Photography LOVERS! ~here you go

To all aspiring photographers. Weather you're interested in just taking better photos of your everyday life or becoming a professional here are some things that have helped me along the way.

I became a professional photographer by accident. I was Vice President of Internal Operations for a large furniture company. I was laid off after working there for 8 years. I searched for a long time to find another position that I would enjoy and could have a career I would love. After a long search and photographing on the side for almost 2 years, my husband suggested I start taking myself seriously. He believed in me and my work and said to go for it. If it wasn't for the push from him, I don't think I would have dreamed of starting my business.

I read a TON! Understanding Exposure is a great way to learn about photography. It's a wonderful introduction and will give you a good basic understanding on how lighting and functions of your camera interact. Read your camera manual and then reread it again. You will find valuable information in there. I still carry mine in my camera bag.

I took as many classes as I could. I still attend seminars to keep up on trends and get new ideas.

Join a photography forum. Have your peers critique your images. I truly believe its an invaluable way to improve. Don't take the comments personally. Sometimes they are harsh, mostly helpful and you will discover things about your work, you never would have. People will give helpful tips and tricks. It was on forums that I discovered my personal style.

If you are interested in becoming a professional...There are so many people who can afford professional level equipment and can gain the same knowledge you can. You honestly have to be on your top game. You have to be 10x better than the people around you for you to stand out. You've got to discover what it is that makes you different. It's so easy for anyone to get a website or blog up and going. Search the web and you will see some amazing work and some awful work. You have to educate your clients. If your clients are educated, then your work has to be top notch. You won't be able to fool them, however they will appreciate good quality work and know the difference.

Practice, Practice, Practice. I'm still learning and evolving as a photographer. I don't want to be in such a rut that photography is not fun any more or that all of my clients have the same pose with the same prop on their walls. Every session is custom and I wouldn't have it any other way. I still love photography as much as I did when I was in third grade. I'm still excited to get my prints back from the lab. To keep up the fun, I schedule at least one experimental session just for me each month.

Keep shooting and love the art of it!
~jamie

Taking better photos

Do you want to learn how your camera works? Are you interested in taking better photos? I will teach a beginners class on outdoor photography. I will give you tips and tricks to taking better photos and try to explain your cameras functions, options and limitations. It is important to know what you can and cannot do with your camera. Knowledge is power. In order to give class participants individual attention, I am limiting the class to 10 people. It is on a first come first serve basis.

May 3 is the date and the location will be determined at a later.

Leave a comment here or send me an email. Take care and happy shooting!
~J

PS There are two requirements. One you read your camera manual. Two you have to bring it with you. I am not familiar with every camera on the market and I may need to refer to the manual to learn how to change functions and so on. To be honest I carry my own camera manual in my camera bag still!

Lab recomendations

I have used Mpix.com in the past and I have always been pleased with the results. Their prints do resist fading for 100+ years. They are fast and easy to use. I have had a few printing issues in the past, but they were taken care of promptly and politely. Their metallic paper is fantastic. It looks beautiful in person. Sign up for an account and try them out!

Be sure you own the copy rights or print rights to the images you are having printed. Basically if you took the photo it is ok for you to print. If a family or friend took the photo you need permission and the same with professional portraits. I know wedding photographers who give their clients a CD of all of the images along with a print right release.

mpix.com

Jamie
586-855-6549

PS I just wanted to clairify, this is not the lab I use for my professional fine portrait art prints. I use a lab that is geared towards professional photographers, my monitor is calbrated to, can print larger items and has more of the varitey that I need. Just an FYI!

Lesson 2 - Blurry photos, Camera Settings and Printing!

Well it's time for a new lesson! The biggest complaint from amature photographers is blurry pictures. There are a few reasons blurry photos happen. Without getting into too much detail, but giving you the correct information, I will try to help. As I'm explaining this I will also be talking about different functions on your camera.

First reason for blurry photos can be a fast child. If your little one won't sit still to have their picture taken, try using the setting with a running man on it. This setting is usually used for sporting events and also to stop action.

Reason #2 for blurry photos is something called shutter lag. Lots of cameras, especially digital have a feature called auto focus. This means you do not need to worry about adjust your lens to make sure your focus is correct, your camera will do it for you. Great, right? Well of course it is. The problem happens when you press the shutter button (the button that takes the picture) all the way down at once, your camera is doing a lot of automatic things at one time. It checks the over all exposure, the shutter speed, the ISO, the focal length, the aperture and then the focus. To avoid this, depress the shutter button 1/2 way. Your focus point should turn a different color (some cameras from blue to red). By doing this the camera will set everything up and lock in your focus point. Keep the button depressed 1/2 way and when the time is right press the button down the rest of the way.

