tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9620087798427511592024-03-15T21:10:00.828-04:00Chris Adval Learning Model PhotographyLearning Model Photography in all forms of shooting models. I would like to specialize in Commercial Advertising, Fashion, Editorial, Lifestyle, Fine Art: Story-Telling. Join me on this journey of learning the best techniques of doing model photography in those areas and as I learn these techniques I will share them on here to give you a place to learn as well.Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-34847936238582646432023-07-18T05:00:00.001-04:002023-07-18T05:00:05.850-04:00Location, Location, Location... more than true for photographers.<p>After practicing photography for 13 years and experiencing a general lack of demand for all forms of photography in my area, Hazleton, PA, the reality became clear. Despite my efforts to promote, advertise, and position myself within the regional market, I struggled to attract clients due to the law of supply and demand. The key to overcoming this challenge as a photographer was to focus on relationship building and maintaining those connections. Although some may view my reasons as mere excuses, they are legitimate.</p><p><br /></p><p>I attempted to specialize in senior portrait photography, promoting a high-end magazine fashion style with a highly stylized glam experience for high school seniors. However, the common feedback I received, even within the region, was that my work "looked too expensive." Admittedly, it was. While my stylized senior portrait shoots resembled fashion photoshoots with experienced models, I had learned over the past 13 years to teach inexperienced individuals how to appear like professional models in their images. This didn't mean they performed better than professional models, but at the very least, they could present themselves as professionals in the photos seen by themselves and their friends.</p><p><br /></p><p>The only strategy I was taught, and even received guidance from experienced professionals on, was to network at high school sporting events as a senior portrait photographer. This involved befriending coaches, photographing the games (despite my limited experience in shooting sports due to lacking specialized gear), and consistently attending the games by keeping track of their schedules. Unfortunately, this approach conflicted with my full-time job, which required me to work from afternoon to midnight. Weekday games were not feasible for me, and weekend games were infrequent, often involving away games, which didn't align with my initial strategy.</p><p><br /></p><p>As someone without children, family, or friends within that circle, networking through sporting events was my only gateway. Eventually, I had to walk away from specializing in senior portrait photography, which was disheartening because of the immense effort I had invested due to my passion for fashion photography. Given that my area lacked clothing designers, targeting regional designers for potential commercial photography was not a viable option. The most realistic opportunity for me, then and possibly even now, is to move to a larger city. However, moving to a bigger city came with higher living costs, which I couldn't afford unless I had enough savings to sustain myself for 12 months or secured a day job within the city.</p><p><br /></p><p>Contrary to photographers who claim that location doesn't matter, they fail to understand individual goals. As a generalist photographer, location becomes less of an issue. However, my intention was never to be a generalist; at most, I aspired to be a commercial photographer specializing in various photography genres while focusing on working with businesses. Nonetheless, even as a commercial photographer, the demand from small businesses for photographers is limited. Most small businesses rely on stock photography or Google images for their minimal local social media and print advertising needs.</p><p><br /></p><p>Therefore, even for a commercial photographer, location matters significantly. It is more advantageous to be situated in a major city rather than a small city like Hazleton, PA, with a population of 30,000-40,000 or even within the regional area with 1.4 million people. Small businesses prefer to hire generalists, who are easier and more cost-effective to find through personal connections like friends, friends of friends, or even family. Hiring a photographer is considered a regular expense for larger businesses, but for the majority of small businesses in the Northeastern PA region, it occurs infrequently, usually once a year, unless the business continually introduces new products.</p><p><br /></p><p>To conclude, if you are starting a photography business, it is crucial to focus on your location and invest efforts in building and maintaining relationships. Personally, I prefer to pursue other business opportunities that offer faster scalability than a photography business could achieve in today's environment. Otherwise, persisting would result in minimal returns, constant annual profit losses, and the frustrating cycle of low demand and oversupply.</p>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-20742180290441089812023-07-04T01:02:00.001-04:002023-07-15T04:45:19.691-04:00A Reflection of 13 Years Doing Photography<p> I don't regularly post here much anymore because I haven't really shot a whole lot of stuff since pre-COVID. I did some shoots here and there, which I'll share once they're actually and fully done. But I wanted to give a full reflection on my last 13 years in my journey as a photographer and entrepreneur, trying to make photography a viable path to a full-time living.</p><p><br /></p><p>Initially, I got into photography because I felt I could comfortably learn the technical aspects and pair them with my creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in running a business. Looking back today, I progressively improved my photography crafting skills, but I definitely feel I lacked pushing the boundaries on the creative side for myself. Additionally, I was limited by my budget, which may sound like an excuse. From the start, my budget was always bootstrapping my shoots.</p><p><br /></p><p>Today, of course, I spend a lot more time in preparation and even money on wardrobe. I still live in the middle of nowhere with no accessible wardrobe stylists to help me find the right clothing, so I have to work with what the models have in their own wardrobe, or I have to hope a model I trust will be the same size for a few months while I save up money for a concept shoot with a nice-looking wardrobe. I think I've saved up money for wardrobe purchases myself only a handful of times.</p><p><br /></p><p>Did spending more pay off in terms of improving my portfolio or leading to paying jobs? Not necessarily. In the last 13 years, most of my paid gigs came from relationship building, some indirectly and some directly from doing TFP (trade-for-pic) shoots. Whether I spent a lot or not on those TFP photoshoots was irrelevant. However, if I had consistently spent more on higher-budget shoots, it could have benefited me more. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford to do these higher-budget shoots as much as I would have liked. Nonetheless, I believe I became really good at consistent natural light photography.</p><p><br /></p><p>One important lesson I learned was that I did over 400 TFP modeling shoots in my 13 years, but unfortunately, most of them were in Hazleton or around Northeastern PA, and most did not lead to paid gigs (maybe 2% did). They did help build my portfolio and allow me to work on my craft, which should be the primary reason to do them. However, location does matter, regardless of what others in the industry say. I am based in Hazleton, a small city in the Northeastern region of Pennsylvania. I didn't have access to modeling agencies near me or any agencies willing to drive to my area from NYC or Philadelphia. My only opportunity to work with models who could help me build the portfolio I wanted was to collaborate with modeling agencies. Others would hire models, but as I mentioned, my budget was almost zero per shoot, and the only models considered "pro" in my area were glamour models. Glamour photography was not my preferred route for business, as I primarily focused on passion-focused directions like fashion photography and editorial work.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you can afford to travel to a major city that ideally has a modeling agency, such as NYC or Philadelphia, and you want to focus on fashion photography, I recommend researching legitimate agencies and reaching out to collaborate with them.</p><p><br /></p><p>The only way I could do more on-location/off-camera flash photography was by having either a heavy and expensive wagon or paying an assistant to help carry my gear. Many photographers use sandbags as a solution, but they are not lightweight. So, if you want to do more on-location/off-camera flash photography, invest in a $100-$200 wagon to save on labor costs. Most photographers, though, have a significant other or life partner who can be very helpful. From what I have observed, photographers working with their partners for</p><p><br /></p><p> assistance or even for makeup and hair can significantly reduce costs compared to hiring someone externally. Although having an assistant is much better than relying on sandbags, especially when shooting in public or urban areas like NYC, Philadelphia, or Miami. The goal is to travel as lightly as possible, so be prepared to shoot with natural light or become skilled at speedlite shooting with an assistant holding or angling the modifier.</p><p><br /></p><p>A key lesson here is that if you can afford to have a reliable assistant, go for it. If you can't, become proficient in natural light shooting or invest in a good wagon.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another aspect of my entrepreneurial learning experience was the rate of scaling and earning enough revenue to become full-time. I never reached that level due to several reasons. One of them being that I prioritized the artist and passion over the business. When running a business, especially a photography business, you cannot put passion for the art first to become successful, unless you have ample resources and access to a larger networking pool. Admittedly, if I had forced myself to do photography that I had no real artistic passion for, like weddings, couples, and family portraits—the common types of photography that regular people would hire for—I could have obtained more work in my area. However, my passion for editorial and fashion photography was what drove me to keep going. While the money would have been great, and I did try to get those clients, I'm not a family person myself, nor am I particularly interested in couples' photography. Therefore, I'm not naturally connected to those circles.