Last Blog we looked at 4 Tips and Tricks which could help you achieve Picture Perfect Posing by altering your body position.

This time we are looking into taking control of the mindset....

Background - The Reality

I think we can all agree that most people "dislike" (that is a polite was of saying "hate") their photo being taken.  And indeed the photos themselves.

In a group pic you can be hidden or in the background - a headshot is all about you though! And invariably we don't like seeing pictures of ourselves. Especially, close up. 

Not a great start! 

So we looked at posing tips in the First Part of this Blog series - the plan now is to take control of the mindset and get into the photo shoot with positivity and enthusiasm which will hopefully come through in your photos.

So let's get going.

Picture Perfect Posing Tips (Part 2)

Transforming how you feel about your photoshoot.

Tip - Embrace it

When the day arrives for your photoshoot you'll probably have nothing else on your mind apart from the sheer terror of getting your picture taken.

You'll be praying for an excuse to escape the office. Or working on a fake one if you're half sensible.

When you walk into the room you will see lights, bags of kit, tripods, bounces, a laptop and such like.

It'll be more like a dental surgery and at that point, more than likely, you'd probably prefer to be there.

This is the last place you want to be, probably because you:-

1. Don't feel any control.

2. Have a history of photos being awful.

3. Have a history of being really uncomfortable being photographed.

So with this fear you will be understandably tense and wishing it was over.

How can this change?

First, hire a photographer who knows what they are doing.

Strategic position of a photo of me....

If the photographer is obviously in control, it will settle things down. 

Find a photographer who can build a rapport with staff and put them at ease. A photographer who is flexible and can adjust things to suit the individual being shot. Importantly a photographer who will listen. Someone who can get the shot; and someone you can get on with.

Its an important investment, so getting the right person is key. 

Back to the day of the shoot.

When you walk into that room one thing is certain:- photos will be taken.

What's not certain though is how you feel, and connected with that, how the pics will turn out. 

If you approach an obstacle thinking you will fail, you probably will. If you think you will overcome it, you probably will too. 

So how you feel will probably have an impact on your photos. 

I have read the body language of hundreds of people getting their pics taken and can see that, very often, those who are able to get "stuck in" tend to reap the rewards - that, though, is based on my experience, not science.

I thought therefore I would seek an expert's opinion on this and arranged a zoom call with Glasgow-based Sport and Performance Psychology Consultant,  Jeffrey Webster MBPsS, MSc, MSc, BSc. from the Jeffrey Webster: Performance Agency who very kindly offered his time to help provide information to guide those getting their pics taken. 

Jeffrey's clients are primarily from sporting life, including professional level individual athletes to sporting governing bodies such as Scottish Squash where performance and anxiety need to work hand-in-hand to get that competitive edge.

Also Jeffrey works with performers in a more general sense - in other words those who find themselves in the spotlight and for whom success is important - exactly like someone getting a headshot taken: the lights are on and you want a good result. 

We chatted about the typical scenario of someone getting a bit nervous about the whole thing and I asked whether self doubt is normal. 

Jeffrey reassuringly advised:

"Self-doubt is a completely natural part of being human, especially when we are in meaningful situations and perceive any form of judgement.  We often worry about having self-doubt and try to avoid it or pay too much attention to it. So when you are having a photo taken, it matters to you. You are therefore under pressure and self-doubt can creep in".

So it seems that being nervous and having all sorts of self doubt is to be expected - good news - its normal! 

How then to deal with it - I asked whether we should try and ignore it, pretend its wrong and try to "delete" it or embrace it: use it to help us reach our goal which in this case is a good, natural looking pic. 
 

Jeffrey suggested:

"Acknowledging and accepting that self-doubt comes hand-in-hand with performing can help us carry out the task at hand with ease. What to avoid is getting sucked into negative thoughts and the effects that these have including, in a photo context, looking awkward in a photo." 

So if we accept that self doubt is part of the package, and don't try to fight it, we can use it to get where we want to be. 

It seems counter-intuitive though to use self-doubt to your advantage - I asked Jeffrey how he would use it in a photo context to get the best out of the shoot.

