In this video I’ll show you how I create more than one portrait from the same shot. It’s super simple to do and it only takes a few minutes to complete.

Watch the video below to see me in action perform these simple tricks.

Here’s the link to check out the Digital Creation’s CLUB!

I wanted to share a very simple way to create more than one look from the same image. I recently created these two shots for our Digital Creation’s club. and wanted to share these on the blog.

Here’s the original portrait (Golden Mountain View) in a horizontal shot.

Then I decided to create a close up of the two girls that would give the portrait  a completely different look. I wanted to go with a vertical layout and still keep some of the foreground elements in the final crop.

Here’s the simple steps I used to crop this image and keep the detail and quality to enlarge into an 8×10 and all the way up to a 20×24 inch portrait.

Step #1: Make sure you set you size and resolution before you crop the image.

Step# 2: Select your area by clicking and dragging with the crop tool

Step# 3: Use the “Thirds Grid” to give your crop the best site lines.

Here’s a few tips for cropping:

1. Never cut off hands or fingers
2. Never crop just below the knee
3. Cutting into the top of the head can be a nice touch

Few more examples….

Full Horizontal Original

Cropped Vertical Version

Extreme Close-Up From Same Portrait Session – Different Pose

I hope you can see that by cropping your images in a vertical or another site line…that you can create an entirely different look to offer your clients. It’s a simple technique that many photographers don’t use enough.

I hope this has inspired you and got your creative juices flowing

Club Members Login HERE!

I want to share these 3 new portrait ideas that were created for our Digital Creation’s Club. I wanted to give you some ideas that you could use in your photography.

It doesn’t matter if you use our Digital Backgrounds or not…you can create similar portraits like the ones I’m about to share with you.

All it takes is sometimes is a few creative ideas and inspiration to get your creative juices flowing

Portrait #1 was an idea for people that “Love” Motorcycles and that Freedom Type Feel. Remember…I’m sure you’ll have a client that’s into motorcycles and would love an image like the one we created here.

You could always offer to shoot their motorcycle if they have one and use it as your prop.

We named this one “Born To Ride”

The 2nd one we created for The DC Club we named “Flower Pot Surprise”

This can be created using a large Flower Pot that has some type of unique look to it. Usually you can find these at Home Improvement stores or even Garage Sales. Then…choose a backdrop or background that will compliment the Flower Pot with blending…non distracting colors.

The 3rd portrait we created we named “Stylish Stacked Bowls”.

This is all about simplicity with some bold colors. All you need is some large wooden bowls and a white backdrop to create this shot. These don’t have to be bold colors, but with a white background…it looks really good.

The bowls can be found at stores like Target, Walmart or any other Home Department store. These can be expensive…but well worth the investment.

Side Note: I added the light blue background in Photoshop using the vignette technique and erasing the bottom portion.

So..there you have it!

3 New Portrait Ideas that you can use in your photography. I hope you use these or something similar and offer to your clients.

Remember…as photographers in this competitive market we need to be unique. Creating portraits that people will talk about and can only receive from you.

If you would like to find out more about our Digital Creation’s Club…CLICK HERE!

Have Fun and Happy Shooting

Scott

P.S.

If you like these new portraits…Click The “LIKE” button and spread the LOVE

I’m so glad we decided to have this Facebook portrait contest. It was something that we wanted to do for fun, so people could share their work with others and have a chance to win something in the process.

We had over 75 entries and a few hundred likes

There were so many great portraits, but this contest was about getting the most “Likes” to your image.

We had so much response…so we decided to choose 2 Winners.

….and here they are.

Winner #1 Received 73 "Likes"

Winner #1 - Used 1 Digital Fish Prop (Very Creative)

Winner #2 - Received 47 "Likes"

Winner #2 - Digital Fish Prop/BW and Selective Color (Creative and FUN)

Check out the Honorable Mentions Below

Here's a few entries that received Honorable Mention

Congratulations to the Winners and thanks to everyone who entered.

Don’t worry…we’ll be having more of these in the future and everyone will have more chances to Win!

You can always visit our Facebook Fan page and see what others are posting.

If you want to share this with others…click the “Like” button below.

Here’s a few tips for better photography in 2010.

Here you’ll find 7 Simple Digital Photography Tips, that everyone should follow.It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned photographer or if your new camera appeared under the Christmas Tree this year. New Year’s Eve tends to make people reflect over the past year and look forward to new possibilities in the coming year.

Tradition has it that we should make some sort of list to try and motivate us to achieving greater success in different areas of our lives. It is no different for the professional photographer or the budding photographer. Making a list of New Year’s Resolutions can be positive and encouraging. Here are a few suggestions in making your list this year.

Tip #1: Read Your Camera Manual.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never read it or perhaps read it several years ago. It’s always good to refresh your memory and perhaps find a hidden nugget you’ve either never knew or forgot that you had. You can pick up new tips from your photography bible.

Tip #2: Take a Photography Class.

If you’re new to photography or if you’re seasoned but find yourself a little stale, look for a course that will broaden your horizons. There are numerous courses offered online from beginner to advanced. It is always a good experience to find a local school or experienced photographer that offers hands-on training. It might take a little digging but having ‘real’ people to talk to and learn from is worth the time and expense.