Reason #3 for blurry photos can be the lighting is too dark. Sometimes this happens in a gym at a basketball game or even inside your own home. Open your drapes or turn on an extra light or you can always use your flash.

It may not be a fun task, but read your camera manual! It holds tons of information and I bet there are functions on your camera you don't even know you have. It is a helpful source of information. I keep mine in my camera bag at all times. You never know when you might just need it.

While you are catching up on your reading do not skip the section on the different settings that are available. Most people leave their camera in full automatic every time they shoot. Take you kids for a walk and try out different settings. See what the settings do to your images. You might just like it better and it gives you more control over a particular situation. ex. blurry photo because of fast kiddos (remember to try the running man setting). You can always move your dial right back if you don't like it! *One tip I will give you while trying different settings is to check your results often and do not try this at an important event. Try it out on an everyday ocasion. You don't want to miss a once in a lifetime moment.

One last thing I wanted to bring up professional photo lab vs. 1 hour printing. Printing in your home with your computer ink jet or the small photo printers and also with the one hour printing has it's benefits I love instant gratification just as much as the next person, but there are also some major draw backs as well. Not all, but lots of the one hour places use printers and inks that will only last for 20 years. They will discolor. I'm sure you have old photos from the 70's and early 80's that are completely orange. 20 years might seem like a long time and it is if these photos are things you will be giving away or something you are not intending on putting in an album or keepsake box. If these are the images of your children, you want them to have photos when they become adults. You do not want their baby albums filled with orange images or even worse. No one know exactly what will happen to these images only that they will not last.

Getting your photos printed at a professional photo lab will ensure your photos to last 100+ years. You may be thinking pro labs come with high dollar price tag... Not necessarily true! You just might have to wait an extra day or two to get your images, but the price will be the same or even less in some cases. Isn't it worth your child's childhood memories? I will check out some pro labs that you can use and you can see for yourself. I will post a link in just a few days.

If there is a topic you would like covered or if you have specific questions, please leave a comment and I'll be sure to answer them. Also click the word lesson at the bottom to see previous topics. Take care and I hope this was helpful!
Jamie Fodale
586-855-6549

Lesson 1

I love photography, always have, always will. I read tons of information, work with other photographers, try new techniques, view a variety of artists work, schedule fun/creative sessions and I just really want to create the best art I can. Life is art and I want to capture it. For me the more I read, learn, practice and have my camera in my hand, the better I'll be.

I know I can't follow you around everywhere with my camera and my knowledge, but I do want to help you take better photos of your everyday life. Here are a few simple steps in helping you do that.


1. Yes I do own a nice camera, but it doesn't take the photo by itself. It needs me!

You don't have to spend $XXX on a new camera to get a nice photo. Use what you have, follow these steps and I promise your images will start looking better. No fancy camera needed!

2. Try to clear clutter out of the frame of your image.

Take a look around my house on a regular basis and of course there will be toys laying here or the quilt my boys dragged off of their bed for the 7th time there.
If you are trying to capture the moment - it's perfect! Capture the moment!

If you are trying a more posed photo use a plain sheet, or a painted wall, a headboard or the back of your sofa. Pull your sofa away from the wall, have the child sit in front of the back of the sofa and start snapping!

3. Don't be afraid.

If you are using digital, snap away! You don't have to print every image. Try creative angles, fun poses and let your child have a little say. If they feel involved, you're more likely to get better results. If he wants you to take a photo of him making a funny face - TAKE ONE! Show him and now it's back to your turn of "picking" a pose. If your daughter wants her favorite teddy bear in the photo, let her! She will be more cooperative and one day she will not have the bear, but will look back at that photo and smile.

4. Not every picture is perfect.

It's ok if it didn't turn out just how you in visioned. You can save photos that are not perfect. Just think of the photos you have of your childhood. Don't you like seeing your favorite toy on the ground or how big your sibling was compared to you or the hair cut you had to have after you tried to do it yourself? Our children grow up way too fast. These moments are fleeting. Capture them!

5. Last, but not least... HAVE FUN!

If your child is not in the mood, don't try to force it. Give them a 20 minute break or try a compromise. Let them select a favorite accessory or even a dress up outfit. Treats work too! You just never know when you're going to get your all time favorite photo.


Well that is the end of the first lesson. I hope to post new tips and tricks like this at least once a month. Please let me know what you thought was helpful and also what wasn't so helpful. If you are interested in learning something in particular, please let me know that too.

Enjoy and Happy Snapping!
Jamie