Ep 128 It’s all in the planning! How to avoid photo fails

Photography can be unpredictable. And when you’re shooting, anything can happen – good and bad. Sometimes, life throws you curve balls and you find yourself with a damaged lens, cyclonic conditions or any number of unforeseen circumstances which make shooting a big challenge. So that’s where a bit of planning can go a long way to avoiding a whole series of epic photo fails.

Gina and Valerie discuss what you can do to ensure you’re prepared for every scenario.

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#ginachallenge #failproof

 

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Show notes

What Valerie’s been obsessed with:

 

From Andrew Deagle:

Ultimate Photographers Guide brings a new concept of showcasing amazing, talented photographers and it will be the definitive website guide for finding the best scenery locations to photograph. The guide will include amazing images, as well as tips and tricks on how to best capture the locations for your own spectacular photos. The Gold Coast will be the first location instalment and we will then expand to include locations all around Australia and overseas.   

Participation is open to any Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia and is open to all photographers from novice through to professional. Participants are invited to submit striking landscape digital images of the Gold Coast, Hinterland and Tweed Coast regions. We are especially interested in images that showcase the wide range of locations that photographers and tourists can visit, including all types of forests, mountains, lakes, rivers, rainforests, beaches, cityscapes, waterfalls, landmarks and iconic Gold Coast locations. Image submitted must have a maximum resolution of 2MB, 1900px on the longest size, 8bit and 72 ppi or higher saved as jpg.

Competition starts at 9am on 1st of April 2017 and concludes at 5pm 30th of April 2017. Judging will be completed by the 10th of May 2017 and winners will be notified via email, and announced on the website on the 17th of May 2017.

Full Competition details and Terms and Conditions are available at www.ultimatephotographersguide.com.au

Prizes

1St Prize Canon 750D + 18-55mm & 55-250 mm IS STM Lens Kit, Cover of Website, eBook and Photobook

Valued at $1398

2nd Prize GoPro Hero 5 and 2nd photographers’ page in eBook and Photobook

Valued at $599

3rd Prize $200 instore credit from InkFX Printing and 3rd photographers’ page in eBook and Photobook

Valued at $200

All 25 Winners will have their photo featured on the “Ultimate Photographers Guide” Website, eBook, Hard Cover Book and Calendar for 2018, also on social media after the competition.

Photo critique:

Above: Image by ken Bergmann

How to avoid disaster on a photo shoot

Listener question inspired this topic from Kevin

Hey Gina, hope all is well. I have an idea for a topic for the podcast.

Disaster and how to survive it.

You are preparing for a portrait shoot, you have everything set up, and subtly your lens dies. How do you make do with the one you have left?

Love the show.

Kevin

Do you have a checklist?

  • Tick everything off before you leave
  • List all your gear
  • Card readers and cards formatted and ready to go
  • Cords and accessories
  • Batteries
  • Camera batteries charged
  • Always pack your bag in exactly the same order

Plan to fail and work backwards

A simple example of this would be to have backup gear

Shooting with flash

3 heads- what could you do if one flash stopped working?

Shooting an event

  • What if one of your cameras stopped working?
  • Wedding min 2 bodies and 2 lenses
  • Spare batteries
  • Spare lights

Fill flash

  • Shoot in a style that is fail proof
  • Test your camera at very high ISO so you feel comfortable doing this if your flash stops working
  • Build a little black book of contacts you can call on if you ever need a favour in an emergency

Wardrobe and Hair and MU malfunctions

  • Keep an emergency kit “just in case”
  • sewing kit
  • lint brush
  • bulldog clips
  • white sheet

Do a rehearsal shoot

  • This could be at home using a mannequin or friend
  • Plan your lighting out and take notes. This will speed up your shoot and increase your confidence

Always have a plan B

Develop a network of photographers you can call on if the caca hits the fan.

Keep a list of go-to poses on your phone

#ginachallenge #failproof

How to direct and pose like a pro

About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

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