Okay, it’s official. I am officially overwhelmed. We have been on the road so much since mid July (sometimes every other week) shooting like crazy. And now that our last wedding is done, I’m looking at my studio, my desk, the papers, the emails, and yep, there is a lot to catch up on. In fact, we were originally flying out to NY for Photo Plus this week and plans changed at the last minute. Even though I’ll miss reconnecting with people, I am so needing this time at home to just be, pause, enjoy my own bed and not a hotel bed, play with the kids, walk the giant puppy. 🙂
I tend to always feel overwhelmed around mid to late October. I think it’s because I finally feel like I’m coming up for air. But I have to say, the good news is with the help of ShootDotEdit, Pictage and Albumesque, this is the first time this season I’m feeling super overwhelmed. Before these guys were helping me, I was feeling overwhelmed through the whole summer with post process work! So I guess it’s a good thing, right? (‘It’s a good thing, Me Ra. Or, it’s a better thing then it was in years past.’)
But, let’s try something fun in the midst of this. Let’s try a Q & A! Here is your chance to ask me how to tackle a photo situation. It can be around anything; tough lighting, tough client, off camera lighting, blurry backgrounds, composition, you name it. What is something you’d like to improve on or ask about when it comes to taking a certain photo?
Either post a comment or if you’d rather stay more anonymous you can email your questions to me mera@fioria.us, I’ll pick different ones and start posting answers to them over the next few weeks. It’ll be a fun dialog we can have while I get caught up on life!
And here is on more idea, for all of you aspiring photographers who feel like Halloween photos never work…email me your dilemmas. What is the shot you are trying to get that never looks right when you shoot it? I’ll post up a couple of the Halloween specific question and answers over the next week or two, and we’ll tackle them together!
Do you like this idea?
If so, ask away!
xoxo, Me Ra
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[…] Me Ra wrote an interesting post today onLetâ??s Try a Little Q and A!Here’s a quick excerptAnd here is on more idea, for all of you aspiring photographers who feel like Halloween photos never work…email me your dilemmas. What is the shot you are trying to get that never looks right when you shoot it? … […]
Yeah, because I have a question from yesterday’s post! I am sure that I am over analyzing this 😉 but what do you mean when saying “Make the lines of your teacup smile back at you”?
My other question is this. I am wanting to attend your December workshop and I wanted to know what level of photographer is this good for? I have studied your DVDs and now shoot clients of my own… However, I am still an novice shooter and feel like there is SO much for me to learn from you!
Oh goodie! I’ll have to think about this…. I have so many!
Okay, here’s probably a pretty basic question…I generally shoot kids simply because everyone asks me to and I love it. I don’t pose the kids but let them be just themselves and I’m pleased with my work. My intent was not just to shoot kids only and now someone has asked me to do a family shoot for a friend of her, her husband and their grown children. I have no idea what to do! How do I pose them? Or do I do that at all? Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help you send my way.
when should someone choose to shoot RAW? I have heard of the advantages of being able to change exposure and White balance for multiple photos at once, but I’m scared to try it. Right now I shoot large fine JPEG. Also which should I choose Adobe RGB mode or SRGB? I’ve been using SRGB but I’ve heard conflicting things about pics for web vs. printing and which to choose. THANK YOU!!! YOU ROCK!!
one more thing, how is this going to help with your feeling overwhelmed??? 🙂 LOL
you think you’re overwhelmed NOW? Think of ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU’RE GONNA GET!!! 😛
Thanks for opening this up, its really really generous of you.
I’ve never really understood metering. I must have read a million articles on it and gone out and experimented on my own – but when someone says, “Meter on the sky” or “meter on the person” – what do they mean? I never notice a difference when I switch them so I just leave it on the same one all the time.
Ok, this is beginner 101, but here’s my question. I have a Nikkon D60 that came with an 18-55mm lens. I have your videos, and I’m trying to work on the aperture exercises, but I can’t seem to get anywhere with them. The lowest my f-stop will go is down to 4.0, but most of the time when I try to shoot at this, my camera either tells me that there’s not enough light or it shoots at so low of a shutter speed everything is blurry… I’m thinking my only option to get the pictures to look like yours is to get a different lens, or is there something I can do without spending more? I’m so frustrated with this…Am I missing something? I already was planning on asking for a new lens for Christmas, but I want to start doing more now!
