workshop Archives

October 24, 2009

Dennis Zerwas, Gavin Seim, HDR Photography, news, ProPhotoShow

Our Central WA HDR Workshop Results.

by Gavin Seim: I just hosted the first “Incredible HDR” (high dynamic range) photo workshop in Central Washington. It was an intimate three day class of six, with attendees from as far as London, so we had plenty of one on one time. The images they made were amazing. I’m really proud of the students and the creative results they produced during the workshop. We covered everything from how to capture HDR portraits, to final edits, controlling light and presentation.

I believe one of the most important parts of good HDR is knowing how to edit it. There’s a lot of really ugly HDR because photographers don’t understand what their dealing with and how to make something magical from it. Going further however I want to remind those playing with HDR that the rules of photography do not go away because a photo is HDR. Interesting subject matter, composition and attention to detail are all very important factors in a great image. The students at this workshop were from varied experience levels but I think every one of them got it and took home something valuable.

I’ll post a few images from students below as well as a few of my own I took during excursions. It seems every time I teach something, I learn something new myself. If you’re interested in learning more about my HDR workshops you can find info here on Seim Effects.

October 18, 2009

lightroom, news, ProPhotoShow, tips, workshop

My new Lightroom Power Workshop:

by Gavin Seim. Most of you who use my tools know that Lightroom is a big part of my system. I’ve put together a new workshop which I presented for the first time in October at the PPW conference. It’s a relaxed fun workshop where newbies learn the Lighrtoom ropes and veterans learn lots of new new tricks.

Learning is a huge part of what we do, so I also set up a new tab on the sites for my upcoming learning tools and workshops. Sometime a these will be multi day events in specific locations, but some like Lightroom Power will be a single day presentation that any group, organization or conference can bring me out to present at their event anywhere in the world.

At some point I may take this workshop on a tour as well. I’m also considering the possibility of doing a live online workshop. I have to look into the possibilities. You can follow the Seim Effects FB page for updates or join the newsletter. Visit the page for more workshop details.

October 18, 2009

Gavin Seim, news, ProPhotoShow

Gavin's Lightroom Power Workshop:

by Gavin Seim. My new Lightroom Power workshop just launched and is available for groups organizations and conferences. It’s a fun relaxed single day session that I’m looking forward to taking abroad.

I’m also considering the possibility of doing a live online workshop. I have to look into the possibilities. I won’t blather on. If you’re interested in learning more, heres the page on Seim Effects.

May 17, 2009

inspire

Analyze & Inspire Episode #1 – Grassy Perspectives

by Gavin Seim: Today I’m going to kick off the new analyze inspiration series I promised a few weeks ago. In a nutshell, I take an image that get’s me thinking in some way. I talk about what I see (or don’t see) in it and invite readers to chime in with their own ideas and inspiration.

Pretty straightforward random thoughts about what was done and why it’s good, or bad. Here’s today’s photograph. Let’s start by just looking at it…

I was experimenting with composition and lighting yesterday in the park when I took this. I actually had my face and camera down in the grass giving me this soft foreground perspective that covered a big area of the frame. I shot it on my 5D MK2 at 1/125, f11, ISO400, 58mm and I think I had a little off camera flash on the foreground grass. I did some quick post in Lightroom using the Nature Boy preset from my PW2 collection and darkened the foreground a little using a gradient.

Good: The composition is different which draws in my eye.

Bad: There’s no main focal point. The grass may lead me in but then I don’t know which element I’m supposed to be seeing.

Good: It feel like there’s something hidden here. My eye scans wanting to solve the mystery.

Bad: It feels a bit crooked which annoys me.

Good: I like the bold greens.

Bad: I don’t want it on my wall.

In my opinion this shot only gets 64/100. That’s a FAIL and I would not hang it on my wall. The fact that it lacks a MAIN subject pretty much kills it. That doesn’t mean it’s useless however. The reality is that I was not expecting a great shot. I was exercising my skills by trying things.

Below I approached it differently. Same image, but in LR I applied a warm infrared from Monochromatix. This changes the whole mood. I also like it this way. In many ways it’s more simple, but the key problem remains. I don’t have a main subject and without one, this shot does not fulfill my eye’s desires to fin something amazing at it scans.

Thinking out loud. I got something from this shot even though it’s not great. It has me thiking about perspective, lighting and patterns. What if there was a HUGE bull Elk in walking between those two tree’s just right of center. That would change everything. If I’m ever laying in the grass watching a huge elf, you can bet this exercise will come to mind.

This was fun. I’ve got myself thinking about new ideas by looking close at this image and talking about it. I think I’m going to like this series. This is the kind of thing KungFu Photo is all about. Now I’m ready for your thoughts and ideas.

May 2, 2009

Biz Sense, Gavin Seim, PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow

19 Tips for 300 Client Inquiries:

19 Tips To Get 300 Client Inquiries: Special guest post by Matt McGraw.

1.
Vendors, vendors, vendors. Their important. From reception caterers to cake makers. I do a pre-questionnaire for my brides and grooms. In that questionnaire I find out who I am working with, from DJs ,to Florist, to cake people, to ministers to, reception places etc. I obtain all the contact information for these vendors. After the wedding I compile a list of photos that each vendor would find interest in. I splash my logo and email them the images, then say if they would like any of the photos in high res and without my logo to let me know.

For reception sites: If it’s somewhere I have never worked I’ll send them a 20X30 print with my logo splashed all over it and 4X6s of the same photo with my contact info to pass out to potential brides. I’ll also send them a disc with images they might be interested in and tell them they can use whatever photos they would like to.

Become buddies with the vendors too. For example, I’m on a “hug basis” with the sales directors of 5 major hotels in town. Their cell numbers are in my phone. I photograph their kids. I’ll sometimes meet them for a beer or two. I never promote my photography. It’s always buddy talk. Sure we talk shop sometimes, but it’s not my goal. They feel comfortable around me.

2.
Newsletter/blog: Start one… I use constant contact set up a page and send mine out once a month. My email list is 6300 strong. Most photographers have a webpage set up. We do not.. I’m not opposed to that but I just prefer the email newsletter.

Next question for you is how we get 6300 people on there. Anyone that emails me gets on the list.
The only people who do not get on my list are emails that are inquiring where I am not available. Also I advertise in two magazines where they provide a lead sheet. I’ll copy and paste emails of brides and grooms where I am not booked. I do this once a month right before I send out the newsletter.

3.
Advertising: In the beginning of your career, spend most of your advertising money online as opposed to print. Print is just name recognition. They’ll see or hear your name and see an ad and say I’ve heard of this photographer.

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