Photography Advice

Quick Tips Tuesday: 8 Mistakes I Made When I Chose My First Camera

by crisanzai · Nov 14, 2017

8 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying A Camera

1. Not Understanding Why You Want to Buy a Camera

You definitely want to know why you want to have a camera before actually deciding to make a purchase. I clearly had no idea. When I first started out I thought, hey a camera where you can change the lenses – that’s what pros use so I’ll do that too. Well I had no idea some of those lenses costs thousands more than the camera body, not to mention the tripods, extra batteries, accessories, off-camera lights, etc…. I just wanted to take better photos. This was an era before the amazing camera phones we have today. I didn’t really know why I wanted to a new camera. Did I want to shoot people, wildlife, landscapes? Did I want to shoot video? I didn’t have a clue. I wish I had thought of those things before I started. It would have saved me a ton of money! Think about what you want to use the camera for. There are so many great options out on the market now that we didn’t even have 5 – 6 years ago – you have mirrorless cameras leading the charge, micro 4/3 cameras still holding strong, classic DSLRs, and even camera phones that rival top of the line point and shoots.

2. Getting Caught Up in the “New Technology” Hype

Sometimes you’re just tempted to buy things, because they are new and trendy. I definitely fell into this category. Back in 2011 DSLRs were definitely “in” and without thinking about it, I automatically thought it was the best choice. I mean thousands of other photographers couldn’t be “wrong”. Well Just because it worked for them doesn’t mean it will work for you! Don’t get caught up in the hype.

I’ll give you a more recent example of “New Technology” Hype. When Lytro’s light field technology came out, I have to admit it was pretty darn awesome. It would allow you to take a photo of something and then with the final photo change where you would like to see the focus. It’s hard to explain in writing -hop over here to see examples. Anyways the Lytro is a classic case study of technology hype – where creators banked on the technology and didn’t focus on user experience. The first generation camera ended up being a flop. It was boxy and a weird shape – basically a giant rectangle. Anyways, again I repeat, don’t get caught up in the hype!

3. Megapixels, Megapixels, Megapixels!

Megapixels were and still are all the rage! People think the more megapixels a camera has the better it is! Well I hate to burst your bubble, but more in this case doesn’t always equate to better. As I’ve said before, it’s the quality of the megapixels that matter. Also other factors that are more important than megapixels such as processing speed, image sensor size and quality, and auto-focus speed should be priority. I always thought the higher the megapixel count the better the camera. This is definitely not the case!

4. Not Researching Enough

What I recommend doing (which I didn’t do) is watching a ton of reviews via youtube as well as reading a bunch of articles on the camera you’re interested in through DP review, Petapixel, and Fstoppers (among other photography review sites). Having different perspectives will allow you weigh the pros and cons and whether or not the reviewers pros and cons apply to you. For example if a reviewer says a camera is best for still photography, but falls short on videography – and you don’t care about videography, maybe you should consider it. What I also find that helps is to look at example images. A quick pro tip for this is to just google “[camera make and model] flickr images” So for example for my Canon 70D I’d search “Canon 70D flickr images”. You’ll be directed to images of a variety of photographers who have used the camera you were interested in.

5. Researching Too Much

Wait, didn’t this just contradict reason number 4? Well if you start researching too many cameras and features and what-nots, you get into something called analysis paralysis. You need to research, but only enough research where you can make an informed decision. You don’t need to know every single spec of a camera! Once you have enough information to make an informed decision, you don’t need to go further, unless that it is your version of fun.

6. Not Physically Handling the Camera

Photo Credit: Eddie Kopp

This I think was the biggest mistake I’ve made when I bought my first DSLR. I didn’t get to handle the camera and when I bought my first DSLR which was a Canon EOS Rebel T3 – a very basic DSLR – I bought it basically on a whim during a black Friday sale. I was really wanting the the T3i but it was much more expensive at the time, and I thought the T3 would have the same features… well I was wrong on that too (remember reason number 4). Anyways handling the camera will help you get a feel for it. The Rebel T3 has a plastic body, and feels pretty cheap, compared to a more prosumer camera (at the time) such as a Canon 50D with a magnesium alloy body which feels really solid.

