Monthly Archives: June 2016

It’s all fun and games during a photo shoot until things don’t go according to plan and that’s why it’s so important to plan ahead. Of course all photographers have learned this the hard way at some point in their career and that’s why I am here ready to give you the lowdown, so pay close attention!

The biggest problem I found myself having when I first started out was controlling my battery power. I would leave my home with a full battery and positive attitude ready to conquer the evening. By the end of the night I was turning off my camera every 20 seconds trying to save that last percentage of the battery, while being full of anxiety. The night before a photo shoot you should make sure you have two fully charged batteries. Yes, two. This way you don’t have to worry about when you might run out and possibly miss some great shots. I went to Best Buy and purchased my second battery for about 30 bucks. A battery for a camera lasts an average of four hours, so if you have two, you’re pretty much golden. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Another thing that’s great to have is a durable camera strap. I myself am constantly leaning, bending, and crouching down and I always feel much better knowing that my camera isn’t going anywhere. Now, your camera should come with a basic, black strap and there should be straps available in the store as well. Please follow my advice and stay away from those straps. The strap you are given isn’t a very sturdy strap, plus it’s thin and flimsy. The straps in the store might be a tad bit thicker but they are going to be ridiculously expensive, ranging anywhere from $20-$40, that’s not worth it. My favorite place to shop for camera straps are Amazon and Etsy. I would say 95% of the time Amazon will sell the same strap online that you may have seen in the store except there’s a twist, it’s only about a third of the price! Plus, did you know that Best Buy will price match with Amazon? Never forget that! I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by price matching at that store. Now, Etsy sells a lot of homemade products so your straps are actually going to be better quality than those you’d find in the store. There is a type of strap that I have found on this website and they are called “the scarf camera strap.” I like these because they’re extremely comfortable and lightweight and very durable.

Having the proper protection for your camera is very important as well. I have a larger bag that holds my battery packs and memory cards. Also in that bag I carry a smaller bag that holds my lenses and that’s the bag I will use to carry with me during a shoot or event. The smaller bag you can buy in Best Buy for about $10 but the bigger bag I will refer you again to Amazon.

The last thing I’ll briefly talk about to help you prepare for a shoot is to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself. Going into a shoot without the right equipment is one thing but going into a shoot feeling exhausted, hungry or uncomfortable is another. Always make sure you’ve eaten a healthy meal before a photo shoot. I am talking about your fruits and veggies, protein and grains. Plus, make sure you are hydrated. Trust me, it’s not fun working a shoot all afternoon, looking through that lens with a headache. Also make sure you’re dressed properly. I always try to lean towards wearing some workout gear because I feel I can move around my best in them. Do not wear flip-flops or tight jeans which may constrict you from moving around. Lastly make sure you have enough rest. Photography can actually take a lot out of you, especially if you are at an all day event! So get your rest drink your fluids and dress to impress (but be comfortable)!

Next week I am photographing my first wedding reception and I couldn’t be more excited! For this blog post I will be reviewing some of the things you should look for when photographing any sort of party. It could be a wedding reception, a five year olds’ birthday party, or even a graduation party. Even though these all fall under the party scene, each one is very different and should be photographed in a way that supports that individual event.

If you love surprise parties, you’ll love photographing them as well. Recently my grandmother turned eighty years old and I photographed her extravagant surprise bash. I did get about 100 photos of her walking into the surprise, which I have to say was the best part, but I also looked out for some other moments that I know she would always cherish and want to look back on. She had a ton of great grand kids that attended and I know they melt her heart, so I tried my best to get some clean, but also fun shots. It’s important to make sure the kids are having fun too, even if it’s an 80th birthday surprise party. By creating a fun environment for the kids I was able to capture some great shots of them dancing, eating their sweets, and even throwing pennies in the big water fountain. There was also a piano man at the party playing some beautiful, classical music. I made sure to get a picture of him playing some of my grandmothers favorite songs, and he actually smiled! I also took some macro shots of the fun decorations because they were full of color and I thought they would be a nice add on to the album I had created for the event. The last photos I had taken were shots of my lovely grandmother thanking all of her friends who attended, (there were 70 of them). I really enjoyed photographing this day because it was very personal to me and important for me to capture those great memories my family had made.

Now next week when I photograph the wedding reception, I will obviously still focus on capturing the fun environment, while working on different, unique types of shots. I am looking forward to capturing the love between the newlyweds, but I will also keep in mind that it is important to photograph the things that mean the most to them. I am planning to take some unique shots of their wedding rings, by placing them on something that would resemble some sort of pedestal. Besides the decor, I will focus my macro shots on the variety of desserts they will have to offer. I’m looking forward to photographing the kids, because as you know by now, they’re my specialty! During events like these find the things that stand out to you and also try to capture the moments you believe will mean the most to the guest or guests of honor!

