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So you need a headshot. It’s easy right? You just go online and google photographers in your city or pick one off Facebook; done. But it’s not that simple, a lot actually goes into a head shot. It can show your career, your strengths, your weaknesses, your heart, humor or status in life. It is in essence, your brand. 

So is a headshot really that important? YES! Your head shot is often the first thing people see before they even meet you. People may not judge a book by its cover but they certainly will judge you by your headshot. If you’re an actor it should show off your complexities. If you’re a business owner it should show people someone approachable that they want to be around and do business with. If you’re an executive it should show the world that you are capable, experienced and powerful. 

There are three main types of headshots. Each headshot has its particular use depending on the look you need. There is no one size fits all headshot. The type of head shot you need really depends a lot on the type of message you want to send. Below I will outline some types of head shots and the situation you want to use them in. 

Commercial headshot

This style of headshot is a bright happy smiley look. This is the most common type of headshot. It’s a great shot for actors, models and professionals. Everyone should have this shot in their portfolio. Below are two examples showing bright happy smiles on the subjects.

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Featured headshot or Character headshot 

This type will depend on what your look is. If you’re a tough guy then you want something that makes you look bad ass. If you’re a flirty looking woman then you want a shot that shows off that side of you. If you are distinguished then you want to show that. If you look sketchy then you want to play off that look. Below are two examples, the first shows a big smile on the subject showing his friendly demeanor. The second is a creative shot designed to make the subject look distinguished. 

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The Power Shot

This is the shot I love for the executives, the politicians and the movers and shakers. It’s usually shot from slightly below the individuals chin. This can be a tricky shot to make the subject look flattering so you really have to make sure the photographer you hire is good at this type of shot. Below are two examples, The first is Connie a powerful figure in the adoption community. The second is a high powered attorney from a corporate law firm. Power Shots can also show the character of a person. 

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There are several types of headshot settings, so you want to choose the photographer best skilled for the headshot you require. Below I will outline the different types of headshot settings and the situations you want to use them in. I will also go over choosing the right photographer, and what’s best to wear on the day of your shoot.

The Studio Style Headshot

This style of headshot doesn’t necessarily have to be taken in a studio, but can be taken on location in an office while still maintaining studio results. The grey back drop image of the gentleman in the suit was taken in an accounting office building while the white background shot of an acting friend was taken in my garage next to a mower. This shot is created with a back drop and a couple of lights. This style is best for formal portraits, usually of executives, attorney’s or department heads. It also works well for character portraits. 

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The Environmental Head Shot

This style off headshot is much more relaxed and natural. Its great for office staff, creatives and public relations shots. This style of shot can be framed landscape or portrait showing the environment around the subject, with the emphasis on the subject themselves. It can be framed with the office behind them or a window overlooking the skyline. I personally love this shot because I like to use the subjects environment to tell a story. Below are two examples with a window positioned behind the subject. 

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The Outdoor Headshot

This headshot is great for a relaxed lifestyle head shot using natural light. It’s usually shot in portrait and perfect for actors and models that need to show off various looks. However in the right setting like a city back drop or building behind the subject and some lighting it can make a great business head shot when shot in landscape. Commercial head shot: Bright Happy smiley look. This is the most common type and what everyone should have in their portfolio. Below are two examples, the first gentleman is shot while sitting on an outdoor staircase. The second, young girl is shot under a palm tree in a park.

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What To Wear

So what do you wear for your head shot? I always suggest my subjects keep patterns and colors simple. For an actor or model head shot I would keep to solid colors, for business I would keep away from having to many contrasting patterns so if you have a stripped suit keep to a solid color tie.  Keep to your favorite colors as well so you will feel more comfortable during the process. 

Choosing The Right Photographer

Let me start first with saying choose a professional. That should go with out saying but a lot of people try to cut corners by hiring an amateur or a friend. When choosing a photographer I don’t recommend looking for the cheapest one out there but you don’t necessarily need to hire the most expensive one either. You generally get what you pay for with anything you buy and the same goes for photographers. I wouldn't want someone handling my images thats going to make me look terrible. Look at their portfolio and make sure they have a solid body of work that represents the look you want. Look to see how flattering their subjects look. Talk to them and make sure you are comfortable with them. It doesn't matter how outstanding their work is if they make you feel uncomfortable or weird. You want to make sure they have the personality to bring out the best in you. Remember that your image is your brand and you wanna trust your brand with the best. 

Hopefully this has given you a lot of information. There are a few key take aways to remember. Don't ever skip on the cost because you always get what you pay for. Your image is important so you don't want it messed up.  Make sure the photographer has a solid body of work that represents the look you want. Look at their portfolio, just don't hire a friend with a camera unless that friend happens to be an accomplished professional. When getting dressed for the shoot keep patterns simple and wear your favorite colors so you are comfortable and feel good on the day of your head shot. Good luck with your next headshot session. 

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Halloween is fun to dress up for. Every year I enjoy seeing the creativity that goes into the costumes, from store bought to homemade. It’s always interesting to see the costumes people choose. I decided to set up in my driveway and make portraits of people as they pass by my house. In the first year of this project, my neighbors were a little leery of the strange man taking photos in his drive way. After assuring them I was a professional and showing them some work, they were on board. Every child is photographed with the parent’s permission and given candy in exchange.

THE HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN IN AMERICA

In observing Halloween I feel it’s important to understand where it comes from. Halloween is derived from the 3 day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year (church year or Christian year) dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and the lovingly departed. During the early 1800’s there actually wasn’t much of a trace of Halloween in American because of the large Protestant presences in the Northern colonies and their strict religious beliefs. Down south however there was more of a European presence so Halloween celebrations mixed with the Indian Harvest Festivals. In the mid 1800’s hundreds nearly two million Irish immigrants fleeing potato famine came to America bringing with them their love of Halloween. They would celebrate with fire works, telling of ghost stories and various games.

In the 1900’s Halloween shifted from religious to more communal. The practice of “Guising” is where the poor during the middle ages would go around asking for food or money. Borrowing from all the English and Irish traditions children started dressing up in costumes. However, there were few references of children going door to door. Instead, Parties were often held during the season with a festive atmosphere and colorful costumes.

