Archive for Business of photography

Last Chance in 2011 for Intensive Photo Learning

Posted in Art of Photography, Artistic Development, Instruction, Monthly Photo Contest, Techniques, Workshops and Seminars with tags , , , , , , , , , , on September 15, 2011 by Darwin

Whew! Autumn is just getting started and Samantha and I are very busy with tours and workshops.  Fall is always a prime time to be out either photographing on a tour or learning the art of photography in a workshop, and this year we’re seeing a lot of keen shooters out there! In fact, almost all of our joint workshops are sold out at this juncture! Luckily, though, we still have some space in the PhotoCram Workshop held in Edson, Alberta Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, so if you are looking to invest in your photography, this is a great opportunity (and last chance!) to catch some fall colour while also honing your craft. Edson is not too far from world-famous Jasper National Park so you may want to extend your learning with a little side-trip to catch the start of the elk rut in Jasper.

©Darwin Wiggett

What is PhotoCram, you may be thinking.  Well, Sam and I have developed a special, intensive learning experience that strikes the balance between improving your technical skills (and we mean REALLY understanding creative use of aperture, shutter speed, histograms etc.) and artistic development.  (You can see the topics we are covering listed below).

Class sessions are reinforced with practice during field sessions, and student assignments ensure that concepts are understood on a working level so that your learning stays with you after the weekend is over.  We have designed this event so that both beginners and advanced shooters will gain significant benefit. The folks in the Edson Camera Club have done an excellent job in keeping the costs for this workshop low so that price is less of a barrier.  The workshop costs $300 for Edson Photography Club members and non-members are welcome at only $350.  These prices are a steal for such a concentrated burst of learning (just compare to other workshops — including our own!) so thanks Edson Camera Club for bringing this opportunity to photographers.

To sweeten the deal, we are giving away as a door prize a custom 16×20 canvas print ($350 value). Also we are drawing a name from registered participants for a 1/2 hour, 20-image private portfolio critique with Samantha and me ($200 value). Anyone registered in the Edson PhotoCram I event will have their name entered in the draw.

Creative Camera Controls Made Easy

Are you mystified by f-stops and shutter speed? Want to know how to pick the right aperture and shutter speed every time? We will reveal the three simple rules that will take the guesswork out of the technical aspects of photography. Think of it as ‘new math’ without the hard numbers. Once camera controls are mastered you will have the tools needed to master artistic expression.

The Camera and the Creative Eye

The most essential skill you can master as a photographer has little to do with camera controls and everything to do with conceiving a photograph before you snap it. We will guide you on the path to mastering the ability to ‘see’ the potential of an image in the jumbled, visual world around you.

Personal Style and Creative Vision

Are you afraid of your photographs being lost in the vast array of images out there? Does  photography feel stale to you? We will speak on the evolution of personal style in photography. What is personal style and where does it come from? Learn to shoot from your soul and let your inner artist flex its muscles. See how two photographers shooting the exact same subject at the same time will produce very different results when each photographer is shooting from the heart for personal expression.

How to Make Money with Your Photography

The industry of photography has undergone a sea change in the last decade. Learn the essential tips and techniques used by the pros to help sell and market your photos. You can make extra money selling your photos but being an artist is not enough, learn the business skills needed to get your photos seen and purchased by the world.

For more information about the Edson PhotoCram event contact edsonphotoclub@gmail.com. We are looking forward to see you there!

©Darwin Wiggett

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Ed Verosky’s Awesome Portrait eBooks

Posted in Art of Photography, Books about Photography, eBooks, Instruction, Marketing, Techniques with tags , , , , , on March 25, 2011 by Darwin

For those who have followed my blog for sometime know that I am a fan of Ed Verosky’s awesome eBook called 100% Reliable Flash Photography: How to Get Amazing Light in any Situation. I used what I learned in this eBook to start using flash for some outdoor portrait work (some of tha work was done for Gaia Nudes). I highly recommend this book if you want to learn how to use your camera flash better.

Now that spring is coming I am planning to do more outdoor portrait work because this genre of photography is something I have spent little time pursing. I thought I had better get a few hints to kick start my shooting in a directed manner so I downloaded Ed’s two books on portraiture and was thoroughly impressed. There are a lot of great tips that’ll help me hone my portraiture in a short period of time. If you are at all interested in portrait shooting check out these two eBooks by Ed.

I am not interested in Boudoir Photography but it can be a lucrative venture if done tastefully and for discerning clients. If you are looking for a way to add boudoir to your repertoire then these two eBooks offer all the advice and tips you need.

Disclaimer: I have signed up for the affiliate program for Ed’s eBooks. This means if you buy one of these eBooks, then I get a percentage of the sale. I only link to eBooks that I myself have purchased and found helpful. If I think an eBook is not worth the price nor the time to look at, then I will not become an affiliate nor recommend the book. So if you think you might be interested in the topics of these eBooks then buying here will help support my quest for beer and pizza and hopefully steer you towards good products!

The End of Stock Photography?

Posted in Articles about Photography, Controversy, Marketing, Sad News, Stock Photography with tags , , , , on March 6, 2010 by Darwin

Check out this interview with Jim Pickerell at John Lund’s excellent blog on Stock Photography. Bookmark John’s Blog or subscribe, it is an amazing source of information for those of us involved in stock photography. Hmmm… the end of Stock as a photographic career?? Damn! I am headed the the Golden Arches to see if they need french fry salter.

Thanks to Keith Douglas for the heads up on John Lund’s blog.

©Darwin Wiggett