He advised:

"Even just acknowledging self-doubt as meaningless and unhelpful can direct our focusing on the more important and helpful bits of information, like what the photographer is asking from you or what you need to look at/do. “

So thats good news - follow Jeffrey's advice: try to identify your self-doubt, so you can focus on more positive and productive things.

What about confidence though - this is often a niggle - when the lights are on and the camera is pointing at you its at that stage you start to think about all the things that could go wrong - you could look awkward, your hair might annoy you and you might simply have a real "downer" on how you look.

I asked Jeffrey about Confidence and he advised:-
 

"Confidence is better seen as our ability to focus on the task at hand whilst these self-doubt thoughts are present. Remember, confidence is not determined from a lack of self-doubt."

So in other words once we realise that self-doubt is part of the package, and we can control it, we can confidently focus on the photo shoot to get what we hope to achieve.

How would someone do that though? 

Jeffrey said:

"In the context of a photo shoot, It may be a good idea to have a controlled response prepared, so when the self-doubt kicks in, you’re not thrown by it.  Instead, you are ready to counter-act it with some helpful motivation and instruction.  For example, something as simple as “you can do this” (motivation) or “shoulders off to the side” (instruction) can help you ignore your self-doubt and move forward more positively and productively.

So what three tips does Jeffrey have to get the perfect mindset for embracing your photoshoot:-

1. Stay Present

2. Believe

3 Communicate 

Taking each one individually.

1. Stay Present

Our brain likes to gravitate towards negative situations in the past, and that in turn, can make us worry about those situations happening again in the future. So let’s try to focus in the present and zone into the ‘here and now’. Treat this is a great opportunity to get top notch "marketing material". These photos will promote your personal "brand", get more business or increase credibility. What is going to help you achieve marketing material or build your brand?  What can you focus on in order to get the best results?  Your answers here will help you focus on what needs to be done in the here and now.    

2. Believe. 

Tell yourself it will work. Believe in yourself. Embrace it. Enjoy it. It's 15 minutes or so away from answering emails (that you've been copied into that don't actually matter to you). Your boss isn't looking over your shoulder. It's a time to do something fresh and different. It's time out. What the worst that can happen too? We check out the result, see what we like/don't like, adjust it and try again. If it's good after a few shots, all the better.  If you are terrified getting your photo taken it will probably come through: so be the "confident you" that's in there. It will work.Think of a time when you enjoyed a photo being taken. Focus on that.  Or think about the best photo you have ever seen of you - if it can happen then, it can happen again. Write them down. A crib sheet for the photo session. 

Focus on the good memories, not the bad ones.

3. Communicate

When I'm working I always enjoy building up a rapport with my client. It should be relaxed and fun although of course I need to keep an eye on making the pics excellent and to the brief.

A bit of banter is always good. 

When someone walks in to have their pic taken we will start chatting. A blether. Nothing forced or formal - just a chat.

No faffing with kit either. Thats ready to go. Just a chat about whatever seems right - the usual nonsense.

I get them straight into doing things too. Folk are anxious and as we know, being nervous about something is usually worse than the thing itself - we've all experienced that - being nervous about something and once its done we report "It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...". So we get going immediately to settle the nerves.

Once they are into the shoot they realise its not that bad. I offer tips on how to stand. Thats a settler as they generally don't know where to start (neither do some pro models either so, again, don't be harsh on yourself....) That therefore introduces some control over the pic. Small adjustments to feet, weigh distribution, angle of elbows etc. all give them a job to do and now they feel they can contribute to this outcome - more control, less fear. "Knowledge Dispels Fear". See the first Blog in this series.

If there are things you don't like about yourself, or have had an awful experience getting pics taken, let the photographer know.

I really appreciate when someone walks in to my studio and blurts out a 1000 reasons why this is a nightmare.

I then have something to work with.

On one occasion a young member of staff in a large international Accountancy practice disliked the left side of her face. From my perspective there was nothing wrong, but what I thought was irrelevant. What counted was how she felt. We all have these features we aren't happy with - mine is my nose. Anyway back to my client. I positioned her taking into account the bit she didn't like, moved the light to throw that part of her face into shadow and placed a black board nearby to deepen the shadow. She was delighted. I was rehired time and time again and have shot their portraits for years from only the Glasgow Office at the start to Glasgow and Edinburgh and now Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Like many things in life, being open and honest, will not only help you feel better, but it’ll also make the situation that you’re in more comfortable. 