TRICK OR TREAT

In the 20’s and 30’s Halloween pranks started becoming a real problem. Most pranks often turned to vandalism, property damage and even physical assault. Bad kids and organizations like the KKK used Halloween as an excuse for their criminal activity. Schools and communities had to come up with a way to curb the crime so they came up with the “Trick or Treat” concept. The Boy Scouts started organizing “trick or treat” outings in local neighbors. The concept did take on controversy early on as community leaders charged that “Trick or Treat” was extortion because if homeowners didn’t comply then their homes could be targeted with a malicious trick. However the concept proved to work as more children took part in trick or treating and crime decreased.  The concept of Trick or Treating began around the 1940’s growing year after year into the modern Holiday it is today.

CREATIVE DIRECTION

In my head I wanted to celebrate these children and their costumes in a unique way. I wanted to photograph them the same way one would photograph a celebrity. I wanted the lighting to be very soft with soft shadows. I wanted the focus to be on them and their costumes. No additional Halloween decorations needed to distract from them. I set up a back drop and lighting in my drive way with a Macbook pro near by where I could show my work and website if need. I also had releases on hand. 

TECHNICAL MUMBO JUMBO

Camera: Canon 5D Mark III

Lens: Canon 85mm F1.2 Mark II

Background: Grey Paper

Stands: Impact C-Stands

Light: Profoto Air D1

Light Mod: Photek Softlighter II 60inch Umbrella

Release: Paper Minor Model Releases 

Computer: MacBook Pro 13 inch keyed up with my website for Validation that I am a Professional.

Note: Second Profoto D1 seen in BTS Shot below had Mola Beauty dish on it but was decided against at the last second so It’s inactive while shooting.

The Set Up Behind the scenes shot of the set up. 

LINK TO FULL GALLERY 

Every year on Women's Day Western Michigan University holds a women's only immigration ceremony. This beautiful event honors women who have come to the US and worked hard to gain one of the most coveted honors, United States citizenship. Being in that room and able to capture this event is indescribable, seeing and feeling the emotions. As a born American citizen I really can't even begin to imagine what these women have been through. Some have been through war, many have lost everything but all have gained a new start. Please enjoy the following series of images. 

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I was on a shoot for a client and my friend Craig who was assisting me wanted a portrait after we were done. We decided to have some fun and do something edgy. We were out on a street corner and it was 2:00 pm in the afternoon. The sun was high and it was quite bright that day. Using a Profoto D1 500 Air I made the sun submit to me.

I used a C-Stand with a Profoto Air D1 500 slammed in up close. I was so close to him that I had the camera lens just under the Profoto 3ft Octo. The light was just slightly offset to the left by a hair, probably a foot away from Craig so that his right side was highlighted more than his left. I set the strobe to 10 so that it was at full power and emitted a loud pop then after a pause beeped to let me know it recycled. The kind of pop that lets you know you just blinded your subject. The camera was set to 1/200th of a second at ISO 50 and  Apature F20. In post production, I edited his skin and increased the shadows a hair. Below is the diagram followed by the image out of camera and the finalized shot.

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The diagram above shows the position of the subject in relation to the lighting. 

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Here is the photo pretty much right out of the camera. You can see where I had to eliminate a street sign. 

Here is the finalized image skin editing, and color grading along with adjustments added to the eyes. I also increased the shadows to give it a moodier and edgier look.

For information on the lighting that I use and where I get it please follow the link HERE. 

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A few years back I photographed Nick when he was on Team USA, this time I got to photograph him with his wonderful Fiancée. Check out  some highlights of the beautiful couple below in their session. 

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Everyone knows dogs are mans best friend. I have human best friends but none are as forgiving as my Brinks. He loves me unconditionally for who I am. He doesn't care about my imperfections. He doesn't cause drama except for the occasional barking at Squirrels and Birds. He won't tell me he can't be friends with me anymore because his significant other is jealous. He will always be there for me no matter what, unless I need something that requires hands then I'm out of luck. He started out strong but quickly got tired which led to the last frame, I think he's thinking of his girlfriend Kona the Pit Bull down the street. 

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Congratulations to Aimee and Ashley. I was honored to be chosen and trusted to be their photographer on such a special day. The love these two show for each other is truly special. I wish them many years of happiness together.  The following images were shot at the beautiful Hotel Zamora. 

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This beautiful couple got married on January 2nd 2016. I was so honored to be chosen as their photographer for such a special day. The love they showed for each other shined through even on a cloudy day. I absolutely love the shots of these two, they make such an incredibly cute couple. Weddings on a Whim did a beautiful job with the set up. I was thrilled to have such a wonderful back drop for the wedding. 

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Congratulations to Amy and Tim! I feel honored that they chose me as their photographer, trusting me to capture their special day. The love they have for each other is apparent in every image. Liz Smith Events did an amazing job along with Delectables Fine Catering, I would recommend them to anyone. I want to thank my assistant and second shooter Luke Johnson who provided a few images.  I hope everyone enjoys the following set of photographs. 

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VENDORS

Wedding Planner: Liz Smith @ Liz Smith Weddings and Events, WEBSITE 

Catering: Delectables Fine Catering, WEBSITE

These pictures of kids having fun in the mud from a recent shoot I did will melt your heart. These wildly adorable children at play are part of a very loving family I recently photographed. I hope you enjoy these images has much as I enjoyed taking them. 

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I get this question all the time and the answer is yes. In fact, I love photographing families. Family to me is everything, it makes us who we are. They're there for the good and the bad in your life. They love you unconditionally and accept you for who you are. They know all your dark secrets and they don't care. They are your biggest supporters and fans. So let me capture your family and the love and support you share. 

Below are a few of my favorite captures from a recent family. I hope you enjoy. 

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Recently I had to opportunity to create some head shots for Digital Caviar's partners. Digital Caviar is a Tampa Bay Area film marketing and production company that specializes in creative content creation, production, post production and Red Epic Acquisition. They have done everything from music video's to commercials for clients such as Jabil, Shapes, Verizon, Gillette, Mercedes and Sams Club just to name a few. These guys have been responsible for some of the great local ads you see on your television. I only had a limited amount of time with the guys during the labor day holiday because of their busy schedule. I really enjoyed being able to photograph fellow creatives. Below are some of my favorite frames from that day.  

