Shutterbug Life Podcast

Hi there, this is Lyn from the Shutterbug Life podcast, and you must be thinking…this is a blast from the past.   Well I’m back to let you know that I’ve launched a new podcast and invite you to join us.   It’s called the EOS Photographer podcast and we will cover a lot of the same kinds of topics we did here in Shutterbug Life. The main difference is that all my examples will be focused on Canon gear.   As you might know, I spent the last two years working with Canon USA leading their Live Learning workshop program. I’d like to put that experience to its best use, so I’m focusing the podcast.    Our episodes will feature:   Interviews with great photography instructors Q&A with technical experts Photo Challenges; and Real world gear reviews   This podcast first and foremost is about photography. It is for creators. People who go out with your cameras in your hand and try to create amazing art from the world in front of you. We’ll help you sharpen your skills and reach your goals faster — on the gear we

Several months ago, I got a call from a potential client. She worked in the marketing department of a camera manufacturer and wanted help creating a marketing plan for them. We talked about a coaching program that would help her conduct the market research for her plan. "Have you done this kind of thing before," she asked? Of course. I gave her some highlights of my resume and pointed her to some links. One of the links was to the work we have done together on Shutterbug Life. On her next call to me, she was so excited. "I looked at your work, and you seem perfect for this!" I had another situation with a big camera retailer. They were struggling to create an educational program for their customers. After a reviewing some of my ideas and links, they invited me in to talk about how I could help them. They were excited to get started, they said. You all know how this one ends. I saw that Canon was looking for someone to lead their workshop and learning program. Canon must already know who they want for this, I

Sitting on the floor in a room full of pictures, I let out a heavy sigh and began the tedious job of sorting the image packages into envelopes. My Dad and I had just picked up the prints from a high school prom shoot we completed, and now we had to prepare them for our clients. There was no simple way of doing this. Fill each envelope, cross reference it against the names, and make sure they had paid. Then Dad would deliver the photos to the parents. I wish we had today's solutions back then. Today, I've completed much more complex jobs without ever touching a print or wading through envelopes. How? The technical part of selling your photography has never been easier than it is these days. You have a range of solutions to help you promote, sell, and collect for your images. None of them require any technical knowledge or ability.

I've got some more advice for you that doesn't have anything to do with f-stops or apertures. I'm not weighing in on DSLRs vs mirrorless or Canon vs Nikon. Today we are ignoring all the typical photography topics yet sharing some timeless advice. Here are three decision points that all photographers face. If we can choose right at each intersection, I think we can improve our work considerably.

With all due respect, we know that churches and cathedrals are places of worship, but they also are incredible structures to photograph. The architecture, light, and history all provide opportunities for you to photograph. Those same characteristics also create challenges for many photographers.  If you want to create memorable images in your cathedral or church, follow these tips. Listen to the podcast

Several years ago, I followed up on what I thought was a great lead for my photography business. I crafted a warm introductory email and requested that we schedule a phone conversation. Then came the response that totally deflated me. "Just send your prices." Like many photographers, that was the very last thing I wanted to do. I didn't want to talk about prices before I had an opportunity to have a conversation. I didn't want to quote a price before I had a chance to understand the full scope of their needs. After all, once he knew my prices, he could just leave.  After going back and forth a few times by email, I sent some prices. As I suspected, he disappeared. The moral of the story is not what you might expect. Just show your prices on your website. Listen to the podcast

He had a different reason for asking, but we were looking for the same result.   "How do you keep photographers motivated to keep shooting?" asked a camera industry salesperson. "It seems photographers aren't shooting as much. "How do we address that?" This got me thinking about a problem we are all encounter. There is so much noise, so much distraction. It's tough for even the most dedicated photographers to find the motivation to keep shooting. Here are a half dozen ideas, from easy to hard. Listen to the podcast

In the Squarespace Super Bowl ad, John Malkovich is screaming into the phone at his namesake. John wants to launch a website, but the hard part is not in creating a website. It is in getting his name. You know the message coming will be this...The easy part in creating a website will be creating a website. If you are a photographer, by now you know you should have a website. The easy part in creating a website is in creating a website. The difficult part is in creating a website - that works.