7. Buying More Camera Than You Can Afford

If you are just starting out, you don’t need to “bite off more than you can chew” Sure if you can afford to drop $5000 to $8000 on a camera by all means go for it. But if you are just testing the waters, you won’t even know how to capitalize on the features of an expensive professional grade camera. I recommend buying something you can afford and be mindful of any other accessories you may need. Some argue that lenses are actually more important than the camera body in terms of image quality. I actually agree with this argument. A $300 camera with a $2000 lens is going to take a better image than a $2000 camera with a $50 lens. There’s no question about it!

8. Buying A Camera Just Because It’s on Sale

As you read earlier I bought my first DSLR “what I thought was pro” on Black Friday. I bought new (before knowing the wonderful world of refurbished) and I bought on impulse. The camera came with a kit lens and a generic Canon Camera Bag. I don’t recommend this at all! Usually there’s a reason cameras go on sale – sometimes for good reasons – the stores are overstock. However, I tend to find that the cameras that do go on deep discount sales are ones that don’t sell at all, because of some flaw (bad reviews, terrible features, etc…). I’d probably chalk this rule to anything that goes on a deep discount sale – such as a T.V.

Anyways those are 8 mistakes I’ve made that I hope you won’t make too when purchasing your next camera!

Thanks for reading!

Quick Tip Tuesdays: Waterfalls

by crisanzai · Nov 7, 2017

Six Quick Tips on Waterfall Photography

Tip 1: Bring a Tripod!

This is so important, that it shouldn’t eve be a tip, but a necessity. Nevertheless, having a sturdy tripod with you when photographing waterfalls is a must. Tripods will stabilize your camera and help you take those long exposure shots.

Tip 2: Use a Remote

Most cameras if not all will allow for you to pair the camera with a remote (either wired or wireless if your camera has the technology). Some newer cameras, such as the Canon 70D that I primarily use has a feature where you can use your smartphone as a remote. Be mindful though that the wireless remotes tend to use more of your camera battery.

Tip 3: If You Don’t Have a Remote – Use the Timer feature

Most cameras will have a timer feature, typically 2 or a 10 second timer. I believe this feature was originally created for selfies, before the term existed, but I could be wrong. The 2 or 10 second time (I recommend the 10 second timer) will allow you to focus your camera in a spot, then allow you to remove your hands from the camera – eliminating vibrations from you shaking. Paired with long exposure, this will give you some great results.

Tip 4: Use God’s ND Filter

Well first of all if you don’t know what an ND filter is a filter you put on the front of your camera lens to reduce the amount of light coming in. This helps you create long exposure shots when the sun is blazing bright. However ND filters can be expensive (at least the good ones), so if you are short on cash and can wait… Use an overcast day to take your waterfall shots – an added benefit is that if has just rained your waterfall will be pumped full of water and full of life!

Tip 5: Sometimes it’s About Composition

If you’re shooting waterfalls you want to be mindful of composition as well. Look for leading lines and other compositional elements. Sometimes a simple shift in perspective makes a world of a difference. Take a look at the shot above. It’s a wide shot of a small waterall. Now take a look at the photo below – same waterfall, but it feels a bit more intimate and detailed. I was at the exact same location with both of these shots, I just switched from a ultra wide lens to a telephoto to get the results below.

Tip 6: Just Have Fun

I find taking pictures of waterfalls quite relaxing. Getting to them, on the other hand, may be a different story! I need to get in shape! In any case just have fun with what you’re doing and experiment. Take shots with different angles and perspectives. Shoot super wide or super tight, this is all about the creative process and capturing your vision. What you think looks best – don’t worry about what others will think. The gold standard should be the standard you set yourself!

I hope some of these tips may be useful for you. I didn’t get super detailed, but I guess that’s why I’m calling it a quick tip. If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line, I’m always happy to help. Try and guess where I took captured these images. I can tell you there’s a wide range from Hawaii to the Great Smokey Mountains!

Thanks for reading!

One Ailment Of Starting New Hobbies (GAS)

by crisanzai · Oct 23, 2017

I first learned about the name of this ailment through Atlanta photographer, Zach Arias. I’m not sure if he coined the term, but he definitely brought light to it in reference to photography. Truth be told, I’ve been suffering from this syndrome for a long time. I just didn’t have a name for it.

I Have G.A.S.

