This is an aspect of photography that I have grown more and more passionate about this year as I have embarked on my Family Life Project 52.  The challenge of being able to get a stellar picture that maintains authenticity AND includes me in the image as well, has pushed me dramatically.  Its made me a better photographer, but most importantly, I’ve been able to visually be a part of my own family’s photo history.

In today’s segment, I share my ideas on why self portraiture can make you a better photographer and the helpful tools to make the experience not only possible, but ENJOYABLE at the same time!

Don’t see the video? If you’re viewing in your inbox or RSS you need to click HERE. (But it’s worth it!)

GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS MENTIONED:

• Tri-pod.  I used to have a basic cheapo tri-pod.  It really tempted me to take up the habit of cussing.  I told myself I didn’t need a nice tri-pod because I was a lifestyle photographer who moved around too much to be tied to a tri-pod.  Then I bought a nice professional one and my life changed. I now believe in tri-pods in a major way! I use mine All. The. Time. I use this Manfrotto Tripod ($150) plus this Manfrotto Ball Head ($80) attachment. (You need both.)  It makes me happy and keeps my language clean and pure 
• Timer.  Most camera’s have some type of timer function, but let me tell you about the Nikon D7000 timer function. Its AMAZING!  I love this super tiny awesome feature, because it lets me set the timer to take not just one, but up to 9 shots each time it is set to go!  This means that we can play and have fun, interact, all while shots are being fired and not have to administrate each shot one at a time.  This is a feature becoming more and more common on DSLR’s, but this camera happens to be my favorite!
• Remote. I purchased the AmazonBasics Wireless Remote Control for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras for $10. It’s amazing. My son loves to get the privilege of triggering the camera from the remote and it helps to make the photo time special and fun.

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. She thrives in efficiency and the pursuit of an authentic life. Much of her creative energy is spent entertaining the adventures of her 2 year old son who teaches her to see the world for its wonder.

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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 Challenge:

This shoot was to advertise a local charter high school in the Back To School edition of a local magazine.  Working with an eclectic group of kids and personalities is challenging as is working with a large number of people.  Combine that with a busy environment and composition turns into a bit of a nightmare.  We started out shooting in front of the school (per request of the administration), then made our way indoors where I searched for the perfect background.

Solution:

• I immediately knew that I wanted to shoot in the school cafeteria.  There were some glorious windows to utilize natural light and a shiny newly polished floor to offer some lovely reflections. The background was clean, simple, and consistent.
• Giving the students something to do helped them feel less awkward and contributed to my vision of the shoot: to represent learning, friendships, and progress.

As you continue to develop a style and vision in line with your brand it becomes increasingly important to filter what you put out in the world.

Great photographers are also great editors…meaning: THEY DON’T SHOW THE WORK THEY’RE NOT PROUD OF OR DOESN’T REPRESENT THEIR VISION.

This shoot also taught me that (gasp!) not everyone shares passion for my vision to represent their business.

Though I was hired by the magazine to shoot their covers, in the end, the vision still belonged to the business being featured, and they make the final call.

The following image was chosen for the cover of the magazine, but did not represent my style and was shot by request:

I faced a certain dilemma at publication, since traditionally the photographer receives credit on the cover. (A remarkable bit of advertising for a photographer to their local community).

I chose to remain anonymous.  

Are you intentional about what you share? Do all your images reflect a consistent style or message?  Could people pick your work out from a panel of examples because you’re so intentional about how and what you shoot?

There really is a remarkable difference you can see between images I shoot that are my own vision and images that represent someone else’s vision.

This isn’t to say I never shoot something different. I’ve shot some community events, formal family pictures, newborns, and some product photography as small favors for friends. But you aren’t going to see them here, and I avoid drawing attention to anything that is not consistent with my message and what I enjoy doing.

What you put out you get back.

If you’re tired of shooting family reunions don’t show them on your site. If you’re tired of shooting traditional pictures, stop sharing them on your site. If you don’t want to do product photography forever, stop sharing it.

I know what its like to shoot anything and everything in order to feed your family, and there’s no shame in that whatsoever. But always keep the ultimate goal of where you want to be in sight:

Own your work. Own your vision. And seek for a match with those you work with.

Read other Tiny Tips for a Dramatic Difference HERE.

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. Her proudest accomplishment this week was running two miles. She despises running. She got tricked into it. But upon finding out the distance she beamed with pride that she did something hard and horrible!  Now she thinks she can do practically anything.

