T H E M O N T H LY
#ISSUE 13
|
SEPTEMBER 2019
A NOTE FROM BETSY: HOW I BALANCE IT ALL “How do you do it all?!?” This is the question I probably receive most from photographers in the early days of trying to balance EVERY. LAST. THING. And lucky for you, today I’m going to unveil the answer in ONE EASY step. The struggle is real: You’ve got the camera to learn, the clients to manage, the marketing and endless social media to-do’s, not to mention your own family, spouse, kids, friends, and maybe even the demands of another full-time job. Anyone else tired just reading all that?
So how do I balance it all? Grab your notebook… I don’t. Anticlimactic, wasn’t it? But it’s the truth. The reality is, none of us CAN balance it all. And I’m no exception. There is always something left undone. It might be dishes, a perfectly clean house, unwashed hair, an email that gets delayed longer than I planned, a homework project that gets 50% parental effort, a photo that gets “good enough” white balance instead of perfection, you name it. Truthfully, sometimes my kid needs my personal attention more than that client needs 20 minutes of skin retouching. And sometimes spending 5 extra minutes crafting a supportive email to a disgruntled client goes further than me having those minutes to clean a sparkling kitchen sink. Balance is a unicorn. It’s not real. What REALLY matters is being able to adapt to fluctuating priorities. Erwin McManus said, “It’s not balance you need, but adaptability.” And boy is that the truth. So the next time you start to panic that everyone else is “balancing it all” while you’re dropping the ball left and right, just find where it is you need to adapt. You’ll be happier AND more productive. I promise. Betsy
PHOTO TIP OF THE MONTH A RT I C L E A N D I M AG E S BY E D E L C L A R K
SUNNY 16 – THE OFTEN FORGOTTEN RULE THAT CAN HELP YOU NAIL EXPOSURE… EVERY TIME! Ok so some of you might be thinking, “the sunny what now?!” This is a rule that COULD be filed away as no longer needed now that we’ve moved on from film cameras and our dslr cameras come with internal light meters. But this rule is still so incredibly useful; used correctly, you can assess the quality and level of light and adjust your settings to get perfect exposure… without once checking the back of your camera! I know what you’re thinking… “Why can’t I just use my internal meter instead?” Well, in a lot of cases, you can (Though some would argue that understanding the sunny 16 rule means that you would have your settings entered into the camera much faster than assessing using the meter and adjusting from there).
2
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
But also, there are times when the meter can be misleading. The internal meter measures the amount of light in the scene – but unlike our eyes, the camera only sees light and dark, and it measures light that’s reflected off the scene back into our camera. So it can mistakenly read a snow or beach scene, or a white wedding dress for example, as being really bright – telling you to underexpose which in turn would lead to some dull and underexposed images! The Sunny 16 rule is instead based on incidental light – so the brightness of the light in the scene only. Also, the Sunny 16 rule is a good way to check if your camera is accurate with exposure, or underexposing/overexposing – which some cameras can do naturally.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE SUNNY 16 RULE? In photography, the Sunny 16 rule is a way of estimating correct daylight exposures by remembering the following: “On a clear, sunny day, with your aperture at f/16, and your ISO set to whatever it needs to be, your shutter speed will be the equal value to your ISO.” So for example, if your ISO is 200 at f/16, then your shutter speed will be 1/200th of a second. If your ISO is 100, then your shutter speed will be 1/100th of a second. Simple, right?
NOW – PART TWO – WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU SET YOUR CAMERA AT OTHER APERTURE VALUES?
Bearing in mind the exposure triangle, which is made up of ISO, shutter speed and aperture, if you decrease or increase one variable, you need to decrease or increase the others in order to compensate. If you go up a stop in one, you’ve got to go down a stop in another. ( A “stop” just means half or double the current value – so F16 to F11, ISO 200 to 400, Shutter speed 1/200th to 1/400th, etc.) Let’s go back to that first example above: f/16, ISO 200 and shutter speed 1/200th. If you want to open up your aperture by a stop by going from f/16 to f/11 to let in more light (the next aperture level down), then you have to go down a stop in either your shutter speed to 1/400th second or ISO to ISO100 to shut out more light. So here’s a quick run-down of what shutter speed that you will need if you open up your aperture one stop at a time. The ISO here is kept at ISO200 (you only need to change one variable to compensate for the change in aperture – and it’s easier to keep ISO the same and switch up shutter speed!)
And that’s literally it! Knowing the starting point for the Sunny 16 rule at F16, means that you can work backwards and apply the same rule to ANY aperture value, and any lighting situation you find yourself in! It’s not always possible to rely on your camera to know exactly what it’s seeing, and exactly what it is that you are trying to create. So trust yourself – learn the sunny 16 rule and soon it’ll become as second nature as pressing the shutter button.
