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Here is the schedule for the upcoming LIVE episodes of The Understand Photography Show! This schedule is updated frequently. Each episode is live on www.facebook.com/UnderstandPhotography every Friday at 4 p.m. EDT. After each episode, we post the show notes right here on our website!
Peggy Farren interviews travel photographer Jim Sernovitz about his travels down the ancient Silk Road on episode 40 of The Understand Photography Show.
Aperture is controlled by your lens, not your camera. Most “kit” lenses that come with your DSLR camera only open up to an aperture of 3.5 or 5.6mm. Both Canon and Nikon make an inexpensive 50 mm 1 ...
In this episode of The Understand Photography Show, Peggy Farren interviews photographer and co-founder of Digital Photography and Imaging Special Interest Group of Naples, Florida: Sonny Saunders. Sonny has helped bring this club from a mere 20 members to a thriving membership of over 400 photographers. He gives advice on what has helped to make this club so successful.
Peggy Farren interviews landscape photographer Jason Eldridge and gets an amazing array of photography tips! As a youngster, Jason idolized Spiderman. Peter Parker, the boy behind Spiderman's secret identity, was a photographer. So young Jason asked for and received his first camera at the age of 8, and gained an interesting story to his beginning of a love for photography.
First of all, this was the first time I (Peggy Farren) had ever done night sky photography! If you really want to grow as a photographer, befriend other photographers! I was lucky to go out with Joe Fitzpatrick, who seems to know EVERYTHING about photography, and Chris Hopkins, avid photographer and Everglades expert. Joe has been watching the sky via an app called "Sun Surveyer" and determined this is the best time to view the Milky Way in Southwest Florida. You can view it all summer but it will be higher and higher up in the sky so it will be tougher to get a nice foreground and the Milky Way later. Chris did some scouting to find a couple of good spots and Joe prepared us with astrophotography tips.
Peggy Farren interviews published nature photographer Cheryl Arena to discuss tips for making your images stand out and get noticed. Cheryl encourages everyone to just "get out there", join groups, get feedback, and enter your images in contests.
Peggy Farren interviews Hunt's Photo and Video partner Gary Farber to talk about equipment, great photography conferences, and the importance of getting to know your customers. Gary and his brother Scott currently have 8 retail stores across the northeast. They pride themselves on customer satisfaction in a business that has been family owned and operated since 1889, which is quite a feat in a society run by internet business and big box stores.
Peggy Farren interviews professional photographer Joe Fitzpatrick as he explains the differences between mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. Joe gets technical in this episode as he delves into sensor sizes and dedicated pixels in an effort to give us a clearer understanding of the three levels of MILCs.
Peggy Farren interviews professional Nature Photographer, Conservationist, and Author, Bill Lea on Episode 34 - Nature Photography with a Purpose. Bill and his wife both feel very strongly about the protection of habitats and wildlife. Bill brings his fascination with the history of an area into his books to help inform people and bring his images of the natural world to life.
Peggy Farren interviews professional landscape photographer and workshop host Ed Heaton on The Understand Photography Show: Episode 33 Landscapes and Workshops. Ed Heaton travels across the United States hosting photography workshops with his wife and most recently with his son, teaching others about creating provocative landscape images.
Peggy Farren interviews Professional landscape photographer Alister Benn on The Understand Photography Show. Show notes for Episode 32: Creativity in Landscape Photography. Alister Benn, along with his wife, gave up a traditional lifestyle to travel the world with his camera. He creates photographs that are not only visually stimulating but evoke the emotions and experience of his surroundings.
Lightroom tips – Customize your Photos During Import
Peggy Farren interviews Professional Wildlife and Bird Photographer Diana Calleja on The Understand Photography Show. Show Notes for Episode 31: Wildlife and Bird Photography. Diana Calleja is new to photography, yet if you look at her pictures, you wouldn’t think that at all. She started out with a point and shoot and then worked her way up to a more professional camera. Diana then started to sell her work at art shows and became successful at it.
Peggy Farren interviews Professional Sports and Travel Photographer Ron Wyatt on The Understand Photography Show. Show Notes for Episode 30: Sports and Travel Photography ft. Ron Wyatt Ron Wyatt has been a professional sports and travel photographer for many years. He initially got into photography after taking pictures on his honeymoon, and finding out that most to all of them were out of focus! He decided he wanted to get into photography and learn how to take professional pictures. A local paper hired Wyatt after looking at some of his work. Little did he know that he would become a traveling photographer for the NBA.
