Archive for category Photography
ShutterCal Shoebox & Prints Review
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on July 8, 2010
As you may have already guessed based on my Special Delivery photo last night, I was VERY EXCITED to get a few goodies in the mail from Shuttercal! (So if you don’t already know about them, here’s some background info) First off, here’s what I’ve gotten so far:
1 Museum Quality Archival Shoebox for 12 months of ShutterCal Prints Storage
2 Months (1 month free with shoebox) worth of photos printed, categorized by month and labeled by day with descriptions on the back.
Check out the loot:
The box, isn't it pretty and compact?
This is where the photos go, no need to scrapbook or pick and choose prints. Nice and neat!
After the complete shock that my items arrived (I wasn’t expecting to get them so soon!) I finally got to business and made a quick pros and cons list of what I loved about them, and things I hope they will improve upon in the future.
Pros:
- I’ll never have to scrapbook again!
- It’s Easy, Almost Too Easy ::suspicious eyes::
- Little Packets of Inspiration
- They Automatically Keep Track
- Resonably Priced
No seriously, I joke you not. I HATE scrapbooking. I got into it after looking at my pile of thousands upon thousands of prints and saying to myself “what am I going to do?” I’m one of those organized neat freaks that has to have everything in order, which is why the shoebox is PERFECT. Each month is printed out automatically and sent to me, I place pack in designated slot, I store until friends come over or put away for future date where I can embarass future children with their mom’s Ramen picture. Voila! Done
No uploading to some third party site (already done in my 365 posts), no purchasing credits and picking out which photos I want in which size with what finish, and no extra shipping costs. Literally you prepay the credits and you don’t even need to think about anything except clicking the “Print & Ship” button.
I must admit, sometimes posting photos online everyday for a year doesn’t feel real until you have the evidence tangibly in your hands. I know some of us struggle to find inspiration and motivation to continue on with the project. When I saw my prints on real paper for the first time, and the amount of photographs I’ve actually produced, it kick started my ego and said, “Wow! You really are doing this aren’t you?”. I can’t truly explain it, but having those little reminders of how far we’ve come really helps push me forward.
Their calendar is already in sync with what Day we are shooting, the description for the day, color coded for the month. I don’t need to go back and check my blog post or flickr photo to see what the date was and how far in and why I decided to photograph that one thing. It’s all right there on my card.
So I did the math, and for a year’s worth of photos and storage you are looking at less than $150 for 365 prints! Imagine printing these on your own and buying the photo album and paper and stickers and pens and glue and all those other crazy scrapbooking implementations. Photos and albums alone would run you at least that much, not to mention finding time to do it. I may be putting too much value on time here, but I’d rather be out taking pictures rather than slapping them to pages of paper and finding rainbow and lollipop stickers to place around them. #justsayin
A few examples of my prints
What they look like on the back
Cons:
- Time Cost for New Members
- Mistake Prone
- Size of Prints
- Not Your Typical Photo Paper
If you are a new member to ShutterCal and have a large amount of time to cover in terms of photo uploads, the task could be a little daunting. I understand that the guys are aware and working on a bulk uploader feature so that you can quickly and easily add photos at the same time. However, for the time being it is not available and it is quite a task for anyone looking for quick turn around.
Lookout- if you forgot to add that description for the day, it sure as heck won’t show up on the print. I learned this lesson well from my March pack. Turns out I uploaded a few prints in which I told myself I would go back and add my commentary the next day. I guess I forgot to do so? Again, this is more of a photographer whoops, rather than ShutterCal’s fault, but it still goes on my Con list as a “I wish it would have warned me like my gmail does when I forget my subject line…” 
In some ways I love the square prints and the option to choose how you want to customize them (white or black background, Include days or not), but if you are like me and don’t follow the rules, your photos may be cut off or skewed in printing. This is also a fault of the photographer, so take this con with a grain of salt.
These are not your grandma’s 4×6 glossy photos. They do not come from Walgreens or Walmart. They are matte heavy card stock, and feel and look and act like it as well. What does this mean? It means you’re not getting frame-able work here, you are getting a moment, feeling, or emotion captured alongside your photograph. It’s a 4×4 stock print, expect that.
