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Joined again by Tracey Clarkson, we look at a forthcoming 10-week series for brand new photographers. 

These are planned to be shorter than normal Tog-Talks (around 10-15 mins) and are a basic introduction to photography, without getting too complicated.

Starting next week the first episode will be looking at digital cameras.  Make sure you click the follow button to ensure you don't miss a single episode.


Which Lens would you Pick?
The main topic for conversation today is about picking our top three favourite lenses.  If you could only pick three lenses, just three... to last you for the rest of your life, what would they be? 

There were some surprising similarities between Kevin's and Tracey's choices, and then it turns out they share a mutual dislike of one particular lens.  You'll have to listen to the episode to find out what it is.  It may surprise you.


Some links from the discussion:

Introduction To Photography (1-day Workshop)
This one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer !

Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.


Photography Assessment Tool:
Use this online tool to assess your photography knowledge and get a snapshot of your strengths and weaknesses.




Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.


Free Viewfinder Workshops:
2 hour workshops, completely free, every month.  We invite photographers of all levels, from complete beginners - upwards.  The only stipulation:  invitations are limited to people we have never met on any of previous workshop.  If you're new to us, then we'd love to see you.

Other useful links:

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Having shot weddings for the last 12 years, I've kinda lost that sense of terror when I'm asked to shoot another one.  But I remember my first wedding: a combined sense of wonder and an uncontrollable rush of adrenaline.  Excitement and panic, all in one.

When you get asked
I regularly meet students who have been asked by friends or family to photograph their wedding. 

One the one hand it's a tremendous privilege to be asked.  To think that someone likes and trusts your work enough, that they would ask you to photograph what is probably the most important day of their lives.

On the other hand, few photography jobs I know, fill an inexperienced photographer with more sense of dread.  Possibly the word 'Terror' is more apt. 

Most photographers are terrified of missing the most important shots of the day, they hate the idea of having to organise wedding guests into the group shots (called 'Formals') and are they sufficiently competent with their camera to ensure they can handle the pressure. 

Deciding to shoot a wedding can be a real test of metal.

There's no doubt about it, the learning experience is invaluable... it's just that few photographers would want to use the wedding as a learning tool. 

Today's Tog-Talk content
In this Tog-Talk, we initially look at the discipline of 365 day photography.  Shooting one photo every day for a year is something this week's guest, Forbes Johnston, has been doing for the last three years.  He unpacks some of his thoughts.

The main part of the show though is looking at the wedding question discussed above.  We covered a lot of ground with loads and loads of really practical tips to help you on your first wedding.

Some links from the discussion:

Used gear
WEX Photo & Video
MPB
Park Cameras

Online Galleries for clients
Shootproof

Take a photo every day for a year
365 Photo Project


Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Photography Assessment Tool:
Test your knowledge

Website: gohsp.com

Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Inner Circle; the title alone suggests an exclusive group.  An elite, crack-troupe of hand-picked photographers who disciple under my mentorship.   

The reality is far more down to earth. 

They are in fact a small group of amateur photographers who want something beyond what most traditional photography workshops and course can offer.  They don’t want discussions about the rule of thirds or which buttons to press on their cameras.  What they’re  seeking is far deeper, far more challenging and far more left field.

It’s more about developing photography as a sixth-sense, so that making photographs is instinctive, something that comes from lack of fear and an openness to experiment. 

My early thoughts
I originally conceived Inner Circle as a place where graduates from my Photography Masterclass  would go ,once the course was complete.  During their year together they would have learned an enormous amount about a wide range of photography genres.  They would have made some great friends along the way and got used to monthly assignments to keep them focused and motivated.  Many of them were asking for something more, something to progress onto... once Masterclass ended.

Inner Circle was born

This week’s Tog-Talk is a fascinating insight into what actually goes on inside the Inner Circle group.  I am joined by two students who are halfway through their Inner Circle year…  Nige Ward and Russ Clark.  The guys talk openly and honestly about their experiences so far and what they have discovered, not only about how the group operates… but also how they have grown from the experience.


Want to find out more?
Our second Inner Circle group starts on 12 March (2022) and at the time of writing this, there is still one place free.

To read more about Inner Circle here’s a couple of links.  The first is the webpage and the second is a more detailed description on my blog: the Photography Teacher.

However, you will get the best feel for Inner Circle by listening to Nige and Russ in this week’s episode of Tog-Talk.


Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Not entirely true… when I became a photographer, many of the things covered in this discussion weren’t even invented.  But for today’s photographers, I know for certain these are really helpful tips because I am constantly finding myself talking to my students about them.

Photography can be complex and the learning process can be very hit or miss when you’re self-taught.  Obviously my students have the benefit of learning from someone who has spent years (decades) making all the mistakes possible… so that they don’t have to.  If only there had been a Hampshire School of Photography when I first started, I could have saved me years of trial and error (and a lot of pain!).

So the ten things we look at in this episode will speed up your learning curve considerably.  Learning on your own doesn’t have to be as painful and frustrating as it was for me.  Let us help take away some of that learning pain from you.

Listen and take notes as I am joined by Tracey Clarkson and Forbes Johnston for Episode number 10 of Tog-Talk


The Tog-Talk website has all our podcast plus more details about guests with photos and links to other exciting information: tog-talk.com



This link will take you to the Photography Assessment Tool we talked about in this episode:
Test your knowledge

Other useful links:
Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on either of these addresses:
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

Office Tel:  01252 613265

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 9: Photography, it’s not all about the gear… is it?


