Hello all! We at Camera Coach hope you are well and safe. Due to the shelter in place order, we are currently not doing in person photo shoots. We are however moving to Patreon! There you will be able to get full access to our videos, which will be archived there after a week on FaceBook Live. 

At Camera Coach we are always looking for new ways to capture and connect, we were recently privileged enough to share in Rachal and Shawn’s special day and we wanted to share the connection with all of you! Congrats to Rachel and Shawn and if you like what you see and want us to capture your special events, please contact us! We look forward to connecting with more of you!

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Shout out to a long - time client and partner of Camera Coach-Vanguard Athletics for allowing us to
shoot their winter sports! Stay tuned for some “Behind the Scenes” shots of our team partnering with theirs to bring their achievements into a well-earned spotlight! Go Vanguard!

Lighting and contrast: With meaning in mind you can move on to lighting. Contrast has an enormous impact on buildings because light bounces off or is retained by surfaces differently, because most architecture has mixed media of materials that will contrast with how light hits them it is key to make these two elements your friend. If you are just starting out, try to find a piece that is more uniform in material until you get the hang of how light works with it. It should be noted that one way to expand your skill set is to capture the same piece at different times or seasons in order to create different meanings and tones to your photo portfolio.
Looking at the same photo from our last segment, you can see the bright natural light with little shadow or contrast...  

   
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Compared to the subtle shadows on the pillar here... Which one do you find more compelling?

Challenge: Architecture edition!

    As many of you know, we are currently hosting a competition for architecture photography! With cash prizes going up to $50 for our champion it is a hard challenge to pass up. But how best to capture the winning picture? Keep reading for tips on building the perfect photo of any building you want!

    Choosing your tone: The first step to any good photo shoot is knowing what you want to express in the picture. This applies to building shots especially! There are a lot of things to unpack with any given piece of architecture, but expression is key. Are your trying to make your audience feel small? Compare the clean lines of modernism to the curling rod work of art deco? What about inspiring nogistolia or wonder at a place? This is something you should choose before you ever pick up your camera.  Examine the photo below:

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Now compare it to this piece: 

These two images come from the same building, so don't be afraid to explore tone and theme in multiple shots. The possibilities are endless!

​The adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words” has managed to stand the test of time, even and especially in our media-saturated world. Not all pictures, however are created equal! Here are just a few commonly held misconceptions about head shots and their place in your business.
Headshots are just a fancy selfie! I can do that myself!- False! For one a headshot gets rid of the background noise of the photo and allows your image to take front and center! A selfie cannot do this adequately enough to look professional. Human minds are information processing machines. This means that if there is anything more interesting than you in your selfie, the viewer is going to focus on that employer. 
Headshots are too formal… I can’t showcase the real me so what’s the point?- False! A harsh truth of business is that employers and clients do not really want or need to see the real you. They are looking for the professional you. The one that can get the job done and get it done well. A headshot doesn’t need to be formal to put your competence on display! A good photographer like the ones here at Camera Coach excel at showing your best self for business through relaxed posing and soft lighting. Having an array of editing options and sizes doesn’t hurt either. 
But I’m just not photogenic. I need a setting to generate appeal- False! This is a very common complaint, but in truth everyone is photogenic enough for a headshot. The key is to be willing to work with your photographer to get the desired result. It’s tempting to just sit and wait for the flash and hope that everything turns out okay. This creates anxiety on both sides of the lens! Photographers want your feedback so they can ensure that you get the product you paid for! The flipside of this is being willing to listen to the photographer’s feedback too. If you really think a headshot is going to do more harm to your image than help; contact your photographer ahead of time so the two of you can brainstorm editing options or other features to add that extra something that can make your image pop!

Which category do you fall into?
I have a professional headshot, I dressed up and someone took my picture on their phone, selfie all the way! Though it is tempting to believe that employers, co workers and potential clients want to see the real you as a form of connection this is simply not the case. I business is exactly that, a workplace that no matter the profession demands its own standards of decorum. 
      It's about first impressions. Often times the first exposure that other professionals, be they potential supervisors or clients have of you is your digital profile. Thanks to the increased use of social media it is easy work to create opinions and perceptions of yourself and to reach a wide audience with them! This is great news no matter what your job situation is, but what are you really telling people?
        Humans process far more information far faster in a visual format than a verbal or written one. One study concluded that 81% of people only skim what they read online!https://imgur.com/468Awwl That means that no matter how great your written communication skills are, a visual is going make or break other's idea of you. This is where a great headshot comes in.
        If visuals are key to marketing yourself then why not invest in them? The idea that you have to get completely formal or that the photo will look stiff and not showcase your personality is false. Dress to create the greatest informational impact for your viewer, no one is going to believe a ranch hand in a 5 piece suit any more that they would trust a lawyer wearing a basketball jersey to work. A good photographer, (like ours here at Camera Coach) will be able to capture a look that's right for you and your business!

      Hope everyone is having a great Summer, we here at Camera Coach certainly have! This July we hosted a number of summer camp workshops and continued to create Youtube videos. We also did headshots at Startup Waco with the help of some summer camp students! 
      Coming this August we have some very exciting opportunities lined up! We will be downtown at Hustle Waco to do headshots by appointment on August 9th. If you are interested, be on the lookout for our registration information. 
We will also be doing staff headshots for Columbus Avenue Baptist Church and Rapoport Academy in August. 
        We aren't slacking in sports either! We will be doing team pictures for Rapoport Academy, Vanguard College Prep, and American Freedom Softball! Feel free to contact us if you are interested in getting your team pictures!
       Stay tuned to social media and our blog for more updates on Camera Coach and our upcoming events!