MyFunCamera

Email Q&A: FLASHES???

Here’s an email I got today, and I thought it was a great question about flashes, so I figured I post the email & my answer here.

I used my Canon 580EX flash on Christmas Eve, and the results were great! I’ll post some pics when I’m done working on client images from my pre-Christmas Barefoot Memories sessions.

HERE’S THE EMAIL:

Hi Carey!! …
I’m just now really getting to know photography (got two little grandsons that I’m THOROUGHLY enjoying taking picture of!!) and I’ve used many of your tips. We took a fun trip to California back in June and went to Coronado Island, and I used your advice about the reflection photos on the beach. WOW! They turned out great!! I was so excited!! Some of my favorite shots!! Thanks for the tips!

Anyway, I have a question for you. I have a Canon Rebel and I’m looking for an external flash for it. What would you suggest I get? I trust your judgement.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas and I hope we get to see some of your pictures of the holidays!

Thanks again for all your help!

Janice

HERE’S MY ANSWER:

Hi Janice,
Thanks for your nice email!
I have a 580EX Speedlite, like the one HERE.
I really like it because I can swivel the head around and bounce the light off ceilings and walls. That softens the light and diminishes shadow a lot.
I recommend sticking with Canon flashes. I’ve tried off-brand flashes, but the “e-ttl” metering (electronic thru the lens) metering that talks from the camera to the flash doesn’t work as well when the camera & the flash are different brands.
There are less expensive Speedlites (like the 430 EX) but I think the 580 is great and worth the extra $$.
I hope that helps!
Carey

What I didn’t put in my email to Janice is that I also use the Stofen Omnibounce to soften the light a little more. It’s compact and not clunky. I’ve purchased bigger diffusers (like the “Fong” things & bigger softeners & diffusers) but the Stofen works really well and takes up very little room. Plus, the people I’m taking pictures of just see a flash with a little white cap on the end.

When I’m using a big diffuser, I usually get “WHAT THE HECK IS THAT!!???” questions out of the kids and adults, which really spoils my attempts at creating candid shots!

Xmas pics coming soon!
Happy Holidays!!

By the way.. here are those video tips Janice was talking about:

Part 1:

Part 2:

POCKET GUIDES!

Are you overwhelmed by dials and settings on your camera?

Do you find yourself pulling out your camera to take some pictures, wanting to use some creativity, but you end up resorting to “AUTO” mode because you just don’t know where to start with settings?

The myFUNcamera pocket guides are for you! No long explanations, no theories or fractions, just quick help when you want some on-the-go advice about camera settings.

I made these pocket guides to help folks remember which settings to use in different situations.
There are tips for indoor, outdoor, and action.

If you don’t have any in your camera bag, think about getting some!
You can go to myFUNcamera.com and see them there on the left side.

Have fun shooting!!

~Carey

PS: If you’re a pro photographer, these are great for giving to folks who say “how do I use my SLR…?” I’ve heard many wedding photographers call these pocket guides their “Uncle Bob repellent”

Ask Carey: printing images from Mpix

Got this question via email from a client who’s getting ready to order her pictures from MPIX (there’s no better place to take your pictures, BY THE WAY!!!)
Here’s the question:

I’m going to order a bunch of printing from Mpix. For ordering paper prints of the sepia photos, which Mpix paper would be best?

GREAT question!

First of all, for black & white or sepia images, I’d stay away from the “metallic” paper. Black & whites that are snappy infared or snazzy modern architecture look really cool on metallic, but b&w/sepia people portraits look better with a more satin, matte, or flat finish.

So, your choices are e-surface paper or the “true B&W” paper.

The thing you have to remember is that a sepia picture isn’t really black & white. There are some other colors in there (rust, brown, etc), so if you order a sepia picture on the true b&w paper, it’s going to lose that toning. It will look good, but it won’t look sepia any more.

So, if you want the sepia tones to remain, order e-surface.

Here’s what I’m talking about:
color image:

Here’s one with a subtle sepia-like tone:

If you order that pic on true b&w paper, it will look like this:

So, it just depends on what you want. If you want to keep those sepia tones, use e-surface.

You may also want to snazz it up your prints with lustre coating from Mpix!
Here’s what Lustre coating is:

Mpix offers Lustre Coating which provides a sheen that visibly enhances your prints and provides superior protection. The coating protects against fingerprints, UV rays, and typical over-spraying found in home/office environments. Lustre coating provides for a richer, enhanced sheen on prints of every size.

I’ve also heard that Mpix will be rolling out a really nice art paper with a soft velvety matte finish. They had samples at WPPI in Vegas this year, but I don’t know when they’re rolling that out. When I find out, I’ll let you know!!

~Carey

PS: Don’t forget to follow Mpix on Twitter to get the word on all the contests & coupons!! Following me may be good for a giggle or eye-rolling, too

Color Management = nightmare?

The term “Color Management” can make any sane photographer instantly transform into a drooling shivering shell of a human curled into the fetal position.

Here is the tool I use to make sure my prints always match what I see on my monitor:

It’s also important to make sure you’re working in a dark or semi-dark room without a lot of direct or indirect light. Make sure you let your monitor(s) warm up for at least 15-20 minutes before you start working on images.

I also order test prints from Mpix every month or so, just to make sure that the results still match what I see on my monitors.

And I use the color space: sRGB IEC61966-2.1

To see a longer version of this story, check out my guest blog on Mpix.com HERE

Dell Monitors!

I love my Dell monitors, and so does my husband!
In my opinion, they are just as good as the Apple Cinema Displays, they have a matte finish, so they don’t have the reflection problems that shiny screens have, and they’re just pretty!

Here’s the 22-inch widescreen, which is nice if you can’t afford the bigger 24in:

Here’s the 24in version:

I have a bigger one for my main monitor, and a smaller one for my 2nd monitor. Personally, I love a dual-monitor setup. The main monitor holds my main stuff, then the other monitor holds folders, IM, Photoshop pallets, etc. I’ve heard if you use LIGHTROOM, there’s a really cool dual-monitor workflow setup you can use!

R-strap camera straps

These straps are cool!
Zak let me borrow his for my big 5Duel, and I’m getting one of my own now!
YAY!
Hopefully I’ll get mine before WPPI next month, because I have some fun Vegas projects coming, and I want to show you some pics of the strap in action!

The best prints & photo products? MPIX, duh!

Mpix is the best place to get prints and products from your pictures.
1-day turnaround on ANYTHING (really!)
The best quality.
Affordable prices.
They’re the best, I tell ya!

Large Jill-e bag — a carry-on with style!

This bag is amazing.
It fits under the airline seat or in the overhead compartment.
It holds your laptop & multiple cameras & accessories.
It has convenient wheels & an extending pull-handle that hides away when you don’t want to see it.
And it is BEAUTIFUL!

Jill-e bags are fan-tab-u-lus

This is the bag I take to ALL of my photoshoots.
It coddles & cradles my cameras in style!