As a portrait photographer, you want to learn how to improve expression and gesture in your photos. Don't wait for the subject to come up with something interesting. We'll tell you why and how to improve your photos with expression and gesture. In this episode, we'll share: Why expression is critical for portraits What is gesture and how to use it How Expression and Gesture Tell Stories Remember, you're not just a photographer when it comes to creating portraits. You're the director and everyone...
Nov 13, 2019•17 min•Season 1Ep. 194
Photographers fail more than they succeed. That's why you need to embrace your failures as opportunities to learn. Analyze what went wrong, make some corrections, and try again. We'll help you enjoy the path of incremental improvement in this episode. You'll learn: Why you fail more than you succeed What failure is your path to becoming a better photographer Incremental improvement is the key to your future success The post Why Photographers Fail More Than They Succeed appeared first on William ...
Nov 06, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 193
Typography for photographers is a set of tips and advice for photographers who need to use typography for slides, social media and other graphics, but just don't know how to design great looking type. We'll tell you how to get started. You'll learn why and when to use typography with your photos. Every day issues like: Social Media Graphics YouTube Thumbnails Pinterest Images Blog Headers Marketing Material Watermarks/Branding Slideshows We'll give you the fundamental rules to make your typograp...
Oct 30, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 192
If you're looking for some photo composition ideas to improve your travel photographer, we have a list of things to help you bring out the character of your destination. Go beyond the usual Rule of Thirds and Leading Lines advice with this episode. You can learn how to drastically improve your travel photography and get an unfair advantage to create better photos. We'll help you know what to look for and find a way to get photos that other people miss. The post Photo Composition Ideas for Travel...
Oct 23, 2019•38 min•Season 1Ep. 191
Snapshots are getting a bad rap among photographers. Yet million of people understand the value of personal stories captured in the moment. Be sure to capture your own stories to share with family and friends. Life's precious moments won't wait for artistic photography. You need to be ready and engaged to capture some snapshots about the events and moments in life. Not just for yourself, but for your family down the line. We'll give some tips to help you take better snapshots, but the most impor...
Oct 16, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 190
We answer your questions about off-camera flash in this episode. Everything from when and why you need to use off-camera flash to where you should place the light. If you're just getting started with flash, check out this episode. Do you know whether to use eTTL or manual mode for your flash? What affects the results you get when using eTTL? We'll answer those questions and more. Knowing where to put the light or how to blend flash with ambient light are some common questions we'll also address....
Oct 09, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 189
The best way to begin photography is to avoid the usual pitfalls that suck in most photographers. We'll help you find your purpose, avoid unnecessary expenses and provide the key to creating better photographs. Too many beginning photographers get gear happy. We get it. When you aren't sure what to do, buying more gear is fun and a great way to experience. The problem is that great photos don't come from great gear. You have to pull them out of your soul with technique and emotion. We'll help yo...
Oct 02, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 188
Who should critique your photos? Having a critique can be a valuable experience to learn, but not everyone really knows how to do it well. We'll explain what makes a good photo critique and where to find someone you can trust to do it. Just as important as a good photo critique, we'll talk about some people who you should avoid when it comes to providing a photo critique. Unsolicited critiques are generally useless, but you also want to watch out for some signs that tell you who can provide a go...
Sep 25, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 187
Learn how to enhance iPhone photos with Lightroom CC. Editing photos on your mobile phone with Lightroom provides a lot of power and saves time. You can take advantage of advanced photo editing features and share on the go. We'll help you understand how to correct white balance errors in specific locations using the Mix tools. There's an order of operations to understand which tool to use, as some tools will affect the impact of others. We'll tell you the step-by-step process to make the best re...
Sep 18, 2019•38 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Should every photographer learn Photoshop? Clearly, many don't use Photoshop due to the learning curve that comes with it. We'll discuss the pros and cons of learning Photoshop, as well as some alternatives to Photoshop. We discuss the difference of capabilities between Lightroom and Photoshop. It mostly comes down to how much you need to enhance your photos, or how much you need to manipulate your photos. Of course, there are tasks that Lightroom simply can't handle, like creating composites, g...