Final Thoughts

Let us know what tips you have for making the experience of having a photo shoot that bit more enjoyable.

If you have a funny anecdote you'd be happy to share, let us know. 

Leave any comments below and of course please share this Blog - thank you.

If you need Headshots of you, or your staff, contact Guy on 0774 8046102 or email guy@guyhinks.com

And of course a huge thank-you to Jeffrey for not only taking time out of his busy schedule to chat over the ideas contained here, but also to spend time writing down tips and thoughts and then discuss editing etc. A very kind gesture. Contact Jeffrey for Sports and Performance expertise via jeffrey@jwperformanceagency.co.uk, 07860662905 or via his website Jeffrey Webster: Performance Agency. 

Do you look at yourself in photos then cringe......??

Probably.

Well the good news is, you are not alone.

Most folk "dislike" (polite was of saying "hate") their photo being taken and indeed the photos themselves.

The next two blogs (this Blog and Part 2 to follow) are going to change all that.

I shall be discussing tips on how to stand (Part one) to taking control of the mindset when entering a photo session (Part two) to help you with your business headshots.

I shoot portraits a lot. These may be outside where I'm mixing natural and flash light to indoors working within the controlled environment of a studio set up. Either way those having their photo taken usually appreciate a tip or two on what to do. This could be from how to stand to where to put your hands.

I usually boil it down to a few tips otherwise there is overload.

So let's get going.

5 Picture Perfect Posing Tips to transform how you can pose for your photos.

1. Tip One - Shoulders off to the Side

As a rule, turning slightly side-on can help your pose. 

It tends to make the body look narrower.

This is suitable for all.  It can also give the appearance of slimming down the body which can help. This works for men and women equally and of all ages, shapes and sizes.

Its a great starting point. 

In this shot, the newly appointed CEO of the Seanamic Group was requiring photos for a press release. I photographed him in a studio I set up in their Glasgow offices.  I shot a series of pics to give options.  There were different arm positions, shoulders varied etc. etc. used over the course of about 30 minutes or so photography and we went through the images there and then to make sure we were both happy. The whole photo process took about 2 hours from start to finish: from arriving, setting up the background and lights to departure. 

It could also be said that being slightly side-on looks more natural than standing straight on to camera.

Straight on is of course an option but tends to infer power, strength and perhaps suggests a bit of a challenge to the viewer. It would work for, say, a rugby player.

2. Tip Two - Weight on one foot

Dancers tend to move about with their weight one one foot so that the other leg can be positioned to look good. Same idea with a photograph.

The two gents here were to be photographed with City of Glasgow in the background to link their Glasgow Office to a charity relationship that was being announced.

The challenge here was of course time (the usual issue) but also being fairly high up the winds were strong and gusty which raised issues with off camera lights on stands: but they were secure and safe. Obviously health and safety requires to be observed in every shoot. 

Here is a good example of two stances which is helpful.

The gent on the left has:-

1. His weight clearly on his back foot and his front foot is lifted slightly and pointing towards the camera; and

2. Crossed his legs.

The chap on the right has:-

1. His left foot pointing to the camera which is good.

2. His feet in a V-shape which I also seek. 

3. His weight evenly distributed on both feet which, although is not in keeping with this advice, works. 

As both of them are not standing in the same way the image, arguably, looks more natural.

So in summary tip 2 is weight on one foot, feet in a V-shape and the front foot pointing towards the camera.

3. Tip Three - Lean On Something

Leaning helps massively.

It just settles folk down. I know it myself. 

I was raising money for the UNICEF Nepalese Children's Appeal a few years back following the earthquake there. I was selling prints taken in Nepal with all profits going to the charity.

A full double page spread of pics was being published in my local paper to help promote the cause and the reporter needed a headshot.  I had the studio lights set up etc.etc. and nothing seemed to make me happy. I "disliked" every shot. 

