with the incentive to experiment with different … Continue reading →

Can you tell that I edited this picture? If you shoot with a digital camera, then you know that it is nearly impossible to take a picture that can’t be fixed. Photo-editing software has made it possible to turn boring images into frame worthy works of art. Photo-editing software is vital when you are trying to make adjustments to your subjects after a picture-taking session is over. Most post-production photo programs allow you to whiten your subject’s teeth or eliminate blemishes with the click of a mouse. Simply, de-saturate the unflattering areas to take out the color, and then whiten … Continue reading →