if someone were to ask me what my favorite things about photography are, i would answer : (1) the ability to photograph my family memories, (2) the way photography makes me crave learning, and (3) the friendships i’ve created because of photography. too often i see photographers compete with one another and it makes me sad because my photography friendships are something that i am very thankful for. it’s sad to see people use a common interest as a way to compete, instead of a way to bond and form a friendship. if you view other photographers as competitors instead of possible friends, here are a few things to keep in mind. i hope this encourages you to let your guard down and embrace friendships with other photographers. photography friends are so important and can offer so much to you. you really are missing out if you aren’t embracing your fellow photographers.
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Why Photographers Should Embrace Friendship, Not Competition
.jpg "Why Photographers Should Embrace Friendship, Not Competition | Bethadilly Photography")
No Two Photographers Are The Same
seriously, every photographer is so different. that is what makes friendship so fun! even if two photographers have similar photography styles, they will be inspired in different ways. you can take two photographers into a field and they will both come out with completely different photographs because their vision is unique to them. while one photographer may be drawn to grab their macro lens and photograph a tiny ladybug, another photographer may be inspired by the light coming through the trees. inspiration is unique to the photographer and, like thumbprints, no two photographers are the same.
You Can Learn From One Another
between my friends who are photographers and my friends who aren’t, it is my photography friends that teach me the most. whether it is something technical like how to learn film or something personal like developing confidence with my photography, it’s my photography friends that teach me so much about myself and my passion for photography. i love that, when we are together, we can all bring out our cameras and teach one another new things. we can recommend photography classes we’ve taken or great photography books that have really inspired us. there is something so refreshing about learning something new and it’s great to have friends that encourage your growth.
Lens Sharing
want to try out a new lens, but aren’t ready to buy one? photography friends are great for sharing lenses. when i wasn’t quite sure about macro, my friend megan was kind enough to allow me to borrow her macro lens for a few days to experiment with. she saved me in so many ways. not only did she allow me to create some really fun images by lending me her lens, but she also saved me from buying a lens that i need much more practice with before considering.
Honest Critiques
if you ask your husband or non photography friend if they like your picture, they will say, “it’s cool!” or “your baby is cute.” both are wonderful things to say, but offer you no honest critique or takeaway. if you were to show your photography friend the same photograph, they are insightful enough to say, “i love how you used your light, but be careful of your highlights,” or “you may want to raise your aperture, you seemed to miss your focus.” it is honest critiques like this that will encourage your growth as a photographer and allow you to improve your photography.
There’s Enough Clients For Everyone
listen, there are so many clients out there, i promise there are enough for all of us. there is no need to compete, the client that is right for you will hire you and the client that is right for your friend will hire your friend. trust me when i say, every client isn’t looking for YOU. just like you have your own photography style, so do clients looking to hire. there are so many variables that go into hiring photographers like photography style, price point, availability, locations, photography type, etc. if a client hires you, great! if they don’t, great! there are enough clients to go around, so let go of competing and just be friends. there is no reason to avoid a photography friendship because you are in the same business because, i promise you, your businesses are different in one way or another.
Photography Friends Truly Understand You
photography friends truly understand one another. they understand the complexity behind trying new things, the intimidation that comes with putting your work out there, and the fear that comes with feeling uninspired with your photography. photography friends know exactly want to say to you to encourage you during these times and they also know when to let you work through it on your own. having photography friends is so refreshing.
creating a friendship with other photographers is so beneficial and photography friendships are really inspiring. there is something so lovely about being able to talk about photography and actually be heard! do you have photography friend who helps to encourage and inspire you? be sure to tag them below and tell them how much you appreciate them!
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for some, winter is long. it’s gets dark early in the evening and stays dark later in the mornings. it’s cold and the winter doesn’t have the vibrant color that seems to be abundant throughout the other seasons of the year. it is for these reasons that most photographers find themselves uninspired during the winter months, me being one of them. this past weekend i did some street photography, right in the middle of winter. i was chilly and had a pink nose from the cold, but found myself finding ways to be inspired despite the weather and the gloomy winter surroundings. if you find that winter leaves you uninspired with your winter photography, check out these 5 ways you can seek out inspiration with your camera.
do you get nervous photographing in public? here are 3 ways to become more comfortable photographing in public.
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Winter Photography : 5 Ways to Stay Inspired During Winter
.jpg "Winter Photography : 5 Ways to Stay Inspired During Winter | Bethadilly Photography")
while my photography style has been known to be very light and bright, i had fun trying out a more underexposed and moody style as i was doing a little street photography. when we think of winter, we think of gloom and cold. i wanted my images to reflect the cold, crisp weather and felt that a darker image portrayed that better than my normally bright style. playing with a new photography, in and of itself, provided a boost of inspiration.
all of the photos in this post were taken with my nikon d750 and sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens.