After reading my first few blog posts, by now you should be familiar with my style of photography. I tend to look for the most natural shots in a sort of rustic environment. I enjoy places and settings that have a historic feel. In this particular post I thought it would be fun to talk about my favorite places to photograph in Southern PA. If you didn’t already know, Southern PA is full of history.

One of my favorite places to photograph is downtown, historic Lancaster. There are tons of old factory buildings and unique church’s lining the streets. Plus, there are quite a few buildings that were once pharmacies and now they have been transformed into coffee shops and local breweries. The reason why I love this town so much is because the people have done a nice job of keeping these old buildings up to par with a modern new look. The town is full of old brick buildings, crawling with vines and rusted outdoor stairways. Lancaster is also known as “Amish Country,” so all you have to do is travel about five minutes outside of the city and you hit miles of farm land with the constant sighting of horse and buggies.

Gettysburg is another great spot to do some free lance photography. This is where the Battle of Gettysburg took place in 1863, which is considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War. I have actually met people in Gettysburg before who had traveled all the way from Australia to experience this historic place. It’s not just the history though that really pulls me in, but the beauty of the land that surrounds the town. There are some beautiful vineyards that rest on the hills of Gettysburg, and whenever I get the chance to do some photography out there, I feel as if I’m getting a little taste of Italy. I encourage everyone to get out there at least once in your lifetime!

The last place on my list of favorites is a small town called Red Lion. This is the town where I grew up and currently am living. Red lion was also one of the largest cigar producing towns in this country during the mid 19th century, just a fun historic fact! Now, it’s not really the center of the town that I’m drawn to, but what’s just a few miles down the road. Just by taking a couple of back roads through the town, you’ll suddenly find yourself in the middle of a beautiful field full of wild flowers, with nothing but an old barn in the distance. Another couple streets down there are rows of old, abandoned factories and silos. Even though they are decades old, bold colors still remain throughout their exterior.

I hope after reading this you can really get a feel for why I adore these places. It’s always good to get out there and travel through some of the towns around you because there might be something out there you never knew existed. Now get out there and go explore!

The times I feel most connected to my work and proud of my work, is when I have the chance to photograph someone who is living out their dreams. It could be a wedding where two people, so in love have just vowed to spend their lives together. It could be a sports event, where you can see the passion in the players face. Or, for my last job it could be as simple as some kids showing off their incredible talents. Witnessing the innocence, beauty and love of a child through photography is one of the most rewarding and moving things a person can experience.

Over the weekend I had the privilege of photographing a talent contest hosted by WJTL Radio. The acts were incredibly talented as they were all based around music. The crowd was full of supportive family members and loads of excited, energetic kids. Not only was the talent phenomenal, but the children in the audience were so outgoing and absolutely loved the camera. It’s nice to photograph the kids having fun, but it’s also neat to catch them off guard because it’s a time where you can capture their innocence.

If you ever have the opportunity to photograph in an environment with children, this advice is for you. Try to have fun with them, always stay smiling, give them a thumbs up, joke around and get out as many laughs from them as you can.

Now, if a child is pretty young, always run it by their parent or guardian first before you start photographing them. Also, on your camera, if you have an option for continuous shooting, it’s a good idea to keep this on almost the entire time. I only say this because kids are very spontaneous and they are constantly moving around. They could be giving you a blank stare one minute, and the next minute they’re laughing hysterically. Some other shots I highly recommend you look for are some unique and personal shots. There was a particular kid performing on stage who was 14 years old, and really caught my eye. Not just because he could sing and play the guitar like a professional, but because he had a really interesting pair of shoes on. I actually got lucky because below him there was a set of fluorescent, rainbow lights that really enhanced that shot of his shoes, so that photograph came out great. I also worked on getting some of the acts with their instruments. For one shot, I captured a young girl preparing to get on the stage with her guitar hanging around her back. I captured this from the side and I could tell she was nervous because she had her hands folded with a focused look frozen on her face. I also took some shots that were zoomed in on the contestants hands playing their instruments. To me these moments reveal a personal side of each contestant, because you can form an understanding of what they love to do, and why they’re so passionate about it.

If you find yourself envisioning a shot, always do your best to pursue it. You never want to leave an opportunity behind, regretting that you didn’t go for it. There was a time during my first event where I had envisioned quite a few shots with the people and musical artists, yet I was too shy to pursue them. I have learned from those mistakes and today I never miss a shot. Go out there with a vision and don’t stop until you’ve captured it.