You have what? Yeah you heard that right. I have G.A.S. or what better known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome. It’s the theory or better said “misconception” that the better and more Gear you have the better you will be at your hobby or craft. This couldn’t be further from the truth, yet our minds trick us and tell us that better gear equals better end products.

Don’t Fall Into This Trap

Once you have G.A.S. it’s hard to get rid of, so the best way to avoid it is not to have it to begin with. Gear doesn’t improve your skill. What it can do is enhance existing skills – making you faster and more efficient. For example – if you were a novice photographer with a beginner camera, you’re still going to be a novice photographer with a high end camera. It’s the blood, sweat, and tears you put into your craft that’s going to make you better. I once read a quote from Stephen King that really resonated with me and I think it holds true with people with G.A.S. – “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” So you may think you have talent in whatever craft you are getting into, but without putting any effort and work into it, buying a whole bunch of crap won’t make you better.

Sometimes Having Good Enough Gear is Good Enough

So there’s an inherent danger in going the completely opposite direction of having G.A.S. and this too is another pitfall. This is what I would call “Cobble Together Syndrome” or C.T.S. With C.T.S. you get sucked into the DIY world and start “Jerry-rigging” everything. If done incorrectly, this could cost you time, and ultimately money (as you start to buy things over and over again as the cheap things you bought keep breaking).

I’ve been on this side of the spectrum as well, when it came to photography accessories. One of the pieces of gear that I should have spent money on was a Flash Trigger. Instead I ended up buying a cheap one on amazon – twice, before I realized how dumb I was. I finally broke down and bought the brand name one and haven’t had any issues since then.

So I Have G.A.S. Now What?

The first step is definitely admitting the problem. Then what I find most helpful, is going minimal. In photography, I have an assortment of lenses and accessories. By shedding these additions and sticking to a single body and a 50mm lens I challenge myself and see how much I can do with such minimal gear. Exercises like this help you improve your craft and help you appreciate what you already have. For me it kind of quells the desire to get more stuff – that ultimately just sits on the shelf. Sure I wouldn’t mind having some amazing L-Series lenses (the cream of the crop from Canon), but I’m happy with what I have. I always also ask the question “Am I using all the gear I have to it’s full potential?” before upgrading.

Do you experience G.A.S. in your life? How do you cope with it?

Thanks,

The Best Software for Photo Editing

by crisanzai · Oct 21, 2017

Without a doubt one of the best photo editing software programs available is Adobe Photoshop. In the past Photoshop would be available for around $699 to $799 depending on the version. It was a quite expensive tool. You could possibly get it for “free” by stealing it through a bit torrent, but that’s not very ethical and doesn’t support the software company (so it wasn’t recommended).

A free alternative to Photoshop (almost as powerful) is an open source software called GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). This program gave you some of the complex editing tools of Photoshop such as layers, dodging and burning, and color manipulation. However some of the disadvantages would include a steep learning curve (and at times it could be buggy) – caveat here – I haven’t used GIMP in years so some of the bugs and glitches may have been fixed. Also if you were shooting exclusively in RAW format, some of the newer camera RAW formats were not supported by GIMP.

Luckily Adobe released a SAAS (Software as a Service) plan called the Photography Plan. This includes both Lightroom CC and Photoshop CC. CC just stands for Creative Cloud, meaning you can access some of your resources – image files and such online. If you didn’t know, Lightroom is an image organization processor that also has some editing capabilities such as cropping, white balance, color manipulation, resizing, and lens correction. You could use Lightroom stand alone editing tool as well (if you don’t have the time to learn Photoshop). The best part of the photography plan is that it’s only $9.99 a month and it includes ongoing updates. I used to hate SAAS plans where you pay a monthly fee, because when buying a piece of software I wanted to fully own it. However if you do the math you’ll see you are only paying about a $120 a year (a fraction of what it would cost for both programs) and you continually get updates – that make the software better and faster. If you compare it to just buying Photoshop outright, you maybe could have the same type of value in about 5 – 6 years and not having any updates at all.

I’m not sponsored by Adobe or anything, but their software is great and fast for photo editing. There are also a ton of resources online for free (youtube) that can teach you how to leverage this software to create stunning images. I love using both Lightroom and Photoshop and when I found out about the photography plan I immediately signed up and if you want to get serious about photography, I suggest that you do as well!