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Todd Yonteck -CEO, Founder, Director, Producer

Michael Brown - President, Producer, Director

Conrad De La Torres III - Writer, Director, Producer

Check out more of their work at www.Digitalcaviar.net

Backing up valuable photography images is essential and something every photographer should take into consideration. However, there seems to be a surprising lack of knowledge out there on the proper way(s) to back up your work.

I personally learned a quite expensive lesson from not backing up my work properly and securely. I lost a significant amount of data and had to pay a hefty fee to have it recovered. I had at the time multiple external western digital hard drives set up through Apple’s OS RAID. RAID is short for redundant array of independent disk. With RAID technology data can be stored on multiple disc through a variety of methods.  In the event of failure, data is still preserved.

Through this experience I learned that a data RAID, like the one I had, is much more prone to failure than hardware RAID. I then decided to invest in a reliable hardware RAID. Discussed below are the different way to back up your data and my recommendations. 

Method 1) a single drive that copies work from your main hard drive.

If you’re a casual hobbyist that doesn't do a lot of shooting then this is your lowest budget option.  You would store your images on your computer and have an external drive that backs up your images. This is just fine for most hobbyists out there.

Method 2) The Cloud

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources.^‪

Cloud computing and storage solutions provide users and enterprises with various capabilities to store and process their data in third-party data centers.^‪ The cloud focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of the shared resources. Cloud resources are usually not only shared by multiple users but are also reallocated per demand. So for example, A server that may be used during business hours in Europe will be reallocated to be used during business hours in America. This approach should maximize the use of computing power, it also reduces environmental damage as well as less power, air conditioning, rack space, etc. that are required for a variety of functions. 

cloud computing can allow you to avoid upfront infrastructure cost. Cloud providers typically use a "pay as you go" model. However some newer cloud sites use flat fees for backing up all your data. If you need to get your data from the cloud at anytime or for any reason usually there is a one time fee for the drives and they ship it to you. I personally don't use the cloud as I don't like the idea of storing all my clients images on an easily hackable server. I do recommend that if you use the cloud though, you only use it second to your primary back-up system. 

Method 3) A Software RAID

A software RAID is where your computer's software or a third party software handles all the raids maintenance. You would export the data to a single drive and the software would copy that data over to another drive. This may be okay for light data however I do not recommend it. I learned a hard lesson using Apples software RAID to copy my data from one drive to another. This method is highly susceptible to failure and that's exactly what happened to me. I ended up having to pay a large chunk of change to get my data recovered. 

Method 4) A RAID

If you’re a working professional then this is your safest bet for storing your data. There are different levels of raid. Below are some of the levels explained.

 Level 0: Striped disk array without fault tolerance

Provides data striping (spreading out blocks of each file across multiple disk drives) but no redundancy. This improves performance but does not deliver fault tolerance. If one drive fails then all data in the array is lost.

Level 1: Mirroring and duplexing

Provides disk mirroring. Level 1 provides twice the read transaction rate of single disks and the same write transaction rate as single disks.

Level 2: Error-correcting coding

Not a typical implementation and rarely used. Level 2 strips data at the bit level rather than the block level.

Level 3: Bit-interleaved parity

Provides byte-level striping with a dedicated parity disk. Level 3, which cannot service simultaneous multiple requests, also is rarely used.

Level 4: Dedicated parity drive

A commonly used implementation of RAID, Level 4 provides block-level striping (like Level 0) with a parity disk. If a data disk fails, the parity data is used to create a replacement disk. A disadvantage to Level 4 is that the parity disk can create write bottlenecks.

Level 5: Block interleaved distributed parity

Provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction information. This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance. Level 5 is one of the most popular implementations of RAID.

Level 6: Independent data disks with double parity

Provides block-level striping with parity data distributed across all disks.

Level 10: A stripe of mirrors

As you can see they’re different ways to set up a RAID. The most common RAID levels for photographers are RAID 0, 1, and 5. I have my RAID set up to Raid 1 so I have multiple copies of my data. You can also set up raid 0 for speed, which splits your data up among multiple hard drives by striping bits of the data on each drive.

I know some photographers that just manually copy their data on to different external hard drives. I don’t recommend this method because it requires you to remember and save every little change to make on to each external drive.

So what do I use in my workflow and recommend? I recommend a hardware RAID. With a hardware RAID you have a safe and reliable method of backing up your data. After a lot of research I settled on G-Technolagy products for their reliability and reviews. I am happy to report that I've been using there products for awhile now and have had no issues at all. Below is an outline of my workflow. 

I have a custom iMac that has all my software and documents on it. The software and docs are backed up to a G-Technology Thunderbolt drive. All my photography workflow is on another G-Technology thunderbolt drive that I use as my “live” drive. This is the drive that I import images into off of my memory card and edit off of. This drive is then backed up to a G-Raid set at RAID 1. All Raid management is handled through ChronoSync software as recommended by G-Technology.

Work Flow

Documents and Software > G-Drive Thunderbolt

RAW, TIIF, JPEGS > “Live work drive” G Drive Thunderbolt > Backed up by G RAID

G-Tech

Note: I make copies of my drives and store them at another location periodically.

Below are Links to some recommended products. I use G-Technology exclusively because they work. I have never had a problem with G-Technology’s products. I trust them with my valuable client work and my most important images.

G-Raid Studio with Thunderbolt (What I use)

http://www.g-technology.com/products/g-raid-studio

G-Drive with Thunderbolt (What I use)

http://www.g-technology.com/products/g-drive-thunderbolt

 For the past few weeks our hometown team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, have been in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Media attention from around the world has been focused on the team, so I thought it would be fun to focus some attention on the fans. There are six hockey players on the ice, the 7th man is the fan. The fans are the backbone to the team and they are just as much a part of the team as the players are. It is the energy and excitement of the fans that push the Lightning hockey team to play their best and fight for the win during every game. At the last watch party, despite the rain, there were over 17,000 fans at Amalie Arena supporting the Lightning. The community has really come together as one to support the Lightning hockey team. Although we did not bring the Stanley cup home this year, we put up one hell of a fight on the ice and on the sidelines! This is dedicated to the die hard Lightning fans. Your time and efforts devoted to cheering on your team whether they were home or away has not gone unnoticed. I'll see everyone at the play offs next year where we will get the Stanley cup!

