Behind the Shutter

Salvatore Cincotta Photography New Studio

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:02:02 +0000

We are a little more than 30 days out from the building completion and what an amazing project this has been for us. When it’s all said and done, we will have rehab’d nearly 12k square feet for our new studio and home for all our staff. I plan on keeping everyone there long hours every day … so we had to add some creature comforts like a cereal bar and coffee bar on the 2nd floor. Then of course, an employee gym on the third floor to work off all those calories.

The biggest transformation has been to the front of the building. The new store front is nothing short of amazing with all glass replacing the boxed up old windows from the 70s. In addition, there will be a balcony added to the second floor – you can see the new doors where there was once a balcony on the original building, but removed due to the deterioration of the building over time.

More to come for sure. Enjoy.

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Photography Tutorials | May Edition

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:29:14 +0000

// Photography Tutorials

Enjoy this free online photography training magazine. If you would like to enjoy this photography training and education magazine in its entirety, please create a free account and log in to enjoy the full multimedia experience.

Our photography training and education is unprecedented. Never before have so many professional photographers collaborated to provide a single free photography training resource for the photography community. You have nothing to lose – create an account and take your photography training and photography education to new levels.

***Special Note***

You will be downloading a PDF version of our free photography training and education magazine. By doing so, you will be able to enjoy this offline, however, for a full multimedia experience, be sure to create a free account and log into the system to enjoy this on your mobile device, as well as, your computer. Free photography tutorials from the best names in photography. The file size is approximately 30mb. Because this is a PDF file, videos are not embedded. To watch the videos be sure to visit our Shutter Magazine YouTube page.

Looking for world-class online photography training by the best photographers in the business?

Quality online photography training and education is priceless in today’s competitive landscape. Shutter Magazine was created by photographers for photographers in order to help raise the bar of our industry. This free online photography training resource is sure to help all professional and amateur photographers with how-to tips, including all the facets of being a photographer regardless of whether you are a professional or amateur.

Training topics will include photography lighting techniques, photography off-camera flash tips, photography posing guides, photography business concepts and marketing strategies, Facebook for photographers, boudoir photography training, high-school senior photography concepts, photography selling strategies, family photography, and much much more.

Our contributors include, Sal Cincotta, Lori Nordstrom, Jennifer Rozenbaum, Blair Phillips, Dave Cross, Kristy Dickerson, Vanessa Joy, Rob Adams, Skip Cohen, Taylor Cincotta, Laurin Thienes, and many others.

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Photography Tutorials | April Edition

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:27:56 +0000

// Photography Tutorials

***Special Note***

Looking for world-class online photography training by the best photographers in the business?

The post Photography Tutorials | April Edition appeared first on Behind the Shutter.

Photography Tutorials // March Edition

admin — Mon, 06 May 2013 05:25:33 +0000

// Photography Tutorials

***Special Note***

You will be downloading a PDF version of our free photography training and education magazine. By doing so, you will be able to enjoy this offline, however, for a full multimedia experience, be sure to create a free account and log into the system to enjoy this on your mobile device, as well as, your computer. Free photography magazine The file size is approximately 30mb. Because this is a PDF file, videos are not embedded. To watch the videos be sure to visit our Shutter Magazine YouTube page.

Looking for world-class online photography training by the best photographers in the business?

Our contributors include, Sal Cincotta, Sue Bryce, Lori Nordstrom, Jennifer Rozenbaum, Blair Phillips, Dave Cross, Kristy Dickerson, Vanessa Joy, Skip Cohen, Taylor Cincotta, Laurin Thienes, and many others.

The post Photography Tutorials // March Edition appeared first on Behind the Shutter.

Shutter Magazine Commercial | Better Than

admin — Sun, 05 May 2013 15:12:06 +0000

2nd Commercial in the series. Hope you enjoy it!

sm_better_2_v2

The post Shutter Magazine Commercial | Better Than appeared first on Behind the Shutter.

creativeLIVE | Kelly Brown

admin — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:16:30 +0000

creativeLIVE | Kelly Brown

Maybe you dont know who Kelly Brown is. Well that’s about to change!

Kelly Brown is a newborn photographer from Brisbane, Australia and founder of Little Pieces Photography. Since starting out in 2005, Kelly has made quite a name for herself, winning the 2012 AIPP Creative Photographer of the Year in addition to several other prestigious awards including the AIPP Queensland Family Photographer of the Year and a first place finish in WPPI’s Portrait Group and Portrait Individual categories. During her day-to-day life, Kelly continues to develop new, innovative ways of moving her business forward and teaches workshops to those eager to get their newborn photography journey started. Holding diplomas in both business and photography, Kelly understands all the elements one needs to make a top-notch newborn photography business.

Kelly will be on creativeLIVE May 9th, 2013 for 3 days discussing newborn photography. Register for free.

I had the opportunity to talk to Kelly and she is excited to be a part of this great opportunity and share her love and passion of newborn photography.

Check out our conversation below.

