A wander through Glenelg

Before the weather turned sour, I wandered Glenelg for the day, getting piccies for a client. A little project I am helping them with, which I'll tell you more about soon.

I REALLY want to live close to the beach - but my dream is to live by a surf beach. That way, I can walk down with board under arm. BUT, Glenelg has the vibe. I love the cafe culture that is popping up. There is good coffee. There is alternative 'healthy' food. There are activities for young and old. It is no wonder it's a tourist hotspot. 

Taking that vibe and plonking it next to a surf beach would make my dream come true. I could then open up a gallery for locals AND tourists, go surf every day (when there is surf) and, at it's most basic, feed my soul. I'd be one happy chappy. 

Anyway, here are a few pics from my wander. Thanks so much to all the businesses I visited - you make awesome subjects. :)

The Moseley

Pure Coffee

Zest

Goodlife Pizza

Zucca

The Oyster Bar

Esca

Chick n Chip

The Beachouse

The Organik Cafe

Where am I going?

Assignment? Stock photos? Article? Coffee? Wine? 

Find out where I am, and we can do business :)

Suggestions, ideas or commissions welcome.

August 2016 - Melbourne, Victoria

October 2016 - Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, Sydney

October/November 2016 - Eyre Peninsula, Flinders Ranges, Clare Valley, Barossa, Limestone Coast, Yorke Peninsula. Road trips.  *Enquire about my new $400 Editorial Package I am offering on these trips.

Early 2017 - Tasmania, Victoria

If you are interested to know more about dates, email me at heidi@heidiwho.com.

*this list will be updated in Blog when required. Please subscribe to keep up to date.

2016 - want to learn?

And welcome to 2016! I hope this year is a year full of fun, excitement, adventure and love for you. In all areas of your life - personal, career and family. 

I read something from a good friend of mine today, about setting your intentions on progress rather than goals. I love it. So often we are disappointed when we don't reach our lofty goals. Setting the bar high can be good, so long as you don't beat yourself up if you don't achieve exactly what you set out to do. What is that saying about reaching the stars? I forget. I guess that is also why many business plans are set out with many smaller tasks and activities scheduled to achieve the one big goal. Like a ladder - step by step. 

This year, that is what I am doing. Taking things one step at a time. To have my intentions but not dwell on achieving them. I'm going to look more at my little steps. From small things big things grow. For me, it's new beginnings. I'm continuing with my location photography but also introducing a stock photography library, developing my blog and an app, and something else rather special...

So, with that. I'd like to announce the first round of my eCourse 'Better Pics for Business' (check out promo link at end of this). It's all about learning how to get better photos for your social media, newsletters and general business stuff. Of course, there is always going to be a place for a pro photographer (can I suggest myself :) ) but sometimes you just need to get some pics. We all know how important visuals are, especially with so much competing for attention in the online world. We need to stand out and be personal and unique - and grab attention to get more attention.

Instead of talking all tech and geeking out on you, we are going to go through the storytelling aspect of the photo, talk about things to think about when aiming up your camera. AND, it's not just for fancy DSLR users, you can learn with any camera or device that takes a photo. It will be fun.

Members will get homework and feedback - to make sure you learn what is taught rather than finishing up with fuzzies still going around in your head. I guess it's a bit like a mentoring group. 

I realise that you can do any number of online courses, in-person worksops or learn for free via YouTube - but the thing that is missing is the feedback on your photos, unique learnings and techniques that you need. With the Better Pics for Business course, you have the opportunity to tailor what you need and get the answers. 

Check it out at www.heidiwho.com/betterpicsforbusiness. Starts Tuesday 1st March. AND... as a reader of heidiwhotravels you will receive the course at nearly 50% off! To get your discounted rate make sure you use the link below - this is the only place you will find the discounted rate.DON'T FOLLOW THE LINKS IN THE SHOP PAGE - UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY FULL PRICE. :)

Subscribe

Feel free to email or phone me if you have any q's - I'd love to chat.

When to hire a photographer.

'I'll just take the photo on my iPhone. I don't need to waste that sort of money to get someone to come and get the photo for me.'
'I can't afford a photographer. Plus, my son has a big camera with lens thingy, so I'll just use that.'
'I'll just grab some images off the net. They will do.'