I nearly had a tantrum and ended up leaning against a wall outside for the photo and, hey presto, sorted.

In this photo Dame Katherine Granger DBE was opening a new sports facility. I had taken the usual line up shots of senior management etc. and wanted one image which focussed on the plaque and Katherine herself. So I asked her to lean against the plaque, carefully (plaques at unveilings are invariably on fairly lightweight stands - not designed to support a human being...) and then I took a few frames. 

So find a wall and lean into it. Find a table and place a hand on it. Railings. Whatever. There are loads of things you can lean on, just have a look around - it will help.

4. Tip 4 Control Hands and Arms

The nightmare bit.

As soon as you are in front of the camera your arms seem utterly useless. Dangling. In the way. Awkward.

Whole chapters, or indeed probably books, could be devoted to this issue.

But here I will boil it down to a few very basic Tips and Tricks.

So, to keep it simple:-

1. Tuck your hands away.

Put your hands in your pockets.

Some folk might not like this. It might appear too "casual". But it is better than leaving them awkwardly to each side of the body. So if you are struggling, try it. 

You may also want a little gap if possible between the body and the elbow. Bend the elbow too. 

ECORENEW - MORECAMBE 19.7.18

2. Hold your hands in front of your body.

This just keeps them in control - I usually suggest just below belly button height - too low and your shoulders slouch - too high and it looks odd.  Watch, though, that you don't hold your hands flat against your stomach. It might then look like you're doing an expectant mother's baby shoot....nothing wrong with those for the avoidance of doubt (before I generate a controversy) - but the mums-to-be tend to deliberately hold the bump to draw attention to it. 

In this shot the gentleman is holding his hands in front of his body with arms slightly bent at the elbow. The hands are asymmetrical. There is a gap between the elbows and the body to avoid the body looking too wide. If the gap wasn't there it would be a wider area of solid suit.  Here there were a few shots sent to the client from arms folded, to hands in pocket and so on. A variety - the images are used for Linkedin to Bid Documents. 

Corporate photograph Richard Dennis

3. Arms folded

This helps keep the arms in the shot and the horizontal line it creates is parallel (almost) with the bottom of the frame. On occasion some might say this is a  "defensive" pose but that depends on the accompanying facial expression. For me its tidy: as long as it suits the shape of the body - doesn't suit everyone. 

24.2.20 AYRSHIRE MAG DAVID LINDSAY STORAGE LAUREN MARTIN

5 Tip Embrace it

The whole photo shoot experience for many can be a nightmare.

I know. I've had to endure it myself.

So to help this the next blog will be looking at how to manage your anxiety, nerves and confidence.

I have met with Glasgow-based Performance and Sports Consultant Jeffrey Webster who has kindly offered a fantastic performance coach's insight to achieving the best you can. Here's a taster...

So make sure you follow Guy on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin or Instagram (as well of course at the website) for details of Part 2 which is sure to be full of top tips from a expert in getting everyone achieving their very best. 

In summary!

Posing is not a "one size fits all" thing.

Everyone is different, which is why its more of an art rather than a science.

Not everything here may work for you - just give it a go - it is designed as a starting point - to get you thinking about these things.

You'll be able to see other portraits posing styles in my Business Headshot and PR pages.

So (for now, until Part 2) its over to you to try out the tips and see how you get on.

Perhaps you have tips of your own you'd like to share? Please do.

Leave you comments and tips below and lets all get better at what we do.

Don't forget - Part two to follow! Keep checking my social media!

And of course, if you wish to book me for headshots then call 07748046102 or email guy@guyhinks.com. I can shoot large numbers of staff to spending a half day with one person achieving a range of shots and styles. Just call. 

Love taking photos with your smartphone?

Happy with your pics? 

If not this blog will help your landscape photography with a few simple tips and tricks which you can use now.
 

Top Tip 1 - Shoot Horizontal 
 

What does this mean? Well basically the long bit of the phone will be at the bottom of the photo - so something like the photo below.

With the longer part at the bottom this can help show width and space. Good if you are on a beach, up a hill or such like. 

Try to keep the horizon (if you can see it) level. 

BUT, of course, there are no rules: so you might want to flip it on its head and shoot vertically....