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A big thank you to Corey Riehle for helping me create these images! 

For booking information contact me at JonathanRphoto.biz@gmail.com

Featured below are some of my favorite shots. All images were commissioned by Fantastic Sams. 

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For booking inquiries please contact  JonathanRphoto.biz@gmail.com

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When you walk into the offices you are greeted with illuminated watch mechanics. 

photo_office_Landscape The offices are very clean and bright with images that define the company on the walls.

04-28-2015_AP (4 of 5) Leading to the repair center is a room filled with bright colored lockers where the workers must don white AP coats and shoe covers.

04-28-2015_AP (2 of 5) Even the ceiling is a work of art with flying saucer styled lamps hanging down. 

(Image: Dead Vlei Triplets Location: Africa) All images featured in this blog are courtesy of Mike Gulbraa and M&M Photo Tours. 

    In the following blog I interview M&M Photo Tours Inc. founder Mike Gulbraa. Mike has been shooting for 40 plus years and is a long time travel photographer who turned his love of travel photography into a thriving business. 

How did you start M&M Photo Tours? I have been an avid photographer for 40+ years and when I decided to end my “normal Joe” working career I decided to pair 2 things I love to do – travel and photography.  I have been to 162 countries in my lifetime and loved most of them and want to share that bug with folks.

Tell me a little bit what M&M Photo Tours is?  M&M is an all-inclusive photo tour company that specializes in getting people to the right place at the right time to capture iconic images.  We travel the world and work with some great guest pros.

What is the goal of M&M photo tours has it relates to your clients?  Simply put – help them enjoy travel photography while capturing awesome images and offering the amount of instruction and feedback a guest desires.

What do you personally enjoy shooting?  I love shooting everything – I do not specialize in anything but lean towards wildlife and candid’s of people doing natural things.

How long have you operated M&M Photo Tours?  We launched in January 2009.

Does M&M Photo Tours have any awards?  We have been nominated for a few but being young have not had the luck of winning anything yet.  We’ll keep working hard.

Who are your main tour sponsors? We have 20 awesome sponsors - Blackrapid, Lexar, Clik Elite, Tiffen, Adobe, Hunts Photo & Video, Benro/Induro (The MacGroup), Acratech, Columbia Sportswear, DxO, Kaenon, and many more.

Image: Happy Monkey Location: Africa

When a client books what should they expect?  They should expect clear communication, plenty of info about the trip, suggestions on gear/packing, and most importantly they should expect to shoot a lot of awesome images.

What does their booking include?  Our international trips are all-inclusive (RT economy air, all meals, all lodging, all ground transport, all entrance fees if any, cultural events, etc.) from our gateway city (varies by trip) – no hidden costs – show up and plan on shooting a lot without having to worry about getting around, where you’ll stay, what you’ll eat, etc.  We do not cover Visa/passport fees, some alcoholic drinks, laundry, phone costs, and other items of a personal nature.

Image: Giraffe Water Spout Location: Africa

What should one bring on a trip?  It really depends on the trip but 2 bodies (always need a back-up just in case) and 3-4 lenses with plenty of memory cards, laptop, external travel safe storage device, a small travel tripod, and an imagination and creativity to shoot, shoot, shoot.

Is there something you have not shot yet that you would love to shoot?  NCAA Final Four, Super Bowl, & The Dali Lama.

Who are your favorite photographers alive or dead, travel or otherwise?  I respect all photographers but do not pattern myself after anyone.  I am sure I have been influenced by many but have studied none.

What’s your favorite place you have been too?  Cambodia, Japan, Italy, Tanzania…there are really too many…

How do you pick the places M&M Tours visits?  We always ask our followers where they want to go next and we monitor what our competition is doing and what trips are filling.  The photo tour industry is rather small for all-inclusive folks so keeping the pulse of where folks are going is important.  And we go where we like to shoot because there are just so many cool places to shoot on this earth.

Image: Sossuvlie Dunes Location: Africa

Special Deal for my blog readers!!!

Scotland - $4,700/person (normally $6000) – 3 Seats available

Tuscany - $4,500/person (normally $6000) – 3 Seats available

Croatia & Slovenia - $5,500/person (normally $7000) – 3 seats available

For more information visit the links below:

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Megapixels for Print Vs. Megapixels for detail ( The Megapixel Blog)

Every year, new cameras are being released with more megapixels than the previous year, making your current camera seem outdated. Case in point, first we had the Nikon D800 at 36.3 MP, and now the new Canon 5Ds was just announced to be a whopping 50.6 MP. So, with a sensor of this size, will you get big beautiful prints full of detail? Yes and no.

Detail is entirely dependent on sensor size. Where as image size is dependent on pixels. I’ve worked with DSLR’s from both Nikon and Canon at all resolutions.  In the following blog I will do my best to explain.

Let’s start with talking about what megapixels are. A single megapixel amounts to exactly one million pixels in an image. If you know the width and height in pixels of an image created by your camera, it’s easy to calculate how many megapixels your camera can produce. In the case of my first Nikon, the images were 3008 x 2000, so I simply multiply 3008 by 2000 to get 6,016,000 pixels total. So, my little Nikon DSLR was 6 MP, rounded off.

Now that we have figured out what megapixels are, how many megapixels does an image need to be to be viewed on your computer? We basically figure that out the same way. For example, my 2014 custom iMac is 2560 x 1440. So, to view an image on my current monitor at 100% resolution, the image has to be around 4 megapixels. Surprising, isn't it? So now that we covered the size an image has to be to be viewed on a screen, how many megapixels do we need for print? Below is helpful chart that explains the largest an image can be printed, based on megapixels and quality.

