The Best Photographic Conference of the Year is Nearly Here!!!

The Societies Convention in London is being held from January 20th to the 24th this year. As always I am so looking forward to it. Not only is a great opportunity to receive formal training from some of the best in the industry but its also a chance to learn and gain immense knowledge from so many people from all over the world while enjoying a drink (or 3) at the bar. I always come away from this trip feeling as though I've just attended a family reunion. I've made so many wonderful friends who so often are there for me through the year. It is such a worth while event and for anyone not sure whether to make the trip I can assure you its made a load of difference to me.

Anyway, I am posting this to tell you that I am again running two classes this year, The first is software related and is a 2 hour masterclass. The second is a hands on lighting 4 hour superclass.

Masterclass: You Don't Know What You Don't Know

When: Thursday January 21st from 1:00 to 3:00pm

This class will cover shortcuts, tips and tricks to quicker, easier and more manageable editing. Learn how to apply layer masks, apply textures, use blend modes, use and assign short cut keys, and dodge and burn on non destructive layers. We will address the liquify tool and show that it can be used for more than just reducing lumps and bumps for the perfect figure. As well we will cover creating actions, batch processing and so much more.

I plan to show you how you can use multiple images to create the one perfect shot for those times when you couldn't get it just right with one image. I know we always aim to get it perfect in camera on a single shot but that isn't always possible. So instead you can take elements (ie a person's face, their eyes or a prop that moved) and place it seamlessly on another image to make one perfect portrait.

Feel free to bring questions with you and I will do my best to answer them. Attendees are welcome to contribute as well. Last year I learned something new during my texture's masterclass and I'm hoping I might find the same again this year.

The 2 hours will be crammed with information. The intention of this class is to uncover so many light bulb moments that the time you save in editing throughout the year makes attending the convention all worth while.

Superclass: Foundations in Portrait Lighting Using Bowens Equipment

When: Saturday January 23rd from 9am to 1pm

This class will provide a solid foundation in lighting techniques for both beginners as well as established photographers who've perhaps become too comfortable with safe lighting. It will cover a multitude of essentials required to create beautiful, directional light for a variety of subjects and genres.

To do this we will explain and demonstrate lighting patterns, light ratios and hard versus soft light. We will be using a variety of light modifiers provided by Bowens in conjunction with their popular range of lights to show the different portrait lighting affects each modifier can create. Attendees will also be given the chance to have a guided play with the equipment themselves so photographers are encouraged to bring along their own cameras.

I plan to cover my staple lighting technique used in the bulk of my portraits as a basis to show how simple lighting is all you really need. Typically I use just 2 lights and really that is all you need. But from there we will expand bringing in a further 2 lights in some cases and using modifiers such as a beauty dish, strip softboxes and a fresnel spot. I want to show you how to make a high key portrait really pop, how adding a rim light to your subjects can add some wow and really make a portrait current and fun. And we'll carry on in this way giving everyone a chance to create something of their own using any of the techniques covered.

If you're new to lighting or feel your confidence is lacking then this is a great opportunity to expand your lighting skills and grow your confidence.

I hope to see you there!!!

Comments

5 Reasons you Should Consider Getting a Professional Headshot

Headshots, or profile pictures are becoming a requirement of so many tools we regularly use or reference today. From Facebook to Linked In, Instagram to Twitter and often any website that represents a company for which you work or own will have a place to include a photograph that is meant to show your audience who you are. And how you present yourself there will tell your audience so much about you. 1. A profile picture is your first opportunity for your audience to see you. Its often the first impression you make and we all know you only have one chance at a first impression. A professional photographer has the skills to show you in the best, most suitable way to give a great first impression. (These headshots were created for recruitment firm Optima UK who asked to have their logo placed behind them. I think it makes these headshots quite eye catching and they should do their job well.) 2. Using a professional to create your headshot will ...

I am Still Me: A Story about a Transgender Boy

Meet Leo. Leo is 15 and currently going through an epic transformation that has momentarily turned the lives of himself and those around him upside down. A mum who once had the daughter she always longed for is now coping with the realisation that she will be living the rest of her life with a son instead. When your child is born you have certain expectations of the typical life they will lead but most of us know and accept that it won't necessarily end up the way we imagine. Not every person wants to marry, have kids or be involved with the opposite sex. Most of us have come to accept this and can adjust to whatever comes our way relatively easily. But few of us have expected to have to deal with a change in sex. Its not that we've hoped it won't happen, but just that it never occurred to us that it might. This is a new adjustment that we as a society are being presented with today, just like so many others that have come before. When I first heard that Phoebe ...

Family Photos with Flair - Vanity Fair Style Family Portraits

This style of portrait continues to be the eye catching success I had always hoped it would be. Once again I created a beautiful family portrait that I am really proud of and I know this family loves too. Over the years I have developed this style through influences such as Vanity Fair and the many photographers I follow, though I hope that there is something in here that is entirely my own. Having my work easily identified as my own was a goal of mine from the start. Getting to the point where people will want not just a portrait but a Christina Lauder portrait is where I've always wanted to be and I'm hoping I'm on way. These portraits were created for the family of two professional photographers who wanted some portraits of their own. Family portraits isn't really something one can do of oneself, at least not easily. So they needed the services of another and I was honoured to be chosen for the job. They chose me not just for my style but also for my ab...

Wellies, Wellies and More Wellies

Over the past couple of years I've been photographing Jileon Ltd's wellies for their website. And over the last couple of months I have had quite a bit to do for them. Jileon is a great client of ours, giving us regular work that I can undertake in my own time and in my own way. It makes for such a relaxing change from having to make small children smile in a short span of time. Particularly since they can't get up and walk away just at the moment when all elements of the perfect image come together. The only real challenge in photographing wellies for me seems to be the dreaded reflection that is unavoidable when photographing shiny objects using flash. But without this challenge where would be the fun? Jileon Ltd is a Hinckley based distributor of mainly wellington boots. They do also distribute other things but typically it is just their wellies that I photograph. If you wish to order a pair please vi...

Limited Edition Storybook Portrait Sessions

Well in the end I didn't take this promotion as seriously as was required in so much as I didn't allocate any budget for advertising. I relied only on the few posts on Facebook and as such I only did 2 sessions, which to be perfectly honest, was all I could handle this year given that I'd not properly planned for these sessions in an already busy time of year. However, what I did do proved to me that this is something that deserves proper attention and a concerted effort to push this promotion forward. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it, from shopping for props, to the sessions and then the editing. I really love the fun that these sessions provide and the look of the finished images. Spring will see a second go at this special collection with plenty of advertising in the run up to our event. I will get another chance at shopping for additional props and tools to run this limited edition promotion and I can't w...

Christina Lauder Portraits

Search This Blog