Thanks so much for all you’re doing! I love your site.
I feel so greedy asking all these questions, but now that it’s opened up, my mind is going crazy!
Did you take any workshops in the beginning or did you teach your self everything you know?
How did you price yourself in the beginning?
What’s the rule of thumb when a neighbor or friend asks you to shoot them or their kids? I feel so uncomfortable charging anything, but it IS a TON of work –
and finally, you put a lot behind your photos – ‘notice the shadows’, ‘make the lines of the teacup smile back at you’, ‘turning the camera can give you the feeling of motion’ etc… those are all things most people wouldnt notice or think of – I guess this goes back to the first question- did you teach yourself all of that and think of it yourself or did you take some classes or attend some workshops?
Ok, thats it for me, I’m going to force myself to not ask any more questions!! 😛
How do you organize your photos? What system do you use so that you are able to find a photo at some point in the future?
My burning question:
It’s one thing to shoot well, to be a photographer in the artistic sense, but in reality, I’ll bet nearly 80% of success this industry is the business side. It’s entirely another thing to run a sustainable business that is turning a profit. What advice do you have on the more pragmatic elements? How, when you are just getting started, do you market yourself? Where do you seek out clients from? What sorts of advertising and exposure should you be going after to get your name out there? How do you get clients who you aren’t obligated to give the friends and family discounts to? Also what supporting resources (web, book, networking, etc.) are essential to your business that you would mind sharing?
Thanks for doing this, Me Ra!
I’d like to ask all of the above, LOL… and maybe one or two more.
Can you talk more about how to coach people? I did a family shoot a few weekends ago and I was so nervous. I felt silly trying to direct them and when they didn’t get it right away I just took pictures of however they ended up.
I would also love to know what you think are the essential “JUST now starting your home photography business” items – other than camera and computer, of course. If I wanted to set up a mini studio in my home, there is SO MUCH OUT THERE. What comes first? Big roll of paper? The fabric backgrounds? Fancy props? Lighting? We get nasty weather for 6 months of the year and can’t always do outdoor shoots.
Lastly… I’m wondering at what point you said, “I am going to make this a business rather than a hobby” ? I’m working full time with a 1 year old at home and too many chores and I can’t imagine at what point I can say to myself, “Time to quit my job and transition to photography full-time.” It’s overwhelming and a little scary!
Love you, Me Ra! I hope you and Brian and the kids have a great weekend together. ♥
Me Ra, you are such a kind and amazing person!
I won’t ask any questions, as I am too much of a beginner 🙂
Just wanted to tell you how much I like you and your website.
Hi Me Ra, I LOVE your Blog, you rock!! My question would be what software do you use to: import, view thumbnails for editing, and rename and renumber photos? Would it be Lightroom? I had been using NikonView then my computer crashed and NikonView isn’t compatible with newer computers. UGH! I have been trying other Nikon software but have been having more problems. Right now I just want to chuck my computer out the window! Because I have weddings to edit and am kind of stuck.
Also, would a good answer for Kelly be to bump up her ISO or do you not do that too often.
Thanks Me Ra!
Okay, so I have two questions. My first is the same as another person about shooting a family. How do you go about “posing” them or do you not? How do you get them to relax in front of the camera (especially the little toddlers) so that they look “natural”?
Secondly, I always struggle with inside lighting for events like my daughter’s dance recitals or even just a practice that they are moving and the lighting is flourescent. What settings are best for inside action type photos?
I hate asking this question, because it means I’m admitting to my poor organization…but how do you store your lenses that are not on your camera? Do you keep them in your bag, on a shelf, or somewhere else?
My husband and I switch lenses often for day to day photos – macro for dog walks, telephoto if we’re birding, 50mm for portraits, etc. Sadly, we end up with lenses and lens caps spread around the house. We have a big bag that will hold a few lenses for long trips, but I don’t think it’s easy to find something for everyday use. Is there some magic system that you use to find the lens you want quickly, or is it just a matter putting everything back in the same place when you’re done with it and not being in such a rush?
I have a question about photographing teenagers.