Peggy Farren interviews professional nature photographer and author David Fitzsimmons. David has successfully translated his education background in English and verbal communication into the visual communication of photography. He composes his images to be read by the viewer in much the same way we would read a book.
Peggy Farren interviews professional Nature Photographer and conservationist Daniel Cox as he talks about his adventures with polar bears in the arctic. He is part of a team working with Polar Bears International to document the effects of melting sea ice on the populations and behaviors of these beautiful giants.
Peggy Farren interviews professional nature photographer, author, teacher, speaker and Canon Explorer of Light Rick Sammon. Rick started his career in photography underwater! He became President of the Marine Conservation Organization for 10 years and designated the 7 Underwater Wonders of the World.
Thanks for tuning into episode 26 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, watch it now on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a rating and review! We are trying to reach more photography enthusiasts on iTunes. Your help makes a huge difference! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 26 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 25 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, watch it now on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a rating and review! We are trying to reach more photography enthusiasts on iTunes and we only have a short few more weeks to do so! Your help makes a huge difference! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 25 of The Understand Photography Show: Understand Photography General Notes Four Weeks to Proficiency in Photography - The next class begins March 21. Truly knowing photography is a great gift for yourself or someone in your life!
Thanks for tuning into episode 24 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, watch it now on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a rating and review! We are trying to reach more photography enthusiasts on iTunes and we only have a week to do so! Your help makes a huge difference! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 24 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 23 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, watch it now on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a rating and review! We are trying to reach more photography enthusiasts on iTunes and we only have a short few more weeks to do so! Your help makes a huge difference! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 23 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 22 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, watch it now on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a rating and review! We are trying to reach more photography enthusiasts on iTunes and we only have a short few more weeks to do so! Your help makes a huge difference! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 22 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 21 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please check us out! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 21 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 20 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please do us a HUGE favor and leave us a rating and review! We are trying to reach more photography enthusiasts on iTunes and we only have a couple more weeks to do so! Your help makes a huge difference! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 20 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 19 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MFK-S2qbIJ0 The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please check us out! To hear this episode as a podcast on Soundcloud, click here: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 19 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 18 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HdBVnOvwRrI The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please check us out!
On Saturday, February 25, 2017, Understand Photography is teaming up with Carolyn Edlund of ArtsyShark to offer an exclusive hands-on workshop! In this business workshop, Carolyn and I will guide you through all that you need to know to create a successful business selling your photography as art. This workshop is designed to get you prepared to take immediate action on your journey to sell your artwork. Build Your Portfolio. Know Your Audience. Tell Your Story. Brand Your Business. Create Your Plan.
Thanks for tuning into episode 17 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: The show is now available as a podcast on iTunes!! Please check us out! To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 17 of The Understand Photography Show: Four Weeks to Proficiency in Photography - The next class begins January 17. Truly knowing photography is a great gift for yourself or someone in your life! Check out our free webinar video to learn about what you need to know and to experience Peggy's teaching style! https://understandphotography.leadpages.co/4-weeks-photography-education-video/
Thanks for tuning into episode 16 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6Ac4zvL--W4 To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 16 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 15 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 15 of The Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 14 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 14.
Thanks for tuning into episode 13 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 13.
Wedding photography is often the fastest way to go full-time as a photographer. It's fun, challenging and very rewarding! If you haven't yet, please read my post geared toward brides on How to Choose a Wedding Photographer:
by Joe Fitzpatrick Modern post processing software, as good as it is, still can't replicate the effect of some filters. Polarizing Filters, for example, can eliminate glare and reflections far more effectively than post processing software. Unfortunately, good filters can be fairly pricey. A good quality Circular Polarizer in the 77mm size will cost well over $100.
Thanks for tuning into episode 12 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9MF793-dOSI To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 12.
Thanks for tuning into episode 11 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 11. Check out Gareth Rockliffe's website here: http://www.garethrockliffe.com/
Thanks for tuning into episode 10 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography
Thanks for tuning into episode 9 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 8.
Simple tips to help you organize your photos. One of the biggest problems we have as photographers is keeping our photographs organized. Some of our pictures are on our computer, our smart phone and/or our tablet. Here is a simple guide to getting yourself organized. I said simple, not easy!
Thanks for tuning into episode 8 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Recb7ZMolc To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography
Thanks for tuning into episode 7 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpT70hJuPN4 To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 7 of the Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 6 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5XGFUjxECs To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 6 of the Understand Photography Show:
Fall and winter in Florida means air shows and car shows. These events are fun to watch and draw hundreds, sometimes thousands, of attendees. This is great for the promoters of the events but presents challenges to photographers. The aircraft or automobiles are typically close together and surrounded by throngs of people. While images of attendees interacting with the displays are interesting, most of us primarily want clean shots of the planes or cars on display.