.jpg "Winter Photography : 5 Ways to Stay Inspired During Winter | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Seek Out Textures
during the winter, colors change and our outdoor surroundings tend to be bleak. to inspire your winter photography, seek out textures that aren’t dependent on the season, such as interesting buildings, benches, fencing, walkways, etc. textures are an element that are present, regardless of the season. focus on seeking out interesting textures and bringing them to life. by slightly underexposing an image, you are able to bring textures alive and make them more realistic.
.jpg "Winter Photography : 5 Ways to Stay Inspired During Winter | Bethadilly Photography")
2. Focus on Movement
as i stated, my nose was a little pink because the wind was blowing during my outing. but even though the light wind made me chilly, it brought my surroundings to life. bring some interest to your winter photography by seeking out movement and portraying it through your images. as i was exploring, i found a golden plant outside of a hotel that resembled wheat. even though it looked dead and without life, i was able to portray it in a more lifelike way with the help of a conveniently timed wind. by using an aperture of f/1.4, i was able to create depth amongst the golden strands and create realism.
.jpg "Winter Photography : 5 Ways to Stay Inspired During Winter | Bethadilly Photography")
3. Seek Out Signs of Life
not everything turns brown during the winter, so focus on seeking out plants that remain green throughout the year. i stumbled upon a door surrounded by greenery. there is something so refreshing about seeing green during the winter. it’s like seeing water in the desert. there is hope! inspire your winter photography by seeking out those small signs of life with your camera, despite the crisp cold weather that lurks.
4. Embrace The Color of Winter
even though signs of life are fun, i really like photographing true winter color. i love seeing burnt yellows and oranges and even some deep tones of purple. embrace the color that is winter as you are photographing. just because something doesn’t look alive doesn’t mean you can’t bring it to life in your photographs. there is an actual hashtag that people use on instagram called #lovelydeadcrap that showcases the beauty behind things that aren’t necessarily at their prime.
5. Edit With Winter In Mind
as i mentioned, dark and moody images aren’t the type that you see from me often. however, i was inspired to photograph and edit this way to portray the feeling of winter and the crisp cold. just looking at these images makes me chilly, in a good way. i feel like the shooting style and thoughtful edits help to bring the senses alive, especially the chilly feeling that we often experience during the winter months.
winter photography can really be inspiring if you allow yourself to embrace the season for what it is and seek out the elements that are both unique to the season and the elements that stay year round. don’t be afraid to raise your iso to allow more light into your camera, as the winter months place a restriction on our light source. be thoughtful about how you use the light that is available and allow yourself the freedom to photograph the season as it is. there is so much beauty to be discovered during the winter months you just need to pack up your camera, and your gloves, and go find it.
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forget the little black dress, you need this little navy camera bag. this weekend was all about photography. i met my photography friends for a weekend of photographing, goal planning, photographing, girl time, photographing, and a little wine. when preparing my photography gear for our weekend of street photography i started by laying out the gear that i wanted to bring with me before deciding which shutterbag i would carry it in. when preparing for a weekend away with my photography friends, i instantly knew what bag to bring. you may be surprised by the reason why i chose my little shutterbag.
need help figuring out what gear to pack? here is a list of 10 things to pack in your camera bag.
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The Perfect Little Shutterbag
.jpg "The Perfect Little Shutterbag | Bethadilly Photography")
when preparing for a weekend with my photography friends, i knew we would be doing a lot of street photography. for me, i find that i get caught up with all the gear. i want to bring it all and, in the end, only use one lens. knowing this, i decided to be brave and only pack one camera and one lens. period. it initially made me slightly nervous and i won’t lie, i started thinking, “but what if i see something and need a lens that i didn’t pack!?” but i took this as a photography challenge and packed minimally anyways.
when planning for street photography, i love to use my spree shutterbag. and because i was challenging myself to pack light, this bag was an obvious choice. being the smallest of my camera bags, i usually can’t bring it with me to my professional photography sessions with clients because i need to bring more gear with me. but for a weekend of photography that includes a lot of walking, this little shutterbag is perfect. not only is it completely adorable with gorgeous gold hardware (i am a sucker for navy and gold), it’s size allows me to pack light and know that my bag won’t be too heavy to pack around. there is nothing worse that overpacking a bag and having a shoulder ache all day. having a smaller camera bag option like the spree can encourage to you pack what you need, and nothing else. being discouraged from overpacking was a game changer for me and never once did i regret not bringing more gear. instead of wasting time switching out lenses and fussing over gear choices, i was able to focus on my creativity.
What I Packed For My Street Photography Outing
2 additional batteries
additional memory cards
if you are looking for a smaller camera bag that is easier to carry around, i whole heartedly recommend the spree shutterbag. i love the cross body strap, allowing me to feel confident that my little shutterbag is secure while allowing me to be hands free as i photograph. everything about this sweet little navy bag has stolen my heart and it was the perfect choice for my photography weekend getaway.
