Congrats to all Engaged Couples!

Ring Shots to help inspire your wedding themes!

Book Soon to Secure your Wedding Date!

 205-873-1803
Layman Photography

 

 

 

Photos of the Week

Bama Again! Back2Back National Championship Titles.

I viewed yahoo sports the next day after watching Alabama v Notre Dame . I like seeing what you normally cant on tv. I do no own any of these photos. I just think they are good documentary photos and portraits.


BCS Title Game- Faces in the Crowd- Yahoo Sports.

View Photos

2013- NEW PROJECTS~ Happy New Year!

The holidays were great. It was a good time with family. I welcome you all to the new year. We are onto better things. If you have been following along. A new Shutterbug project. Models and Photographers needed.

New exciting Bridal Albums- Unlimited Design Options. Genuine Leathers to the Go Green Wedding Couple who wants to get away from extreme traditions!

 Free Disc of Images- All Wedding Packages.

Book Fast for Popular Dates!

I can do it all for you!

Studio Work or On Location!

Engagements,
Bridals,
Weddings,
Children/Seniors
Proms
Portfolios

Photo of the Week Participants still needed.

Contact
Stacey Layman to see more work!
laymanphotography@windstream.net
205-873-1803

Merry Christmas

In case you all have not learned.. that I love to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary for something else!

This is the garland that I wrap around my banister every year. Blur the background and used a free program to add text!

Merry Christmas to all. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Spin on Christmas Lights-

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Cool things to do besides the standard Christmas Tree Snap Shot

Technique: Zoom out during open shutter!

Tripod or sturdy surface

f10

2.5 sec shutter

ISO 200

Hand held for camera shake

f.22

3.2 sec shutter

ISO 200

Blur and use as a background or add text!

f5.6

1/20 shutter

ISO 200

Sturdy Surface-- No Tripod

Fill the frame with cool blur!

f6.3

1/20 shutter

ISO 200

Sturdy Surface- No Tripod

 

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Merry Christmas

 

 

What do you recommend?

I hope everyone is doing well and ready for Santa to slide down the chimney or at least an awesome family member who has listened to your "All I want for Christmas" Rant.

I wanted to cover something real quick because I get asked this question A LOT!

What camera would you recommend someone who is starting out and what advice can you offer about dealings in the business?

Have a budget? Of course you do,,, we all do!

Shop accordingly. Most cameras come as kits. You can get a camera, lens and memory all in one box for the most. Ive not purchased a camera in a long time but it doesn't seem to vary much.

What kind of lens with the kit? Most will offer 1 or 2 options on the lens. It will not even be that big of a deal. It will be a zoom lens. I would get the standard zoom. It should cover most of what you want to do in wedding and portrait photography. If you want to be come a bird photographer, order your mega telephoto zoom separate, pay the price $$$ and save yourself some grief and get a "L" series glass.

A flash, something more powerful than the pop up (if yours comes with a pop up)

A light diffuser-  they are fairly cheap and I have seen photographers make theirs until it was plausible for their budget. What works,, WORKS!

A tripod- go ahead and get a real sturdy one. Once you begin to add more hardware to your camera the heavier it will get. Tilt with Panning!

Remote shutter release chord. Wireless or non Wireless.. Why? Camera shake! From non flash rules in churches to firework photography.. You will need it and the timer built in is ok, but you do want more freedom?

I say that is a good start!

Where do you buy your equipment? I buy from B&H Photo, I have never had an issue and they are up to par with pricing and sometimes being a member you get perks, Plus you get this awesome catalog you can drool in while sitting on your porch outside, having coffee! I call it my Photography Bible!

Business Advice:
Should I get a license? Yes! Check according to your state. Call your local county's office and check with your CPA about filing your taxes.

What to charge? Charge based upon your experience, time and travel. Check local photographers in your area and see what they are doing.

This is what I recommend to everyone starting. Charge per hour and cut a disc. Most everyone wants to take their photos to a five and dime for printing. So let's just face it.  Make your workflow easy and develop prints and other products as you go.

I hope this helps!

Raw vs. Jpeg

Raw vs. Jpeg

 Upon talking to two friends of mine the other day, I was asked about Raw formats, what’s good or bad about them and should they be using the Raw when they shoot.

 

What is Raw Format?

Raw means that not all of the information associated with the image is compressed. In the Raw format you can adjust some of the information and have minimal loss of quality. You can adjust exposure, colors and contrast, etc.

 Have you ever cropped a Jpeg and it becomes pixilated? Yes, limited! Enough said because I’m sure you all have done this at least once! I know I have.

 The drawback is that these files are extremely huge and will eat up your space on the storage card. Also when your files are loaded to your computer, you will NOT be able to see any of the images until you use a Raw Conversion Software.

 There are many free conversion only software and you can find those by a general search. I think its better to find software that has Raw conversion and gives you tools to make adjustments.

 I prefer Lightroom to Photoshop for this process. This will be a decision only you can make and according to how you want your workflow to go.

 If you want to convert the files to a Jpeg format , then use another program to make adjustments, you will begin to lose data and freedom you would have had if you had chosen a program that will let you see the file as it is raw, adjust what you like, then convert.

 When to use Raw? I can not answer this for you. You know what your knowledge and skills are, I do not.

 

If you have not learned basics… use Raw to save yourself and a few photos that you really want to keep! Then go back to my Basics portion of the blog and LEARN what Shutter, Aperture, and ISO ARE!!  Please do not be photographing for people and not have a clear understanding of these. You are not giving your clients/friends/family what they deserve. You are not going to become a good photographer winging it!

Still needing photos for my Photo of the Week portion for my blog.
Criteria:
Small bio
Watermarked Image
Image Settings
Equipment
Software
Story behind the photo
Send to : Laymanphotography@windstream.net

Thank you all for your continued participation and support.