I just took some photos for a friend yesterday. She particularly wanted portrait type photos but I found it so hard to connect with her two teenage daughters. The younger two were much easier. The older girls sneered and snarled their way through the shoot and by the end of it I was sweating! Alot!!
Oh my! Where do I start?? I agree with the question..how do you deal with a family shoot..ie ..posing, do you have the shots already planned? Adults clearly are not like children..children run around and I find it extremely fun to “get the shot”…adults sit there and wait for “you” to organize the session..I would love it if I could say..”just run around like the kids and we will see what we get”..
Also, should I be putting a portfolio together? I am almost finished building my website. If a portfolio is in my future then my question is..what type of photos should I put in the portfolio? should they all be the same size? All color or black and white? Should I have them displayed in a fancy folder? Should the pictures have a theme?
One more..for shoots with only children, are you using one lens more so than others? Or are you switching back and forth?
Okay, that’s enough for now..MeRa, you have to get that forum going so we can all get chatting amongst each other. Thanks!! Kelli
Okay I thought I couldn’t think of a specific question myself, but I second ALL these questions. Especially the one about RAW and the ones about working with various clients. Now I can’t wait for your answers! But of course, it can all wait til you are no longer overwhelmed. Yay for you taking a breather at home.
I have been experimenting with indoor portraits without a flash and find that when I “listen” to my camera the shots are too dark…but when I try to lighten the picture it’s blurry. What am I doing wrong? How do you decide what settings you need to take rich colorful pictures? Or even black and whites? I just can’t seem to keep it in focus. :0)
Hi Me Ra,
As usual, you are so giving of your knowledge and experience and we are all so very grateful!!
My question is less about a single technical issue, but about technical experience in general. Most of us know the story of how you got interested in photography to start and that you always had that gifted “eye” for getting the shot. But, what happened in between being a newbie and where you are now to make you the expert you are today? What I mean is, how did you gain the technical expertise? Did you take classes? Are you self taught? Did you already have the technical skills when you started taking pics when Pascaline was little or was it something you picked up along the way?
I am also curious, just like everyone else, about what you say to people as you posing them. Children just do their thing, but older people need to be made comfortable and directed. I remember you talking about the shots Rick Chapman took of you and Brian and how he talked to you to get you into the right frame of mind. I need help with that!! 🙂
Thanks for letting us pick your brain!! You’re the best!!!
Thanks so much for doing this!! Love your site and how freely you share info with us fellow moms.
I have two –
I’d love tips on finding great light outdoors. I know about sweet time but would like to be able to be more flexible with my time and go out during the day when my kids are still fresh. I’ve never really understood open shade. If you find the right spot for open shade then I should be able to go out anytime it’s sunny, am I right? If it’s not sunny, any tips for images that don’t look flat.
The second one is about converting to black and white. Do you have a process for converting to B/W that you use. I find my B/W photos never turn out like I want them to.
Oh my goodness, these are all fantastic questions!! Where do I start!
Check back tomorrow, and we’ll start chipping away at these together! Keep your questions coming too! And your emails as well!
Hi Me Ra,
I like to photograph children just being themselves and I am running into metering and exposure problems. We are usually outdoors and the kids are running crazy.
I can’t seem to ever get the “correct” exposure when they are not sitting posed. I always seem to get pictures that are too dark because I can’t keep up with adjusting my camera with the kids. I do shoot RAW (now) but my post fixes aren’t always great.
How do I get the correct exposure and the correct skin tones while keeping up with the speed of children?
Thanks so much for your help!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this idea!! thank you!! (now I just have to sift through the 500 questions I’d like to ask!)
Hi MeRa!
Thanks for taking time to connect with us and answer our questions. I know that I always have a few burning questions in the back of my mind, as I am a newbie at this.
Mainly, my issue is that I did my first photo shoot and shot all the photos in a RAW format under the direction of a friend who is also a photographer. After the shoot, I went to download the photos to Lightroom and it told me that my files were corrupt. After doing a little investigating, I was told that because I have a newer camera, my version of Lightroom (1.3 or 1.4) won’t read the photos in RAW, but they do in JPEG. Have you ever heard of this, and is it in fact the case that I will need to upgrade my software to make it work?
Thanks again!
While I am shooting some shots are good, then the following will be blurry. What happens? I really try and stay as still as possible.
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to learn more and see you in December!!