That means the long edge of the phone will be up and down. You will lose some of the shot left and right. 

A vertical shot would look like the one below.

In this photo I wanted to emphasise the vertical nature of the climb. Vertical format achieved that.

This is a good option therefore if you wish to emphasise height. 

In summary, there are two options (ignoring quirky angles) vertical and horizontal - I would encourage, as a starting point, for landscapes, to think horizontally first - there is a tendency to shoot vertically (as thats the way we see/use phones) but just take time to decide, deliberately, what you wish to capture and choose accordingly.

Or just shoot both and worry about it later....!

Top Tip 2 - Take the Scene Apart

For landscape photography the first instinct is to shoot a wide open space; to include hills, rivers and such like. However there are cracking gems to shoot if you take the scene apart. What I mean by that is start to examine details. What adds interest, or colour or texture to the scene? Who or what uses the land? Is there something quirky about it? Is there a humorous angle to take? 

For me I like to look at the odd and ends, fences, stones, flora and fauna and get up close. Just stop and look. 

This shot above was taken about 7am on a cold, damp morning up Loudoun Hill (where there was an historic battle in 1307 involving Robert the Bruce in case you're into your Scottish History...). 

I had already spotted morning dew and therefore was looking out for it.

I saw this with the yellow flower, and thought "this is what I'm after". So I zoomed in and took the shot. Light and water work well together too: especially if the background is dark.

Another option is like in the picture below - what drew my eye was simply the lines - try and forget what you are looking at and see simply a pattern of shapes and lines - and you never know what might begin to pop out at you. 
What I liked here was the merging of man-made and natural lines slightly silhouetted against a grungy misty background. 

This is taking the scene apart - its not a big wide shot of a mountain nor a close up of a flower - a medium shot. 

Similarly look for quirky scenes - in the photo below, this cow wandered over for a blether and came in close for a sniff!

Cows are always up for a quirky expression I find.  

Its important of course not to frighten cattle so move slowly and be safe. 

These kinds of shots are great to add interest to your collection of pics when you are out and about. 

Tip 3 - Bad Weather is Good Weather

The first thought is usually: "Its a lovely sunny day, the photos will look great". .

However, its not always the case.

Overhead harsh sunshine can strip away colours, make things look flat and force people to squint.

With that thinking it is easy to put away your camera/phone if the weather is poor.

But: hold on; take another look....

Stormy clouds look great - nature offers up a wonderful variety of conditions and they are all ready to be shot. 
 

Think - Bad Weather is Good Weather!

Tip 4 - Have a Focal Point

A photo is usually better if there is something obvious the viewer should be looking at: like a person. 

Or a cow sniffing you....as above. 

So before taking the shot, ask yourself: "What am I trying to show here?"

The photo below is of a walk I take my dog on frequently - Its a long (ish) path so the vertical shot arguably suits it. So far, so good. But its definitely leaving the viewer (I suspect) thinking "what am I meant to be looking at?"

What you could do therefore is think "could I add something to the scene to make it more interesting - a draw - something which allows the eye to stop and for the viewer to latch onto something and go "thats great".

In this photo of a cow (yes, there's a theme developing) the immediate attraction for me was the sky - then I saw the cow but wanted the cow to be on the horizon - so I moved up a bank slightly from the road and shot through a fence - the new angle then meant the cow was on the "ridge" and I wanted the cow in the middle wrapped by the atmospheric clouds. I waited until it looked at me, then took the shot.

The sky alone would have been OK, but the cow, I think, makes the shot. 

(Note - this shot took time as the cow was, shall we say, busy making itself lighter....)

Top Tip 5 - Avoid Bright Light 

If the sun or brightest part of the sky is facing you and you are pointing the camera/phone at it you might face problems.

First, its probably going to damage your eyes so be careful or simply don't - but there are times when you can: say, if the sun is behind the clouds.

The phone is likely though not to be able to cope with this and will make the scene probably very dark in parts. 

