“Ben, this is awesome. One thing I hear a lot of different opinions about is ISO. Maybe you could comment on that sometime? I’ve heard some people say that an ISO > 400 is never ideal b/c of “noise” in the background, but if you want an indoor pic sans flash sometimes that’s the only option. Is it possible to use a higher ISO and still get a good quality photo that is able to be enlarged?”

Here’s my video response. (Warning… I have a bit of a cold so I’m a little sniffly… sorry!)

Heather, I disagree with the advice you’ve received. I think it is more preferential than it is rule, opinion rather than principle. I love shooting at higher ISO settings. As a recap from the video, ISO refers to how sensitive the image sensor {in digital photography} is to the available light. The higher the ISO setting, the more sensitive the sensor, resulting in the ability to photograph in lower lighting.When shooting film, ISO refers to the speed of the film, measuring the sensitivity of the negative material (aka film) to light.

Let’s be real practical here for a moment. What if you find yourself in a poorly lit environment & would rather not use your flash, what do you do? You begin by trying to shoot at an ISO setting of about 320. Next, maybe you try to widen your aperture, choosing to shoot at around an f/2. Works pretty good except the shutter speed is still too slow {ex. 1/6} & the subject is somewhat fuzzy. Your next thought needs to be, “let me increase my ISO settings so that I can shoot with a faster shutter speed & get a sharper image.” So you bump your ISO to 800 or 1200 or 1600… whatever you can in order to achieve the look you were going for. My first thought when faced with less than optimal lighting conditions (low light) is always, “can I shoot with a wider aperture?” Thus allowing more light to enter the lens. If that doesn’t work, I then bump up the ISO setting. For me personally, I’m usually always trying to shoot at the widest aperture possible. Then, depending on the situation, I adjust the ISO.

Below are some images I shot with a really high ISO yet really love the look & feel they portray. Plus, allowing a bit of “noise” in the image gives you an opportunity to differentiate yourself from the always expected.

I referenced this wedding detail image in the video. {ISO 3200, 35mm, f/2.8, 1/500 sec}. This was shot with the Canon 24-70 f/2.8.

{ISO 3200, 24mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec}

I really love this image. To me it has a strong cinematic feel to it… as though it was taken a long time ago, expressing emotion. I’m not sure it would have the same feel without the grain. {ISO 3200, 40mm, f/2.8, 1/50 sec}

And the same goes for people shots too! When I was photographing these twins I couldn’t really afford to shoot with a lower ISO… it’s one of my favorite images! {ISO 1250, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/320 sec}

As you can tell, I don’t always stray away from shooting at a high ISO setting. In fact, sometimes I prefer it. What do you think? Does this post help you better understand ISO settings? Has it given you a new appreciation for grain/noise in images? Let me know what you think. Thanks friends!

“I have been trying to get some new pictures of our staff here at NHBC. I have in mind that we use a brick wall or some outdoor shot. I really like the effect of the background being out of focus and the person in the foreground being sharply in focus, giving a bit of depth to the picture. The…re’s a guy in the church that does a lot of photography and has been trying to get me what I want, but it isn’t working out. He keeps trying to take pics of us, cut us out, and place us in another pic that he took as a background and has blurred. He does this in Photoshop, but it really doesn’t look good. I’ve seen this effect on many of your photos (i.e. – “The Roberts” pics on your blog) and it looks incredible. Is there anything I can do to get this effect with my Canon digital SLR? I only have the one lens that can with it (18-55, I think). Any tips would be much appreciated!”

On a side note, you should’ve seen me trying to make this movie to explain the contents of this post. Tragic! This is much more challenging than I thought. As a lesson in humility I thought I would leave it up & let you watch (the picture below links to my YouTube video). A bit of a glitch in the first 2-3 seconds but it clears up afterward.

