Question #10: About Organizing Photo Walks

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

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 #9: About HDR

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."

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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.

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 #8: About My Preferred Equipment For Street Photography

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!"

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

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 #7: About Feeling Discouraged

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.

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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! 

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

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 #6: About Not Selling Yourself Short

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

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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. 

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

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. 

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 #4: About Street Photography & Privacy Laws

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

Question #3: About Travel Lenses

Q: "Hello Valerie, I see that you are a frequent traveller to France, and your photos are beautiful! Thus you seem like the perfect person to ask my question. We are leaving for Paris next week, and I'm wondering what lens you would suggest as an all-around to go with my Nikon d90? I have a 28-200mm 3.5-5.6, 50mm 1.8 and a 35-105mm 3.5-4.5. I love street photography, but also would like to try some interesting Eiffel Tower shots, etc. Merci!" Dianna M.

A: "Another great question, and one that I get asked often! Many would answer that the travel lens of choice, in the selection that you gave me above, is the 28-200mm. It is true that it will give you the range you need to shoot pretty much anything during your travels. Many of my photo workshop participants choose to travel with a similar lens so that they don't need to change lenses during the photo walks. Depending on how long you are staying, this may be the lens of choice. If you have a few days, I would highly recommend walking for a day or two with the 50mm only. I give that advice to my students and, when they do, they often shoot their best images on those days. Limiting yourself to a fixed focal length lens will make you think more, it will slow you down and you will take better care at composing, you will also be more creative in your framing. 50mm is also a great choice for street photography. A faster lens will also allow you to photograph indoors without a tripod and it will serve as a great food photography lens when you eat at those wonderful Parisian Bistros. Your back will also thank you for traveling lighter for part of your trip. I hope this helps. Bon voyage!"

If you have a question, please use the contact form to send it. 

Question #2: About Sharing Knowledge

Q: "What are your suggestions for finding people locally with photographic interests who will share knowledge rather than be threatened by our interest?" V. Tiffany

A: "Great question! Since I am not sure whether you are talking about photography as a hobby or a profession, I'll do my best to answer it generically. I do believe that the photography community at large is very generous at sharing knowledge. Yet, when I was breaking into the business of commercial photography years ago, I also noticed that local photographers were not particularly keen on sharing. I also thought that it was probably because they were threatened by new competition entering the market place. What they failed to realize is that if they were not responsive when I approached them, I was certainly not going to send work their way if I turned down a client for one reason or another... This business is about sharing. As a pro photographer you give 80%, you receive 20%, that's how it works.

Why not share knowledge? There is no secret to photography, every possible piece of marketing advice or technical information is out there on the web and free! Also, although every one thinks they are a photographer, your work will stand out and your personality will shine in the end. If you're a pro, the client buys your talents, your expertise and your personality. 

Okay, now back to the question... If you are thinking of joining a photo club to meet like-minded people and share ideas, there are some really great ones out there. Unfortunately, there are also many whose members seem to be more interested in the gear and the pixels than the craft and the story, those have been a turn off for me. Check your area for photo walk groups or clubs. Attend a meeting or two to get a feel for the community.  If all else fails, start your own!  That's what I did when I started my Passion & Vision photo walk group. As photographers, we NEED to hang out with like-minded people. For me, it's a necessity and part of the reason why I love traveling the world teaching photo workshops so much! When I'm not traveling, I lead photo walks during my time off. They are not workshops and everyone is very respectful of that. We get together to shoot and talk, and sometimes share a drink along the way. We learn from each other. We all have different levels of expertise and experience. Some members show up with $10,000 worth of gear, others show up with an iPhone. No one cares, because it's all about vision and passion.

We all have something to bring to the table as we continue to learn this beautiful craft. Attending photo workshops is also a great way to meet other photographers and share ideas. If you still feel like there is tension among pros locally and a certain fear to share knowledge, then social media may be the answer. I often do Google Hang-outs with colleagues to share tips about marketing, etc.  I hope this helps, good luck!

I wrote quite a few articles on the subject which are all linked on the publications page of my website.

If you have a question, please use the contact form to send it.

I would love to read about your experience on this topic, please leave a comment below. Thank you!

Valerie

Question #1: About Printing

Q: It is nice to see photos digitally, but I am from the time that actual prints were held in ones hands. Top photographers will tell you a lot sometimes about their process, but what seems to be lacking, is how but ( mostly ) where they get their digital prints done on paper. I know you can do quite an acceptable job at home with colour prints and labs are plentiful for colour. but what about black and white digital prints. what do you do? Merci, Ronald

A: I do not print my own images but I also do appreciate holding a big beautiful print in my hands. When I need high quality prints in color or B&W for myself, an exhibit or to sell a fine art print, I use White House Custom Color (WHCC) here in the US. I had the chance to visit one of their labs and was really impressed. The quality is amazing, service is very prompt (printing and shipping usually done within a day if the order is sent in the morning) and the prices are hard to beat. You can get free test prints done to try them out, they will also send you paper samples. Also the packaging is the best I've ever seen in the photo print industry. Your images will always arrive in perfect shape. Even better, two-day shipping within the US is usually free. The lab will also ship all over the world. 

If you want to print your own work, I would recommend a book by my friend and fellow photographer Martin Bailey: Making The Print or the newly released book by Jeff Schewe The Digital Print Jeff's book will take you step by step through the process of preparing your color or B&W images in LR or PS for printing.

I hope this answers your question!

Valérie

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If you have a photography related question, please use the contact form to send it. It can be a general question about photography, about the business side of it, etc. I look forward to hearing from you, thanks!