Artistic-Endeavors Blog

It seems there is a SEVERE debate as to what constitutes a “Professional” photographer. In my humble opinion anyone who recieves money for services is a professional. All of my income comes from my clients, and photography is my only career. I’m not against amateurs earning money from their photography, but when a professional tax preparer or whatever not only call themselves a “Pro”, but buys an expensive camera and proceeds to call themselvest”Professional”, and attempts to teach classes (on photography, NOT TAXES, As well as attempt to tell me I’m not a “professional”… let’s just say my bullcrap meter hits 10! These people are literally taking money out of my pocket! I don’t do taxes in my spare time for a reason…

Upon just finishing reading the latest Rangefinder Magazine…the article talked about the slippery slope of under valuing your work as a photographer. I’m reading this and going “this is ME!” I’ve been doing $50 portrait mini sessions for about a month, with the thought of “some money coming in is better than no money coming in”. The area market where I live is super saturated with Pro Photogs, some of them quite good. So, I’ve been lowering my rates….and let’s not forget the number of houses in my neighborhood up FOR SALE…..what to do? I don’t want to hurt other photographers livelihoods by being the “Wal-Mart” of my craft, but I need a way to separate myself from the pack. I’m just not meeting clients with thousands of dollars to spend on luxury items, like metallic prints, and proof books….I’ve also seen a lot of photographers resorting to teaching seminars and workshops to garner income during this recession. I know I’m supporting someone with all of the money I’ve spent on equipment and knowledge….but how to pass along this expense to my clients?

I have gotten to know and love Steve as our photographer over the last few months. Although only meeting him in April 2010, Steve has shot over 3 events for us in that time frame. He did an awesome job on our engagement pictures. Beautiful lighting and perfect shots….he brought out a part of us that we thought had been buried years past!
He also shot my best friends retirement party…another superb job! The guest of honor was overjoyed with the photographs Steve took.
Recently, Steve shot head shots for my two children. He came to our home, made the children feel comfortable and again captured their inner and outer beauty. I highly recommend Artistic Endeavors to anyone who is looking for a photographer that is going to give your special event the personal attention that you deserve.
We have looked for a long time but we finally found him….Steve LaFave.

Sheilah Walker

The Moll

This is from a city shoot I did with Tiffany, who is fairly new to modeling, but did a great job!

To view the Client Galleries, click here!

Nico, originally uploaded by Artistic Endeavors.

This was done last year. It’s a VERY simple effect to do in Photoshop. You simply have the player kick the ball, and “freeze” the action using a faster shutter speed as well as a flash. Then in photoshop you create a layer, and add a zoom filter blur to a layer with the zoom starting in the ball, create a layer mask, and paint the player without the zoom effect through.

There are some basic rules of composition in photography. I equate these to guidelines more than rules…if you can remember these things, it may generate more interest in your images. Composition literally means “to put together”.
    Among the first is 
“RULE OF THIRDS”
Imagine a tic-tac-toe game on the image (without the X’s and O’s). The lines are segments that divide the image into thirds, both horizontally as well as vertically. Where the lines intersect are called “POWER POINTS”. I usually try to place a subjects eye in a portrait on one of these points, and the horizon along one of these lines in my landscapes. The guides or rules can be broken, and there are times when you absolutely should, as your vision is your art.
“RULE OF ODDS” This rule or guide simply means that an odd number of subjects in a portrait may generate more interest than an even number of subjects.
“RULE OF SPACE” This rule pertains to creating fluidity or movement in a photo. The viewer’s eye is drawn to a particular place with the use of negative (or white) space.
There are a lot of guides or rules in photography, and I’ve listed a few here. They are not the “set in stone rules to live by”!
I have come to learn, love and live hoping for the “happy accident”. That’s where something you weren’t trying to do accidentally becomes something much better than you could have ever hoped for…and I welcome it with open arms whenever it happens to me. Catching lightning without getting my camera wet, having everyone in the room forget I’m there and act naturally for a candid…
I’d also suggest not worrying about these too awful much before you are able to consistently achieve a proper exposure. Good luck to you! Keep shooting!