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, the few times I did acquire those clients were either through bidding websites like Thumbtack, referrals from friends of friends, or clients who hired me for other work but also requested couples or family portraits. I also attempted Facebook, Instagram, and Google advertising, but I didn't see any returns on my investment; it was a total loss. The only way I could have made any headway with paid online advertising would have been by spending thousands of dollars a month. However, given the current state of the industry with its supply and demand dynamics, it didn't make sense for photography clients. I learned this lesson because of the abundance of supply in the world. People will always check their own personal networks first, starting with close friends and then expanding to their social media connections. While I'm not a private person, I don't like friending random strangers on Facebook, and most photography clients were on that platform. Building personal relationships to network with potential photography clients was just too slow to become full-time based on my location and my passions in terms of the types of photography I wanted to explore and offer.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 2023, I decided to reduce my efforts to win over clients as much as I did before. I will still keep my photography websites up (chrisadvalproductions.com, ca-headshots.com, and chrisadvalportraits.com), but the effort to advertise and network as extensively as before for photography is simply not worth it. Instead, I am putting more effort into a new business venture where I don't invest as much passion and heart into the artistic direction, but rather focus on the business aspect. Currently, I am building a clothing brand centered around T-shirt designs for the live streaming community. Since 2018, I have become more involved in this niche section of the online community and have fallen in love with it due to its unique nature and the significant opportunities it offers, particularly within the IRL community. Over the years, I have built many friendships within this community, so it makes the most logical sense to start my first clothing brand catering to this niche for my T-shirt business.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have also considered, and still might, start creating more YouTube content for educational purposes in photography. Based on the lessons I've learned over the last 13 years, the highest demand and most lucrative part of the photography industry has been, and continues to grow, is photography education. Initially, I didn't pursue this path because I love creating fashion and editorial photography more than teaching. However, it has become evident that the "superstars" of the photography industry achieved their success by teaching their expertise. I am confident in my ability to teach natural light portraits or, more specifically, natural light modeling photography to those who are or were in my position, where shooting with off-camera flash is not ideal.</p><p><br /></p>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-6293161660172974872017-05-20T07:08:00.001-04:002017-05-20T07:08:09.363-04:00The Red Chair<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First off, this was my very first legit attempt at photographing animals in a editorial type of photoshoot. Not counting candid, which is by far much easier (HA!)! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What I came to learn from this shoot is bar none... is to have a squeaky toy! This is a must! Of course you can simply have an assistant jumping around around/under you to get the dog's attention to your camera, but most of the time I won't always have an assistant on my project shoots, especially when its indoors and no time limit like this one. Plus this was not just a one animal/pet shoot... I wanted to get as many dogs they had (which was 4?) in the frame looking at me. I soon realized this would be an impossible task with what I had available, so I decided to do a one by one and get the best shots I could. Check the video below at my attempt!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was also my first shoot, aside from my self-portrait, using the RB120 (48" Para Softbox) from Cheetahstand. As well using my Avenger C-Stand with boom! So some new equipment reallly upped my tool box of what I had the ability to do and even grow from.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The lighting was very simple. My RB120 as my key angled as it was like a sun would be, top right, and had a fill with the shoot-thru umbrella. I honestly could not tell how much difference it helped cause I only wanted a touch to keep my dynmaic range in peace to recover some more.... now I wish I had a LCD hood to pixel peep on the back or some kind of tethering then I would. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My main thought originally to use the red chair with one model....but soon later I sorta did 2 shoots here. One of the models, is an actual model...Christian Webber. It was very simple, nothing super complex because I know the other idea I had was more interesting to not just me but I feel it would peek people's interest. Something different. A couple's editorial stylized shoot with their dogs. Now granted.. yes... its not a giant team, or much of any for production. But we made it work and managed throughout. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So as we moved onto the couple's shoot, it was chaos as I somewhat mentioned before and as you can clearly see in the video below (lol!). The thing is.... when I saw the images in post/culling...the chaos worked! It provided genuine ultra cute moments I'm sure vast majority of dogs or even animal lovers would adore! And yes, I debated on not editing these at all to save time but I thought to myself these can easily work very well as finals for a blooper section for the shoot... and yes I intentionally edited them in all square crop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check out the BTS video below!</span></div>
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-4889046111057622452017-04-16T17:06:00.001-04:002017-04-27T04:00:18.953-04:00UNboxing: Tamron 70-200 2.8 G2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I was super excited to finally upgrade my original 70-200 2.8 Tamron lens and jumping to this level from that! Watch out in the near future for the first impressions video!</span></div>
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-88929802153813653942017-04-13T20:51:00.000-04:002017-04-13T20:58:16.177-04:00Breakdown: Red Dress Dark Fashion Post-Blizzard Stella<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I got this concept pop into my head when the nor’easter blizzard of 2017 Stella hit my area… but as soon as it ended lol. I saw the contrast of white and red would be perfect for a shoot, so I scrambled to find anyone with a red dress and luckily found on for this past Thursday (a week after the blizzard hit) and luckily had just enough snow on the ground too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now my original plan was to try more off camera flash. So I took my 2 speedlites, as I just planned to use one and keep one as a backup as my YN600 is sorta having issues with “over heating” in a few pops. So I get to the park I wanted to shoot at (which mind you, I am more of an urban portrait shooter, haven’t shot in a park for at least 2 years but this concept was perfect for a park setting).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I grabbed everything, tripod, lightstand in one bag, realized I forgot my swivel at home on my desk, so okay, no swivel abilities… then grabbed everything and went… then as I got to the shooting spot (15min hike with the icy snow, which normally is a 5min walk). So its just me and the model and I realize…I forgot my softbox… Since it was 16F degrees, and sunrise (by the way not super experienced on sunrise shooting, more sunset), and while noticing the sun at 7am was moving up fairly fast when compared to the sunset, so we decided to say heck with it and just do natural light. Which I have a lot of experience of shooting natural light, with the past 2 years just shooting natural light portraits primarily since I lacked that skill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We went around freelance shot with what we had. We originally planned to shoot in 3 outfits but with the cold and lack of staff support as it was a super last second thing for both me and the model, and did not have another opportunity for snow on the ground we took it (it doubt it would snow until next year hence why we just did it).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have a nice set in this <a href="http://chrisadvalproductions.com/cms/gallery/red-dress-dark-fashion-shoot-post-blizzard-of-2017-stella/" target="_blank">gallery</a>. Here’s one of my favorites!</span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-4937553940406133582017-02-10T04:37:00.008-05:002017-02-10T04:37:36.759-05:00How to POP Your Subject From The Scene in PhotoshopCC PART 3: Saturation<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Rq9Z_qhAg" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Video notes here.</a></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-87095162940677982332017-02-10T04:37:00.007-05:002017-02-10T04:37:34.617-05:00How to POP Your Subject From The Scene in PhotoshopCC PART 2: Temperature<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Rq9Z_qhAg" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Video notes here.</a></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-53377837057059381302017-02-10T04:37:00.005-05:002017-02-10T04:37:33.247-05:00How to POP Your Subject From The Scene in PhotoshopCC PART 1: Exposure!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Rq9Z_qhAg" target="_blank">Video notes here.</a></span></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-1744550600342060042017-02-10T04:32:00.004-05:002017-02-10T04:32:49.379-05:00Photographer to Model: Can I Be a Model?