Learn how to select your best portrait after completing a session. It's daunting when you have dozens or hundreds of photos. We'll show you how to choose the best portrait. You'll learn how to use groups to divide and conquer with your portrait session photos. Then we'll show you what criteria to use in order to find your best portraits and eliminate the rest from consideration. As a result of using this process, you'll do better on your next portrait session when you know what you want, so you ...
Jul 08, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 224
Deciding which type of print to select for your photo can be tough, but we try to help in this episode. Check out our advice on paper, canvas and metal prints for your photos. We'll share the importance and impact of printed photos and why you may want to start printing your own photos. Then we'll delve into how you can prep your photos for printing, and decide which type of material, frame and features are right for printing your photos. The post Which Type of Print is Right for My Photo? appea...
Jul 01, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 223
Introducing a New Search Tool for Our Podcast. Now you can find anything mentioned on the I Like Your Picture podcast with a quick search on our blog. Audio search is real and it's now available to you on the blog. Just listen to this episode for instructions to search and some examples of how it works. Not only does this tool provide audio search, but it's also creating transcripts for the podcast episodes to help you find information from past episodes and posts. The post Introducing a New Sea...
Jun 24, 2020•7 min•Season 1Ep. 222
I answer 5 questions about lighting from an experienced photographer who isn't familiar with off-camera flash. We'll share different answers that can work for everyone. Have you been a photographer for a while, but just never got into off-camera flash? That's exactly why I asked Lee to come up with questions for me about lighting. You don't have to spend a lot of money to use off-camera flash in your photos, and sometimes the answer doesn't require any flash at all. Be sure to listen to this epi...
Jun 17, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 221
Learning how to convey a mood in a portrait helps your audience understand the story you're sharing. A mood immediately tells viewer's what's going on in your photo. You can use mood to set the groundwork for a positive or negative feeling within your story, which helps support the emotion you want your audience to feel. We'll share a bunch of elements and ideas you can use in your portraits to define the mood of your story. The post How to Convey Mood in a Portrait Session appeared first on Wil...
Jun 10, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 220
Your portrait session isn't done until you deliver your photos. How you deliver your photos says something about you and the experience you create. There are three broad categories of delivery, and we'll discuss all of them. Digital files Print Books and layouts Delivering the photos you took in your portrait session is the last thing people will remember about you. We'll help you think of ways to impress your subject and team so they want to work with you again. The post Deliver Your Photos to ...
Jun 03, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 219
Knowing how to post process your portrait isn't just a matter of slapping on a preset. We'll tell you how to select your best photos and provide a workflow to process your portrait. Learn how to review similar photos to choose your best shot. Then we'll talk about how to clean up your images and the right order to do it. Finally, we'll discuss methods to enhance your photo and sell your story to give your audience a portrait they'll love. The post How to Post Process Your Portrait appeared first...
May 27, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 218
Ever show up for a portrait session and just wing it because you have no idea what to do? This episode gives you a framework to help your odds of success. We'll share things you need to know and communicate with your talent, how to review your set and get the most from your portrait session. Portraits are collaborations by nature, and the size of your team may vary. We'll discuss the different roles that you need to consider, even if someone has to double or triple-up on their responsibilities. ...
May 20, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 217
Learn how to plan a portrait session so you're prepared on the day of your photoshoot. We'll discuss the people and things you need to organize for your portrait session. You'll need to gather your team and start assembling the things you need to bring your portrait concept to life. The post How to Plan a Portrait Session appeared first on William Beem Photography . Visit the show notes at: https://williambeem.com/episode216
May 13, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 216
Understanding that photography is not reality is the gateway to artistic expression. Photography is just a representation of something, so give yourself permission to be an artist. You'll never see a waterfall the same way as a long exposure photograph, so what are we trying to achieve? The truth is that photography is merely a representation of something. If you're caught up in trying to capture reality, you'll never progress. Give yourself the freedom to create something and let go of the illu...
