Professional headshots are becoming a must when sending along your resume to potential future employers. Believe it or not, a lot of companies care to see what you look like before being hired. Though I personally don’t believe looks should be considered in the hiring process, this is the world we live in and, when you need a job, conforming to things you don’t particularly agree with is bound to happen. For the photographers shooting these professional headshots, it’s important to put some TLC into it for the client’s sake and your own. We got some tips to assure your process finds its preferred outcome, here’s a few: 2. Light it up – ![]() Photo by Bradford Rogne Photography 3. Simplicity is key – A professional shoot is supposed to be well, mostly professional. It should capture something that would be seen in the workplace. Keep a solid or gradient neutral color in the backdrop, or even an out of focus workspace. Just whatever you do – stay away from crazy patterns. Make sure to style the clients hair sleekly and keep out of their face. For facial hair, keep it manicured and soft. For make-up, keep it natural but noticeable to show effort.
5. Define their features – The amount of resumes and headshots employers go through on a daily basis can be overwhelming. Defining your clients unique crevices and features can really go far. Employers prefer headshots that are easily identified when sifting through their hundreds of candidates, making their job less soul-crushingly mundane. 6. Make it fun! – Ok, there may not be any fun behind professional headshot shoots, but if you have the incentive to make it a good time, it will happen. Try some music and maybe a little champagne. The client will feel more comfortable and their expression will show. Besides, they aren’t professional models who are used to being in the spotlight, so loosening up the vibe will do them justice.
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Insects creep out many people, that’s true. But for macro photographers, there might not be a better subject. Creepy as they may be, insects are also very photogenic if you get close enough. Insects offer spectacular colours and structures. Trying out insect photography will be like discovering a whole new world.... The post Up Close and Personal: The Wild World of Insect Photography appeared first on Expert Photography. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2BrqrFp What’s the quickest way to devalue a creative profession? Ask an artist for their time and work free of charge. British tattoo artist Jay Hutton, of E4’s Tattoo Fixers, unintentionally accrued quite a bit of backlash for his request that a wedding photographer shoot his special day…for no payment. A representative of Hutton’s reached out to a number of photographers looking for a “duo” to capture their wedding day. Their chosen payment method? Exposure on the tattoo artist’s social media accounts. The message reads: “The promotional value of social media is second to none and something we charge a great deal for. In exchange for photographing the day, Jay will credit selected photos on social media to the photographer and their website. After a short period of time after the wedding date we will also allow preselected images to be promoted by the photographer on their own website or social media platform. On top of this we would cover travel and food for the day.” People who work in creative fields, especially those who are not well-established and constantly looking for ways to use their talents, are often plagued with the decision of whether or not to give their services for “exposure“. Of course, exposure is important when trying to make a name for yourself. But many artists find working for free devalues their entire profession, as their time and energy is worthy of payment just like any other’s. Hutton’s request in particular hit a nerve with the photography community, where many people are appalled that, as an artist himself, Hutton would ask for their artistic services without payment. One photographer who received the message from Hutton’s representatives posted the message to a Facebook group, “Stop Working for Free”, which has over 22,000 members. The comments ranged from offended to outraged: “This is disgusting behavior, especially coming from someone who talks about ‘getting what you pay for’ on Tattoo Fixers.” “His social media followers are probably spread all over the country and the world, so it won’t be much good for a wedding photographer based in Chester or North Wales.” “How many people who follow a celebrity on Instagram or Facebook are really going to be a potential customer?” Phil Micheu, freelance photographer, says on Hutton, “He’s a prominent businessman who is supposedly a professional. Surely he respects the professionalism of other business people?” The fact that Hutton, as an artist, gets paid quite a bit for his services, and then asks for a fellow artist’s services free of charge is a slap in the face to the photography community, as it essentially declares that their work is somehow unworthy of proper payment. What exactly Hutton’s intentions were with this odd payment offer is not clear, as he must have assumed some would find his request distasteful. Seeing that his proposal sparked a good amount of controversy, it’s safe to say he likely won’t find a photographer to work for free anytime soon. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2n7ofyN “I…WAS…ROASTED,” exclaims a dolled-up Elle Darby in her video “i was exposed (SO embarrassing).” “Savage,” she repeats, “just savage.”
