There is something about a one light portrait that gets to me. I don't really know why, but I do love the look. Sure, I can use the sun as a second light, but that's OK - I still let it be a single light portrait with a lot of backlight or sidelight or whatever. Heh....

I just got off the phone with a wonderful photographer in the Midwest. Bill is working the direct consumer market, but looking to break into the commercial market. His area is not the most cosmopolitan, being a small town about an hour or so from Memphis, but Bill is...

I use a mix of lighting as anyone who reads these posts know. I do not favor convenience over ability at all. I will pack a ton of gear - and be fine if we don't use a quarter of it. It is there if I need it, and when I do, I really do need it. There have been some...

Last weekend I did a workshop in Sacramento. It was a small, but very vibrant group. It also rained both days... all day. We made do with a nice rental studio on Saturday, and a hotel conference room on Sunday. When it would clear for a few minutes, we headed out to...

The article below was written by a friend of mine in the New England market. He has asked to remain anonymous, so we will respect that and only say that he is a damn fine photographer, and this story of determination against a client that had much more means, is a...

I love blogs. I think they are a revolution in publishing, and the effects of a democratized publishing platform have not been truly revealed. They give people who may never have had a chance to publish an elegant and rich platform. Words, video, photographs, graphs,...

I love jazz. I always have. I can remember the first recording of jazz my dad played on our brand new stereo. It was a recording of Benny Goodman's Quartet with Buddy Rich on drums. I thought it was fascinating and glorious music. I didn't tell a soul that I liked it....

Project 52. 52 weeks of assignments and critiques for those wanting to go pro, or be more professional in their approach to photography. The site is Project52.org and there is a ton of stuff there already. Audio crits with images to follow along with, information on...

I have been quite busy this past two weeks. Many, many distractions taking me away from the work - and lots of work to be taken away from. It has produced a quagmire of challenges. I rarely miss a deadline, and I work very hard for my clients. Even the ones I don't...

A Little Rant today. "I saw Cady Harran wearing army pants and flip-flops, so I bought army pants and flip-flops" -- Mean Girls. Recently at APE a post entitled "Why We Love Bad Photography" made me pause and consider what that meant to me. It ended up consuming quite...

I recently completed a job for Tera at Sassimi, a boutique fashion designer in Seattle. And while she is small for now, she wants to grow her business. I think she will do well. Oh, and you can visit her site here at Sassimi.com. (For those looking for Project 52,...

Thanks to Selina for a wonderful opportunity to discuss the 'visionary website' and how being engaged with your clients and prospective clients through your website can be a strong tool for photographers. I will be speaking at 11:15AM EST so for you in CST it is...

I work with photographers on a one to one basis. I will only work with those who are really interested so we have a discussion on what is expected from both sides before the engagement. This weekend I had a conversation with a young photographer who wants to be...

  This article is a look at the creation of a simple still life with one light in the studio. See it after the jump. At this point I want to remind everyone of the incredible opportunity this week. Selina's amazing Clarion Call is this coming Thursday/Friday,...

Photograph by Chis Martin. NOTE: If you are looking for this week's assignment, please go to Project 52, assignment five. You can see it here on LE as well. We are entering the month of February, and we are already at assignment number five... "the weather". The work...

Assignment Number Four: Entrepreneur Portrait Due before February 7, 2011 Posts at images at Flickr Lighting Essentials Group. Tag image LE52Weeks-4 You have been assigned by a national magazine for a photograph of a local entrepreneur, you have two weeks to put...

Project 52: INFORMATION. It is important that you all go to Project52.org for assignment notes and more. We have a page there that will show all upcoming LIVE shows as well as other information that we will be giving out as these projects go along. Our schedule for...

The Essential Guide to: LIGHTING INTERIORS Techniques for lighting with small flash by Scott Hargis Architectural photography has always interested me. I have done a substantial amount of it over my career and I still enjoy doing it when I get an opportunity. I wish I...

UPDATE: Thanks to all the folks on the Project 52 LIVE last evening. As promised, here is the audio file. It will be linked here for one week, and one week only. Part One Part Two Some things we talked about. 1. The reason we do a 'vision' statement for ourselves it...

I am flying to Portland for a shoot as I write this end of the year blog. Outside the window it is blue sky above a gray mass of clouds that stretch the entire way from Phoenix to Seattle. Snow in the desert tomorrow. I will be downtown Portland having warm Brandy...

Perhaps I should have said learned and re-learned. I am hard headed, and some of the things I know still need a refresher course every once in a while... ya know. This will be my second to last post of 2010. The last post will be on New Year's Eve. I am taking next...