Check out all the work that went in to creating the cover photograph for Jay-Z’s new album, Blueprint 3.

No photoshop. Wow.

What I can’t figure out is why they asked Vincent to take that beautiful video down, but haven’t issued a similar request to CNET Asia for this laughable piece, in which a cell phone picture of the back of the LCD of a 1D4 taking a picture of another picture (wrap your noodle around THAT) is used to claim the 1D4′s ISO 102,400 performance is inadequate. Say what?

So, Canon…how about you release some high-res pics from the new beast already so we can accurately judge for ourselves?

Obviously these are all good ideas, but I’d like to add to number 4:

4.  Know your audience.  Every blog has a different aesthetic and not all of them feature the same type of weddings.  Not all blogs even POST real weddings, so it is best to do your homework.

If you want to get a wedding published, it helps if it has “editorial content.” That means, some kind of unique feature that may inspire brides and attract more traffic. So, don’t submit every wedding to your favorite blogs. Just submit those that have truly unique features likely to attract the attention of the blog authors.

Best of luck submitting!

– Matt

Yeah, cry me a river. At least you haven’t had kangaroos trying to kick you in the face while taking your toughest shot.

If you think you’ve had a rough time, you HAVE to see this post on the Outside Online blog. You’ve never been kicked by a kangaroo during a photoshoot (like Paolo Marchesi has) so quit yer cryin’!

– Matt

Okay, you’ve had your fun. Now get back to work or check out our announcement article on the S1000pj.

– Matt

It’s possible that, should you switch from an administrator account to the default “Guest” account and back again, your Home folder might just get replaced with an empty directory.

As far back as September, a number of Snow Leopard users documented the problem on several forum threads. They said the bug involves the home directory — the Mac’s primary user folder — being replaced with an empty folder after users log in with a Guest account. That resulted in loss of documents, downloads, pictures, music and other types of files, the affected users claimed.

Apple says they’re working on a fix. In the meantime, either avoid using the Guest account, or make a different user account, called, say, “Visitor” instead.

MediaPost has compiled an insightful list of 10 marketing trends for 2010. Can you capitalize on these ideas to make sure you reach your clients next year?

Two points stand out for me in particular.

First, item 1: “value is the new black.” Completely true. When times are good, everybody’s about “premium.” “I work hard, so I deserve the best!” That doesn’t really fly when people are barely hanging on to their jobs. When times are tough, people are all about “value,” and making sure they get the most for their money. How can you better communicate to your clients how “sensible” a choice they’re making by hiring you?

Second, item 9: “they’re talking to each other before they talk to the brand.” This is especially true in the worlds of wedding and portrait photography. The primary consumers of photography are women, and connecting women to each other connects them to your brand. Finding some way to connect your clients to each other (a mommies’ group for your baby portrait clients or a cocktail party for your brides and their soon-to-be-engaged friends) just gives them an opportunity to reinforce their good feelings about you and spread that goodwill to their peers.

Check out the other eight great tips for marketing in 2010, and give some good hard thinking as to how your clients will connect with you next year.

– Matt

Nikon today announces the introduction of the D3S, the camera that enables professionals to take control of the unpredictable and extends the possibilities for action photographers everywhere. Built upon the widely acclaimed Nikon D3, the D3S advances low light photography to another level and sets in motion new creative options for multi-media movie shooting.

Most exciting new features for Nikon users?

• ISO 102,400. That’s not a typo.
• Auto cleaning sensor
• “Quiet mode” (works the same as Canon bodies. Depress the shutter button for mirror up, release for mirror return.)
• 720p HD video recording

Estimated price tag? $5200. Ouch. Available late November, so, just in time for Christmas.

For further reading, visit the dpreview.com hands-on report, and the Rob Galbraith sneak peak and of course Nikon Rumors.

It’s been about two and a half years since Canon’s updated their flagship 1D body, so we’re definitely overdue for an update. Not going to lie, I was disappointed by the 7D announcement, wondering why we needed yet another prosumer body from Canon. Hopefully this rumor pans out.

That said, while the prospect of ISO 102,400 sounds mind-boggling, I wish Canon could take a note from Nikon’s playbook and get rid of the cropped sensor for their news and sports body. While they’re at it, how about a better flash system (that doesn’t require holding down buttons activate slaved TTL)?

Well, if wishes were horses, beggars would eat.

– Matt

So to me, while I adore exquisitely captured moments and expressions and compositions in a photograph, when the artist combines that with expert lighting techniques, an image can truly sing.

To that end, check out this informative post on light modifiers on the Lighting Essentials blog.