Thanks for tuning into episode 5 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnderstandPhotography/videos/1375960352421660/ To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography
Add a little separation between your subjects or from the background to improve your composition. There are many ways to separate – you can use lighting for instance. Today, we’ll only talk about moving your body to improve your photographs.
Thanks for tuning into episode 4 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpM-Nlpvook To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the links mentioned in episode 4 of the Understand Photography Show:
I love some of the creative photographs I see on social media! One of the photographers in the Understand Photography Facebook group was on a levitation kick and posted several cool shots. On a recent photoshoot, I decided to try it. I took three or four of each person, positioning myself in the exact same place for each photograph.
Thanks for tuning into episode 3 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-VrM704KYo To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/understandphotography Here are the show notes for episode 3 of the Understand Photography Show:
Thanks for tuning into episode 2 of The Understand Photography Show! To watch the video replay now, visit us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDvdGbcCx9c To hear this episode as a podcast, visit us on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/understandphotography As promised, here are the show notes for episode 2!
By Cindy Baldwin A few years ago while traveling in Italy, I made a big mistake. I forgot to bring extra batteries for my camera. Instead of eating a stracciatella gelato while looking out on Lake Como, I spent all afternoon looking for a store that sold the right type of camera battery. Since then, I’ve made an effort to be more prepared so that I can maximize my time while traveling. I try to cover all my bases by packing back-up camera equipment and finding a way to get through the airport as quickly as possible.
Remembering Florida Nature Photographer and Graphic Designer, Linda King By Tom Tracy A much-loved local photographer and digital imaging/Photoshop technician, Linda wasn’t particularly associated with wedding photography, nor was she crazy about the physical nature of wedding jobs, but I had seen her solid work and dedication to excellence, and I predicted she would be one of the very best persons I could possibly enlist.
Featuring Famed Bird Photographer, Arthur Morris Yes, it’s true! We are starting a weekly Travel and Nature Photography Show, called The Understand Photography Show. I know what you are thinking; what a creative name for the show! We’ll first broadcast on Facebook LIVE on Fridays at 4 p.m. EDT. After the live broadcast, the content will be edited for a podcast.
New to Lightroom presets? Read on to learn how to install presets in Lightroom. Click here to view our video on installing Lightroom presets!
Whether you are a long time Neapolitan or just visiting Naples, you’ll see that Old Naples is filled with history. It’s really fun to walk or drive around and look at the old houses and landmarks, even more fun when you can practice your photography while doing so!
Panoramic photographs are fun and easy with your smart phone. The camera automatically “stitches” several pictures together to make a super wide image. Panoramics are very easy to do. On a Droid, open your camera app, then tap on MODE. Choose Panoramic. On an iPhone, in the camera app, you’ll see an option for Panoramic.
A big challenge is shooting through the fences at the zoo. How do you blur out the fence yet have the animal sharp?
Whatever your specialty is in photography, force yourself to get out of your comfort zone and shoot something different. I have so much training in portrait, event and wedding photography. I’ve been studying nature and travel photography for the past few years. I’m just not that interested in sports. But I love my family. My 17 year old nephew plays Lacrosse. So off I went to a Lacrosse game this week at Naples High School.
By Joe Fitzpatrick On my recent trip to Old Car City USA I had some fun with my Speedlite and remote flash triggers. These pictures were taken in the middle of the day, but photographed to look like it was night time.
Exposure is the foundation of photography. The very first thing you need to do is to learn to shoot in the manual setting. You will truly feel lost for a long time if you don’t master exposure. Many of the internet instructors teach to shoot in Aperture Priority. While there is nothing wrong with this mode, it’s an automatic mode so you will have too many limitations and you probably won’t be thinking about the settings for each shot.
By Joe Fitzpatrick I’ve always loved black and white images. Monochrome portraits and landscapes have a timeless, classic look. In many compositions color can be a distraction. Removing color simplifies, allowing one to concentrate on the subjects, forms and textures within an image. Lines, shapes, shadows and patterns are revealed, helping to lead the eye through the image.
A quick way to smooth out, clean up a studio backdrop in Photoshop. By Tom Tracy Necessity is the mother of invention, or discovery, as they say. Last week following a periodic studio portrait session with a ballroom dance company, I was resigned to the fact that the white paper backdrop was simply going to get dirty with six dance instructors stomping around.
