Learning Photography.

When newbies hear those two words put together, they often feel overwhelmed…intimidated…unsure of where to start.  Where do they start?  They may look at their camera, at their manual, at blogs and forums online, and feel more confused than ever.  But at the heart of great photography is a small, powerful secret.  It is the ability to pause.

Pause.

Instead of putting the camera to your eye and shooting right away…pause.

When you first meet your portrait clients, instead of jumping into taking their photos…pause.

When you walk in and see the bride getting ready, and her family runs up to you and says “take that photo now…oh, isn’t she beautiful, quick take the picture!”…pause.

The speed of how fast you start taking photos is not what determines your photography talent or ability.  Rather, it’s your ability to pause.

What do you do in the pause?

You take in your surroundings–step by step.

This month is our last SOAR! Photography Exercise.  I can’t believe we are wrapping up the year (and what an amazing year it’s been).  For November’s photo assignment, I asked our three SOAR! Recipients to show us all how they used the “pause” to set themselves (and their shoot) up for success.

I asked them to walk through a client’s home and take quick snapshots to study the light of each room.  What room will they choose for their shoot based on the light?  Does the furniture need to be adjusted?  How will they use or not use the furniture?

Does their aperture/f-stop need to be low to blur out the background of distracting objects?  Do they need to put their back against the window to get the BEST light on their subjects?

All these decisions are made during the pause, the pause between greeting their client and beginning to shoot.  In fact, I would argue that these decisions are where the shooting begins.

I asked the gals to take a couple wide angle BEFORE shots of their shooting environment.  And then, they were asked to show us their AFTER results.

Throughout this week, starting today with Linda, on the SOAR! blog, you can see, read and watch what happened to each one of them.

This last photo exercise was and is all about taking flight into a confidence that is able to pause.  And in that ability to pause, they become the professional who knows how to look at all the details that go into making great photos happen.

The secret…all in the ability to pause.

xoxo,

m

p.s.  I am so proud of Linda, Jennifer and Lindsay…I speak for ALL the SOAR! Partners when I say we are CRAZY proud.

Today is one of many posts to come that will celebrate their SOAR! year coming to an end.   You are all in for lots of upcoming treats!

A number of you have emailed to see when the SOAR! 2010 Scholarship is going to start.  We are working away at finalizing  details and hope to have an answer very, very soon!  Stay tuned!