A photograph I took recently for Adelaide Shores of their new pool area. On shoot, I interacted with 'mum and dad' plus the two children to get the look we were after. Three different families, none had ever met each other before. None with modeling experience. I think they did well. In retouching, I had to add blue sky, lighten bodies, remove distractions etc along with all the usual adjustments ensuring colour, contrast and horizon line are all correct.

I've heard all of these statements, plus more, in my life. These can be modified for different circumstances (i.e., weddings or portraits), but essentially, mean the same. It's a lack of knowledge and power on the consumer. Perhaps they are time poor and don't do the research. Or, if they do know how important photography is, it's a lack of commitment - of leaning into the 'fear' of spending money on a photographer. After all, you can't see the product you are buying before it's taken. It's risky - or at least, you think it is. You have to commit, and then wait to see the results.

So, are these statements incorrect? Some would scream and rant 'absolutely!' But I believe there is some truth in them. 

Yes, photographers can be expensive. And with anything worthwhile, you get what you pay for. 
Yes, it takes an effort to hire a photographer. The right photographer.
Yes, sometimes you can stuff up and hire the wrong photographer or get the wrong results.
Yes, you can take the photos for yourself - but do you know what you are doing? 
Yes, microstock is a damn lot cheaper than hiring a photographer. You could get 100 photos for the price you would pay a photographer to take a couple of you. 

BUT...

Photographers have studied the craft of design, light, composition and working with people in uncomfortable (not many of us actually like sitting in front of a lens) situations. This takes years of study, application and dedication. Photography for the photographer can be a lifestyle - all consuming. 

Photographers know how to get the best results. They know how to shoot into the sun and still get detail. They know how to compose for interest. They know how to look at the light. They know how to pose subjects. They know how to tell a story in a single frame. They know their camera settings and how to work their camera to its limits. 'P' on a camera doesn't stand for 'Professional'. 

If you hire through a recommendation or search an organisation like AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) to find a photographer, the risk is monumentally minimised. If you get organised with ideas, what you need out of the shoot, sample images, shot list - and communicate it all with the photographer - you will (I would expect) be on the same page and get the results you want and need.

Stock photography has its place. But in the world we live in, everything is becoming more personalised. Even (or especially) online. Your customer wants to know about you. When a picture tells a thousand words, and attention span is limited, a photograph is a perfect answer. 

Stock photography can't help with the 'About Us' page, events, specific items you sell or create, or tell a story of 'behind the scenes'. 

Commissioning a photographer will get you these things. Yes, you invest more money but it will make your marketing dollar go further. Photography is the investment in your marketing. It is the foundation. We all know what happens when a house is built on a sloppy foundation. You don't need an earthquake to see it quickly crumble, crack and fall. The same is true with your advertisements and promotion. 

Again, a bunch of people that had to act like friends for this shot for YHA Port Lincoln. I needed to know my camera limits for this shot so I could expose for outside, inside and movement. Retouching also included selective lightening and darkening of areas plus spot colour correction. 

So, when to hire a photographer...

ALWAYS!!! We love our job and want to help. I want to help show off the world to the world in as many ways as possible. So feel free to contact me whenever you need. 

But seriously. 

For social media updates or smaller in-house projects where there is no budget or time for a photographer, perhaps you could study a short course. That way, you know the basics to get yourself out of trouble and get the best possible photograph. There is no point in putting up a photograph on social media that doesn't tell a story, is blurry, or looks ugly - nobody will pay attention. 

My eCourse and mentoring program Better Pics for Business is starting in March. It's a great way of learning the basics of photography in a hands-on, personal way. Join us.

For website and print imagery, advertisements and campaigns - always speak with a photographer. They will get you the results you need to gain attention in the marketplace.

If in doubt, contact a photographer - you will soon work out what you can do. We are here to help you. 

Street portrait photography - my top tips.

A photo I took in Jimbaran Bay, Bali. Strolling the beach, my husband wanted to check out the boats. I had no interest in boats so found people to chat with. This man seemed very proud to have his photograph taken. 

Approaching people on the street is daunting enough. Asking said person, if you can take their photo is a whole new story. But it needn't cause you to break out in a sweat, itch, make your heart feel like it beats out of your chest, get scared and then walk away. And then feel disappointed you didn't get the photo you saw.

