Master Photography

Erica and Connor reflect on their 2017 goals and share their goals for 2018 Erica 2017 Reflections * Taking time for myself, not overbooking – success! * Creating epic multiple exposures – failure! * Book 5 weddings at my highest collection – success! Connor 2017 Reflections * Become a full time photographer – Success!? * Focus more on Commercial Clients – failure/success? * Sell tickets to workshops – Success! Connor 2018 Goals * Outsource some of my work * Get published in at least 4 publications * Grow non-commercial clients by 50% with social media marketing * Post much more consistently on social media (3 times a week) * Focus more attention on helping other photographers/creating content to help photographers * Get invited to speak at at least 1 other conference * Build a larger commercial client base Erica 2018 Goals * Creative: master that double exposure technique in camera * Business: make 6 figures * Education: attend at least 1 high-end portrait workshop Listener Goals Mark Morris First my goal from 2017 was to book more weddings… totally shot past my goal of 3, booked 8, with a lot of guidance from my mentor, Erica Coffman!! 2018… two goals: 1) offer some great workshops for photographers, and 2) expand my commercial client base. (I booked my second major corporate gig this year.). Stephen Smith To finish my NYIP correspondence course. It’s something I decided to do for fun, and it’s been very educational. I’ll be proud to finish. Sarah Elizabeth I have one wholesale client right now and would love to get a couple more next year! Aaron Taylor Pretty sure my 2017 goals were lofty. Might’ve met less than half. I’m going to give myself one goal for 2018: spend more money on education than gear. Danette Zak To get a paying customer!! Lori Hutchinson To just do it and quit lurking in the wings. Josh Peterson To make enough off photography to buy the Tamron 24-70 g2. To second shoot a wedding. To shoot enough to fill my portfolio full enough to make a website. Steven Morrow To learn the business side (contracts, llc, deductions, etc) at least half as much as I’m learning about photography itself. Jeremy S. Lanthorn 1. To replace over half my salary with photography income. * Organize at least 3 styled shoots. * Make 2 photo specific trips. * Attend at least 5 state championship events (A lot of my income comes sports photography). Tony Hicks To finish college, have my website complete(it will never be finished as far as I’m concerned) and a solid work flow in place among a few other things I want to be running at least a part time business in portraiture by the end of the year. Starting the year off by going to imaging in January it’s the c...

Jim Harmer spotlights listener Chris Wesley who transforms photos into images that look like they were paintedChris Wesley — http://www.chriswesley.com

IP Roundtable Ep 257 by Jim Harmer: Photography Nerd

Interviews with LensBaby founder Craig Strong and creator of the MySunset app Emily JeppsonTopic 1: BRIAN: Interview with LensBaby Founder, Craig Strong So, I wanted to do this interview because recently I traveled to Paris and I’ve shot the Eiffel Tower before. I wanted to be intentional this time and be more creative with my shots I used the Lensbaby Composer Pro II w/ EDGE 50 OPTIC as a tool to help me see with a new perspective. Craig Strong shares about the different lenses Lensbaby has to offer and explains how it’s not about the end result of an image looking like an Instagram filter. It’s about the experience along the way and how two people can have the same lens standing in the same spot and produce completely different results. Check out my Instagram @brianmcguckin to see my best result of the Eifel Tower and see more of Lensbaby on Facebook or Instagram @seeinanewway   Topic 2: BRENT: A few announcements. Free Saturdays will continue into the new year at BrentRentsLenses.com. I just like being able to offer something unique to my customers, they’ve enjoyed it and I like being able to offer it as well. So I’ll now continue it through Spring 2018. My Croatia workshop is now available at my website. You can also look up improvephotography.com/brent and it’ll forward you right there. I’ll be taking up to six photographers to my favorite spots in Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina. We’ll shoot spectacular waterfalls, historic old towns and cities, the beautiful adriatic coast and so much more. Head on over to the site for all the details and to sign up. Plus, while you’re there, I’ve got a teaser for another workshop I’m putting together, just click on the “travel with me” button at the top and find out more about my second European workshop happening in summer 2018 Interview with Emily Jeppson, author of the MySunset app available in the Google Play store and the iOS App Store. Dream Destination of the week Brian – Galapagos Islands. Brent – Western NC. I’m a waterfall nut and this placed is FILLED with them. https://www.wncwaterfalls.info/map.html