PRINT SIZE & QUALITY

So now that we know what megapixels are and how they effect digital and print viewing lets dive a little deeper into how they affect detail.  Higher MP DSLR sensors have been pushed on us the last few years by camera manufactures. First the D800 and D810 at 36mp and now Canon is coming out with a 50mp. So will a 36mp or 50mp capture as much detail as a 36mp or 50mp Medium format? The simple answer is no It will not because a medium format is able to capture a greater range of information due to a sensor that is twice the size along with having larger photosites. Larger photosites are able to capture more information along with having lower noise. An APS-C can’t capture as much detail as a 35mm sensor. In the same regard a 35mm sensor cannot capture as much detail as a medium format sensor. Yes, with higher megapixels on 35mm sensors you can get a little increase in detail but marginally. I believe we have already hit the ceiling on the detail we can get out of the current size 35mm sensors we have out right now. 

So why do manufactures keep pushing higher megapixels DSLR’s on us every year? The answer is simple. They need a way to convince us that the next model we buy is a bigger upgrade than the last.  

There is a lot of debate over megapixels, and even this blog post cannot possibly go over all the science. Ultimately, it depends on your uses. If you're not going any bigger than standard photographic prints, then 16-22 MP is more than enough. If you’re shooting anything bigger than that, say billboards, then renting or buying a medium format is probably your best bet for optimal quality. As always, the best camera for the job is the one you have. Happy Shooting!

As always, I would love to hear everyone's opinions on this.

*Photographs that appear in this blog are not property of Jonathan R photography. They are purely being used for illustration purposes and Jonathan R Photography claims no rights to them. 

Today is the 5th and last day of the B&W Challenge. Below is a wedding image I shot of a wonderful couple. This was an image that was shot on the fly. The couple was in a staging area and there was a construction light behind them so I asked them to just relax and just be together. Since this is a wedding shot I challenge Megan Sunderwirth. Post a different Black and White image each day and challenge a different person every day.

For the 3rd day of the B&W Challenge I reached deep into my archives for my "Smoking Man" image. It has always been a favorite of mine. Today I challenge my good buddy Constantine Mehos.

Okay, so this is day two of the B&W Challenge. This has always been one of my favorite images so I re-edited it in B&W and I must say I really do like the black and white version better. Today I am calling out my buddy Joe Peffer who has some how managed to go with out being challenged. That changes today! I look forward to seeing your post Joe. 

"Sax In The Setting Sun"

Location: Pier 60, Clearwater FL

Technical

Camera and Lens: Nikon D4 racked with 24-70 F2.8

Lighting: Profoto D1 Air mounted with 2x2 Gridded softbox.

When my assistant and me arrived at the University of South Florida’s Botanical Gardens that was our location for the day we took a look around and knew we had a great spot. The kids were already hyped up for the shoot and eager to play young models.  For the techno nerds reading this, we used a Profoto D1 Air 500 with a Profoto 3ft octo.  Very quick and efficient to set up while giving me a lot of control over my lighting.

Below are some of my favorite shots. For more information on these kids please visit the Heart Gallery of Tampa.  Link at the bottom also

When I saw this "Head in the hole" I was instantly drawn in by the colors and texture and so were the kids because they jumped right in with out me asking. 

                                        This is just a nice shot.

This is one of my favorite moment's between the kids.

To see more images and get even more information on the kids please visit the link below. 

http://www.heartgallerytampabay.org/siblings/tyreeze-jayhydia-jamarquez-zahkia/

Technical

Nikon D4

Nikon 70-200 F2.8  VR II

Profoto D1 500 Air

Profoto 3ft RFI Octa Softbox

I work with some pretty awesome clients but this shoot for January's Glady's lady was truly special. I got to work with Army veteran Muria Nisbett. Muria was a mortuary affairs specialist with the rank of sergeant. It's always a true pleasure to work with someone on a magazine editorial that served our country. It's not my first time working with Muria has I got to photograph her daughter a few short years ago. 

The photo shoot took place in downtown Safety Harbor Florida. A beautiful little town like you would see on a post card. We strolled around to about seven location's just having fun with it. For the Gear heads interested the gear I used is listed below.

Nikon D4

Nikon 24-70 F2.8

Nikon SB-900

Pocket Wizards

Apollo Westcott Orb

We shot till we lost day light which took us about an hour and a half. It was a really fun day with a great team. Some of my favorites can be scene below. You can check out Gladys magazine HERE.

Photographer: Jonathan Ridgely

Model: Muria Nisbett

Hair and Make-Up: Beatriz Cains

Lighting Tech: Craig Fones

 For information on booking with Jonathan click here!

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Eric, Davion, Rosa

All Photographs Courtesy of Tim Boyles Photography

As photographers we have the gift of being able to show people how we see the world. This is pretty awesome because while most people try to explain it we can actually show it! This gives us an outlet to not just work as photographers but to be able to do personal work. To be able to use our images to make a difference in the world. If you ask a photographer to show you his most important image he has taken he may show you a celebrity or a model. If you ask Tim Boyles to show you one of his most important Image he will show you a foster child that is up for adoption.

Tim who has shot countless celebrity's for Getty is a volunteer photographer for the Heart Gallery. The Heart Gallery pairs photographers with children up for adoption. Some of these children are special needs but all of them deserve the love of a family. Below is a short interview with Tim.

How did you get involved with the Heart Gallery?

Tim: Just saw it somewhere and thought it's something I would really like to be involved in so I called them and offered them my services.

What is one of the most memorable experiences you have had with them?

Tim: Any time you go to the court house and watch one of your children get adopted into a loving family.

How do you feel when you're in court and one of your kids you photographed get adopted?

Tim: It's very emotional and often brings tears to my eyes. It's a very emotional moment to watch one of the kids you photographed get adopted into a loving family the way it's supposed to be.

You were the main photographer that shot Davion who's story went national on the news, Tell us about your experience with him?

Tim: Davion was the very first kid I ever photographed for the Heart Gallery in 2005. When I saw how cute and happy he was I thought this kid is going to get adopted in no time. So I couldn't believe it when 7yrs later he was still waiting for a family.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Tim: If you're a photographer and you think the best shoots you do are the ones that pay the most money your wrong. By far the most important shoots I do are the ones that put children in homes. 

