The Beginner Photography Podcast

In this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, I'll take you behind the scenes, sharing my personal pre-wedding rituals for energy and focus, overcoming equipment issues in challenging venues, and orchestrating the perfect shots despite unpredictable weather as we we dive into the dynamic and unpredictable nature of wedding photography. From capturing the dress and intimate moments during prep, to the emotional vows and lively group shots—I break down my strategies for creating those timeless wedding images. Embrace the tips, witness real-time problem-solving, and refine your skills to tell a wedding's story beautifully.
The Big Ideas:

• Routine is Key: Your mental energy is precious - a consistent pre-wedding routine helps you focus and stay sharp for the big day.
• Tackling Emergencies: Be adaptable; you can overcome unexpected challenges, like equipment malfunctions or weather changes, with calm problem-solving.
• The Art of Detail: You'll learn the subtle art of photographing wedding details – rings, dresses, and flowers – that tell a richer story.
• Capturing the Moment: Find strategies for photographing genuine moments, ensuring every emotion is beautifully immortalized in your pictures.

Photography Action Plan:

• Prepare Your Gear: Check your camera, lenses, flashes, batteries, and memory cards the night before to ensure everything is in working order. Have backups ready. Pack your gear neatly, create a checklist, and mark items off as you pack to avoid forgetting essential equipment.
• Plan Your Shots: Study and understand the wedding day timeline to know when key moments will occur and where you need to be for the best shots. Create a shot list with the couple beforehand, including must-have photos and desired poses, to work efficiently and not miss critical moments.
• Master Lighting Techniques: Practice using your flash in different environments so you're prepared for varying lighting conditions on wedding days. Learn to bounce flash off ceilings or walls to create a more natural light look in your photos when direct flash is too harsh.
• Capture the Details: Don't overlook photographing the small details like rings, floral arrangements, and place settings as they contribute to the story of the day. Be meticulous in arranging these elements and use macro lenses if necessary to capture intricate details and textures.
• Direct with Confidence: Develop clear, concise directions to guide groups and individuals during posed shots – having a few go-to poses can help you start strong. Encourage natural interactions between subjects for more candid and relaxed photographs, such as asking them to talk about a memory or share a joke.

Resources:

Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

In this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, I talk about my experience getting out of the often-overlooked topic of burnout, sharing my personal experiences and 3 step process to reigniting my creative spark. We'll explore a three-phase process to help you rediscover your passion for photography, including shooting more, seeking inspiration, and thematic storytelling. I'll also share a valuable exercises to learning how to tell stories with your camera, like using an Instax camera. Join me in our revamped Facebook group for ongoing support from our vibrant community of photo friends!

The Big Ideas:

• Explore Diverse Subjects: Experimenting with various photography genres can help spark creativity and prevent burnout.
• Limit Social Media Inspiration: Relying on platforms like Flickr or photo books can lead to more genuine creativity than endless scrolling.
• Tell Stories with Photos: Embrace longer-form storytelling through multiple images to add depth to your subjects.
• "Plork": Combine play and work in your photography practice to keep it fun and educational.

Photography Action Plan

• Shoot More Frequently: Set aside specific times each week to photograph anything that catches your interest. Keep your camera handy during daily activities to capture spontaneous moments.
• Seek New Inspirations: Visit platforms like Flickr and explore historical photo groups for fresh ideas. Borrow or buy photography books that excite you and study them.
• Embrace Storytelling: Choose a simple story idea and capture it through 5-10 cohesive images. Use an instant or film camera to challenge yourself with a limited number of shots.
• Join Photography Challenges: Participate in the newly introduced monthly photo challenges within the Beginner Photography Podcast Facebook group. Follow the theme of the month (e.g., summer) to structure your creative efforts and win prizes.
• Recommit to Learning: Dive deeper into a specific genre of photography that piques your interest (e.g., food or landscape photography). Attend online workshops or watch video tutorials to refine your techniques and broaden your skillset.

Resources:
Charlie Planespotting Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjwVlQqCWmI
Join the Revamped Facebook Community - https://beginnerphotopod.com/group

Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

Gaining confidence as a photographer comes down to things and none of them have to do with the camera. You will naturally get comfortable with the camera as time goes on. Confidence 3 things.
#1 Prep

A wise man once said that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. That couldn’t be more true than in photography. If you want to start taking photos with intention you need to know your gear and how it works inside and out. So the prep stage is knowing your gear, how it works, and how it reacts in different lighting sanarios. Take a listen to episode 243 where I break down step by step how to get to know your camera.