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motherhood. it is the teacher of many things. in a way, we become different people when we become mamas. for me, i became more sensitive, more insightful and a little more thankful for the little things…like quiet mornings by myself with a cup of coffee before the baby wakes. motherhood shapes us into better versions of ourselves as we raise our tiny humans. while a lot of the things that motherhood has taught me have been personal, the way in which motherhood strengthened my photography is very much visual as well. when i became a mama, having my photography improve was the last thing i expected. but it did. in many ways, it did.
do you write letters to your children? check out how i write letters to my baby each month to document her growth.
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How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography
.jpg "How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
1. I Pick Up My Camera More
while i was pretty good at picking up my camera before my daughter was born, i definitely pick it up even more now. there are so many photographable moments, as she masters new skills or learns something new for the very first time…all begging to be photographed. while motherhood strengthened my photography by encouraging me to pick up my camera more, it has also taught me to photograph quickly to not only capture the moment fast, but to also then set my camera down and live in the moment as well. while i love to get pictures to remember her in the years ahead, i also want to remain present.
.jpg "How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
2. I Embrace Realism
before having a baby, i had time to tidy up rooms before photographing. but motherhood strengthened my photography in that i am encouraged to embrace the realism of life, mess and all. i am able to find the beauty in a messy face or a spilled basket of blocks. it has also taught me how to use my camera to photograph such messes in a beautiful way. for the photo above, i used my sigma art 24mm f/1.4 lens at f/1.4 to place my focus on my daughter, yet still showcase the blur of toys in the background. i adore that the mess of toys is still visible, yet beautifully muted.
.jpg "How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
3. I Get in The Frame More
listen, as wonderful as husbands are, they just don’t have the artistic vision that we do. and that’s okay, they aren’t photographers. but it is important to me that i am in photographs with my daughter too, and that i actually like them. mamas, you have to do it yourself. if you want the photo, take the time to take it! set up that tripod, get a wireless remote (they are so affordable), and get in picture with your kids. stop waiting for your husband or mother or friend to ask, “can i take your picture with the kids,” because they won’t. it’s not because they don’t want to, it’s because they don’t think to as you do. that’s what makes us photographers!
check out how easy using a remote to take self portraits with a dslr really is.
4. I Relaxed About Editing
motherhood strengthened my photography and my editing. before being a mama, i would go to bed each night all caught up on editing. yeah, well that is not the case any more. ain’t nobody got time for that! but let me tell you, being behind on editing was probably the best thing that ever happened for my photography. when i did find the time to catch up in my lightroom catalog, it allowed me to go back in time to months earlier and relive those moments again. it also allowed me to love my images more because, even though imperfect, they contained such rich moments. if i would have edited right away, i would have deleted so many pictures because they weren’t “perfect.” when you wait a little to edit, you see the images for what they are and not what they aren’t. plus, your baby has grown in the mean time and you can’t retake those photos, which makes you appreciate the ones you have that much more, imperfections and all.
are you behind on editing? it’s okay, we all are. here are 4 tips for catching up on editing when you are really behind.
.jpg "How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
5. I’ve Learned To Accept Imperfection
probably one of the biggest, and arguably most important, ways motherhood strengthened my photography has been by allowing me to accept some imperfection. some. can i just say, i lose sleep over imperfection. it’s my flaw. i strive for perfection (i know, i know…you are shaking your head at me. trust me, i am shaking my head too). it’s just the way that i am. but photographing my daughter is showing me how much more important the moment is rather then the perfect exposure, composition, or white balance. i am learning to accept the photos where i slightly missed the focus, yet the smile on her face is irreplaceable. or the photos where i accidentally let her toe slip out of the frame instead of placing it inside. motherhood is teaching me that moments, imperfect or perfect, are moments. and it’s better to have an imperfect photo of a smiling baby than no photo at all.
also, i read emily ley’s grace not perfection book. it’s amazing. if you stress over perfection, like me, read this book!
.jpg "How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
6. I Am Portraying More Emotion in My Images
motherhood has strengthened my photography in that i am more passionate about expressing emotion in my photographs with and of my daughter. not only do i want to photograph her growth, i want to photograph the emotion that comes with it. i want my photographs to take me back to the moment and the feelings that moment created. like how she loves to reach up and touch my face and how, just that simple act, makes my entire world right. or how she is infatuated with her toes and loves to play with them. i now approach photography with emotion in mind.
need some help capturing emotion? check out photographing love : 5 ways to portray emotion.
