as photographers, we look at the world in a different way. you could say that we see the world through photographs. we are inspired by things that don’t inspire others and we use our cameras to document anything and everything. that is what makes us unique and special…we are artists! but while we are picking up our cameras to photograph what surrounds us, we also tend to look to other photographers to see how we should actually be doing that. and what we are really doing when we look to others is looking at how they incorporate themselves and their photography style into their images. are you struggling with how to find your photography style? a style that is unique to you and not purely just a fad?
if you are struggling, you are not alone. every photographer has struggled with their photography style at one point in their journey with photography and it’s one of the most common reasons why many photographers are left feeling uninspired and confused with their photography. knowing this, i teamed up with Courtney of Click it Up A Notch to bring you just what you need to help you when you are struggling with how to find your photography style.
How To Find Your Photography Style
.jpg "how to find your photography style | bethadilly photography")
when i first started my journey with photography, i was inspired…and overwhelmed. i was overwhelmed because there were so many photography styles out there that i loved and i couldn’t decide what direction to take my photography in. did i want to have a bright and light photography style? or maybe a moody and dramatic style? or maybe one of the million photography styles in between? i was being pulled in so many different directions that i was becoming frustrated with myself and with my photography.
i also didn’t want to have a photography style simply because it was popular, but instead i wanted to have a photography style that was truly me and would be my style no matter what photography style was “in” at the time. and then an idea hit me. instead of looking to other photographers and their styles for inspiration, i decided to look within myself. i started to think about who i truly was as a photographer and how i could portray myself through my photographs. and, while it didn’t happen overnight, i started to develop a style that would be known as one of the most recognizable photography styles on instagram.
before i knew it, other photographers were sharing their struggles with their photography style and asking me how i truly found a style that represented me and only me! because i love to help and teach other photographers, i compiled all of my best photography style techniques into an eBook “The Style Photographer” that will teach you how to find your photography style. a photography style that is truly yours and unique to you! you have been waiting for me to write this eBook for…years. and it’s here!
now let’s answer some questions you might be wondering about “The Styled Photographer”… and if you have a question that you are still wondering about, be sure to ask in the comment section. i am more than happy to chat!
Frequently Asked Questions
i am a beginner photographer. is “The Styled Photographer” a good eBook for me?
yes! “The Styled Photographer” was written with all photographers in mind, no matter if you are just starting out or have been a photographer for awhile now. now, this book will not help you learn how to use your fancy new camera, but it will help you find a photography style that is unique to you!
will this eBook show me how to find your photography style?
don’t worry, this eBook is not going to teach you how to have a photography style that is just like mine, but instead it will help show you the steps to take to find a style that truly represents you! no matter if you like bright or dark images, i will show you how you can incorporate the style you love into any image you take.
is this eBook for photographers who are hobbyists or for business owners?
both! no matter if you photograph for fun or run a photography business, it is very important to have a photography style that is unique to you. “The Styled Photographer” was written with the photographer in mind, no matter if you own a business or not!
what genre of photography is this ebook written for?
all of them! no matter if you are a wedding, food, lifestyle, product, pet, landscape or portrait photographer {just to name a few!}, “The Styled Photographer” will help you find your style, no matter what you are photographing.
on the night “The Styled Photographer” was announced for purchase, we literally broke the internet as photographers were rushing to purchase their copy! get your copy today and see why everyone is so excited about what is in these pages and let me show you how to incorporate your photography style from the moment you pick up your camera to the moment you share your photography with the world. seriously, let me take the frustration out of finding your photography style…the information and style exercises in this book will have you having fun along the way! i just wish i would have had “The Styled Photographer” available to me when i was struggling with finding my photography style.
.jpg "how to find your photography style | bethadilly photography")
are you on my exclusive email list? if not, be sure to sign up so that you’ll be the first to read my latest photography tutorials! it’s free!
want more photography tips + tricks? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "how to find your photography style | bethadilly photography")
working from home can be both a blessing and a struggle. it’s a blessing because, well, there is zero commute and you can do it in your slippers. the struggle is, some people find it difficult to separate work life from home life since it all occurs within the same square footage. having run a successful photography business from home for years, i have developed 5 great habits that have helped me to separate my work life from my home life in order to run a successful business. i have learned what to do and what not to do, in order to have a productive day and grow my business while working from home.
want to know 5 ways pinterest can grow your photography business? be sure to check out my tips!
