Found light can be a real helper when it’s time to make a portrait and there’s nothing to utilize as a prop.
This image was made during a session with my intermediate students.
Their challenge this day was to make a beautiful portrait using only the props available in a certain area that I chose.
The background was purposefully plain, so that my students would have to find some beautiful light and use it to make some awesome images.
It was overcast, but the light was coming strongly from camera left.
The subject’s skin reacted perfectly to this type of lighting and made for an exceptional image.
Remember, when the background isn’t helping and there’s little else to help with your portraits, trust the light to make your portraits stronger.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

Where we place the camera makes all the difference and influences how the viewer will interpret the message.
This image was created by some of my students, the subject leapt and I mean leapt into this tree so that her classmates could photograph her from a lower vantage point.
Shooting from a lower vantage point can make a subject look heroic and is normally very flattering.
Likewise, shooting from a higher vantage point can be unflattering to any subject.
Notice as a viewer, you can tell where the camera was placed when the image was made.
Take a look at our image from today.
The camera was about at the level of the subject’s hands.
See how easy it is to tell?
It let’s the photographer bias how the viewer will perceive the subject.
I’ll bet you never look at another image that same way again.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that matter.
For example, just a slight gesture turned this main image into a keeper for me, by a small detail.
Just the introduction of the subject’s hand grabbing her toe, made this an interesting image that is worth keeping, rather than throwing it on the trash heap.
It’s the tiny in congruencies that make things interesting.
WIthout that slight gesture, it’s just a photo of a pair of boots.
With it, it becomes a story telling element, that makes the viewer wonder what is going on and will make them stick around longer, too!
What makes for a good gesture?
That is the $64,000.00 question.
It’s like capturing lighting in a bottle, no one knows how, they just know when it happens, it’s great!
So, experiment.
Try different things and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
This is a process that allows for missteps, and rewards those that take chances.
Be free and be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!

A boy and his bike, make the post for today.
Another example of how using props to make great portraits with whatever is handy.
I had asked my class to bring in something that tells us a bit more about them.
This student brought his bike to class and when students were stumped on how to show him with it, I suggested he hold it over his head.
It’s a quick way to illustrate that he loves it and the bike just kind of flows into the composition better.
I love doing things that are incongruent with the norm, to make interesting and visually challenging images.
For example, I once had to photograph a girl who had made the varsity football team.
I could have surrounded her with team mates, but her brother was on the team, so I had him pick her up.
Great image, but I wish that I had taken it one step further, what if she had lifted him up?
An even better more striking image.
One day…..
Look for incongruence and remember to use props.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

My latest class session was on utilizing props to make portraits stronger and better.
It gives the subjects something to do and helps them to forget about the camera that is sometimes inches from their face.
Here’s a few examples that I was able to grab during my beginning photography class.
Having a camera pointed in your direction is tough, especially when the photographer says, “Act natural.”
A prop gives the subject somewhere/something to react to, to play off of and to act natural.
One problem that I found with beginning photographers is that they tend to stay too far away from their subjects.
The first image was an example to my students to get closer using just a ball for a prop.

This next image was a great moment created by the prop.
I asked the subject to place the volleyball near her head and she started laughing, a real laugh that allowed me to capture part of the subject’s personality, not just a forced smile.
This is exactly why props are perfect for creating situations where the subject can forget about the camera and just be themselves.
Here are a few other examples:

The next pic utilizes a book.
The subject brought one of his favorite books and so I showed part of the book, with the stunning graphic, and part of the face of the subject.
It gives just enough information to make the image interesting and draws the viewer into the photo.
A book, a ball, it can be anything, even…. a pair of sunglasses.

Sunglasses are even less interesting than a book.
But, with just the right bit of coaching, they become the perfect distraction for the subject.
This technique works with whatever you might have at your disposal.
Remember to engage your subject about the object or to let the object evoke memories or thoughts.
Then, capture the moments.
Be inspired!
Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

This was a really great portrait session.
Everything came together.
Great subject, great light and a beautiful setting.
I was disappointed because the happy yellow flowers that I was expecting at this location aren’t blooming yet.
I was able to scout out this small patch of grass that was allowed to grow about 10 to 16 inches in various places.
I had my fantastic subject lay down and started to talk to her about lens flares, she thought I meant actual flares, got really excited that we were going to shoot off flares, but started laughing when I explained I meant photographic flares.
Still, it provided a great reaction and an even better image.
Some days, it just all comes together and this was one wonderful day.
Thank You Noelle.
Fantastic model with a great attitude that translated directly to her photos.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

Moments can happen anytime, regardless of the circumstances, there’s always a great picture just waiting to be captured.
The song, “It never rains in southern California?”
Well, guess what? Not so true, at least this past weekend.
Every brides nightmare was happening, it was pouring, like monsoon pouring during the ceremony.
Afterwards, the rain slackened a bit and I took a few images before they headed out to their reception.
I grabbed an umbrella and told them I wanted to make photos that would remind them that it rained on their wedding day.
To embrace the elements, because almost every wedding has something go off planning.
To me, it only makes the event more memorable.
They stood under an overhang, so they were dry, and they popped up the umbrella and I had my moment.
My philosophy?
Use whatever the day throws at you, and make it yours.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

In honor of Encyclopedia Britannica announcing they will stop printing the once ubiquitous info book, I found this old image that I made a few years back.
Paul Gaughen, 62, of Fountain Valley sold Encyclopedia Brittanicas, door-to-door, selling 4,088, for more than 30 years. His last sale was July 8, 1995 and he still has the log books that chronicle his years of selling. The company announced this past week they will only be producing electronic versions from now on.
This portrait helps to visually explain this announcement, or as we say in the business, to “put a face on the story.”
This type of prop photography is more accurately described as an environmental portrait.
One that explains visually what the person in the photo does.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

Engagement sessions or E-Sessions are like a discovery phase for photographers and for the couples.
I always do e-sessions to explore my clients and see how they react in front of the camera and likewise it’s a great chance for the couples to see how I am as their photographer.
A lot of couples never consider the personality of photographer, remember you’re going to be spending a lot of time with this person on the day of your wedding.
Hopefully, you gel with them, otherwise, it’s going to be a long long day.
The e-session gives everyone a chance to get to know each other and develop some chemistry.
I try to get the couples to forget about me and just have fun and relax.
Most of the time they’ve been concentrating on getting their to-do lists done, that they haven’t relaxed in a long time.
This day is about that, relaxing and being themselves.
My post a few days ago talked about harsh light, I used that same technique to utilize the beautiful soft even light created by this back lit situation.
If you can get your couples to relax and forget about you for just a few moments, you can be rewarded with some great moments.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS

A good friend asked me to shoot some studio shots for him.
Afterwards, I asked for a couple of more photos and placed him in some natural light that I had noticed earlier.
There’s strong window light coming from camera right and it’s accentuating just his eyes and his profile.
Exceptional light for an exceptional voice.
There’s always beautiful and interesting light, take the time to notice it and to utilize it.
Be inspired!

Michael is the author of, “Take Better Photos Now,” and, “Mommie Pics,” ebooks that help everyone become better photographers through tips and secrets that he has learned during his more than 25 years of experience as a professional photographer and photography teacher. He currently is an adjunct professor at Cal Baptist University in Riverside, California. To purchase either ebook, click the links. CLICK HERE FOR “TakeBetterPhotosNow!
CLICK HERE FOR MOMMIE PICS