In the world of photography, lighting is extremely important!  It really makes or breaks a picture.  It's what makes the difference between an everyday snapshot and an awesome photo, and after today you'll know how to deal with it like a pro! The first thing you need to know is that the camera does not process light and shadow the same way our eyes do.  Our eyes are really good at taking in a scene which contains both bright areas and shadowy areas, but a camera can't do that.  In your … [Read more...]

  I thought it would be a good idea to address a question I get asked all the time.  What is the difference between a Jpeg file and a RAW file?  Is one better than the other, and which should I use? RAW files are very large because they hold a lot of information without losing any details or quality.  A RAW file is basically the pure image taken directly from the camera's sensor before any settings are applied such as exposure and white balance (in-camera settings are still applied … [Read more...]

Some purist photographers are of the opinion that to be a true photographer, you must manually focus all your shots.  But seriously!  That is pretty much impossible if you're photographing people who are, well... alive!  And since I love to capture spontaneous and natural moments, it's highly impractical for me to use manual focus.  I use the Auto Focus mode 99% of the time, and I'd like to teach you how to really use it to your advantage! Here are some focusing techniques. With the … [Read more...]