This post caught my eye because the first set of equipment Don mentions in the article is the Honl light modification system, which I love. I swear by the Honl grid spots, because as a wedding photographer who has to travel light, there’s nothing better than quick, lightweight, and simple modifiers to create the look you want in an image, and pretty much no other wedding photographers use a grid spot to make rim lights.

Here are a couple of pics for which I’ve used to Honl grid spots on my Canon 580s to make accent or hair lights.

Be sure to read the Lighting Essentials blog post for lots more ideas and examples of flash modifiers to give your images some extra kick!

– Matt

I wonder if Bride’s goes belly-up, too, think I could swoop in and snatch the brides.com URL? I mean, they won’t need it anymore…

Apparently this all comes on the heels of a several month long assessment from marketing consultants in an effort to mitigate an estimated $200 million dollar loss for the publishing giant this year.

The Wall Street Journal also has the story.

– Matt

You have GOT to pop over to see his latest blog post, in which you can watch a video of Ryan building the set for this cool shot for the cover of “Time Out Chicago.”

Check it out, and then subscribe to Ryan’s blog.

– Matt

The concept is simple. Grab your video camera (and your still camera) and make a short video about unique ways you bounce light. Then, upload it to youtube by December 1st, 2009, tagged with “lime bounce competition” and you can win some sweet prizes.

Visit the LIME blog post for more details, and check out the inspirational video below.

WARNING: Video may contain crazy Belgians.

– Matt

DWF rockstar (no, really, in her former life she was a punk rocker) Andrena “Dina” Douglass just had an amazing 13-page feature on destination weddings published in Bride & Bloom Magazine, plus an interview titled “Through the Lens: A Photographer’s Perspective.” Dina’s one of the DWF moderators and a sterling example of the high level of quality and professionalism among forum contributors.

First, check out the spectacular images:

(Click image to view larger)

Next, pop over to the DWF Pro Art thread about the feature to give Dina some well-deserved back slapping. If you’re not a DWF member, sign up for a free trial now, and you’ll be hooked.

Finally, want to learn more about how Dina creates these amazing images and books these fantastic weddings? Then join Dina, me and Krystal for The f Stops Now: Los Angeles in LA November 4th and 5th! Hope to see you there!

– Matt

Joy of joys, it’s time to look at a series of professionally polished presentations of picture portfolios and feel woefully inadequate about your own. The ReadyPhotoSite Blog has compiled a list of eight significant trends in photography website design, and there are some pretty, pretty portfolios here.

From the article:

Even though most photographers prefer to show their skills in photos actually, leaving experiments with website layouts to web designers, photography portfolio design doesn’t stand still and we observe many interesting approaches appearing.

I think I like “big typography” series best.  What do you think?

Editorial and wedding photographer David Jackson has done just that, posting a complete behind the scenes look at his recent commercial shoot for “Matter: The design store with a cause” on his blog.

Here’s the video, but be sure to visit David’s blog for the full write-up, finished images and lighting diagrams.

Commercial photographer Chase Jarvis had the same problem, but actually did something about it. Check out the new The Best Camera app and photo sharing site. First, you get the app, which you load up when you want to take a picture instead of the standard Apple camera app. Snap your picture, then crop it or apply some built-in filters to complete your artistic masterpiece. Then you can share it with one click, on Twitter, FaceBook, and on the new thebestcamera.com photo sharing site, where other users can see what you’ve made.

Here’s Chase’s video explaining the concept:

At $2.99 I thought this was a pretty good deal, so I bought it. To keep abreast of my future iPhone photo masterpieces, follow me on twitter or friend me on FaceBook.

– Matt

Two very similar blog posts flashed across my Google reader lately, both talking about failure (or fear of failure) in photography.

First, check out Don Giannatti’s post at the Lighting Essentials blog about 10 Nifty, Excellent Excuses for Failing at Photography. It’s an excellent list that general boils down to “I didn’t work hard enough or smart enough.” My favorite part:

There is usually no fast track. And there is usually no short cuts. There are the occasional ‘rock stars’ who come out of nowhere with meteoric rise. That is nice when it happens. It should not be a part of your business plan.

Succeeding in a highly competitive field like photography means you can’t half-ass it, you can’t half-heartedly limp through business. You’ve got to know your craft, show up every day and work and market your tail off. Good advice, Don.

