Learn More Photography

  • Home
  • How to Start a Photography Blog
  • Flashes, Strobes & Lighting
  • Post Production
  • Tips For Models

Don’t Just Stand Still and Look Pretty – Perform!

by Learn More Photo 2 Comments

It’s funny how as I work with more models – some with no experience and some with more experience I’m noticing that some of my models just stand there and look pretty.

Don’t get me wrong 99% of the time that works and makes some great shots. But when a model performs and gets way into the mood of the shoot or concept you don’t end up with great shots, you end up with amazing shots!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tips For Models Tagged With: briana, dance, example, glide, modeling, posing, transition, Video

Removing Gaffers Tape Using Photoshop’s Patch Tool

by Learn More Photo Leave a Comment

It’s easy to remove distractions like gaffers tape and paper tears from a background of your photograph using Adobe Photoshop. In this video I use Photoshop’s patch tool to remove distracting gaffers tape from a seamless background to enhance the photograph in less than 5 minutes. I’ll walk you through all the steps and help you see how quick an easy it is to enhance your shots!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Post Production Tagged With: gaffer, how to, lesson, patch, photoshop, tape, tool, tutoial, Video

Setting up a Background Stand and Muslin Backdrop

by Learn More Photo 5 Comments

My first video blog entry: setting up the background stand I purchased from Amvona.

Only took me 5 minutes to set up the system. I had no idea it would be this easy to use!

Song “All You Said” by Everyday Jones via Pod Safe Audio

Equipment Shown

  • AS-V306 Background Stand – $79* usd No Longer Available
  • Elite Solid Muslin (Thunder Gray) – $67* usd

Both purchased from Amvona.com. Check out my Amvona Profile.

* Prices notes are the price I paid at the date of purchase.

Similar Products from B&H

  • Impact Background Support System Including Stands, 12′ 4-Section Crossbar, Bag – $99.00
  • Botero MUSLIN BACKGROUND 10×12′ – Grey – $82

Photos Using Equipment

Here are some photographs I have taken using this equipment.

Transcript of Video

Terri:
Hi everyone I’m Terri this is my first video, so it’s the first time you’re ever going to see me fumbling with my words, just kidding, um it’s the first time you’ve seen men and heard me all at once. And today I just kinda wanted to show you how to set up this new background stand that I bought from Amvona.com.

Um, snap to set up, I just got it today, I got the background last week but the stand was on backorder. And it’s so easy to setup, this is actually the first time I’m going to be setting it up with the background attached too. Um, and I just think it’s really neat to watch how easy some of this photography stuff is, and think “Why am I setting up this jerry-rigged system behind me and throwin’ sheets over it and propping it up with things” when it’s not that expensive to buy a quick little stand.

No horse playing around it because it will break it’s not an expensive stand but if I’ve got people standing in front of a background, taking pictures, acting like adults this will last me plenty. So Let’s get to the time lapse video of em setting this thing up and I’ll talk to you a little bit later. Bye.

[Time Lapse Video of Setup]
[Still Frame: 5 Minutes to Setup]
[Still Frame: And Now the Tear Down]
[Time Lapse Video of Tear Down]

Terri:
So that’s it. Took me five minutes to setup, a little bit longer to tear down because folding a 10×20 background: not fun, in any ways shape or form. Um, Usually if I was really going to be shooting in a space this small all the time I would never have bought a background that big, but that’s actually a background I’m planning on using for different things.

Um, so yea. Leave me a message on the comments and let me know what you thought: good, bad, ehh… don’t ever get in front of a camera ever again, nobody likes your voice, you look like a tramp. By the way, beauty counter at Macy’s, okay, I don’t usually look like this so I apologize. Um and I guess that’s about it so thanks for reading and I hope this helps somebody somewhere! Bye!

Filed Under: Equipment Tagged With: Amvona, background, blog, kit, muslin, setup, stand, transcript, under$200, Video

Smoothie Photo Shoot

by Learn More Photo Leave a Comment

I had planned to photograph the smoothie (which is a raspberry/purple color) in a plain clear tumbler glass, slice of fresh lemon on the edge, with an orange straw that has a pink stripe running down it, against a white background with a little bit of a shadow.

I actually stole a handful of straws from Dunkin’s this morning for this project. Though after doing some Goggling I found some articles that area giving me some different ideas and variations I’d really like to try also!

