Digital Photography: the five reasons why
One thing I discovered during my experience with digital photography after 20 years of film shooting, and taught to this point in all the many seminars I have made hundreds of full-time professionals, is that digital photography is well suited to the portrait photographer. So why are the last to jump on the band wagon? Many commercial shooters have known about and master the use of digital technology in their business for a long longer than the portrait photographer.
My guess is that we fear. Fear of the learning curve and fear that the quality just is not there, to unless you spend an ungodly amount of our hard earned cash in some scary looking giant set of confusing and awkward, to say nothing of "how will I learn to use this material, "the team.
The truth is that it is easy to get out with as little as a 3.5 megapixel camera. I know, I used my Canon D30 to the first eight months of my digital journey. This camera created more memories, more sales and more pictures of the wall than I thought imaginable.
Whoa, wait a minute you say, tapestries? No way!! When I started my seminars many routinely screen large samples of the wall for all to see, with some of the biggest shows that I created with the 3.5 megapixel camera, and the reaction I get is usually disbelief.
Listen. The quality is there. I tried again and again and I know nobody can replicate the same results. Yes, even with a 3.5 megapixel camera.
What needs to be careful, that's all. We have a collection of images in our study, even large tapestries D30 captured with our tiny little, and they are "stunned" awesome. Be other photographers who have had remarkable results as well. I know it works and the file size is secondary.
There are many reasons, but I will work with the main list. Here they are:
* Quality. The quality of images captured with a lens of high quality, well exposed and well-posed is more than adequate, even if you shoot JPEG. Yes, JPEG. Over 90% of over 30-40,000 exhibitions put through my camera every year receives shot in JPEG mode. Why? Why would anyone in their right mind shooting in quality as a "low" mode? The answer is simple: it works.
I like to compare JPEG to shoot film portrait. It is slightly softer (although not even noticeable to the human eye) and silent, ideal for skin tones, Right? Moreover, we slap on "soft" filters in front of these lenses extremely expensive and degrade the image even more. Do not bother. Shoot with a good lens, in JPEG mode, display properly, raise and create, as usual, and all this come together. Add the effects later. Look at what other photographers portrait have been doing their finished images, in addition to deliberately degrade the image "softars. We touch the surface of the print, sometimes extensively. We canvas mounting. Add texture sprays.Oils. Sheets of rolled … and again. My point is simple. Portrait photographers need not create as sharp, images higher resolution available. If they have done in the past, they have always degraded the image through these other means. It's a little ironic is not it? Yet you can shoot in RAW mode, if desired, but not really necessary.
If you need the highest quality image in the catch have been shooting with Kodachrome Velvia 64 or a chamber of 4 "x 5. But no. The work of JPEG images. I have lots of 30 copies, and even 70" print, which was captured in JPEG. And look amazing. You can too.
* Control. People want your photos fast. We live in unity across the world and minutes count. In our study to create a slideshow for our meetings and show them to customers within 20 minutes of each session. The customers love it. They come to see the results instantly. If you are fighting this fight against basic human nature. We want, want, want, and want to see that sooner than later. Sales rise, client is in the study prepared for viewing the images, and ready to go. Their evidence is sufficient that when displaying the images from before, and create great images planned which is easy with digital photography, sales go up. Digital gives the photographer more control over the sales process, and ultimately, it means more benefits.
* Retouching. Let's face it, people want to look good. What used to take hours and lots of aggravation with spray booths, lacquer smelly and dangerous, it is now possible with ease. Even when I decided to grow all my retouching because she had had enough, it took weeks or months, and bills of great retouching.
Not to mention the loss of control I had on aspects of retouching. Corresponds to the subjective interpretation of touch-up artist to enhance the images the way you want retouched. Now, with some basic skills, all those years of experience in all refinements transferred to the darkroom again, my computer, I can tweak to whatever degree, which I like. In a few minutes. Absolutely amazing results. This ultimately translates to meeting a basic need that must be fulfilled in our clients, their vanity. They want to look good, and they want it fast.
* Innovation. I could go on for days when it comes to that new products, ideas, services, sales processes, packages, etc, etc. .. I was able to create, because digital photography. Suffice it to say now that I'm excited and alive again with the passion of my photography and the possibilities. When you apply the power of digital technology, and get a handle on it in your workflow, you can create new and exciting products as never before.
I've seen and experience every bit busy week in our studio in the small city. The ultimate test is reduced to net benefits, right?
After all, we are in business first, and second creators, right? Right? Are you me in this? We are in business to make money and survive. We need new angles, new and exciting ways to stay afloat, so we can pay our accounts, keep the bankers happy and provide for our families. No one can predict with complete accuracy the ultimate digital photography, how it will evolve, but my bet is in dollars, with the whole way. I'm not taking any chances.
Anyone remember when color film and paper was presented as a general merchandise? Not me, I was a wee lad, but I've heard stories about the many studio owners are closing their doors and the packaging because they do not want keep up with demand and the latest fashion color film and color paper had created. Dinosaurs. Until the last one. Their loss, all for a gross head and misguided egos. Do not be a dinosaur.
My big discovery: Who is the real expert!
Ultimately, the real expert our business is not ourselves, or our peers. The true expert is the client. Open their hearts and wallets and fork over hard earned cash the memories we create for them. They do not care if shot in a JPEG? In RAW mode? They do not care if we use the bigger, better, stronger, faster computers and software? Of course not. When you reach your customers head and hear the conversation going on these things are irrelevant.
Much more important for her and for us the basics of good photography. In a whirlwind of technological nothing seems never stays the same. The truth is that the fundamentals of good photography will never change. That's where it all begins. Master and that you have 99% of digital photography to master challenges.
About the Author
Robert Provencher has been a professional portrait and wedding photographer for over 25 years. Robert has authored several manuals on digital photography and photogaphy marketing.
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