May 06, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 215
When it's time to develop a portrait concept, you want to let your imagination flow. However, we'll give you some guidelines to keep your concept in the right direction. Think of this episode as a framework for your creative imagination. It's good to come up with an original concept, but also daunting if you don't know where to begin. We'll give you a few guidelines to consider as you explore your imagination to develop your portrait concept. The post How to Develop a Portrait Concept appeared f...
Apr 22, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 214
How much light do you need for your photos? We're not just asking about the total volume of light, but what parts of your scene do you need to light and how many light sources do you need? While some photos with a lot of brightness and light work well, there are also times when you shouldn't overnight your subject. How do you know the difference, and how can you work your scene with one or more light sources to get the right look for your photograph? The post How Much Light Do You Need? appeared...
Apr 15, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 213
Does every photo need to tell a story? This episode dives into photos and art that's a bit more abstract and doesn't tell a story, yet still has visual impact and interest. Why is abstract photography interesting? How can you use color, shape and light to create a visually interesting photograph? We'll cover all of that in this episode of I Like Your Picture. The post Does Every Photo Need to Tell a Story? appeared first on William Beem Photography . Visit the show notes at: https://williambeem....
Apr 08, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 212
Are you stuck at home? It happens to all photographers sooner or later. We have 10 ideas to help your photography while you wait out the storm or whatever else keeps you at home. There are plenty of opportunities for photographers to get organized, learn something new, practice, or have some fun with a family portrait session. The post Ideas for Photographers Stuck at Home appeared first on William Beem Photography . Visit the show notes at: https://williambeem.com/episode211...
Apr 01, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 211
We've identified four common photography obstacles and have some advice to overcome them. Is something getting in the way of creating the photos you want to create? We'll help you identify when you need to learn something new, how to have confidence, gaining approval from others or just overthinking the situation. The post Common Photography Obstacles appeared first on William Beem Photography . Visit the show notes at: https://williambeem.com/episode...
Mar 25, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 210
When we get more experience as photographers, we learn how to create unexpected compositions for our audience. The goal is to give our viewers something new, unexpected and interesting for them to enjoy. What is the ultimate goal of photography? Is it merely to document a person, place or object? Maybe for some. For others, it's an artistic expression. While we grow as photographers, our audience expects more from us than merely repeating the same old things. They get bored if we don't show them...
Mar 18, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 209
Use our Lightroom Classic Development Workflow Checklist to get the best results processing your photos and save time wasting tactics that cause rework. If you think that working your way through the Lightroom Classic Develop module panels from top to bottom is the right order, you're wrong. We've broken down your post processing flow into three sections to Prepare your photo, Enhance it and then Add Effects. You'll learn the right order to resize, crop, clean up, apply global adjustments and lo...
Mar 11, 2020•33 min•Season 1Ep. 208
Rhythm and Proportion in photography are two elements of composition that you can use to engage your audience. Rhythm shows patterns that draw the eye closer, while proportion shows how to use objects of different size in your photos. Rhythm in photography happens when you use patterns, like rings of water emanating out after you drop a stone in a still pond, or rows of seats in a stadium. One of the interesting things you can do is show how to interrupt that pattern, and cause your viewer to pa...
Mar 04, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 207
Use texture in your photography to create a bit of tactile sensory input for your audience, to direct the eye, and add create contrast in your photos. Texture helps you create a bit of an illusion with your viewer's mind. When they see something with texture, they start to imagine how it feels. That increases their engagement with your photo. You can use texture to direct the eye to your subject, or create contrast between your subject and background. Some photographers add their texture in post...
Feb 26, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 206
Contrast in photography is more than just tonal differences. You can add contrast with color, texture of concepts. We'll help you understand why contrast works and how to use it for your audience. Contrast helps your subject stand out from its surroundings. You can help emphasize your subjects with color, tones, textures or concepts - like a fish out of water. The post Why Contrast in Photography is So Important appeared first on William Beem Photography . Visit the show notes at: https://willia...