Working From Home: 5 Ways to Be Successful at It
.jpg "Working From Home : 5 Ways to Be Successful At It")
1. have office hours.
first things first, create your office hours and stick to them. having office hours creates a schedule, and having a schedule is a very successful habit. once you have your office hours created, make sure you are only working on your business during that time. that means unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, and running errands will have to wait. when you are at work, you are at work. and on the flip side, when you are at home, you need to be at home. make a habit of not responding to emails or working after your assigned office hours. why? well, responding to client emails at 10:00pm at night only sends the client the message that you are willing to work at any time of day and they in turn don’t need to respect your time. also, having office hours is simply fair to your family. once 5:00pm hits, walk away from your computer and be with your family. it will help them to respect your office time versus your family time, and it also shows them that they matter to you.
take it one step further and ditch the slippers! even though your office doesn’t have you leaving the house, dress up. dressing up makes you feel more confident, and in turn, you will be more productive.
2. have a dedicated workspace.
just because you can work from the couch, doesn’t mean you should. have a space in your home that is just for you and your work. having a dedicated work space will help you separate your work life from your home life because it gives you someplace to go. having a space for you to work will also help you stay organized, which is a great habit of successful business owners. when you think of a dedicated workspace, it doesn’t have to be super fancy…it just has to be yours. have a space that you can leave your work at the end of the day, instead of using the kitchen table where you have to set up and take down your workspace on a daily basis. a dedicated workspace is also healthy because it is a space that you can walk away from at the end of the day. where you can leave work at work and transition to your home life.
3. say no to social media.
just don’t do it. think about it this way…if a boss at a traditional job would frown upon it, don’t do it as you are working from home. remember, you are your own boss…so you should frown on using social media during work hours unless it is being used to promote your business. if you are posting about your business and using social media as a marketing platform, then go for it! if you are scrolling through your newsfeed to see what your friends are up to, save it for after work. social media is a time sucker. just one minute of social media surfing always leads to more. don’t believe me? take the challenge and don’t use social media for one whole day and see how productive you are. i promise you, you will be more productive.
4. take a lunch break.
not only is it important to take a lunch break, but it’s important to step away from your workspace to do it. during your lunch break, enjoy a break from work. use this time to enjoy a nice lunch, use social media, or watch a tv show. whatever it is that you want to do for an hour while you eat lunch, it’s your time! taking a break is very important because it allows you to step away from work and recharge. and when we get a little break, we are more productive once we return. working from home should resemble working at a traditional office, so take that lunch hour and you will be better for it.
5. have a task list.
have a task list and have one every day. when you start your work day, you should know exactly what you want to accomplish in hours ahead. write it down! write down your tasks, because then you can cross them off. and there is something about crossing off your accomplished tasks that is very motivating. a good habit i created is writing my task list the day before, so that it is all done and ready to be accomplished the moment i start my work day. what if you don’t finish all of your daily tasks that you wrote down? it happens! just write them on the task list for the following day, along with the next tasks you want to complete so you are ready to get going tomorrow.
working from home does not have to be a struggle. by incorporating these 5 habits, you will find that working from home can be both be successful and productive. keep in mind that being strict with yourself will only mean great things for your business. and being productive during your office hours will leave you with even more time to think of ways to grow your business and be inspired.
to ensure that you aren’t missing out on my latest photography tips + tricks, be sure to subscribe to my blog so you will be the first to know about my latest posts! and to follow along with me as i photograph my everyday, be sure to join me on instagram!