#2 Plan

If you want to be successful as a photographer you will need to shoot more than just reactionary photos but shoot with intention. Sometimes that means planning out your photos. Before a shoot really break down each element. What lens will you use, what lights will you use, how will your subject pose. Hammer those details out so when you get ready to shoot you won’t have to think on the fly, they are already planned out.

#3 Practice

You can read every tutorial and watch every video on youtube but if you don’t actually put in time behind the camera you won’t be retaining much. That’s why practice is so important. To be most efficient when practicing, have a clear goal and work on just one aspect of photography. When just getting started I recommend composition. Composition how you compose the frame of your image with the goal of leading your viewer’s eyes to the subject of the photo. Composition is something you can practice anywhere and even with just the camera on your phone which is why its such a great place to start.

Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

Im renaming November to MEvember and focusing on my health. Since photography is a large part of my life I wanted to examine how it contributes to my health. Today I want to share with you the 4 ways that photography is incredibly beneficial to your health and well being and how photography can take care of you.

Memory

Have you ever noticed how you have strong memories of taking photos more so than the event itself? Science may have an answer as to why! Reviewing our photographs builds new path ways from our hippocampus to more visual memory parts of our brain.

Creative

Have you ever wished you were a born creative? According to science, creativity really can be strengthened like a muscle when practiced regularly. The key, the more you do, the more experience you have, the more experience you have, the more you can tweak that experience to apply to the current situation at hand.

Physical

I routinely get 20k steps in at a wedding. While photography is not the most physically demanding job it’s far more demanding than a desk job or video game hobby. Physical exercise also helps in the creative aspect. When you move your body, get your blood flowing to the brain, reduces inflammation, and lowers stress hormones which can help create more connections between brain cells and brain areas.

Feels good to give to others

We all know that when we give to others, the mesolimbic pathway lights up increasing activity in the prefrontal cortex and activating the subgenual area which is also associated with higher levels of social belonging.

Resources:

• Memories, Photographs, and the Human Brain
• The Science behind Gift Giving
• Your Brain and Creativity
• Join The Beginner Photography Podcast Facebook Community
• 46 Creative Photography Ideas: Free PDF Download

Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!

In this episode of the Beginner Photography Podcast, I chat with Justin Anderson, astrophotographer who captures the night sky with breathtaking mastery. Justin shares his journey of photographing Comet NEOWISE and other celestial wonders, emphasizing the importance of preparation, persistence, and creativity. Today you'll learn how to set up your camera for night photography, choose the right equipment, and find the perfect locations to shoot. You'll also learn the art of scouting dark skies, experimenting with different lenses, and appreciating the beauty of your surroundings.

THE BIG IDEAS

• Persist Through Challenges: Consistently work on improving your skills, even when conditions don't align. Persistence is key in mastering night photography.
• Embrace the Learning Curve: Night photography comes with a steep learning curve. Accept mistakes as part of the journey towards stunning captures.
• Plan and Prepare: Success in astrophotography requires meticulous planning, from checking the weather to selecting remote locations away from light pollution.

PHOTOGRAPHY ACTION PLAN

• Scout Dark Locations: Use dark sky maps to identify potential shooting spots away from city lights. Visit these locations during the day to plan your composition and safety measures.
• Optimize Camera Settings: Set your camera to manual mode, adjusting ISO, aperture, and shutter speed according to the lighting conditions. Practice taking long exposures to capture more light and detail in the night sky.
• Experiment with Lenses: Try using wide-angle lenses (e.g., 24mm) to capture expansive landscapes along with the night sky. Test prime lenses with apertures wider than F2.8 for better light capture and reduced noise.
• Use Proper Accessories: Equip your camera with a remote shutter and intervalometer to avoid camera shake and take multiple long exposures. Bring a sturdy tripod to keep your camera stable during long exposure shots.

RESOURCES
Follow Justin on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aurorajanderson/
Check out Justins Website - https://highhopesaurora.com/

Get Back your Family Time and Start Building Your Dream Photography Business for FREE with CloudSpot Studio.
And get my Wedding and Portrait Contract and Questionnaires, at no cost!
Sign up now at http://deliverphotos.com/

Grab your free 52 Lightroom Presets at
http://freephotographypresets.com/

Connect with the Beginner Photography Podcast!

• Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
• Send in your Photo Questions to get answered on the show - https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa
• Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!