Series: The Merits of Mobile Don’t miss the first post in this series by Will Jacks, a photographer based in the Mississippi Delta. Real Life is Beautiful: the Instagram Edition! The best camera is the one that’s with you. Since Chase Jarvis kicked off this discussion years ago, more photographers have adopted mobile photography as a playful personal expression and a serious artistic endeavor. In fact, “Mobile Photography” is simultaneously contributing to the democratization of image making and the artistic positioning of professionals. Last week, Instagram hit 27 million users, making it one of the world’s fastest growing social networks. To top it off, Hipstamatic and Instagram unveiled a photo-sharing partnership. Clearly, mobile photography is more than a hobby; it’s serious business. To explore the
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Lifestyle Baby Photography Part Four: The Session Overview
In my last three articles, I expressed my beliefs regarding the beauty of real life and I detailed ways to overcome client insecurity. With this philosophical platform under our feet, let’s discuss the session itself! The only way these types of sessions can be effective is if the photographer believes the ‘Real Life is Beautiful’ mantra. Each session must be approached as an opportunity to capture something special, regardless of how mundane the subject matter may seem. If the photographer doesn’t truly believe that reality can be beautiful, he will be focused on all of the things that do not matter, rather than on capturing the things that do. To effectively orchestrate a true lifestyle session, a photographer must give up his desire to control
Lifestyle Baby Photography Part Three: Overcoming Insecurity
Real life is beautiful. We established that in Part One of this series. But although this philosophy sounds wonderful, it can be hard to follow through with, particularly when it’s personal. In my last installment in this series, I explained that I believe there are two major barriers to overcome in Lifestyle Photography – ignorance and insecurity. I outlined ways that I work to combat ignorance by cultivating true relationships with my clients. Once the barrier of ignorance has been removed, and people become aware of Lifestyle Baby Photography, we are still left with their insecurities. Even if my potential clients embrace the concept that Real Life is beautiful, in a global sense, they have probably not truly grasped that their Real Life is beautiful. My
Lifestyle Photography Part Two: Client Relationships
Real life is beautiful. I believe wholeheartedly in this philosophy, and after reading my last article in this series, you may acknowledge the idea… but does the average consumer embrace this concept? When an expecting mother decides that it is time to cross the “hire a photographer” task off of her “to-do before the baby arrives” list, does she immediately think, “Ooooh! I know… I’ll have a photographer come to my house and document our real lives!” Probably not. It’s very possible that this mother has never been exposed to the idea of Lifestyle Baby Photography, and even if she has, she’s probably plagued with doubts about it, rather than excitement. “Our house isn’t nearly as nice as the one on that photographer’s site.” “I’ll
Lifestyle Photography Part One: Real Life is Beautiful
Real life is beautiful. Say it. Say it again. Say it a little louder. Yell it if you have to. Make yourself really hear it. Do you believe it yet? If not, you might want to just move past this article and read some of the other delicious tidbits further down in the blog. If you do believe it… or if, at the very least, you think you could be convinced to believe it, read on. I’m about to share with you how those four words have changed my life. Yes, my life. I’m a daughter, a wife, a mom, a small business owner, and a photographer. If real life is beautiful… well, that changes things for me in all of those areas. I came