June 5, 2010

7

Gavin Seim, HDR Photography, news, Photography Podcast, PPS Photography Tips, Pro Photo Show Podcast, ProPhotoShow

Pro Photo Podcast #69 – Mastering the Craft:

Click To Listen>> Photography Podcast. PPS #69
Review in iTunes – Vote on Podcast Alley – Direct Podcast Feed

Two After the Storm. Mentioned on this episode, Gavin caught this image using his E-PL1 with a 20mm 1.7 lens. The detail and quality would be easily adaptable for a 30-40 inch canvas. Processing was done using LR and the Pickles Preset from Color Fantasies.

Today’s Host... Gavin Seim. This week Gavin look at news, the new rangefinder, Photo CS5, stolen images, education and studying, focus ideas and more.

Podcast #69 forum discussion:

Notable Time Indexes:

  • 00:00 Introductions and news
  • 09:02 Photoshop CS5
  • 19:23 Gavin’s W0rkshops
  • 23:00 Stolen Photo (see notes for link).
  • 32:37 Mastering the Craft.
  • 45:30 Talking about focus.**
  • 105:55 Outtakes.

HDR Workshop in Twin Cities MN.

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April 30, 2010

51

Gavin Seim, PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow

JPEG vs RAW – Let's Settle it With a Single Example:

by Gavin Seim. Updated 06/23/12: It’s been a common debate, though much less so as pro’s learn that RAW is a no brainier. I deal with both the JPEG and RAW side quite often because the tools I make on Seim Effects. I’ve seen the value of RAW and once you do there’s no going back. Some photographers that still use JPEG, use a reason like… “I nail my exposure, so there’s no reason for me to use RAW”. I think when this happens it’s one of two things.

  • Showmanship. For some, I think showing everyone how spot on your exposure comes out is a great way to show off when making a presentation. OK I get that, we all like to show our proficiency, but I’d rather not toss away quality on my clients images to get expert points on the minds of my peers.
  • The most common reason however. I think some still have a mental block about RAW and don’t want to address it. I remember being in that spot years back. Somehow the larger files size and RAW data seems daunting. In reality it was not big deal at all. I know because I went thru it. If you’re in this camp just move beyond it and you’ll be glad you did.

This idea is simple and that’s why this article will be short. JPEG tosses out information that you might need later in order to make a smaller file. It keeps that the camera “thinks” it needs. RAW keeps it all. And with today’s direct RAW editing and localized adjustments using software like Lightroom, the power of using RAW data has become crystal clear. Let’s skip the banter however and settle this. I could make up a bunch of examples for you, but this one photo proves my reasoning, so I’ll keep this short.

________________

1: Here is an outdoor wedding scene from a 5D MK2 unedited other than being cropped. Yes it’s a bit under exposed, but had it been correctly exposed I would have lost even more detail in the sky area. Now at a glace, this photo seems like no matter what we do it will be pretty bland. Lets look.

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April 27, 2010

7

Biz Sense, Gavin Seim, PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow, Web Design

10 Power Tips for Building & Growing Your Facebook Page.


by Gavin Seim. Updated 09/19/11. (Look for 09/11 note in tip titles).

So, you want a wildly popular Facebook page with thousands of screaming fans begging you for more?

I may not be able to give you that. But you never know. Seriously though, let me be clear. I have no intention of writing about how you can triple your fans overnight and make $4k a month in your spare time, while eating Cheetos and drinking beer. This is an in-depth article for anyone (but especially photographers) trying to build a real presence on FB. I’ve spent a lot of time working with pages, and this is nearly everything I’ve learned, all laid out for free.

Facebook Pages can be great tool for any business. They allow us to promote our brand in an interactive way on a venue frequented by a large portion of the population. It’s also free, which is even better. Now FB may not be a big deal five years from now, but today it’s king of the social web, and in business, we go where the customers are.

On the one hand, pages are simple, but their social nuances are what can make them truly effective. Watch for reference links throughout that will help you find your way through FB’s maze of information, starting withinternal help discussions where you can ask specific questions of other users.

Making a FB page successful takes cultivation, kind of like an garden. If you nurture it, it flourishes and produces. But if you ignore or abuse it, it gets sick, dries up, and dies. OK, now that my dramatic food analogy is over, let’s get into the tips. If you don’t already have a page, you can start by making one here. I maintain lots of pages, so feel free to check out any of them for ideas and +Like them if you like what you see.

1. Add Real Value:

Successful Pages are not about SPAM. They’re really about permission marketing (Seth Goden’s book is great for more information on that topic). When someone Fan’s (or +Likes) your page, everything you post to that page will show up in their feed. That person is giving you permission, and that’s VERY valuable. It’s also to be used with caution. If you abuse that permission, fans will learn to ignore, be annoyed with, and or Un-Like you for going overboard. Take the time to make a page with a balance that represents your brand and provides content and information that fans will enjoy. They already like you so the battle is half won. But only half. The rest is in your hands.

