Shutter Magazine 60 - Behind the Shutter

The Panasonic G9 for Wedding Photographers

Post author:Michael Anthony
Post category:Gear Shutter Magazine
Reading time:11 mins read

When I purchased a G9 for our studio, it was as a test to shoot alongside our full-frame Sony bodies. After taking images side by side with my Sony A9 with an 85mm (42.5 for the G9) lens, I placed both images next to each other and asked five photographers to guess which one was shot with the full-frame camera. Four of the photographers answered wrong. From there, we decided to use the G9 as a primary camera system, but kept the full-frame system for daytime shooting. This camera creates amazing imagery, and the tradeoff of image quality versus portability is well worth it.

Standing Out From the Crowd with Sal Cincotta

Post author:Sal Cincotta
Post category:Shutter Magazine Uncategorized
Reading time:9 mins read

Shutter and ShutterFest do something really well: They stand out from the crowd. They are different. They are in your face. They make you stand up and take notice. The question you should be asking is: How do I apply some of these guiding principles to my own business?

How to Build a Photography Business That Will Thrive for Decades

Post author:Phillip Blume
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

What’s your long game? It’s an important question, but one too few photographers ask themselves when starting a business. Over the seven years my wife Eileen and I have coached photographers to make their studios more profitable and manageable, we’ve noticed an alarming trend: Most photographers don’t have a plan.

Dealing With Adversity with Sal Cincotta

Post author:Sal Cincotta
Post category:Life Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

I have worked my ass off building a very successful business, one that has been featured on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies three years in a row. But it hasn’t been easy. I am sure as you read this you can relate on some level. You have had things go wrong in your life or business. We all have. I don’t have all the answers. All I can do is share with you my lessons learned and how I have managed turmoil, adversity and negativity in my recent past.

Studio Workflows for Smoother Newborn Sessions

Post author:Eileen Blume
Post category:Babies Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

Your client has just arrived 30 minutes early for her baby’s newborn session and you are nowhere near finished setting up. After hastily greeting them at the door, you scramble, trying to think of where in the world to start. Does this sound familiar? The good news is that you can help prevent these problems by implementing some simple techniques to streamline your newborn sessions. Layering materials, rotating through stations and transitional posing all contribute to a smoother studio workflow.

Marketing for Maternity Portraits

Post author:Karen Bagley
Post category:Maternity Shutter Magazine
Reading time:9 mins read

You have heard me say it once, and you will hear me say it at least a million more times. Maternity portraits are huge. The mindset that women will not invest in maternity portraits because they want to put their real investment in newborn portraits is hogwash. How do I know? Because I am living proof that these soon-to-be mommas will spend big bucks on their maternity portraits. So now comes the huge question: How do we find those expecting mommas who want to drop some serious bills for their maternity portraits? It’s that million-dollar word: marketing.

Think You’re Ready to Be a Photography Educator?

Post author:Skip Cohen
Post category:Shutter Magazine Uncategorized
Reading time:10 mins read

Along with writing your own book someday, many of you aspire to be a speaker. But being on the road as a speaker and educator falls under the umbrella of “be careful what you wish for.” To begin with, let’s define speaker as the word applies to the speaking industry. Anybody with enough confidence can get up and speak about a topic, but in professional photography, you need to be an educator. You need to provide people with relevant content that attempts to elevate photographers’ game.

5 Things We’ve Learned From Owning a Shared Studio Space

Post author:Jeff & Lori Poole
Post category:Business Shutter Magazine
Reading time:10 mins read

When Jeff and I created The Shoot Space, we were the first shared-studio concept in Wilmington, North Carolina. We’ve managed to put our own spin on the share concept and keep it going for five years so far. Since those early days, several shared-studio concepts have come and gone in Wilmington. In this article, we share what we’ve learned and offer some tips on creating your own shared space.

The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Tween Photography

Post author:Audrey Woulard
Post category:Marketing Shutter Magazine
Reading time:8 mins read

When I decided to specialize in tween photography, it was hardly new. Tweens were often photographed as kid models. So the need for headshots for their comp cards was a need. During the middle school years, parents would purchase the school pictures because that would usually be the only time their kid’s age was documented. I consider the tween genre to be a “Blue Ocean.” I originally heard of the Blue Ocean Strategy from Sal Cincotta at a small event. When Sal mentioned the strategy, it hit home for me and my niche.

Understanding Catchlights

Post author:Michael Corsentino
Post category:Lighting Shutter Magazine
Reading time:7 mins read

Catchlights are the lights reflected in a subject’s eyes. I normally use strobes to capture them. Catchlights add life and sparkle, while their absence can result in dull, lifeless images. There are no hard and fast rules, and sometimes you may want dead and lifeless. It’s all about knowing what you want, why you want it and how to create it. But portraits are almost always better with catchlights.