MINE!
How to Increase Exposure of your Daily Photo Project x 10,000
Posted by Christa Watson in My 365, Photography on July 8, 2010
I recently had the pleasure of befriending the co-founder of ShutterCal.com, Scott Harris (better known as DefaultArtist), and was able to discuss the success and growth of their project site from inception to present day. “So what” you say? What is ShutterCal and what does this have to do with getting my photography more exposure? Well, hold your horses already… I’m getting there.
In case you haven’t heard or have been too busy trying to get explored on Flickr, ShutterCal has been inching it’s way up in the Daily Photo (or Project 365 if you prefer) community in the last 2 years. The concept for the site is a calendar-based photography site. “We give you a calendar, link you to the site’s community, and encourage you to upload one daily photo.” The creators intentions were to get people to improve their photography skills by getting out there daily with their cameras and just shooting. It was also a quick and easy way to document events, feelings and emotions, as well as places and people met along the way.
So why am I mentioning this site, when there are so many different options out there? To name a few: Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, your blog, the list goes on and on… Sure, take a great macro shot or colorful bokeh and your flickr popularity will soar, but in most cases, posting on large photo sharing sites get you lost in a crowd and other sites continuously flaunt photos to already interested friends and family. ShutterCal is different. It’s about the 10,000 (and growing!) strong community of dedicated photo a day enthusiasts -including creators- that drive me to write about it. That’s right folks, with full time jobs and absolutely no VC money or ads, a couple of photogs like you and me managed to grow this tiny concept into a TEN THOUSAND participant member base in just 2 years!
What does that mean for you? It is a way to expand your community reach as well as easily gather inspiration and support from others that are going through the same daily trials and tribulations as you. A way to stand out from the hundreds of thousands of posted photos from other sites. A way to showcase that one special photo you take in a day to 10,000 other members just like you. It’s also pressure free, meaning you aren’t penalized if you don’t upload every single day – unlike other sites, and it’s built out of a love and passion for photography that doesn’t exist in many other sites.
By using ShutterCal (and don’t forget their awesomely cool photobox and postcards), you are supporting a movement of building a photography community “for us, and by us”. I encourage any of my daring project365 people to at least check it out, and let me know what you think.
My ShutterCal Calendar
One Shot Photo Challenge Results
Posted by Christa Watson in My 365, Photography on July 6, 2010
After a LONG yet wonderful week of what I deemed the One Shot Challenge, the results were phenomenal to say the least! What a great group of photographers that took up the dare to
“… take only one picture for the day.ONE shot to set up your white balance, color, lighting, and composition. No over processing, no sharpening, just straight out of the camera goodness!”
Some great submissions were made and here are what came of last week’s challenge:
Not to play favorites, but Rudy Lopez knocked it out of the park with his photos! He also did a great job explaining his anxiety around only having one shot and his feelings when setting up the photos. I still think my favorite is his specific kind of blue.
The first day and first attempt
Mmmmm cream cheese frosting!
One of my favorites!
Another fellow 365 peer that accepted the challenge was Cheryl Reddick, otherwise known as the Nikon Princess (I’ll let her get away with it, now that I know her
She always tempts me with pictures of her food! 
(two can play at that game!)
She wouldn't show us all the ideas she wrote down after the picture...
One of my favorites!
Feeling Patriotic
Another #project365 friend, Marvin Arcelona, threw in his comical shot of the challenge ( if you had more, send them to me, I only saw one)
Dressed up with a pixelated tie
And finally, my submissions for the project:
Someone called it the 'Modern American Gothic' and i just went with it...
My most popular picture... in terms of 'yummmm' comments
My favorite in terms of 'lines'
And lastly,
Broken Hearted
Thanks everyone for participating in the One Shot Challenge! Feel free to suggest any future challenges or themes…
Photo of the Day Challenge #3
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on June 27, 2010
After seeing the resurrection of a vintage Polaroid camera and finding family gold in the garage this week, I started rethinking just how much photography has changed, even since I was a teenager (Yes I know, it was not very long ago). The switch over to digital cameras armed with photoshop, lightroom, and aperture pretty much turns any average prosumer into a ‘photographer’, and it has also made us a bit lazy in terms of really setting up our shots.