You can see in this photo (above) of Loudoun Hill that the sky is fairly well exposed but the hill is very dark - What the camera has done is "metered" (done its calculation) based on the brightest (and most dominant) part of the scene. I am facing West at about 6pm so the sun is heading over in that direction for setting later on. This is fine if you wanted a silhouetted hill - but not good if you wanted to see the rock formations on the hill itself - that detail is lost. If you face this situation zoom into the area you are most interested in and cut out the bright stuff.

So I moved further to the right and decided to use the light, rather than avoid it. Allowing the camera to have lots of the bright light fill the frame meant the sky was looking bright but well exposed, the hill dark and incorporating a silhouette of the the Statue (Spirit of Scotland) - resulting in the pic below.

Top Tip 6 Depth 

A photo can often be improved by including a sense of depth - that is items of interest front of the pic to back - like the shot below.

Look for something long and heading off into the distance. 

Here the lines of the fence go into the distance and therefore a sense of depth is provided. 

Now its over to you.....

So there you have it - a few tips and tricks from THE INSIDERS GUIDE TO IPHONE LANDSCAPES.

If you wish to have a look at other landscape images shot at beautiful locations around the world from the Himalayan area of Nepal to the beautiful Western Isles of Scotland then my website has a full collection for you to enjoy.

Make sure you don't miss out on updates and future Tips and Tricks -  follow me on Instagram, "like" my Facebook Page, connect on Linkedin if you are in business, and follow on twitter.

And of course, I'd be delighted if you were happy to share this blog with your friends and family. 

You've heard my tips - let me hear yours!

Comment below and share your thoughts! Share your experience and let everyone pick up a tip or two.....

Thurso, Scotland.

One from a few years back - Medium Format Camera - Slow shutter to blur the sea. Filter on to add interest to the sky. Camera on tripod to steady it. Used a remote shutter release so that I wouldn't disturb the camera for the pic. One of the most popular pics in the gallery. Prints available. Seat was just there. Didn't move it. 

Cook School Cook Book

Here the idea was to use light to illuminate the Pear by positioning the light, and narrowing it, to have it pass through the fruit. To make it glow. The shadows created help emphasise the shapes. Reflections created too help create interest. One light used. Image by Guy Hinks, Food Photographer based in Glasgow. 

This photo was part of a series for a Cook Book. I thought the cream colour needed a contrasting background. But I wanted also a contrast in the background, hence the white lower section. Then I needed the glass to be highlighted so I positioned two flashes to liven up the glass. And to create a highlight at the glass edge. Then I filled in the front of the glass with more, softer light to create a more even light effect.  Food Photography by Guy Hinks.

A PR pic taken in Glasgow recently the style of which was aimed at the broadsheets for their business sections. It was actually picked up by Chemistry Magazines. Shot from a balcony, using ambient light only. The corporate colour of the client is blue, so the colour of the seating was relevant. And she is the first to graduate from the course so having her standing on her own emphasises her uniqueness. The angles add interest. Master of Philosophy, Glasgow. Image by Guy Hinks.

Fancy shooting the lght trails at a Fireworks event tonight?

Here is a  recent pic taken for the press at a fireworks event. How was it done?

The camera was mounted on a tripod with a remote release to minimise movement.

The aperture (which lets light in the lens) was set to about F9 to allow for some depth of focus.

The shutter (speed of the photo) was set to Bulb, so I controlled that with the remote shutter.

The color balance was set to daylight.

Didn't want the shutter open too long as that would make the fireworks too busy and would allow the black background to adopt a colour cast from lights and become brown in colour. I also set up at a pond to capture a reflection. I waited for the display to begin, depressed the shutter, held it until I was happy (about a second or two) then released it. 

Be safe - shooting at night has its hazards, like cars for instance......and Happy New Year!

The sales pitches are tempting - the pictures showing what the camera can achieve even more so.

And of course the latest camera will have even more pixels.

But why would someone want an upgrade?

It has been said in the past, to me and no doubt to many other, "oh thats a lovely picture; you must have a great camera..."

Well, that's like saying to a chef, thats a lovely roast; you must have a great oven.

Cameras are tools. You are in control. The expense of the tool has no bearing on how the photographer will use it.