What is an Aperture? Depending on what you are wanting to capture affects what aperture you choose. Simply put, aperture is a term that describes how wide or narrow the lens opens. This affects what part of the image stays in focus. It almost deals exclusively with your lens not your camera body. Many people, when referring to aperture, use the term depth-of-field.  In short, if you want very little to be in focus, with the exception of the subject, you want a big aperture (low number… f/1.2, 2.0, etc.). In contrast, if you want everything to be equally in focus, you are looking for a small aperture (high number… f/16, 20, etc.). You will be limited to how wide & narrow of an aperture you can shoot by your lens. I made the statement in the video, “Generally speaking, the wider the aperture, the more expensive the lens will be.” That’s not necessarily the case; I clarify. Yet, the wider the aperture, the more flexibility you have over your images. I’ll show a few select images for further clarification.

Consider these images of Isabelle, you’ll see the focus is on her eyes & the rest of the focus falls apart, blurring as it moves away from her eyes. That blur is called “Bokeh.” This was shot at the widest aperture my lens allows, f/1.2. {ISO 500, 50mm, f/1.2, 1/250sec}

Same here in this pic of my son, Brennan. Specs {ISO 1500, 50mm, f/1.2, 1/250sec}

In shots with more than one person, I generally try to get everyone on the same plane & shoot with as wide an aperture as possible. Yet, you must be careful as you want everyone to be in focus. Specs {ISO 800, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/500 sec}.

Another example from the same wedding. Specs {ISO 400, 50mm, f/1.8, 1/640 sec}

In contrast, in this picture I was shooting an interior for a magazine. For these types of shots, I want everything to be in focus… as clean & sharp as possible. My aperture, therefore, is as narrow as I could achieve. Specs {ISO 200, 24mm, f/22, 5.0 sec}

Is this starting to make sense? The more narrow the aperture, the more things will be in focus in the image. If you want to achieve a “bokeh” effect, you may want to invest in a lens that allows a wider aperture (lower number).

A few links explaining aperture in further detail:

• The Pioneer Woman: http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/. Scroll down to the right & you’ll see the heading “Read this Series”. She’s done an incredible job with her four part series “What the Heck is an Aperture?” Excellent resource!
• Darren Rowse {Digital Photography School}: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/aperture

A few lens resources I mentioned in my video:

• Canon 50mm 1.8: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12142-USA/Canon_2514A002_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_8.html/BI/7571_/KBID/8097
• Canon 50mm 1.4: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12140-USA/Canon_2515A003_50mm_f_1_4_USM_Autofocus.html /BI/7571_/KBID/8097
• Nikon 50mm 1.4: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/585343-USA/Nikon_2180_AF_S_Nikkor_50mm_f_1_4G.html /BI/7571_/KBID/8097

Hope that helps friends… let me know what you think. Comment like you mean it!! If you have further questions, I’ll try to answer as soon as I can. Thanks!

Running your own business is complicated, heck, running your own life is complicated. There are dozens of wonderful tools for personal & business now available for each of us… Evernote, Dropbox, Things, ShootQ & Pictage (for you photographers), & etc. For the most part, I use each of the above, yet, what I’ve found to be my “must-have” tool of choice, is my Moleskine. It’s no over-statement, I love my Moleskine. Without it, I feel naked… or brainless. It’s my control center in many respects.

I’ve been using a Pocket Moleskine for several years & decided  for 2011 to customize it according to my needs, aka “hack.” There are dozens of excellent Moleskine Hack articles online, among my favorite is the comprehensive article by Freelance Switch here. Inspired by David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, many geeks like myself (it’s true, I am!) are using the systems he mentions to be more productive & organized. I thought I’d share a few of the customizations I made to my Pocket Moleskine. Cheers to an organized life!!