Sep 11, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 185
First time photography frustrations may make you want to toss your camera in the lake, but there's joy on the other side of the learning curve. We'll discuss some major frustrations at different stages of photography and why you need to press on. When you think about it, most people don't start photography in order to understand how to use their camera. They want to get beautiful photos and understanding how to use the camera is just part of the process in order to capture great images. It doesn...
Sep 04, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 184
The MagMod system works for small flash and now they're getting into support for strobes. Find out why so many small flash photographers love MagMod and see if it's right for your photography. I'll be the first to say that the MagMod light modifiers are not inexpensive. However, there are built to last, lightweight and small to fit in your bag, and offer a wide array of options to create beautiful light for your subjects and background. I've used the MagMod light modifiers for a couple of years,...
Aug 28, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Every photographer needs an off-camera flash system, because there are always times when you need to control part of the light on your scene. We'll discuss what makes a flash system work, and some potential problems that cost money. Off-camera flash is a wonderful thing. It allows you to be a director with your lighting, even if you're working with wildlife or landscapes. There are times when you just need a punch of light to emphasize part of your photo. So why do you need a flash system? Isn't...
Aug 21, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 182
Make your subject pop in your photographs. It's one of the best ways to draw people into your photos, and we'll share a number of tips to help your subject stand out in your photos. The key concept is to find ways to cause some contrast between your subject and everything else in the photograph. You can do things to help before your photo session, as you're taking photos, or in post processing. We'll discuss how to use some of the tools and techniques at your disposal to compose your photo to en...
Aug 14, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 181
What enhances a woman's face and body? We'll discuss the differences between good makeup and good post-processing, the big difference between reducing vs eliminating and the things photographers shouldn't forget. We all want our portrait subjects look their best, but what does that mean and how should we go about it? It turns out that there's a fair amount of things you can do before you click the shutter that not only helps enhance beauty, but also saves you a ton of time in post processing. So...
Aug 07, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 180
Thinking of buying a new camera? Thinking of switching brands? It could be a good idea or maybe just a waste of money. We'll help you understand when it's time to upgrade or switch, or when you should stick with your current camera. There are plenty of good reasons to buy a new camera. My favorite reason is "because I WANT it." If that isn't your reason, then you may want to think about what you stand to benefit from making a switch - particularly if you're going to change brands or systems. Tha...
Jul 31, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 179
Learn how to create a photography portfolio and why you need one. Your portfolio is a visual resume. It doesn't just show what you can do. Your portfolio shows the kind of work that you want to get hired to do. If you're interested in attracting new business or showing your expertise in a specific part of your photography, we'll help you understand how to build a great portfolio. The post How to Create a Photography Portfolio appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit the show notes at: h...
Jul 24, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 178
If you want to know how to be creative when you don't feel like it, it's important to know why you feel that way and who wants you to be creative. We'll share some tips to help you turn on your creativity when you need it. It's important to know your audience and what they like to get from you. That narrows down your options, which is a good way to find something creative. Serving others has benefits. One of the biggest thieves of your creativity is stress, burnout and being overworked. We'll he...
Jul 17, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 177
What is truth in photography, and does it matter? We'll explore how photography distorts the truth and how. Everything from your lens choice to your angle of view and even the timing of you photo bends the truth a little bit. In this episode, we'll explore: What is truth? How photography distorts the truth Why a little absence of truth is a good thing Do people look to photography for truth? We edit photos to make them look more desirable to viewers, but how can you ensure your photos are true, ...
Jul 10, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 176
Your photography direction will change as you gain experience, meaning the kind of photos you enjoy taking when you start aren't likely to be what you enjoy as you gain experience. Starting photography is a lot like learning how to drive. There are a lot of rules to remember, and a lot of technical issues to master. The subjects you choose when you start are rather forgiving. Just as the roads you drive when you start aren't as challenging as the ones you use later. As you gain experience, both ...
Jul 03, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 175
One of the most common questions I'm asked about portraiture is where to put the light. Today, we're going to answer that question by sharing five portrait lighting patterns. To be honest, this is the wrong question to ask. That's because the best place to put your light is to get the result you want. so the real question to ask for portrait lighting is: What kind of shadows do I want on my subject's face? There is a time and place for each of the five portrait lighting patterns, and we'll discu...