As a trying-to-recover work-a-holic, I am always looking for ways to streamline my business and to get more done with less time. The photography business is extremely competitive so there will never be a time to "rest on your laurels". So to stay competitive (and stay in business), photographers really need to study productivity and think outside of box for ways to be more efficient. This article in "Daily Bits Of" is really helpful!
Tilt Your Head Slightly Peggy Farren, a professional photographer from Naples Florida, recommends “tilting you head (ever so slightly) toward your lowest shoulder. That’s considered the “power pose” or “masculine pose”. It helps exude authority and confidence.
Peggy Farren, a full-time professional photographer and the founder of Understand Photography training center, recently stopped in New Orleans while on a road trip. Click the story to learn about her experience there as well as see a few of her photos from her stay.
Tom Tracy, a photojournalist and event photographer, recently photographed a heavy metal band at a children's charity gala. In order to protect his hearing, he took special measures to reduce the effects of the loud music on his ears. Click the story headline to learn more about Tom's tips for covering loud events!
Explore beautiful St Croix, US Virgin Islands while expanding your photography skills! Peggy and Sid have teamed up again to put together a photo trip that will blow your mind! This trip is for any level of photographer since it is limited to just five participants. Scroll down to see some of the photography opportunities and lessons we have planned!
May 2016 Newsletter is Out! Better Beamer, How to Invert Colors, St Croix! Articles/video lessons include How to Invert Colors using Photoshop, Better Beamer and 100-400 Lens and Photographing a Wedding With Another Company.
Benefits of occasionally ‘doing it someone else’s way’ as a subcontractor Recently a buddy left me in charge of shooting one of his standard South Florida wedding jobs — a Cuban couple with “getting ready” at a landmark hotel, a church ceremony nearby with a dinner reception at a local venue where he is a preferred photographer. Actually, it was something of a surprise to learn that this was the first time my friend fully delegated a wedding assignment to someone in his absence. Having shot with him once or twice before and knowing how very specific he is in terms of how he does things and how devoted he is to the technical details, I pressed for a personal sit-down and review of some wedding jobs — his and mine — during which I could take notes and ask lots of questions. I wanted to minimize problems and potential misunderstandings.
Joe Fitzpatrick offers his insights as a professional photographer and instructor. Beginner or expert you will come away with knowledge that will make you a better photographer. For more information email us at [email protected].
Here's a super simplified explanation of front and rear curtain sync for your speedlight. First curtain flash is the default on most flashes. The flash will go off in the beginning of the shutter duration. Second curtain (rear) will cause the flash to go off at the end of the shutter duration, causing a more natural motion blur if using a slow shutter speed.
If you are like me, you are busy!! I love online classes but sometimes lack the discipline to do the work. That's why when we put our popular "Four Weeks to Proficiency in Photography" course online, we made it a live and interactive class.
Did you know that Understand Photography holds a free** photowalk every single month? We say "almost free" because although we do not charge, sometimes there is an entrance fee to where ever we are going. Join fellow photographers and come out and shoot! You'll enjoy the camaraderie and most likely learn something from your fellow photographers.
Peggy Farren and Joe Fitzpatrick will be speaking at the Photography Club of Flagler County (PCOFC) on March 16, 2016 at 7 pm. Our topics will be “On Camera Flash” and “Resizing Digital Images”.
Here in Florida Fireworks are not just for holiday events. Disney World, Busch Gardens and our other major tourist attractions have turned fireworks into a nightly ritual. Photographing these magnificent displays often leads to disappointing results when you trust your ...
This trip is sold out. Stay tuned! We have two more Cuba trips coming up: February 7-14, 2016 and April 2016. Details will be here on the website soon. Or email us and we'll put you on the mailing ...
Basic Flash Photography – Both On and Off Camera featuring Peggy Farren Sponsored by Peachtree Camera Repair, Women in Focus, Showcase Photo & Video and Sigma Monday, June 22, 2015 7:00-9:00 p.m. Peachtree Camera Repair 562 Wylie Road, S ...
http://www.shutterbuglife.com/podcast//020-finding-a-photography-mentor-with-peggy-farrenI was a guest on Lynford Morton's podcast this week. We talked about many different ways to find a photography mentor. It's about 30 minutes packed with good info! ~Peggy...
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. $40 early registration through May 15 $50 regular price May 16-30 Reserve your spot to get your camera's sensor cleaned right here in Naples! We normally have to bring our ...