My top tips for taking street portraits.

A photograph I took at a school in Bali for Bali Kids. Obviously I had permission to be in there and wander about but would never dream of entering a house or school without prior permission.

1. Should you take the photo?
Of course, there are situations where walking away is the best option. If you feel unsafe, if the person is negative to the idea or if you would feel disrespectful for taking the photograph. Always put yourself in their shoes - how would you feel? We are all human, even though, especially when travelling, the people we meet look so interesting and different. 

A family at McLaren Vale Harvest Festival. I moved them slightly and let them play about. 

2. Mind your manners. Ask before taking.
Even if you don't speak the language, asking to take a photograph is universal. Show your camera and nod your head while holding it up closer to your face and pointing at them. They will answer, nod or wildly shake their hands and cover their face. Whatever they do, you will get your answer. If they decline, put your camera straight down. Smile politely and say thank you. Move on. Don't try to take their photograph without permission - it's just not nice.

Walking along a beach in Fiji I chanced upon this family hanging out on their beach platform. The mum worked where I was staying and after a quick chat I asked if I could photograph them. 

3. Slow it down
If you can, spend some time with them before asking to take their photograph. It will not only make a better photograph and memory, but it will also add something extra to the personal experience for both of you. Give and take. Play with the children, share a drink or snack. Chat (either verbally or with your hands) about something. Care about them and their story. 

Girls at a pre-school in Bali. Shot for Bali Kids. 

4. Look at the light
Don't be afraid to move the person if it's convenient and going to get a much better photograph. If they are sitting right at the back of their shop, you could ask them to move to the front where the window light is gently falling. If they are in the bright midday sun with dark pits as eyes, ask them to move into the shade or turn their back to the sun. 

Ray was a volunteer at the Royal Adelaide Show for many years. He is also my best friends Poppa. When I saw him manning a door to a pavilion I couldn't resist a cheeky photo. 

5. Get in close
Don't be afraid to step in. By filling the frame with your subject, you can see everything about them. The way they hold themselves, their clothing, their skin, their eyes. The stories that can be told through the details. There will be no question as to what you want the viewer to look at in your photograph.

If I had not got the beach and shadow in the frame, this photo wouldn't have the same impact. 

6. Or step back (with caution)
First - always look where you are going. Don't do what I do and step back into holes or trip over things. By safely stepping back you can get the location into the photograph. If the location is part of the story you are telling it adds dimension and life to the photograph. Take the fisherman photograph - if I zoomed in to show his face only, I would see a weathered and handsome man but have no idea who he is. By showing the boats, we can see he is a fisherman. A very proud fisherman with his boat. 

At Uluwatu temple the monkeys run wild. This lady had fun feeding them, and obviously they knew her. I did ask for a photo but didn't want her looking at the camera - I wanted the interaction.

Go out and have fun. Breathe. And don't be afraid. If you treat people with kindness and respect, the worst thing that can happen is you get a 'no'. If that is the case, take a mental picture and move on. 

Slow shutter

Using a slow shutter for effect can dramatically change your photo.
A moving car with blurred wheels gives the feeling of movement.
A person moving through a room shows life and feeling. Coffee beans roasting, showing them turning - I can nearly smell the beans by just looking at the image. 

With the coffee bean image above I used a slow shutter, probably something like 1/30 or 1/15. How slow you go depends on the subject you are photographing. Playing around is the best way of learning. Experiment with the effects. 

1/125 = one twenty-fifth of a second
1/30 = one thirtieth of a second
1/5 = one fifth of a second
you get the idea...

If you are shooting with an iPhone, there is an App called Slow Shutter (and various others) or Manual which allows you complete freedom and control over settings when taking a pic. 

The faster the object you are photographing, the faster the shutter speed you can have. All depending on the effect you want. 
I have done photos in the studio with the shutter open for seconds and moved people around. 
I have photographed cars and movement on the street at 1/60. 
I have photographed details of dancers on stage at 1/30. 

There is no right or wrong shutter speed - it all depends on what you want. Experiment!

Exhibitions....

