The Beginner Photography Podcast

Todays Question: Is there really a big difference between a cheap tripod and an expensive tripod? I'm wanting to get into shooting water and stars, so a tripod is a necessity. I've been looking at reviews and videos which have made me wary of anything under $70 but I still am having a hard time justifying a tripod in the $150­-200 range. Any guiding light here? When it comes to buying new gear tripods can be pretty unsexy. Especially compared to that new 135mm f1.8 Sigma Art lens! So spending a lot of money on something you think is unsexy can hurt. But in reality it can be the best money you spend! Shooting a great night shot of the stars or a beaches tides going in and out depend on a stable and sturdy tripod. If you're using a $19 tripod from walmart your $2500 lens wont do any better during a 30" exposure than a $99 lens. Also unlike camera bodies that can be several thousand dollars and you have to replace every few years, a great tripod will last you forever. Multiple decades. So spend the extra money, get a tripod that is light, and will suite your needs and you will be set for life!  Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: I just booked my first paid gig! Ill be shooting 84 pubs around Ireland in just 4 days! I took your recommendation and bought a flash, do you have any tips to using it indoors where the lights are always changing? This is quite an incredible first paid gig! When using flash in a real estate type fashion there are a few things to keep in mind. Ask yourself "What makes this location unique" because that is what will make people come to that pub over any others. Then get your camera low and use a wide angle lens to take in as much as possible. Pubs are dark to begin with so don't try to over expose the shot to make it look bright warm and inviting. Under expose the photos to the point that it looks natural to your eye. Then take your flash off the camera and point it right at whatever you determined made that location unique. Use a very low power. You would rather have people wonder if you used the flash in your shot rather than forcing it down their necks.  Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: How do you deal with a bad client? When you get home from a shoot and think you did a great job and are excited to show the photos to the client and they email you back to tell you they don't like the photos, it can be crushing. Naturally you will want to lash out emotionally. How dare they talk down on your art! That may not be the case though. I had a couple who's engagement session I think I crushed! And when I send them the photos, they took a week to reply back "We don't really like them" I was so hurt, I didn't know what to think. Whats important here is that I didn't reply back immediately. I took 24 hours to collect myself figure out what I was going to say. I wanted to know WHY they didn't like them. Was it my style? Was it my editing? was it my lighting? Nope... they just wanted more photos of them looking at them camera and smiling. THAT was something I could fix. I had meet them again 1 week later to reshoot their engagements this time I got what they asked for and more. They loved the photos and even referred another couple to me to shoot their wedding. All because I took the time to figure out the problem rather than act out emotionally.  Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: My least favorite part of photography is posing people. Im the worst! What do people do with their hands!? Help! Posing people is every beginners biggest pain point. Posing people feels awkward and unnatural. But looking at posing from a different perspective can really make it more enjoyable. Your subjects are not in a painting, they are in a photograph. They can move and you can still capture a photo unlike posing someone to prepare them to paint. So let them move, give them direction. Tell one of them to whisper something they are proud of the other one for so you can get their reaction, their smile, their laugh. Have them walk hand in hand toward the camera while they point out as many birds that they can count in the sky. Once you nail direction down you wont have to spend as much attention to posing the couple. Your photos will feel more natural and filled with emotion.    Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: I can't afford a camera but I really want to get into photography.  Photography can be an expensive hobby but great news, you don't need the latest and greatest camera to take great photos! Today cameras are everywhere. My favorite camera that I ever owned wad my iPhone 3g. It was a terrible, no good, very bad camera, and I loved it. It had so many limitations and was absolute garbage after dark but having to work within those limitations forced me to think differently about photography. So when the time came that I got a proper DSLR I was already 10 steps ahead of where I would have been if I had not practiced with my phone. I would recommend going to good will or a thrift store and to buy the old used $2 35mm film camera in the back but if you can't focus on using your smart phone. No matter how bad it is, its better than you think! Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: Whats The Number One Tip You Can Give To Someone Who Wants To Shoot Weddings. Making the decision that you want to start shooting weddings can be exciting. Getting paid to hang out with people on the happiest day of their life while you get to do your favorite passion photography. The next step is figuring out how you're going to find someone who will let you shoot their wedding even though you have no experience. You want to make sure you do it right. Should you charge a small fee to shoot their wedding and then like a shady used car salesman hold their wedding photos hostage for another $1000? Or do you have the clients best interests in mind? Always be thinking about the customer experience and how you can improve it! Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