The view of my desk from above… yes, in most situations, I’m rather passionate about keeping it uncluttered.
I used the first 105 pages to draw out a 2011 calendar. As you can see, I numbered the odd pages. This week was pretty open so I still have plenty of room for tasks. Of course there are several tasks that I completed that I didn’t write down, but as they come to mind, it keeps me on track if I write them down.
(L) A bit more information on how I mark my tasks. If you have any additional questions, let me know & I’ll try to explain. (R) Following the calendar, I’ve blocked off 40 pages titled, “People.” This section is reserved for brief descriptions of client projects. In the upper left hand corner is the client name, followed by the project info, notes, & deadline or milestones. In the “Notes” section, I usually jot down creative ideas concerning the project or questions I might have for the client.
(L) My next section I blocked off was the “Ideas” section (30 pages total). This is where I write down ideas or thoughts concerning goals, work, family, vacation/trips, etc. Seems perfect when I’m lying in bed & have a creative thought & need to jot it down. (R) At the very back of the book I’ve left 7 pages for “Book/Resources” list. These aren’t necessarily organized by priority, just a way to list books & magazines I want to purchase when funds are available. When they are purchased, I’ll check them off.
Below is a section, pages 177-191, reserved for “Learning” (btw, this includes the above “Books/Resources” section). One of my goals is to memorize more Scripture. While I’m in the early stages of memorizing, I always write down the passage… since I carry this book in my back pocket, I can review the verses practically anytime. I’m also doing a separate Moleskine for memorizing Philippians, thanks to the efforts of Timmy Brister, Partnering to Remember… definitely worth checking out!
Of course, I use the back pocket to file receipts. When I return to the office, I file them accordingly… makes tax season a breeze!
I’m sure I’ll get to 2012 & want to make several adjustments but I’m really excited about this year’s organizational efforts. If you have any questions or additional comments, please feel free to let me know… I’m always open to learning from you. And/or, if you fall into the category of “I’m so disorganized, I need help asap!” let me know… I’d love to help. What do you think, is this helpful?

Following Ansel & Lisa’s Key Largo, FL wedding, Joy & I (along with our partners in action, the Princes) decided it would be a shame to be so close to the beach & not stay for a few days. We’re strategic like that! So… we planned beforehand to spend the remainder of the week at Pompano Beach. We had little scheduled with the exception of lounging by the ocean, catching up on reading, eating great seafood, & taking lots of pictures. It was perfect!

Although we were on vacation, I’m kind of a big nerd & can rarely sleep past 7:30am. Wait, speaking of big nerds, Ryan Prince spent the majority of vacation reading the unabridged version of the classic, The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas. Folks, we’re talking over 1300 pages; he’s a certified geek. And, while I’m off subject, if you want one of the best sandwiches you’ve ever imagined, try the Monte Cristo at the Spot of Tea in Mobile, AL; grab a glass of Strawberry Sweet Tea while you’re at it. You can thank me later (& you will)! I digress. Yes, even though I’m on vacation I usually wake up before 7am, usually 6:15 or so. I haven’t always been this way but realized shortly after college that I can accomplish more between the hours of 6am-9am than I can between 9am-2pm. I try to be disciplined & wake up early. There are less interruptions & generally speaking, my mind is most focused during these hours. Not to mention, the early morning lighting is perfect for natural light photography!!

You’ve likely heard it before that the prime hours for photography are the few hours following sunrise & before sunset. There is a reason. First, the lighting is not as harsh resulting in relatively no shadows cascading from objects. It’s the same as over-cast days; it’s as though God hooked you up with a sky-sized softbox. Praise-a-lujah! Second, you can generally see a hue of colors throughout the sky that aren’t generally visible during other hours. Third, the weather is generally more mild. Don’t you just love the feeling of the cool morning air?! I could go on but you get the point.

Somewhat regularly, I am asked questions pertaining to photography. People have cameras but don’t necessarily understand much beyond the Full-Auto mode. I am asked such things as “How do you focus on your subject & let the background blur?”, “What’s the difference between a shutter speed & an aperture?”, “What is an ISO?”, “How do you photograph landscapes?”, “How do you photograph children?”, “How do you shoot without using a flash?”, “What editing software do you recommend?”, & etc. Therefore, I thought it may be beneficial to address these types of questions as they arise. Along the way, I will refer you to many fantastic photographers & friends who have tackled similar subjects well beyond my ability to do so.