Thanks,

Preparing for an Upcoming Photo Session with a Photographer

by crisanzai · Oct 19, 2017

So if you’ve never hired a photographer to take your photos, here are some things you should do to make the best of the photo shoot.

Research Photographers

The first thing you should do before even hiring a photographer is to look up photographers in your area. See the different styles of photography out there. Some photographers shoot photos with more contrast, others shoot photos that are brightly lit. You want to take into account what style you’re after and look for photographers that match that style.

Questions to Ask your Photographer

Once you find a photographer here are some questions to ask. Ask the photographer how long they’ve been shooting. What packages and pricing they offer. Some photographers will only sell you prints, others will sell you digital copies of your photos. Every photographer runs their business in their own unique way, so you’ll want to be very clear with what you are paying for.

Ask the photographer about availability, some photographers (believe it or not) only schedule photo sessions Monday through Friday. You want to take into account their schedule as much as your own and try to find the best match. You will also want to find out two or three locations that the photographer recommends. You may also want to see examples of shots in those locations.

Discuss what you are looking for in the photographs. I know this sounds hard (and I have experienced many clients who weren’t quite sure what they wanted), but the clearer idea of what you want, the better the experience will be for both you and the photographer. That’s not to say the photographer shouldn’t have suggestions or advice, a good photographer should ask great questions to reveal what you ideally want.

Let the photographer know what you are going to wear, and if there are any color pallets they suggest. Some scenery may clash with clothing color, so it’s good for the photographer to know ahead of time what you and/or your family are wearing.

Pinterest Is Your Friend

If you are still not sure the style or the type of photography you like, I suggest that you browse Pinterest. Use simple key words such as “Family Photo Session”, “Engagement Session”, etc… to find ideas and pin your favorites. If you want to take it once step further, send your Pinterest board to your photographer and discuss with them the shots you really love and you would like to emulate in some sort of way. The photographer will let you know if the photos match their style or if they could take elements or the “feeling” of the photographs during your shoot.

Don’t expect the photographer to match the Pinterest photos exactly, they aren’t photo copiers – pun intended. However, they can and may get inspired by the types of photos you send them. They may even put their own creative spin on the photos.

So there you have it, some tips on preparing for your next photo session. If you have any questions let me know!

Thank you,

Know What You’re Worth

by crisanzai · Oct 18, 2017

Know what you’re worth, and I don’t mean in a self-esteem / confidence way, but rather in a business sense. I recently had a personal experience where there was a disconnect between a client (now a former client I suppose) and myself about pricing for my photography services. This recent experience made me realize that I wasn’t listening to my own advice about knowing what I’m worth and charging for it.

The Mistake

I met this client years ago when I was just starting off in photography. I had wanted to start things off right with a business contract. However the client insisted a contract wasn’t necessary – BIG mistake, especially if you are doing portrait photography for a group. So, without a contract, I blindly agreed to shoot the event which included head-shots. Well, because I was naive and didn’t have much experience I just took the job. Well the first year was a success, and consequentially I went out to photograph the same job for the past 3 years or so. However I was getting a bit low balled, I knew it, the client knew it, but I didn’t speak up. Or if the client didn’t know it, it was my fault for not letting them be aware of the price. I should have charged 3 or 4 times the amount that was given, but I continued, because I thought I was doing this client a favor, and I wanted to do a good job.

It’s A Business

What I should have done was nailed down a contract with the client and nailed down an agreed upon price. I had done contract work before for product photography clients, and those sometimes resulted in negotiation, but I was satisfied with the agreed upon price. Those jobs were great, I provided what the client needed and I received what I thought the work was worth. Don’t ever be afraid of charging what you think is necessary for you to get the job done. The best way to do this in a contract is to see what others are charging within the market. If you’re just starting off, you may want to start on the low end, if you have more experience then charge more, but I wouldn’t veer off from the average too much. People are typically savvy about photography and will price shop and unless you are really confident and have a track record to prove it, you don’t really want to be the most expensive one around. In fact, the best thing you can do is seek out your competition and see what they are charging and even bring that information to your client.