.jpg "The Styled Photographer")
Letters To My Little One | 30 Weeks In My Belly
.jpg "Letters To My Little One | 30 Weeks In My Belly with bethadilly photography")
tuesday, february 9, 2016
our sweet baby,
we have had a countdown in the kitchen until your due date for a couple months now, but it feels like the countdown is very real now with only 10 more weeks until we get to meet you! we can’t wait to know who you are and what you look like. what we do know is that you are already the perfect addition to our little family and you complete us so much, without having even met you yet.
we started our birthing classes last week and absolutely love our class and teacher. she asked us what we are most excited for about becoming parents, and it seems like an easy question but there are so many things that we are excited about that it is hard to simply say it in one sentence. mommy is excited to start our own family traditions with you, and giving you the childhood memories that i fondly adore of my own. your daddy is excited to live life through your eyes, to share all the joys and excitement that childhood has awaiting you and to simply be right there with you as you experience the fun of being a child. i guess you can say, we are just so excited to have fun with you. i was telling another mama-to-be that we are just so excited because your daddy and i have always had such a beautiful, loving, and fun relationship that we are so ready to share it with someone else. and that someone is you.
there are so many things that we want for you, so many things that we wish for you. but most of all, we just want you to be a kind person. i heard a song a little while ago, during our second trimester, that says everything that we want for you. we want to you to be kind and helpful to others, as we learned that it plays off well in life. we want you to take every day for the blessing that it is, because we have learned that life is too short. and we want you to be proud of yourself always because we will always be your biggest fans, but to stay humble and thankful. i started to play this song for you every morning, as i am getting ready for the day and i will continue playing it for you until you arrive and as you grow and grow.
you know there’s a light that glows by the front door,
don’t forget the key’s under the mat.
when childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind.
go to church ’cause your momma says to.
visit grandpa every chance that you can.
it won’t be wasted time,
always stay humble and kind.
hold the door, say please, say thank you.
don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie.
i know you’ve got mountains to climb but
always stay humble and kind.
when the dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you,
when the work you put in is realized.
let yourself feel the pride but
always stay humble and kind.
don’t expect a free ride from no one.
don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why.
bitterness keeps you from flyin’,
always stay humble and kind.
hold the door, say please, say thank you.
don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie.
i know you’ve got mountains to climb but
always stay humble and kind.
when those dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you,
when the work you put in is realized,
let yourself feel the pride but,
always stay humble and kind.
when it’s hot, eat a root beer popsicle,
shut off the AC and roll the windows down.
let that summer sun shine,
always stay humble and kind.
don’t take for granted the love this life gives you.
when you get where you’re goin
don’t forget turn back around,
and help the next one in line.
always stay humble and kind.
-tim mcgraw – “humble and kind”
10 more weeks until you are finally with us. and i don’t know of any other mommy and daddy who are as ready as we are for sleepless nights, diaper changings and the new worries that being new parents brings. “it’s you and me, we’ve got this,” your daddy says to me when i start worrying about all the little things mommies worry about. and he is so right, for there is no other person i would ever want to do this with. part of the excitement of being pregnant is meeting you, and the other part is knowing that i am going to make him your daddy. trust me when i say, as far as daddies go…you already have the best one. everything that you bring with you to this life is going to be a blessing, even the middle of the night wake up calls. we are ready, just waiting for you to be.
love, mommy
as photographers, our main goal is to not only make our clients happy, but to attract even more clients through the use of our portfolio. to get clients to look through our portfolio, we need to promote our name and our work on a variety of social media outlets. because pinterest is a site that attracts users that are looking for inspiration, getting your portfolio on pinterest is more important than ever. even better, after booking your clients you can also use pinterest to help communicate how your future session will be organized. getting your work on pinterest is so simple, and here are 4 reasons why creating a presence on pinterest will help grow your photography business.
to see the best list of photography books, be sure to read the top 10 photography books every photographer should own.
5 Ways Pinterest Can Grow Your Photography Business
.jpg "5 Ways Pinterest Can Grow Your Photography Business")
1. you will book more clients.
more than ever, clients are looking to pinterest to find photographers to photograph their special moments. besides searching on google and facebook, potential clients are using pinterest to look for photographers because pinterest solves two steps in one. clients can use pinterest to search both for photography that they love, which in turns shows them photographers that reflect the style they are looking for. they are also getting inspiration and information all at once, making pinterest a popular social media outlet that clients are turning to. and because clients are finding photographs that inspire them to hire photographers on pinterest, be sure that your work is present on pinterest so it is a contender!