I confess, I am a bit of a gear-head. 

Over the years I have collected lots of cameras, lenses, filters, accessories and loads and loads of lighting gear.  Prior to the COVID pandemic I would upgrade my camera every time a new model come out, convinced I needed the latest technology to take the best photos.

If one good thing came out of lockdown for me, it was the forced restraint on my spending.  Like most people running their own business, we were closed (or at least working under reduced numbers) for nearly two years.  My own situation was made worse as I went through cancer treatment during the summer of 2021, extending my period of isolation.

Here we are in February 2022 and things are showing signs of returning to normal (mindful that should another COVID variant be discovered, this could all change in a heartbeat).

Remaining optimistic, I am relaunching the Tog-Talk podcast exactly two years after the last one was first broadcast.  Tog-Talk (photographers in conversation) will engage photographers of all types and all levels of experience (not just the experts, but ordinary amateurs too… who also have valuable experiences to share). 

Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on either of these addresses:
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

Office Tel:  01252 613265

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Having Matthew Williams on this episode of Tog Talk was a double whammy for me.  Not only is he a keen wildlife photographer, but he's also the brains behind the Hampshire School of Photography (HSP) website. 

Matt talks to me about some of the innovative ideas behind our online photography assessment tool and the new Portfolio Suite for show-casing our students' work.  He's also got some great stories about his experiences out in the field photographing kingfishers, brown hares and white-tailed sea eagles.

Matthew Williams website

Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Andy Teo ( otherwise known to many as Photocillin), is a highly talented photographer specialising in fashion style photography and, more recently, has had a great deal of success working with musicians, shooting concerts, backstage and album covers.

In this edition of Tog Talk, Andy talks about his experience shooting models and musicians with some great tips for photographers who would like to get into this kind of work.

I promised to post links for some go Andy's work. Try these out.

500px (over 13,000 followers)
Photocillin Photography - incredible images

Purpleport
Some of Photocillin's stunning model images.  Purple Port is a great source of models too.

Flickr (over 4000 followers) It's Flickr, say no more

Instagram (over 2000 followers)

Facebook (over 1500 followers)

Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

In this week's Tog Talk I address the subject of how to take tack-sharp photos.

One of the most common complaints I hear from new camera owners is that their photos just aren't sharp enough.  You'd think that when someone spends hundreds of pounds (sometimes thousands) on a high quality camera, the resulting photos would at least be nice and sharp. 

If only.

Avoiding blurred images is not just about knowing how to focus your lens, there are lots of other things to consider. 

Further explanation
To help you better understand some of the issues discussed, check out my blog, The Photography Teacher

• Avoid Blurry Photos Part.1
• Avoid Blurry Photos Part.2
• Avoid Blurry Photos Part.3

Want to master your camera?
If you found this week's Tog Talk interesting and you're now feeling inspired to improve your own photography, why now register for our next Introduction To Photography one-day workshop. 

We run this four times a year, it's immensely popular as a photography foundation course, laying down strong foundations upon which to build your photographic journey.

Click here for more details

Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

Tog Talk this week meets with Trish, a young lady from India who I've been mentoring for the last six months.  She has a great sense of humour and she absolutely loved watching my reaction when she brought in two really great questions.

1. Which type of camera would I recommend to a photographer - a crop frame mirrorless or a full frame DSLR?
2. When planning a concept photograph, what comes first, the location or the concept?

During the conversation, a couple of photos were referred to:

Photoshoot with Zoe and the leaf
Photoshoot with girl and the lamp


One day workshop
To find more out about the 'Introduction To Photography' one-day workshop, click here

Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/

Send us Fan Mail

We sponsored an evening recently with a bunch of photographers who are currently working as professionals, semi-professionals and a few others the were thinking of going pro.

In 2020 we are planning to start a one-year course for professionals who want to improve both their photography skills and also their business skills.  The conversations that took place were quite insightful as we listened to what was on their minds.

I was surprised to hear about many of the fears most of them shared and this podcast looks into those fears, offering insights from my own experiences over the last few decades.

At the end I briefly talk about a one-day workshop I'm running in February for anyone who seriously wants to understand their camera and take control of it.  So many camera-owners are still shooting in AUTO mode and would love to break free.

Check out Introduction To Photography at http://bit.ly/HSP-ITPFEB01


Hampshire School of Photography (HSP)
Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.

Its wide ranging curriculum teaches photography to enthusiasts at all levels - from complete beginners and advanced amateurs, through to those who want to go professional.

It does this through workshops and year-long courses that provide solid foundations in (amongst other things): photography theory, composition, portrait & landscape photography, working with flash, macro photography and editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.  Some of our courses go even deeper… to stretch students with challenging assignments, forcing them out of their comfort zones.

Founder of HSP, Kevin Ahronson, also offers private mentoring to a small number of people each year, as his busy schedule allows

Check out our website for more information about courses, all of which are run at our training centre.

Website: gohsp.com

Test your knowledge
Free Viewfinder Workshops

Blog:  The Photography Teacher
Facebook: Hampshire School of Photography

Contact us on email: [email protected]

Got a Photography Question?

If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/

Looking for courses

Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:

https://www.hampshirephotoschool.com

Hampshire Photography Network

A free Facebook group for amateur photographers who want to connect, collaborate and grow together.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222685165227144

Contact me

You can contact me by leaving a message via this link: https://www.tog-talk.com/contact/