Can't get your newly downloaded copy of Lightroom Creative Cloud to open? Find your Creative Cloud by clicking on Start and then All Programs. Click Adobe Creative Cloud to open program. Log out of Creative Cloud by clicking on ...
Is there anything more cool that a back-lit moment? By Tom Tracy When Peggy Farren, creator of UNDERSTAND PHOTOGRAPHY, sent me a list of possible topics for future photo-blog essays here, one possibility jumped right out and said to me ...
I'm reading “The Magic of Thinking Big” for the umpteenth time and just finished the chapter on believing in yourself. It's such a great idea to re-read the great motivational classic books! I get something new or a ...
Join professional photographer Peggy Farren for a women’s photography weekend. This weekend is designed for beginner to intermediate photographers. Enjoy while learning photography and go home with fabulous images! Women’s Photography Weekend Friday 6:30 pm. to Sunday ...
Click on the link at the end of this post for free and instant access to this 60 minute webinar. You'll learn WHAT you need to know to become a proficient photographer. So many people flounder around - taking class ...
Our first trip sold out so we added another one! March 4 UPDATE: We have one opening for a lady who would like to share a room for the May 17 trip. Otherwise, both trips are full. Please email me ...
Creating a custom brush to use as a watermark or signature on your photographs is super simple! Here are easy instructions in Photoshop CS/CC and then in Photoshop Elements: Photoshop CS/CC Step ONE: Go to File-New The width ...
Understand Photography Training Center is now offering Old Naples Photo Tours on Monday afternoons! Learn a little bit about Naples and its history while learning about photography and getting great pictures. We'll walk through Old Naples 3rd Street area ...
Patience, planning and quick adjustments help catch the drama by Tom Tracy It’s a Friday in November and a monthly arts magazine has asked me to drop by for pictures of a Nutcracker dance rehearsal to accompany a holiday ...
Before the Ebola outbreak, photographing Sierra Leone & beyond Tom Tracy It might not be exaggeration to imagine that no one you or I know will ever again breezily visit one of the most vibrant and photogenic swaths of the African ...
CUBA!! Photography and Cultural trip to Cuba. May 10-15, 2015 Cuba's culture is rich with contributions from its indigenous, African and European roots. But above all, the people of Cuba are the island's greatest asset. They are friendly ...
Introduction from Peggy Farren: I've seen Barb DiMattio present this as a talk to our local camera club. She is so organized and informative! I'll be featuring different types of photographers and asking them "What's in your ...
When my friend first suggested that I start offering training at my studio, my immediate response was "No way! I'm not technical enough to teach". I have always struggled with the technical side of photography. None of it came ...
How the ‘98 World’s Fair led to a destination wedding 16 years on by Tom Tracy LISBON I’ve long since forgotten how I stumbled onto it in those early days of internet surfing, but in the late 1990s ...
by Peggy Farren If you have been following our blog, you know that I purchased a 100-400mm lens recently. I used it for the first time photographing dogs on dog beach. http://understandphotography.com/my-new-100-400mm-lens-and-a-better-beamer/ Mike Sullivan and Peggy Farren ...
First of all, why should you compete in a photography competition? I see some amazing photographers in the Understand Photography training center and here on the internet. I encourage photographers to compete in photography competitions for a few reasons: 1 ...
Back by popular demand "How to Get a Solid Photography Education in Just 4 Weeks" webinar. Join us THIS Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Register HERE. In this webinar, Peggy Farren, founder of Understand Photography ...
by Amanda Rattigan For most people, photographing Dogs will be a bit easier than Cats…and I understand why. Cats don’t care. LOL They simply don’t care that you are making funny little noises and whistles to get ...
Join our small group for a full and fun day of exploring Florida! Each trip will leave from our studio in Naples (times vary so check carefully!). We'll have a full day of photography, including instruction and individual help ...
4 Day Everglades Photo Adventure (January/March 2015) 4 Day Everglades Photo Adventure January 15, 16, 17, 18, 2015 or March 19, 20, 21, 22, 2015 Have fun, travel, and improve your photography! The Everglades, called Pa-hay-okee, the grassy water ...
by Geoff Thomas Summertime in Southwest Florida means a few things: Heat, humidy, mosquitoes galore, and a landscape photographer’s dream- STORMS! And with storms, there comes lightning!! How much more drama and emotion in a landscape image can you ...
Practice session at Dog Beach. by Peggy Farren I've been a portrait photographer for over 16 years. I know a LOT about posing, lighting and managing people. However, until recently I had never been all that interested in nature ...
