Destination photos 'on spec'

On a recent photo tour, I did photos for Goyder Council 'on spec'. We developed a shot list, the client organised talent, then we photographed. Nothing fancy - all natural light and realistic. It's the way photos should be when trying to sell a destination. 

I really enjoyed the shoot, which was over two days - six hours on the first day and one hour on the second. I got to wander around, exploring different areas, popping my head into shops, taking photos of all the great things I saw. I loved the fact that people knew what I was doing so I didn't have to explain all the time or feel weird that people would be looking at me going 'what is she doing?'

This kind of shoot benefits everyone involved - I get some awesome stock photography, my client gets beautiful photos with minimal effort and the people we photograph get the opportunity to have some professional photos too. 

If you are interested in having your business/area photographed, email me. I am always going places and will let you know when I'm next in your area - or we can organise a tour around your dates!

Taking a look inside my One Hour Editorial Photo Package...

Over the last month, I have been doing some Regional Photo Tours.

I photographed towns, landscapes, sheep station, caravan parks, hotels, food and driven many kilometres (stopping every time I saw great light and a nice scene). I've had a lot of fun and got some really beautiful photos for my Clients. 

Here is a sneak peek of what sort of photos you get from the one-hour editorial photo shoot. These are taken for Port Lincoln Hotel on my recent Eyre Peninsula tour. 

Think this would work for you? Email me for some more details. 

My first ever Instameet - at Seawall Apartments Glenelg

A couple of weeks ago I received a direct message in Instagram. 

'We're kicking off our big 40 celebrations with an Instameet for 40 Instagrammers.' 

I love Seawall Apartments, and love photographing their rooms. So inspiring - for home decor, for holidays, for relaxation, for fun, for photography. 

Hell yeah! I'm going. 

Then comes my question - what exactly is an Instameet? 

For Seawall; it's food, drinks, networking and photos. They opened up a room for us to photograph, gave tours through the property, and properly sustained us for three hours of fun. 

We chatted, we took photos, we drank, we laughed. Then we Instagrammed. We all had a camera - whether a DSLR or phone. No matter the device, some really beautiful images were taken.

I highly recommend Seawall Apartments, check them out at www.seawallapartments.com.au. Yes, I photograph for them, but hey, they are awesome. 

Go enjoy.

Limestone Coast and Barossa/Clare photos postponed :(

REGIONAL PHOTO TOUR UPDATE:

Limestone Coast and Barossa/Clare Valley photo shoots are postponed til the new year. I am very sorry if this causes any inconvenience for you. I have been in contact with those already booked and we are working on other dates early in 2017. 

The bonus is - we will have more time!

If you would like to be involved, please send me an email, and I will be as flexible as possible with dates. 

Regional photo tour update

Just a quick update on my regional photo tours.... 

Last week I headed north to Flinders Ranges and Burra. I have about 700 photos to go through so will share some with you soon. In the meantime, here are a couple I took on my iPhone. Just to prove it's not the tool - it's the way you use it. :)  

How amazing is this landscape? I'm a coastal girl but this has something special about it. 

Almerta Station at sunset

This weekend and next week I am over on Yorke and Eyre Peninsula. Would love to fill a couple of spots on Monday/Tuesday at Port Lincoln... if you or anyone you know is in need of some photo updates... 

$400 gets one hour of photography and up to twenty images. Plus, I'm going to be putting together a regional social media stock photo pack - and you get this for free. Valued at $100. 

Email me ASAP to discuss.

Regional photoshoot tours

Need photos?
Don't have $$$$ to spend on a full photo shoot?
Not happy with your own pics for social media?
Want awesome pics easy?

I've listened, and now I'm giving it to you. I know you realise how important photography is, but when it comes down to budget, there is always something more pressing. 

Good photography builds a solid foundation for your marketing. Without it, you can spend thousands and not get the return on invest you hope to see. With just seconds to make an impression (online), you need to give it your best.

To help you get that impact and return on investment, I am doing Regional South Australian tours over the next few months. Not only will you be able to book an awesome package that offers lots of photos, but you won't have to pay any travel/accom fees either. Sounds great, yes?

On these tours, I am offering my Editorial Package which gets you...

Pre-shoot plan
- We will discuss your ideas, what you need, and how to plan to get the most out of your hour of photography. With a little planning and organisation, you will be amazed at what can be done.

1-hour photo shoot
- I can photograph quickly! Have it all ready to go, and we can move around like a 'production line'. With over five years News Limited experience, I know how to get in, get the shots, and get out.

Up to 20 images delivered via Dropbox
- I'll supply your images via Dropbox in both print and web sizes. You can use these images for whatever you want within your business. 

