Portrait Session: The Photography Podcast for Portrait Photographers

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

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?

Erica and Connor talk about their preferred light modifiers in a variety of photographic situations.

What is your Overall favorite modifier and why?

Do you have a specific brand you love?

Favorite Modifier to go out on a location with?

Erica & Connor talk about their recent experiences producing styled shoots and major campaigns, and share their tips for successful shoots.

Erica’s most recent production

Hanga

55 unique photos and videos

Production manager and photographer

Connor’s most recent styled shoot

Styled Shoot for Course Composite

Starting work on a series of personal projects to push myself to incorporate more and more into my productions. Will likely blog about it.

Why is Pre-production important? Is it really worth doing?

Pre-production tips

Concept brainstorming session

Concept

Script

Characters

Needs

Locations, sets, talent, props, wardrobe, stylists, HMUA, etc.

Organization

Workflows to help you keep track of things

Timelines

Communication with others involved

Day of shoot agenda & responsibilities

Production tips

Keep people happy

Food, drinks, music, etc.

Consider bringing someone to keep track of everyone and everything

Set lights and test everything before shoot begins

Erica and Connor talk with Michael Sasser about the value of adding video as a marketing tool along with his tips on how to do so to maximize its effects.

Connor and Erica share their advice for new portrait photographers.

Get out and shoot, but shoot with specific goals in mind.

If it doesn’t look the way you want it out of camera, you’re not going to get it that way in Post.

Look at other photographers for inspiration and study, but DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO THEM!!

College can be helpful for many people, but it is by NO means the only way to learn photography.

Your gear DOES NOT make you a better photographer. Understanding your gear does.

Don’t spend money on upgrading your gear unless you actually see the limitations your current gear is putting on you.

When it is time to upgrade gear, get the best you can afford, but do your research first. Often times the second best in a line is all you will ever need.

Take the time early on to learn how to light with OCF. Even if you want to shoot ambient light, it will make it MUCH easier to understand how to get flattering light if you understand how to manipulate it.

Learn manual as opposed to TTL

This is frustrating and hard sometimes. There are days that even the top professionals will feel like things aren’t coming out well.

Your money is often times much better spent on education than gear. This can be through any number of platforms and can look like a lot of things. Sure, you may be able to learn everything for free eventually, but paying for educational materials/workshops/mentorships often times provides higher quality results and much more rapid learning experiences.

Stop saying you’re self taught. You were likely taught by the industry’s top professionals.

Study Business and marketing.

Stop taking advice of people that know better than you half heartedly and feeling like you know better. You probably don’t.

Erica and Connor share their tips and tricks for posing women.

For more in depth advice for posing women, be sure to check out Erica’s training video on Improve Photography Plus!

Focus on curves

Work from the bottom up for a basic pose

Angle

Foot placement

Knees

Weight in back hip

Arms/elbows

Hands

Neck/shoulders

Chin

Using things to hide imperfections

Arms

Depth of field

Light and shadows

Connor and Erica Discuss Nightmare clients, The importance of studying painters, and answer questions Nightmare clients: Keep a lookout for telltale signs you have someone more trouble than they are worth and have the confidence to tell them no! Studying Painters  Connor: I have been studying and love the work of Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, and ...