Tip #3 Join a Camera Cub.

Joining the local camera or photography club can help you network with local photographers. Meeting regularly with them can provide you with educational resources, motivation and offer you encouragement.

Tip #4 Learn to Use Your Lenses.

Chances are you have at least a couple of lenses in your bag. Sometimes we are tempted to buy a new lens when we can’t quite get the image we want with the lenses we have. Spend time this year learning how to use the lenses you have to their fullest potential. You might amaze yourself at what can be achieved by making more effective use of what you have.

Tip #5 Use Your Tripod.

I am sure most camera owners have a tripod of some sort laying in a closet or drawer somewhere. Learn to use your tripod and then make use of it regularly. It can increase the sharpness of your image by controlling camera shake and enables you to compose your shots more effectively.

Tip #6 Getting Off the Green Mode.

The auto (green) mode on your digital camera can do a wonderful job of taking snapshots. Take the time to learn about using your manual settings (this can be a scary thing to do) and you will find a whole new world of camera control opens up to you. Search the internet; there are plenty of books and tutorials that can help you learn about exposure, shutter speed and ISO settings.

Tip #7 Take More Photographs.

In photography, as in anything else, practice, practice, practice. In the digital world, there is no reason to limit your picture taking. It does not cost you to develop rolls of film, you simply hit the delete button and start over again. Make a commitment to take at least one photo every day. If you take more, pick out your best shot and save it in a ’365 Day’ folder. At the end of the year pick out your favorite image for each month, arrange them in a collage then print it. You will be amazed at your progress and have something permanent to remember your year in pictures.

These are just some Simple Digital Photography Tips, so feel free to add your own. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all much happiness and success in the New Year whatever your goals and desires may be.

Until next time, Happy Shooting!

Learn From Others

When we’re learning to compose good shots, we can get some wonderful creative ideas by looking at others’ work.

It’s not that we want to copy their style, instead we can absorb and remember the ideas and concepts; then apply that knowledge when we create our own images.

Here are a few Photography Composition Tips that will help take your photography from ordinary to extra-ordinary.

Learn the Basics

There are many wonderful resources out there either on the web or in book form that can help you learn the basics of photography. You need to know how to work your camera so you get the proper exposure. Knowing how to use your shutter speed, f-stops and ISO settings are important to achieve the shots you envision in your mind. Choosing the proper lens also takes a bit of thinking and using a tripod is a must in certain situations.

Use of Foreground Elements

A foreground element in a photo will be the first thing that a viewer will see. Sometimes people will use a prop, a gate, a rock, a tree or a small object to grab attention and lead the viewer into the photograph. Using foreground elements will give depth and meaning to the rest of the image.

Use of Standard Compositional Elements. Diagonal lines is one of the most effective compositional tools that is used to lead the viewer to the main point of interest. Setting up the shot by using an imaginary triangle will help take the viewer to from one point to the next and back again to the start, giving a feeling of completeness. This is a very useful tool when setting up portraits that contain more than two people. The use of S-curves and shapes are also a great way of leading the eye around the photo.

Using Light

Nothing adds more drama or more interest to an image than good use of light. Proper use of light and shadows give the image a three dimensional feel. Painting Masters of the past knew that the balance between light and shadows was of primary importance in giving their paintings and portraits life. Being able to identify and use available light sources in an artistic and interesting way is an art that takes plenty of practice and patience. Composing your shot to make use of this light can take your photos from good to spectacular.
Points to Remember

Here’s some final Composition tips for you to remember when composing your image:
~ Make sure your horizon line is level.
~ Look for distracting elements. Poles coming from heads, wires etc.
~ Watch your depth of field.
~ Keep it simple.

Being critical of what you see through the viewfinder and using these composition skills will take your images from being merely good shots to absolutely amazing and creative photographic art.

Once you practice using these simple tips, it will become second nature and your shots will improve every single time. Spend the time to practice and learn from each shot you take. You will start to see a difference in your photography and then it will become effortless.

Happy Shooting!

Scott

One of the most common question I get asked a lot is…”How much will it cost to start a photography business?” or “How can I get started with the least upfront expense?”.

The truth is that it could cost you $1,000′s if you were to create a complete studio. You would have to invest in a large studio space, special canvas and muslin backgrounds, custom sets, unique props and the list goes on and on.

But…I have some good news that most photographers won’t talk about. It’s something called Digital Props and Backgrounds. Let me explain!

Digital Props and Backgrounds are becoming increasingly popular in many photography markets. This has helped beginners start a photography business with very little start up cost. Now you can look like you have a full size studio without spending $1,000′s of dollars on equipment. I’ve put together a step by step guide of what you will need to use this concept and get professional results every time.

1. White seamless background — You can find white vinyl in 60″ widths at most craft stores very inexpensively. I would recommend 5ft wide by 10 ft long to start.