I had a dream the other night... 
I was taking photos over a high dam wall. It was a beautiful scene with blue water, rolling hills. Photogenic. I was with someone else, and we decided to go back and get another shot. I had my camera on the tripod, trying to get it up high enough to see over the wall. When I looked through the viewfinder, all I could see was water. I wondered for a bit, and then realised it was a great wall of water coming towards us. 

We ran, we ran back across the bridge we came from and looked for higher ground. I said 'as long as I don't get my camera drenched'. Strange that I thought about my camera over my life. We found higher ground, slightly, on steps and waited.

The water came, but only as a trickle. What was most upsetting was the people running with it. Running from the wave and it's destruction it had left across the other side of the bridge. Wailing mums and grandmas scrambled in front of me. They were sobbing out words, trying to tell me what and who they left behind. I wondered 'would it be ok to take a photo and document this?' I went into photojournalist mode but held back because I was there for a different purpose. I didn't want to upset the people that had invited me in to take pretty pictures by taking photos of their torment and agony. But I am a photographer - and I had the urge. In some ways, I felt responsible to document the event.

The dream ended, so I'm not sure what I decided. But I still remember this dream days on. Is it a little prod - telling me to do something? Perhaps it's a next exhibition idea - emotions and life. I'd like to help tell people's stories. 
Let me know if you have any ideas...

In the meantime, I am in another exhibition called Skrambled Eggs. A fab group of pro photographers taking photos with their iPhone and electronic devices. If you want to be wowed with what can be done with such a device, head to De La Liff over the Christmas break. You never know, you may even nab yourself a Christmas present while there. :)

Don't forget about day tripping it down to McLaren Vale to visit Salty Stories at Red Poles either... no excuse needed. Kids love running around in the pit, parents love the wine and beer, and everyone loves the food. 

Petaluma's women winemakers for Latte magazine

I recently had a shoot for Business Chicks' Latte magazine. I was to photograph women winemakers in the Adelaide Hills.

Petaluma has three women winemakers on their team. The morning I arrived, they had been there since 5 am and joked about sleeping there. 'Who needs a mother?' They laughed. Luckily, the extra long work hours happen only a few times a year for a few weeks at a time.

After a quick look around the grounds, I decided to do the whole shoot in their new cellar door. The decor was interesting, quirky and had different areas for each profile pic of the girls. 

I particularly loved the wooden wine bottle holder walls and the glasses hanging from the ceiling. I recounted a story of a glass shelf, filled with pint glasses, breaking over my face in London. A quick trip to the hospital to check for glass in my eyes followed. I then remembered how clumsy I could be - and warned them 'I hope every single glass is bolted on securely.' If anyone were to knock them, it would be me. And yes, I knocked them with my softbox. And yes, they were secure. Phew.

Here are some of the pics from the shoot. I hope you can see how much fun and laughs we had.

Salty Stories - a Fleurieu exhibition

Come join us for the opening THIS SATURDAY - we can have a glass of bubbles ready for you.

I don't do many exhibitions - owning my own business and being mum to two small children doesn't leave me much time. Ros kept asking though. And so here we are. I'd love it if you could come for a look. Red Poles is a beautiful location with yummy food, good beer and wine, and trees and vineyards all around. Worth it.

Behind the Scenes at Majestic Hotels shoot

This week I have been busy photographing some updated rooms at the Majestic Hotels group in Adelaide. Nadia came along to help - and take a few cheeky snaps with the iPhone on silent. The spots I get myself into...

Minima Hotel.

Apart from making me look like I have nice long legs, I'm glad Nadia snuck this pic. This pink room was a surprise. All the other rooms I had photographed were colourful, creative, tonal - and I liked them. I wanted to stay in one. This room is different. Each to their own. At least you can request particular rooms while booking. I can only imagine a guy going out on a boys trip, or to the footy, and being put in this room. Laughter.

Majestic Roof Garden

Squeeze in. Taking a shot of 'movie time' from the bath - complete with movie snacks on the bed.

Culshaws at the Roof Garden Hotel

Looks like I'm either taking a rest or in between doing a leg workout. In reality I'm waiting for guests to move away from the foyer area so I can take one frame. When I was framing up the shot I obviously didn't realise how long I would be there for. Ten minutes later...

Was a great shoot - I'll show the resulting images later.