In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with Family, Newborn, and Maternity photographer Sabrina Gebhardt, about the importance of personal growth in photography amidst the trials of starting and maintaining a business.

The Big Ideas:

• Embrace Your Own Journey: Avoid comparing your progress with others; focus on your unique path and growth.
• Invest in Learning: Prioritize education to build a strong foundation and gradually enhance your skills.
• Balance is Key: Find harmony between your passion for photography and life commitments to prevent burnout.
• Practice with Purpose: Set attainable goals and projects that challenge your creativity and technique.

Photography Action Plan:

• Set Achievable Photography Goals: Decide on a simple, attainable goal you can achieve this week, such as mastering one new camera setting or taking a photo that captures an emotion. Write down this goal and the steps you need to accomplish it; keep it visible for daily motivation.
• Engage in Daily Practice: Choose a subject or theme each day and capture it using different angles and perspectives. Remember, experience is your greatest teacher. The more you shoot, the faster you’ll bridge the creative gap.
• Limit Social Media Influence: Allocate specific times for viewing social media to avoid constant comparison that might hinder your creativity. Use this saved time to focus more on your personal development in photography.
• Invest in Your Education: Pick a tutorial or course on an aspect of photography you’re unfamiliar with, such as lighting or composition. Consistently applying new knowledge will not only build your skills but also boost your confidence behind the lens.
• Initiate a Personal Project: Start a 365-day photo project, giving yourself permission to bend the rules, such as taking multiple photos in one day or not adhering to consecutive daily posts. This project is meant to fuel your growth and enjoyment in photography, not add pressure, so keep it fun and flexible.

Resources:

• Visit Sabrinas Website - https://sabrinagebhardt.com/
• Follow Sabrina on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sabrinagebhardtphotography

Watch the Free Maximizing Mini Sessions Video training and start earning money with your camera!
https://beginnerphotopod.com/minis

Transform your Love for Photography into Profit for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

In today's episode of the podcast, I chat with portrait photographer Cris Duncan about mastering light with an umbrella for your flash and creating dimension in your photographs to transform your photographic techniques and storytelling.

The Big Ideas

• Embrace Manual Mode with Flash: Unlock the true potential of your creativity by understanding how aperture and shutter speed interact with flash, enhancing your artistic expression.
• Practice Leads to Instinct: With regular implementation, you'll develop an instinctual grasp of lighting, leading to faster setups and more confident shooting.
• Light Shapes Stories: Learn to control light to sculpt the narrative of your photos, using hierarchy and contrast to direct the viewer's attention where you want it most.
• Modifiers are Game-changers: Discover affordable tools like umbrellas that soften light, adding depth and nuance to your portraits, and elevate the professional quality of your work.

Photography Action Plan:

• Practice Shutter Speed Variations with Flash: Take your camera and flash unit, set the camera to manual mode, and experiment with various shutter speeds. Observe how changing the shutter speed affects the areas of your photo not illuminated by the flash. Aim to shoot in both bright and dimly lit conditions to see how ambient light interacts with the flash at different shutter speeds, remembering that flash exposure remains constant.
• Master Lighting Placement: Position your light source at a 45-degree angle from your subject to create appealing shadow and depth, enhancing the three-dimensionality of your portraits. Use a reflector to bounce light onto the shadow side of the subject, experimenting with reflector distance and angle to manipulate shadow density and contrast.
• Utilize Umbrellas for Soft Lighting: Incorporate a bounce or translucent umbrella into your setup to diffuse and soften the light. Begin by pointing a bounce umbrella towards your subject and adjusting the spread of light accordingly. For larger groups, opt for a bigger umbrella to ensure even light distribution across all individuals, and try using translucent umbrellas for a wider light spread when necessary.
• Control Contrast with Off-Camera Flash: Detach your flash from the camera and place it off to the side to create more dynamic lighting with visible shadows, which contribute to the form and texture in your photos. Test shooting outdoors with off-camera flash to balance the daylight and flash exposure, giving you more control over the contrast and mood of your images.
• Learn and Apply Light Hierarchy: Begin by crafting a lighting plan that assigns priority to different elements of your scene, such as main subject illumination, background, and accent lighting, based on your creative objectives. As you arrange your se

Watch the Free Maximizing Mini Sessions Video training and start earning money with your camera!
https://beginnerphotopod.com/minis

Transform your Love for Photography into Profit for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

In Today's Episode of the podcast, you'll discover how embracing isolation and self-reflection can profoundly impact your photography. Fine art photographer Jason Matias shares insights on NFTs offering a new perspective on art in the digital age.

The Big Ideas:

• Embrace Isolation for Growth - You'll learn the value of solitude for self-reflection and personal development in your photography journey.
• Leveraging NFTs for Art - Discover the potential of NFTs in expanding your art market and creating new avenues for connecting with buyers.
• Creating Context in Fine Art - Understand the significance of storytelling and context to elevate your photographic art beyond mere images.
• Overcoming Creative Constraints - Find inspiration in limitations and hone your craft by focusing on creating the perfect shot.

Photography Action Plan:

• Master Your Camera: Research your camera's settings and functionalities to understand its full potential. Practice using different camera modes and settings to get a feel for what works best in various shooting conditions.
• Explore Fine Art Photography: Study different styles of photography to discover what resonates with you and inspires your creativity. Experiment with storytelling elements in your photography, focusing on context and creativity to elevate your images to the level of fine art.
• Embrace Digital Photography Trends: Learn about NFTs and their role in the art market to understand how they can potentially benefit your photography career. Consider how you can brand yourself and market your work effectively in the digital space, including social media and NFT platforms.
• Leverage Constraints for Creativity: Challenge yourself to capture images with intention, focusing on quality over quantity. Experiment with limiting yourself to taking only one perfect shot to hone your skills and creativity.
• Build Your Portfolio and Network: Compile a portfolio of your best work across different genres to showcase your versatility and artistic vision. Engage with other photographers, artists, and potential clients to expand your network and gain valuable insights and opportunities.

Resources:
Follow Jason on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/realjasonmatias/
Visit Jason's Website - https://www.jasonmatias.com/

Watch the Free Maximizing Mini Sessions Video training and start earning money with your camera!
https://beginnerphotopod.com/minis

Transform your Love for Photography into Profit for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!