Here is a question that came in today: "I would love to get an educated opinion on software available for processing my pics. I currently use Picasa.....mostly because its free and easy. I am very computer literate, but don ...
by Peggy Farren Large bridal parties make for really fun photographs but it sure is tough to manage that many people – and in a very limited amount of time!! As the professional photographer, you must quickly pose everyone, get your lighting right and make it fun! Here are some tips to make the most of the bridal shoot:
A chance to see where it all began -- and still is happening By Tom Tracy JERUSALEMWhen I first visited the Holy Land, in 1996, there were a series ofhorrific city bus bombings and one of these deadly events ...
Local Southwest Florida Photographers - Turn on Wink TV on Monday morning at 5 a.m. "Where's Wink Now" host John Trierweiler will join me, Peggy Farren at Understand Photography. We'll teach you some photography tips and have fun ...
by Jennifer Brinkman For many of us, our favorite subject to photograph is our beloved dog! Not only are dogs adorable to look at, they know how to love better than any other creature on earth. Here are a few quick tips to improve your pet photography:
Photo sessions should be fun! If there are young people involved, I almost always end my photo sessions with my “famous” jumping shot. I want my clients to be left with the memory of a great time during their session. I teach this shot during many of our classes at Understand Photography. Everyone loves it!!
Portraits of Strangers by Bob Dein Photographers love to learn new techniques, like post processing wizardry, or how to use flash to freeze Peggy Farren* jumping in the air. But once you get past gear and techniques, what do you ...
What to do when a client says your first priority is to stay out of sight by Tom Tracy There’s always a first time for something in the photography business, and my most recent first-time request was from Ben ...
by Joe Fitzpatrick Recently I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Booray Perry at the Southwest Florida Professional Photographers Association monthly meeting. Booray is a great speaker and his presentation touched on a variety of photographic subjects. One ...
If you are professional photographer, remember to dress... professionally! If you are a bird photographer or strictly an artist, you can wear whatever the heck you want to! But if you are photographing weddings, portraits or events, you need to ...
It's great fun to create non photographic looking art using your photographs! Today I'll show you how to create Line Art with one of your pictures! This is one of the 45 video series I did for eHow ...
Yes, that's me! I auditioned for and won the the spot of "Photography Expert" and "Photoshop Expert" for the wildly popular website eHow.com. Ehow sends a videographer out to record short "how to" videos on topics they choose ...
UPDATE: Watch the replay here: https://understandphotography.leadpages.net/webinar-replay-opt-in-april-4/ Back by popular demand "How to Get a Solid Photography Education in Just 4 Weeks" free webinar. Join us THIS Friday, April 4 at 6:15 p.m. EDT ...
by Vic Biggs Photoshop makes it a snap to move or remove items in your picture. Move it or lose it To lose it: 1. Make a loose selection around what you want deleted . 2. Choose Edit, Fill, Content Aware ...
When I first started as a photographer, event photography did not interest me at all. Over the years my family portrait or wedding clients would ask me to photograph society or corporate events so I slowly added event photography as ...
Oahu’s bustling beachfront a gateway to Hawaii’s cultural capital by Tom Tracy HONOLULU From the lobby of the newly-renovated Sheraton Waikiki, with its focus on Japanese visitors to Hawaii, I could see that what I heard about weddings ...
Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re looking for something unique and memorable to do for your Valentine’s-Day-themed photos, give this activity a shot. Today we’re going to play with bokeh—blurred lights that will create a really ...
You Don't Need to Learn Everything Your Camera Does, You Need to Learn Photography! It breaks my heart when I find out how so many people struggle for years trying to learn how to take nice photographs! I was ...
by Peggy Farren This is a basic lesson on using Layers in Photoshop or Elements. Layers are an easy way to save your work a bit at a time. The simplest way to understand layers is to start using them ...
by Nicole C. Kibert * elawgrrl.com 1. Gear. What’s the best camera to use for taking photos of live music performances? The one you have with you! That being said, it really depends on what type of show or ...
Even in winter, volunteers can take you to the Windy City’s best neighborhoods, historic sites and cafes. By Tom Tracy. Walking past an Italian restaurant Spiaggia on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, a favorite eatery of this city’s political ...
By: Vic Biggs This is a technique that is fun and easy. You need a fairly dark environment, like a nightclub, that has some background lights in it. Set your camera’s Time Value (shutter speed) to about half ...
