Got Questions?
I'm excited to announce that I have been asked to be part of photography mentoring program with a really cool website that will encourage aspiring photographers! I will be working one-on-one with photographers, reviewing their portfolios and giving advice on how to take their work to the next level. I'm so excited to help out and honored to even be asked to join the ranks of people like the amazing So Cal rockstar Dane Sanders, who is also serving as a mentor! I can't reveal the full details yet, but stay tuned for more details on how you can participate!
It's hard to believe just a little over a year ago is when I got my first camera. (Well, other than a small point and shoot I always played around with.) At the time I was doing videography and only got my Canon 30D for hobby reasons in wanting to learn more about the art of photography. However, within a week, I fell in love with my new camera and decided to make the switch from video to photography.
Now in just a year, it has been a crazy ride of ups and downs, but there is no greater joy than waking up each morning totally loving the job I have. My camera, now a Canon 5D, has taken me all over the place shooting destination weddings and I have traveled more this past year than I have in my lifetime. But I wouldn't be receiving these amazing blessings if it weren't for the incredible mentors along the way that shared their knowledge with me and allowed me to second shoot with them and simply give their time and wisdom to help this aspiring photographer.
I feel like to this day I continue to be a sponge learning all I can, so it's fascinating to me to now be the one who people turn to for answers to their questions and for inspiration as they kick start their photography business too. I get tons of email daily and wish I had time to answer each one personally because I love to help others! But in effort to pay it forward and help to share the answers publicly for others to benefit from too, I'm going to host a Q&A session here on my blog.
So before the mentorship program starts, as a Christmas gift to all of you, I am opening up the opportunity for you to pick my brain here on my blog and ask me anything you want. Leave your name and question(s) here in my comment box, and next week I'm going to create a video blog that answers each of your questions one by one. It doesn't have to be all photography related, if you are dying to know my favorite flavor of ice cream or other random questions, I love the crazy fun ones too!
Thanks for your participation and I look forward to getting to know each of you better through this Q&A session!
It's hard to believe just a little over a year ago is when I got my first camera. (Well, other than a small point and shoot I always played around with.) At the time I was doing videography and only got my Canon 30D for hobby reasons in wanting to learn more about the art of photography. However, within a week, I fell in love with my new camera and decided to make the switch from video to photography.
Now in just a year, it has been a crazy ride of ups and downs, but there is no greater joy than waking up each morning totally loving the job I have. My camera, now a Canon 5D, has taken me all over the place shooting destination weddings and I have traveled more this past year than I have in my lifetime. But I wouldn't be receiving these amazing blessings if it weren't for the incredible mentors along the way that shared their knowledge with me and allowed me to second shoot with them and simply give their time and wisdom to help this aspiring photographer.
I feel like to this day I continue to be a sponge learning all I can, so it's fascinating to me to now be the one who people turn to for answers to their questions and for inspiration as they kick start their photography business too. I get tons of email daily and wish I had time to answer each one personally because I love to help others! But in effort to pay it forward and help to share the answers publicly for others to benefit from too, I'm going to host a Q&A session here on my blog.
So before the mentorship program starts, as a Christmas gift to all of you, I am opening up the opportunity for you to pick my brain here on my blog and ask me anything you want. Leave your name and question(s) here in my comment box, and next week I'm going to create a video blog that answers each of your questions one by one. It doesn't have to be all photography related, if you are dying to know my favorite flavor of ice cream or other random questions, I love the crazy fun ones too!
Thanks for your participation and I look forward to getting to know each of you better through this Q&A session!
Labels: For Photographers, Personal
posted by Scarlett Lillian // Jacksonville Senior Photographer at 12:50 PM
25 Comments:
Ok, so I just got a new digital camera and I LoVe all the colors in your pictures. How do you get the colors to be so bright, and how do you do the blurry background? I know that's two questions in one!! Sorry!! I enjoy your blog, keep up the good work!! :0)
Thanks Scarlett for the gift of answering or questions. I am just starting out with photography myself and have a 30d myself and hope I can make it as far as you have in a year!
Here is my question.
I am really wanting to get lighting down (and consistent exposure) and I was wondering what your set up looks like when you are doing portraits? (Here are my sub questions: Are you shooting in all shade? Do you shade the people you are shooting? Are you using reflectors? Are you using fill flash or off camera lighting?)
Thanks!
First let me say that I love your style. I can't get enough of the hot pink! Secondly, I honestly came on to ask about lighting and read jared's questions which is everything I'm curious about, too. I shoot with a Nikon D80. Right now I just shoot portraits outside during golden hour finding shade when necessary. I'm trying to figure out how to use a good flash and if I need reflectors. Thanks so much for this opportunity! I'm so grateful.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Great Christmas pesent:
What lenses would you recommend the aspiring photographers?
Hi Scarlett, thanks so much for offering this opportunity! I am fairly new to your blog, and have only been reading for about 2 months but I love your bright vivid style. I have been shooting just a couple of months (quit my job to follow my passion), mostly portraits and headshots (my dad did headshots so I'm following, although not as creative as I like) and have a Canon Rebel XTi.
I have a question about marketing, did you do a lot or were you already familiar with who to contact and all through your videography work? I have a website, have put out cards and am considering take some ad space out in a few local papers. Also, I love your romantic style in your photos, do you just let the couples act naturally or do you instruct them a little to get a great shot?
Thanks so much and keep up the great work! I can't wait to see this segment!
Scarlett I Adore your work-all the way from New Jersey.
My question is, how can I manage to get a low light shot, maintain the darkness of the image without it either be spoiling by flash or totally ruined? Is there a special setting I can use?
Oh btw By the way, I hate to do it to you...but Tag you're it. Check out my blog for details http://posheventsllc.blogspot.com/2007/12/im-it.html
How do you take such great night photos. For example, how Corinna did your night shoot. What type of lighting is used to keep the full effect of the night.
WOW! Pretty much every question I have has already been asked. I second all of Jared's questions AND what kind of post-editing do you do? Is there a particular something that you use for nearly every shot?
Thanks SO much for answering our questions!
Hey Scarlett,
Merry Christmas!!
I guess I'm like everyone else and want to know about lighting. What do you do if you have an early morning shoot and you have fog, clouds, etc?
And then how do you calm the lighting down if the sun is out too bright? Like between 2 and 5 p.m. Do you correct it later?
You mentioned in your blog that when you were first learning you were a second shot with other photographers, do you always have a second shot with you when you take pictures, like at weddings?
Thanks for doing this for us. What a wonderful gift!!
P.S. And since no one has asked.....what is your favorite ice cream? LOL.
Scarlett, Thanks for letting us pick your brain! How do youget such consistency from picture to picture in your post-production? I am using Photoshop, but don't trust my eye to make the right adjustments from shot to shot so that a series looks consistent. You seem to excel at this-thanks for the input!
I'd like to know if you have custom settings on your camera or if you shoot in Neutral mode, Portrait, etc... Ummm lets see, do you direct your clients in how and what they should do and if so how did you learn how to direct people I have a huge issue with directing people, and lastly do you only use your flash and "fong" or reflecters and things of that nature to get the light you want and what is your fav time of day to shoot. LOL OK I think that's all my questions!
Hi Scarlett, I LOVE you work. You are so talented. My question is: if you could only buy one lens when you were starting out what would it be? I want a good, versatile lens, but it can be overwhelming. I have a Canon Rebel XTI with the basic lens that came with it. Thank you so much for answering all these questions. What a blessing!
Hi, Scarlett. Like everyone has already mentioned, thanks for opening yourself up to some Q&A.
My question is less about technique and more about the personality of a photographer.
How to you overcome the thoughts of having people think that you're odd... as in, for being daring to ask your couple to stand a certain place, or to photograph despite being in a crowd of people. Being able to pretend that no one else is around?
I'm slowly learning not to care, but it's definitely something that I work on with each session. That, and making the client feel unself-conscious too.
Thanks again!
yessss! Free questions! Thanks for this. I would love to know how you get your colors so bright while the faces of your subjects still seem normal. Mine end up looking like oompa loompas cause they are so saturated!
Great questions! I have a few myself... 1)Regarding your color saturation techniques--how much is in-camera and how much is post production? 2)Can you tell us a little about your workflow after a shoot. How much time would you say that you spend editing? What actions do you use to save time? 3)How long between a shoot and when your client receives their images? Do they receive paper proofs or just online? And finally, 4)what gear (lenses, lighting, camera bodies, etc.) do you carry to a portrait session? To a wedding? Thanks so much--sorry for the million questions!!
Definitely gonna be reading all the answers to the previous but since you said you'd answer anything . . . when and how did you know that this is what you would do daily? Did God lead you into it directly or did He bless your desire as you chased it? I am on the edge of this decision and appreciate your heart for the Lord. Also, speaking of ice cream . . . what flavor and brand?
1st off Merry Xmas Scarlett :)
I had no clue that you were new, I thought for sure you have been doing this for awhile. We are very similar in that way, I just bought my first dslr just over a yr ago, (no background) this year has been a fun and very wild ride :)
Ok, my question is Can I second with you :) LOL... Seriously.. Ok are you a raw or jpeg girl and if you are raw do you use lightroom or Acr.
Thanks
Michelle Pearson
www.xpressionsbymichelle.com
Thanks everyone for all your questions! I look forward to answering them later this week! Keep the questions coming!
Hi Scarlett,
Let see? Do you use Kubota Image Tools and if so which ones do you use most and which would you recommend buying?
Hey Scarlett! I've been waiting for this!!! Thanks so much for sharing your insight with all of us!!
As you know, I have just started with photography so I have a million questions - but I'll try to keep it to a minimum!
First, what conferences/workshops/etc. would you recommend for beginners? Do you attend workshops, and if so, how often?
What modes do you shoot in? I find myself relying on Auto modes...How would you suggest making the transition to more manual settings? How do you put yourself out there to be a second shooter for things? What has been your most effective form of marketing? How do you know what to charge just starting out? How do you do your printing...what service do you use?? I could think of a million more...but I'll stop!!!
Thanks again girl!!
Right well I have been wondering if you use pictage for your printing?? The Photo books are marvelous!! I have been looking into this option but wasn't quite sure, i like to have everything (printing) close by to where i can have a handle on it.. And if not how do you handle your printing? Thank you, i love to check out whats new on your site!! Oh i almost forgot, what kind of flash do you use?? I need a good multi use flash!! Have a Merry Christmas!!!
I'd love to know how you get eyes to bright and clear, are you just focusing on the eyes or is there some special technique?
Also what is the name of the mentoring program I am totally interested in something like that.
Dee
Hello Scarlett!
I know this comment is a year late, but just watched your Q&A video. Thank you for all the informative answers. I am trying to learn all about photography on my own and maybe just maybe I can make a living down the road at this. While watching that video, I did take in all the photography related information, but my eyes kept wandering to your shoes. Hint...Hint...
Oh, thank you for your prayers for Hunter. His condition was so dire...and suddenly well you will have to go the carebridge.org type in huntersolberg if you need some inspiration. My friend Amy reminds me a lot of you. She too is an open book. Reading Hunters journal will make you laugh and cry. Hopefully some day she will put the angel story on this site. Okay Im not sure if I am violating blog rules here. So I will put a lid on it. Have a great long weekend.
Nancy- LOL about the shoes! And my pleasure about Hunter! Glad to hear he is doing better!
Post a Comment
<< Home