Aspect ratio affects everything we do as photographers, from creating images in-camera to making prints and posting photos online. Here are three videos I made to help you navigate aspect ratio and keep your creative vision intact from camera to the final product. Intro to Aspect Ratio The first video is an introduction to aspect…
I love taking photos in the snow! It lets me see everyday locations with a new perspective. Snow provides technical challenges and unique visual possibilities. Let’s talk about those before you head out in the cold with your camera. Here are 8 tips for snow photography. They cover content, composition, and technical considerations when photographing outdoors…
Each Friday I post a new photo tip to help you sharpen your photography skills. I cover all levels of ability, because even if you’re just taking photos with your phone and posting them on social media, great photography enriches our lives. This page is a collection of all of the tips. You can also…
Firelight photography gives a nice warm glow to your photos. It’s challenging to get exposure and focus locked in when you’re using a candle or campfire as your sole light source. But it’s worth the effort to learn and practice because it gives the viewer a sense of the ambiance of a place that would…
We just marked the 40th anniversary of an important NASA mission. What does that have to do with photography? A LOT! Photos from NASA Mission STS-41B are some of the greatest in history! During the space mission, which took place February 3-11, 1984, astronauts completed the first untethered space walks. Even if you’ve never heard…
Photographing light, whether natural or manmade, goes a long way in making an interesting & engaging photo. Photography at its core is light and shadow. That’s why it’s the first thing I look for when taking a photo. March in the Midwest means a lot of gray skies. So on a rare sunny March evening,…
Using motion blur in photography is a great way to convey action, movement, and excitement while telling a story. In this post I’ll give some examples of how I like to use motion blur. All photos here are from this year’s Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. To Pan or Not To Pan? There are two primary ways…
This is where I collect resources for photographers like links to photo tips, articles, places to buy or rent gear and more! Friday Photo Tips Here’s a link to my series of weekly photo tips. These are for all skill levels. I’m updating this page TODAY, so bookmark it and check back soon!
Purchasing through these links may provide us with a commission and helps us keep making content for you. Thanks for watching our videos! If you want to learn more about our subjects or buy their books, here are some resources for you. Photos of the First Untethered Spacewalk from NASA Mission STS-41B View a PDF…
A good photography practice can be to return to the same scene multiple times to photograph it under different conditions. If you saw my post about photographing night snow, you’ll have seen this first image already. Well, I found myself in the same area the next day, both during the afternoon and again in the…
Twenty years into photography, it’s rare to find a subject I haven’t already photographed in some capacity. Enter Night Snow. Whenever possible, I get outside when it’s snowing those big, fat beautiful flakes, but I had never tried it at night. First, it required me to do something I absolutely hate: take a tripod. I’m…
How to find a great photographer to work with for your family portraits, wedding, or event.
Today we head to the creek to look for a little motivation for shooting a photo story. It can be hard to find the desire to get out and shoot on a gray winter day. However, if as a creative, I need to create, even in less-than-ideal circumstances. In this post, I’ll walk through the…
Documentary photography from Indy Mural Fest, Indianapolis Indiana 2019
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The NBA season is about to get underway, so I thought it time to finally share this shoot from last season. The Indiana Pacers hired me to document the inaugural game for their partnership with Motorola. I was brought in to capture some pre-game shots in the locker room and game action photos that highlighted…
Visiting Flat Fork Creek Park Flat Fork Creek Park is tucked away in the southeast corner of Fishers, Indiana. During this trip, Zach seeks different ways to capture the feel of this park at this time of year. Blue skies A bright sunny noon hour doesn’t often make for great photography, but sometimes you…
A Professional Portrait Makes the Difference All you need to do is choose the number of individuals, a date & time and submit a payment for the total of your group and you’re scheduled. When I receive confirmation of your booking I’ll give you a call to discuss the details and in just a few…
Enter your name and email below to download our PDF guide “Low Light Photography: Using Available Light”. It’s well worth your time to learn how to photograph in dimly lit or dark situations because so many awesome moments happen in the dark – and using a flash can really kill the mood! In the guide,…
Welcome to my third and final post on my practices for shooting in low light using only available light. This post addresses the low light post-production practices I use to get great shots in extremely low light without using flash or strobes. Get the whole series here in a cool PDF download. All the kids…
Thanks for checking out my second post on my practices for shooting in low light using only available light. For an introduction to the benefits of available light photography and a review of the type of gear I use to get great shots in low light, be sure to read the first post. This post…
One of the most difficult aspects of photography is shooting in low light. However, with my documentary approach, it’s a skill I need in order to maintain the integrity of the subject material and avoid affecting the end result with my presence. Therefore over the past 15 years I’ve developed a series of practices that allow…