I thought it appropriate to begin with an area that many pro photographer friends of mine seem to constantly affirm… shooting landscapes. And, it gives me a reason to post some of my recent favorite landscapes from Pompano Beach.

Aside from my suggestion to getting your booty out of bed early & arranging your evening schedule to catch the hours before sunrise, there’s certainly an art to photographing landscapes. Let me put a few thoughts out there for you:

The Rule of Thirds: Essentially, this rule breaks an image down into thirds, both vertically & horizontally, resulting in 9 squares. When you frame (or compose) your shot, there are certain places you should put your “points of interest” or “subject.” When doing so, it adds balance to your image & makes it more interesting. For a helpful article check out, check out Darren Rowse over at Digital Photography School, click here. Notice on the image below that the pier is in the lower third of the image (horizontal) yet I’ve framed the lifeguard stand on the right third (vertical). [ISO 100, 50mm, f/16, 1/10]

Exposure: Exposure can be somewhat subjective. One photographer wants the foreground exposed, the other wants the background, & then the spoiled want both (especially those HDR guys!). It’s different for differing styles of photography. For example, when I shoot weddings & portraits, I generally could care less about the background. I want the subject (in this example, bride & groom) to be be exposed properly. In the image below, I thought it would be cool to expose for the sun & sky while allowing the pier to silhouette. If I would’ve exposed for the pier, the sky would’ve washed out & you would not have been able to see the details in the sky. [ISO 50, 50mm, f/16, 1/25]
Aperture: Depending on what you are wanting to capture affects what aperture you choose. Simply put, aperture is a term that describes how wide or narrow the lens opens. This affects what part of the image stays in focus. It almost deals exclusively with your lens not your camera body. Many people, when referring to aperture, use the term depth-of-field. Explaining aperture is an entire blog post within itself (I promise to do so soon!). In short, if you want very little to be in focus, with the exception of the subject, you want a big aperture (low number… f/1.2, 2.0, etc.). In contrast, if you want everything to be equally in focus, you are looking for a small aperture (high number… f/16, 20, etc.). A helpful article you may want to check out is everyone’s favorite cowgirl, Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman, who wrote two blog posts entitled “What the Heck is an Aperture?” For the image below I wanted everything to be in focus so I chose to shoot at f/22. [ISO 50, 24mm, f/22, 1/6]
Of course there is much more to keep in mind & there’s a ton of things I failed to include. For beginners, I highly recommend purchasing a nice tripod & head. All of the above images were shot using a tripod. And, it’s beneficial to read the manuals that come with your camera & lens. On down the road, I will spend some discussing additional principles of photography including aperture, shutter speed, shooting modes, ISO, focal length, editing software, etc. In the meantime, if you know anyone that might find this article beneficial, please pass it on. And, if you have any questions, feel free to ask & I’ll respond as soon as I can. Thanks friends, enjoy!!!

There are only a few phrases available in the English language that convey how much I love my new camera lens. I find myself saying things like, “Are you kidding me?”, “Duuuuuddddeee, that’s amazing!”, “It’s a beautiful thing… simply beautiful” & “Wicky, wicky, uh!” (sorry… when I get really excited I have a habit of saying ‘wicky, wicky, uh!’ as if I were a white rapper & scratching a vinyl record on my turntable resulting in the ‘wicky, wicky, uh’ sound). Back to the lecture at hand, all I’m saying is that as a photographer, the quality of light at 1.2 is gorgeous. I’ve yet to shoot at any other aperture since putting the lens on. It’s quickly becoming my favorite lens. If you want a great post on the 50 1.2, check out my friend Melissa Jill’s post here.

Although I haven’t shot a session with it yet, I’m looking forward to doing so tomorrow. I’m super stoked. But, in the meantime, I had to play around with it around the house. Here are some shots from last week:

Here’s Brennan in our ’89 Wagoneer.

My little man, Knox, with his crazy baby giggle.

Brennan is looking like a little model; I wish I had some yellow pants like that.

My dad with Knox & Capri, our friends Don & Alison Nation’s little girl.