For those unfamiliar with the story behind her claims of “savagery” and defamation, here it goes: Elle Darby, a social media influencer 86.7k followers on Instagram, and a self-described “Beauty, lifestyle & fitness YouTuber,” was thinking of taking a trip to Dublin over Valentine’s Day along with her partner, Colin. In preparation, she sent out a few emails to local hotels offering to “feature” them in her “Youtube videos/dedicated Instagram stories/posts [in order] to bring traffic to [their] hotel” in exchange for a “free accommodation” (in the above video she says free or reduced, but the latter possibility isn’t mentioned in the original letter). ![]() Instagram Screenshot Now the reason I can quote all of this to you is because that hotel, The White Moose Cafe, took the liberty of posting her email–with her name and information redacted–along with a lengthy response on their Facebook page. ![]() The Email. Screenshot: Facebook Amongst the assorted ramblings typically directed toward millennials who refuse to “pay [their] way along with everyone else,” was this gem:
![]() The Response. Screenshot: Facebook LOLOLOL. The letter was signed by Paul Stenson, whose face, it should be noted, pops up when you visit their website, along with a message reading “Welcome to the Charleville Lodge Website, legit the best place for your squad to stay woke. How can we help?” (I’m so confused as to who this place is marketing to. People who are hip enough to know this lingo but aloof enough to distance themselves from it all and look upon it with disdain?) ![]() Screenshot Charlevillelodge.ie At this point, Elle posted the above video, receiving (duh) widespread support from her followers. Interestingly, at around the 1:10 mark, she begins her spiel by declaring “I work as a ‘social media influencer,'” putting her job title in scare quotes. This seems to me like concession to Mr. Stenson’s position that she doesn’t have a real job; if she had only also included “work” in quotes, they would have practically seen eye-to-eye. But, alas, this story was far from over. A quick recap of the events that transpired next:
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Government Seizes Photographers Laptop Photographers Everywhere Immediately Seem Way More Badass
1/23/2018
Simon Edelman had his laptop seized by the federal government, who have yet to return it. He was also escorted from his office by a team of security guards, his job terminated immediately. His crime? Taking pictures. ![]() Mr. Edelman himself [Photo Courtesy: The Department of Energy]
However, during one meeting between several heads of the coal industry, including Robert E. Murray of Murray Energy, and the head of the Department of Energy, Rick Perry, Mr. Edelman snapped some wonderfully candid images. Among them are a shot of Mr. Murray and Mr. Perry “bear hugging”, a photographer’s delight with their wonderfully spontaneous display of affection. The other was an interesting, if less widely appealing, image of the memos that the group was discussing, seen from the point of view of behind one of its readers’ heads. ![]() Two bears hugging. [Photo Courtesy: The Department of Energy/Simon Edelman] Mr. Edelman subsequently left and his images went unnoticed for months, stored–at the government’s behest–on his Google Drive. ![]() Mr. Murray [Photo Courtesy: Murray Energy] ![]() Rick Perry, or, hands-down the most handsome Secretary of Energy except for maybe Daniel Poneman. [Photo Courtesy: Department of Energy] Whichever side of the aisle you fall on, I think we can all agree that we owe Mr. Edelman a big thank you for making photography seem super badass, its practitioners capable of espionage and the stealing of state secrets. While this is woefully untrue, we can still hope that one day–with the help of brave pioneers like Simon Edelman–it will be.