Then I stumbled upon Scott Webb’s post at Nuwomb, titled Why You Don’t Have Enough Time Starting a Photography Business, which is more of an inspirational piece, encouraging readers to get off their butts, stop making excuses, and start a photography business. Which I’d almost agree with, except some of the excuses Scott brings up sound like really good reasons to not start a photography business, such as:

I don’t have any photography equipment and can’t afford to build on my gear

I am not really that good at photography

I don’t know who I am as a photographer

I can’t afford Workshops to improve my photography skills

I never went to school for Photography

I lack confidence and I’m too shy to talk to people about taking their pictures

And after listing these excellent reasons to not start a photography business, he goes on to encourage people to…start a photography business, anyway.

Can I suggest an alternative? Perhaps if one is not a good photographer, has no photography education or equipment, and is too shy to relate to potential clients, might self-employment as a photography business not be such a grand idea? Maybe just enjoy photography as a hobby, instead?

On the other hand, if you’re good a photography, have educated yourself, are confident and have a plan to equip and market your photography business, get cracking and follow Don’s advice about hard work and determination.

– Matt

Anyway, despite being a curmudgeon and pedant, I do acknowledge that occasionally, every once in awhile, it’s nice to do something nice. So I’d like to share with you noted commercial photographer Jeremy Cowart’s new project, Help Portrait. Jeremy explains the idea more fully in his video, but the gist is that he’s encouraging photographers to, on December 12th, 2009, find somebody in their community who can’t afford a portrait, and make one for them, out of the goodness of your heart.

I think it’s a wonderful idea, and needs just one tiny addendum to make it spectacular. Don’t just give somebody a free portrait: find a way to use your photography to change their life. To that end, hook up with one of the many photography-related charities that already exists. Examples:

• The Heart Gallery of America. Create a network of photographers in your area to photograph children who need homes in conjunction with adoption agencies. Our PPA affiliate group, the PPNCF started one of these in conjunction with the Children’s Home Society of Florida a few years ago, and adoptions are up 40% in the counties we serve.
• Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. This organization provides free infant bereavement photography to parents of babies who may not–or will not–leave the hospital. This one takes a strong person to participate in, as it’s an very emotional experience for all involved.
• PPA Charities. Support Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity that has, to date, treated over 130,000 children with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities. If you don’t have time to create a free portrait session for someone, join Family Portrait Month and donate a portion of your portrait session fees to the cause.

These are just a few ideas. If you know of more opportunities to serve, we’d love to hear about them.

– Matt

• Edward Zemba
• Kent and Sarah Smith
• David Ziser
• John Hartman
• Rod Evans
• Vicki Taufer
• Kevin Kubota
• Dane Sanders
• Tim and Beverly Walden
• Sarah Petty
• Jen Hillenga
• Allison and Jeff Rodgers
• Lori Northstrom
• Marilyn Sholin
• Kia Bondurant
• Julie Klaasmeyer

That’s a pretty impressive lineup, so check out their individual topics and register to tune in for a few.

Anyway.

But back to the Indian wedding thing. You have got to check out this Bollywood-inspired wedding video created by Kevin Shahinian of Pacific Pictures. I’ve posted the video for you below, but if you want of the rest of the story, head over to the Maharani post.

Was that not one of the coolest things you’ve ever seen?

But here’s another parallel I found fascinating: the world of high-fashion. According to the New York Times, (obligatory bug me not link for logins) high-end designers are suffering because, while the quality of their workmanship and materials is unquestioned (mostly), people are simply unwilling or unable to pay hefty price tags for designer apparel. Read this article and tell me you don’t see the current state of the photography industry reflected there.

“There are still customers who want that workmanship,” Ann Stordahl, the general merchandise manager at Neiman’s, said. “There are just fewer of them than there were.”

From the interviews with fashion designers, there simply isn’t any way to cut expenses without cutting the quality of the work, by either using less expensive materials or lower-quality workmanship. It would be great if at the end, the article said what the designers are going to do so they can continue to profit from their creative talents, but it doesn’t. I guess that’s left as an exercise to the reader.

Along those lines, DWF superstar Dave Cheung has dropped an informative and insightful post on the QuiKeys blog about using off-camera flash at receptions. Dave has a slightly different take on off-camera lighting at receptions than most people. Most photographers who light their receptions are using flashes to overpower the ambient light (that’s generally what I do, anyway), but Dave suggests merely accenting it instead. It’s trickier than you think, because flashes are just too powerful. Quoth the Dave:

“For this post, I’m talking about dark venues. Really dark venues.  Take, for example, last weekend’s reception venue with an ambient light reading of 3200ISO, 1/80 and f2.  When I say “low-powered flash” I mean having to add a 3-stop neutral density gel to a Nikon SB900 or Canon 580EXII manually set to 1/128 power to balance the fore-mentioned low light levels and still having to shoot at 1600ISO and f2.”