Next thing I know, Brennan is running around pantless in the back yard. Knox was busy swinging when I caught his attention.

My lovely bride with our Knox, aka Little Ben.

Saturday night we went to see our friends Gil & Melanie Balch & their little girls, Isabelle & Ava. We grilled burgers & played our guitars on the front porch… good times indeed! Gil has instruments all over the house; Brennan knows what to do with a guitar.

Gosh… I love these kids.

Melanie & Isabelle; I love that look she’s giving me.

The newest little Balch girl, Ava.

Look at those eyes… wow!

Gil is one the most talented guys I know. Aside from his ability to grow the perfect beard, he can play practically every instrument out there… incredible.

Here is a great example of shooting in fairly low lighting conditions, yet at 1.2, it’s no problem.

Knox, our little dinosaur.

In the past, I’ve avoided such environments. In general, I’m not the biggest fan of the atmosphere that sometimes exists at expos, conferences, etc. There is this unspoken competition between vendors that makes me feel icky… can’t we all just get along? I feel like so many vendors bombard people as they walk through as if to say… “want to sample chicken?” much like the Asian food chain in the mall. Plus… they can be so darn expensive. It blows my mind at how much money is spent on registration, backdrops, promotional material, door prizes, etc. It’s really got me thinking…

Maybe it’s just me, but I am looking for a certain kind of client. I don’t ever try to “close the deal” with a client… in most cases, I say, “Please take some time to think about this… there is absolutely no pressure. If you decide that you love my work & want to work with me, then I would be honored to photograph for you. If not, I have many friends who may be better suited for your preferences.” I learned that I’m not the right photographer for everyone; one size does not fit all. Some clients prefer a really formal, traditional photographer. Some simply want the cheapest rates. Some are looking for a more artistic photographer. And etc. It’s important to know what you are looking for. Photographers have styles & play to their strengths… choose the one whose style is best suited for your personality.

Yesterday, I was approached by a couple who asked, “There are many photographers at this show… how do we know what photographer is best for us?” I replied, “There are many wonderful photographers here. I think it is important to find a photographer whose style & quality you really love & who you personally connect with. Your photographs are going to potentially last well beyond your lifetime… make sure you use someone you trust & enjoy.” I thought it may be helpful to expound on those thoughts.

If you’re considering hiring a photographer, consider thinking through the following:

• What would you consider your style? Are you drawn to fashion photography? Do you like incorporating nature/landscapes? Do you prefer candid or posed photos? Do you love detail shots?
• What kind of product are you looking for following your event? Does the photographer make those products available? Album? Coffee table book? Disc of images? Canvas prints? Proof Book?
• Consider asking the photographer for a list of references. Are they professional? How did they deliver on their services? Are they highly recommended?
• Does the photographer have a good portfolio? How is their website? Does it portray a lack of cohesion & organization?
• What is your budget? Can you spread out your payments?
• Is your event a destination event? Does the photographer travel? What kind of expenses must you provide for?
• Is the photographer available on your event date? What kind of deposit must he/she have in order to lock in the date? If they are unavailable, do they have someone they’d recommended?

These are the types of questions I love being asked. When a client does their homework, they are much better equipped & informed to make a wise decision.

Fortunately I have experienced success in building my photography business through relationships. Almost all of my clients have come because of referrals. I still want to pursue advertising & fairs/shows when appropriate but I realized that I would rather invest in my relationship with clients than spend extra money on traditional marketing & advertising tools. The greatest compliment I receive is when brides refer my services to others.

I will conclude by saying this, yesterday’s bridal fair at Whitestone Inn was exceptional… the value was well worth it! I would recommend this place to anyone. Whitestone is an incredible wedding, event & special occasion, getaway venue. It is situated on a scenic stretch of land located on Watts Bar Lake & leaves little to be desired when choosing a perfect wedding location.

The outdoor wedding space at Whitestone (taken with my phone… not bad eh?)

Hope this helps! Is there anything else I should’ve included? What are your thoughts?