Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Summer Promotional, Which digital camera to buy, and Wedding photographers.

REBOUND REBATE:

Corporate Headshots and Staff Portrait

The economy is rebounding, you’ve hired a few new staff members and now you need new pictures to update your website as well as PR and marketing materials. Save $100 off any estimate of $500 or more and $250 off an estimate of $1,000 or more. This offer good on jobs shot now thru August 31, 2011. Click here for a full list of services or to request an estimate .

Choosing the right digital camera for you and your family.

Canon G12 - full-featured Point & Shoot

Aside from being asked if I can shoot pictures of the moon with that lens, the next most frequent question… “What camera should I buy?”  This is never an easy answer for a professional photographer. Here’s how I usually go about answering that question.

-       What is your budget?
-       What do you want to shoot and what do you want to do with the pics?
-       DSLR (Digital Single Lens reflex, ie. interchangeable lenses) or a (Point and Shoot)?

So first we have to determine a budget for what you need and want. First, for point and shoots, I define anything under $200 as disposable. Figure it’ll last two-three years, then it’s done. So I won’t address those models. I tend to recommend Nikon or Canon,as their technology migrates down from their professional line DSLR’s .

Remember not all Megapixels are equal. You need to look at the size of the sensor to know more. In general the smaller the chip size equals less resolution or image sharpness. Also, you probably don’t need a 21 Megapixel camera for family use, it would be like having a 600HP Minivan! Eight to 10 megapixels is a great range.

Additionally, Optical Zoom vs. Digital Zoom. Optical zoom is done with the lens and is the preferred method. Digital zoom essentially crops in on part of the image electronically and when you go to print it, will likely look like something you saw in your Art History class when studying pointillism painting. You will be disappointed.

A few bullet points.

Buy a P&S if:
- You like to always have a camera on you and you want better quality       than your smart phone’s camera.
- You like online galleries and prints are less of an object of desire.
- You have small hands.
- You don’t want to buy 2-3 different lenses.
- You’re travelling and want to carry less weight.

Buy a DSLR if:
- Your son or daughter or family member is an athlete, theatre performer     or similar.
- You like shooting wildlife and nature (don’t forget a good tripod).
- You like to control what your camera does and doesn’t do. I shoot almost entirely on manual.

I won’t bore you with a review of each camera, but if you want some specifics between different cameras/brands, drop me an e-mail and I’ll work on clarifying. Otherwise, I can or point you to a direction where it’s already been spelled out.

No matter which way you go, always have a spare battery full charged for cameras and always have an extra memory card or two incase one fails.

Lastly, if you order from the links below or a similar site, make sure you are buying USA Warranty items, Import items “Gray Market” may save you money at point of purchase, but if you have to have the camera repaired, then the item will be sent overseas to be fixed, thus putting you without the ability to shoot for an extended time period.

All prices are from www.bhphotovideo.com  (prices may change)

Here is a small list of camera options I would endorse.

Point & Shoots:

Canon
PowerShot G12 $499.95 (A P&S even us the professionals like)
PowerShot S95 $399.95

Nikon
CoolPix P7000 – $374.00
CoolPix S9100 – $319.95

Digital Single Lens Reflex:

Canon

EOS Rebel T3i  – $799.95
EOS 60D – $899.99
EOS 7D $1,599.00

Nikon

D90 $749.95
D7000  – $1195.95
D300s – $1599.95

(Next edition, I’ll write about lenses, memory cards and other accy’s)

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

I really don't shoot weddings...

Seems odd that I’m talking about something I don’t really do. I know, but understand I’m trying to teach not just sell.

OK, so I don’t shoot weddings. I don’t have a singular reason. I know the revenue can be very good, but after recently getting married and having my experience, I really prefer to refer a good wedding photographer.

So here are a few thoughts to getting a photographer that will meet your expectations.

First Step: Decide on a budget, Photographers can range from under a $1,000, to well over $10,000. While the cheaper photographer isn’t necessarily worse and the $10K shooter better, you can tell a lot from their websites, reviews on Yelp, The Knot and don’t forget your friends.  Look at their packages, see what they are offering, read their contracts. If you love the photographer who has a package at $5,500 and your budget is $2,850, don’t ask them to drop their price, their are great photographers all across the scale.

If you go with a larger studio, make sure you meet the shooter they “assign” to your day, you want to meet them before the wedding day, see their specific portfolio and understand how they shoot and approach their job.

Understand that you what you are paying the individuals for is their time and creativity and this goes beyond the day of the wedding, from the engagement session if included and there is always hours of post- production. It also covers their business insurance (make sure they have it, some churches and reception sites will require it), equipment investment and yes their retirement too.

Second Step:  Know what you want, if the key to your photos is great group photos, you may not want to hire a photojournalistic style photographer, if you want moments captured, then hire the photographer who was a photojournalist (a good one, they’re not all the same).  Do you want an album as part of your package, everything accessible via an online gallery or 4×6 proofs, make sure you know how they work. Most established photographers will not want to sell you all their un-retouched images, if you insist, prepare to bring more wallet.

Third Step: Decide. So you’ve attended the bridal fairs, talked to your best friends,  and still can’t decide. Here are a few of my references. They range in price and style. But I am comfortable sharing these names to start. Give them a call, arrange a meeting and get to know them!

Kevin Weinstein Photography
Jimi Allen Photography
Willowland Photography
Jill Wijangco Photography
Wes Craft Weddings
Theresa Scarbrough Photography
Kelley Demas Photography

Fourth Step: Sign the contract, make the deposit (everything with weddings takes a deposit!) and make the hire, oh, and keep planning for that big day! Good luck!

Remember to contact me soon to book your new corporate headshots and portraits. They’re great for your website, LinkedIn, Facebook and various social media needs as well as for business cards, websites and printed marketing materials.