Ten pack Social media photos
- While I'm in the area, I'll also get some stock photos. You have access to 10 of these for free use on any social media channel for your business.

Of course, you can book more than one package, or get a tailored package to suit your requirements. 

Dates are...

Flinders/Outback Sat 29th Oct - Weds 2nd Nov
Eyre/Yorke - Sat 12th Nov - Weds 16th Nov
Clare/Barossa/Riverland - Mon 21 Nov - Weds 23 Nov
Limestone - Tues 29 Nov - Sun 4 Dec
*some flexibility can be arranged surrounding these dates. Email me for any requests.

If you are not in one of these areas, still email me, I can still help you!

Email me now to chat or secure a shoot.

Food photography tips

So here are the snaps I took over the course of the Fleurieu Food and Shimmer Festival workshops to demonstrate light, storytelling and composition.

Take a look through them and see if you can 'see' what I am banging on about. :)

If you want to learn more, check out my Better Pics for Business eCourse - group intake starting soon!

Movement

In this series of apple slicing you can see the importance of taking lots of shots. A second or two can make or break an interesting photo.

Composition

The plate of food doesn't always have to be 'all alone'. Frame the plate with ingredients, drinks, other plates, cutlery...

Action

Don't be afraid to ask Chef to 'go slow' or 'do it again' if you can. Obviously you don't have this luxury during a busy service.

Move around - get the action from different angles. 

Careful of hands. If they are in front of the food they will block the view and appear very large.

Giving a sense of speed

Lower your shutter speed (use Manual on iPhone) to 1/30 and ask someone to move fast across the frame. 

Brace yourself (to minimise camera shake), or better yet, put the camera on a tripod, and focus on something that isn't moving. 

Take lots of photos to get a natural look with the person movement.

Reflector usage

Using a reflector opens up the shadows. Check out the front of the cake and see the difference (lightness) that it makes in this series.

Wine bottles

Photograph wine bottles straight on or from a distinct angle. Slightly off doesn't make the bottle look great - more like, weird.

Blur

Adding depth of field by making things out of focus in the background (and foreground) brings out where you want the viewers attention to land.

You can... 

use f2.8 or f4, perhaps even f5.6

get the lens in close to the subject

use a long lens ie. 70-200mm

zoom in on your iPhone

Conference, socials, awards and photography thoughts

Forgetting to bring a jacket to Melbourne nearly tops my travel packing blunders. Only forgetting my camera rates higher. Oops. 

Arriving in Melbourne, my plans to head straight to the AirBnB house and crack out some work, went out the window. I traipsed around the CBD with my suitcase in tow trying to find a suitable jacket - one that would work for casual and as an overcoat for a Gala Dinner. One that went with red boots, and one that was different to any I had at home. Hmm. Two hours later - mission accomplished.

Walking to the AirBnB house on Punt Road was another (perhaps) mistake. I didn't realise there are two sets of numbers on the same road - you need to type in the suburb to find the exact address. This is something I didn't do. Oops. I end up twenty minutes walk away from where I should have been. My 40-minute walk turned into just over an hour. Oh well, at least I get some exercise. And I do see Olympic Park - a place I'd worked at when covering the Commonwealth Games for News Limited in 2006. 

Eventually, I arrive and meet my room mate. Our other house mates are still one their way. The week that unfolds is one of laughs, crying, disappointment, inspiration and socialising. I thought I was coming to this photography event for professional learning but come away with a different 'learning outcome'. One of inspiration, new friendships, life thoughts and a re-instated idea of living with passion.

Part one of the event is APPA (Australian Professional Print Awards), the Australian Institue of Professional Photography's annual national print awards. It's a competition where photographers compete for points that accrue to give statuses like Master Photographer and Grand Master Photographer. Photographers also compete for titles like Travel Photographer of the Year, Commercial Photographer of the Year and Photographer of the Year. The whole process is a long one to explain, so head on over to www.aipp.com.au if you want to know more. 

I have entered the awards with four images in the Travel category. I was hopeful but unsure. Again, like previous years, I had left it to the last minute for selection, retouch and actually sending them in. Not the best idea. 

I don't have to wait long to get my results. Travel is judged on the first day, and soon enough I know that I only have one silver. The others receive 'professional standard', ranking in the 70s, but that is not why you (me) enter the awards. Surely we should know if they are professional standard or not. Oh wow. So continues my love-hate relationship with these awards and questioning of entering or not. I now have another year to think about entering or not.

My clouds aren't sexy enough. And the surfboards poking their tips into the air don't read 'travel' and 'human' enough. Score: 73

"To the author. Great eye. Keep up with this style and you will crack it." Nice feedback. Score: 76

Too weird. 'Don't understand it.' Score: 78

Silver!!! Score: 80

My biggest question to ponder...