WOW, you’re already swamped with questions. My heart did skip a beat when you offered this up, so I just couldn’t resist!
My biggest issue is lighting. I take most of my photos outside (photography has always been a hobby for me, but I’m starting to have people ask me to take their family photos). I’ve read a lot about natural light. My method has been if its close to the middle of the day, to find shade spots. However, these photos come out fairly life-less, grey, dull looking (similar to my cloudy day shots). Towards the morning or late afternoon, I’ve put people in the sun, they end up looking harsh with the sun on their faces. WHAT’S A GIRL TO DO?
You and Brian have been a great inspiration as I improve my shooting skills. Clearly, and for reasons you have detailed many times, you choose to work with women, and helping them improve.
Have you thought of letting Brian loose, focusing on family men who are trying to get better, but don’t have the luxury of being single, having lots of time and opportunities to really get out there and improve? So many photog blogs I follow are written by single guys/gals in their 20s/30s. That was so 10/15 years ago for me.
It’d be aweseome if Brian supplemented this blog with ‘straight talk’ to husbands and fathers who are otherwise preoccupied with life, but want to improve their photog skills. Maybe even a family man oriented workdshop?
Just a thought.
i find that when i shoot pictures of my daughter outside, the photos end up with uneven skin tones – especially green shadows on her face from the grass. how do i reduce the color cast?
of course i’m about to start a monthlong project where i only shoot in black and white on november 1st so i won’t have to worry about it for a while. 🙂 but still, it drives me crazy.
Hey Me Ra and Brian!
I’ve had the pleasure to meet and befriend Amber Holritz and Corey McNabb during Corey’s McNabb workshop and they are awesome. I know that Amber wrote a piece on you for Rangefinder and thanks to your shout out on your blog, I stumbled upon her website and the rest is history.
My timing is a bit off in starting in this industry as the economy is really hitting a slump and no one seems to know when we will be back on the up swing. My thing is I’m having a hard time getting booked for weddings and children portraitures. It really does seem that everyone has their own camera or all your neighbors seem to want to go into photography as well. I guess I just am feeling a bit discouraged. I’m listed on the Knot since I was obsessed with them for my own wedding and I do attempt to network with other photographers and vendors but the inquiries are slow to come in and I have only booked one wedding for next year.
Just wanted to see if you had any advice for someone feeling a bit discouraged and really trying to get a footing in the industry. Thanks so much!
Okay, I thought of my own now. First, I know that it’s really the photo that counts, but it just seems that after post processing, photos look so… professional! And there’s a million and a half different things techniques, but for portraiture is there any process that you wouldn’t bother to show your photo without?
Second, when a photographer goes professional, what’s the decision making process behind keeping the rights to your photos vs. giving them to the person who is in the photos? I love having complete access to my wedding photos (which was part of the package deal), but I’m finding that most photographers keep their rights.
MeRa – Thanks a ton for being so accessible. I’ve learned so very much from your blog! The thing I’ve struggled with most is getting super sharp photos. I’m shooting in the lowest ISO possible, with a large aperature and fast shutter speed, with a VR lens. But I can’t seem to get the really crisp photos that others do. Even using a tri- or monopod doesn’t give me consistently sharp photos.
Thanks for your input!
my question is about motivation–what motivates you to get out and shoot when you are feeling really drained?
maybe it’s different if it’s your work, i am not sure. i love photography, but i am also a graduate student, have an internship, and work part time. i feel like i sometimes lose my connection for photography, even though i love it
What is your approach to shooting a portrait session in full sun? Seems like the highlights are always too bright and the shadows too dark. I shoot manually with awesome equipment. Is the answer as simple as using fill flash? I just don’t always like how it looks and feel like I see great full sun images. I wonder how many of them have a “silk” or white sheet out of the frame filtering the light….
The hardest shooting conditions I’ve ever had occurred recently. It was a senior photoshoot of a blond senior wearing white with her very tall (over 17 hands!)black horse in a field in full sun and without using flash (couldn’t spook the horse). Five difficult aspects in just one shoot! Next time, I’ll ask ahead of time what color the horse is, if it tolerates flash, and if I can choose the location. That would have made it MUCH easier. . . .7 years with a photography business and STILL learning ALL THE TIME! 🙂
Hi MeRa and Brian!
