Photgraphers Love Props

I love it when clients bring in their own props to the studio. It makes their portraits unique to them. If I use a prop that I have in the studio many clients will have a photo taken with that same prop. If someone brings in their favorite guitar or sporting equipment, their child’s favorite toy or their dog’s bed, then we can create a special portrait that will be cherished even more. Next time you have a portrait done be sure to bring some props with you.

Photographers Style

Every photographer has their own style. A style can be the way you shoot or the process you do to the photographs after they have been taken. I like to photograph on a white background, because I like the “clean” look, there is nothing there but the subject. If you are looking to hire a photographer look at their portfolio, if you like what you see then that is what you will get. I see to often someone looks at a portfolio and then instead of going to that photographer they go to a different one and then tell them to do a photo like the one they saw. I you like somebody’s photos the go to that photographer to get that style of photo that is what they are good at. And oh yea it you like my white background then please see me about taking photos for you.

A Day At School

I was asked by my kid’s school to come in and take some photographs of the students for the yearbook. I have been to Weiss Elementary several times but it was usually some special event such as a Christmas party or field trip. On this day I got to see the teachers and students doing what they do on an average day. I tried to be the preverbal “fly on the wall” which is hard to do for a 200 plus pound guy with a camera. I was able to see first hand how much our teachers care about their pupils and that the kids do work hard, they were even reading during snack time. It was nice of the teachers to share some of their class time with me and see what goes on during an “average day” at school.

When documenting events with photos I like to shoot without my flash and capture the images with the available light. Most photographers think that as soon as they are indoors they must use a flash but I turn up my ISO and try to capture the atmosphere with the light that is in the room. It works well in a school since most schools are well lit.

Get In Close, Then Get Even Closer

I have not been able to photograph much between teaching photography at Saginaw Township Community Ed and having games canceled because of the blizzard. But I need to do another post on my blog since it’s been a while. I think the biggest mistake most new photographers make is not getting in close to their subject. Use a telephoto lens or zoom in with your lens and then move in closer with you feet. It makes for a much more dramatic photo when you fill the picture with the face of you subject and not have you subject standing off in the distance. So remember get in close and then get even closer.

Images Of Michigan

It's a new year and time to set goals. I have a large collection of Michigan nature and travel photos and I am going to do more to promote them. I had a great year last year with my commercial stock imagery and shooting sports, even did well with senior portraits. I love shooting nature photos but have never had much luck selling them so this year I decided to "push" my nature work more and see what happens. If you are interested in purchasing a pring check out http://www.huronphoto.com/ or if you have a shop and would like to sell some prints contact me at mike@huronphoto.com

Mckinaw Bridge in Winter

Gray Christmas?

It’s supposed to be White Christmas not Gray Christmas, then why is it when you take a photo of snow it looks gray and dark. Your camera is programmed to average out the dark areas and the light areas and make them gray. When you take photos of snow or hockey where there is a lot of white in the photo the camera will make it gray. With point and shoot cameras that have a “snow scene” setting, set it to that and the camera will know that you are wanting your snow to look white. If you have an SLR look in your manual for “exposure compensation” and set it to +1 and this will tell the camera to adjust the exposure to make the photo brighter.  

You Press The Button We Do The Rest

When I go to a Lab these days it’s to get my Cholesterol checked. Back in the days of film the photo lab is where you had to go to get your film developed. You could go to a pro lab or your local drugstore or supermarket and they all did a good job. Yea it cost money to have prints made but not much more than what they charge now. When the lab processed film most shutterbugs did not relies that the lab did a lot of work for them. They adjusted exposure and corrected color the get the best prints possible. Now that were are in the digital world it seems like we are all on our own especially if we print our own pics on our home printer. Sometimes I miss kodak’s original slogan. “You press the button and we do the rest”