So what I'd recommend is that you save your money, and continue learning how to use your camera. Cameras on phones, DSLRs, Film Cameras, are all great tools and phenomenal shots can be achieved from them all. The only exception I'd say is if you have used an auto camera for a while and want now to upgrade to one with manual features so you can increase your control. 

One option, which I'd recommend, is to buy a monthly magazine which frequently have special editions on say landcapes, portraits and such like - concentrate on these areas a month at a time. Take shots deliberately and be critical with yourself. 

Thats my recommendation - a great fine art photographer I know had an exhibition the pictures of which were taken on a £14.99 disposable camera with a tiny plastic lens - how did he manage to take great shots - he used it well. Its who's behind the camera that counts. 

So thats my tip for what its worth.......enjoy shooting.

Cheers

Guy

Was recently asked how I managed to blur most of the photo out and retain details in te foreground. Was asked also whether that was done in camera or through post production.

Well the answer is it was done in camera.

I usually try to get most of the image requirements done at the point the shot is made as that reduces time editing which in turn reduces costs and results in delivery of the images sooner rather than later.

So how was it done?

It was decided, when consulting with the chef and the Marketing staff that the point of interest should be the raspberry and that the remainder of the details in the rest of the photo should be retained,  but blurred out to focus the viewers attention on the fruit.

The camera was mounted on a tripod for stability; and it aso allows me to view the image from the screen which also makes focussing manually more precise. 

Studio lights were used in a room otherwise unlit to have full control over the light.

A long lens was used, from a distance, and the aperture (the bit of the lens that increases or reduces light coming into the camera) was set to a low figure such as F2.8, or 4. That blurs out whats not in focus (called shallow depth of field). Taking the camera away from the subject,  and then zooming in,  helps that blur.

Thats it. 

Hope that was of interest and if you need help with images or if you wish food images to be taken for your restaurant or food business then please get in touch either on 07748046102 or at guy@guyhinks.com.

Busy Street Scene in Bangkok, Thailand.

This is the second small Blog on using light trails at night.

The last blog was to do with fireworks and at the end I mentioned that the same technique can be applied to car lights. Have a look at  that blog for more details if you wish. 

Here the shot was taken in Bangkok, Thailand.

I set the camera up on a tripod on a bridge over the street. Selected an aperture to make the scene in focus, about F8, then set the shutter speed to Bulb setting so I could control how long the shutter was opened. Attached a remote release. Waited for the sky to become inky blue as the sun set, then took the shot over several seconds.

The shot was taken on Slide film.

More tips to follow. 

Thanks for taking an interest.

A recent pic taken for the press at a fireworks event. How was it done?

The camera was mounted on a tripod with a remote release to minimise movement. The aperture (which lets light in the lens) was set to about F9 to allow for some depth of focus. The shutter (speed of the photo) was set to Bulb, so I controlled that with the remote shutter. The color balance was set to daylight. Didn't want the shutter open too long as that would make the fireworks too busy and would allow the black background to adopt a colour cast from lights and become brown in colour. I also set up at a pond to capture a reflection. I waited for the display to begin, depressed the shutter, held it until I was happy (about a second or two) then released it. Done. Try the technique with vehicle lights at dusk but be safe - don't get run over......

It was suggested that I have food images for sale as these would look good in kitchens, up and down the country I feel obliged to say, and accordingly I have made a separate gallery called "Photo Shop" (I know..) where the galleries will be positioned from which purchases can be made.

Food images will be added soon and in the meantime here's a taster of whats already on the site. 

As I have probably said earlier these galleries will be continually updated so feel free to check up on the progress from time too time to see any new images.

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Thanks for looking and have a great weekend. 

Guy

Lots of things to make it interactive - Facebook and Twitter buttons to play with and the ability to share pics via social media which is great. There is also the Blog which is incorporated to help keep the branding consistent and the Mobile Website is also in the same style.

And of course, it would be negligent not to mention the ecommerce side of things which is in its infancy at the moment but will grow as more images are added - at the moment only the Travel Pics are for sale but this will develop. Feel free to have a look….

Anyway in the meantime, as much a practice run as anything else, heres a slideshow and please feel free to sign up to the blog and leave feedback on the website in the guest pages.

Many thanks and speak soon.