Making the Most of Your Boudoir Photography Experience

Boudoir photography is nothing new, but it's definitely been enjoying a boom in recent years, with women from all walks of life participating in it both in front of and behind the camera.

Do a search on the term and you'll discover a bazillion photographers that specialize in tasteful but sultry shots. You'll even find one-night courses that help prep you for the experience before putting you through your photographic paces.

But the question remains: why is it such a hot ticket these days?"People who seek out boudoir photography are at a time in their lives where they're feeling positive and want to remember that moment in time," says photographer Marnie Goodfriend. "

It has less to do with bodies and more to do with what's happening mentally, whether it's being engaged, feeling independent, losing or gaining weight ... it varies by the individual."

Goodfriend expanded her business to include boudoir photography through her own experiences in planning her wedding and learning of women who were doing it as a gift to their husbands. But for Goodfriend, it's more than just a sweet and sexy gift option.

"My core interest is in really loving your body, and debunking both the myth of perfection and any one particular body type as being beautiful."

So what's the key to finding a good boudoir photographer? Goodfriend notes that many boudoir photographers (including Goodfriend) "hide" their boudoir work as it's private, unless the client opts to let the photographer use their work for their advertising. So if you find a photog you like, ask them if they have examples of what you're looking for.

Then, try for a face to face meeting. Says Goodfriend, "Personality and comfort level should weigh in just as much, if not more, than the images you're seeing on the Web site. Trust your instincts. You know if someone is going to make you feel comfortable and confident."

Goodfriend often consults with her subjects to learn more behind the inspiration of the shoot, and advises them to do what they feel is necessary in prep to feel good for the shoot, be it a mani pedi, lingerie shopping or getting their hair done.

She also recommends approaching the experience just like a model would – drinking lots of water, getting a good night's sleep the evening before the shoot, and relaxing in preparation. But most of all, don't forget to have fun.

Says Goodfriend, "The experience is really about three gifts – one is the shoot itself, the second is having those images forever, and the third is giving them away to someone who will appreciate them as much as you do."

Taken From DigitalCity.com

10 Tips To Finding A Great Photographer

Spring is here and Northern California looks beautiful. It is a great time to take advantage of the outdoors, and it could be the perfect time to get your family photos taken.

But, before you open the phone book or log on the Internet to pick a photographer, there are some important things you should know. Local photographer Dawn Roberts recommends 10 tips to help you get the photos you want.

1. View their portfolio. Most professional photographers these days have websites that showcase their work.

2. The photographer you hire needs to be able to convey the style you want. Decide if you want studio shots or on-location shots. On-location meaning the photographer will come to your home, your backyard, a local park or other special spot.

3. View the photographers' work with a critical eye. Are the images in focus? Are they exposed correctly (not too dark, not too light)? Are the portraits of various subjects, or do the same subjects reappear throughout the photographer's website? Is the quality consistent through the portfolio?

4. If the photographer has an "about" or "bio" page on their website, it should give you a feel for their personality, awards they have won, and of course, if they have a picture of themselves, let you put a face with the name.

5. Ask your friends/family/coworkers for recommendations. Word of mouth is the best way to find a photographer. Ask to see their prints and albums to see the quality of the work..

6. Don't let price decide whom you use. Portrait Photography is an investment that does not depreciate in value. Book your choice several months in advance, and stash some money away so you can get exactly what you want. Follow the photographers' blog -- if they have one – often, they will announce specials that can save you some money.

7. Once you have a list of several photographers, call each one to discuss expectations and ideas. Make sure you feel comfortable with this person, as this will help you feel relaxed and natural in your photographs.

8. Ask questions. Ask what time of day the photographer prefers to shoot. Ask about payment plans. Ask if digital files are included or available to purchase. Ask how you will be able to view the proofs -- online or in person. Ask if re-touching is included. If you are looking for a specialty product like photo jewelry, albums, photo purses, ask first if they are available.

9. Check with the Better Business Bureau to be sure the photographer you chose has a good rating. Professional photographers should have a business license and pay taxes.

10. Love the photographer's work you chose. Be excited. Share your ideas. Build a session that captures your family perfectly.

More about Dawn Roberts: www.dawnrobertsphotography.com.

Taken From CBS13.com

Documenting Your Living Abroad Experience: Photography Tips

Whether you're visiting a country for three days or living there for three months to three years, documenting your stay through photography is a great way to capture all your experiences. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. If writing in a journal or keeping an online blog isn't your style (or you simply want to enhance your journal/blog), then read on.

If you have a point and shoot, great, if you have an old-film camera, that's fine, too. Digital SLR's are also a great investment. No matter your equipment, though, this advice applies to you.

(Note: I've been playing behind a lens for about four years now and would describe my style as fresh and sincere. I always try to draw on my subject's emotions and pride myself on my ability to capture the true sense of my subject with the camera. In addition, I like to explore unique angles and interesting textures and spaces.)

1) Rule of thirds
How often do you see a photograph with the subject smack dab in the center of the photograph? While you may think that centering your subject is ideal, it often leads to a less than interesting snapshot. Mentally divide your frame into three equal parts (either vertical or horizontal). Put your subject in either of the outside imaginary parts and snap away.

You'll find that the un-evenness creates an interesting photograph and makes your eye linger a bit longer.

2) Move your feet
Your feet are your best zoom-ers! Be wary of your body when you're taking photos. You should move around, experimenting with different angles and distances from your subject. Try a worms eye approach (Sometimes I literally lay on the ground) or even a birds eye (You'll often spot me standing on impromptu ladders - aka chairs, ledges, tippy toes, etc). After a good photo shoot I am usually a bit sweaty!

3) Find the light
Light and shadow in a shot can make for a beautiful and dramatic photograph. Look for where the light is in your shot and work around it. Your subject can be illuminated by the light or even in the shadow. These contrasts make a photo interesting and much more pleasurable to the eye.

4) Connect with your subject
One thing I notice in unexperienced photographers' photos is that the subject is often not connecting. (I am of course talking about humans/animals, but you can pull out the beauty in inanimate objects, too).

I often have to get myself into "acting" mode when I'm photographing a subject. What are they thinking? What are they feeling? By doing this I am sensitive to my subject's emotions and it makes it much easier for us to connect.

Remember: Eyes are the windows to the soul. Here is an example where I really connected with my subject. See how I have connected with this dogs eyes? How does this photo make you feel?

5) Patterns, repetition and texture
Play with various surfaces and textures. It's especially interesting when surfaces work against each other. This makes the eye linger longer and creates a beautiful tension. Also try taking pictures of repeated patterns. This is always interesting to look at.

Taken From Examiner.com

FREE Digital Photography Tips From A Chicago Pro

Hobby digital photography is the fastest growing hobby in the United States. We take millions of digital photos each year and you'd be surprised at the numbers of people who are selling their images from home as a home-based business. Chicago hobbyist-turn-ed-pro drops the skinny on you - learn from Katie Heupel!

A little bio info, Katie?

I'm a 28-year-old Chicagoland native. I grew up in Bolingbrook & Lemont. Went to school At Illinois State University and then became an official Chicagoan in 2004. Love this city!!!

I wear many hats: computer programmer, MBA student, and photographer. I've been shooting since I bought my first digital camera, while in college, in 2000. In 2005, I upgraded to a digital SLR and that's when I got serious about my hobby. My camera is a Canon 30D. My two primary lenses are a Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 and a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8.

Formal photography training?

The Internet taught me anything and everything I could have learned in a class. Some of the best lessons have come from uploading a picture to flickr and asking others for critiques - people are kind and open. Great suggestions. The rest of my "training" has been hundreds and hundreds of hours taking absolutely worthless photos, and learning from the results.

What got you interested?

I accidentally took a couple "good" photos when playing with my first digital camera, way back in 2000. Looking back, I realize they aren't so great, but at the time, they were better than any photos I thought I'd be able to take! It made me want to take more - getting a great image is addicting! I always have a camera nearby.

Where do you sell your photographs?

Through a great little shop called Sacred Art in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. They feature a number of local, emerging artists and I'm honored to have some of my photos there.

What would you tell an upper level beginner, or an intermediate hobby photog?

1. If you have an image editing program that handles RAW format images, make use of this. Set your camera to RAW mode instead of JPG. Your camera will capture more information in the image, making it more flexible for subsequent processing.

2. The quality of your lens matters considerably more than the quality of your camera body. If purchasing new equipment, focus your investment on high quality lenses. Upgraded lenses range from $100 to quite expensive (the wide angle I'm pining for is over $1300!), but the difference in your images will be dramatic.

3. It can be easy to get disillusioned by the quality of someone else's images -- feeling you won't be able to be as great a photographer (especially if you spend time on the inspirational and intimidating Flickr Explore!). But for every great image posted, there are hundreds or thousands that weren't good enough to make the cut. Not even the best photographers magically create a beautiful image every time they press the shutter button! Do what they do - invest time in taking hundreds and hundreds of images; you'll learn a lot and will end up with portfolio-worthy images of your own.

Why do you like digital?

Film doesn't make financial sense to me. There is no cost to me to take hundreds of digital photos, other than my own time. It feels very freeing to put a large memory card into my camera and spend the entire afternoon shooting without worrying whether a potential image is "worth" using up some of the film.

What part should lighting play in capturing a great image?

Light should be a consideration in every photographic decision, from camera settings to composition to time of day you shoot! The best time for taking photos outdoors is immediately after sunrise and immediately before sunset. I've heard National Geographic won't even accept photos from their photographers unless the photos were shot in these time frames. Not sure if that's an urban legend or if it's true.

How can you manipulate natural light without a bunch of giddy equipment?

You can vary your shutter speed and aperture on your camera to control how much light is in the final photo, and there's always post-processing in Photoshop to make any needed adjustments. Any basic photography website or book will help you understand aperture and shutter speed - take time to learn about these settings and how you can use them to your advantage!

Tripod or not tripod?

A timely question! I had been shooting without a tripod for the past year or so (I found them too cumbersome) but I recently noticed that my photos were significantly suffering: They weren't as sharp as they should have been. I purchased a Manfrotto tripod a week ago. I'm happy with it and with the increased sharpness in photos I've taken with it. My tripod head is a "joystick" head that allows for great freedom, so I feel less inhibited by the tripod than I had before.

Do you Photoshop, edit?

Yes! A big turning point for me was learning to "develop" digital photos by processing them in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. Even basic processing techniques can make a huge difference. For anyone looking to get started with Photoshop, I recommend Scott Kelby's books - they've been invaluable to me. Then, visit DPreview and review their great knowledge base if you're considering buying a camera.

Is it reasonable to think a hobby photographer could sell her images?

It is reasonable but takes some effort! There are a number of websites, such as iStockPhoto and etsy, designed to provide a venue for artists and art-buyers to find one another and make sales.

Anything else I forgot to ask you?

Nothing I can think of - this was a great list! Thanks for the honor of the interview - this was a lot of fun!

Katie Twitters, too

Taken From Examiner.com

& Unlimited Dogs- A Quirky Name For A Photography Business That's Gone To The Dogs

When one speaks of dog photography, thoughts of rigidly stacked show dogs standing in front of their frozen handlers may come to mind. Or maybe you laugh as you remember last spring, when you tried to capture snapshots of Fluffy playing fetch- but only managed to snap his blurry butt. (Boy is that dog fast!)

What if I told you that right here in South Portland there was a photography studio devoted to making your dog look beautiful in his own sweet, wonderful way? & Unlimited Dogs, located in South Portland's own Willard Square, is the place to go if you want to immortalize your pet on canvas or print, in notecards, or even a cute coffe table book (for those of us who are just a little neurotic about how cute Fluffy is.)

Meredith Perdue, owner of & Unlimited Dogs, has been taking pictures since she was ten years old when her grandmother gave her a Minolta camera. She started her professional career in the regular way, working a lot of weddings, but somewhere along the way realized that this path was not making her happy. So she did the right thing. She managed to find a way to combine what she loves with what she is good at. & Unlimited Dogs was born.

When Meredith does a photography shoot she goes to great lengths to make sure the dog is comfortable. "I will spend ten or fifteen minutes just sitting and playing with the dog before I even pull out a lens," she says. "I want to make sure they trust me."

It comes across on the camera. Wander around her website and you'll see that Meredith has a knack for capturing the essences of dogginess from her clients. Not just simple sit-stay photos, but shots with style.

A curious dog looking for a train down the tracks; an Australian shepherd looking over his shoulder with a stick in his mouth- just daring you to try and take it; a lovely lab launching himself over a stone terrace with his ears flapping in the air.

At & Unlimited Dogs personality is the rule, not the exception.

Contact Meredith today for your private or commercial project and you are sure to be more than satisfied. Call before April 30 and receive $50 off any photography package as part of her grand opening celebration!

Meridith Perdue
& Unlimited Dogs
429 Preble Street
South Portland, Maine
meredith@andunlimiteddogs.com
(207)632-8994

Taken From Examiner.com