Photographer FAQs

YOUR PHOTOS HAVE A REALLY COOL/FUNKY/WEIRD FINISH TO THEM. HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

I love Photoshop and do a fair bit of post-production on my images. To save time, I use Photoshop Actions of many different kinds to achieve the different “looks” that my photos have. (If you have no idea what an “action” is, just google “Photoshop Actions” and prepare to be amazed.) I’ve found DeviantArt to be one of the best sources for a variety of free PS tools.

CAN I COME AND OBSERVE ONE OF YOUR SHOOTS?

You bet! But you have to be patient, I have a waiting list. Just drop me a note and let me know what type of shoot specifically interests you and I’ll be sure to get you in somewhere.

CAN WE DO COFFEE/LUNCH/DINNER SO THAT I CAN PICK YOUR BRAIN?

Probably not. Sorry! Just not the time there in my schedule for it. But hey! Send me an email with your questions and I’ll try and answer the best I can.

WHERE DO YOU FIND ALL YOUR MODELS, MAKE-UP ARTISTS, HAIR STYLISTS, ETC?

I’ve found Model Mayhem, though it is not for the weak of heart, to be an excellent networking tool. If you can get past the silliness and some incredibly raunchy imagery that lacks any finesse, you can make some great contacts. Just remember to take it all with a grain of salt.

The longer you’re working as a photographer, the more people you’ll meet, so finding people to work should get easier the further along you go.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME GOOD WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES I CAN ATTEND TO FURTHER MY DEVELOPMENT AS A PHOTOGRAPHER?

Absolutely! Zack Arias’ One Light Workshop is an excellent introduction to off-camera lighting for those of you who want to learn more about it, but are intimidated by all that’s involved. For those of you who have some basic knowledge of off-camera lighting and want to further your education, David Tejada’s Small Strobes; Big Results workshop is fantastic! I also strongly encourage you to attend at least once, Photoshop World, PDN’s Photo Plus Expo and if you’re a wedding photographer WPPI’s annual conference. Of course, nothing is better education than just getting out your camera and shooting, shooting, shooting!

I WANT TO GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY, WHAT CAMERA SHOULD I BUY?

Let me begin by saying that when you’re starting out, and by starting out, I mean the first 1-3 years of you shooting consistently, it really does not matter which camera you get as long as it has a manual setting and an instruction guide that you will study like your life depended on it. Yes, an SLR camera is preferable to a point and shoot, but when there are some amazing images coming out of people’s phones, I dare say as long as it has a lens and it’s portable enough for you to bring everywhere, pretty much any digital camera can get the job done. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a better, more expensive camera equals better images, but the fact is that learning how to compose an image and how to use available light and how to “see” through the lens are skills that need to be acquired before you drop big $$ on equipment.

If you’re to the point where you’re having the Canon vs. Nikon debate, I say go with whatever your friends/mentors have – that way, if you have questions about the camera or perhaps want to experiment with a lens before buying it, you’ll have input from sources you trust and an opportunity for hands-on experimentation. I shoot Canon, but am not prejudiced against Nikon at all – both companies make great equipment. The only people I know who are really passionate about one or the other and will argue the merits of their chosen brand are total geeks (and I say that affectionately) and know waaaay too much about the equipment…stuff that I personally don’t think makes any difference when it comes to making powerful, compelling images.

Naturally, as you progress in your journey as a photographer, equipment quality does become more important, especially if your work is going to be reproduced on a large scale, but by the time you get to that point, you’ll probably have a really good idea of what you need.