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This post will be added to the Photographer to Model blog series. Check out more on this series </span><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2011/07/photographer-to-models-tip-index-post.html" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-26370503799442381452016-12-01T06:11:00.001-05:002016-12-01T06:11:23.567-05:00UNBOXING: Cheetah Rice Bowl <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Link to product: <a href="http://www.cheetahstand.com/product-p/rb-120.htm">http://www.cheetahstand.com/product-p/rb-120.htm</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First unboxing in a while honestly... may be a while for my next but I thought I'd share it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What prompted me to buy it was not just the Black Friday deal... this item was on my wishlist for a long while. I've been using my Lastolite 30x30 (EZ BOX) speedlite softbox for a long time. While I still plan to use it when run and gun on-location shooting or as an added light source I still wanted a bigger and more controllable light softbox for my bigger more powerful light source, my impact 300 w/s strobe. This will force me to pretty much shoot a lot more in a more planned way than run and gun every time with my speedlite on-location rogue shooting lol. So this will, hopefully prompt me to find locations, the property owners/managers to hopefully get a chance to organize full blown shoot(s) there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anything that is "deep" is automatically less spill... less spill more efficiency on light, as well it is more focused, so if I wanted to, I can shoot without any diffuses and get fairly sharp shadow edges on the subject as my keylight. But with my usual style it will be mostly used as a soft light, which usually will bring in more spill, luckily with the added deep its a little more focused, PLUS I got a grid with it, so it'll be fairly very soft and focused to the subject... which this will require POWER! Luckily my impact 300 w/s should work great to power and shoot with the modifier and grid. </span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-10736172243126028942016-11-17T02:41:00.004-05:002016-11-17T02:41:52.530-05:00Photo Plus Expo 2016 Reviewed! <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are my own personal thoughts of what I thought was interesting. I did not cover anything that was not interesting to my own interests or thought was revolutionary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5:02 Media Booth Pro (Photo Booth)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6:05 Vuze (3D/VR Camera)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7:18 Sony A7RII</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8:54 Sony A7SII</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">12:19 THETA 360 Camera</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">14:35 The Lens Flipper </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">16:58 Some LED lighting gear I forgot to get the name of...sorry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">17:40 Wacom (Retouching tool)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">19:28 Bowens (Strobe units, also talk about Flashpoint's XPLOR)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">21:50 is Came-TV (Gimbals/Stabilizers)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">23:08 Another one I forgot, could be the app or the thing moving the camera around, or both... sorry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">24:35 Typhoon4k (Drone)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">25:46 More LED lighting equipment, Zylight</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">26:43 Education (Peter Hurley shown as reference)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">28:17 Foto Master (Photo Booth)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">30:17 Lastolite (Softboxes)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">31:41 Sigma 85mm 1.4 ART Lens with sample images on the Canon 6D</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">34:28 Sony Booth</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">35:20 iKan Booth - Video Equipment</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">36:49 Networking and Shoots in NYC</span></div>
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-75771704545833658202016-11-11T05:29:00.002-05:002016-11-11T05:31:49.330-05:00EDITING SESSION 02: Yahaira <div style="text-align: center;">
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-87710583503770705752016-11-11T05:28:00.002-05:002016-11-11T05:32:04.788-05:00EDITING SESSION 01: Sierra <div style="text-align: center;">
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-13353385677423297912016-10-13T23:51:00.002-04:002016-10-13T23:51:23.201-04:00How to Find Models in a Weak Market. - UPDATE<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/07/how-to-find-models-in-weak-market.html" target="_blank">Original Article</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well it's been over a year since I started my venture into expanding my ability and skills in finding new models or people whom may want to be photographed as models...and my thoughts? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Simple... it did work a lot better than I expected... but still underwhelming, unsurprisingly. Sadly for the goals I have in my photography and portfolio I will need to move to a more heavy populated area closer to major cities, such as for me the closest that isn't too big or too small is Philadelphia, PA. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not just models I'll more access to, but I'll have access to all and vast amounts of different talent I can collaborate with and expand not just my portfolio but my skills as a photographer, art director and now exploring more into video work directing/producing content. Honestly, I wished I have realized this sooner. I was told I could have either discovered talent and create models from ground up, and I can.... but for what I need in my portfolio requires certain looks to appeal to the fashion industry (like high fashion models). And experience helps, but not required from a model. I don't intend to explore too many concepts that require a ton of complex modeling skills since my techniques I am heavily inspired by Annie Leibovitz. Trying to keep it natural is my goal... yea sometimes I do like to play with more complex concepts, but I do most of the time aim for my style to come off as natural looking as much as I can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As for my NEPA Modeling Search... I can make it work, but to truly make it work requires either CASH or sponsors. Can't make the NEPA region want to participate if no prizes are involved or "glitz" and fame is anywhere in sight in the group. People want something more than just images these days sadly, especially in the NEPA region. I will continue to work on it even as I move a little further south, but less focused and time dedicated to it. It would have to be entirely dependent on sponsors since images for people is not enough to simply show up and get some photos, especially when they do not see themselves as models or ever intend to become a "model" professionally. Time is extremely limited and doing a photoshoot seems fun, but with most young people whom are fighting to survive by keeping up with bills and working 2-3 jobs...doing a photoshoot that isn't paying off isn't worth doing...even if its for a trade (or free in their minds).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Logistics</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've thought about the logistics as a business mind would. I would need to spend 7 years to equal my 1-2 years in or near a major city to collaborations. Which means the amount of work I get and do here in NEPA, could be done much faster time by being around more people aka talent aka creatives. I love what NEPA has given me in the past 6 years to have me grow from nothing to where I am now... which is something but not the level I want and need to be in my mind. I have struggled a ton finding people, not just models cause I know models do not exist in my area other than non-fashion models, which are fine and have worked with. But I have a vision for my portfolio and style to look more like what the fashion industry expects... which doesn't sound good, but they like what they like.... Just like how photography rules, learn them, master them, then break them intentionally. Once I'm there I'll learn to break the rules to get and become my own in the fashion photography. There are no clothing designers or wardrobe stylists in my entire region, so my only option was to be a wardrobe stylist. Did that for a year, didn't mind to learn that skill at all. But it can be exhausting and totally take off the focus as being the Art Director and Photographer for the photoshoot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know it sounds like complaining, just telling it how it is. I am exhausted, but its part of the struggle. I am learning and moving up my skills as time moves on. And to continue to learn and move up requires me moving, I will. </span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-8050389171962715392016-10-13T23:24:00.002-04:002016-10-13T23:24:26.588-04:00New content is coming...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's been about a year since I posted... Been working on a ton of new skills and portfolio building as usual for the past 6 years... It's time for a change since I started last year to focus on business and content creation to get the word/name out there. If anyone whomever is following this blog, if anyone lol... I am working on more youtube right now and for the following year. It'll be a mix of stuff, but if you want to see any content from me it'll be on my youtube channel first. I'll try to re-post it here that is related to the blog but honestly not every video will be about shooting model photography. I'll be working on a few different channels. Different series ideas. Some would be helpful for photographers, some are helpful to models, and some completely left field like my Anxiety channel I have in the works. Check out my youtube, simply either click <a href="http://youtube.com/chrisadval" target="_blank">here</a> or search my name.</span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-24831747261020783342016-01-17T05:32:00.001-05:002016-01-17T06:05:46.040-05:00Glamour Photography IS NOT FOR YOU!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Well I now that I have your attention. I don't mean everyone, I mean the vast majority of photographers should not bother pursuing glamour aka boudoir aka nude/implied type of photography, unless you know its purely for hobby/fun/fine art purposes. And when I say the vast majority I mean, men... yes men... I know, I know men were the first to photograph women in glamorous ways back in the days, but today's reality where more people can get into photography this allows more women to enter it too. When there is more women specifically working in glamour the obvious choice for more consumers will be a female photographer. You as a male CANNOT compete most of the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only real way to actually get consumers as a male photographer for glamour is to not have any female photographers in the same marketplace. It's sexist, but its reality. The consumer can legally be sexist and choose any gender they feel most comfortable working with. Reasons are...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Self-confidence and self-comfort. It's obvious glamour photography is female clients hiring a glamour photographer. So what is the obvious option here... for a female client to work with a female service personnel/photographer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The client wants their other half (which is generally another male) to not be offended, so to play it safe they'd prefer to hire a female photographer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In some cases the other half (male) is paying the services as a gift like Valentines Day or Birthday and such... what is their obvious choice in most cases?... yes you guessed it, a female photographer! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now granted the few 5% get by the cracks, which could be easily explained logically...</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those male glamour photographers started <b>before </b>the big boom of the digital camera age began. Which could give that photographer huge advantages when in the film days a lot less female photographers existed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As for the modern age, and that male photographer started recently or such, they can still succeed in the modern ages.... just depends on the geographic market if that marketplace has any female glamour photographers its likely a difficult market to compete for that consumer. Not worth the headache honestly. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have the option to look for a geographic market lacking glamour and does not have any female photographers, but then you'd likely need to move/travel there. Depends on your personal artistic interests and business goals. I say its not worth it, and here's why...</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To break into glamour you have to know someone with a great body, such as a model, fitness competitor or trainer, or even just a "normal" person with a great body... I know you'll say you don't need that, and you don't but to get the most attention to your brand that is what you need to do. Granted a lot of glamour photographers have clients that do not have the "perfect" body like a professional model so you can also have other "normal" persons to model to show that you can do that too and it would confirm a client you can do a less than perfect body look.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now the problem if you do not have any available to provide a great body for you can shoot some glamour photos for a portfolio then you'll have a huge expense breaking into the market... you need a solid portfolio and you need great looking people to convince consumers to buy into the service. <br /><br />Granted you can possibly photograph the aspiring glamour models, but generally speaking they are not easy to photograph with lack of experience being a glamour model and a big part of being a great glamour model is being super comfortable in their own skin, so to excel in portfolio progression is to hire a professional glamour model or going to glamour workshops/shootouts. And yes, these are not cheap. I've hired models, all were glamour based. I thought I could make my money back by selling prints and such but in reality they never sell cause the model's fans do not buy from the photographers they buy from the models only and getting a model to sell for you is slim to none unless you paid them to sell on top of paying them to model for you. So I tried it, couldn't break even, for me it was not smart business with the negative ROI (return on investment).<br /><br />Plus glamour wasn't my main passion and focus in my art and business, so pushing even more would be a complete waste of money. As for my regular readers, they know my passion is fashion, both lifestyle and advertising fashion. If I had fashion models in the area I would so hire them instantly! But I do not sadly... I do not live in a fashion capital currently so I have to move or change focus temporarily from fashion to another genre. Which if you want to know its not much different, at least for business, its senior portraits with a heavy fashion focus. So I can still do what I love, just not to the exact pinpoint level as the fashion industry demands of course, but its not like I have any fashion clients in my area so its no real loss, but I am losing out on building a solid fashion industry standard portfolio.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another reason is pay... if you're looking to work strictly with magazines like Maxim, Playboy, etc... type of men's magazine are known to pay very minimal, heck even less than the expense of the shoot. Based on my research on many photographers whom have been actually published and worked with Maxim, Playboy and Penthouse... pay is laughable. I've been told the numbers in 2010 to 2015 its $100-$300 inside pay to the photographer and cover $200-$500, magazine and theme of the issue dependent. So clearly the pay is not photography industry standard where you charge a one time use based on number of units sold, no... the magazine industry is in charge, don't like it they got tons of people willing to do it free or less than what they generally offer too, so yes they're in charge, not the photographers. At most... using the magazine industry to market your glamour business such as an advertisement and resume builder to bring in private/non-commercial clients could work (especially for female photographers).</span></li>
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Well I hope you now realized from my experience on glamour photography from the past 5 years. I tried it for the first 3-4 years of shooting, but in year 4 (2015), it was not my future and went more towards working on my craft in fashion type imagery. Plus in my area had many female glamour photographers, so logically to not even try... for me. Now it was fun shooting glamour, and I got tons of attention to my images (obviously). I even have a website under a different name to ensure it doesn't bite my back side (lol), but I haven't shot real glamour in over a year and do not regret it at all. </span><br />
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-20141768102205559172015-12-01T03:23:00.004-05:002015-12-06T18:34:02.534-05:00Natural Light Adventures 05: Post Processing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We're coming to an end of the series' sector, at least the written part. Post processing is finishing touches to images as we all know, but it is as important as the production itself. Depending on your current style or style you're trying to develop into this will dictate how post processing goes. So the following is based on my own style, so take it or leave it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you've just jumped into this part of the blog series I highly recommend you read the past parts as this part is spoke with the assumption you've read the past parts, as well you've learned the important part of timing which can be figured out with what gear you have and location you're shooting at. Check the <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">index</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So as you'd see I have 2 stages of post processing, from Straight out of Camera. You'd also see the changes are fairly minimal but its barely noticeable especially viewing on a average size 20-30" computer monitor. But my editing style has and always will be edit to perfection and edit to be publication ready to being published into a magazine. Why I do this? Because this is my own goal, to become published. Which I have... in photojournalism though, not areas like fashion and such which is my goal primarily. So when I get published more and more, with images already in my library being shown, I do not need to go back and re-edit, its all ready for print. If I want I can even print at large print sizes and not worry about tiny issues where on a 20-30" monitor would be very minimal but printing at 30x40 would emphasize the issues.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My editing style is also clean and simple enhancements to have some pop to the images. No special effects (currently, I may venture into alien skin actions and such effects in the future).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now simply looking at my SOOC to Final you may not notice much of any differences, especially on a monitor. I like subtlety with my edits, nothing extreme. But of course when you zoom into the skin you'd most likely see more differences generally if I do clean up the skin (which I do most of the time, just some its a little, and some its a lot, depends on what I feel is right). These "minor" differences are purely because of looking at the image as a whole, and on a monitor. If you were viewing the image on a 30x40 print you'd see huge differences, or sometimes even on large monitors too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have 2 stages of editing...</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Lightroom Edit:</u></b> Making overall light and color adjustments. As well spend some time culling through all of the similar images and picking the best of the scene/environment. Most of the time I'd pick just one best in the scene, as my final selection, sometimes more, depends on what I am trying to convey.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Photoshop Edit:</u></b> After culling through on Lr and made simple adjustments, I go into photoshop to clean it up to my standards and add some selective pop to the image. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The "pop" is basically dodge and burn the model's skin, wardrobe, as well the environment at times too.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Specific Techniques I use are: <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PhlearnLLC/search?query=dodge+burn" target="_blank">Dodge & Burn</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2014/07/wow-share-28-frequency-separation.html" target="_blank">Frequency Separation</a></b> (on some portrait/fashion based shots where the face is more of the focus of the shot, rarely ever use FS for full body shots), and another technique where I strip the skin's original texture and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy0UY7Y1rDE" target="_blank">add on new skin texture</a> instead. I highly recommend <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PhlearnLLC" target="_blank">PHLEARN</a> youtube channel.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As this sector (shooting natural light portraits on a budget) comes to an end, no worries, video content is in the plans. As well the next sector being shooting natural light portraits with a little more of a budget, like assistants and some natural light modifiers, such as scrims and reflectors. But a reminder to those who appreciate my knowledge I am sharing for free, please share, comment to show your appreciation, it really helps encourage me to continue on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like this post? Check the blog series index <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind the posts in the index are in order, so if you're jumping in reading the series at 3 or 5 you should really read from 1 to above to ensure you did not miss anything.</span></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-61902998339091423252015-11-29T20:49:00.001-05:002015-11-29T20:54:22.854-05:00Natural Light Adventures 04: Location Scouting.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkZLm0ORfMGVq_CnGftbtouN8X1dRyiNJkObEAH11O0o0WuWk6xM58u8hF7DoHoPiAj44brxuQYpNoGLzVWjWrITZledoI5i2Gi5eUFuNWCijvDoinY2KJCsid8C1WEkisWmvqCx2dAI/s1600/NLA-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkZLm0ORfMGVq_CnGftbtouN8X1dRyiNJkObEAH11O0o0WuWk6xM58u8hF7DoHoPiAj44brxuQYpNoGLzVWjWrITZledoI5i2Gi5eUFuNWCijvDoinY2KJCsid8C1WEkisWmvqCx2dAI/s640/NLA-04.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Location scouting can sometimes can be easy and sometimes very, very difficult. From looking for appealing or decent light and then finding an nice composition. And sometimes with lack of time you may need to accept a less appealing composition and make it work with what you have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you've just jumped into this part of the blog series I highly recommend you read the past parts as this part is spoke with the assumption you've read the past parts, as well you've learned the important part of timing which can be figured out with what gear you have and location you're shooting at. Check the <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">index</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Locations vary on your needs of your vision, and how strict you're with your vision. I know for my journey in natural light adventures from May 2015 to today, I was not picky. Every shoot I did was purely casual lifestyle or/and fashion style shoot. No mood boards. Just meet up at a location, me and a model can shoot at during the times I think is best for the shoot, as well help with some wardrobe decisions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Would I have loved to spend more time on prep such as finding the most perfect location, wardrobe, makeup, and hair based on a mood board? Of course. But budget was not there to do so, even if I could have collaborated with a makeup and hair stylist, it wasn't enough to really prep every aspect for my standards of bigger more prepped shoot. When I want (and can) to really prep for a shoot its all or nothing in my opinion. But most of my casual shoots were for my personal projects, not clients, so its entirely different approach than a client shoot where I would place the cost of expense to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Build The Foundation Skills of Finding Locations</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I did is went local first. For years I went to a local park but this time I wanted something more, and different for my work, so I ventured into more urban areas in my city. I meet up with a model locally, walked around with the model until I found a composition/lighting I liked and boom, tried it and sometimes it works out sometimes it doesn't. As long as I am, and you are shooting you will do better and better. After shooting a few months around the city I had favorites spots, other spots I just simply got bored of, and tried other spots to play with. It's sometimes trail and error, especially with little to no prep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Try it. Go walk or drive around locally to find an interesting location to shoot at, either with the model or even alone. One day I did just this when I started to shoot more outdoors cause I needed more locations than a simple public park (which I was very bored of using). I drove around town, took some snapshots of interesting locations for reference and kept it in a folder, just in case. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eventually I simply never looked at those references and simply kept those locations in mind for shoots, which I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now on client shoots it was different. I had a set of 3-5 or so locations around the city I knew were safe and had appealing compositions/lighting during my time frames. So it was just move from A to C locations and I got my shots for the client.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite locations is shooting by a graveyard, using the long black fencing as my leading lines and repetition composition. Like below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once you've mastered this skill then location scouting locations ahead of time may become an easier task. But again it depends on your needs and how strict your vision to the location is, as well funding. Lack of funds to rent out a beautiful private location isn't generally possible without funds or very small funds. But in some cases if you're fantastic at people/networking skills you can charm your way into a private location at times, but don't ask me haha I haven't achieved that skill yet as I am fairly introvert. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Location Scouting Ahead of Time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So let's say you want to do a big more prepped shoot. You have a few options.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If possible, walk around to locations that has a sense and mood of your vision. Take reference photos, or heck do a test shoot, testing out the location to the fullest potential.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If not possible to walk around the location, and no to little budget I'd recommend scouting google maps as much as possible. From street view most especially and photos pinned to the maps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't currently use this option but I know they exist. Location scouting websites. Where they house reference images and geo info on that location. Sometimes, some are free, and some aren't depending on the location's popularity. Check that out too, I personally prefer finding my own locations I feel fit for my visions most of the time, at least for now until I start to shoot on bigger budgets then I'd explore these websites or even hiring a location scout (which aren't cheap either).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like this post? Check the blog series index <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind the posts in the index are in order, so if you're jumping in reading the series at 3 or 5 you should really read from 1 to above to ensure you did not miss anything.</span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-88497186479999739632015-11-28T17:25:00.000-05:002015-11-29T00:58:31.082-05:00Natural Light Adventures 03: Finding The Light.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbmRUbxi79PUlCDQDDgNyu_1W9zNSQUXspgcxWTFGv67hC3SdzQgFojYNIGp8py2jMikLpgmWavI4UH6J4KkHN_XYHaF2yDrI8EpVCJDwoNM3gSrLYUvhdIeiodooyEkyDRynUpP9UWI/s1600/NLA-03.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbmRUbxi79PUlCDQDDgNyu_1W9zNSQUXspgcxWTFGv67hC3SdzQgFojYNIGp8py2jMikLpgmWavI4UH6J4KkHN_XYHaF2yDrI8EpVCJDwoNM3gSrLYUvhdIeiodooyEkyDRynUpP9UWI/s640/NLA-03.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This part can be difficult in some cases or it can be easy. Depends how are you with seeing light, and then even when you find great interesting light you'd need to ensure it falls onto the subject(s) properly, as well have an appealing composition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you've just jumped into this part of the blog series I highly recommend you read the past parts as this part is spoke with the assumption you've read the past parts, as well you've learned the important part of timing which can be figured out with what gear you have and location you're shooting at. Check the <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">index</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This post is why I shoot the way I shoot on natural light and recommend anyone in my situation, such as lack funding for assistants, don't have friends/family willing to help consistently on a bunch of natural light portrait shoots, and don't feel comfortable with any lighting equipment/modifiers in the field by themselves while you shoot. I know most others teach to have a fill, reflector, or something but this isn't doable alone (just you and a model/person), especially in a big city where tons of people pass by, or even small cities if you're paranoid like me. So the following will help you in this same situation to still create unique and amazing natural light portrait shots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cloudy Shooting</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I say easy, it can be very easy if the sky is very consistent in cloud coverage (large cloud coverage) so you have constant and consistent giant softbox type of light during your time shooting outside. Such as for example on my day shooting outdoors on Halloween 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And during times its clear skies or partly cloudy you can find pockets of having great flare shots like these.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sometimes if you're unsure and starting out shooting natural light portraits like these, simply trail and error. Such as try a shot with the subject, see how it looks, if you like it great keep doing it, if not adjust angles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Flare Shooting</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Specifically shooting the above flare shots are not easy. You will need a lens hood and a DIY lens hood to get more control... your hand! The trick to shooting against the sun is covering the sun you see in your viewfinder in order to have the AF focus, then move your hand to reveal the sun and cause that flare. Some people like it, some people don't. I personally love real and natural flares created in the field (not in post, unless I really have no choice). This can get even more trickier shooting at more open apertures like f/1.4-f/2, f/2.8 still tricky but its doable and as long as the subject isn't moving too much and you don't move too much its good, which isn't easy too, shooting wide open with 1 hand and staying on the same focal plane, so there is risk of some out of focus shots since you're shooting with just 1 hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. You will eventually see the light as you keep shooting over, over, and over without hitting the shutter on the camera and simply knowing the light will be amazing for X, Y and Z shots. That is how I found my light and how I see light. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rule of Thumb when scheduling a natural light portrait shoot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When you're scheduling a natural light portrait shoot, generally you cannot predict 100% for sure chance of weather, such as for rain, which is obvious. So you can't shoot in a rain. But for differences in light, like planning a shoot on a cloudy day or clear skies day, you can if you really want to but be prepared to reschedule often. What I do is play it safe, schedule the shoot at my best times for golden hours and hours my camera can still perform well in ISO. I do not plan to need X type of skies to get Y type of light. If its clear skies I can still get soft light shots without a flare if necessary just gotta angle the shot without the sun which shouldn't be too hard when the sun is fairly low already.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Assuming you already have the basics down. But the compositions of what I prefer are leading lines, sometimes repetition when possible, and one of my favorites... rules of third. I'll go over this on the location scouting post. Sometimes composition lackluster, so you can either A: move to a better composition/location or B: photograph the subject close enough and with the right lens to bokeh the background much heavier to remove most of the background's composition at least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like this post? Check the blog series index <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind the posts in the index are in order, so if you're jumping in reading the series at 3 or 5 you should really read from 1 to above to ensure you did not miss anything.</span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-59372126685584084852015-11-27T22:13:00.002-05:002015-12-05T18:29:09.525-05:00Natural Light Adventures 02: Gear Talk.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I've mentioned in the previous <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-01-timing-is.html" target="_blank">post</a>, I'm no gear head (but if I had the cash then hell yea I would lol). But it is important to know your limitations, working with what you have and making the best of it as much as you possibly can. Even if you need to push the boundaries on post processing which will allow your gear limitations to expand. We'll discuss further on post processing in another post, but keep in mind I'm not a magician in post processing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The following may mention some information based on the assumption you've mastered manual mode on your camera.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cameras</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My choice of camera is a DSLR, more specifically canon, from T2i, XSi, 20D and a 6D. Now granted I did not expand much on my natural light photography until I had a 6D where it does have very high ISO ranges and great quality ISO up to 6400 and sometimes if really necessary 8000. This isn't a review of the canon 6D but just wanted to share my experience regarding ISO on the 6D.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The choice of camera will control most of your limitations of what you can and cannot do on natural light portrait work, and as mentioned control the size of available natural soft light during golden hours. Such as if your camera does not produce great or </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">decent quality ISO higher than 1600, your limitations will be much smaller than a camera like a canon 6D having decent quality ISO at 8000, so your window could be 30-60 minutes possibly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You can choose any camera system, even a cell phone. As long as it has decent or great ISO ranges and doesn't produce too much noise you can recover some shadow or highlight details in post processing, especially phones with RAW files. But keep in mind cell phone's dynamic range is very limited, its no magic bullet where you can pull details from thin air without the data existing.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While cameras are a big deal to what you can do, a lens is as much if not more important because in my opinion shooting at open and fast apertures will not just bring in more light but as well blur/bokeh the background and help with lackluster compositions where you have little or no control of a composition so using bokeh heavily or lightly will assist with the composition of an image.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Types of lenses I recommend are FAST lenses, such as apertures ranging from f/1.2 to f/2.8. Granted most f/1.2 lenses out there are not in the budget of most photographers. Now I can't name specific ones outside of canon but if you do heavy research on your camera system ranges from prime (non-zoom lens) lenses you should have the option to purchase (or rent) a fast lens. A prime in my opinion should be your first choice in looking for a new lens for shooting pure natural light portraits, but they can be pricey even used ones. So there are options for zoom f/2.8 lenses which as well can be pricey unless you look into 3rd party like Tamron, Sigma, etc. lens manufactures. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A lens I highly recommend is the industry popular well known to being the best for all around portrait work is the 85mm lens. Either the 85mm 1.4 or 85mm 1.8. Not sure if this falls in your budget but they can range from $600+ used, such as for canon mounts, a sigma is my personal favorite, especially when they decide to release an ART version of it. As for 85mm 1.2 lenses out there it will take a ton of practice and acceptance in your hit ratio being low if you shoot at f/1.2, but I've seen some amazing shots taken with it at higher apertures like f/1.4 and higher. The 1.2 version can generally cost used for $1,400 and up as of this posting.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I do admit prime lenses can be pricey though so if you cannot afford them for whatever reason I recommend is a 70-200 2.8 lens. I have a used Tamron 70-200 2.8 (non-VC, image stabilization). I've been using mine for 3+ years and its my primary lens for natural light work, shooting at f/2.8 - f/3.5 at 200mm most of the time to really compress the subject and create some or a lot of bokeh to the background.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Your goal should be (as a beginner natural light portrait shooter) is to shoot long focal length with fast apertures, like a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. Once you've mastered that then explore into wider focal lengths like for instance the new Sigma 20mm 1.4 ART lens, which I plan to play with when I rent it, hopefully sooner rather than later. But if you ever venture into wide focal length you must keep in mind the distortion, know it, use it to your advantage to your vision of the images created with wide focal length lenses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Tight Budget Options</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Can't afford what I've recommended, no problem. I've personally learned on the canon 50mm 1.8, which at the time was brand new selling for $100 (in 2011). You can either get that slightly higher priced or a yongnuo version (3rd party) or an equivalent to your camera system. Usually these are priced lower than a 50mm 1.4 lens just cause the camera manufacture knows and understands people need to learn to shoot on fast apertures on a tight budget. Once people do learn it they will obviously and generally buy a more expensive version like 50mm 1.4.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now if you're stuck with a kit lens for whatever budget reasons, you can either sell the kit lens and spend a little on a 50mm 1.8 (which trust me will do you much better than a kit zoom lens) or using the kit lens to the best to your abilities. Which is fairly simple, so keep these quick tips in mind... zoom all the way out and shoot at the smallest aperture number, so if you got a 16-55 3.5-5.6 Kit lens shoot at 55mm ALL THE TIME! If you got a higher ISO to compensate the light loss and going to 5.6, do it, raise that ISO. If you have another kit lens like I did with my Canon T2i had the 18-135mm 3.5-5.6 then even better as you zoom all the way out the more the background will be blurred out with some decent bokeh than the 55mm would.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like this post? Check the blog series index <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind the posts in the index are in order, so if you're jumping in reading the series at 3 or 5 you should really read from 1 to above to ensure you did not miss anything.</span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-25760905858728643642015-11-27T09:59:00.001-05:002015-12-01T18:48:12.627-05:00Natural Light Adventures Index<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqGeOQ5rB6PHJ1_9v0sJvSCWIBefjGT6br69G11VDUXUUVq4aLNUBqU8X4gpa-S0OqxIDsfwecmUaAAx0eOdaoP6Jm_7LklHVq91KVJg0ez-oXUbv1pDYwLMndhjJid7oGI5C8hzwrHs/s1600/23319566815_0752ea4b8e_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqGeOQ5rB6PHJ1_9v0sJvSCWIBefjGT6br69G11VDUXUUVq4aLNUBqU8X4gpa-S0OqxIDsfwecmUaAAx0eOdaoP6Jm_7LklHVq91KVJg0ez-oXUbv1pDYwLMndhjJid7oGI5C8hzwrHs/s640/23319566815_0752ea4b8e_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventure-series.html" target="_blank">Sector 1 Introduction</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Sector 1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Natural Light Portrait Shooting on a Budget. No modifiers, lighting equipment, or assistants.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-01-timing-is.html" target="_blank">01 - Timing is Everything.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-02-gear-talk.html" target="_blank">02 - Gear Talk</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-03-finding.html" target="_blank">03 - Finding the Light.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-04-location.html" target="_blank">04 - Location Scouting.</a></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/12/natural-light-adventures-05-post.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">05: Post Processing.</span></a></li>
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Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-2917071321094615102015-11-27T09:58:00.001-05:002015-11-29T01:01:15.063-05:00Natural Light Adventures 01: Timing is Everything.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlfHD_e6298IMkfmVD81J_HozXZu0s_PP4Li-6-h29qf8uv5a22_-kZVs6BHnWDtDHs-hae9X4xie5KOv2L2mT8KHWxrn6DCuM0D7AoB7r-YpRkkCZalhnnN2wFA1MaKVywsKzM67yT4/s1600/NLA-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlfHD_e6298IMkfmVD81J_HozXZu0s_PP4Li-6-h29qf8uv5a22_-kZVs6BHnWDtDHs-hae9X4xie5KOv2L2mT8KHWxrn6DCuM0D7AoB7r-YpRkkCZalhnnN2wFA1MaKVywsKzM67yT4/s640/NLA-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Weather you're an advanced natural light shooter or beginner, timing is everything while shooting portraiture with only natural light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I briefly mentioned on the introduction already the basics are sunrise and sunset for best times in the day shooting outdoor portraits. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sunrise and Sunset can give you both harsh shadows or soft, depending on angle you're shooting and how high the sun is in the sky. As well depending which direction your subject(s) are facing, away from the sun or toward the sun.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii84GZRstSfyBxkmnK1a8WQQ_63vdhkNkRv7MYMmnknAPJzXDRL1QK6ODDn90DhGeW8qDaLLYIlbnCeV5fsgz4p8nH4E0sMH1ILZAhFjmkfl6A4BgBFaEt-9YjohF2q_Yv0UCmzagRARY/s1600/23001329770_6018199a8a_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii84GZRstSfyBxkmnK1a8WQQ_63vdhkNkRv7MYMmnknAPJzXDRL1QK6ODDn90DhGeW8qDaLLYIlbnCeV5fsgz4p8nH4E0sMH1ILZAhFjmkfl6A4BgBFaEt-9YjohF2q_Yv0UCmzagRARY/s400/23001329770_6018199a8a_o.jpg" width="266" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clouds</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 Important factors regarding clouds and the effects they can cause.</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Very cloudy can give you very soft light like a giant softbox effects.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clear skies can give you either harsh shadows OR soft light depending timing of the sunset/sunrise, angle you're shooting the subject, and if subject is facing towards the sun or away from it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Partly cloudy is where it can be very tricky, such as you find a location that isn't shadowed by anything but clouds then the light is temporary caused from the clouds or the lack of clouds. Tricky part is in partly cloudy you can have harsh shadow light one minute and the next minute its soft and you lost 3 stops of light, or vice versa. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Aside from cloud coverage, timing can be tricky at times, but it can be pretty consistent when you're starting a new season like spring/summer (after day light savings for US), in the east coast (and in my area) it was best to start shooting at 6pm EST to little after 8pm EST max (with my camera/lens type), for more golden light and soft shadows type of light and opportunity to capture some golden flares for added element to the photos like these below.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2WMmIpZabRSG9ZltoUaol32fMy6UH4BR7Srsfc8wVMVIULJED-gt2Lt8yJ-4PWMRyEH3Z4eOCoVGebGEi0oGAvmr4cx1rBCle3GMZv4_nwR6vRB_FTmqGBu6FYDhkflWdUKTjZQkuV0/s1600/23001329770_6018199a8a_o+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2WMmIpZabRSG9ZltoUaol32fMy6UH4BR7Srsfc8wVMVIULJED-gt2Lt8yJ-4PWMRyEH3Z4eOCoVGebGEi0oGAvmr4cx1rBCle3GMZv4_nwR6vRB_FTmqGBu6FYDhkflWdUKTjZQkuV0/s320/23001329770_6018199a8a_o+%25281%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ortMrKT-je517wuzb63KG0XsrJpX7GlbmAG3wW6pwfu3pH62hVtPFSchclCY-2Db34q7yrPm1IQds_wetUazxb5XgD9YezNaEF-BaNBG1MoCj9mqChBRBQKCoE9uuCAElvslJ4XsnFc/s1600/23053674585_27c2429039_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ortMrKT-je517wuzb63KG0XsrJpX7GlbmAG3wW6pwfu3pH62hVtPFSchclCY-2Db34q7yrPm1IQds_wetUazxb5XgD9YezNaEF-BaNBG1MoCj9mqChBRBQKCoE9uuCAElvslJ4XsnFc/s320/23053674585_27c2429039_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Exact timing should only be decided by your own sight (and gear), not mine. Many various reasons such as mountains, and height of the location you're at from sea level being the top two. So anywhere on the planet it vary times, you'd decide based on what is best for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Types of Light</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I highly recommend only focusing on the beginner stages of shooting in natural light, which in my opinion is shooting on soft light opportunities, not harsh. For most occasions such as in portrait work and similar like modeling/fashion, etc. is best to start mastering soft light. Heading into harsh light types of light and making it look great is no easy task, especially without natural light modifiers (with assistants) like scrims, reflectors, etc. and cause for location scouting will be increased especially outside of urban areas without relying on buildings for shadow coverage. I'd go over in another post more thoroughly on types of light shooting in both harsh shadow and soft shadow conditions. Plus harsh shadow light in my opinion isn't most appealing to most of portrait work outside of fine art, and fashion, such as couples portraits I think should always be shot in soft light as the key light.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another important tip to keep in mind is your gear. I'm no gear head, nor have much funding, nor I'd expect you as the reader to have that as well. So I'm writing to the people who are on a tight budget shooting natural light, so assuming you have entry level gear I'd mention a lot of advice about using entry level gear as well to mid level gear. I'll cover this more thoroughly in a gear talk post. But briefly gear has huge advantages and disadvantages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What can gear cause as an advantage. If you have a camera that has high quality ISO at high ISO ranges that would widen your window of using natural soft light like for example. I had 2 full hours of great to decent lighting with my Canon 6D, shooting at ISO ranges from 800 to 6400 and once 8000. Now these numbers are only for a 6D, every camera is widely different in ISO's behavior. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then you'd have to also think about lens selection too. By having lenses that can shoot Fast/Wide, aka low number in aperture like f/1.2 to f/2.8, will give you a ton ability in shooting in low light, but combining that with a camera body that has great ISO its a perfect combo, especially for natural light shooting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So if you do not have lenses/cameras with great ISO or wide aperture then you're in a pickle. But not completely. I can help as much as I can but I highly recommend at the least purchasing a 50mm 1.8 lens as a learning lens, perfect for those on a budget for some cameras (at least for canon, new one costs a little over $100). So if you don't have a 50mm 1.8 lens ok, no problem, just keep this tip in mind with your kit lens (which should be a 16-55mm 3.5-5.6 lens generally, at least for DSLRs). </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When figuring out your timing as to your gear keep in mind your window of great opportunity will be much smaller than others.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gear in general to anyone will control your length of window to shoot outdoors with natural light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like this post? Check the blog series index <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind the posts in the index are in order, so if you're jumping in reading the series at 3 or 5 you should really read from 1 to above to ensure you did not miss anything.</span></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-30736920790394959082015-11-25T23:41:00.001-05:002015-12-01T18:54:20.927-05:00Natural Light Adventures Series - Introduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRj1XMpgs0-DWJ7qAVZqJoyZStE-RSPb4CKIlMo7yuRm5jAvPfRVA0Jd8Onpzq7_4NohKZ2LJJQgjb79o58_X_WORwvzufjSv8wrVvbTi1XBqvOjv1e3upK1bFBo4nouy56cLWzx4FSU/s1600/NLA-Intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwRj1XMpgs0-DWJ7qAVZqJoyZStE-RSPb4CKIlMo7yuRm5jAvPfRVA0Jd8Onpzq7_4NohKZ2LJJQgjb79o58_X_WORwvzufjSv8wrVvbTi1XBqvOjv1e3upK1bFBo4nouy56cLWzx4FSU/s640/NLA-Intro.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spring 2015 I had a plan to shoot a lot more personal project shoots outdoors. Taking advantage of the warm weather that was coming in. Well I did get to do this, but as well with the lack of funds and on a very tight budget for shoots I had limitations on what I could do. Such as having assistants holding lights or natural light modifiers were pretty much out of the question due to whatever reasons, but primarily funding. So I had no choice but focus on shooting purely natural light shots in since starting this goal while shooting on-location shooting environmental portraiture. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've been shooting in this style more and more, and fell in love with the natural light shots I've been producing. It felt the style that was for me, even though do I wish I could use more lighting and even "perfect" my lighting yes, but this requires more people on set to assist by holding modifiers and/or lighting equipment. I know some will say use light stands, which I can, heavy duty stands at least, the low end budget light stands, no... lol. I tried this but even with weights, the stand still has a hard time keeping still (top end). Plus if you do not have any insurance on the equipment its risky both from stolen or breaking outdoors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So with limited budget, no friends/family willing to help (all the time) I decided to just do it on my own with a model. Over, over, over, and over! This in my opinion is the most I've learned in photography in my 5 years of shooting photography doing this unintentional exercise in natural light environmental portraits. The skills I've learned was basically finding pockets of light aligning with appealing composition, if not then learning to find a way to bokeh most of the background to make the shot more appealing to view with the very soft light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Note that I did not intentionally seek to become better at natural light shooting, it just became it, but I do admit it looking back at my natural light work in portraiture it was no where near where I am today. So without seeking this I did not research or seeked out knowledge, but in my mind I did absorbed information from the past about it. Such as shooting at the "Golden Hour" or aka "Magic Hour" to some. These times can vary from early morning on sun rise or late evening sun set. The exact times varies season of the year, and location you're at on the planet. For me times during the summer (day light savings) was for the evening (as I prefer later time) was for start at 6pm to about 8pm EST, and for fall 245pm to about 445-5pm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That's my story and I'm sure this adventure will not be the end of my natural light journey I took unintentionally and decided to keep riding it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now with the introduction of this series and story behind us and out of the way I'd like to introduce what I'd like to bring to others of what I've learned from it, both in video and written form (blog). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In Summary what I'd cover</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Sector:</u></b> Natural Light Portrait Shooting on a Budget. No modifiers, lighting equipment, or assistants. Just you, your camera/lenses and your subject(s).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- </span>Best timing to shoot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Foundation skills of finding and seeing light, in combination of appealing composition.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Building skills from beginner natural light shooting with soft diffused light to advanced natural light shooting with harsh but making it work for your needs/concepts, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Gear Talk, i.e. recommended lenses and camera bodies (in a broader sense).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next year I hope to have the next sector completed by having more assistants available to be able to perform with on-location natural light modifiers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Obviously video will require myself having at least one assistant on every video I decide to do so this may not happen for a while, at least the ones that I am showing an actual shoot of doing natural light shooting portrait shoot. Other videos I may do is de-construction of past shoots explaining what I did and how I achieved it, with before/after images. As for the videos where I require an </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">assistant is as I mentioned a shoot itself (production), and location scouting (pre-production). I'll discuss my post process with voice over type videos as well.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you do want to see, hear and read more of this series I do appreciate some encouragement. I know there are many hits on this blog but not so many comments, please make a positive comment to show appreciation and encouragement. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Check out the <a href="http://chrisadvalproductions.com/cms/natural-light-adventures/" target="_blank">Natural Light Adventures</a> gallery on my website. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As well check out the index <a href="http://www.main.chrisadval.com/2015/11/natural-light-adventures-index.html" target="_blank">post</a> for this blog series.</span></span></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-1014266048064191202015-11-10T18:18:00.000-05:002015-11-10T18:38:39.813-05:00Evolve in Trade Shooting - Agreement/Contract<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've noticed I do get a lot of hits on my TF contract. Now not sure if its inspiring or experienced models or even photographers. But let's assume it is photographers. I am here to help and share my evolution since I did post that years ago. But I will be posting an updated version to that page to show my evolutionized version. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In my opinion you do not start on top and you start on the bottom. You may need to make your TF agreement/contract more easy to digest or more leaning to the model's favor even at times, when starting out. As I evolved into greater skills, experience and knowledge, I have the right to have a evolved contract and agreement. Now I am sure as I mentioned this before you (photographers) can use my contract/agreement as a building block and make it your own but also keep in mind I am no legal professional and the agreement is not a legal professionally certified document but it is still an agreement, something is better than nothing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That said you should, as many others as they grow in every level, make it more balanced on what you think its fair for everyone. And I've noticed this will be trickier and trickier every time especially with working many different levels of models. But sadly and fortunately (double edged sword) I have only really worked with new/inspiring models vast majority of times in the past 5 years of shooting, rarely ever with experienced professional models because they're a very rare breed in my area and I do not travel often as well as much as I would love to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you're lucky to be surrounded by many different levels you may need to write up an agreement/contract for TF shoots to each type of model as a template or just write them up manually to each model as you both discuss terms and make one up as you both speak. And my recommendation you start with the industry standard model release and go from there together if necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Other creatives included into the terms of TF agreement. I've been wondering on this more and more as I grow and get more people involved into my shoot production as in makeup/hair, assistants, and sooner or later more other type creatives...to include them into the terms which traditionally it would be the model and the photographer. It's your choice to do, not sure if it is "standard" yet but I'll go over an overall terms agreement for all creatives that I want or will be involved if they all like it great but if not depending how big the production and importance then I would need to make an agreement with each creative uniquely un</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fortunately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-962008779842751159.post-55398968679210288442015-11-05T16:56:00.000-05:002015-11-25T22:43:52.979-05:00Vital Red Flags on Working with an Agency for a Model<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you're a regular follower and reader you'd know my thoughts on modeling agencies. The vast majority of them are scams, unethical business practices, and heck even doing illegal business practices even in some states. Here are some tips and red flags to know when finding and working with a modeling agency. Granted I'm no model, and I'm a photographer who never experienced this but this is information based on the research I've done on all agencies, and experiences of professional agency fashion models such as YOANNA HOUSE, which some is mentioned on this creativeLIVE course <a href="https://www.creativelive.com/courses/modeling-101-yoanna-house" target="_blank">here</a> which I highly recommend watching!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Red Flag</span>:</b> [<span style="color: blue;"><b style="background-color: white;">SCAM</b></span>] Any upfront costs asked by the agency. Such as some I've seen myself are</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Audition Fees</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Application Fees</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Require in-house Photography only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Require in-house modeling classes only</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is the biggest red flags when going to an apparent very questionable "agency". I would steer clear of them as much as possible because their business model is to make money off you paying them which in reality is WRONG! A real agency's business model is to work WITH the model as a tool to work with corporations/businesses to work on advertising campaigns or promotional events and they get a cut of what they pay you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Red Flag</span></b>: [<span style="color: blue;"><b style="background-color: white;">SCAM & SAFETY</b></span>] Online Presence</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A real agency's online presence will be taken seriously. If you see something like a WIX platform website or something very outdated like it was designed in the 90s... RUN! That is the best choice honestly because they may be worse than just a scam it can be very dangerous situation you're putting yourself in if you do meet up or go to their address. Even if they got 1 million likes on facebook or 2 million followers on instagram or twitter, these numbers can be easily faked and bought. A website is what a serious company invests into. Also a similar tip to do is google the company's name. See how many results you get good, bad and the ugly results of that company will show up generally. If you don't get any results that's another RED FLAG.</span></div>
Chris Advalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376357574936301964noreply@blogger.com0