I have four years to gain nine merit points. Considering I average 1-2 points a year, is it worth the $4000 (or more) to gain my title of Master Photographer? I only want it for marketing purposes but wonder if it makes that much of a difference. This scenario eats up a lot of years, money and emotion. Help me!

The second part of this event is Incite, the AIPP Nikon Event - an annual conference for photographers and videographers. Two days of workshops and presentations plus additional workshop selections on the APPA judging days. Two official social events and casual social events on the other evenings fill the week. Wow - no wonder I am tired. Sleep is something I require, and I think I am still catching up a week later. 

I came to Melbourne hoping I would walk away with lots to implement. I am disappointed with my learning outcomes but have come away with a couple of little gold nuggets.

#1 Success or Significance? 

Photographers with a focus on success strive to be the best they can. Photography is their life passion, and they can easily let it run their lives - to the detriment of other areas. Personal relationships, hobbies, home life and personal time out can feel the strain. All in the strive for being on one of the top rungs of the photography leader ladder. One of 'the best'. But with a focus on significance, photographers can help others. They can do good with their work. They think about others and have balance. They strive to leave a legacy - whatever that may be - that is more than a title. 

I want to (and hope I already am) live my life with significance. I care to make a difference and realise I can. Whether it's making beautiful family photographic memories for my children, helping businesses be more successful or encouraging people to travel and discover not only the world but themselves too.

#2 Don't let photography control your life. Instead, photograph your life. 

On my tombstone I don't care if it says '# 1 photographer' but I do care for people to remember me as a kind person, good mum and beautiful friend that respects and cares for others. 

Now, back to work I go. 

BTW, not only do I help businesses succeed through commissioned photography, but I also teach people how to get their social media pics looking great. Check it out at www.heidiwho.com/betterpicsforbusiness. I'll soon be launching a new LIVE round!

Shimmer Festival photo fun

Check out the fun we are getting up to for Shimmer Festival! Head on over to have a look at everything. You can book workshops through the link also.

There is so much cool stuff to see and do - but don't forget to check mine out... here is some more info. :)

Getting awesome 'on the go' photos

Window light.

I've been photographing a lot of editorial style photo shoots lately - where I go in with minimal equipment and photograph what is happening. I love these sorts of jobs - where I can concentrate on capturing the moment, rather than creating the big extravaganza set.
 

One light, side on, draws attention to our man.

When indoors, unless I have awesome window light, I set one speed light up on a stand and use that as a side or back light. I have a long-standing dislike of full frontal lighting. Not saying it's wrong - I just prefer more dimension and shadow shape. If I have a white ceiling or wall, I'll bounce it backward with the built-in diffuser up. 

Two lights making an 'oomph'. If the subject allows, you can even let one of the lights creep into frame, adding flare. 

If the light is really dark, flat and 'yuck', I add a second light. One for the front 3/4 of the face, and one as a hair light. Adds a bit of pop. The hair light emulates sunlight coming through a window or similar. 

A completely black room except for the screens. Two lights sandwiching the guy make it more interesting. 

The light can come from anywhere to make an interesting photo. Don't always place people (or products) front on to the light. 

If window light exists, I'll position my subject near the window, normally side on. I'll play with distance away from the window and subject angle to the window.

Stage lighting is dramatic. I would not use flash for stage shots - work with the shadows. 

Always look for moments and get them quick. Dad had leant over to whisper something and the pair were only like this for seconds. 

Outdoors, at an event, I set the camera on shutter priority (for the majority of the time). This way, I can concentrate on what I am seeing. 

I'm always looking. Looking for interesting people, interactions, things I can 'set up'. When I find something, I run around looking at different angles. I'm not afraid to step in front of someone, sneak in front of the stage, run around the back, lean over someone. Just smile and be polite - most times it works out. 

With the strong backlight of sun creeping in behind their heads, the camera would have tried to keep the sun exposed, rendering their faces quite dark. Taking a look at your screen, 'chimping', would tell you if you need to shoot in Manual or not. 

I said 'most times' I put my camera on shutter priority. Shutter priority works when you have the sun side on or front on to the subject. If the sun is behind, then we have problems. If you have something overly dark or light behind, this also causes issues. If I am having trouble with the built-in light meter, I'll revert to Manual. Keep an eye on the sun popping in and out from behind clouds as this can drastically change your settings. I'll have a 'chimp' after every photo sequence just to check it's all looking okay.

So there you have it. There is no single 'right' way to take a photo. A lot of photographers will bang on about Manual being the only way - but it's not. 

If you want to know more about how to get better pics - without the tech jargon - check out my eCourse Better Pics for Business. It'll get you taking better pics with any camera. A new group course is starting in October.