Photography funk…what to do when days become gray and too short in Ohio?

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN…and Dark by 6 pm

It’s been raining for 3 or 4 days straight here in Dayton, Ohio. The days have also shortened up such that by the time I get home from work, it’s already getting dark outside. It sort of puts me into a photography funk.

At least until there is a freezing rain or some nice white snow outside. But for now it is just gray and muddy.

What do you do to bring yourself out of a photography funk?

One thing that I am doing is working out on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. I’m trying to fight back against that dull tired feeling that sometimes comes over me when its rainy and dreary, cold and dull outside.

My Barn studio is finally taking shape

In addition I have invested in studio lighting equipment that is due to arrive very shortly. My barn studio will soon be a place of learning for me. Terri Johnson, who used to be a very active photographer her in Dayton, now works with me at Multi-ad selling incentive direct mail advertising. She still holds on to some of her equipment, but it is mostly in a storage building. She still loves photography, but just does not see making a living at it any more. Things changed so fast with digital that she got out of photography as a career. She will be helping me to learn studio lighting.

I also have some local photographer friends that I’ve met in PPSO who are giving and selling me some backgrounds to get started with. I will invite some of my photography friends over to play in the new studio some evenings and perhaps invite a student model to help us out as we learn and experiment together.

My barn studio has a long way to go – My winter project

It is still just a shell of white walls and concrete floor. The fluorescent lighting is harsh and needs to be changed out and it needs some color, paint and some repairs and finishing out. I have to clear out some old furniture that my kids (now in college) brought in for their Garage Band and video game get-togethers that they used to have when they were in high school. I’m hoping to have the energy to actually get some work done over the winter (I’m hoping my working out will give me new energy to work hard all day and come home and play even when it does get dark too early).

This summer when the days are bright and unending, I will migrate outside and start to build and plant landscaping that can be backdrops for portraits. My goal is to be able to walk someone around and take portraits then move into the studio for some additional poses and different looks. Instead of being very slow all winter long, it can become a time for experimentation and learning. I will offer studio and on-location sessions going forward once I have a good understanding of studio lighting. For me photography has been and can be a lifelong learning endeavor.

So, my question to you is what do you do when the weather gets gray and dreary and you feel like you are in a Photography Funk?

I’d love to hear what you do. I think I will go exploring now to find some portrait photography inspiration that I can post about. But, while I look around, I would love to hear from you who love to take portraits and pictures. Click on the comments and leave one.

Senior portraits and horse photography ~ What’s in my camera bag?

Here in Dayton, Ohio we’ve had non-stop rain during the first week of March 2010. There are flood warnings in many counties throughout the region and I just finished watching a pay-per-view movie with my two sons who are home for spring break. After what seemed like unending rain, the temperature is now dropping like a rock. The horses are muddy and everything is still brown from winter. Not a soul wants to go play outside right now, so what do I talk about on my photography web site and blog?

How about I tell you about what’s in my camera bag?

1.) Canon 1D mark II camera (this is professional work horse digital camera and is about 8.5 m pixels producing wonderful image all the way up to 30-40).

2.) Canon 70-200 f2.8 USM IS lens (again, this is one of the most popular lenses for outdoor portrait work and among equine photographers as well. It allows me to move back some which many people appreciate as they feel a bit more relaxed. I produces very pleasing perspective for both people and horses).

3.) Photovision calibration target 14″ (this helps to confirm proper exposure and provides me with a calibration for color correction for nice warm and correct skin tones every time)

4.) 52″ 5 way reflector. (this is a round reflector that magically folds up into a 15″ round zipper pouch. It has a white, gold, and silver reflector as well as a scrim which is black see through and a solid black side as well. Depending on which cover you put on the spring loaded round frame you have up to 5 different tools for portrait work. Mostly I use the silver reflector to bring in light on my subjects and to create catch lights in their eyes. Because I can see the results before my eyes, outdoors it is more predictable than flash for me.)

6.) Two 550 EX Speed lights (these flashes provide me with portrait lighting indoors. I have stands and umbrellas that I can use with them and I have a IR (infra red transmitter) trigger that I can place on the top of the camera to trigger both strobes off camera. In addition I have a Canon battery pack that I can plug in for really fast recharges which comes in very handy when trying to get smiles and interactions with family members or children. In addition if I don’t have an assistant to help with my 52″ silver reflector, I can use the flash a slightly reduced power to create catch lights when photographing horses.)

7.) Canon 17-40mm f4 wide angle zoom lens. (this lens hand for when I take pictures for landscapers and home remodelers for their portfolio of projects. It is great for interiors as well or when I want to capture candid pictures of groups of people at events. I can move in close and show lots in the images. However for horses and people it generally does not produce flattering results).