2. External Flash or Soft Box — You will need an external flash that attaches to your camera’s hot shoe that can be bounced off a side wall or ceiling. This will give you a softer light and eliminate shadows. This is critical to getting a clean line around your subject when cutting out and selecting in Photoshop. (I’ll talk about this in a minute) If you want to get fancy, use a Soft Box on a stand. Position your Soft Box on the right side facing your subject at a 45 degree angle. This is the set up most professional studios use for their portraits.

3. Bounce Card (Reflector) — Use a 2×4 ft piece of poster board as a bounce card on the opposite side of your flash or Soft Box. This will help fill in any shadows you may have on the opposite side. You can also cover this with aluminum foil to give it more of a reflective finish.

Note: This will be a harsher light.

4. (Important) Distance From Background – It’s always best to have your subject as far from the background as possible. The minimum should be 4 to 6 ft. This will give you a shallow depth of field and no shadows casting on the background.

5. Photoshop (Selection) — You will need a version of Photoshop to use digital backgrounds and props properly. Photoshop Elements will work just as well as the expensive full versions. There are many ways to cut out your subjects using Photoshop, but the easiest way is the Magic Wand tool. (As long as you did the steps above) Select the tool and set the tolerance to 50. The higher the number the more aggressive the selection will be. Click anywhere on the white background. Photoshop will find the lines and set the selection. Play with the tolerance until you get a clean selection. Once you see the marching ants, go to (Select) and choose (Feather) and set this at 1 or 2 pixels. This will soften your edge making it look more realistic.

6. Digital Backgrounds and Props — Now open your Digital Prop or Background. Click on your image with your subject and drag the cut out layer into your Digital Background or Prop. Position it so it looks proportioned and when your happy with the results, click on (Layer – Flatten Image).

Now Save your image as a new file, not overwriting your original. After you complete these steps over and over again, you will develop a workflow that can be done in just a few minutes. There you have it. Following these suggestions I have given you will greatly improve your digital background and prop portraiture. Your portraits will look like they were created in a full-sized studio allowing you to charge studio prices.

As always leave your comments below. I’d love to hear from you

Scott

Christmas is an amazing time of year! So much color, so much fun and so many treasured moments! Here are a few Christmas Photography Tips that will help you take memorable photos this holiday season with your digital camera.

Tip #1 – Make sure you have plenty of supplies

If you forget to have plenty of batteries and memory cards available, you may miss that precious shot of the delight on your loved one’s face when they open that special present.

Tip #2 – Get up close and personal

Fill your viewfinder or viewing screen with the subject to capture their expressions. You can capture amazing photos when you time your shots and snap that photo when they aren’t looking at the camera. Don’t forget to take those ‘traditional’ group shots of your family and friends.

Tip #3 – Use different angles

Have some fun and get interesting shots by getting on a chair and shooting down. Kneeling or laying down on your stomach can make your shots more dynamic and personal. Getting eye level with your subjects will also produce great shots.

Tip #4 – Using the camera flash

Most digital cameras have a zoom feature. Use this to your advantage when you are using the camera’s flash. Get as far from your subject as possible, then zoom in and take your shot. The extra distance you put between you and your subject will soften the sometimes harsh white flash. You can also diffuse the light by taping a tissue or some other opaque material to the pop-up flash. How about getting creative and attach a colored piece of transparent plastic over the flash. You may end up taking a shot of your very own Blue Christmas!

Tip #5 – Photograph the Christmas frills

Don’t forget to take photos of lights, decorations and the tree. A close-up shot of that treasured ornament will preserve that memory for you for a life-time. You will be amazed how shooting different aspects of Christmas will enhance your photo album for years to come.

Tip #6 – Fixing red-eye

When using the flash we sometimes get these bright red reflections in our subject’s eyes. With most cameras there is a red eye removal feature. Make yourself familiar with using it by reading your owners’ manual. There are also many other free photo editing software programs available to help you adjust your photos and remove red-eye.

Tip #7  – Take Outside shots

You can get some great shots outside at Christmas, but you might tend to think you don’t need your flash. Oftentimes, the faces of the people in the photo are dark while the background lighting is bright. Turning your flash on and using it will help to light up their faces.

Tip #8 – Take lots of shots

With the digital cameras and memory cards we have available now, it is a very worthwhile practice to take a ton of shots. You don’t have to waste your money or get disappointed because half of the shots you took with your film camera were not good. Simply delete the bad, print the good!

Tip #9 – Have fun

There is so much to see and do at Christmas; so many ways to capture the warmth, fun and excitement. It’s a wonderful time to experiment with your camera so go out there and capture the moments! You have the opportunity to make a treasured memory with one click of your shutter.

Use these simple tips this holiday season to help  capture those precious memories that will last a life time.

Happy Shooting!

In this video I answer a question that comes in a lot from our subscribers. What do I price my packages and prints for the Holidays?

Watch the video…I’ll give you some tips!

As always..leave your comments below. We would love to hear from you

Scott

Starting a photography business is more than just purchasing equipment and learning all about the technical stuff. If you focus on all the settings and equipment in the beginning, you will most likely never get started. You’ll get discouraged like I did

I’m not saying that it’s not important, but there’s a few thing you need to think about before you go out an register your business name. This one tip will make it fun and get you started in the right direction.

Watch the video and I’ll explain.