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April 12, 2010

4

PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow, Review

Focus on Better Focus. Lens Align Pro Review & Tips:

The Crew. Missing in photo, Larry, Steve and Jon

Focus on Focus. A look at micro focus adjustments and the Lens Align Pro calibration system.

by Barry Howell:  Have you ever found a menu option on your camera that made you wonder, “What’s this”? I found such an option on my Nikon D300 called “AF Fine Tune.” My old-school curiosity sent me on a quest to discover its purpose, and how it could improve image quality. With a few quick Google searches, I found multiple forums and discussions about the importance of calibrating lenses to your DSLR camera bodies.

A recurring theme on the ProPhotoShow.com podcasts, and in other various articles, is how to make your images have more impact. There is no bigger buzz kill for photographers than capturing an image we think will be great, only to find that it’s a little soft. There are many variables we can control to ensure optimal sharpness: shutter speed, depth of field, steadying the camera, etc., and I always assumed that if I focused on the right spot, my images would be tack sharp. Guess what? That isn’t always the case, and I was determined to overcome the problem.

Before contacting Michael Tapes at RawWorkflow, I performed a very un-scientific, but effective test of my AF Fine tune option. I was photographing the MN State Boys Hockey Tournament at the Excel Energy Center, a venue that is well lit for television broadcasts. I very carefully focused my Tamron 300 2.8 lens on some helmets lined up on the boards. The scene had great contrast, I was using a monopod, and I figured could get this image dead on. I zoomed in at 100x on the LCD and it looked pretty good. I then went into the menu and made a +5 adjustment, took another shot, and upon inspection realized I had made it worse. Then, I made a -5 adjustment and the image improved noticeably. I knew then and there that I had to calibrate my optics.

Within a week I’d found such a tool; I obtained a Lens Align Pro Focus Calibration System. I invited several photographer friends for a focus calibration party at my studio and we embarked on a journey to make our gear perform better. In our group were five Nikon shooters and one Canon shooter. Between us, we probably had over $50,000 worth of bodies and glass waiting for a checkup. The results were at times sobering, but every lens, once calibrated, focused better than ever before. The calibration method involves the following steps; it took a little trial and error, but they were pretty easy to do reliably.

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February 9, 2010

3

Biz Sense, Gavin Seim, PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow

11 Killer Marketing Books & Resources for Photographers:

by Gavin Seim: If all you want to do with your photography is buy new gear, go on photo walks, make a few prints and get friends to say “ooh aah”, then that’s Ok and spending all your time learning better photography techniques is fine.

If however you want to be a profit making professional you need to think business. It’s the cold truth, but a known fact that being a successful pro is more about business sense than about art. Sure amazing images turn heads, their great and I love making them too. I’m not saying a photographer should ignore skill building, but most budding artists would be better going to a marketing school while practicing their art, then going to to an art school expecting to graduate and make a profit.

Here’s some things I’ve found to get my business mind thinking (share your own favorites in the comments). Some of these are books and some are free resources. Try making a commitment to getting into at least three of them (all would be even better). This is stuff I’ve tracked down over years of learning and talking to other photographers. Take time to learn something fresh every week and you won’t regret it.

  1. The Purple Cow.
    Seth Goden’s book focuses on making a client experience that is memorable. It’s a short book with advice that could be considered simple, but a lot of people overlook it. I’ve gleaned a mindset of service from this book. You can get in on Amazon as well as on Audible as a convenient Audiobook.
  2. David Ziser.
    If you don’t know the name you need to read more and there’s no time like the present. David has been in the business for a long time and his blog is a great one to follow. To get you started check out… The Portrait Consultation Part1 and Part2 and The 14 step plan for a successful sales presentation. Then start browsing thru the rest of his great business tips.
  3. The Ultimate Sales Letter.
    Writing good copy is valuable in any business. Some of the examples in this book may feel more like a car salesman than a photographer, but the principles can be used to help you market better. I have not found an audiobook, but you get get the print edition on Amazon.
  4. 19 Tips for 300 Client Inquiries.
    This is a guest article Matt McGraw wrote for PPS. While every tip on the list may not work in your situation, you’re sure to get some ideas in a very short read.
  5. How to Sell Anything to Anybody.
    If we can do what the title says we’re good. Seriously though selling high end photography is about knowing how to sell and this book will give you a few ideas. Here’s the Amazon link.
  6. 22 immutable laws of marketing.
    This is a short easy read that interesting. It looks at big brands in past years and analyzes successes and fails. You may not be the next Coca Cola, but the concepts used in big marketing the effects the way you approach your own. You can find it here on Amazon. and there’s also an Audible version.

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