It doesn't matter if you have been shooting for two weeks or 20 years, most photographers are constantly mulling the question, 'which lens should I buy next?' Your frustration only gets worse when you find that there seems to be an endless supply of options. Even within the same brand, you can get lost in a sea of f-stops and millimeters.  Here is an approach to help you understand and simplify the lens selection process. Listen to the podcast

When do you need a model release? That's the latest question I received from one of our listeners: "What guidance can you give us regarding releases? Both for people (for instance, if they are potentially identifiable) and locations (for instance, trademarked property, federal property)? I seem to recall this gets complicated. What if it’s a crowd such as demonstrators in DC? Assuming a release is required, as a practical matter do you obtain it during the shoot?"

If you are learning photography now, I have good news and bad news. The good news is…you have a wealth of information availability to your in just about every form. Here’s the bad news. You have a wealth of information available to you in just about every form.  How do you sort through it all? When do you seek formal training? And how do you know what workshop to take next? I discuss all these topics with Joe Edelman.  Listen to the podcast

Peering out the window of a coffee shop, I saw a very familiar process unfolding. People were arriving with big signs. I saw what looked like costumes, and over time a small crowd started assembling. In Washington, DC, that usually means a protest is about to start. It also means prime photography opportunities.  No time to finish my coffee, I grabbed my DSLR and headed out to the park to start my shoot. Whether you happen upon a protest demonstration or even a parade, you have a perfect opportunity to practice street photography that tells stories. Listen to the podcast

It’s always cool seeing your best images on your blog or social media, but for a real rush, imagine seeing them in the glossy pages of a national travel publication. Even better, imagine getting paid to place them there. I'll tell you how your can publish your travel photos in this episode. Listen to the podcast.

If there was ever such a thing as a photography impresario, Heather Goss would be it.  She curates images. She creates photo gallery shows. She runs an online photography community. She just celebrated 10 years organizing a citywide photo contest. She edits a major photography blog. She organizes monthly photography Meetups. All this from someone who doesn't even consider herself a photographer. Why? Listen to the podcast

Did Santa bring you a new camera body for Christmas? Maybe you want to take advantage of some down time to reacquaint yourself with your existing camera. You’ll want to listen to this episode and take some notes. We are setting up your new camera or resetting your old one. Listen to the podcast

I was struggling through Christmas portraits, but I did not have the Christmas spirit. My boys were young then, between 2 to 10 years old. I thought I would have them take Christmas portraits, but just as I was getting started, one of them got a giggle fit. Then just like a virus it spread. Before I knew it, we had spent way too much time shooting, and I had not one good portrait to show for it. They continued taking turns giggling and being serious until I decided to get over myself and photograph them in all their goofiness.  Maybe your holiday photography challenges are much simpler than mine. Whatever they are, you will want to capture the best of your holiday traditions and decorations. Here are some tips to help you this season. Listen to the podcast

What's it like to be on the first and only photography reality show? There are only five people who can answer that question, and today I am talking with one of them. Roxy Rodgriguez made a splash on Top Photographer with her unique point of view and signature shooting style. In fact, by the end of the show both the host, Nigel Barker, and guest judges were gushing about the "Roxy photo." If you watched any of the Top Photographer episodes, you might wonder what really went on before the camera started and after it stopped. Roxy gives us a peek into the creation of Top Photographer. Listen to the episode.

The world is overflowing with boring pictures, and if you don't want to contribute another one to the pile, ask one more question. So what? You took another picture. So what? Why should we care? Why should we stop what we are doing to look at it? Is it just another boring collection of pixels? Today's question is the last one you ask before you release your photo to the wild. Use it to decide if your photo goes or stays. "I created another photo. So what?" Listen to the podcast

Top Photographer wrapped up their first season and crowned a winner last week, and it wasn't who I would have expected. In the final episodes, the photographers got to go anywhere they wanted and shoot anything they wanted. Even better, they got to load up a backpack with their dream Canon gear for the shoot.  With all this freedom and flexibility, what did they choose? Let's review the final episodes and look at nine ways they can improve season 2. Listen to the podcast

In episode 3, Top Photographer challenged contestants to create a landscape photograph from the tip top of the Empire State Building. The photographers started at sunrise with this charge - how do you make your photo stand out from the masses -- and each other. That's a challenge you can probably relate to if you have ever done a photo walk. How do you make your photos stand out from everyone else. Listen to the podcast