.png "5 Ways Pinterest Can Grow Your Photography Business")
2. pinterest will help organize your sessions.
ever since i decided to put my portfolio on pinterest, my sessions have run so smoothly! i organize my portfolio by session type on pinterest, creating separate boards for my newborn, engagement, maternity, and family photography. once a client books me for a newborn session, i be sure to send them my newborn board that contains all my newborn work so they can browse through images and show me the images that really speak to them. by sending them my board, i am doing two really important things. i am showing them even more of my work, which encourages them to focus on pinning my photography instead of the work of other photographers.
it also helps me to run a successful session because, after i see what images they really like, i can get a better idea on how i want to organize my session. some clients want their sessions to be more focused on the baby, while others prefer to incorporate the whole family. because i used pinterest to determine this information before the session, the session day is simple and straight forward. not only does it make the session easy for me to photograph, but my clients are very happy because they are getting the images they want because i knew how they envisioned their images through what images in my portfolio that they were drawn to.
3. builds your name recognition.
the more people pin your work, the wider your audience becomes. and every time someone clicks that “pin” button, they are spreading your name more and more. getting your name in front of a lot of people is a very important step to growing your photography business, and pinterest allows you to do that by having others do it for you! every time you post a session to your website, it is so important that you take it one step further and pin your images. not only does this present your work to pinterest users, but it directs them right to your photography website…which gets them one step closer to clicking that “book now” button.
.png "5 Ways Pinterest Can Grow Your Photography Business")
4. pinterest increases clicks to your website.
getting people to click over to your site is a great thing, because it helps your site to become more recognized. by putting your portfolio on pinterest, you are encouraging others to click onto your website to see more of your work. because pins usually consist of a collage of 1-5 images, the pin acts as a little sneak preview that shows viewers just a glimpse of your wonderful images. to see more, users can click on your pin to go to your website! and getting people on your website is a wonderful thing. some people will just browse for a second and then click back to pinterest, but there are going to be the consumers that stay a little while longer to view even more of your sessions, learn a little more about you, and then click the “contact” button.
5. pinterest is very visual for your clients.
not only do i use pinterest to show my clients my portfolio so they can pin my work, but i also create boards for my clients that will help inspire their wardrobe. to be honest, for clients the most stressful part of preparing for a session is choosing what everyone is going to wear. by giving my clients a pinterest board of examples and tips for inspiring their wardrobe, i am helping to eliminate that stress, which in turns creates a better experience for the client. to keep it organized, i have one wardrobe inspiration board for my family clients and one wardrobe inspiration board for my newborn clients.
pinterest is a great tool for photographers to use to help both promote their photography business and create better session experiences for the clients. it takes only a few minutes to create a board of your work on pinterest, so put it on your to-do list! and the next time you hit the “publish” button and post a new session to your website, be sure to take that extra step and pin your images to pinterest!
to ensure that you aren’t missing out on my latest photography tips + tricks, be sure to subscribe to my blog so you will be the first to know about my latest posts! and to follow along with me as i photograph my everyday, be sure to join me on instagram!
do you want to grow your presence on instagram? check out my 8 tips to grow your instagram following!
>>this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography.<<
when it comes to my list of photography intimidations, food photography is definitely on that list. i always felt that my food looked so scrumptious in real life, but fell flat the moment i tried to portray it in a photograph. so like any intimidation, i tried to take on the challenge and conquer my fear with food photography. and when my friend trisha hughes wrote an eBook called “eat pretty things” that was all about tips and tricks for photographing food, i knew it was just what i needed to inspire my food photography challenge!
i figured i would simply start reading for an hour or so before dinnertime one night and, all of a sudden, i was flipping through the pages as quickly as i could and soaking in all of the information. yes, i read this eBook in one sitting. everything from the stunning images of tasty food to the amazing tips had me begging to pick up my camera and photograph my next meal or snack. and, let me tell you, without this eBook i would have never conquered my fear of food photography. by keeping trisha’s eBook in mind, i soon became more and more confident when it came to food photography. seriously, go buy this eBook…right now.
throughout my journey with food photography, i have found that i have learned so much already. but there are 7 things that really have me running to grab my camera when it comes to photographing food.
to inspire your everyday photography, be sure to read the everyday photograph to get started.