Feb 19, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 205
Do you know how to choose the right subject for your photo? It's amazing how many random snapshots seem to lack a subject. You can make any subject look good, but it's vital to have a subject in your photo. You can emphasize your subject with a few techniques: Placement in the frame How you light the subject Using the background and surroundings to tell a story In this episode, we'll help you understand if you have the right subject and show you have to make it stand out in your photos. The post...
Feb 12, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 204
You can use depth and dimension in your photography to help your viewer enjoy a sense of realism. Instead of looking at a flat 2D image, your photos become a window to view your scene. We'll discuss some techniques to add depth and dimension, including: Foreground, Middle and Background Natural Frames Leading Lines Use Perspective Depth of Field Point of View Point of Focus Selective Lighting Shadows The post How to use Depth and Dimension in Your Photography appeared first on William Beem Photo...
Feb 05, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 203
Learn how to use movement in your photography to create anticipation, tension and interest in your photos. We'll share some different techniques to imply movement in your still photos. Movement in photography is a great way to make your audience stop and take a good look at your photos. Movement gives a much more lifelike appearance to your subjects. People wonder what will happen next, and they engage with your photos as they ponder the possibilities. The post How to Use Movement in Your Photog...
Jan 29, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 202
Understand how to use space and balance in your photo compositions. We'll teach you the five elements of balance and three elements of space, and how to use them in your art. Everything in your photograph should serve a purpose for the final composition, but how do you know if each element is in the right place? We'll discuss how you can impact the emotional strength and message of your photography just by using some simple concepts to arrange the balance and space in your photographs. The post ...
Jan 22, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 201
We're celebrating 200 episodes of visual storytelling on the I Like Your Picture podcast. If you're new to the show, join William and Lee to understand how to improve your photography with visual storytelling. We'll review the five elements you need to understand when you're taking photos. Audience Background Light Subject Emotion Get our free guide to visual storytelling to go over each of these points with photos to show how we implement each step. Just visit: https://williambeem.com/visualsto...
Jan 15, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 200
Every element in your photograph should have some unity together to support your subject and story. We'll talk about why unity is important and what elements you need to consider to create unity in your photos. You'll learn about the elements that can help you create unity in your photography, such as: Color Harmony Mood Lighting Supporting Subjects The post How to Create Unity in Your Photography appeared first on William Beem Photography . Visit the show notes at: https://williambeem.com/episo...
Jan 08, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 199
Learn how to take outstanding family Christmas photos without missing out on the fun or interfering with your holiday gathering. We'll teach you how to prepare to get the great photos your family will treasure. You'll learn how to plan your shot list and involve your family to make it work, how to capture the special moments without interfering with them, and ho you can share your Christmas photos with your family and friends. The post How to Take Family Christmas Photos appeared first on Willia...
Dec 11, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 198
Top-Down Photos are an easy way to be creative, either with or without collaborating with someone else. We'll share some easy ways to light and decorate a simple set for your top-down photos. You'll learn how to plan your top-down photos and design your set. We'll tell you where we find great resources for our top-down photos, and how you can build your set in layers. Next, we'll share some simple lighting ideas - using either window light or of-camera flash. We'll review how to support your cam...
Dec 04, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 197
Knowing how to decide which lens to use can really improve your composition and storytelling in photography. We'll review lens criteria and share how to make the right choice for your story. A lens is more than just a focal length. You need to consider the angle of view, the bokeh you may want, how it performs in low light photography and even the kind of distortion it causes. All of these factors about lenses should be part of your decision making process. We'll talk about some of the creative ...
Nov 27, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 196
Photo composition is more than leading lines and rule of thirds. You also have to know what doesn't belong in your photo and what elements shouldn't obstruct each other. We share the photo composition tips no one else talks about. It helps to understand how people really interact with your photos so that you know how to craft compositions they'll love. For example, did you know that most people view a photo from the bottom up? How would you change your composition as a result? What's the best pe...
Nov 20, 2019•15 min•Season 1Ep. 195