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
3
PRO MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
BERENISE MTZ WHERE I CALL HOME: Holland , Michigan YEARS I’VE BEEN IN BUSINESS: Half a year MY NICHE / WHAT I SPECIALIZE IN: I specialize in child photography. WHY I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY: It helps get me out of the house. I’ve been a stay at home mom for the past 4 years and it allows others to see themselves through my artistic eye. ONE CHALLENGE IN MY BUSINESS THAT I’VE OVERCOME: One challenge in my business that I’ve overcome is putting myself out there. I’m always one to compare my work to others, and have been hesitant about actually starting a photography business. It’s been a hobby for the past 10 years but I’ve pursued photography as a business since last winter. ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT COLE’S CLASSROOM IS: The support that comes along with it. The Facebook page is soooo judgement free!
3 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME: 1. I’m obsessed with bees. 2. I’m always shy, except behind the camera. 3. I’ve never been on a plane, and don’t plan on it soon. I’m terrified.
WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM
4
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
GEAR HIGHLIGHT B Y K E L LY A C S
EVER WONDERED ABO UT THE SONY MIRRORLESS CAMER AS?
Taking the leap from my Canon Mark III and Mark IV was a really tough decision. After reading a million and one reviews, I decided on the Sony a7iii. I will tell you what I love and don’t love about making the switch!
THINGS I LOVE: The weight. THIS IS MY FAVORITE. It’s so light, and I can throw it in any bag. It feels about the weight of my Mark III/IV with my 85mm lens! The eye auto focus tracking. The focus on the Sony is AMAZING. Based on facial recognition, it will pick up human and animal eyes (it even worked on a painting)! It will track that eye to ensure you hit focus EVERY SINGLE TIME. This camera is PERFECT for traveling due to the compact body and lens options. You can purchase a MetaBones adaptor to use Canon, Nikor and Sigma lenses (yay for saving money and not ditching ALL your old gear).
CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON THE SONY A7III
THINGS I DON’T LOVE: The lens options are somewhat limited, and the lenses are pretty pricey! The menu on the Sony takes a good amount of time to understand (so you need at least a few days to understand it before taking it on a session)!
SONY A7RIII (THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS DOUBLE THE MEGAPIXELS AND A HIGHER PRICE TAG)
Overall, I can say that I LOVE this camera, and happy I made the switch after noticing some real focusing issues with my Canon Mark IV. Just the size itself made it worth the investment, as I know I will take it with me when I’m out and about with my family!
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
5
HOW TO NIX PHOTO SESSION JITTERS B Y B E T S Y D AV I S
We’ve all been there: the butterflies in the stomach, the anxiety, wracking your brain hoping to remember everything you want to do… Preparing for a photo session can be nerve wracking! And to be honest, even after photographing hundreds of sessions, I still get butterflies sometimes before heading into a shoot. But I also have a few ways that I have learned over time to reduce those presession jitters, and I think they will help you, too!
PREPARE Being prepared for your session is an obvious must, whether it’s creating a pre-session packing checklist, or a certain prep routine to make sure you and your equipment are ready. Ensuring that you are prepared ahead of time allows you to focus on the session and on your clients, instead of worrying about making sure you have what you need. Knowing that you are prepared is only half the battle. As a photographer, it is also your job to prepare your clients! One of the best ways to reduce your own nerves before a session is being confident that your clients are prepared and ready for their time with you. When your clients know what to expect, what to bring, and any other details, you are much less likely to have any mishaps before, during or after your session. Not only does this relieve you from undue anxiety, but it gives them the stress-free experience they are looking for, too!
HAVE A POSING FLOW Sometimes the nerves we have before a session are because of everything we are trying to remember at once. One of the best ways to relieve that stress is to have a go-to posing flow for your
6
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
sessions. A good posing flow helps your sessions to run like a well-oiled machine, where each part of the photo shoot feels like second nature. Instead of scrambling trying to remember what poses and photos you wanted to get, following the same general flow during each session will make the order of your sessions feel routine, freeing you to think instead about capturing the right moments and expressions from your clients.
