Clued Up with Maria B: The Behind-The-Scenes Photography Podcast

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In Episode 6, I take you behind the scenes from the day of my first conversation with my client to the day of her photo shoot. In this episode you'll hear intimate details of this process from our first discussion through details related to getting the shoot set up in the studio. You'll get the low-down on what happened, what should have happened, and what should have happened better. You're getting the real deal as to what happens when you manage the different aspects to make a photo shoot happen and to make it an enjoyable quality experience for your client, your team, and for yourself. As an extra bonus, the Show Notes contain images from the shoot so you can hear and see what goes on BTS.

Click here for the Show Notes.

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity. 

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Episode 5. If you want better photographs the 2 tools we talk about in this episode will get you there so much faster. These 2 tools, the X-rite color checker and the light meter, are essential for accurate colors, white balance, and desired lighting in your portrait photography. For all the money photographers spend on gear, presets, videos, webinars , and tutorials, and for all the time she dedicate to learning to take better photos, it makes sense to invest in tools and gear that really make a difference and make things easier. Not only do these 2 tools improve the photoshoot by saving time and reducing in-camera adjustments, but they help to decrease post processing time because white balance, light power, and color are accurate. These tools also help you save money if you send your photos out for professional retouching and your retoucher bills based on time and or includes a fee for white balance adjustments. 

While each one of these represents a significant step in taking professional grade images, the combination of the two will be something you consider indispensable once you realize the power and significance of having and using them both.  

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity. 

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Episode 4. In this week's episode we dive into why it's critical for photographers to do their homework when it comes to shooting at venues and especially when shooting at houses of worship. We talk about how to avoid becoming a disruptor by knowing the rules. We also talk about the need for awareness of guidelines, permits, and required permissions, when shooting outdoors from local parks to world famous sites, and photographing in front of private property and business establishments. It's not always as clearcut as it seems!

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity. 

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Episode 3. One day, as organized and as thorough as you may be, you're going to find yourself short of an SD card. On that day, you'll be happy you listened to this episode. 

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity. 

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Episode 2. In this episode we talk about several different ways to find the right model for your photoshoot including traditional methods such as:

• Friends and family
• Professional modeling schools 
• Modeling agencies  

Then we move to the power of social media that provides the potential for rapid response and the ability to view several profiles in a short amount of time:

• Instagram 
• Facebook

And finally online modeling services such as:

• Model Mayhem
• One Model Place
• Model Management

 We also talk about the model release (look for templates online instead of creating yours from scratch and see the Episode website for the Easy Release App), why it's important and the different methods of compensating models as well as the need to treat models professionally and compensate them appropriately. 

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity. 

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Episode #1. Welcome to Clued Up with Maria B: The BTS Photography Podcast. In this episode I introduce you to the 5 Pillars to building Quality Portrait Photoshoots that will influence what goes on BTS before you ever hit the shutter and will not only change but elevate your photography. 

If you’re like most photographers you’ve spent a lot of money and a lot time trying to improve your photography. We all have. Most well-known photographers will tell you what you’re about to learn here, only it’s not going to take you as long to learn it: The secret to great photos lies in preparation. It’s everything that goes on behind the scenes that elevates the best photographers and will elevate your photography:

In this episode I define the 5 Pillars to a Quality Photoshoot: 

• CORT-Consistency, Organization, Redundancy, and Time
• Mapping Your Photoshoot and Workflow
• Skill: Technical Skills and People Skills
• Business
• Growth

We begin by talking about a subtopic of one of the Pillars.  That Pillar is Skill and the subtopic is People Skills, specifically communication. We talk about the importance and the reasons for good communication with clients, collaborators, and businesses, and the pitfalls of poor communication. 

We also talk about your role as photographer and as a director and the critical importance of gaining and remaining in control of your set be it a studio or on location. We also chat about professionalism and maintaining connections.

Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and anywhere you get your podcasts. By doing so you not only support the podcast but you help other listeners interested in this topic to find it. 

Apps Mentioned in this week's episode:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sol-sun-clock/id491537291
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/plotboard-moodboard-album/id1464761583

Subscription Calendar:
https://acuityscheduling.com/#gref
https://calendly.com/

Photographer Jerry Ghionis
https://www.jerryghionisphotography.com

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity. 

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How do you take better photos? How do you elevate your photography? If you read most articles, listen to photography podcasts, watch a lot Youtube videos, and you’ve attended numerous workshops and conferences, you’ve probably tried lots of techniques, different lights and lighting set ups, purchased a plethora of gear, software, and apps, or taken to the extreme, you’ve changed camera systems. And are your photos really that much better? 

What if I told you that the secret to better photos isn’t in the latest gear or the latest preset? The secret to better photos is everything that goes on before the first time you click the shutter. 

Let me teach you how to build quality photoshoots and have a better photoshoot experience using These 5 Pillars to a Better Photoshoot:

• CORT-Consistency, Organization, Redundancy, and Time
• Photoshoot Mapping and Workflow
• Skills-Technical and People Skills
• Business
• Growth

These 5 Pillars will have you walking into any photoshoot, any set, any location, any event with confidence. These 5 Pillars have taken me from shy, reserved, ladened with self-doubt and denying myself opportunities, to a determined, self-assured, on-set problem solver who welcomes challenges. 

I’m Maria. I specialize in Portrait and Headshot Photography. My portraits are magazine-style contemporary photos that allow my clients to be photographed the way they want to be seen by the rest of the world. That means working with MUAs, hairstylists, as well as my clients. It means learning to collaborate and to direct. Using these 5 Pillars has changed my confidence and my ability to interact with clients, collaborators, colleagues, and businesses. These changes have lead me to expand my portfolio to engagement, maternity, and family photography.

I know Getting Clued Up to the 5 Pillars and to what has to go on behind the scenes in order to produce quality photoshoot experiences for you and your client will elevate your photography. So So join me every Tuesday to get Clued Up and we’ll also have some special guest-photographers, MUAs, models, and more. 

PS: I’ll be throwing in some surprise BTS bonus tips every so often. 

You can check out the Clued Up blog at www.cluedupBTS.com  and follow the show on Instagram at @CluedUpBTS. 

Questions or Comments? Reach out at [email protected] and I'll be in touch* directly or address your comment on the podcast.









*By submitting a question or statement, you agree that your submission can be discussed publicly on the podcast, website, or other platforms owned by or affiliated with CluedUpBTS and its parent company, HeadshotNJ, and affiliate company Maria B Photography Studio. while retaining your anonymity.