Feature Image Courtesy Sergiu Nista @unsplash via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2F4pHIB Winter brings sub-zero temperatures, the threat of frostbite, and permanently red noses. For those of us looking at the world through the lenses of our cameras, it also brings a fresh coat of snow that makes everything sparkle. At first, you might enjoy how that glimmer of sunshine makes everything... The post Brave the Cold: Winter Landscape Photography Tricks appeared first on Expert Photography. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2n6BUoG As no stranger to portrait photography that captures the essence of humanity in its natural beauty, Michel Leroy knew he was onto something with his most recent photo series. Leroy’s stunning photo collection—titled “Alchemy” for reasons that become obvious upon first viewing—does so much with so little. With the nude bodies of professional athletes as his only subject matter, the images capture the ethereal beauty of the human form, without the sexual objectification that often comes along with shooting the body in its most vulnerable state. On his intentions with the photo series, Leroy says: “Over the years I have photographed so many athletes and know how they move with a body-awareness and confidence that transcends the average. We live in such a volatile moment of history that anything which addresses race and gender is emotionally supercharged so I wanted to create body-positive images that are inclusive of size and diversity, images that unite and celebrate a range of athletes without sexual objectification.“ Leroy certainly succeeds in this feat—the photos feature figures that are seemingly sculptural in their nature, creating a perfect balance of elegance and precision. The metallic skin is striking and accentuates the contours of the subject’s body, resulting in a vivid photo that celebrates athletic vitality while maintaining the pure delicacy of the bare body. So how did Leroy do it? With months of experimentation with various techniques and combinations of digital and film equipment. Leroy says, “It’s the combination of gear and lighting that gives the skin the unique dark metallic look not body paint or Photoshop.” The project, which took almost a year to complete and features over 30 athletes, was born from a creative exploration that allowed Leroy “to create a body of images that explore a single idea in depth.” Once he honed his technique and realized the truly unique nature of the images, Leroy made it a point to keep the project out of the social spotlight until he was ready to unveil what he’d created. As far as his process goes, the poses may look effortless and dripping with poise, but what it took to get the shots actually required a great deal of diligence and exactitude—”Because I am shooting digital with studio strobes I can capture fast action but the process itself is very, very slow,” Leroy explains. While the brilliant quality of “Alchemy” is apparent even when viewing the images from a computer screen, they truly come to life in large scale prints. Printed onto pristine museum quality archival paper, the 3×4 foot prints are entrancing, making even the smallest details come into astounding clarity. I can only dream of having one of these photo prints hanging over my fireplace some day. Leroy’s website currently features just 25 images of the “Alchemy” collection, but over 50 more are set to be released in the months ahead. Visit the site to witness Leroy’s stunning creation for yourself…but if you need a quick preview, here are some of my favorites: via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2DYEKEh Mark Zuckerberg has just announced another change to Facebook’s algorithm, but this time it’s actually kind of interesting. They’ve taken initiative in making our user experience more enjoyable, and through a long look at feedback from the billions of site-goers, they’ve revamped their algorithm to promote more personal content on our feeds, rather than news and videos. You’ve likely noticed in the past year or two that your Facebook feed is lacking in the “social” aspect that made it so appealing in the site’s initial release. Facebook is really no longer the place we go to see content from our friends and families, as our feeds are typically loaded with random content pushed by publishers and videos from various media sources. ![]() Adam Mosseri Fred Vogelstein at Wired sat down with Adam Mosseri, Facebook’s Vice President in charge of newsfeed, to get a better understanding of Facebook’s intentions with this new shake up. Mosseri really hammered home the fact that this is an all-in effort to bring us more content from the people we actually care about, and to ensure our feeds are full of content we find interesting and inspiring. He says, “What we’re going to try and do is better identify and value meaningful social interactions between people. We want the newsfeed to be a place where people have conversations, where they connect with people. So we’re going to focus more on that, and less on how much time people spend on Facebook and on newsfeed, and less on even how much they share directly.” Facebook is attempting to significantly lessen content like news and videos, partly because they are much more passive in nature. With videos, all you are really doing is staring at the screen and letting someone else do the thinking for you. Also, while you are watching a video you can’t like or comment on anything else, which is a huge concern for Facebook and the way they analyze content. Facebook will use things like comments and likes to hone in on the content we personally find more interesting, and will boost this content to the top of our feeds. So this doesn’t mean the end to news on our feed. Lets say you are really interested in a hot topic in the news and you actively click, search for, like, and comment on content pertaining to that topic, news stories of interest will still show up on your feed. However, publishers will no longer have the ability to shove their posts in your face regardless of whether you care or not. The main purpose of this new change for Facebook is to create an environment from which conversation can grow. I, for one, will be incredibly happy when the day comes where I take genuine interest in what I see in my feed, instead of scroll mindlessly through floods on irrelevant content. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2DpWFmn CES 2018 is in full affect and the products and innovations this year were diverse and definitely market must-haves.From unheard of ware and gadgets to improved and more reliable essentials, CES 2018 has got it all. Although the anticipation to grab some of these bad boys is in full effect, note that some of these products haven’t been released yet or are up for preorder only. Without further adieu, here are some of CES 2018 best showcased products for the creator’s community.