PRACTICE GIVING DIRECTION One of the most common anxieties we hear about is giving direction to clients during the session. “I just don’t know what to say!” “I told them how to stand, but it was just awkward.” “I’m an introvert, so connecting with my clients is hard for me.” “I have no idea how to communicate what I want them to do or how to get the look I want!” “I feel so uncomfortable taking the lead.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The one thing I tell people when they say they are feeling uncomfortable or unnatural communicating with their clients is this: PRACTICE. Practice on your friends, practice on your spouse, practice in the bathroom mirror if you have to. Just like anything else, the things that we aren’t familiar or comfortable with can only be improved with practice. The reality is, none of us want to stumble our way through hundreds of clients before we finally get it right. So, practice behind the scenes wherever you
can! If you’re tired of fumbling through giving instruction, grab a friend and role play! Practice giving them posing instruction, and look for two things: 1) Is your instruction clear, and are they able to follow your directions with ease? If they aren’t clear on what you’re asking, then you know you need to find another way to give that instruction. 2) Do you sound and feel confident and assured while directing them? If not, keep practicing until giving instruction feels more natural and relaxed. Remember, your clients are counting on you to guide them as the professional. The quality of your instruction and the confidence you feel while giving it will improve the more you do it! With these things in mind you can walk into any photo session ready to do your best work!
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
7
NEW & COMING SOON! NOW AVAILABLE...
BACKSTAGE PASS EPISODE 11 EDITING A CLIENT VIDEO WITH KIMBERLEE!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW!
TACKLING TOUGH CLIENTS BREAKOUT WITH KATE
CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW! 8
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY NOTICED, WE’VE BEEN HARD AT WORK MAKING SURE TO CONSTANTLY BE RAISING THE BAR AND ADDING MORE AWESOME CONTENT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP SITE FOR YOU!
Here’s a list of recently added items that are now available, as well as upcoming things you can look forward to!
COMING SOON...
BACKSTAGE PASS EPISODE12 INDOOR / MATERNITY LIFESTYLE SESSION WITH KIMBERLEE
CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO THE LIVE WATCH PARTY!
PA R T N E R D I S C O U N T D E TA I L S
GET THE DEALS! Did you know that as a Cole’s Classroom Pro Member, you can receive exclusive deals and discounts on some awesome products and services?!
COLE’S CLASSROOM
SHOOTPROOF
GET 10% OFF ALL ITEMS SOLD IN
20% OFF YOUR FIRST YEAR OF
THE COLES CLASSROOM STORE.
SHOOTPROOF. VALID ON NEW, FIRST
CLICK HERE AND USE CLIQUEVIP
TIME SHOOTPROOF USERS ONLY WHEN
FOR YOUR DISCOUNT!
SELECTING A MONTHLY PLAN. CLICK HERE AND USE CLIQUE20 FOR YOUR
PROMO CODE: CLIQUEVIP
DISCOUNT!
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
HEY NED
THINK TANK PHOTO
THIS IS A COMPLETELY FREE
EXCLUSIVE FOR COLE’S CLASSROOM
RESOURCE FOR COLE’S
PRO MEMBERS: RECEIVE A FREE GIFT
CLASSROOM PRO MEMBERS!
FROM THINK TANK PHOTO WHEN YOU
LOGIN AND GET STARTED
PURCHASE ANYTHING THROUGH THIS
TODAY!
LINK:
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
9
PA R T N E R D I S C O U N T D E TA I L S
CPQ PROFESSIONAL IMAGING
JPEGMINI COLE’S CLASSROOM PRO
GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST
MEMBERS GET 20% OFF WHEN
ORDER! JUST CLICK THE LINK
YOU PURCHASE JPEGMINI PRO.
BELOW!!
PROMO CODE: COLESCLIQUE
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
SHOOTSAC
WOODEN PROP CREATIONS
COLE’S CLASSROOM PRO MEMBERS GET A SPECIAL DEAL FOR: •
•
BASIC SHOOTSAC LENS BAG WITH BLACK COVER BAROQUE POCKET COVER BAROQUE FLASH CARD WALLET
10% DISCOUNT FOR A MINIMUM SPEND OF £30. PROMO CODE: COLE10
A $247 VALUE FOR ONLY $199!
CLICK HERE
10
T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T
CLICK HERE
7 REASONS TO JOIN THE INSIDERS CLUB HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT WHILE UNLOCKING DRAMATICALLY MORE MEMBER BENEFITS? FOR THE BEST VALUE, YOU’LL WANT TO UPGRADE TO OUR INSIDERS CLUB.
HERE’S WHY: 1. Save $100 cash on Membership
5. No More Monthly Payments!
2. 12 Instant Free Product Credits
6. Access to the Exclusive Insiders
3. FREE Access to Breakout Class Lounges! 4. Instant Access to All New Courses
Facebook Group
7. Access to Focus Groups!
Compared to 45 Day Wait Time for Others
READY TO LOCK IN THE SAVINGS & UNLOCK MORE TRAINING? BECOME AN INSIDER OR PREMIUM MEMBER TODAY!
CLICK HERE TO UPGRADE NOW!