IP Roundtable(256) by Jim Harmer: Photography Nerd

IP Roundtable (255) by Jim Harmer: Photography Nerd

Tripod Lumenzia by Jim Harmer: Photography Nerd

Jeff Harmon goes over gift ideas for the 2017 holiday season in budget categories from $20 to $2,000 Don’t forget about the Improve Photography Retreat 2018 and Jeff’s post-Retreat workshop “Be a Ninja With Your Camera” that you can sign up for at http://www.jsharmonphotos.com/workshop. Links to gift ideas: * Canon T5i ($550): https://www.amazon.com/Canon-EOS-Rebel-EF-S-18-55/dp/B00BW6LWO4/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1512247923&sr=1-5&keywords=canon+t5i * Nikon D3400 ($400): https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D3400-NIKKOR-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B01KITZKDE/ref=sr_1_12?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1512248217&sr=1-12&keywords=nikon+d3300 * SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB SD card ($22): https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-32GB-UHS-I-SDSDXXG-032G-GN4IN/dp/B01J5RHBQ4/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1512248606&sr=1-2&keywords=Sandisk+sd+card * 4 Duracell AA Rechargeable Batteries ($11): https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Rechargeable-AA-Batteries-Count/dp/B00007ISWA/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1512248727&sr=1-4&keywords=duracell%2Baa%2Brechargeable%2Bbatteries&th=1 * 10 Duracell AA Rechargeable Batteries ($25) * Carson Camer Sensor Magnifier ($18): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0091SS310/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 * 2 Neewer Silver Umbrellas ($15): https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Professional-Photography-Reflective-Lighting/dp/B01FFNM8QK/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1512249098&sr=1-6&keywords=silver+umbrella * Kingston Digital USB 3.0 card reader ($18): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VAGX6MW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 * Fotodiox F60 Quick-Collapse Flash Softbox ($60): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TBUD4IK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 * SanDisk Ultra Flair 256GB USB 3.0 flash drive ($60): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XG9XP49/ref=crt_ewc_img_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER * 1 year of BackBlaze Cloud Backup ($50): https://secure.backblaze.com/buy.htm * YONGNUO YN560 IV ($62): https://www.amazon.com/IV-Wireless-Speedlite-Fujifilm-Panasonic/dp/B00PGTOX26/ref=sr_1_3?

Jim and Brent talk about 12 lies told to new photographers and being flexible planning a photo shoot A dozen lies they tell new photographers * https://improvephotography.com/49778/dozen-lies-tell-new-photographers/ Flexibility in planning a photo shoot http://www.brentbergherm.com/travel-with-me/croatia-2018/ Announcements * Looking for 8 people with something cool to share about photography * IP+ is about to get awesomer * Going to another country to spend 3 days with one of the most creative photographers on the planet to record a tutorial for IP+.  I’ll leave it at that for now

Erica & Connor answer questions from the Improve Photography Podcast Facebook group Andrea De Anda Hi Erica, I’m moving from the Central Coast to the Bay area, What tips or advice would you give a wedding photographer like me to start/transfer my business to another city??? Justin Zaffarese How much can a professional photographer expect to earn ? I know that is a bit like asking how long a piece of string is ,but, it’s just seldom discussed. I don’t ever hear pro’s mentioning how much they make. Starting with you Erica haha Sheila Salinas I see some photographers who specializes on photographing families, kids, and babies use props. What is your take on using props? Do you recommend or advise clients in outfits such as colors and patterns. If so, what are they? Frank Gallagher Seems like every year there’s a different trend in portrait styles. One year everything is shot on a stark white background. Another year, everything is high key. What do you do–change your style with every trend? Try to do a classic set-up that will last and outlive trends? Some combination of the two? Anand Acharya Do you deliver the digitals with print release as part of the session? It is highly debated topic though. I would like to get your view on this. Aaron Taylor How have you both changed since you first began hosting Portrait Session? How has your photography evolved? How have your businesses changed? What would you say are the one or two important things you’ve learned that you wish you knew at the beginning?