.jpg "How Motherhood Strengthened My Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
7. I Am Learning More About Light
while my love for bright light will always be strong, i am learning that the photographable moments don’t always wait for the ideal light. because i want to photograph all of her moments, i am learning how to use the light that i am given instead of missing the moment. this may mean raising my ISO beyond my comfort level, or lowering my aperture to bring in more light to my camera. it’s teaching me more than ever that manual mode is the only way to go if you want full control over light.
it’s funny how, as i sit down to write, i realize how motherhood strengthened my photography is so many ways and how it will continue to do so. if you were a photographer before having children, do you feel the same way? did you find that your photography changed, in one way or another, after having children? i would love to hear about your experiences, please leave any stories in the comment section for us to read!
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scouting outdoor session locations to meet your clients at for their session becomes easier and easier as you learn what things to look for and what things to avoid. while your clients or subjects are the focus of your session, the location that you choose plays a very big role in the feel of the photos. choosing urban locations may work better for your client’s personality, while soft parks full of nature may be better for other clients. some of this will be knowing what type of location or scene fits your client best, while also knowing what attributes to look for and what to avoid when scouting locations.
what to dive a little deeper into session locations? here are 5 tips for scouting outdoor photography locations.
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Scouting Outdoor Session Locations
.jpg "The Do's and Don'ts of Scouting Outdoor Session Locations | Bethadilly Photography")
photographing my everyday is one of my passions. to inspire your everyday photography, be sure to read the everyday photograph.
1. Do : Bring Your Camera Along
it is important that you bring your camera along with you as you are scouting outdoor session locations. at you are critiquing a location, be sure to take some test shots with your camera to make sure the light and surrounding elements are photographing well. i like to take a variety of photos throughout my initial walk around the location, both to test out the light and to also remind myself of areas that i found great to take the client back to.
2. Don’t : Locations With Visible Playground Equipment
playground equipment has the potential to ruin your photography session before it even starts. let me tell you, when children see playgrounds their eyes focus on the slide and angels starting singing in their heads. once they see it, they can’t unsee it. if you are doing a session with small clients, be sure you avoid locations with visible playground equipment because it will be a negative distraction during your session. your younger clients will be more focused on the thought of playing on the swings and less focused on cooperating with your vision. unless playing on swings is what you are going for…but most likely it isn’t.
3. Do : Be Aware of Location Hours
while scouting outdoor session locations, you may come across locations that have hours. most of the time, the hours won’t affect you but during summer months when it gets lighter earlier and stays light later, you may want to be aware of park hours that could interfere with scheduling.
4. Don’t : Locations with High Traffic
when i say traffic, i mean both cars and people. especially if your clients have children, be mindful of safety. choose locations that don’t experience high traffic, as kids like to run and you need to keep their safety in mind at all times. for my urban locations, i try my best to take my clients into little spots away from traffic to shoot and remind them of safety while we are walking in between locations.
for locations that don’t experience automobile traffic, be mindful of crowds. choosing parks that are crowded will be a nightmare, not only for you but for your client. for you, having other people around your session will make shooting and editing a nightmare as you try to dodge having strangers in your photographs. for your clients, being in busy areas is not only distracting to the younger ones, but it can be nerve wreaking as well. some clients are nervous enough as it is being in front of the camera, so having additional people around accentuates that.
5. Do : Think of Client Safety
be mindful of rivers, lakes, traffic, bugs, and things that can be climbed on. the world is a dangerous place as it is, so there is not going to be a perfectly safe location but be mindful of things that are especially dangerous to children. if you decide to use a location that has water or another attribute that can be deemed unsafe, remind your clients, “there is water to the right, so let’s hold hands!” making your clients aware can play a big factor in keeping them safe so don’t be afraid to give safety reminders. it’s also a great idea to make sure your contract removes you from any liability regarding safety, but i am not going to give contract advice. it’s best to chat with your contract lawyer about that.
6. Don’t : Locations That Are Dependent on the Season
this is not necessarily a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. be mindful that your favorite summer location may not be your favorite winter location. some locations are dependent on the season, as in they look better during certain times of the year. be sure to visit your location during a variety of seasons, bringing your camera with you of course, to ensure that it is still meeting your requirements.
7. Do : Look for Textures
as always, look deeper into your locations and look for the things that will really bring interest to your photographs. look for textures like tall grass, wood, fencing, gravel roads, brick, cobblestone, etc. textures are a really fun element that can make your photo that much better. be sure that the textures aren’t too much in that they steal the spotlight away from your subject, you want the surroundings to support your photo not steal it.
scouting outdoor session locations is really simple and fun. again, make sure you bring your camera and any lenses you generally use during sessions as you are looking at locations. have fun taking test photos and don’t be discouraged if the place you initially love isn’t what you thought it was going to be. it happens, and it’s better to find out before your session than to realize it during your session. in turn, make sure you give every location a chance. sometimes the locations that you least expect to like or work are the locations that make the best photos!
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