It used to be, the cost of film, processing, and time it would take to do it over again really made the photographer think before shooting away. These days, we test after the fact, taking multiple photos and uploading them to see which ones we would be happy with posting online.
And so came the idea for a photo challenge… What if we took this next week to really stop, think, and create a photo, instead of just snapping away? What if you only had ONE chance to take that picture? ONE shot to set up your white balance, color, lighting, and composition. The challenge is to take only one picture for the day. No over processing, no sharpening, just straight out of the camera goodness!
Are you up for it? Could you do it for 1 day? How about 1 week? Take the challenge and send me your best shot of the week along with commentary and I’ll post it to the challenge wall with a link back to you.
Go out, and be a photo ninja!
Photo of the Day Challenge #2
Posted by Christa Watson in My 365, Photography on June 19, 2010
It seems like all of my fellow photo a day friends had the same idea this week. Everywhere I looked I was seeing similar shots, so I thought I’d open up a challenge to everyone else.
The Challenge should you choose to accept, is to uniquely capture: A BICYCLE!
My attempt at close up gear shot:
Paul Giunta saw beauty in his Day 167 project365 shot:
@paulusch captured this nice bike black and white image:
K Jordan Images had a nice follow up with this sepia toned lovely piece:
@GTRacer347 added this lovely throwback Scwhinn:
Possibly my favorite so far is Rudy Lopez‘s:
Another superb shot submitted! This one by Monica Sims:
Someone didn’t follow the rules… eh hemmm @john_jordan, I said BICYCLE
What is your take on this favorite pastime? Submit a link to your photo in the comments and I will display images in the challenge post.
Photo of the Day Failure?
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on June 4, 2010
Did you know was a Project 365 dropout?
It’s true. I started my first daily photo project mid-August 2009 and by October I found myself struggling to keep up. After 60 some odd days, I was done posting daily, and by day 76 I realized that catching up on 20 missed days was just not going to happen.
I was kind of on a “time to change my life” kick, and was looking for self improvement projects. I had already begun working out and losing weight, and I decided I would pick up photography full time and futher develop my skills. Inspired by a couple of photography tweets that had this crazy hashtag #project365, I knew I had to check it out. By the end of the week I had combed through hundreds of people’s projects, thousands of photos, from iphone pictures to amatuers to professional photographers. I was hooked, in, ready to go, excited… worried about the committment, but pumped.
So what happened? I’d like to think it was a combination of things: Not anticipating time commitments, travel interference, trouble keeping track of days because I started mid-month, not having a systematic way of storing and sharing my photos, not having a group of peers to encourage and support me, and many others. It was a daunting list and in the end I had to give it up… for THAT attempt.
You may be wondering why I’m sharing this with you now? The truth is, I gave up on my project 365 last year, but in no way did I fail. Finished or not, I accomplished more than just starting a photography project – I reignited a passion in life that I had neglected. Not only that, but I now have 76 gorgeous photos for my portfolio that I would never have had, had I not tried at all. I also ended up learning from my previous attempt, and am now on day 155 of THIS year’s project (and going full steam ahead with no plans on stopping).
My challenge to you? Challenge yourself. You don’t have to take up a photo a day, or even a week. Just get out there and make pictures, write stories, draw, create! Failure only comes when you do not try.
Below I’ve picked out my top 10 favorite photos from last year’s “failed project365″. As you can see, it was anything but!
[If you'd like to see all my daily photo pictures, you can check them out on my Project365 Flickr set.]