Food Photography Inspiration and Lessons

  • Food Photography – An Introduction – This article from the Digital Photography School website shows three photographic samples that all display the food against a lovely complementary/contrasting background color and pattern. There’s some tips too but I found that the images were more powerful than the message the tips.
  • Sweep & Float – This great lesson from the Still Life With…(Food Styling and Photography) may have been a selling point for my not doing a white background. I don’t think I have the tools, materials and lighting I would need to create a good seamless white background to create the illusion of the subject floating against a white background.
  • A UK Beer Blogger made photographing beer look easy using the techniques in that lesson!
    Despite how easy the beer blogger makes it look, I am less than confident about the materials I have to create the Sweep & Float setup, maybe this is the right time to try and make the DIY $10 macro photo studio. I have a number of boxes from my move still lying around and I know I have plenty of vellum and large sketchpad paper to create this mini-studio.

  • How to Food Photography – From one of the many informative articles on the food portfolio website this one talks all about lighting: how smaller (closer) lights get detail, and bigger lights reduce detail and cast softer shadows. The article also bring to light (ha ha) some great examples of non traditional direction of lights and fantastic samples of how gels can really spice up a scene.
    The article also points out, in a number of shots, how to use the translucency of different foods can be used to really bring that part of the dish to live. Especially with the lettuce and shrimp tale shot and the lemon shot.
  • Food Photography Tips – This article also speaks of how important the backgrounds as well as some other technical aspects such as lenses, ISO, color balance as well as composition.
  • Shoot First, Eat Later – And of course a brief from Food & Wine Magazine.
  • So from those articles I’ve decided I need to stop at a fabric store and grab some interesting orange backdrop. The right orange will provide beautiful contrast to the pink/purple drink and will *hopefully* make the lemon and smoothie really pop. Also, I will create the $10 studio for both the backdropped version as well as an attempt at the floating glass shots. I will try lighting the beverage from a number of different angles, using the translucency of the lemon to try and see if that brings too much attention to the lemon accent, or helps to really lead the eye to the drink.

    Photos of the Smoothie

    Inspiration on Flickr

    • Cucumber & Apricot Smoothie by Thorsten (tk.photography)
    • Tropical Lime Smoothie (2/2) by Thorsten (tk.photography)
    • Strawberry Smoothie by Thorsten(tk.photography)
    • 9 by beyondthesparkle
    • Essential Strawberry Smoothie by Thorsten (tk.photography)
    • Mango Milkshake by csourav
    • Berries and Cream Smoothie by SweetCapture
    • Smoothie Recipe by jamieanne
    • smile smoothie by plainliving_flickr

    On a side note, during my Google search I found this from the food photographer

Filed Under: Food Photography Tagged With: beverage, flickr, food, food photography, inspiration, link, photo shoot, smoothie, Video

Recent Posts

  • How to Start a Photography Blog
  • Best DSLR Cameras for Each Type of Camera Buyer
  • 5 Best Sites to Sell Your Photos Online
  • DSLR Accessories, Cheap!
  • Free Cinema Photoshop Action – Teal to Orange

About

From technique, setups, equipment and conduct LearnMorePhoto.com helps you take kick photography up a notch and helps you explore ideas you may have never thought of!

By popular demand we are also putting together a great section for models by photographers. Now you have a place to let your new models or subjects learn more about what a photographer wants and needs and expects from their subjects.

Topics

  • DIY Photography
  • Equipment
  • Flashes, Strobes & Lighting
  • Food Photography
  • General Photo & Camera Tips
  • Photography Guides
  • Post Production
  • Tips For Models
  • Tips For Photographers

Recent Comments

  • tom on Rosco Gel Samples Just Arrived
  • Kennedy unity on Big Bag of Clothes – Female Model Tips
  • What Is Causing Shiny Object Syndrome? on How to Start a Photography Blog
  • Tony Clarke on White Card Point and Shoot Camera Trick
  • Scott Neil on 6 Golden Rules for Photographers Working With Models

Top Articles

  • DIY Canvas Photography Backdrop ($20.34)
  • How to Get Rosco Gel Roscolux Swatchbook
  • Ideas for Girls Senior Portrait Outifts
  • Practice Facial Expressions - Mirror
  • Cool Photography Equipment & DIY Solutions

Categories

  • DIY Photography
  • Equipment
  • Flashes, Strobes & Lighting
  • Food Photography
  • General Photo & Camera Tips
  • Post Production
  • Tips For Models
  • Tips For Photographers

About Us

  • About Us & Terri
  • Disclaimer

© Copyright 2016 LearnMorePhoto.com · All Rights Reserved · Created with WordPress