One of the most exciting places to photograph is at the scene of a concert. It doesn’t matter what genre, location, or how many people will be there because everyone is there for the same reason, to enjoy themselves and listen to some great music! Although a concert is made out to be all fun and games, a lot of people don’t realize all of the work that goes into making a show possible.

Right now I am interning for WJTL radio and so far it has been an incredible experience. I have been lucky enough to work as the stations photographer for two concerts so far. Although I would love to go on about my experience with the concerts, this particular blog is made to guide you in case one day you have the chance to photograph a concert yourself.

The first time I was given the opportunity to photograph a concert I was incredibly nervous. I had found out the day before the concert that the general manager of WJTL wanted to use me as their photographer, and although he is one of the greatest people you will ever meet, I still felt very under pressure to keep up to par with their standards. This is my one piece of advice to you if you are ever given an opportunity like this….just be yourself. I know that sounds very cliche, but it’s actually very important. Not only does being yourself help you to relax and show others your true colors, but it gives you an advantage with your photography. For example, from my previous blogs you already know and understand the type of photography I love and that I am familiar with. Just a refresher, I love macro photography and very unique shots. I knew that I would have the chance to get some great shots of the performer during the concert, so I felt that before the show started, it was my time to get some shots that showed off my style and my personality. Here are some examples,

In my opinion I thought that this lightbulb was very unique and a great piece of art to add to the stage, and there were actually about 20 of them up there. I felt it was a very appropriate shot because I knew many people would take notice to the interesting lightbulbs that surrounded the main act, they were kind of hard to miss.

This shot I felt was very personal because it’s the microphone that the main act was using through the night. I captured this before anyone arrived, while it was an empty and peaceful auditorium.

Another shot I love is this one I had taken during the main acts sound check. I once again found this shot to be very personal because the auditorium was completely empty and the band had a chance to have some time for themselves and prepare for the big night. The color and smoke also helps to give the photograph a more dramatic feel.

My main point throughout this blog is for you to always show off of who you are through that camera lens. No matter what type of event you are photographing, just remember it is very important to be yourself, because that is when your best work and most memorable work will show.

Today was a very long day for me, and I found myself struggling with the topic for my daily blog. My life right now has me constantly on the go, so if an opportunity arises, I jump on it as fast as possible. This becomes very real in my life as a photographer. Like before when I spoke about capturing the moment, sometimes that means jumping right on an opportunity and that is exactly what I did this afternoon.

After an hour long drive home from work I found myself exhausted and looking forward to the fact that I had a case of Oreos in my room. When I arrived home I came to find my sister franticly running around the kitchen trying to get out some sort of gibberish. I was finally able to make out what she was trying to tell me. Apparently Dad was mowing out back when three baby bunnies sprinted out from the yard and on to our back patio to take cover. They were hiding behind numerous tomato plants we had potted on the back step. We all raced to the back patio through the side garage door to see them trembling, scared for their little lives. We also have a beagle…so we had to make sure she was secured far away from any doors or windows, or she might have helped herself to a second course. Anyway, after standing out there for about a minute, adoring these little fur balls, I realized I had to take advantage of this awesome moment.

I ran upstairs and quickly switched out my lenses and darted back outside! Now you’re probably wondering, what sort of tips or advice am I going to get from this?? Well I have to tell you, the first time I ever came across an opportunity like this, I waited too long, and lost the opportunity to shoot something so spectacular. The next time I was given an opportunity like this, I was quick enough to grab my camera, but then became too cautious when it came to capturing the subject. Since then I have realized, it’s all about seizing the moment and capturing that very moment very carefully, but also as fast as you can.

As soon as I returned outside with my camera on and focused, I crouched down on the ground and got about one foot away from each bunny. By then I was taking one shot right after another, because I didn’t want to miss a thing. Once you are able to capture a secure amount of photographs, start to tone it down a little and focus more on the details. By this time, I slowly got level with the ground and crept a bit closer to a particular rabbit. This rabbit had the best stance out of all three. I was able to get a photograph that showed off it’s sweet eyes, the rich color in its fur and the statuesque stance it was holding.

After that last photograph, things got a little messy. One rabbit ran away, the other ran into our house, and the last one we found to be injured with a sprained foot. By the way if you ever come across an injured animal from the wild, do your best to get it to a wildlife rehabilitation center. That’s exactly what we did and those people are great for all that they do. Well I know I rambled on a lot, but did you take something from my exhilarating afternoon? Always seize the opportunity to capture something beautiful, especially if that opportunity doesn’t come around very often!