For more information on adopting a Heart gallery kid please visit the Heart Gallery

                                                                          Camera Settings: 1/13th at F4 ISO 1600

                                                                          Flash Power: 1/2                                               

For this shoot I traveled pretty light. I took a Paul buff light stand with me and an impact boom arm so I could angle the light how I wanted it. I used an SB-900 with Dome diffuser stuffed inside of a 43inch Westcott Apollo orb creating some nice soft light. Now that I had that taken care of the next thing to do was give it some shape. After all, these are pretty scary actors so I didn't want to light them like a fashion model. For an edgier effect I threw on the Westcott 40 degree grid. This gave a really nice edgy feel to the whole scene. I use the Westcott Apollo Orb a lot because it folds down small, it's lite weight and it gives a beautiful quality of light. The Apollo Orb can be used directly on a light stand or with a mini boom arm. I like to use it on a boom are so I have better control. I should also note that it was so dark behind the scare zone that I had to have someone hold a flash light so the camera could focus. As photographers we are not always in ideal environments. Because it was dark my camera settings were shutter speed 1/13th of a second at F4 and ISO 1600. My flash power on my SB-900 was set to 1/2. The entire shoot took about 15 minutes and I made just over 30 frames....DONE! 

Below is a diagram of the lighting set up. I used www.lightingdiagram.com  to create this diagram. 

Here is a list of links for the products I used in this shoot. I am in no way affiliated with Westcott or Adorama. I just really believe in there businesses and products. 

Apollo Orb - http://fjwestcott.com/product/43-octagonal-apollo-orb

Apollo Orb Grid - http://fjwestcott.com/product/40-degree-grid-for-43-apollo-orb

SB-900(SB-910 is now out) - http://www.adorama.com/NKSB910AFU.html

Nikon D4 - http://www.adorama.com/INKD4.html

Please let me know if this post has helped you and if you would like to see more technical blogs like this in the future. 

‎"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." - Napoleon Hill

A lot of photographers wish they had top of the line gear. We all want to say we have the best. I personally am a cash and carry photographer. I decided to give everyone a glimpse into what I use and why I use it. This blog may get a little lengthy so try and bear with me has I take you through the equipment I have used over the years and the whys. 

The first camera I shot with that was an actual pro grade camera was a Minolta XG-M  35mm Film camera. I had a pretty nice set of lenses for it that covered what I needed. I had a 28-50 F3.5-5.6 for a wide to normal angle of view. I had two 50mm's, one was an F2 and the other was an F1.4 and that one was my favorite. I also had a 90-230mm F4.5-5.6. Most of the lenses where slow kit lenses but the 50 F1.4 was my go to lens and stayed on all the time. I still break out this camera and shoot with it from time to time just for kicks.

Jumping ahead a few years I was a late adapter to digital. I picked up a D200 when it came out.  This camera is solid as a brick and it's CCD sensor produces great colors. This was my main work horse for awhile and I still shoot with it from time to time.  I was happy with the D200 for quite a while. I decided after awhile I had to have two cameras. So I looked at the cameras out at the time. The D700 was on my radar and I almost squeezed the trigger and got a full frame. I decided after having problems with a memory card failing on me that having two memory cards in the camera was more important than full frame at the time so I pulled the trigger on the Nikon D300S which I still use and love. The auto focus is nothing short of amazing and having a second card to run backups on or over flow is a blessing. At the time I wanted to spend my money on top of the line glass and have some great lenses. The glass you shoot with makes all the difference. After shooting with the D300S for awhile I decided to squeeze the trigger on the Nikon D4 which is now my main work horse with the D300s has the back up. I'm sure I will be adding a D3s has back up soon or a D600. 

For lenses I started out with all 3rd party. They do the job but I don't recommend them for anyone.. The first lenses I had were has follows. I got the 17-50 F2.8 Tamron early on in my career. This lens is sharp and light weight however auto focus can be hit or miss has with any 3rd party lens.  It was also the first lens I replaced with a Nikon 24-70 F2.8 which is sharp and fast. This lens is heavy but built like a tank. I can drag it through hell and it will still work and perform like a champ. Auto focus is very fast and nails every single time. I also got the Nikon 16-35mm F4 VR II when it came out over the 14-24 F2.8. I wanted the option to use filters and I felt in side by side test the contrast was much better. The 14-24 is an amazing lens. I just felt that for my use the 16-35 fit me better at the time since I shot a lot of receptions with flash and never went to a bigger aperture then F4. The first telephoto lens I had was a Tokina and it was sharp with good color however auto focus was horrible and I quickly ditched it. I replaced this lense with a 70-200 Tamron has a cheap test just to see how often I would use it and if it was worth spending the money on the 70-200 Nikon. I ended up using it quite often and replaced it with the 70-200 Nikon F2.8 VRII. I had a 300mm Nikon briefly also that just stayed in the case and eventually got rid of it. My favorite lens of all time is my 50mm F1.8G for portraits and head shots which is a bulk of what I do. This lens is simply amazing. It's sharper than any other lens I own. I plan on adding an 85 soon and maybe a 105 then I'm done with glass. The 50mm converted me to a prime lover. Zooms are great lenses and really easy to compose with but primes are sharper and I like having to zoom with my feet. It slows me down and makes me think about how I compose the shot. I also have two SB-900's but I will discuss those in another blog about lighting.

I use Lowepro camera bags for when I want to travel light and I have a couple. I have the Flipside 400 which is a great back pack. Recently I was given another bag, the Fastpack 200. This bag has surprised me and become my favorite when I run out the door light. I can throw a camera body in there along with my 24-70, 50mm, speed light, small soft box, flash cord and protein bar. I can walk around on the streets without being obvious and pull my camera out the side for a quick snap shot. Big shout out to Lowepro for making some awesome bags. Pictures of the gear are below. 

                                    Lowepro Fast Pack 200

                                    In This Bag: Nikon D4, SB900 Speed light, 50mm F1.8, Hoodman Hood Loupe

                                   Lowepro Flipside 400

                                    In This Bag: Nikon D4, 70-200 F2.8 VRII, Hoodman Hood Loupe, SB-900, 24-70 F2.8, Lowepro

                                    memory card  wallet, Expo disc white Balance filter, Blackrapid R Strap classic. 

