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I’ve got a real blind spot when it comes to verticals and horizontals. It’s kind of like vertical dyslexia. I can never get my images completely square. This can be a problem particularly when I’m shooting portraits of people in a room or anywhere with vertical or horizontal features such as light poles, doorways etc. I get so involved with capturing facial expressions that I fail to see the image is completely on an angle.

The one way I’ve learnt to overcome this habit is to work with a tripod which is great but I still couldn’t get my shots completely square until now with the discovery of this nifty $5 device.

It’s a cool little spirit level that fits in the hot shoe of my camera and tells me exactly when my camera is level so my shots will always be square.

Spirit/Bubble Level for Camera – 3 Axis

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” — Aaron Siskind

When we mention the word ‘portrait’ today we think of selfies of Instafamous models showing off their six packs, duck-lipped reality TV stars or Jan from accounts on vacation.

With billions of portraits being shared daily it’s easy to take the significance of this art form for granted.

The first recorded likeness of a person was created by the Egyptians over 5000 years ago. Back in those days, you had to be a member of the Royal family or a Beyonce or Bezos to have a portrait created of you.

If Jan from accounts lived in the Egyptian times, she would never be afforded the luxury of having her holiday memories of her trip down the Nile recorded for future generations.

Before the early 19th century, a portrait was created to show the importance, wealth, power or beauty of the subject.

Portraits were created as drawings etched into stone, busts made of marble, bronze . . .

Above: Image by Gina Milicia

We all have days when everything seems to be going wrong. Your last shoot sucked, you lost a client or you just feel meh and think all your photos are shite. I usually curl up in the fetal position with a 500gm jar of Nutella and watch One Tree Hill. What’s your go-to feel better hack?

I also find reading these quotes (while eating Nutella) really help.

Here are a few of my faves. Enjoy.

“It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.” – W.C. Fields

“I never loved another person the way I loved myself.” – Mae West

“I used to be self-conscious about my height, but then I thought, f*** that, I’m Harry Potter.” – Daniel Radcliffe

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” – Marianne Williamson

“Having a low opinion of yourself is not ‘modesty’. It’s self-destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not ‘egotism’. It’s a necessary precondition to happiness . . .

Above: Image by Gina Milicia

“Your portrait style just isn’t strong enough… we’re looking for photographers with edgier work – but thanks anyway.”

This was the fifth time in a row I had been told that my folio sucked. I was absolutely gutted. This last blow was delivered by Dave, an art director from one of Melbourne’s most well-known advertising agencies.

Back then, I was 25 and had just spent the entire day schlepping my folio around in the hope that I would land my big break and pick up the Coca Cola account – and a couple of other big brands – before lunch.

All my appointments that day pretty much went the same way.

Flick, flick, flick of the pages of my folio…. silence…. followed by “Thanks” and a tight smile.

“Your work is not really what we are looking for… but… “

I can’t remember what else they said but in my head, I heard:

“You suck, your folio sucks, and everything about you sucks.Why would you even bother coming back? Sell your gear, give up and go get a . . .

Above: Image by Gina Milicia

Stepping out of your comfort zone and taking the first steps towards something new can be a really scary experience. Here are a few of my favourite quotes to help you think differently about fear.

Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. – Marie Curie

Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop. – Usman B. Asif

Fear is faith that it won’t work out. – Sister Mary Tricky

Fear is the father of courage and the mother of safety. – Henry H. Tweedy

Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small. – Ruth Gendler

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. – Bertrand Russell

Fear cannot take what you do not give it. – Christopher Coan

The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. – Joseph Campbell

Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. – Author Unknown

In this tutorial, you’ll discover how to bring out detail, texture and shine in hair using the selective adjustment brush in Lightroom.

Did you know that after you take a photo in the JPEG option, your camera will process that file according to an exact mathematical formulation determined by Hans at the camera factory?

Hans (not his real name) is commissioned by all camera manufacturers to calculate the amount of contrast, sharpening and white balance that is added to your image when you select the “shoot in JPEG” option in camera settings.

Most entry level DSLR cameras and beyond – and some point-and-shoot cameras – give you the option to shoot in JPEG or RAW or a combination of both. A RAW file is like a digital negative. It contains unprocessed data taken directly from the camera sensor. A JPEG is a RAW image that your camera has processed (according to Hans’ personal preferences).

I had two beautiful chickens, Marija and Consuela, who were prolific egg layers, forcing me to become more creative with my egg recipes. From a single raw egg I have made:

1. omelettes 2. muffins 3. quiche 4. fried eggs 5. poached eggs 6. scrambled eggs 7. pancakes 8. chocolate cake 9. lemon meringue pie.

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