As a wedding photographer for over 15 years, I have quite a bit of advice for brides trying to choose a photographer for their wedding. I'll share mine and also advice from other seasoned professional wedding photographers. 1. Choose ...
by Joe Fitzpatrick Lightroom The nature of digital images requires that some sharpening be applied after capture. With a JPEG initial sharpening takes place in the camera; with a RAW file all sharpening is done in post processing. Unfortunately when ...
By: Joe Fitzpatrick On last week's webinar a question about the golden mean was asked while Peggy Farren was discussing the Rule of Thirds. The golden mean, also known as the golden ratio, golden section or divine proportion is ...
by Tom Tracy Some of the most important decisions about travel photography for a given project are made well before you leave home, beginning with what to bring and, importantly, what not to bring. Over the years I have found ...
The brush feature in Photoshop Elements can do so much more than mimic a paint brush. Many photographers and digital artists use the custom brush functionality to easily add their own signature or watermark to the images they create. To ...
There are many ways to sharpen a photograph. Using the high pass filter in Photoshop or Elements is one of my favorite sharpening techniques. Many digital photographs will require some level of sharpening. Luckily, this is a fairly simple procedure ...
Ho ho ho! My favorite part of Christmas is all the holiday lights!! Here are a few tips for taking photos: Photography holiday lights at at dusk before it gets really dark. At dusk you can balance the ambient light ...
4 Day St. Augustine Photo Adventure Bastions, Birds & Buildings 4/24/2014 - 4/27/2014 Have fun, travel, and improve your photography! In the dark of night you move into position. A shadowed mass starts to take form in front ...
3 Day Everglades Photo Adventures January 24, 25, 26, 2014 SOLD OUT! March 21, 22, 23 2014 Have fun, travel, and improve your photography! The Everglades, called Pa-hay-okee, the grassy water, by the Seminoles, is the largest subtropical wilderness in ...
Hi from Peggy! Have you been struggling to learn photography in bits and pieces and need a clear plan? Are you the type of person who needs to be SHOWN how to do something and not just read a book ...
Understand Photography hosts one free photowalk each month, where a group of amateur to professional photographers get together to shoot. For me as a busy portrait photographer, these are my opportunities to get my creative juices going and build up ...
by Joe Fitzpatrick When does a stationary object appear to be in motion? When you zoom the lens during the exposure. This neon sign captured my attention but needed something extra. Zooming the lens during the exposure created the streaks ...
Photoshop Actions, Filters and Plugins! There are so many different ways to enhance your images! Since I am a working Portrait and Wedding Photographer, most of my images are not enhanced. I apply some "artsy" effects on only a few ...
The procedure to load Actions is the same in Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements. First download your new Actions and save them somewhere easy to find (on your Desktop?). Now open Photoshop or Elements. From the top menu, click on ...
I took these two pictures within seconds of each other. I like them both! You can easily and quickly achieve different looks without moving your subject!! I liked the first image but decided the background was too dark. So I ...
This seems to be a tough question for new photographers. I have strong feelings about this. You may or may not agree! Use your own Name! Peggy Farren Photography or Farren Photography. Here I build my case: 1. There are ...
by Greg Agee Plugins exist to enhance your experience, make your life easier and offer you options that your normal editing software like Photoshop and Elements don’t do easily. One of my major go to plugins is Topaz Remask ...
Intuit is holding a contest called Small Business Big Game, where they will be giving a small business company the opportunity to win a part in a commercial during the 2013 Superbowl! This would be an amazing gift for Understand ...
by Victor Biggs If you have ever used a Macro in a spreadsheet or a word processing program then you already know what an Action is. The most difficult thing about actions is convincing people how easy they are to ...
Some of my jobs are the most fun and so touching! I was so lucky to be a part of Danny's proposal to Dawn! Will You Marry Me?Small Fstop Obviously this was a once in a lifetime event ...
by Peggy Farren Understanding exposure is the first thing a photographer must learn. Fortunately, the meter that is built into our cameras makes it so easy to learn. First of all, there are three basic components to controlling your exposure ...
There is nothing better than photography to decorate your home. Okay, maybe I'm a little biased! I LOVE having large wall portraits of my family and my landscape photography hanging on my walls. Anyone who has come to our ...
If you are lucky enough to have access to a pool, get creative and shoot underwater! What? You don't have fancy underwater housing for your camera? Do not despair; you can get some fabulous images using an underwater point ...
Paris, France is an amazing and beautiful city. It's my first visit here so the sites have been overwhelming and awe inspiring. I am here as a tourist, not a photographer. So I planned the trip accordingly. Here are ...