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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Even though I took a sabbatical from portrait work this past year, I had quite the adventure shooting some commercial work for several magazine issues.  Shooting for a magazine is so different.  One of the challenges is simply timeline.  The session will usually be required to take place anywhere from 2-6 months before publication.

CHALLENGE:

This shoot was scheduled for June publication, but needed to be shot in early spring in Northern Utah.  Even up until the day before the scheduled shoot there was not a single leaf on the trees yet and patches of snow were still found on the ground. The entire storyboard for the shoot rested on a “summer theme”, yet our environment was still trying to hold onto winter.

SECRET SOLUTION:

We needed greenery.  I opted to use my families farm and shoot with a background tree line of evergreen trees.  I also relied heavily upon the warm effect of backlighting during the last part of daylight to bring a feeling of light and warmth. The white balance (color temperature) of the images was also set as warmly as possible. With the combination of dressing in summer clothes and engaging in summer activities, I think we managed to pull out of the challenge!

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah. Her greatest desire in life is to find simplicity.  Maybe even move to the mountains, live in a cabin, and grow her own food.  Actually, maybe that’s taking it too far.  Weekends only would be just right

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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And for those of you who are already white balance experts, I threw in an extra tip to challenge you too!

Get Creative With White Balance!

*If you’re viewing this in rss or your inbox, you might need to click here for the video!

Both these images are SOOC shots taken moments apart where the only major camera setting that changed was my white balance  Pretty cool what you can do in-camera, huh?!

Image #1: White Balance is set to SUN.

Image #2: White Balance is set to TUNGSTEN (the lightbulb icon for indoor lighting).

I thought surely I had just purchased a faulty lens and all my dreams of working with an amazing piece of glass were now crumbling before me. I pretended everything was fine and moved towards a different location and suddenly everything was fine. Relief! But what had happened earlier? Since then, I’ve learned that there are three main reasons your lens may have trouble focusing. Today’s Tiny Tip covers them all!

*If you’re viewing this in your inbox or an rss reader, you may need to click HERE to see the video!

View other Tiny Tips HERE!

(Embedded Video Found HERE).

Want to see other Tiny Tips? Click HERE!

Brooke Snow is a Lifestyle photographer in Cache Valley, Utah.  She has learned that shooting “creatively” as mentioned above, often yields some interesting or maybe unapproving looks from boring people with no imagination.  In seeking out creative perspectives she has often found herself lying down in the middle of the road, climbing trees, toting ladders, hiding in the bushes, and doing some pretty amazing acrobatics. Its worth it. Don’t worry yourself with what others think. Your photos will be better than theirs

Brooke teaches inspiring online photography classes that bring you confidence in your skills and creativity.

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I’ve been waiting to write this post for five months!

Last fall, I was approached by photographer, Jesh De Rox, about consulting him in the content design of an entire online course that teaches the Beloved genre of photography.

And now its done! And available! RIGHT NOW! This week!

Its been quite the adventure to see things unfold the last several months and I’m thrilled with the final product.  The course(s) are designed similar to my own–with pre-recorded video lessons and live footage of real photo sessions to demonstrate the content. This makes the course easily assessable for any time zone or schedule.

As if I wasn’t already converted to the Beloved genre, being a part of the creation of the course and watching the evolution of what it has become, I’m even more passionately convinced that this approach has the ability to change lives and make a difference in the world and now everyone can learn how to make it happen with the accompaniment of this incredible online course!

Beloved was originally conceived as a wonderful approach to photographing couples, but it has quickly spread into an incredible tool to use with families and children.  The Beloved Family Field Guide is also being released this week, making this entire approach now easily integrated for family photography sessions.

If Beloved is a new word for you, here is a brief explanation of what Beloved is, in Jesh’s words:

“Beloved is an emerging photographic genre centered on the creation of meaning-rich portraits that express the individual, beautiful personality each person is born with, creating an opportunity to celebrate the relationships that fill our lives with joy and purpose.

The Photogenic Technique of Beloved gives photographers a clear and simple way to move past the “camera smile”‘ to easily capture the authentic, photogenic expressions and the naturally beautiful sides of our personality we share with our loved ones.”

Imagine what life would be like if every person you photographed was photogenic. If each session wasn’t just about getting your picture taken, but it was an enriching and joyful experience where relationships are strengthened. Where fun, laughter, and play is a natural and free flowing experience. Where the images you capture are beautifully authentic and clients are drawn to you not just because of your images but because of how you helped them feel during the experience?  

Beloved is the final missing piece to the puzzle.

Right now, the online course comes with the purchase of any of the Beloved Field Guides!  

Visit the new Beloved site to check it out!