Category Archives: Photo Tips

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Interesting little tips to improve your everyday photography

Fashionista/Fashion-Esther

April 3, 2008 – 1:14 am

Hi! This is my friend Esther. She’s on vacation with her family from the UK. She likes S’mores, the group Delirious?, fashion, and taking pictures! We teamed up so that I could experiment with some off-camera flash techniques. Since I’ve been mostly an available-light photographer, I was never all that interested in “creating the light” with flash. But I recently have become a big fan of a couple of blogs that feature tips and the work of truly savvy, flash-lovin’ photogs. Namely Strobist and Flash Flavor. I’ve been wanting to stretch my capabilities with all kinds of light–available or whatever’s “available in my camera bag”! ;-) So here’s Esther with a little flavor-flash-flave….. wendy g style!

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By wendy g | Also posted in Portraits | Comments (4)

Wedding Day Tip: Makeup

March 7, 2008 – 10:23 am

I just want to share why makeup IS important for your wedding photographs.

A camera converts a three dimensional object (in this case your face) into a two dimensional medium–a photograph printed on paper. Your face is 3-D and a piece of paper is 2-D. So all that 3-D information gets flattened out as it’s shown in a 2-D format. This is why people look heavier in a photograph–because they are flattened out on paper.

A good photographer uses lighting and angles and lenses to recreate that three dimensionality so that the person’s face isn’t “flat”. A good makeup artist understands this and uses makeup accordingly. So wearing makeup differently than your “everyday” style is important. Not so that you look scary! But just to apply the appropriate emphasis to the most flattering contours of your face.

Just a little something to keep in mind,
wendy g

By wendy g | Also posted in Wedding Tips | Comments (0)

Tip Number Two

November 6, 2007 – 2:14 pm

Okay, with all the inquiries, meetings, and weddings I’ve learned another little tip for you. As I have said, my wedding packages are based on a creative fee (because you’re hiring me to be your photographer) AND a separate album or product credit. I receive many inquiries from brides and some grooms asking me to email them my price list. I’m always really honored that couples are considering ME for such a key part of their wedding day. I get it that most couples are trying to decide between a few photographers and so a price list seems like a good place to start. However, what I didn’t clearly understand is that a price list for products without actually seeing those products is not all that helpful. It could even be confusing! So the easiest remedy for that is to just meet with the photographer! Touch and look at the albums, thank you cards, parent albums, large prints, etc. To that end, I’ve posted closeup images of various types of albums that I carry.

PS: And to my colleagues: my prices are not top secret! I update them 2-3 times each year, yet I share them freely. If another wedding photographer wants to know what I offer and for how much, just call me! (some of you have–Thank You)
No need to pretend to be an interested bride or groom….. Yes, I know. ;-)

To see more closeups, look within the Products category of posts.
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By wendy g | Also posted in Products, Wedding Tips | Comments (0)

Wedding Photography Advice Number One

April 10, 2007 – 1:38 am

Before I get into the nuts and bolts of your wedding day and how it can flow photographically, I must start with the basics. In my honest opinion, wedding photography and shoes have a lot in common. “Buy the best that you can afford”. Pause and think about why you hire a wedding photographer in the first place. What is it that you want? Are you mainly concerned with what sort of imagery you get for your money? Or are you mainly concerned with how many items you get for your money? Those of you who have talked with me know that my packages are two-fold. There is a Creative Fee to hire me. And there is a Product Credit used to purchase items. Even though it’s all within the package, I make the distinction because if you’re hiring me, you’re hiring my eye. My eye, my creativity, my time, and my presence on your wedding day are what you want. Using your Product Credit you can purchase whatever items you want. Albums, canvas prints, enlargements, thank you cards, etc are always available. I prefer to place the emphasis on the photography because that’s only available once. I hope I don’t sound too stern here! I just like to be clear and transparent for the sake of potential clients and photographers who read my Blog.

By wendy g | Also posted in Wedding Tips | Comments (1)

Hold Very Still

April 9, 2007 – 11:58 pm

This photo tip is so fundamental, I skipped right over it! Make sure that you hold your body, your hands, your camera very still when you take a photograph. Whether you’re using a “point-n-shoot” or a vintage film camera or the latest digital SLR YOU MUST KEEP STILL! So many images are out of focus because of camera-shake, ie the camera was ever so slightly in motion. Holding the camera with both hands (no more of this one-handed stuff!), place your left hand under the camera to support it, and use your right hand index finger to press the shutter-release. It may even help if you take a deep breath, exhale, and then press the shutter-release. I don’t care what kind of camera you have. Some of you have seen me do this even with my little point-n-shoot–because whatever I’m photographing, I mean it. I want to give that image the best chance possible of looking great. So I start out by eliminating camera-shake. I suggest you do the same. Have fun! Photograph!

By wendy g | Comments (0)

Composition–Filling the Frame

April 1, 2007 – 1:21 am

This is something that will immediately improve your photography. As you see something that you think would be cool to photograph, look through the viewfinder and really compose it. Let what you see in the viewfinder be exactly what you want in the photograph–no more, no less. Let each component be there (or not be there) for a reason. Even if you include what appears to be blank space, make sure that that blank space actually enhances the image. Sometimes that means moving in closer or to the side. Whatever—don’t be shy! Let what is included in that image be your vision and then go for it! Have fun! Photograph!

By wendy g | Comments (0)