#54 Dan Biggins is a UK based Kent Wedding Photographer. He shares some tips for photographers looking to transition out of just being a hobbiest, why making mistakes can be the best way to learn and grow your photography, and how he is using facebook ads to find new clients. In this episode you will learn:  Dan's favorite kind of cake Where Dan shoots weddings Why Dans About Me page on his website has no mention of a camera Why Dan tries to add as much personality on his website as possible Why and how Dan tries to turn away potential clients Why Dan recommends trying to second shoot with other wedding photographers How Facebook Ads kickstarted Dans business What Dan did to progress his knowledge of photography One of my biggest photography mistakes  How Dan handles a session if the photos are not working out How Dan uses Facebook ads to book more weddings Why Dan loves to make photography mistakes Some differences between Weddings in the US vs weddings in the UK Dans favorite piece of camera gear CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NEW BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHY PODCAST LISTENER FACEBOOK GROUP! Resources: Dan's website Dan's Facebook Dan's Instagram Matt Druin's Interview Destination Wedding Photographer Matt Druin's Website Linda Baca Photography Canon 400D Brett Harkness Damien Lovegrove Photography Workshops Mastin Labs film presets Sigma 35mm 1.4 art   Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

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Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

Todays Question: What's The Future Of Photography The first 100 years of photography were kind of stagnant. The past 20 years in photography is exploded. Cameras are going everywhere and the quality of the cameras are getting better as well. No longer can you just take a photo of your delicious maple bacon cupcake like you could have 5 years ago, now people want videos like Tastys who show you how you can make a delicious maple bacon cupcake at home, quick! People want to be more immersed in an experience. I think the future of photography is whatever will give the consumer the best experience. Right now 360 photos and video are on the edge. Within 24 months I think we will have the resolution needed to really create an incredible experience.   Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: Photography is mainly a hobby for me, a few months ago I photographed a family for a discount because they were family friends. They referred another family to me that I don't know. Should I still offer them the same discount? When I shot my first wedding, I shot it for a very low cost just to get my foot in the door and grow my portfolio. That couples loved my photos and told their engaged friends about me and that I was very low cost. So when their friends came to me, I had to make the decision to offer their friends the discounted rate or stick to my guns and charge them my current pricing. I figured if I didn't charge my current pricing which had gone up a good bit, then I would be stuck shooting $700 weddings forever and there is no way to grow when you shoot for that cheap. I held my ground and therefore lost some potential clients but the amount I have grown my business is far greater than what I lost in the beginning.  Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]

Todays Question: I'm a wedding photographer, whats the best way to get on a preferred vendors list?  Getting on a preferred vendors list as a wedding photographer can be a great way to build relationships with other businesses in your industry. When a couple books a venue, the venue gives the couple a list of vendors who they have worked with and trust. Getting on that list can put you in front of a lot of brides and is a great marketing strategy. To get on these venues lists, the best way to do it is by being genuinely interested and into their business. When you love what they do they will be more receptive to working with you. Ask to take a few photos so you can post them on your website. When edited, email those photos to the venue. Let them know they can use them in any print or advertising they would like, and you would enjoying working with them in the future.    Check out more at www.BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Have A Question? Reach out to us on social Facebook: www.Facebook.com/BeginnerPhotographyPodcast.com Instagram: www.Instagtam.com/BeginnerPhotoPodcast Or Email us at: [email protected]