My Holiday Wish List

Published by hexfire on December 23, 2008

As a photographer it is increasingly hard to find gifts that I can utilize in my professional while still being in the price range that most of my family and friends can afford. While I’d love a brand new Nikon D90 this Christmas - the $1200 price tag is going to put it on the naughty list of things people just can’t afford to buy.

So whats a hard working photographer supposed to do this holiday season when you start looking for Christmas gifts for yourself? Ebay!! Its the best place to spend that hard earned cash for great items that are cheap and will help grow your photography business in 2009.

Some of my best lighting buys have come from Ebay in the past and I am continually on the look out for new items that pop up every day - from new to used equipment there is a ton of great deals to be had on just about anything photography related.

I’ve listed a few holiday gift ideas below for your special photographer (or yourself!)

Winter Photography Tips

Published by hexfire on December 10, 2008

1) Bring lots of warm liquids and clothing with you. This is probably the most important tip on this list. If you are concentrating on being warm the whole time you will miss whatever it is you are attempting to photograph. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to have a photographers backpack that has a side strap on it which conveniently works for a tripod, thermos or both. Having a warm soup or coffee with you while outside on a winter photography session is a huge bonus, and will enable you to have a longer, more productive winter photography session.

2) Lots of extra batteries if you have them. The cold will sap your batteries longevity much more so then you realize. Battery life is half what it normally will be depending on your brand of battery. The canon battery packs I have worked with all seem to hate the really cold weather and give perhaps 50% of their normal battery life for a canon slr camera.

3) Bring an assistant if you are shooting a model outside in the winter. If you are fortunate enough to have a model that is up for an adventure outside in the winter time you’re in for a challenge, and some great photography. One of the best ways to facilitate an outdoor shoot during the winter is to have an assistant with you, or at least another set of hands. The biggest issue is keeping the model warm during shoot down time. Have your assistant at the ready with warm clothing and warm liquids that the model can access very quickly when the need arises. The last thing you want is a freezing model!

4) Let you camera warm up or down to the temperature you will be shooting at. One of the easiest ways to get lens condensation is to have your camera out in a warm car then step directly outside into freezing cold winter air. Trust me, you do not want to get condensation inside your lenses or camera. Take the time to allow your equipment to adjust slowly from its original temperature to the shooting temperature of the winter photo session.

5) Don’t be afraid to get into snow. Its cold and wet, but it makes awesome photos. Most snow storms aren’t the first place people want to be out in, but nature will provide you with an abundance of unique and beautiful photographs if you brave the weather. Walking is the best way to experience a snowstorm, or snow shoes if you have them. Get out in the storm and shoot while the snow is falling. I’ve found using a wide angle lens and getting close up on objects can produce a wonderful affect when combined with snow.

Fall Foliage Photography

Published by hexfire on October 11, 2008

Its that time of year again when the leaves change to vibrant colors and make for perfect outdoor photography. If you are not taking time at least once a weekend to get out and shoot nature at its finest then you’re missing out on both the beauty and the profit you could be making on your fall foliage photography.

Some of the most purchased office photography is fall foliage photos printed on nice canvas and mounted. Case in point, I was attending a meeting at a corporate office last week and had to wait in the conference room for a few minutes on my own. What I noticed was that along the hallway of this particular office was a large assortment of canvas mounted photography works. Most of the pieces were nature related, and at least half of them were fall foliage photography.

What does this mean to you as a semi pro photographer, or even amateur photographer? It means that there is a huge market out there for fall foliage photography that you can tap into. However you need to get out there and actually shoot the photos! Some of the best places to shoot are public areas that have easy access. A few examples of this would be cemeteries, public hiking paths, farm lands, or apple orchards.

If you happen to live in the northeast then this time of year is fantastic for fall foliage photography, but its not limited to just the north east. Take time to figure out when the best fall foliage photographs can be taken in your particular area and you could start making some extra income by selling you images to companies looking to spruce up the interior walls of their offices.