Thank you for this opportunity to ask you all of the questions that have been troubling us at night! My question really relates to confidence with my photography (or lack thereof!) It seems like no matter how hard I try, my photographs look none too much better than a good snapshot. I have been practicing photography for just under a year and while I have seen some improvement, there is a world of difference between your photos and mine. Can you tell us a little more about your beginning photos? Can you show us some examples, so we can see where you started and how far you have come? Also, if you could shed some light on how you got to where you are now? Did you start out brilliant (innate talent) or was it a slow process? Any information you can provide on how you went from a beginner to becoming a master would be so appreciated. I am starting to get discouraged. I try so hard and care so much about becoming a really really good (actually I want to be amazing!) photographer, but it is starting to seem like a dream that might not get realized, especially when I look at the difference between my pictures and those whom I admire. THANK YOU!!!
I love this idea and have a million questions I could ask. So my top one is this: What is your best tip for photoshop/lightroom to really make those pictures pop?
As a beginning photog I need all the advice I can get! 🙂 Thanks for all your great tips that you share with us. We are grateful!
Hi Me Ra! I saw the cutest picture in a magazine of a little girl and a pumpkin with a candle in it. The glowing pumpkin and the little girl were exposed from the light of the candle and everything else was pure black. What settings would you use to create a look like that? Thanks!
First I want to say “Christie” I fee exactly the same way as you. I have loved photography as long as I can remember however my photos just aren’t where I want them to be and unfortunately my time is ultra limited so spending hours a day just isn’t going to happen.
MeRa, I am getting so discouraged with low light photos. I love natural light but just don’t always have it or enough of it available. I purchased a 50mm 1.4 lens so I’m hoping that will help some but they just aren’t what I’m hoping for. I could also really use some help with flash. What do you do if you are shooting some casual photos indoors in the evening…no sun from the windows. I try to stay still but sometimes the pictures just look way to blurry. UGH am I frustrated. I can’t wait for the Chicago workshop when hopefully I will figure this all out.
I think you and your website are wonderful. Thank you sooooooooooo much.
[…] CHICAGO Running on Empty Contest! And we also do another segment answering your questions from the Q&A blog posts! And Monday, wow, look out. Either Monday or Tuesday we are going to share the latest […]
1. I’ve worked hard on getting sharp images and I’m getting better, but sometimes it doesn’t work and I wish I’d know what was wrong. I’ve seen a huge difference since I’ve upgraded to an L series lens, but I know some of the trouble is me. Is there a maximum distance in which autofocus operates? I’ve really been wondering about this the last while as I’ve been closely observing the sharpness problems. It seemed to me that when I was shooting from a distance, the focus point always dropped to the left or left/and below the subject. Is this me inadertantly jerking or WHAT?! During the one session I even used a tripod and had the same issue.
2. I’ve been using Photoshop Elements to do post processing and it’s a slow process–especially for weddings. Would I be better off getting Lightroom or upgrading to CS3 so I can use actions?
3. I am booked as heavily as I want to be, but I wish to get in a higher class of customers. I’ve depended solely on word of mouth, so I’m seeing friends of friends. They aren’t customers who are shopping around for the cheapest deal, but I’m hardly selling any prints larger than an 8×10 and very, very rarely do I sell a canvas. How do I move up?
I was wondering if you have found a good free editing program on the internet. I would be interested to see if you could make a “top 3” list. I currently use picasa, but am looking for a little more flexibility. I would love it if you could give some direction- thank you!
Shannon
Thank you so much for answering our questions!!! I would love more info on how to find and use good lighting, especially for night/indoor photos. I feel like in the morning/evening it is much easier to get great shots. Even then though, where should the light be in relation to who you are shooting? I need lighting 101!!! Thanks, Me Ra!!! :o)
[…] last week’s posts on what photography questions do you have, a number of you emailed me about photo coaching […]
I am sorry, I all ready put a question in, but if you happen to get a chance… I am lost when it comes to showing people their proofs online… So lost, I have been just giving people CDs and then having them choose their faves. BUT THIS IS WAY TOO TIME CONSUMING and I was just wondering if there is a quick and easy way to do this online- I know that there are companies out there that host sights, but I am still a low budget kinda gal.