//tell us a little about yourself. when did you get started in photography? what drew you in?
My love of photography started after my first baby arrived in 2003 and in 2005 Little Pieces Photography was created. I now have a 9yr old and 6yr old twins.

//what is your area of expertise and what do you love about it?
About 3 years ago I decided to specialize in newborn photography. I feel so honored being asked to photograph someone’s brand new baby. It is such a special and exciting time for parents, they want to remember every little detail about the little person they have just welcomed into the world. Being able to capture all of these precious babies so new and fresh really is so rewarding as I know the images will be cherished forever.

//what does being a professional photographer mean to you?
I would have to say always striving to produce a consistently higher quality of photographic work. I truly believe in supplying my clients with exceptional service and products that they cannot create themselves and the look on their faces when they see their images is the reward.

// in a word, whats the number one challenge you see in the industry today? explain. (why are photographers struggling)
Gosh, I believe that photographers face many challenges in their businesses but confidence is what I hear continually from the photographers that come to me for mentoring. And I believe with more confidence in your work comes the ability to market yourself properly without fear and to price your work knowing that your time & work is worth it.

//whats one tip you can give photographers today that would have helped you in the beginning?
Have patience, practice and be persistent.

//tell me a little bit about creativeLIVE what can photographers expect to learn from you? give us some juicy details that no one knows about yet.
Being asked to teach a live course on creativeLIVE is really a dream come true! I love everything it stands for with education and how accessible the wealth of knowledge is from amazing artists worldwide. I’m ready to share everything I know about newborn photography! And most importantly, knowledge about how to pose and photograph newborns safely. We have lots of babies coming into the studio over the 3 days so it’s going to be amazing!

//where do you find inspiration?
I recently attended WPPI in Las Vegas and came home so inspired – I couldn’t wait to get back into the studio.

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sales for photographers

admin — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:08:04 +0000

sales for photographers

One question I think every photographer gets asked by clients is, “Do I get the disk of images?” I know this is a highly debated topic. There are photographers who give away their images and there are photographers who charge a premium for their services and still don’t have to “sell” that they will give the images to the consumer.

Photographers who started their photography careers with film seem to have a harder time with this concept, and understandably so. Clients prior to the digital revolution would charge a commission for the session, but the bulk of sales would be on the back end with print orders. Now, clients demand digital images, and prints are hard to sell for most photographers. Photographers have to evolve to meet consumer demands, but on the other hand it has become harder for photographers to be profitable.

What is my philosophy & what can I do?

Every client of mine will have a copy their images, not full resolution but high. I have three collections and the top two include a copy of the images. The bottom collection I typically use as a bargaining tool. I never come down in price. I think the minute a photographer comes down in price it devalues them and their service. What if I walked into Louis Vuitton and told them my disposable income is lower this month. Do you think they would say, “Okay we will sell you this bag for less?” They won’t! If they did, the value of LV bags would decline. It is the same for offering our service. Never discount. You can offer a gift voucher but discounts will kill your brand.

Want to read this article? Log in and launch this free photography training magazine // May 2013 issue.

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blogging tutorials for photographers

admin — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:03:31 +0000

blogging tutorials for photographers

Let’s clarify the title of this month’s article. “It” doesn’t all start with a blog, because if you haven’t learned the ingredients to the craft then no blog in the world is going to help your marketing efforts or build your business.

So, I’m assuming you’re doing a few things, starting with everything you can do to be the very best photographer on planet earth! Can you get by being only average? Of course you can, but why would you want to?

Second, I’m assuming you’re paying attention to developing a marketing plan. The thing is, anybody can land their first customer. The challenge is getting that first one to come back and then land the second, third
and fourth.

Now let’s talk about a blog. The big difference between your blog and your website is simple. Your site is where you sell your services and products–your blog is where you open up your heart. A really good blog is all about giving back, sharing and helping other people.

When I started to get into social media and my blog four years ago I was told by a few members of my own family I was too old for this stuff. I was too old to be on Facebook and Twitter. Well, like so many challenges in my life, my most favorite quote of all time applies:

“I do it because I can. I can because I want to. I want to because you said I couldn’t!”

And here I am, now on my third blog and all along the way, every day has been a learning experience. So, let’s take what I’ve learned and observed and get you on the right track.

Want to read this article? Log in and launch this free photography training magazine // May 2013 issue.

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Skin retouching tutorial

admin — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:55:09 +0000

skin retouching tutorial

I recently had the pleasure of being spotlighted in one of PhotoShelter’s webinars on their blog where I taught people how to create actions that would save time. While creating the action that I shared with the webinar attendees, I was able to fine tune a skin technique that I use in almost every portrait image and then automate it!

If any of you are familiar with my work, you know I hate skin that looks too smooth. I think it’s one of the first signs of bad retouching, along with fluorescent teeth and eye whites, the first things that jump out at me when I see a badly retouched image.

In this article, I’ll show you how to smooth
skin without losing texture, and teach you how to automate this process by creating an action. Thanks again to Greg Gibson for letting us use another of his wonderful wedding portraits as an example image.

Want to read this article? Log in and launch this free photography training magazine // May 2013 issue.

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