Don’t Take It Personal

If your client doesn’t want to agree with the contract, then walk away. If you think the client does not want to pay what you are charging, they are more than free to go somewhere else. If you let every Tom, Dick, and Sally try to unreasonably low ball you, you’ll receive a reputation about the cheapest service around and you’ll start resenting doing your work. Be confident in what you can do, and also be confident in what you can’t do. Be open and honest with the client, you’re both trying to accomplish something together. If the client doesn’t want to pay, then walk away. If they get upset, don’t take it personally. Imagine how they’ll treat you when something goes sideways or if they don’t end up liking your work. It’s just bad news.

So take it from me, don’t make this mistake. It just ends up messy and people get upset and angry – it’s typically a lose-lose situation. I recently had a music school reach out to me to do portrait sessions for their students. We went back and forth and finally when I provided them the pricing – which I thought was very reasonable, they balked at the contract. Well I politely parted ways, and I noticed months later – they still didn’t over portraits for their students… I guess they realized the division between the real value of what they wanted, and what they were willing to pay. There was definitely a disconnect there and sometimes, just educating the client is the right thing to do.

Anyways, bottom line is – Know what you’re worth, and when you know what you’re worth, don’t compromise, ever.

Thanks,

5 Tips at Geting Better At Photography

by crisanzai · Oct 11, 2017

Every aspiring photographer reaches the point where they truly want to excel at their craft. When you get to this point in the photographic journey you start taking it seriously. This is where pure talent is honed with skill and sharpened with technique. Here are 5 tips that will help you get started in a perpetual cycle of learning and improving your photography.

1. Learn to See What Others See

They say imitation is the best form of flattery, but really imitation is the best form of learning. If you really think about it, just about everything and anything you learn starts with some sort of imitation, whether it’s walking, or talking, or writing, etc… Photography is no different. Most people think that they don’t want to study other’s arts as it may influence them and steer them away from their own style. Quite the opposite is true, the more you study other photographers, the better you will get at shooting photography. Studying other photographers will help you discern what style and elements you like and don’t like. While looking at other photographs ask yourself, what do I like about this image, what works or doesn’t work, what techniques did the photographers use? Learn to see what others see.

2. Perfect Practice Makes Nearly Perfect

I can’t say this enough, there’s a reason why the 10,000 hour rule is called the 10,000 hour rule. You will need to put time into your craft. It’s really the only way you can get better at photography. When you shoot, plan what you want to shoot, even if you are into the more fly by the pants street photography. Have a plan and goal of what you want to shoot, and try to execute it. You won’t get a perfect shot every time, but you may get one or two great ones in a sea of mediocre ones. What I mean by nearly perfect is that perfection is a pursuit, just like the pursuit of happiness. You will need to pursue perfection, but know in the back of your head that human perfection is a myth… only God is perfect.

3. Analyze After the Shot

After your done shooting from your hours of practicing, analyze your shot. What could you have done to make the shot better (even if you think it’s the greatest photo in the world). Take a long hard look at your photograph. Were there certain camera settings you could have changed, was the composition the best it could be? Self analysis is very important for growth in your photographic journey.

4. Ask for Feedback

Seek out a photography forum in the type of photography you want to shoot. In moste photography forums there’s a critique/review section where you can submit images to get feedback on. You’re going to have to grow a thick skin. Not everyone is going to love all of your images. But everyone has a say on how to improve images. Be mindful of “trolls” who just provide negative feedback, seek feedback from those who want to help others improve. What also helps is to read photo critiques of other photographers. One of the forums I first started following is the shutter stock critique forum. This is place where some seemingly harsh, yet helpful critique is given. You’ll find that you will learn what others say about photographs will help you on your photographic journey. Shutterstock is a stock image site that will only take good quality images. The critique area of the forum is for those who want to get their images approved (their approval process is pretty strict).

5. Learn the Rules, Break Them, and Learn Them Again

Learning the basic principles of art and photography will help you immensely improve your craft. Learn about the “rules” of photography such as the rule of thirds, symmetry, leading lines, light and shadow, the golden ratio etc… Experiment with them, and then deliberately break the rules. Then learn the rules again by recognizing what rule you broke in the first place. Hopefully you’re eyes aren’t crossed, but you get what I’m saying… at least I hope. Learn the rules, break the rules, and then learn the rules again.

So there you have it! 5 tips that will take your photography to the next level. Let me know if you have any other tips!

Thanks a lot for reading,