Jeff shares info about the Black Friday Lightroom Presets steal

IP Roundtable EP - 253 by Jim Harmer: Photography Nerd

Jim talks with Jeff about dealing with rejection (especially from clients) and 5 unconventional landscape tips based on an article at improvephotography.com by Chris MowersDealing with Rejection * Jeff: Share story about a client who HATED my edits of her daughter’s senior photos.  Preferred the auto-toned, flat, blue-tinted proofs I sent her to cull.  For a couple of weeks I asked everyone I came in contact with which version was better. * Jeff: {another story if time} Total rejection on shooting the local high school football team the first year I tried.  School said they had an exclusive photographer.  Asked numerous sponsors of they would help me get a pass.  No go.  As of this recording I have now shot two football games this season and am working on a pass to get up to the University of Utah field where the high school will play in the semi-finals of the State playoffs.  Worked my way in by shooting basketball. 5 Unconventional Landscape Tips (article by Chris Mowers) * Capture Detail * Jeff: Love this suggestion.  I don’t do enough of it, my wife is very good at it. * Multiple Exposure * Jeff: Have never really tried this.  Maybe a little to abstract for me. * Flip a Reflection * Jeff: Never done this one either, though I really haven’t had too many water reflection shooting opportunities so far. * Intentional Camera Movement * Jeff:  I do this one all the time, except for the intentional part. * Stack Clouds * Jeff: I have actually done this.  Makes the sky so much more interesting and have often had the clouds move so fast it didn’t take that long. Announcements * Looking for 8 people with something cool to share about photography * IP+ is about to get awesomer * Going to another country to spend 3 days with one of the most creative photographers on the planet to record a tutorial for IP+.  I’ll leave it at that for now

Brian and Brent talk about trips to Norway, Sweden and Paris along with a hodge podge of other small topicsTopic 1: BRIAN: Norway, Sweden and Paris More text from Brian goes here Topic 2: BRENT: Hodge Podge of small topics. I’m reading a new book (to me) by Albert Podell. “Around the world in 50 years” covers 50 years of the author’s travels and adventures to every country on earth. Well written and fairly fast paced compared to what I normally read which usually goes into lots of detail on a place or topic. Hunting for a travel tripod. I have a tiny one by Slik that I purchased about 13 years ago. Extremely portable but doesn’t get very tall and not really suited to my 5D4. My Induro carbon fiber is too big for international travel, I don’t like the idea of taking a full-size tripod with me on the plane. I want one that’s smaller. I used a Manfrotto 190go! Aluminum tripod in Croatia. It was fine but wasn’t exactly what I’m looking for. I love the option of the center column being able to come out the top and rotate around. Allows for really low angle or unique tripod positioning. Maybe if I had that idea but just a tad smaller and carbon fiber…. But anyway, just know that I’m on the search, I’ll certainly report my findings as I experiment with other gear. And if anyone wants to shoot me a recommendation I’m all ears (I might get more than I bargained for though

Jeff Harmon goes over the details about the two new Lightroom programs now available to Creative Cloud subscribers, the costs of the various Creative Cloud options, and a healthy number of bugs that have been reported making his recommendation be that photographers who need to get work done using Lightroom wait to update. Links mentioned in the episode: Jeff’s Post-Retreat Workshop: http://www.jsharmonphotos.com/workshop * Internet activity, offline grace period: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/internet-connection-creative-cloud-apps.html * Photshop/Lightroom Creative Cloud: What happens if you stop paying?: https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/i-havent-yet-upgraded-from-cs6-to-cc-i-assume-with-cc-once-you-stop-paying-it-just-goes-dead * Creative Cloud plan details: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html?promoid=6NCS7DGT&mv=other * Import to Large Catalog Slower than Lr 2015.12: https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lr-classic-problem-with-previews-during-import-for-large-volume-slower-than-lr-cc2015-12 * Lightroom Class CC – Sluggish Develop module after a while: https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lightroom-class-cc-sluggish-develop-module-after-a-while?red=a&tduid=d2121b08e71e583650bbecb74133ed20&url=https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lightroom-class-cc-sluggish-develop-module-after-a-while * Lightroom crashing on start or on exit: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/crash-gpu-directx-enabled.html?red=a&tduid=d2121b08e71e583650bbecb74133ed20&url=https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/crash-gpu-directx-enabled.html?red=a&tduid=59c69730c4ffe33804f5ea8936ebfe59&url=https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/kb/crash-gpu-directx-enabled.html * Lightroom CC Classic LUT/Color Profile problem: https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lightroom-cc-classic-lut-color-profile-problem?red=a&tduid=d2121b08e71e583650bbecb74133ed20&url=https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/lightroom-cc-classic-lut-color-profile-problem * Lightroom Classic: Noise reduction effect not displayed in Develop mode: