Question #23: About Presets

Valerie Jardin November 24, 2013

Q: "I would like to hear your thoughts on software for photo-enhancing beyond Lightroom and Photoshop. Are they helpful and do they add something the basic editing software does not? Also, the same question related to presets for Lightroom or Photoshop? And if you do find them helpful, how in the world does one decide which ones to purchase as there seems to be so many available?" Melanie Barrett

A: "Hi Melanie and thank you for your question! There are some wonderful enhancing software programs and presets out there, I just don't use them... I find programs such as PS, Lightroom or Aperture so powerful that I don't see the point of adding anything else to my workflow. I like to tweak my images myself to reflect the emotion I had when I took the picture. No preset can really do that for me.

That said, I am not a portrait or fashion photographer. They may use some tools beyond the traditional photo editing software programs in order to help them achieve a final image faster. It would be interesting to find out more about that if someone wants to leave a comment below.

The type of photography I do requires very little post processing and I like a very natural look to my images. Anything that looks over-processed turns me off, especially in street photography or in nature. But photography is an art form and art is subjective. Presets are obviously popular and I believe that anything that boosts the artist's creativity is a good thing!

The presets available in LR are a good starting point to experiment with. I think you have to make it your own by adjusting a few sliders to achieve a final look and feel that works for you.

I think that many photographers rely on plug-ins or presets to try to make a mediocre image look better. Reality is, no preset or amount of post processing is ever going to turn a bad picture into a good one. Yet, skillful editing (via a preset or not) can definitely turn a good image into an even better one!

If you want to try some of the many products available on the market I would recommend a free trial to see if that is something your work is really going to benefit from.

I hope this helps. Thanks again for submitting a question for the blog Melanie!"

Please leave a comment below and share your experience with the community. If you have a question, feel free to send it to Valerie for an upcoming Q&A blog post. This blog cannot exist without your questions!

Question #22: About Lens Correction In Lightroom

Valerie Jardin November 20, 2013

Q: "First I really love your photography/blog and I'm learning a lot from you so thanks. My question is: What is your take on Lightroom lens correction? I can't stand uneven lines and I tend to start processing every single picture with the lens correction! Do you think it's important? Or is it fine if the lines are inclined as long as the subject is well composed?" Faisal Al Fouzan

A: "Thanks for the kind words, I am glad that you find my posts useful!

That's a great question! Lightroom lens correction is a powerful tool and we are very lucky to have it. Especially in the latest version. With years of experience as an interior photographer I can assure you that the slightest diversion of a vertical line will draw the eye right away. Even more so than a slanted horizontal line! With LR5, minor vertical corrections are just a click away with the Basic Vertical adjustment. Some images may require manual corrections, which is all you could do with earlier versions of the software. Those adjustments are quick and easy to do and will make the biggest difference in the resulting image. Your lens may also be recognized by the software, so I would recommend that you enable profile corrections as well.

That said, there is nothing wrong with slanted or curved verticals are long as it is the intended effect. In that case the slant will usually be more pronounced and the artistic intent of the photographer will be obvious.

So, in one word, my answer is: Yes! Use the lens correction function in Ligthroom, it's an image saver!"

Question #21: About Digital Downloads For Purchase

Valerie Jardin November 17, 2013

Q: "I've been asked for some of my photos to be purchased via digital download for use in crafts fabrication and to be sold. I'm not sure how to price accordingly as the reason for the purchase is to make money off of them. Your thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks." Vin

A: "Hi Vin, I'm a bit confused regarding the use of your images. It sounds to me like your images would be sold for commercial use, not private use. I am also unclear what you mean by 'crafts fabrication'. No matter what, there is no 'one answer fits all' when it comes to pricing photography. There are many factors that will influence the price you can charge, such as your geographical location, the current state of the economy, the specific type of photography, just to name a few.

Also, one single image will be worth a different amount depending on its usage: print and/or online, size, high res, low res, size of the audience, etc.

In order to determine a licensing fee (keep in mind that you do NOT release the copyrights), you need to know what your image is going to be used for: Editorial, commercial, retail, advertising, etc. If it's single or multiple use, the amount of time, etc. The more the image is going to be used, the higher the licensing fee is going to be.

You also need to consider your creative fee, as in your cost of running a business. Also, what production expenses did you incur to create the images? This would include anything from equipment rental to processing/retouching fees, hiring an assistant, gas mileage, etc.

If possible, find out what your client's budget is first. When it comes to negotiating your fee, stay flexible but remain confident! If you have something unique that your client needs and cannot easily find through a micro stock agency, then they will expect it to come with a significant price tag. Don't undersell yourself. It would be detrimental to you and the industry. Remain flexible by offering a discount for a certain quantity of licensed images for example. Make sure that your contract and invoice state that the licensing agreement will only take effect once the invoice is paid in full.

For all information regarding licensing images I highly recommend that you visit the American Society of Media Photographers. You can also find a software to help you determine pricing, fotoQuote is one of them. I hope this helps shed some light on the subject. Good luck!"

Question #20: About Neutral Density Filters

Valerie Jardin November 11, 2013

Q: "Do you ever use ND filters?" Jonty B, Australia

A: "Hi Jonty! Nice to hear from you.

Since I rarely shoot landscapes or nature photography I don't have much use for a neutral density filter. For those who are not familiar with ND filters, they are a grey piece of glass that fits in front of your lens and reduces the amount of light that hits the sensor of your camera. ND filters are typically 3 stops in strength, some go as far as 10 stops! By slowing the shutter speed, ND filters will allow you to capture motion in water, clouds or any moving subject in daylight with a creamy or blurry look instead of freezing the action. With the use of an ND filter you can set the shutter speed and aperture you want, without having the actual light conditions dictate the settings.

In street photography, the use of an ND filter can be useful in order to add motion blur to a street scene for example. My new Fuji X100s is equipped with a 3 stop ND filter in camera which I use to reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor when I shoot wide open in bright daylight.

ND fllters are expensive and come in two forms: screw-in or slot-in. The screw-in filters are small, light and easy to fit on the lens. The drawback is that you need one for each lens diameter you own and stacking them can cause vignetting problems. The advantage of the slot-in filters is that they are also stackable and you can adapt them to different lens sizes by using an inexpensive adaptor ring for each lens you own.

I hope my answer is useful and helps shed some light on ND filters."

Please help me spread the word about this new blog. I helps if you leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

If you have a question about photography in general, about the business side of things or anything else that is photography related, please use the contact form to send it. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

Question #19: About Post Processing

Valerie Jardin November 7, 2013

Today I answered two questions related to post processing:

Q1: "I've been in digital photography as a hobby for about 1 1/2 years. I use Lightroom 5 for post processing. I don't alter my photos much, just giving them that little extra look. Some friend say that I could do more in Photoshop CS6. Do you think it is worth spending the money?" Jean-Guy G

A: "Bonjour Jean-Guy! In my opinion you'd be better off going on mini photo trip rather than investing in CS6! Unless you want to get into some heavy duty portrait retouching or work with layers all day, there is not much CS6 will do for you that LR5 can't. Even if you want to use PS tools not available in LR5, all you need is PS Elements for under $100 and I can guarantee you that it will be much more that you'll ever use! This will save you a few hundred dollars that you can spend on a trip, a photo workshop or even a new lens! My 2 cents, I hope it helps!"

Q2 : "What is the percentage of photos you need to post edit ? I work very hard NOT to need post editing..."

A: "Thanks for your question. For my commercial work: I import my RAW files into LR5. If some major work is needed (adding fire in a fireplace, or landscape around a building for example) then I send it out to my local Photoshop guy. That's all he does and he does it right. I would hate every minute of the process, I'm a photographer, not a retoucher, and I want to keep it that way!

For my personal work: I import all my RAW images into LR5. I quickly weed through the ones I don't want to keep then I adjust a few sliders. B&W conversion a lot of the time, contrast. etc. I don't use presets. Generally a few seconds per picture is enough, especially for street photography. A little bit longer if it's a landscape for example. I try to get it right in camera, saves me time! Post processing is a wonderful thing and we have some very powerful tools that can my great images even better. But the fact remains that if it's not a good picture to start, there is no amount of post processing that is going to turn it into a great photograph!"

Please help me spread the word about this new blog. I helps if you leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

Question #18: About Upgrading Camera

Valerie Jardin October 31, 2013

Q: "I'm a huge fan of your photography. I've been a constant follower of your page and I get to learn a lot. I've been doing photography with a point and shoot camera for like a year and a half. I tried to get as much as I could from it and I'm jumping to get a DSLR. So what would you suggest to beginners like us. How do we take on photography and give our picture's a professional touch ? How much is post processing important ?" Sahil M B

A: "Thanks Sahil! Sounds like you've outgrown your point and shoot and you are ready for something a bit more challenging. That's the best reason to upgrade, good for you! So many photographers upgrade because of gear lust when they don't even make full use of their current camera.

First, do you really want to go with a DSLR? Just because the camera looks 'professional' doesn't mean it's going to be the best fit for you. I would certainly look into a mirroless system before making the decision. Smaller cameras are now coming out with some amazing sensors. If you do buy a DSLR, you're better off buying the camera body only and the lenses separately. Kit lenses are usually not that great and glass is what's going to make the biggest difference. Good lenses for DSLRs are super expensive, keep that in mind too.

If you are stepping up your game you will probably start shooting RAW. I would definitely invest into a really good processing software such as Lightroom 5. You can't beat the value of LR ad it's all you'll need. It's a bit overwhelming at first but learn it step by step with some online tutorials. You will soon be able to give your images some pop with just a few slider actions. It will make a huge difference if you haven't used any image processing software in the past. So, to answer your question: YES, post processing is very important but it doesn't mean that you need to spend much time doing it. I never spend more than a minute on an image. Just remember, post processing will not turn a bad picture into a good one. But it will make a good picture even better!

Remember the famous quote by David DuChemin: "Gear is good, visions better!" Good luck with the upgrade Sahil!"

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

If you have a question about photography in general, about the business side of things or anything else that is photography related, please use the contact form to send it. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

Question #17: About Organizing Photo Tours

Valerie Jardin October 27, 2013

Q: "Hi Valerie, I think it's great that you do the informal walking tours and have such a relaxed style about it....wish I was closer I would join you for sure! However you are successful and make your living (I assume) from photography. I'm going into photography - have been an amateur for about 4 years now (selling a few here and there) but now want to take it up a level and try to make a living at it. So I would love to travel more, and understand that cruise ships take speakers on several subjects (I have a half a dozen subjects including how to take better travel photo's) and take small group walking tours for photographers. Any suggestions on how to organize/market these and how much should I charge?" Carol K

A: "Thank you for your question Carol. First let me clarify that there is a difference between photo walks and photo workshops/tours. I lead casual photo walks in my area during my time off, they are free and everyone can join. The photo walks are strictly a social time for photographers to hang out together and shoot, there is no teaching involved at that time. Everyone who joins is respectful of that as they know that I make a living as an educator.

The photo workshops, on the other hand, involve a lot of work and research. The week long international photo tours are extremely demanding as I make sure they are as much a cultural experience as a photographic one. If you plan on going that route, you need to build an international audience. Of course, your photographic skills are of the utmost importance but you also need to love teaching and have solid business and marketing skills.

The price will vary with your fixed costs and the number of participants. Fixed cost may be higher than you think, don't forget tour operator liability insurance which can be costly but a must have! The best way to promote your workshops is via social media, hence the importance of a large audience. It's like any other business: If people are happy, they will become repeat customers, and they will talk to their friends about their adventures.

It's a demanding business but extremely gratifying. As a teacher, there is nothing more rewarding than witnessing those 'Aha' moments. Just remember not to get into this business only for your love of travels, but for your love of teaching first." - Valérie

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!

Question #16: About Real Estate Photography

Valerie Jardin October 22, 2013

Q: "I'm trying to expand my photography to commercial and residential real estate photography and I was wondering what your advice for diving into this area might be? Should I network with real estate agents or just approach businesses and individuals directly, or a little of both? Thanks! P.S. I LOVE your street and travel photography!" Melissa M.

A: "Thank you for your question Melissa! I shot interiors for the real estate industry for a number of years and I quite enjoyed it. If this is a new field you are trying the brake into, I suggest treating it in a similar way you would portraiture for example. By that, I mean the you may have to do a few freebies to build a portfolio. You probably have relatives, friends or co-workers who are planning to put their house on the market. Offer your skills to photograph their property and use your best images to showcase your work. Once you can produce consistent quality work, start by approaching real estate professionals in your area. You'd think that, with the poor quality of images we see on the MLS, selling your service would be easy. Well, it isn't so. Real estate has suffered a great deal in the past few years and most agents don't want to spend the extra money to hire a photographer. Many also think that they know what they are doing because they have a decent camera... Fortunately, things are slowly changing and many recognize the value of quality images and are ready to hand that responsibly to a real professional. The higher the selling price, the more likely the agents will hire a pro photographer. The best way to price your service is to base it according to the property square footage. The bigger the property, the higher your fee.

You may also consider teaming up with interior stagers and offer both services as a package. Most real estate professionals will appreciate the time he or she will save by not having to deal with several subcontractors to get the property on the market in a timely manner. Be aware that this is a fast pace job. Many times, your real estate client will expect the shoot, the processed images and the virtual tour to be completed in 24 hours or even 'yesterday'! Make sure that you make it clear before taking the job if you cannot deliver it within an unrealistic timeframe. I hope this helps. Good luck!"

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Question #15: About Model Releases

Valerie Jardin October 1, 2013

Q: "I'm guessing that when you do street photography you are not asking all these folks to sign model releases? Or in many cases even asking their permission to photograph them? When is verbal permission required or is it just a courtesy/ friendly thing? When are model releases required? I like to take photos in the local park -- I'm working on a gallery that will eventually be on my website where the photos are for sale as prints. Am I going to need model releases? Do I have to tell the people I verbally ask permission to photograph that they might show up on my website or that I might sell the image I am shooting? What about places where things are for sale? Stores, Farmer's markets, Garden Centers, etc. Any guidance would be helpful. Thank you." Phyllis H

A: "Hi Phyllis. Thank you for submitting a question to the blog. Unless I am doing a street portrait, where the intent is to interact with the subject before pressing the shutter, then no one usually knows I took their picture. As a street photographer you need to work fast and know how to capture the right moment without attracting attention to yourself. Also, I make a point to never photograph people in vulnerable or embarrassing situations. Respect should always be the number one priority to any street photographer. If someone objects to havIng their picture taken, even if I am in my rights, I always respect their wish.

In many countries, it is perfectly legal to use pictures of people taken in public places for editorial and fine art purposes. Note that I am not an attorney and you should check with the local authorities to make sure that your state or country doesn't have laws against it. If you were to use the images commercially (in an ad to sell a product for example) then you would need a release signed by the subject and usually one witness. Whenever possible it is a good idea to get permission but if it is pure street photography, we all know that it would not be feasible as it would kill the candid moment. Also, honestly, would you sign a release if a stranger on the street asked you? I recently answered a question about street photography and privacy laws which you might find interesting. I hope this helps, good luck with your exhibit! "

Valerie

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Question #14: About Landscape Photography

Valerie Jardin September 25, 2013

Q: " Recently, I visited Uetliberg, the top most point in Zurich Switzerland. I wanted to capture a landscape picture of the city and since there was ample light (around
8:30 AM). I was quite excited that I would be getting some good shots. But to my surprise all my pictures looked very dull, the brown, white buildings looked over exposed, green trees which are all around city were not sharp at all. The EXIF info is as follows f/7.1, 1/160 sec, 200 mm focal length, ISO 100, Camera Nikon D7000." Vishwas

A: "Hello! Thank you for your question. Being more of an urban and people shooter, I will still attempt to give you a few tips to help you achieve better results.

You mentioned that you set up for your shot at 8:30 am. Depending on the season, it may have already been a bit too bright if it was a cloudless day. Colors quickly look washed out in the bright sunlight. Try to get to the location before sunrise and capture the blue and golden hour. Of else, when possible, shoot on an overcast day. The most adverse weather conditions usually make for the most dramatic landscapes. I usually only photograph landscapes when it's stormy, rainy, foggy or snowing, those conditions make for more interesting and moody images. Avoid a boring blue sky! In this case, you may have preferred dry weather to get a good shot of the city below. Unfortunately, cloudless days are not our best friends and, in order to get the shot, one must be able to get up early or stay out late.

Most nature photographers will favor the use of a sturdy tripod and a remote release. This will allow you to shoot at a smaller aperture (large number) such as f/11 or even f/22 in order to get the entire scene in focus. The shutter will remain open longer to let more light in, thus the need to use a tripod to steady your camera. Remember to focus 1/3 into the frame in order to get most of the scene in focus.

You may want to shoot RAW in order to maximize on quality. If you use a software such as Lightroom, adjust the white balance and add a little clarity and vibrance. You may also find the graduated filter very useful to adjust the exposure in some areas of the scene. The trees in the foreground will usually be darker and lack details, you can bring a lot of that back in most editing software if you shoot RAW. If you like a high dymanic range look, you may want to try to shoot several exposures of the scene and use a software, such as Photomatix, to process them. A tripod becomes indispensable for this technique. You can now achieve great results in Lightroom with a single exposure.

Activate the 'blinkies' or overexposure warnings in your camera menu (many cameras have that option). The back of your LCD will blink black in areas that are over exposed. You can then make the necessary adjustments in exposure compensation and try the shot again.

These are some basic tips that can make a great difference. I'm not going to get into composition since that was not part of the original question and it would be an entirely new chapter.

Just remember that it is all about harnessing the light, taking control of your gear and practice, practice, practice. Good luck!"

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Question #13: About Going Pro

Valerie Jardin September 21, 2013

A: "Big fan, love your work. I am an enthusiast photographer but would like to begin to go pro. How would you suggest that I go about getting my work out there? I've been a photographer for a long time and need something else to do other than my "day job". I've been taking some online courses and just want to get out of the humdrum and into the mix of living what I feel. And that, of course is photography.
Any input that you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
George W. A.

A: "Hi George. Thank you for reaching out! I'm sure you've already done your homework about what turning pro entails and you've heard many times that it's tough out there. Well, it's ten times tougher than that. Yet, do not get discouraged, if your work is consistently good and you know how to sell your skills, you have a good chance of making it!

First of all, it is imperative to keep your day job while you start making money with your photography. Also, unless you have a spouse or partner with a good income to support you as well as medical coverage, you should really save enough money to live on for at least a year. Being self employed is both nerve racking at times and extremely rewarding. I often say that I work 60+ hours a week so that I don't have to work 40 hours for someone else. I wouldn't want it any other way. If you are used to a good steady income, making the jump can be really scary. You have to trim the fat in your expenses and not plan on buying a new car for a few years... If you are willing to make the necessary sacrifices and you can't keep up with the demand while working a full time job, then maybe you're ready!

You probably heard that being a working photographer is 80% marketing and 20% shooting... That's on a good week! No matter what field you choose, it takes a few years and a lot of happy customers before you can breathe easier. Persistence is key! Although you don't need to attend any formal schooling for photography (your portfolio is your CV), you do need some solid business skills. That said, you don't need to be good at everything. I hate numbers and I give that part to an accountant. It's important to know your strengths and weaknesses and surround yourself with the right people. It is also important to have a plan and be honest with yourself as to why you want to be a pro photographer.

As a working photographer, you will soon learn that you need to derive your income from several different streams. Unless you are a busy wedding photographer and you make enough money with one market (many do), you will have to tap into several different genres for a while and take whatever comes your way. This may also help you determine what you are good at and what you love to do. Many photographers are under the impression that they will make a living selling prints. Well... That is not happening! Yet, fine art or stock photography may be a nice way to make extra money as a passive income.

One more thing to consider, that very few people who turn their hobby into a profession do, is how not to lose the passion when your hobby becomes a regular day job. The answer is: Keep the personal projects going all the time. Shoot for yourself, often, and you will keep the passion for the craft alive. If you don't, trust me, there will be a time when you start leaving your camera at home on your days off. Don't let that happen.

I could write 10 more pages about turning pro regarding portfolio, renting vs. buying, style development, people skills, etc. but I already wrote several articles on the subject that you can read by visiting my publications page.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck. Surround yourself with people who support you 100%. It's tough enough to make the leap without having to deal with naysayers on a daily basis!

Valérie

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Question #12: About Focusing for Street Photography

Valerie Jardin September 17, 2013

Q: "Hi Valerie, Thanks so much for offering your help via this Q&A blog. My question is when you are out on a walk about for street photography, do you set the Fuji x100s to auto focus and rely on the camera or do you set the camera to manual focus and rely on zone focusing and shoot hyper focal (ie Aperture priority set to say f5.6 and allow for depth of field 1-5m)? I hope my question makes sense." Paul G.

A: "Hi Paul, this question actually just came up during my street photo workshop last weekend in Minneapolis. I tend to let the camera do the focusing for me in most cases. It's fast and accurate (and better than my eyes too!) I shoot street photography mostly in Aperture Priority. If there is one genre of photography where you need to let the camera do some of the work, it is definitely when you shoot street. It's all about being ready to capture a fraction of a second that will never happen again. In my opinion, street photography is more about your ability to anticipate and see the decisive moment than proving your skills in manual mode. That said, there are instances when manual focusing comes in handy and the use of zone focusing gives you a clear advantage to get the shot (and I need to use it more often!)

Zone focusing consists in manually pre-focusing your camera to a certain distance. This is particularly well suited when you shoot from the chest or hip without looking through your viewfinder. Another instance when zone focusing is recommended is when you find a stage (such as an interesting background) and wait for the right people to enter the frame. This is even faster than auto focus because there is absolutely no delay.

Street photographer and friend James Maher with whom I will be co-leading the New York City Photo Workshop in April 2014, recently wrote an article about zone focusing titled The Ultimate Guide To Zone Focusing For Candid Street Photography. I invite you to read it. I hope this helps! "

Valérie

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Question #11: About Black & White Conversion

Valerie Jardin September 12, 2013

Q: "Your street photos are usually Black and White photos. What is your Black and White process? Do you use a Lightroom preset or Photoshop? Any information would be helpful." William

A: "I am a Lightroom user exclusively. For a long time, I was going back and forth between Lightroom and Photoshop but I feel that LR has become so powerful that I never need to go into PS for my personal work anymore. I shoot RAW and make all my black and white adjustments manually in LR. Each image takes a few seconds but is processed individually. I don't use presets or plug-ins. I keep my workflow as simple as possible. I like contrasty B&W with a timeless feel. Street photography does not and should not need too much work in post processing. You either have a story or you don't. No plug-in or preset is going to change that.

That said, when I shoot for commercial clients, I send all tedious edits to a photoshop expert when needed. That's all he does and he does it well. I don't like spending too much time in the digital dark room. To each his/her own!

Thanks for submitting your question to the blog William! "

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Question #10: About Organizing Photo Walks

Valerie Jardin September 8, 2013

Q: "How do you organize a photo walk? Number of people, where to walk, time frame, etc? Do you have some pointers for me? We have so many places to visit here in Cape Town and I would love to get a few people together." Joseen J. from Cape Town, South Africa.

A: "Starting your own photo walk group is easier than most people think. I manage mine through a FB group and it's free to join. I post the time and place as an event, each member gets automatically notified and can respond accordingly. You can also use meet-up.com or other social media platforms. You can start your group with two or three photographer friends, word of mouth will do the rest! If you choose to use a FB group, members will ask to join and you check them in. Watch for spammers!

Since there is no membership fee and I organize the walks during my free time, I pick times and locations that work for me and I don't stress about it. It's impossible to pick times and places that will please and accommodate everyone. There are close to 100 local members in my group but, fortunately, only 5 to 10 photographers usually come to any given walk. After each event, members usually share their favorite images on the group page.

I live in a large city, so it's easy to pick different locations every time. Some days we do street photography and urban explorations, other times we meet at farmers' market. I have also used some connections to gain access to historical buildings that were closed to the public. Some times I pick a special event, other times I schedule an early shoot to catch the blue and golden hour. During the long winter months, we enjoy getting together at the local plant conservatory to shoot some color. Photographers are easy to please! If I can't think of a location for the next walk, then I make a call for suggestions from members. I travel a lot so I appointed another administrator who schedules one or two walks while I'm out of the country.

Since I organize those walks during my free time, but I also run photo workshops as part as my business, everyone is very respectful of that and no one expects me to teach during a group photo walk. It's an opportunity for photographers of all levels to get together, share a passion and have a good time. I also made sure to stress the fact that everyone is welcome, whether they are carrying the latest gear or shooting with their camera phone. It's about passion and vision, not about gear.

I usually do not post an ending time. People can stay as long as they want or join the group for an hour if that's all their schedule allows. It's very informal and relaxed. Most photo walks end at a café or a pub. It's a fun way to meet like-minded people in your area and make new friends.

I hope this helps. Good luck and have fun!

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Question #9: About HDR

Valerie Jardin September 4, 2013

Q: "What do you think of HDR? I haven't seen any pictures of yours that applies that process. Thank you in advance for your answer." Donald from Montreal, Canada

Note that the question was originally sent in French as follows: "Ma question est la suivante : que pensez-vous du HDR ? Je ne crois pas avoir déjà aperçu de vos photos qui résultaient de ce procédé. Je vous remercie à l'avance de votre réponse." Donald, Montréal, Canada.

A: "HDR... One of the most controversial photography topics in recent years! You may be surprised to hear that I jumped on the HDR (High Dynamic Range) bandwagon really early. Like most photographers, I was fascinated by the fact that I could take multiple exposures, process them in Photomatix and, within a few seconds, create this magic blend that would reveal details in the bright and dark areas of the frame.

We are given tools that can actually make an image look much closer to what the human eye can see than what the camera could ever capture. New technology allows us now to render a higher range of intensity levels with a single exposure. Some cameras also now have a built-in HDR setting. There's never been a more exciting time to be a photographer.

Do I like HDR? In my opinion, if an image looks processed then it's over done. That's my personal taste. But we are talking about art and there is no right or wrong answer. Art is subjective and that's a beauty of it!

I think we need to stress the fact that no amount of post processing is going to make a picture better if it's not a good picture to start with. As the saying goes "You can't polish a turd..." It's all about light, content, composition and story. I think that, in photography, post processing should be used as a fine-tuning tool. The true creativity of the artist is applied in the field."

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear your opinion. If you receive this via email, click on the title to be redirected to the actual blog post and have access to the comment section.

Question #8: About My Preferred Equipment For Street Photography

Valerie Jardin August 30, 2013

Q: "I'm a big admirer of your work. You are an inspiration especially to those of us who adore street photography. I'm giving a talk to my camera club soon on street photography and I'd love to know what is your preferred equipment/camera/lens for shooting on, say, the boulevards of Paris? From the pictures on your website, you don't necessarily appear to 'go compact' or 'rangefinder'?" Richard G from Perth, Western Australia

A:"Hi Richard! Thank you for your kind words and for submitting a question to the blog. I hope my answer comes before you give your presentation. If not, I apologize for the delay! I used to shoot street photography with a DSLR camera, mostly with a 50mm lens, and more recently with the 40mm pancake lens. True, there are a few images on my website that were shot with my 24-70mm lens. That's one of my favorite 'all around' lenses. Now that I've experienced shooting with the Fuji x100s and its fixed 23mm (35mm equiv.) lens for a few months, I can't imagine taking anything else on the streets with me. It's the ideal tool for street photography. In my opinion, street photography needs to be experienced up close and one should not hide behind a long zoom lens. That is not always easy, especially when you start out, as it is often very intimidating to photograph a candid situation when your subject is within arm's reach. The look and feel of the images will be very different and being close is what makes street photography so special and unique.

Why do I favor the Fuji x100s for street photography? It's small, inconspicuous and who can resist it's retro rangefinder look? I also love the fact that is has a fixed lens that is not interchangeable. It's simple without sacrificing on the incredible quality of the glass. It doesn't get in the way between me and my vision. It's more of an extension of me than a DSLR has ever been.

I hope this answers your question and I look forward to your feedback!"

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear about your own experience shooting street photography.

Question #7: About Feeling Discouraged

Valerie Jardin August 27, 2013

Q: "Ok, so I live in boring Copley, Ohio. I'm aspiring to be a photographer, but every time I look at photography websites where Im putting up my stuff, I cant help from thinking this jealousy feeling of seeing people with the best micro or tele photo cameras, and people that live in countries or near seas that just have the best scenes and subjects handed to them and on top of it they have the nicest camera in there lap. so I guess to wrap this up, until I get to where I want to go, should I just avoid looking at other peoples work? And/or to just pay attention to what I have in-front of me and what I can work with on my low travel budget. I like to think or know I have an eye and talent but the masses of people that seem to have it handed to them is discouraging. Any advice for a guy going to community college for photography to maybe create some sort of ladder of goals or important things to do to establish myself?" Eric S.

A: "Thank you for your question Eric. Many photographers experience the same feelings at one point or another, but few come out and admit that they are feeling discouraged or envious of others. You touched several good points in your question so I will do my best and try to answer them one by one.

- About gear lust... That's a common ailment among photographers. The cure doesn't have to be buying more gear. Feeling empowered by challenging yourself with what you have may just be what you need! I'm not going to dwell on the fact that the camera doesn't make the photographer. You're a photographer, so you already know that. Work with what you have and make killer images with simple gear, that will show your true talent. I see photographers every day who can't tell a story with the most expensive camera and lenses money can buy, while others demonstrate an amazing vision with their camera phone. No matter what you own, it's far better than any pro camera from 10 years ago. Gear should never be an excuse for lack of vision or creativity.

- Tired of your own surroundings? That happens to all of us if we allow it. Start looking at your own town as if you saw it for the first time. It may be boring to you but others would see plenty of great photo opportunities. Get out of your comfort zone! For example, if you shoot landscapes, get out and do street photography for a change. New stories happen in your streets every day, be out there to record them with your camera. Start a 365 or 52 photo project. Join a photo walk group or start your own! Be a mentor for someone. Make the ordinary look extraordinary and it won't matter where you live or what camera you shoot with. Still dreaming of new horizons? Instead of saving for new gear, spend your money on a trip or a photo workshop. It will be much more rewarding than a new lens!

- Envious of the work of others? Good, use that as a motivator! Get inspiration from the web but shoot for you. Shoot what moves you, pick subjects that you are passionate about and your passion will come through. Don't try to fit in a genre that is not who you are. A style is defined by technical skills and life experiences and it constantly evolves. You will develop a style of your own, but that takes time. Just like it takes time to find your niche. No matter what you do with your photography, make sure you always leave room for personal projects. It's the personal projects that will feed your creativity and keep things fresh.

- No one in this business 'has it handed to them' as you say. Starting out with the most expensive gear or living on a tropical island will not make anyone a successful photographer. It's hard work, it takes a lot of sweat and determination to make it and it's relentless. Someone said it's 80% marketing, 20% shooting, I'd say that's on a good week! But, if you're in it for the right reasons, it's SO worth it!

I wrote a few articles about the different points mentioned above. They are linked in the Publications page of this website. Good luck!

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear about your own experience.

Question #6: About Not Selling Yourself Short

Valerie Jardin August 24, 2013

Q: "A friend of mine and I enjoy photography as a hobby of sorts. We both enjoy it immensely and taking our cameras with us whenever we can. Recently, he was approached by a friend of his who asked if we would be interested in shooting a wedding. Long story short, we'd be paid only about $100. I told my friend that while the experience is valuable, we can't sell ourselves short and shoot a wedding for a total of $100. With the possibility of equipment to rent and travel costs, I felt like $100 was far too low of compensation. Instead, I told him to tell them we're interested and to ask for more -- around $500-600 -- which is still a deal, given they'd be getting two photographers. And while we obviously aren't as experienced as a professional wedding photographer, we're no beginners to photography. How do you advise going about this situation? Sorry for the long winded message, but your help is greatly appreciated!" Sincerely, Eric

A: 1. My short answer: "DON'T DO IT!!!!"

2. My longer answer: "First, I thought the number was a typo and was missing a 0... Even then, I thought the amount was very low!

Since I don't know the situation, I'll assume the bride and groom have an average budget for their wedding. Now look at it this way: They will likely spend ten times more on flowers that will end up in the dumpster the next day. Why should they expect two photographers to capture memories that will last a lifetime for almost nothing?? In my opinion they might as well ask you to do it for free.

First, let me say that teaming up with a fellow photographer friend is a terrific idea. That said, it sounds like they are his friends, not yours, so you can still run! There is nothing more stressful than shooting a wedding, especially your first one! Shooting for family and friends makes it even more stressful. Being expected to give 110% for nothing is demotivating.

The only time photographers should offer their service for free is to help a charity or for a cause that is important to them and they use their skills and talent as a way of contributing to that cause. Also, every situation should be evaluated in a case by case basis. For example, if this family is in real need and wants a few images to remember their special day, then it's a different story and that's your call.

Okay, let's say you want to do it for the experience and to build a portfolio, it sounds like you guys know a thing or two about photography. Let's assume that you agree to split $1,000 for your time. It's your first gig, they get a super great deal and you have images for your portfolio. Remember, only process and show them your best work, don't process 2,000+ pics! 100 or 200 final images will do. Set up an online gallery with an e-store so that family and friends can purchase prints. Try to sell the bride and groom and their parents each a nice book of their wedding day. You need to make money on print and book sales. Please don't hand them a CD with the High Res. If you do, they should expect a big price tag attached to it.

You are using your own expensive gear (think wear and tear) and they are benefiting from years of experience. There is value attached to that. It doesn't matter that it's your first wedding shoot, everyone has to start somewhere. Don't sell yourself short. It would not only be a disservice to you and your friend but also to the whole industry.

Best of luck!

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear about your own experience.

Question #5: About Selling Fine Art At Craft Fairs & Online

Valerie Jardin August 22, 2013

Q: "I have photos of what I think would be good to sell as fine art but don't know what is the least and yet best way to mat them for a craft fair and on-line sites as well as possible coffee shops. What would you suggest and where would one get the mats since I don't have a mat maker? Do I and if so, how do I leave a blank border around the picture itself before matting? Is black and white best for everything or color with color? So glad you are having a blog for our questions and open to helping out. Thanks much. Thanks." Cathy L

A: "Matting pictures that are printed in standard sizes is relatively inexpensive. In the United States you can purchase beautiful mats in a variety of sizes, styles and colors at discount craft stores such as Michaels or JoAnn. On the other hand, if your images are cropped in an unconventional size, custom matting can get very pricey. I would then opt for a canvas wrap instead of a custom mat. Unless you learn to do it yourself and buy all the equipment and raw material...

I also recommend keeping it simple and stay away from color mats. If a customer sees a print they like but the mat is in a color that doesn't match their decor, you will most likely lose a sale. White mats tend to be most universal and also cheaper. You don't need to leave a white border around your prints. The mat will fit very close to the edge.

About selling at art or craft fairs... They are often expensive to join and photography is not a hot seller. If you want to give it a try, make sure you have plenty of inexpensive ‘cash and carry’ items such as greeting cards, small matted prints, etc. Be prepared for a long day of sitting around and not selling much (when you could be out there taking more pictures). Instead of selling at a craft fair, why not have your own show at your house! Team up with two or three other friends who are also artists (jewelry artists, painters, etc) for an evening. Share the cost of hosting the party, combine your contact lists and have your own art show. Home shows are great because the competition is minimal and people come to shop and have a good time. It's a fun way to make good money in a short period of time!

About selling online... Put some of your best work online in a gallery with an e-store option. Fine Art America is free but there are many more options available. Once your work is uploaded and the prices are set, use social media to spread the word. If your work is good, you will probably sell a few prints.

Too many photographers think they can make a living with fine art photography. Let's be honest, that just doesn't happen. Even photographers with amazing talent need to have various revenue streams to survive in the industry. Should that stop you? Absolutely not! You won't make a living at selling fine art but you'll have the satisfaction of an occasional sale and some extra cash in your pocket. Give it a shot, no pun intended! ;)

Best of luck!

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear about your own experience.

Question #4: About Street Photography & Privacy Laws

Valerie Jardin August 20, 2013

Q: "I always love to hear/see you on TWIP as you're more about the art of photography and less into the gear. It makes for a lovely balanced show when you're on, so thank you for taking the time to be there. Today I would like to ask you a question:

Online I've read a lot about strict privacy laws regarding making photographs of strangers in public in France. Some of your photographs though suggest you're not always asking for permission. Would you please tell me what do you do when you have a great shot with strangers in front of you? Kindly, Michal"

A: "Hi Michal and thank you for listening to the TWIP podcast! I really enjoy guest-hosting and we have a great audience.

You're right, I don't ask permission to photograph people in candid situations in Paris or anywhere else in the world. Asking for permission would definitely ruin the moment... I do, however, interact with my subjects when I do street portraiture, which is also part of street photography. You must be referring to Article 9. The privacy laws in France are nothing new, they are non-punitive and they were mainly written to protect against paparazzi. It's fine to photograph people in the street as long as it doesn't harm them (as in ridiculing them, giving away trade secrets, etc.) Those laws are not what you would consider 'hard laws'. During my photo workshop in France or anywhere else in the world, I put a big emphasis on respect. I make a point to never photograph people in embarrassing or vulnerable situations and I only use my street images for fine art or editorial purposes. I do not sell image to stock agencies. They would not buy them without the proper model releases signed anyway, so people can be assured that they would not end up on a billboard for example. When photographing children I try to get permission from a parent by simply pointing to my camera. They usually answer with a nod. There is not doubt when a parents does not want their child to be photographed, it is clear in any language and everyone should respect their wish.

Fortunately, artistic freedom usually take precedence over the right of privacy and there is nothing to fear as long as the images are used properly and no obvious harm is done to the subject. Paris is actually one of the cities where I enjoy doing street photography the most. Whether it is candid or street portraits. When I interact with my subjects, before or after taking the picture, they are usually very friendly and flattered that I would find them interesting. It is common sense, however, to refrain from photographing the military and law enforcement in most countries.

It is our duty as street photographers to be respectful at all times. Everyone has the right to object to having their picture taken. Even if you are in your rights and on public property, would you feel good about taking a picture if you knew the subject was uncomfortable with it? If someone strongly objects to being photographed, no matter where you are, move on and respect their wish. Getting the shot is not worth hurting someone's feelings.

Street photography is a treasure and, in my opinion, it would be a great loss for future generations if we stopped recording life as it unfolds daily in the streets. We would be left with pictures from security or surveillance cameras... I think that would be very sad.

I hope this answers your question Michal.

Please leave a comment below, I would love to hear about your experience.

If you have a question that you would like to see answered on this blog, please use the contact form to send it. Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

Valerie

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