I Like Your Picture

First time photography frustrations may make you want to toss your camera in the lake, but there's joy on the other side of the learning curve. We'll discuss some major frustrations at different stages of photography and why you need to press on. When you think about it, most people don't start photography in order to understand how to use their camera. They want to get beautiful photos and understanding how to use the camera is just part of the process in order to capture great images. It doesn't stop there, though. We have to learn a number of things: How to use flash How to organize our photos How to post process our photos Specialty techniques like HDR Retouching portraits In this episode, we talk about some of our photography frustrations, and what happens if you just give up. It takes a bit of frustration to get the photos we love, giving truth to the phrase, "You must suffer for your art."

The MagMod system works for small flash and now they're getting into support for strobes. Find out why so many small flash photographers love MagMod and see if it's right for your photography. I'll be the first to say that the MagMod light modifiers are not inexpensive. However, there are built to last, lightweight and small to fit in your bag, and offer a wide array of options to create beautiful light for your subjects and background. I've used the MagMod light modifiers for a couple of years, and now I'm trying out their MagBox - they're version of an octabox that works with either small flash or studio strobes. We'll go over all of the options, the prices, and I hope this helps you understand if the MagMod system is something you should investigate for your photography.

Every photographer needs an off-camera flash system, because there are always times when you need to control part of the light on your scene. We'll discuss what makes a flash system work, and some potential problems that cost money. Off-camera flash is a wonderful thing. It allows you to be a director with your lighting, even if you're working with wildlife or landscapes. There are times when you just need a punch of light to emphasize part of your photo. So why do you need a flash system? Isn't it fine to have a flash in your bag and strobes in your studio? Not aways. Sometimes you need to use lights with different sizes and power capabilities, and it's much easier on you if they work together on the same system. I'll share some of my convoluted systems used in the past to make my flashes and strobes work together, and how we're now in a place where it's much easier to develop an off-camera flash system that won't break your budget.

Make your subject pop in your photographs. It's one of the best ways to draw people into your photos, and we'll share a number of tips to help your subject stand out in your photos. The key concept is to find ways to cause some contrast between your subject and everything else in the photograph. You can do things to help before your photo session, as you're taking photos, or in post processing. We'll discuss how to use some of the tools and techniques at your disposal to compose your photo to enhance your subject and give it some dimension just a bit stronger than everything else in your photo.

What enhances a woman's face and body? We'll discuss the differences between good makeup and good post-processing, the big difference between reducing vs eliminating and the things photographers shouldn't forget. We all want our portrait subjects look their best, but what does that mean and how should we go about it? It turns out that there's a fair amount of things you can do before you click the shutter that not only helps enhance beauty, but also saves you a ton of time in post processing. Sometimes the camera captures features that you don't notice when you interact with someone in person. Do you eliminate or reduce those features? We'll go over the pros and cons of each possibility. Finally, we'll point out some of the things that photographers tend to forget during the photo session. You'll want to keep an eye out for these issues, or better yet, have an assistant who watches for some things that may cause a lot of work in post processing. We hope you love this episode!

Thinking of buying a new camera? Thinking of switching brands? It could be a good idea or maybe just a waste of money. We'll help you understand when it's time to upgrade or switch, or when you should stick with your current camera. There are plenty of good reasons to buy a new camera. My favorite reason is "because I WANT it." If that isn't your reason, then you may want to think about what you stand to benefit from making a switch - particularly if you're going to change brands or systems. That can be an expensive proposition. Two good reasons to avoid buying a new camera are: 1: It's not going to make your photos look any better 2: You could be giving in to hype. However, maybe it is time and you need to think it through. Check out this episode to hear our reasons for upgrading or switching your photography gear for the better.  

Learn how to create a photography portfolio and why you need one. Your portfolio is a visual resume. It doesn't just show what you can do. Your portfolio shows the kind of work that you want to get hired to do. If you're interested in attracting new business or showing your expertise in a specific part of your photography, we'll help you understand how to build a great portfolio. The post How to Create a Photography Portfolio appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode178  

If you want to know how to be creative when you don't feel like it, it's important to know why you feel that way and who wants you to be creative. We'll share some tips to help you turn on your creativity when you need it. It's important to know your audience and what they like to get from you. That narrows down your options, which is a good way to find something creative. Serving others has benefits. One of the biggest thieves of your creativity is stress, burnout and being overworked. We'll help you recognize the patterns that cause stress and help you find ways to alleviate it before you get stressed out. Finally, we share a list of five tips to be creative by being prepared. Number 4 is one of my favorite tricks, and it's so easy to use. Check out our tips to be creative when you don't feel like it.

What is truth in photography, and does it matter? We'll explore how photography distorts the truth and how. Everything from your lens choice to your angle of view and even the timing of you photo bends the truth a little bit. In this episode, we'll explore: What is truth? How photography distorts the truth Why a little absence of truth is a good thing Do people look to photography for truth? We edit photos to make them look more desirable to viewers, but how can you ensure your photos are true, not fake? Then again, perhaps this is a case where truth is in the eye of the beholder. Listen and decide for yourself.

