Phone Photography Tips

In todays day and age almost all phones have a camera.  Most of those cameras are close to comparable to many point and shoot cameras you can buy.  So why carry both.  Most don't.  In todays post I am gonna share a few tips on how to get better phone photos.

1.  Hold the phone like you would a camera - this will provide stability and balance needed

2.  Don't zoom with the internal zoom, zoom with your feet - avoids blur and grain

3.  Shoot the same thing a few times - this will help get the best photo

4.  Light - the lower the light the more grain you will have in your photo

5.  Set resolution and quality settings to the highest settings

6.  Keep camera as still as possible to avoid blur

7.  Move around and try different angles

8.  Clean the lens - your phone is in a pocket most of the time, it can collect a lot of dirt

9.   Process - You can use an in phone app or download to your computer and use software

10.  Clutter - try to avoid to much going on in your photo, more pleasing to the eye

All the photos above were taken with my iphone.  I definitely use my dslr for big events and those moments I want great photos for.  But my phone works for the everyday items or the random things you find during the day( I seem to take a lot of photos of bugs).

Hope these tips help you improve your phone photography!



Who is KRP Photography???

Ever wonder how your photographer got started?  Did they always love photography? What do they do besides photography?  Who are they?  Well here's your change to find out.

KRP Photography is pretty much a one man band.  My name is Kim and I am the photographer for the company.  Have I always loved photography?  Yes, for as long as I can remember there has been a camera in my hand and I have always loved to take photos of everything.  I knew I really wanted to do photography when I was young, I loved photographing just about anything.  Macro seems to be my go to and gets my interest quickly.

Who am I you ask.  I am a wife to my husband George for the last 12 1/2 years, mom to my son Alex, Sister, daughter, and friend to many.  I love all things creative and the arts have always influenced my actions.  I love to be outdoors, especially at the beach.  My family and friends are super important to me. I also love tattoos and competition BBQ.

What do I like to do besides photography?  I like to scrapbook all the photos I take, roller skate, do competition BBQ, go to the beach, listen to music and read lots of books.  All those things influence my photography also.

I am the face of KRP Photography.

 

 

So you see all the photos of me and wonder who takes them.  Usually me.  I get out my tripod and remote and take self portraits or better know as "selfies".  Wonder how to get better selfies?  Here are a few tips.

 

 

1.  Use a tripod with a remote or the interval timer on your camera.  This is easier then stretching your arm out as far as you can to get that photo.

 

2.  Use a reflective surface if you don't have a tripod, mirrors, windows, etc.

 

3.  Try different angles.  Don't be afraid to experiment, you can check it out and if it doesn't work try something new

 

4.  Props aren't necessary but can help tell who you are or what you want to convey.

 

5.  Shoot a lot!!!

Tips for Photography in the Rain

Well it has been one of the wettest summers in a very long time.  In June alone we had over 15 inches of rain.  So when this happens you have a choice to make, let it stop you from shooting or improvise and have some fun.

Main thing to remember if you will be out shooting in the elements is to protect your gear.  Most cameras and lenses are not weather tight.  This mean you need to take steps to protect your items.  You have a couple choice. 

You can buyer a rain cover.  There are 2 Options:
An economical choice, but not best quality:
http://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-Rainsleeve-18-Inch/dp/B000PTFDYO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375042597&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+rain+cover

Better quality not bad price wise either:
http://www.amazon.com/Camera-Cover-Canon-Models-combinations/dp/B0016D3YJY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1375042648&sr=8-5&keywords=canon+rain+cover

Or you can make your own.  This is what I did.  Here are some easy instructions:
1.  You will need a large ziplock bag ( I used the Jumbo 2.5 gallon size), a black sharpie, electrical or duct tape, scissors and of course your camera.

2.  Put your camera in bag so lens is facing sealed bottom end, trace the outside of the lens onto the back and cut out circle.  Use tape to secure bag to end of lens to keep water out.  Then you are ready to go.

So of course I wanted it to rain after being the rainiest June in a long time and we have had hardly none in July.  Or at least none when I could get out to shoot.  So a friend of mine improvised and made our own "rain" to test out the cover and have some fun photos.

So don't let the rain dampen your day.  Get out have fun and enjoy all types of weather.  Just remember to protect your gear!

Natural Light Photography Workshop

Ever wish you new the tips and tricks that help your favorite photographer achieve those beautiful natural light portraits.  Well I am here to help you out.

I am offering a digital workshop featuring tips on natural light photography.  This workshop covers the basics of photography along with tips to achieve those portraits you are wanting to get.

This workshop will be emailed to you after purchase and for 7 days after your purchaes you can email me with any questions that you may have on the subject of natural light photography.  So not only will you get the 12 page Natural Light Photography workshop guide you will have access to your favorite photographer for 7 days to gain all the additional information you need.

To purchase send an email to krpphotography@comcast.net and I will contact you for payment information.  Once payment is made you will receive an email with the workshop pdf.  Then feel free to email me with questions.

How much is this wonderful workshop you ask?  For only $45 you can purchase this informative workshop and 7 days of professional photographer advise.

Contact me today to get your copy!!!

Shoot the Moon

Tonight is the full moon.  Ever look up and just marvel at the beauty of the large beatiful moon in the night sky.  Ever wanted to photograph it.  Taking ictures of the moon can be challenging, but with a few steps and the right equipment you can produce images that can wow everyone. 

Equipment:

To get a fantastic moon shoot first we need to talk equipment. Most DSLR cameras will work.  The lens is the real key to getting fantastic details in your shot. I would recommend a lens of at least 200mm.  If you have longer even better!

A tripod is essential!  It doesnt have to be fancy or expensive just stable enough to hold hold your camera and lens securely to allow you to remotely trigger the shuttler.  If you dont ahve a remote, the sel timer in camera will work just as well.

Settings:

The two biggest challenges when shooting the moon are focus and exposure.  The moon is really bright!  Even though most of the time you wil be shooting the moon at night is is different then shooting in low light.  Also the moon is moving!  Use a low ISO and fast shutter speed to accommodate the brightness and movement of the moon, even though you are shooting at night.

Set your camera to manual mode and manual focus (single focus point).  I recommend the following settings.  ISO 200, Shutter Speed 160-250 and F/Stop of 8 or 11.

You will need to play with your setting to find what works best for you.  Aim for images that are slightly underexposed, you can bump the exposure in post processing.

Focusing:

With everything set to manual, turn on the live view.  Center the moon in the LCD Screen and zoom in until the moon fills or nearly fills the screen.  Center your focus point on the center of the moon, then slowly focus your lens until you find the right focus.  This may take a bit.  Watch your details that will help tell you when you are focused.  Take a few test shots to see how your focus is and what adjustments need made.

Post processing:

Crop your image to the desired layout.  Be sure to keep your crop ratio the same as original photo.  Once cropped, adjust your exposure if needed.  Play and see what looks you like the best.

Also remember the cold weather shooting tips that i posted since it is still winter.  Here is the link to that post.  http://krpphotography546.blogspot.com/2013/01/tips-for-shooting-in-cold-weather.html

Remember there is no exact science to this and experimenting is the best way to get the images you will love.  Please be sure to share if you take any photos tonight!

Any questions please let me know.

Whats in my camera bag???

One of the questions I am asked most frequently is what camera and lenses I use. So let me start by saying I really love my camera and lenses. They are amazing tools that help me make the images I see in my head a reality. But I’d like to state for the record what you already know. The camera, lenses and gear are not what make a great image – the person using it does. There are so many things that you need to pair with that great gear to realize a fabulous photograph … knowing how to compose your image and create unique art, how to capture true emotions, how to achieve proper exposure, how to nail your focus, how to process your images well, etc., etc. I do believe, however, that having the right tools to do your job as a photographer will definitely improve your final results and in some instances give you more creative freedom to get the shots you are dreaming of. I think there is a balance between “the camera doesn’t matter at all – an artist can create beauty from absolutely any gear” and “you must have the latest and greatest expensive gear to take good photographs.”

This is definately not all of my camera equipment I own, just what I carry with me on a daily basis (minus a few things) Now, with all that said … let me introduce you to my large family of tools that do such a splendid job in helping me create my images. ;)

I also usually have gum, candy, a little toy & bubbles if photographing a small child.  Sometimes I take a color checker with me and a reflector also.  (none shown above) 

My bag was getting way to heavy with all my gear so I had to cull and decide what I really needed when I went out on a shoot, even then I do not carry my entire bag with me, I take what I need and come back for items if needed.

Included in my bag is:
1.  My Jill-E Bag - this was a great investment, it is stylish, fits everything I need, yet restricts me
     enough that i do not carry everything all the time.
2.  My Canon T2i camera body with a Tamron 28-75mm lens - this is my goto setup for almost all
     my shoots.
3.  My Flash - hardly ever use it, I prefer natural light but I carry just in case.
4.  Canon Shutter Release - This handly little tool is a life saver for when I want to be in a picture and
     do not have an assistant to push the shutter button.
5.  Battery Charge (not marked) - I carry this just in case i need to charge up my batteries.
6.  Business Cards - Always need to have your contact information on hand
7.  Pen - Sounds simple but is great for the contracts that need signed, notes to remember for later, etc
8.  Canon 50mm lens - This is my backup lens, mainly due to being small and light weight
9.  Light Meter - Used to ensure proper exposure on location

So there you have it.  If you have any questions about anything in my bag please feel free to ask.