                                    A detailed list of the gear I use is located here: jonathanrphoto.com/gear                             

I will be giving a way a brand new still in the package Lowepro Urban Photo Sling. To be eligible  to win you must comment below and follow me on twitter @JonathanRphoto. The contest will run for 3 weeks and I will pick a winner on Friday June 7th and announce it on twitter. You will have one week to claim your prize or I will pick another winner. 

D4 Update Put To The Test.

Nikon recently released an update to the D4 claiming more three dimensional and sharper images and shooting the D4 myself I naturally had to put their claims to the test.  Below is a copy of the update description followed by before and after sample images.

Below are jpeg images of before and after the firmware update. All images were shot on the Nikon D4 tripod mounted with the 70-200 F2.8 VRII at 165mm, 1600 ISO, aperture F5.6 in aperture priority. 

Before firmware update.

Before firmware update cropped.

After firmware update.

After firmware update cropped.

Can you tell a difference in the before and after shots? I'll let you judge for yourself. Let me know what you think in the comments below. 

For information on downloading the update from Nikon visit the link below.

http://support.nikonusa.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18252/session/L3RpbWUvMTM2NTAxMDM3NC9zaWQvTVdCT0VPbWw%3D

I was 19 stories up on a balcony in St Pete Florida over looking the city shooting for St Pete Art and Fashion Week. On this particular day we had slightly cloudy skies so I decided to pull out my White Lightning X1600 strobe with a soft white beauty dish to further "turn down" the sun and really make the bright colorful dress on our young model "pop" against the now darkened sky. Since we were on a balcony, traveling light was important and with not many outlets in sight the Paul Buff Vagabond mini lithium battery pack really came in handy. Getting a quality of light this good would not be possible with small flash. I like to use the soft white beauty dish a lot because it gives a really nice quality of light that flatters its subjects. It also adds a really nice round catch light to the eyes as a bonus. The Paul Buff beauty dish comes with a front diffusion cover akin to a shower cap that further diffuses the light, however on this day I did not use it. I wanted a slightly edgier light so I placed the strobe  just slightly to the models left side (notice the shadow on the right side of her face? I'm digging it!). Below is a behind the scenes shot that's more accurate to how the day looked and shows the placement of the beauty dish.

For more information on the gear used in this shoot please visit www.paulcbuff.com

I take my Lowepro flipside 400 bag with me everywhere. It's a great compact little bag that can fit a lot more in it then one would think and that's one of the reasons I love it so much. On this particular day we were shooting in downtown St Pete for fashion week on the 19th story balcony. With no assistant in the budget to help me out on this job, traveling compact up to the balcony of a building was a must so I packed this little bag to the max. Below is a list of the Gear I had in my Lowepro Flipside 400. 

- 2 Nikon Professional Body's

- 16-35 F4

- 24-70 F2.8

- 50mm F1.8

- 70-200 F2.8

- Hood man Hood loupe

- Pocket wizards

- San Disk CF Cards x 4

- San Disk SD Cards x 2

Other Gear used to create this shot....

- White Lighting Strobe X1600

- Paul Buff Soft White Beauty Dish

- Paul Buff Lithium Power pack.

- Paul Buff Heavy duty stand. 

If you think your committed to your goals then think again. We could all learn a lesson or two from ultra marathoner Dean Karanazes. Men's Fitness magazine called him one of the fittest men on the planet and it's easy to see why. Among his accomplishments he has run 350 continues miles giving up three days of sleep. He's run 135 miles across Death Valley in the middle of summer in 120 degree heat.  In 2006 he ran 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days finishing with the famed NYC marathon which he completed in 3hrs flat! If you think that's impressive he also ran 3,000 miles from California to New York City in 2011 averaging 40-50 miles per day. Along the way he spoke to students at schools about the importance of exercise and eating healthy. This guy is just plain awesome!

If you think your committed to your personal and business goals look at what Dean Karanazes does and step your game up. After reading about Dean I decided to step up my fitness and business goals. Life is about making goals and committing to reaching them.

If you would like to learn more about Dean please visit www.ultramarathonman.com

Note: Dean Karanazes is also a New York times best-selling author. Look for his book "RUN!" on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I just may read it myself.

Please let me know if this story has inspired you to reach your goals.

When you are a photographer it's hard to trust another photographer to photograph your family. In your mind you are looking at everything he does and wanting to do it better. My mother came to me some time ago wanting me to photograph my family before my father lost his hair to chemo. I thought about this and decided to turn in over to someone else so that I can relax and get the best images with my family.  I enlisted my good friend Tim Boyles. I trust him above anyone else with my family and he did an awesome job. Here are a few of my favorites following...

Me and my Family  Me and my Dad

My Dad

Me and Tim Boyles

How many times have you heard someone come to you and offer you free work promising it will get you lots of exposure. I know I have heard this more times than I can count. I could probably make a career out of shooting for exposure. I would be the most famous broke photographer out there. At the end of the day however it's not the exposure that matters but the bills. You can't eat or drink exposure and in this economy you sure has hell can't fill up your gas tank with it. More times than not exposure will not pay the bills. Sure exposure could get you some work but let's use magazines has an example. They offer photographers and models exposure in exchange for free work. Now think about this, If they had enough readers they could afford to pay you. So more often than not if they are shopping for a free work then their readership is dismal and therefore no exposure.

If you are a photographer or model and really want to get your work out there then the best way is the old fashioned way, Good old hard work! Submit your images to Major magazines and companies. Market your services.  Get out there and do the ground work. Hustle hard and talk to anyone that will listen about what you do. YOU are a business and what you do has value.  Remember that my friends and you will be a lot better off for it.

What do you guys think about exposure shooting? Have you been guilty of it? (I have and that's how I learned) Did it help you?  Would love to hear everyone's feed back!

Instagram one of the most popular photo sharing apps on IOS is now available on the Android market for free.  The app which works on android 2.2 and newer is missing a couple of features that the IOS version has such as tilt and shift and blur however the company is working on adding these. The app uploads images to Instagrams sharing service.

Announcement from the company blog:

"Today, we’re excited to bring you Instagram for Android^TM. We’ve already seen more than 30 million people join Instagram to create and share beautiful photos on their iOS devices, and now we’re thrilled to offer a way for Android users to join their iOS friends on Instagram to share their photos with the world.