BeoSound shape – Created by company Bang & Olufsen, who are known for their crisp sound and unconventional designs. Their newest wall-mounted wireless speaker is perfect for those who don’t want to compromise look for sound. The system is compatible with wired audio inputs, AirPlay, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth 4.1. Incredible sound and a customizable aspect that gives you the chance to style to your own taste, ultimately makes these speakers the first speaker of its kind. Ryze Tech Tello Quadcopter – Finally, an affordable drone that doesn’t suck. With the help of DJI and Intel, the Chinese start up company, Ryze Tech was able to develop this highly-capable and low-price drone. For $99 bucks you get 13 minutes of fly time and VR headset compatibility, making this drone best for beginners on a budget. Fujifilm Instax Mini 70 Instant Film Camera – Our favorite little instant film camera just got a whole lot sleeker and functional. While the mirror remains, the 70 added a whole new selfie setting mode, something you rarely see on an instant film camera. This newbie also incorporated a tripod socket and claims to capture darker scenes much clearer than before, which were both highly needed upgrades. It’s safe to say the Fujifulm Instax Mini 70 will blow its predecessor out of the water. Flip – Another invention that will further cancel out paper being used in the work place: Samsung LG‘s new electronic like white board. Designed as a paper flip chart, but with the perks of easily being able to showcase notes on your phone or receive them straight from the Flip board. As creators we’re always in search of the most efficient and convenient way to communicate, collaborate, cut down meeting time, and be on the same page, making Flip the answer to a lot of these work-flow needs.
Travis The Translator – This little gadget is a necessity for all you traveling photographers who need to instantly break those dreaded language barriers. With 80 languages at your fingertips you won’t be needing to hire anyone anywhere to translate, so in reality the $199 dollars you’ll be spending on this product is well worth it. Travis is operated by WiFi or a SIM card, so just tap your native language, the one you want to communicate in, speak, and let Travis do the talking. PUP Scan – In this digital age, we find any way to ditch print. Sure some may say the death of print is a bad thing, but in Pup’s case, it’s certainly good. Endless receipts, business cards, pictures, and contracts have taken over your desk and life at this point, so a handheld device to archive and share it all instantly is a heaven sent. Simply fit the lasers to the document, scan, and then choose if you want to share, print, or save it. While $299 is a pretty penny, organization and saving trees seem like a good trade off. Pup is a superb product for the creator on the go, the minimalist, or even someone who seems to misplace everything.
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1/22/2018
There are two types of people on Instagram. The ones with meh feeds filled with far too many dog selfies and “original” shots of the #OOTD (outfit of the day)… AND the ones that stop you dead in your tracks mid-scroll and make you feel like you just received a postcard from an old friend -- with a story written especially for you. THESE are the types of perfectly curated feeds that turn you inside out with awe and maybe a sprinkle of jealousy (totally normal btw). Your eyes widen when you see a pic of your arch-nemesis with her perfectly tousled hair and artisan coffee blend in a hand painted mug. #WokeUpLikeThis And, before you know it, your traitorous finger has doubled-tapped that heart, just like everybody else. (How does *she* always have so many likes and comments when you can barely score a hundred on a good day?) Your engagement drops, comments trickle, and you end up feeling like a Loser with a capital L (← THE WORST). Lately, you’ve even caught yourself…
Now, here’s the thing (and there’s always a thing)… Every time Instagram’s algorithm changes, it also changes the way you show up in front of your ideal client. The drop in engagement is NOT because you aren’t putting in enough time. Au contraire! It’s NOT because your content isn’t great (I bet it is). And it’s definitely NOT because you’re boring (far from it). The rules of the game have simply changed. Then take a seat, friend, because things are about to get real up in here. When you’re play the game right, you can take advantage of Instagram and grow a following that…
More engagement. More bookings. More $$$. That’s what Instagram can do for you, Boo. The new algorithm means whether you have 200 or 2,000 followers -- you can still rake in your dreamboat clients. I can’t wait to help you see results in way less time, so you can spend more time with your partner/babies/fur-babies/food-babies/Netflix. (And, accessing my best strategies will literally cost you zilch.) Save the date for our very own #InstaParty on January 24th or January 25th I’ve paired everything I know about the ‘gram with the exact blueprint I followed to grow my following to 217,000+ engaged followers… And put it in one big ‘ole webinar: YOUR INSTAGRAM MAKEOVER I’M IN! I’M READY TO INCREASE MY INSTA ENGAGEMENT >>> You bring the questions, I’ll bring the SPRINKLES! Until then, here’s my favorite dog selfie…just kidding…umm, not really. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2G5R4TW |
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