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

Portraits Even a Teenager Boy Loves

Finally I've had the opportunity to photograph a young man in my studio again. And funnily enough this was the second time that week which is absolutely superb. In both cases these young men were just as enthusiastic to be involved as I was, which is something I don't often get when I'm working with very young children, my usual subjects. With young children I find my energy in their cuteness. But with young adults I get energy from their excitement over how the portraits are working out. I get such a buzz from the experience and that can keep me going for hours, often editing the photos straight after the shoot for hours more. Shoots for teenagers is something I've been wanting to focus on for some time. Its not something that I often get asked for though unfortunately. It tends to be parents of very young children who want to capture moments that are slipping through their fingers at lightening speed. Maybe its teenage moodiness that means these moments don...

Fine Art Portraits of a Beautiful Young Girl

So this is really becoming my thing lately. I am having so much fun working with children individually where I can direct and interact in ways that bring the best out of my subject. This has certainly become a process now of creating rather than taking photographs. And its what I have always wanted to be, a portrait artist rather than a photographer. I cannot put into words fully just how rewarding this is. For each of these shoots (as with nearly all of my shoots) we begin with a consultation where we discuss what we would like to achieve in the shoot. Here we will consider the type of clothing and any possible props. We will look at both the clients clothes and my ever growing collection so we can pick what will work best. In all circumstances we are heavily guided by what the child in the portraits wants to wear as I see this as vitally important. If he or she is uncomfortable its going to show and the portraits won't work. But most are happy to play dressups and wear a com...

My Work Experience by Zak Millard

My name is Zak Millard and I am 15 years old. For my two weeks work experience I chose to incorporate a passion of mine, photography. Christina is a very competent photographer and a easy person to get on with, she is also patient which was good for me because I often forgot something or had to ask twice about an instruction. My two weeks with Christina have been very helpful. Though I am a aspiring photographer there is much I have learnt, including: Different lights and there uses. Different light set ups. Key photoshop skills. Exposure compensation. AV/TV settings. Composition. How to keep children's interest! One of the most useful things Christina has taught me is that of photo editing. Photography isn't all about taking the pictures though obviously this is important. The little tweaks made here and there make a lot of difference and in all honesty before Christina showed me these tweaks I would never have made them myself, so thank you Christina for opening ...

More Newborn Baby Portraits

This time we worked with a more alert baby, even though she was within the 2 weeks we recommend for newborn sessions. But to be honest, I do like getting a selection of both. Its nice to get the chance to see their eyes as well as those beautifully peaceful sleeping portraits. Making eye contact is just difficult and smiles are nearly impossible, which are only wind related if we managed them at all anyway. I always try to get a few detail shots in order to capture their tiny little fingers and toes. These can be quite difficult with an awake baby as they move so much and I need to rely on autofocus to make sure these details are in focus and with such a narrow depth of field this can be difficult. And rather than just a hand or a foot I like to get some of baby's face in the shot as well which poses another problem with an awake baby, they just don't stay still for very long so their hands and feet aren't always in the right place....

We Have New Products!!

I am pleased to announce the introduction of 2 of our new products. The first is one I've already been selling, however it now has a twist. We now frame our canvases which I find give them a much more luxurious and eye catching finish. In fact, it makes them look more like a finished article. We use a very chunky frame moulding, 6cm square, which fits around our chunky canvases perfectly. I'm looking forward to getting one for my own home myself. Just waiting for that perfect image of my children first. Unfortunately photographer's children are the worst to photograph. Ask any photographer who they least enjoy photographing and they will likely tell you its their own children. The other new product is our Accordian Keepsakes. I came across them at a convention earlier in the year. I knew as soon as I saw them that I wanted to offer them to my clients. I've finally got around to c...

Christina Lauder Portraits

Search This Blog