Jun 26, 2019•11 min•Season 1Ep. 174
The world is full of bad photography advice. We give some common examples and tell you how to recognize when you're getting less than expert information. Some people mean well and keep repeating bad advice. Other people think they know it all and desperately want to show off, even if they don't have any experience to back up the advice they're giving. In this episode, you'll find out: The Internet is full of bad advice How to Recognize Bad Advice Some Examples of Bad Photography Advice We cover ...
Jun 19, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 173
What's your backup strategy to save your photos? Every single hard drive will fail. It isn't a matter if "if", but "when" a drive fails. It's impossible to avoid. When your drive fails, you need a strategy to save your precious data. For photographers, that means your RAW files, final JPEGS, Photoshop files, Lightroom Catalog and perhaps more. In this episode, I'll share my own experiences with catastrophic failure and near loss of everything. We'll go over the 3-2-1 backup strategy so you can u...
Jun 12, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 172
Learn how to use photographs to tell your stories. We have a love of stories programmed in our DNA. You can use your photographs to reach viewers on a deeper level. In this episode, you'll learn: Why you want to tell stories with your photos The elements you need to understand to tell a story How to tell stories either with a single photo or a series of photos You'll also find a coupon code for a discount on Skylum software, like Luminar and Aurora HDR. The post REPLAY: How to Use Photography to...
Jun 05, 2019•21 min
Every photographer needs a tripod to get those tack sharp photos or long exposures, but there are times when tripods become annoying and it's time to put them down. If you want to do any of the following, you need a tripod: Long exposures Tack sharp photos HDR Focus stacking Stroboscopic photos Food or Product photography There are many more times when a tripod really helps, and it's an essential tool. We'll discuss which types and materials to buy depending upon your needs. Some tripods cost a ...
May 29, 2019•31 min•Ep. 171
Everyone has a relationship with food, so it's an interesting story for most people. We all eat at least once a day, and hopefully more. Food photography is a great subject to build your audience - whether you're looking for a nutritional message, culinary tips, or just Instagram-worthy photos. We'll help you understand how to create interesting backgrounds, lighting and styling for your food photos for studio or Instagramming your favorite restaurant menu items. In this episode, you'll learn: W...
May 22, 2019•54 min•Ep. 170
Looking for some inspiration for your next photo? Well, you won't find it here. In this episode, we discuss why inspiration - while good - isn't the secret to creating better photos. Inspiration is unreliable. Yet plenty of photographers and influencers propose to offer you inspiration for your photography. We think that's a bit misleading, because that isn't how inspiration works. In this episode, you'll learn: Why ideas and examples aren't inspiration That real inspiration is a surprise How to...
May 15, 2019•25 min•Ep. 169
You will never progress as a "wanna-be" photographer. Learn why it's imperative to assert that you are a photographer and how that changes the way you approach your photography. In this episode, we'll help you learn: Why you have to stop Wanting and start Being a photographer Why your mental attitude about photography affects your performance as a photographer How to get started as a photographer The post Why You Don't Want to Be a Photographer (You Are One) appeared first on William Beem Photog...
May 08, 2019•18 min•Ep. 168
How you behave as a photographer can mean the difference between getting a photo or not. If you have poor etiquette, you won't find much luck getting access or collaborating with others. In this episode, we'll define a few things: What is photo etiquette Why this matters to amateurs and professionals alike Why your online behavior may matter more than your in-person behavior The number one question you need to ask yourself before presenting yourself as a photographer Lee and I tried to approach ...
May 01, 2019•28 min•Ep. 167
Photos are visual stories, and every great story should tug at your emotions. When you know your audience, you begin to understand what they want and how you can serve them. Evoking emotions is one of the best ways you can develop your audience. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: Why do we tell stories? The two primary methods of evoking an emotion Why emotions help your photography improve The post Why Every Photo Should Evoke an Emotion appeared first on William Beem Photography. Visit ...
Apr 24, 2019•25 min•Ep. 166