8.) Canon 85mm f2.8 (this is my only single focal length lens. I want to use this lens more to see what it produces, but with my 70-200mm I have the focal length within that range and I can work much faster being able to zoom in and out as I more around during a portrait session)

9.) Manfroto monopod (a monopod is like having just one leg of a tripod. I find this very helpful when I am shooting endurance trail events where I might be out on trail waiting for horses and riders to come by for a couple hours at a time. The Canon 1D Mark II is rather heavy and when you add the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 USM IS lens onto the front, I would guess that the camera with lens is 5-6 lbs. At least that is what it feels like. Without the monopod to hold the camera while I am waiting for horses I end up with a major back ache. I sometimes also use it some at local horse shows)

10.) Manfroto tripod (I seldom use my tripod as it is too confining to me when doing outdoor portrait sessions and it is dangerous to have around horses. You can instantly move away with a monopod, but with a tripod there are legs going this way and that and you cannot be as nimble as is needed when around unpredictable animals).

11.) Nicad batter packs for the Canon 1D Mark II (I have three rechargeable Nicad batteries for my camera which can come in handy when doing day long events. The Image Stabilized 70-200 lens can pull some of the battery and although I have been caught slightly frustrated when I had two batteries, having three has always given me plenty of battery power for whatever I am doing).

12.) Conon 1.4x tele extender (if I need it this can be added between the camera and lens to increase the focal length by 40%. So the 70mm end of the lens becomes 90mm and the 200mm part of the lens become 290mm… almost 300mm) I don’t use this too often.

13.) Canon 2x tele extender (this doubles the focal length of any lens you use it with, but it also takes away up to 2 full stops of light)

If you would like to ask me any questions about my photography and portrait work, please feel free to use the comment link either at the top or the bottom of this post. When I approve the comment, I will provide any answers that I can.

Peter DeMott Photography • peter@photosbydemott.com • 937-478-6222 • Senior portraits, equine portraits, families, children, and tweens • Member PPSO Professional Photographers of SW Ohio and PPO Professional Photographers of Ohio • Member Equine Photographers Network

 

SquareUP for photographers and others for on the go credit card transactions

No equipment to lease, No monthly fees to pay, No contract credit card service:

At a recent Professional Photographers of SW Ohio meeting our guest speaker shared a little gadget that he discovered called SquareUP. Basically the company has created an electronic gadget that plugs into the earphone jack of smart phones like iPhones and Androids and is set up to quickly take all major credit cards where ever you have cell connection or wi-fy connection.

Once you go online and sign up for the service which includes verifying your bank account, listing your business and what kind of account the money will go into, then within a couple days or a week the little white reader arrives in the mail at NO CHARGE.

Visit their web site : http://www.squareup.com and look around. There are also many Youtube videos of the gadget in action showing how easy it is to use. Features include the ability to have a receipt emailed to the client directly. You can take a photograph with you phone of the item purchased to be attached to the receipt and the customer can sign the credit card charge right on your phone using their finger. As far as the signature goes, a friend of mine on the Equine Photographers Network said that she carries a stylus with her because most people find signing their name with their finger to be a bit tricky. She has found that you get a much better rendition of their signature with a stylus.

So, without much fuss and with only a fee per swipe and a percentage fee per transaction, but with no ongoing monthly charges or minimums, I can now take all major credit cards from my photography clients. That means when I meet a client for a senior photography session, they can provide a credit card and take advantage of my prepay bonuses and have some time to pay their credit card bill.

I also photograph trail events that my wife Patty participates in around the region. In some cases I can get cell services at these equestrian trail events, so at those events I will be able to take credit cards instead of just cash and checks.

And since there is no long term agreement, if I am not satisfied with the service I can cancel it and close up the connection to my account at any time. Since my business at this time tends to be rather seasonal, no monthly fees or leasing of equipment that requires monthly payments is going to be great for me.

I can see all types of artisans, festival booths, and other applications for this service and gadget. Can you?

Peter DeMott • Peter DeMott Photography • peter@photosbypdemott.com • 936-478-6222 • Serving the Dayton and surrounding communities with outstanding people and equine photography

Time to buy an new lens, either the 24-105 f4 or the 24-70 f2.8?

My wonderful wife Patty had been helping me with my senior portrait sessions. As my assistant she helps by holding a reflector and helping move hair and some posing. With horses she helps with posing and getting ears up and eyes alert on the horses.

One thing that has been in the works for several years now is my country barn studio. While the kids were still in high school the large room we had built into our horse barn was serving as a place for the kids to do video games with friends and rock band. Now that they are all off to college or beyond the transformation will begin to convert the room to my photography studio allowing me to do senior portraits indoors as well as on location.

My best portrait lens for outdoor work is my 70-200 f 2.8 IS USM lens by Canon. However in the confined space of an indoor studio it is too restrictive so I am looking at purchasing another lens. I had the recommendation of the Canon 24-105 f4 IS USM lens which is considered L glass or Canon’s top professional line of lenses. I also see that there is the 24-70 f2.8 USM lens.

I’d like to buy the lens today since it is my birthday. I’m hoping that some will post their views and favorites and tell why.

The lens on the left is the Image Stabilized f4 24-105mm lens. The lens to the right has one more stop at f2.8, but is not stabilized. I think that I leaning toward the f4 lens because if I do want to shoot long at 105mm for portraits close in, I will not have to switch lenses.

Your thoughts are much appreciated. You can post replies to my facebook post or if you are reading this from my web site there is a “leave comment” or “comments” link located just below the title of this post.