1. A quick cigarette fix waiting for the band to take stage:
2. Downtown Orlando skyline in black and white:
3. Miami Vice in Orlando:
4. Rescue me:
5. Like a rock:
6. Liquor City in all it’s glory:
7. A girl and her camera:
8. Tampa theater, revamped but still old school:
9. A shot in the dark, downtown Tampa Bay:
10. My new pet, Spike:
Photo of the Day Challenge #1
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on April 19, 2010
See now folks, this is why I love Project 365, or photo of the day (potd), or Flickr 365, or iphoneography, or whatever you want to call it. It is about community, inspiration, and pushing yourself to continue to get better or enhance your artwork and skills.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been inspired by viewing people’s photo projects. I gain ideas, or build off of concepts and really push the limits of my work, and I hope my pictures help to insight creativity in other’s projects. So when a chain of inspired photos occurred through my fave’s project’s, I thought how cool would it be to challenge everyone else to show me how they would envision the shot…
It all started with @paulgiunta’s Day 102 photo of his gear:
Paul Giunta's Day 102 | Wide Open
I (@christawatson) felt inspired by this and wondered what it would look like if there was something behind the wide open glass:
My nifty fifty wide open
Then my always favorite, cool and quirky @joeyjoeyjoey decided to step it up with his interpretation:
AND THEN, had another one of Joey’s friend/fan @j00zt1n posted THIS photo:
So the Challenge? How would you do this shot differently? I’d love to see everyone’s take on this…
UPDATE! We’ve come full circle as Paul added his 2nd interpretation to the mix:
Tips for Children Photography
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on January 26, 2010
Taking pictures of children can be a lot of fun, and there’s never a dull moment, but it can also be very challenging and at times frustrating getting that special shot. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way to help me keep the sanity and have a great shoot.
Know their nap time:
This is my new motto, and it even applies to the older kids. From newborns to teenagers, everyone has certain times of day when they are happy, awake, cranky, or tired. This should be considered first when scheduling the appointment. Ask the parents when nap time is, or what time of the day their child is most agreeable. Trust me, parents will know! For example, if you are photographing a toddler, make sure you allow for plenty of time before and after nap and snack times. When scheduling a Senior photo shoot, you may want to schedule for later in the afternoon so you’re not interrupting that much needed beauty rest.
Nap time!
Keep it age appropriate:
This includes everything from suggested wardrobe to location and tone of the shoot. Make sure that you pick locations that suit the age range. Newborns to older babies are usually more comfortable in their own home close to creature comforts. Toddlers to grade school ages need a location where they can run around and exert all that happy energy. I like to choose a park like or playground setting so that they find the session fun and not just something they have to do. (I’m a sucker for those big smiles) Really tailor the teen shoot to a location that fits their personality. This way they will feel like you really took their style into consideration and they will want to actively participate.
The same goes for clothing. Wardrobe can make or break some shots, but if the child is uncomfortable, it will show in the picture. For newborns, stick to the basics: onsies, blankets or birthday suits. With toddlers, make it a game. Tell their parents to pick out some of their favorite (I prefer colorful) outfits and then let the child choose which one they wear. This way you are involving them in the session and letting them know that they are in charge… because let’s face it, they really are 
Don’t force it:
If the model is not cooperating, put the camera down and step back for a little while. For most children, this photo shoot was not by choice and therefore makes it a chore for them. Your job is to make it fun and to involve them in the process. Before picking up the camera and pointing it at them, greet them and start involving yourself in what they are doing. Join in on their playtime or whatever activity they seem to be interested in. Once they get going, pick up the camera and use it to interact with them. Don’t just take pictures, document the fun they are having. You may have a plan for the shot you want to capture, but the truth is, the kids end up dictating the end results.
Having fun at play
Know when to quit:
I hate to say it like that, but truth is there are times when a session is just not going to happen. I’ve had days where I forced myself to take an appointment long just to make sure I got a good shot… and I ended up with nothing. Sometimes it’s better to accept the fate of the day and just reschedule for a time when the subject is more cooperating. It may seem like you lose time and effort, but the results and customer satisfaction should always win out in the end.
Of course, these are only just a few observations I have made throughout my time shooting portraits. You have to remember that every person you shoot is different along with the results. Best advice is to be prepared ahead of time and enjoy the moments when the planets align and the day goes perfectly to plan. GOOD LUCK!
