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Photography Advice
Is SOOC an Admission of Lazy or a Humble Brag?
The quote: “SOOC is NOT a badge of honor; it is code for too lazy to process images.” I posted this quote and image on social media as part of my daily Photo Quotes Series. It is from an article that I wrote back in 2021. I kicked a hornet’s nest…
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Photography Advice
Top 16 Super Important Year-End Tasks That Every Photographer Should Do
Table of ContentsIntroduction#DoTheWorkThe List1. Clean Your Cameras and Lenses2. Remember Your Lighting Gear3. Bags and Cases Get Dirty Too4. Check and Update Firmware5. Insurance6. TECH: Computers, Hard Drives, and Memory Cards7. File Management8. Personal Development9. The Business of Business10. Bookkeeping11. Look at the Numbers12. Establish New Business Goals13. Update Pricing14.…
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Photography Advice
Stop Thinking Photography Is a Competitive Business, and Here’s Why!
Table of ContentsIntroductionWhy are photographers so damn competitive?A Little HistoryCompetition Is a Self-inflicted ProblemDo YOU!Top 5 Ways To Avoid Competition With Your PhotographyIn Closing Introduction Competition is a critical topic, and one I realize is getting in the way of many photographers finding the success they seek. And remember, only…
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Photography Gear
Why I Have a Love-Hate Relationship With My Sony Cameras
Sony A7RiVa with Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD Table of ContentsIntroductionThe Switch and The ChoiceWhat I Dislike About Sony and My Sony Mirrorless CamerasWhat I Love About My Sony Cameras – a7RIVa and a7IV(2)The Important QuestionsMy Top Tips for Selecting Your Next Camera and When To Do ItHow do…
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Photography Gear
The Reasons Why Tamron Lenses are my choice over Sony and other brands
Table of ContentsIntroductionA Little Background Information on Sigma and TamronMy Decision To Purchase Tamron LensesMy Tamron Lens LineupHow To Tell if Tamron Lenses or Another Brand Is Best for You? Here Are My Top 4 Lens Purchasing TipsWrap-up Introduction As 2021 came to a close, I found myself looking for…
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Photography Gear
SIRUI Am-326M Carbon Fiber Monopod – Really the Best for the Money?
My sports set-up with Sirui Monopod Table of ContentsMy MonopodYes – Sirui is pronounced soo-ray.SIRUI AM-326M Carbon Fiber Monopod SpecsWrap-up My monopod of choice is the SIRUI AM-326M Carbon Fiber Monopod (Amazon Link). But I’ll come back to that in a minute. First, let’s talk about monopods in general. A monopod…
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Photo Shoot Tips
Fashion Portraits with Movement
There are so many visual tools that photographers have available to influence the viewer’s experience with a photograph. Things like using diagonal lines to guide the viewer’s eye to the point in the photograph that is most important. The idea of using foreground objects to frame and highlight your subject.…
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Photography Advice
How To Make Sure People Dislike Your Photos
Yes, you read the title correctly. So why would you want someone to dislike your photograph? You wouldn’t! But that is what frequently happens when you give your photo a title. You may know that I operate an online learning community called The TOGKnowledge Photographic Community and a Facebook Group.…
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Photography Advice
Reasons Why Most Photography Workshops Suck
Sorry, but it needed to be said I know what you are thinking. Doesn’t Joe teach at photography workshops? Why would he say most photography workshops suck? Before I tell you why let’s be sure we are on the same page. Just because someone is an excellent photographer doesn’t guarantee…
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Marketing for Photographers
Under Promise & Over Deliver Is a Bad Idea
I first learned the concept of under promise and over deliver from a trusted mentor way back in my twenties. Turns out, it is an aphorism. Aphorisms, like clichés, are those pithy, often overused observations that contain a general truth, like, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I mean,…
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Photography Advice
5 Ways Collaboration Will Improve Your Photography
The Oxford Dictionary defines collaboration as “the action of working with someone to produce or create something.” Pretty simple right? It really is that simple. You know that old proverb; “Two heads are better than one”? Well, that phrase has been around since 1546. We still know it because it…
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TOGCHATS
Prop Stylist Robin Zachary
Episode #260of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded August 6th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
20 Years and Over 800 Weddings Photographed With Joseph Ellis
Episode #259 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded July 25th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Five Things Learned From Budding Photographers with Marc Silber
Episode #258 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded July 16th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Elopement Photography with Photographer and Entrepreneur Brianna Parks
Episode #257 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded July 9th, 2021
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Marketing for Photographers
How to Add VALUE to Your Photography and WHY it is So Important
Episode #256 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded July 1st, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Maternity and Newborn Photography Masterclass With Tracie Maglosky
Episode #255 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded June 25th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
The Legal Side of Photography with Attorney Ruth Carter
Episode #254 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded June 18th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Buying Used Camera Gear. Advice from Phil Kaplan of KEH Camera
Episode #253 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded June 11th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
ImagenAI – AI-powered Photo Editing Software
Episode #252 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded May 28th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Jack Hollingsworth – Professional iPhone Photographer!
Episode #251 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded May 20th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Erich Saide: What It Takes To Be Successful as a Photographer Dealing With ADHD
Episode #250 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded May 12th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Flor Blake Talks About Personal Branding Photography Done Right!
Episode #249 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded May 3rd, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Lighting Master Miguel Quiles and the Importance of Providing Value
Episode #248 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded April 26, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Master Light Painter Jason Page and the Art Form of Light Painting
Episode #247 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded April 16th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
SHOOT PREP — How to Make Your NEXT Shoot Your BEST Shoot
Episode #246 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded April 9, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Personal Branding Is Not Just for Professional Photographers
Episode #245 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded April 1st, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Food Photographer – Christina Peters, Creator of Delicious Images
Episode #244 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded March 24th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Beautiful AfroArt From Regis and Kahran Bethencourt
Episode #243 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded March 17th 2021
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TOGCHATS
Joe Edelman – The Interviewer Gets Interviewed
Episode #242 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Published March 11, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Robert Trawick – The Most Famous Photographer You’ve Never Heard Of!