Your photography direction will change as you gain experience, meaning the kind of photos you enjoy taking when you start aren't likely to be what you enjoy as you gain experience. Starting photography is a lot like learning how to drive. There are a lot of rules to remember, and a lot of technical issues to master. The subjects you choose when you start are rather forgiving. Just as the roads you drive when you start aren't as challenging as the ones you use later. As you gain experience, both in photography and in life, you start thinking differently about your photography. it's less about the technical skills and rules, and you concentrate more on your creativity and storytelling. In this episode, we share how and why we made changes in our photography direction and the subjects we choose. You'll likely encounter something similar, and knowing to expect a change may help you master it in less time. The post Why Your Photography Direction Will Change appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the sho

One of the most common questions I'm asked about portraiture is where to put the light. Today, we're going to answer that question by sharing five portrait lighting patterns. To be honest, this is the wrong question to ask. That's because the best place to put your light is to get the result you want. so the real question to ask for portrait lighting is: What kind of shadows do I want on my subject's face? There is a time and place for each of the five portrait lighting patterns, and we'll discuss each one and when you want to use them. We'll cover: Flat Lighting Split Lighting Loop Lighting Rembrandt Lighting Butterfly Lighting Additionally, we'll go over the difference between Broad Lighting and Short Lighting, which allows you to decide how you want to choose the angle you use to photograph your subject. It's a short episode, but packed with useful information.

The world is full of bad photography advice. We give some common examples and tell you how to recognize when you're getting less than expert information. Some people mean well and keep repeating bad advice. Other people think they know it all and desperately want to show off, even if they don't have any experience to back up the advice they're giving. In this episode, you'll find out: The Internet is full of bad advice How to Recognize Bad Advice Some Examples of Bad Photography Advice We cover some common issues like: When you need a model release, What a watermark does and doesn't do for you Shoot as many photos as you can Buy expensive gear Don’t Shoot in Bad Light Don’t put the subject in the middle Never use on-camera flash When you hear some absolute statements, chances are you're getting bad photography advice. Come join us as we investigate some of the common advice that you likely want to ignore.  

What's your backup strategy to save your photos? Every single hard drive will fail. It isn't a matter if "if", but "when" a drive fails. It's impossible to avoid. When your drive fails, you need a strategy to save your precious data. For photographers, that means your RAW files, final JPEGS, Photoshop files, Lightroom Catalog and perhaps more. In this episode, I'll share my own experiences with catastrophic failure and near loss of everything. We'll go over the 3-2-1 backup strategy so you can understand why this strategy works and how to implement it for your own photo backups. The post How to Backup Your Photos with a 3-2-1 Strategy appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode172  

Learn how to use photographs to tell your stories. We have a love of stories programmed in our DNA. You can use your photographs to reach viewers on a deeper level.  In this episode, you'll learn: Why you want to tell stories with your photos The elements you need to understand to tell a story How to tell stories either with a single photo or a series of photos You'll also find a coupon code for a discount on Skylum software, like Luminar and Aurora HDR.  The post REPLAY: How to Use Photography to Tell Stories appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode111  

Every photographer needs a tripod to get those tack sharp photos or long exposures, but there are times when tripods become annoying and it's time to put them down.  If you want to do any of the following, you need a tripod: Long exposures Tack sharp photos HDR Focus stacking Stroboscopic photos Food or Product photography There are many more times when a tripod really helps, and it's an essential tool.  We'll discuss which types and materials to buy depending upon your needs. Some tripods cost a lot more than others, some are bigger than others, and there's no need paying for features you aren't going to use. You'll learn how to decide which tripod materials and features matter most to you so you can make the right buying choice. The post Why Tripods Are So Annoying and Absolutely Necessary appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode171  

Everyone has a relationship with food, so it's an interesting story for most people. We all eat at least once a day, and hopefully more. Food photography is a great subject to build your audience - whether you're looking for a nutritional message, culinary tips, or just Instagram-worthy photos. We'll help you understand how to create interesting backgrounds, lighting and styling for your food photos for studio or Instagramming your favorite restaurant menu items.  In this episode, you'll learn: Why Food Photography is so enjoyable How to tell a story with your food photos How to choose or create the perfect background for your food How to setup your lighting or use available light How to style your food to create the right mood Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode170

Looking for some inspiration for your next photo? Well, you won't find it here. In this episode, we discuss why inspiration - while good - isn't the secret to creating better photos.  Inspiration is unreliable. Yet plenty of photographers and influencers propose to offer you inspiration for your photography. We think that's a bit misleading, because that isn't how inspiration works. In this episode, you'll learn: Why ideas and examples aren't inspiration That real inspiration is a surprise How to improve your odds of being inspired Inspiration is a wonderful thing when it strikes, but it's good to know is and isn't truly inspiration.  

You will never progress as a "wanna-be" photographer. Learn why it's imperative to assert that you are a photographer and how that changes the way you approach your photography. In this episode, we'll help you learn: Why you have to stop Wanting and start Being a photographer Why your mental attitude about photography affects your performance as a photographer How to get started as a photographer The post Why You Don't Want to Be a Photographer (You Are One) appeared first on William Beem Photography. Have questions or comments? Be sure to join the conversation on the show notes page. Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode168  

How you behave as a photographer can mean the difference between getting a photo or not. If you have poor etiquette, you won't find much luck getting access or collaborating with others.  In this episode, we'll define a few things: What is photo etiquette Why this matters to amateurs and professionals alike Why your online behavior may matter more than your in-person behavior The number one question you need to ask yourself before presenting yourself as a photographer Lee and I tried to approach this topic in a respectful way, as we aren't trying to talk down to anyone. It's just that we've been around a few touchy issues that likely could've been avoided, and we hope to share some of those experiences with you so that you never have them in the first place.  

Photos are visual stories, and every great story should tug at your emotions.  When you know your audience, you begin to understand what they want and how you can serve them. Evoking emotions is one of the best ways you can develop your audience. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: Why do we tell stories? The two primary methods of evoking an emotion Why emotions help your photography improve The post Why Every Photo Should Evoke an Emotion appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode166