Above: Kochi, India, photographed on my Canon 5DMK111 with 24-105MM Canon L series F4 lens. I read a lot of emails and social media posts from discouraged newbie photographers about how crowded the photography market is and how hard it is to get a break. Sadly it’s true. It’s jam packed at the entry level. Everyone and their dog is a photographer these days. So why the increase? I blame the Oxford dictionary and all the other dictionaries for this new phenomena. The Oxford dictionary defines a photographer as follows; Photographer A person who takes photographs, especially as a job. This means that anyone who takes photos is a photographer – it doesn’t need to be a job – that’s a bonus. So anyone with a smartphone that photographs their lunch or takes selfies showing off their six pack #blessed is a photographer right? Well, no wonder there are so...

There are a range of reasons why you might want to achieve moody lighting. Sometimes, it’s the look you’re going for. Other times, you may find yourself shooting in a messy or ugly environment where you want to “hide” the background by simulating a moody setting. Even if you find yourself in a well-lit situation, you can still achieve a moody, dark shot with these techniques. Gina and Valerie chat about the steps you need to take to get artistic, moody shots in any situation. You’ll learn heaps from this episode! Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process.   #ginachallenge #showusyourdarkroom Click play to listen to the podcast or find it on iTunes here. If...

In this Snapshot minisode, Gina and Valerie discuss what you need to do to nail focus on a portrait. Many new photographers struggle with getting pin sharp focus even though they are seemingly following all tricks in the book. Gina reveals a step by step approach so that you can ensure you get the right focus every time. Also, if you’re ready to start hiring assistants on your shoots (whether you just want them to lug your gear or go so as far as set to up your shots) you’ll discover where you find them, no matter where you live. Ask your questions at news@ginamilicia.com Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Click play to listen...

If you want to start using lighting but don’t want to invest in expensive and complicated equipment, then start with a single easy-to-use, affordable speedlight. Even if you are mainly shooting during the day, a speedlight (yes even when it’s sunny) can make all the difference and really lift your shots, especially your portraits. Gina and Valerie chat about why you need a speedlight, where you can use them, how they work and much more. This episode is also packed with recommendations (you’ll find them also listed  below in the show notes). Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process.   #ginachallenge #thespeedoflight Click play to listen to the podcast or find it on iTunes here....

In this Snapshot minisode, Gina and Valerie talk about “smoke in a can” and how to create instant mood in your shots with this simple aerosol product. They also discuss how to take great candid shots of kids. Ask your questions at news@ginamilicia.com Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process. Click play to listen to the podcast or find it on iTunes here. If you don’t use iTunes you can get the feed here, or listen to us on Stitcher radio. Show notes Haze in a can Haze in a can in Australia    

Overexposing images gives beautiful skin tones, but also creates hotspots on the face. There is a simple way to remove them.

Some images really lend themselves to a softer look. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to create a soft pastel look to your images using Lightroom CC. Press play below to check out the video.  

  When you’re shooting more than one person, you can come across a raft of problematic issues. Sometimes, various people in the group can look disproportionate depending on where they are placed. And if you’re shooting people of varying sizes, some can look huge while others look like pinheads. In this episode, Gina and Valerie discuss what you need to know to ensure all your group shots are winners. You’ll discover tips and techniques on forced perspective, lighting, shooting angles, focal length and much more. Hope you enjoy the podcast. Sign up to the newsletter for great tips and free Lightroom presets. Join the dynamic Gold Membership in our Community which delivers monthly tutorials, live mastermind and lots of behind the scenes videos into the creative process.   #ginachallenge #sizematter Click play to listen to the podcast or find it on iTunes here. If you don’t use iTunes you can...

Above: Australian entertainer Red Symons, photo by Gina Milicia I’ve got a mate called Dave (name changed to protect the innocent). Dave is all about the shortcut. Whenever we go anywhere together, he always has a quicker way to get there. Daves shortcuts always involve cutting across car parks, doubling back through a maze of one-way streets and various detours. I’ll admit we usually save a few minutes, but I’m not a fan. The quick option  involves intense concentration, and there have been more than a few occasions when the alternative ended up being a “long” cut because of roadblocks, or we got lost in the maze of “turn left, go right, double back and turn right.” I like my travel to be in a straight line with minimal detours. I want to enjoy my trip and not have to focus on the next left turn. What’s the point of...

Learn how to recreate your favourite TV and film looks.