Episode #241of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded March 3rd, 2021
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TOGCHATS
The Fun Whimsical Photographic Art of Anna Devís and Daniel Rueda
Episode #240 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded February 24th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Photography Critiques Suck! So Let’s Fix Them!
Episode #239 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded February 17, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Benjamin Von Wong at the Intersection of Fantasy and Photography
Episode #238 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded February 10th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Practical Composition
Episode #237 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded February 3rd, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Udi Tirosh — The Creative Mind Behind Spiffy Gear Lighting
Episode #236 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded January 27th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Interview with Scott Robert Lim – Sony Artisan and Master Photographer
Episode #235 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded January 20th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Lindsay Adler — NYC Based Fashion & Portrait Photographer
Episode #234 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded January 13th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Rick Friedman – Boston Based Magazine Photojournalist
Episode #233 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded January 6th, 2021
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TOGCHATS
Irene Rudnyk – Fashion and Lifestyle Photographer
Episode #231 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded December 23rd, 2020
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TOGCHATS
Eli Infante – The High Speed Sync Portrait Master
Episode #230 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded December 16th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
Will Cadena is an NYC Photography Rock Star
Episode #229 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded December 9th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
9 Ideas To Make You More Creative and Your Photographs Unique
Episode #227 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded November 25th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
8 Things Every Successful Photographer Does
Episode #226 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded November 18th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
Stop Making Excuses and You Will Improve Your Photography
Episode #225 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded November 11th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
The Future of Photo Editing Software Is Here From KODAK
Episode #224 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded November 4th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
How To Find the Best Models & What Makes a Great Model?
Episode #223 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded October 28th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
How To Improve Your Portrait Lighting With a Circle and Some String
Episode #221 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded October 14th, 2020
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TOGCHATS
The Most Valuable Learning Technique That Most Photographers Ignore
Episode #220 of the TOGCHAT Photography Podcast - Recorded October 7th, 2020
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Photography Advice
The Problem With “Fix It in Post” and “Get It Right in the Camera”
It’s time we put some updated sensibilities’ behind the statements “fix it in post” and “getting it right in the camera”. A few people mentioned these phrases to me recently and honestly I was surprised to hear how they interpreted the meaning behind them. I was even more surprised and…
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Photo Shoot Tips
My 5 Best Tips To Stop People From Blinking in Photographs
Blinking in photographs is a problem that every photographer deals with and while it frustrates many, most photographers come up with little tricks to avoid the blinks, but even those tricks aren’t foolproof and usually don’t account for the real reason the blinks are happening in the first place. You’re…
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Photography Advice
7 Things My Subjects Have Taught Me About Photography
Learning to be a better photographer is not all about learning photography. Especially if you want to photograph people. Don’t get me wrong, you still need to read your camera manual, learn about exposure controls, Depth of Field and the dreaded Inverse Square Law. Let’s face it, there is no…
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Photography Advice
9 Behaviors That GREAT Photographers Embrace
We all look at the most successful photographers and wonder what would it take to “be them”. There are some things that we can point to with certainty that are key to their success. Skills, intelligence and very importantly discipline. You have probably heard the phrase “Work smarter, not harder”.…
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Photography Gear
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV Camera
Olympus has just announced its latest entry level camera in the OM-D lineup – or should I say entry level interchangeable lens camera with Intermediate level features and even some pro camera capabilities – the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. As promised, the Olympus imaging division is moving full steam…
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Photography Advice
Why You Need To Join Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
Did you know that Professional Photographers of America is NOT just for professional photographers? And it’s not just for photographers based in the US. PPA is short for Professional Photographers of America. It is the world’s largest nonprofit photography association organized for photographers by photographers, with over 30,000 members in…
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Modeling Resources
MODELING PORTFOLIO 101
A modeling portfolio is a model’s most important marketing tool. The modeling portfolio is what will get you signed by modeling agency(s) and hired by clients. Modeling is a first-impression business. Your photographs are always seen by the modeling agencies and clients BEFORE you are, so if they don’t sell…
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Photography Lighting Techniques from Joe Edelman (Cr.Photog.)
The Importance of Catchlights for Portraits
If you are going to shoot portraits, don’t overlook the importance of catchlights. They’re a small detail that can easily make or break your shot. So what’s the big deal about catchlights? Catchlights play an important role in creating dimension and depth and in adding life to a portrait by…
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DIY Photography Tips from Joe Edelman (Cr.Photog.)
2 Fun DIY Photography Backgrounds for Glamour and Portrait Images
DIY Photography Backgrounds I love cool gear. Who doesn’t? But a great photographer isn’t necessarily the person with the fanciest gear. A great photographer is a great problem solver. Chances are, you probably have a lot of really cool portrait and glamour backdrops sitting around your house, and you don’t…
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Shoot Breakdown
The Stuck at Home Photography Challenge
Given the current world events – photography may be more important to you than ever. Let me take just a moment to offer my prayers and sympathies to those who have been directly affected and to offer my wishes and hopes that all of you will be smart and remain…
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Modeling Resources
Baby Modeling – 6 Things for Parents To Consider
Baby modeling is NOT for everyone! It’s only for babies! *hits drums* Ba-Dum-CH! :-) If you are the parent of an adorable little baby or toddler, congratulations! I’m sure you are reading this article because people stop you all the time and tell you that your son or daughter should…
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