“Junior Cotton Tail” 6-9-16

The photograph above is one of the very first shots I had ever taken with my first camera. Back in Philadelphia, in 2005, with my pink Nikon. I was surprised myself that I could capture a piece of art like this, and after seeing my parents reaction, I became very interested to see what else nature held for my camera lens. Since that very moment when I was 13 years old, I have been driven to explore the macro art that lies within the nature surrounding us.

Macro photography is a form of close-up photography, usually focused around a small subject, that later is transformed into a life-sized photograph. So some of the best ways to utilize macro photography is through nature itself. Whether it’s plant life, insects, drops of water, or grains of sand, these all have the ability to be transformed into great works of art.

Now, when it comes to capturing a macro shot, there are a couple of tasks you may have to overcome, but do not fret, it’s all worth it, I promise. Sometimes to get that shot you really want, you have to get dirty. This occasionally involves laying down in the wet grass, the mud or even scuffing up your knees. I know I have to go through this myself whenever I feel that the angle of the photograph needs to be shot upwards at the subject, making the subject more bold. In macro photography the subjects are usually pretty small in size, so in order to get that upward shot, you really have no other choice but to get down and dirty. In the end, you’ll forget about all the grime and dirt that went into getting the shot because you’ll be left with a powerful photograph.

Personally, macro photography in nature is my absolute favorite because you have the ability to bring something so small and fragile to life. The things that we pass by everyday, that never get a second look, finally have the chance to hold a compelling statement of their own through the eye of a camera lens.

The angle from which a photo is taken is very important in the way that it will later be viewed. The angle can in fact make or break a photograph, but do you want some honest advice? Here’s the thing, it’s actually a very simple tip to follow, I mean so simple, I should have figured this out the first time I held a camera, but keep on reading and I will eventually get there!

The emphasis of a photograph can rely heavily on the angle in which it’s portrayed, but you already know this, so the first thing to do is a take your first shot. Let’s pretend you’re working with a vase full of beautiful, colorful, wild flowers. Maybe try and take the picture head on…nope, that’s not appealing. Maybe try to get eye level with the vase, then try looking up at the vase, or maybe just move the vase. Take the vase outside, or set it on a step, or even a table. Maybe just focus mainly on one flower and have the rest of the vase blurred out in the back. After trying this, see what other backdrops are around. Is there any brick on the side of your house? Or maybe some weathered old wood? Eventually.. something catches your eye through the lens… you’ve got it! You’ve found an appealing angle.

So do you get my advise? What I’ve been hinting at all along? My tip to you is, literally try everything! I mean everything you can think of, and get creative! Stand on a chair above the object, sit on the ground below the object, take closeups, then pan out, shoot it from the side, move it around your house, take it outside. Once you feel as if you have found the right angle, take five more shots just to be sure. By the end of your shoot you should have at least 50-100 shots, and by then you are on your way to mastering the technique to find the perfect angle. The more you challenge yourself, the more you will improve and then for the next time you have a shoot, you’ll remember what angles were appealing and which one’s were not. So my advice to you is to stay creative, be persistent and try to have fun with it because eventually you will find the perfect angle, and you will understand why all of those trials were worth it.

There are those who inspire to be photographers, those who naturally always get the best shot, and those who have no idea what to photograph, but still try their best anyway. The truth is anyone could be a great photographer, all you have to do is take a look where people usually aren’t looking. By this I mean try to look at the world from a different perspective.

For example, say you’re walking around NYC one day just doing the normal tourist thing, and you come across a homeless person on the side of the road. I’m sure the first thing you don’t think is to take a picture of them. But take another look. Let’s say this person is wrapped up in an old blanket, and they’re dirty and have a ton of wrinkles on their face. I know I didn’t just describe the most attractive person, but I might have. The character of a person is what can make a photograph so impacting. Instead of just passing them by, capture that moment.

Besides capturing the character in a person, think about the character that could be in an old building. Old abandoned silos and barns are some of the best places to photograph because of the worn colors and shapes of those buildings. A picture always means more to someone when there is life behind it, and by this I mean years of life.

Ask yourself something, and I know this may be an odd question so bare with me. If you had the option to put a piece of luggage on display in your home, which would you prefer? A brand new, very expensive, designer piece of luggage that’s never been used, or a piece of luggage you had picked up at an antique shop for five bucks that’s all banged up that looks like it’s been on some adventures. My answer is simple, I would choose the luggage I got for five bucks. Not because it was cheaper, but because it has character. Like I said before, when there are years of life behind something, like weathered barn wood or deep lines within someone’s face, it can mean that much more to the viewer of your photograph because that photograph tells a story.

Phyllis McCormack “Crabbit Old Woman” 1966