Later in the post Dave calls for camera makers to consider creating a lower-powered mini-flash to help photographers add just the slightest pops to images without having to add gel after gel to standard Canon and Nikon fare to power them down to usable levels. What do you think? Ultra low-powered flash: useful tool for pros, or niche toy? Let Dave and the DWF know.

Instead, head over to Photojojo and read up on their tips for naming a photography business. There’s a lot of great advice there, and if I could add a few myself:

1) Please avoid the use of words like “captured” or “moments.” It’s over done.

2) Make sure you can get a decent domain name. I know all the good domains are taken, but make sure it’s something easy to spell, easy to understand when spoken, and avoid hyphens and other special characters.

3) If it’s your own name, you can’t trademark it. If it’s something else, though, be sure to trademark it! “Prior art” doesn’t work when it comes to trademarks. Meaning, if you’re “Really Good At Pictures LOL Studios” for 10 years, but never trademarked it, and somebody else comes along and files the paperwork, they can shut you down. Don’t let that happen!

4) Always remember, people will shorten and confuse whatever name you choose, so the shorter and sweeter you can make your name, the better.

Best,

Matt Radlinski

Magically Captured Moments by Matt Photography, LLC, INC, WTF, BBQ.

The folks over at Photo Business News & Forum are reporting on a great new scam by the publishers of a book called “Stocked Up: 1,000 Royalty Free Photographs.” Basically it’s a book of random stock pictures including a DVD of all the images in digital format for royalty free use. The problem is, buying out the copyrights to 1,000 decent photographs might be a tad on the expensive side. So how do you get the rights to all those pics for zero dollars? Rip off students!

“Please note: Contributors maintain all rights to, and ownership of, all images submitted. Contributors are granting RotoVision the right to publish their images in the book and on the DVD to be used by readers in any manner they choose.”

Here’s how the scam works in a nutshell. Photo students are desperate to get noticed, right? And who doesn’t love being able to say, “why yes, I am a published photographer…” too, eh? So the editors put out a call to students that if they’ll just sign the rights of their five best photographs over to the editors, they can guarantee they’ll be “published.” Of course by doing so they now forfeit all the rights to their images. Pretty clever. Check out the full article for all the gory details.

Best part? It’s free! Second best part? Jeff’s adorable accent!

Tip #1: Respond. This is the single biggest advantage you have over the big guys. Not only are you in charge, you also answer the phone and read your email and man the desk and set the prices. So, don’t pretend you have a policy. Just be human. - Seth Godin

While this may come as a shock to many of you, I tend to be slightly cynical. But this is the most inspiring lists of common sense, pick-yourself-up-and-go business advice I’ve seen in a long time. If you’re struggling in the sluggish economy, scroll through this list and write down just ten of the 101 ideas you’re going to focus on this month. Can’t hurt, eh?

If that hits the wallet a bit too hard, DP Review also given the $2200 24mm f/3.5 version the once-over.

As I’m a cheap bastard, I’ll stick with the $199 Bokeh photoshop plug-in from Alien Skin.

Or for the real penny pinchers  out there you can always use the FREE Tilt Shift Generator from Art&Mobile Labs we reviewed a few weeks back.

Next, panic because you realize that in addition to maintaining your studio displays, your website, your newsletter, your blog (oh and occasionally taking a picture) you haven’t twittered what you had for breakfast yet or uploaded any funny cat videos to FaceBook in over an hour and a half and have now been left in the dust by your competitors and are irrelevant in the social media revolution. Get them cat pics uploaded, stat!

Then, check out this story from the New York Times (for those of you under the age of 24, that’s what’s called a “newspaper.” It’s where people got information before the internet. It was actually written on…get this…bits of dead trees! Can you imagine such a thing?!) about scientists using twitter to create a real-time indicator of the public’s mood and their reactions to current events. Soon, they’ll be releasing a version of their trend-tracking software for public use on a website called One Happy Bird. As more tools for watching tweets develop, pretty soon you’ll be checking the Twitter trends for your business more closely than your website hits.

And finally, be sure to follow the Digital Wedding Forum on Twitter. Oh, and if you’d like to know what I’m having for breakfast, follow me on Twitter and friend me on FaceBook, too!

Last year’s ShootQ grant winner, wedding photographer and freelance photojournalist Sherrlyn Borkgren traveled to the Eastern Congo to tell the story of the horrific violence against women that is tragically commonplace in the war-torn region.

Now, her efforts have achieved international publicity after being picked up by CNN, while simultaneously U.S. Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton travels to the region to interview rape victims as part of a state visit to Africa.

Warning, these stories contain graphic and disturbing content and imagery.