So you hear that throbbing in the back of your head, the one that screams out “Me too!” That you can do it, that you are something important, and you want people to know it. You want the work that screams out, “I’m good, damnit.” You take an inventory of every technique in the industry. The shoot-throughs, the obstructions, the framing, the light, the back light, the face cut off, the neck cut off. You have it down, and they look impressive. And you put them up on your blog, you show it to everyone, and they tell you how impressive you are.

Don’t fall for it. Let it be noted that I’m not saying don’t do for it. Just … Read more...

Don’t you just want to stick a needle in your eye when you hear this? But remember, if someone is asking, it probably means you’re first on their list. Forget about the knee jerk reaction. It might feel like an insult, but being at the top of someone’s list, bargain hunting or not, isn’t a bad thing. It’s just the way the world works. People have budgets, and not everyone is a photography expert and understands the full value of what you do.

You just need to give them something. That doesn’t always mean a discount. Sometimes, emotional assurance is enough. Other times, a minor addition that costs you very little can be enough. Take it as a chance to … Read more...

This was back in June this year. I had a great meeting with a couple, followed by a quick request for the contract. They wanted to move ahead. I had a wonderful connection with them, and I was sure all was good. Then, something happened. I don’t know what, but the mother requested a meeting with me. We talked, I showed her some albums, and all seemed fine. She indicated that the contract was ready to go, and she would simply mail the check over. But, then, at the end of the meeting, something odd happened. She said, “You can expect that I’ll should have the contract over shortly.” Should? Should, as in, you’re reconsidering? Or should as in it … Read more...

There are few things that reveal experience and understanding more than a photographer’s timing. Whether you believe in the decisive moment or you think it’s bunk, timing is an essential skill. Good timing lets pictures speak. Borrowing from the director Frank Capra, he said “I thought drama was when actors cried. But drama is when the audience cries.” It’s all about getting your message into the hearts and minds of your audience.

Before getting into the tips, here are some things good timing is not. Good timing is not simply showing what happens. It’s not just a weird face, some oddity of occurrence, or a moment of significance. Good timing is timing that lets you create that feeling of weirdness, … Read more...

I’m going to cut to the chase, since I think everyone knows the history behind Henri Cartier-Bresson and his seminal work, The Decisive Moment. His timing and his ability to capture scenes on the fly is legendary. In fact, the actual title of the book in French references just that – Images on the Fly.

The decisive moment is myth. This isn’t to say that some moments aren’t more interesting than others. And it’s not to say that some moments aren’t easier to work with. These things I don’t doubt. After all, there’s a reason you see 30 people pull out their point-and-shoots at the exact same time at a wedding. But are you really dying to be person number … Read more...