7 Things I Learned About Food Photography
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
1. the use of color.
food is so colorful and vibrant, making it a great subject for photography. i notice this the most in the summertime as i enjoy refreshing fruits. whether it is a really juicy piece of pink watermelon or a deep red cherry, take advantage of the pop of color while you are photographing it. allow the color to pop within the frame by surrounding the food in muted tones, like on a table or neutral plate.
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
2. capture the details.
food has a lot of details, whether it a salad full of various ingredients or a leftover drop of water after rinsing off an apple. being aware of details can put a creative spin on food photography, and choose the right lenses to get the shot can really set the tone for your photo. while i love photographing food with my sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens, i grabbed my lensbaby composer pro sweet 35 lens for this apple photo to tell a story of the drop of water, while capturing the vibrant green of the apple.
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
3. use props.
one of my favorite parts of “eat pretty things” was when trisha was talking about her collection of props. she shared about how you should be looking for props and gave great tips for how to build a great collections of props to accompany your food photography. i think of her tips every time i am out shopping and am slowly building a prop collection of my own.
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
4. movement can be fun!
sometimes getting in the frame and interacting with food {or drinks} can be really fun. plus, you are creating a photo that is much more interesting than a photo of a glass of cider simply sitting on a table. movement can create texture and bring your food to life within the frame, which can making your viewer stop a stare a little longer.
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
5. capture the texture.
one of the most important things that i learned from “eat pretty things” was how to select your camera settings when it comes to photographing food. knowing this, i have learned how to capture the textures of my food through a photograph, simply by choosing the correct camera settings.
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
6. the use of shadows.
using shadows can create a wonderful thing in your photographs, depth. and depth is something that will bring your food to life within the frame. as someone who has always been intimidated by shadows, i have learned to embrace them when it comes to photographing food as a way of making my food be as real in a photo as it is in my dish.
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
7. storytelling.
food photography is a great way to tell a story to your audience. whether you are sharing a bowl of soup because you are under feeling under the weather, or sharing a glass of wine because you are enjoying the fact that the laundry is done and dinner made it on the table…food photography can be a great way to share stories.
photographing food was something that use to make me nervous, but it now has me running for my camera. through all of the tips and tricks that i learned by reading, “eat pretty things,” i can say that i have officially conquered my fear of food photography. not only do i know what to look for now when i am browsing the stores for props, but i also know more about how to style my photographs and choose the right settings on my camera to create the exact image i am hoping for.
to learn even more about “eat pretty things,” check out my post about the only book you need to learn about food photograph. now, go take a picture of something yummy!
i love to write about photography, so don’t miss out on my upcoming posts! to stay in the loop, be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss the next great photography tip i am about to share!
be sure to join my exclusive email list to receive my latest photography tips and tutorials. it’s free!
need some photography tips + inspiration? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "7 Things I Learned About Food Photography | Bethadilly Photography")
Be kind. Be different. Be you. – Ashley Landry - […] Notch (another great blog to read for photography tips!) to present a webinar and release the eBook The Styled Photographer by Bethany Deschamps. When I saw this eBook hit the Internet this month, of course I had to purchase. As an avid reader […]
Judy Deaton - When I try to purchase this it says the page is not available? Is this no longer available?
11 iPhone Apps for Photographers » beth a-dilly - […] case you missed my post about how to find your photography style, be sure you check it out if you are struggling with finding a style that is unique and true to you […]
6 Signs You Haven’t Found Your Photography Style » bethadilly - […] need some help finding a style that is unique to you? check out my post how to find your photography style. […]