Lens filters were an important part of my equipment when I used film cameras. When shooting weddings and portraits I would have an entire bag full of Cokin filters, indispensable for obtaining the variety of photo effects in vogue at ...
"Four Weeks to Proficiency". These are our four basic classes, given weekly. We will cover all the important basics of photography in four short weeks. Of course, this is not all there is to learn, but your photography will improve ...
The photography business is a very competitive one. Once a friend told me that the clients can't tell the difference between good and bad photography. Wow! That really hurt my feelings. But it got me thinking....... Why are some ...
Here is Southwest Florida, we are blessed with the beach and a beautiful sunset almost every evening! One of our most popular workshops is our Flash basics class. We talk about balancing our camera settings with our flash settings, teach ...
Here in Florida we have an abundance of white birds. Getting the proper exposure for a white Heron, Egret or Ibis means getting to know how your camera thinks. Using Matrix or Evaluative metering usually results in disaster. If the ...
It's our busy season here in Southwest Florida, so the camera clubs are brimming with activity! We frequently judge competitions for our camera clubs and art centers. I so often wish I knew who the artists were so I ...
Understanding how a camera's metering system works is the key to getting a good exposure. DSLRs offer several metering modes. Some modes measure the brightness of the entire scene and some just a small spot. Matrix / evaluative metering looks ...
We've had the Understand Photography Training Center for over three years now so we have seen a lot of different photographers at every level of experience come through our doors. Here is an observation about some of the photographers ...
The ability to instantly see your image after capture is one of the great features of digital cameras. Many digital cameras and all DSLRs can also indicate areas of the image that are blown out, overexposed to the point that ...
A lot of photographers don't seem to realize that the original intention of HDR was not to create images with an illustrative or surreal "HDR" look. Rather, the purpose was to bring detail to the highlights and shadows of ...
Stop sitting at the computer instead of enjoying your life! Here are a few ways to speed up your workflow: The most important time saver - Shoot right in the first place. You should not have to "fix" your pictures! Study ...
St Croix September 29 - October 6, 2013 Only $2395.00 for the entire week. Includes pick up from the airport, hotel, admission to most activities and some meals. Please call Peggy Farren to register or email for more info: Naplesportraits ...
As portrait photographers, especially in the first few years of business, we get on a bit of a high this time of year. Oh my goodness, we are all making so much money and our telephones are ringing off the ...
Almost every photography book, workshop and class will mention the importance of changing your viewpoint. We are accustomed to seeing the world from eye level. A change in perspective can make the ordinary seem fresh and new.Get low, you ...
1. Safety! Let's talk safety. Nothing ends your studio session faster than burning your eyebrows off from an improperly discharged 1600 watt second power pack. I've seen it happen and it's not good. If you need a ...
Here in Southwest Florida we do a lot of backlit sunset beach portraits. Good results can be obtained by manually setting the exposure for the background sky and allowing the camera's flash metering system determine the exposure of the ...
SIZE MATTERS. Last week I wrote about JPEG quality levels. The look of your prints or on screen images is also determined by the number of pixels your image contains. More pixels means more detail but also larger file size ...
Wednesday 2/4/2013 – Friday 2/6/2013 Mount Dora Baptist Church Have fun, travel and improve your photography! $845 This trip is limited to five ladies single occupancy (we are not sharing rooms) Call Peggy at (239) 263-7001 or ...
4 Day St. Augustine Photo Adventure Bastions, Birds & Buildings Thursday 5/2/2013 – Sunday 5/5/2013 Have fun, travel, and improve your photography! In the dark of night you move into position. A shadowed mass starts to take form ...
2 Day Miami Photo Adventure Saturday 4/13/2013 – Sunday 4/14/2013 Have fun, travel and improve your photography! Pack your camera and an overnight bag and join us in Miami for a unique photo adventure. Surround yourself with ...
3 Day Everglades Photo Adventure Friday 2/22/2013 – Sunday 2/24/2013 Have fun, travel, and improve your photography! The Everglades, called Pa-hay-okee, the grassy water, by the Seminoles, is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S.. At ...
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Peggy Farren is an award winning, professional photographer, instructor, writer and speaker.
With over 17 years as a full-time professional photographer, Peggy offers photography training through her training center, “Understand Photography”.
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This free report will help you choose the right cameras, lenses and accessories for your travels. You'll need different equipment depending on where you are going, your finances, and the weight of the gear. We'll show you how to determine the best equipment for your needs. Also included is a comprehensive list on what you'll need, some things you may not have heard before but you'll be so glad we let you know!
Many you've never heard before!