We’ve been working tirelessly to make this new Android app a first-class mobile photo-sharing experience. We’ve been meticulous about translating the Instagram experience to the Android platform. The Android app offers an extremely familiar Instagram experience when compared to the iOS app. You’ll find all the same exact filters and community as our iOS version.

For the over 30 million people already using Instagram, this is a big step forward for the community as a whole. When we started working on Instagram, we tried to imagine what the world would be like if every single person on earth could share the world around them through the lens on their phones. With the release of Instagram for Android, we’re one step closer to making that goal a reality. Now, more of your friends and family can share their lives, and follow yours, through a series of beautiful images.

We’re so excited to welcome Android users to what has become an inspiring and thriving community. We’ve worked hard to bring you the best photo-sharing experience on Android, and look forward to seeing your photos and hearing your feedback. Enjoy!"

I for one am very excited to see this app on Android has I'm a Google fan boy! Can't wait to see the images Android users come up with.

I'm going to be starting a new series of blogs on here soon where each month I talk about an up and coming photographer that not only do I think will go far in the industry but some of them also inspire me. I know a lot of professionals in the industry think it's wrong to promote another photographer but I really don't care. This is not has competitive of and industry has people feel. We are artist so we do not paint a like. Art is meant to be shared and I like breaking the rules. Let's share some amazing art work, let's be inspired, let's learn!  

Tampa Bay Commercial Photographer "An artist is constantly making images that inspire them."

I pose this question because in this day in the digital age anyone can get a  semi professional or professional grade camera and call themselves a photographer so I decided to elaborate on the meaning behind the word photographer and my own opinion what it means and the categories.

Merriam Webster's defines a "Photographer" has one who practices photography; especially : one who makes a business of taking photographs.  I believe that this term has evolved to have a broader meaning and cover hobbyist also. 

The "Hobbyist Photographer" is a person who enjoys taking pictures or may shoot part time for money. They may photograph product, weddings or models on the weekends. Just because you make some money part time with it does not make you a professional no more than fixing a neighbors toilet for extra cash would make you a "Professional Plumber"

 "Professional Photographers"  earn "100%" of their income from photography. They are competent in their jobs and have years of experience and learning behind them. They have invested a lot of time and money into honing their skills to give their customers the best possible product.  

Now, there are also "Artistic Photographers" and "Artistic Professional Photographers" .  Just because you are a photographer or professional photographer does not automatically make you an artist. A photographer can take a good picture but an artist can "make" a great picture. An artist is not just taking photos for money but for themselves also, they are constantly shooting either with their camera or their phone.  Making images of everything that inspires them.

How do you define the word photographer? Do you consider yourself a photographer or a professional photographer? Do you think of yourself has a true artist? Would love to hear everyone's opinions.

Watermarks are a continuing controversy among photographers both on the professional and amateur level.  Ranging from how big they should make them to if you should use them at all. Most photographers use them on social media websites to get work.

While watermarks can get you attention. They are very easy to remove with simple software and are distracting from the impact the image makes. Believe it or not a few minutes on Google and you can find free software out there that you can download to remove any watermark or logo. If someone really wants to steal your work they will. There's not much you can do to stop them. You can however send them a legal notice after if you find out who actually did it. I chose not to put watermark's on my images because I feel it takes away from the image. Instead on Facebook and Google plus have a legal notice posted below the image and also have links to my website. If a model decides to post one of my images on a social media website then my copyright will show up underneath courtesy of programming my  Nikon camera to embed my copyright data into the image. If you don't have the option to do it in camera there are programs like Lightroom that can do this.

What are your thoughts on Watermarks? Do you love them or hate them? Would love to hear everyone's feedback! 

Some children need the assistance of specialized chairs like the one pictured above.

Every day we go through our lives taking advantage of the simple pleasures in life from being able to get dressed in the morning to driving a car. Simple tasks that we go through daily without even thinking about. I recently had an assignment photographing special needs children that are up for adoption. These children, some of them will never know these simple pleasures. They have to go through their daily lives with assistance. Needing help to get dressed to some even needing help to walk. These children have been forgotten. Growing up in a world without feeling loved, without a family. I can't even imagine what these children have to go through.

On this particular day I had and assignment to photograph two children "Sam" and "Max".  Sam needed assistance to walk, Max could walk a little easier but still needed some help. Both children had trouble holding eye contact and were jerking around frequently. I often deal with children on these shoots that have attention deficit disorder, autism, oppositional defiant disorder- argue, attachment disorders; often exasperated by their ages, cognitive delays,  mental retardation, Health conditions such as cerebral palsy, blindness, g-tube feeding; other physical limitations such as wheel chair or walking assistance; some actually living in nursing homes unable to speak. It is important to understand that to these children being removed from their homes is a traumatic event, no matter what the circumstances. An alarming number of children come in to care more from neglect than abuse.  And in the cases of delayed or physically impaired children, their conditions may have been far too complex to handle for birth families.  Although many of them have experienced abuse and those actions have certainly impacted their emotional development, they all have hope.

I'm a regular contributing photographer for "The Heart Gallery" photographing special needs children in hopes of getting them adopted. It's a cause very close to my heart. The most important thing to remember when on a shoot dealing with these kinds of children is to find out what they're interested in. It's not a scary or intimidating experience, it's just like dealing with any other subject. They have interest and activity's they enjoy. I always enter a shoot of this kind trying to find out has much information as I can on the child. That way on the day of the shoot I can interact and have fun with the subject and try and capture natural expressions of joy.

Note: There are currently about 115,000 children awaiting adoption in the US.  

Tampa Bay Commercial Photographer

The Landscape of photography is rapidly changing with emerging technology. This is a really exciting time for photographers and enthusiasts. With some of the coolest technology out there we can look to the future.

Anyone with and eye can make a good picture now. You don't have to be a professional anymore. Now this does not mean that anyone can be a photographer. There will always be gate keepers in the art just like there will always be a difference between photographic art and a good picture. With all the access out there and the emergence of social media it has become an exciting time to see how people view the world around them. To see what inspires people. I welcome the change head on and embrace it.

What inspires you? What do you think about the changing landscape of photography? Would love to hear your comments.