MOO Business Cards, I’m so EXCITED!
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on January 9, 2010
So I’m just going to put this out there, I LOVE MOO! Moo.com does NOT pay me, and I only get perks from their awesome e-moosletter like everyone else, but I absolutely LOVE them! I ordered my first set of business cards from them when they were in the UK, and I adored them! They allow you to print up to 50 different photos on the front of the cards and then add your info on the back. You also don’t have to upload separate photos if you already have them uploaded to your flickr account.
My first Moo cards were fantastic! They were high quality stock and felt so shiny and smooth to the touch. I always get compliments and have people ask me where I got them done. I mean I pay a little more per card, but if you really think about it, it’s worth the few cents extra because:
- I rarely give out hundreds of biz cards
- People love picking which photo card they get
- People actually keep them around (they treat them like photographs)
- It’s a great conversation starter
This time around I got the mini cards in 2 different types; One for photography and the other for fun:
The serious "work" card front
The "fun" card front
The back of each
So the reason I’m swooning over these new Moo cards, aside from how awesome they are? I had a little issue with printing time versus when I needed them… After a quick note to the service team, a very friendly service rep named David managed to not only help me out, but also managed to finagle some extra shipping upgrades to help the cards get to me on time. This is the second time I’ve had outstanding customer service and I’m excited to work with them in the future. Thank you Moo.com!
A Different Kind of Lesson Learned
Posted by Christa Watson in Photography on December 29, 2009
I recently joined a few fellow photographers in a volunteer project call Help Portrait earlier this month. I am hoping to follow up on that experience in the near future, but that’s not what this post is about. It’s about a different kind of experience, or almost lesson, I learned volunteering that day, regarding…
Shop Talk.
We all do it, almost just rolls off the tongue… talking tog slang that is. And I’m sure the more you are into photography, the easier it is for you to “talk the talk” and even becomes a habit. I even do it naturally in my ‘day’ job (us internet marketers love our acronyms.) You see it a lot in the industry mainly because, well, let’s face it, pho-to-gra-phy is a pretty darn long word. I mean we’re talking 4 syllables or more just for one word!
I’m sure some of you have even heard people with conversations like “while shooting, the photog went down a few stops to really pop the bokeh.” (Ok that might be a little over done, but believe me, I’ve heard worse! ) Heck, I’m even guilty of doing it a lot. I think it’s because I surround myself with such a great group of photographers that understand this industry speak. I really had’t encountered any problems with it until…
That Saturday Morning.
What I didn’t realize was speaking in this comfy and familiar language is hard to shake when around the non-photo community. Surrounded by a group of my peers, we quickly set up our equipment at the local Women’s and Children’s Shelter, excited to help out on the big day. We finally had the first set of ladies ready with hair and makeup when I was to direct them to their photographer for the day.
I quickly introduced myself and shook hands, eager to meet everyone, asking them if they were ready for their picture to be taken. I walked them to the set and asked Mike, their photographer that morning, if he was ready “to shoot them”. Mike smiled and nodded at me, but I could tell I struck a nerve with our model to be.
Now this is classic photog speak for taking photos. We shoot things. I even consider it kind of our hip lingo, BUT I had not accounted for one small detail… We were volunteering at a Women’s Shelter, where we were not allowed to publish any photos or names due to the fact that a lot of them were escaping domestic abuse situations.
Lesson Learned
I felt bad about it when I heard others use those terms throughout the day. I’m not sure they encountered the same reaction I had and most likely did not think twice about using this slang.
I did however meet up with a fellow photog who had been photographing at the main shelter and had been calling everyone ‘subjects’ (a term used in legal proceedings which a lot of the folks at the shelter had been or were currently going through.) He told me he realized that he needed to change his choice of words to ‘clients’ so that everyone would feel more at ease, including himself.
I realized that something so simple could mean so much. Ultimately the lesson I learned is that I need to be receptive to my working environment. I can still talk shop on twitter or forums, but out in the field I need to lose the lingo in order for my customers to feel comfortable in front of the camera and with me.
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