Author: GemmieV

Guide to Analysing Images to Support Self Development.

As a Photographer it is very important to be able to critique your own work with development in mind. It can be hard to admit areas in which you need to improve, but being open minded and objective in doing so will dramatically help you improve as a Photographer. Analysing your images strengths and areas for development is a key criteria for all of the formal Photographic courses at every level. 

In order to improve your technique and images it is important to keep a visual record of your work.
Note your strengths and areas for development. Here are a few key points to consider when analysing your images:

Lighting
Describe the lighting on your scene. Is your exposure correct?

Shadows
Describe the shadowed areas in your image. Do the shadows add to the image?

Mood
What mood are you trying to get in your image? How can you acheive this?

Technical Information
What settings did you use for the photo and how do they effect the image?

Impact
Does the image grab your attention?

Focus
Where is your point of focus and is it where you wanted it to be?

Creativity with Composition and Angle
Have you played with the positioning of your subject in the frame?

Colours
How do the colours work together or against each other in your image? What mood do they help communicate?

Story Telling
Does your image tell a story? How can you make it more appropriate to what you are trying to communicate?

Are you hungry for more?
Get the in-depth guide to image analysis for only £5 – an introductory offer, it is designed with current Photographic courses’ grading criteria in mind and is a useful tool for students currently studying Photography at school, college and university. It includes a thorough write up on the above points, additional points for consideration, an example analysis and images.

Fill out the form below to get your in-depth guide today!

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Posing Groups and Couples

​This tuition session explores the techniques used to create pleasing compositions when posing groups of people and couples. This is useful for family portrait photographers, school photographers, event photographers and anyone photographing groups of people. You will also learn how to work with your environment for natural looking photographs.

What we cover on this session:

• Connecting with people before you shoot for relaxed portraits
• Posing couples and creating emotional connection within your images
• Posing groups of people for pleasing composition in your images
• Creative posing techniques to communicate a narrative
• Communicating with people for natural portraits
• Working with your location and multiple light sources
• Posing children with siblings
• How to use flash
• How to use your camera for different group sizes 
• How to use your camera settings for portraits

This session runs over 3 hours for a 1-2-1 and is £139 from my Honiton studio or £169 on location. This can be a theory based classroom session or a live shoot if you require, model hire is an additional cost of £50 per model unless you can convince friends to pose for you. (bribing with jaffa cakes works for me) 

To book in or enquire fill in the form below:

Enquire about the posing couples and groups for portrait photography tuition session.

We will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your requirements, thank you.

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10 Top Tips for Shooting Portraits on Location.

1. Position the light source facing your subject 45 degrees above their eye line for good catch lights and to drop shadows down low.

2. Position your subject a few feet away from background to avoid harsh shadows from your subject on the background.

3. When going for a pretty/beauty shot of your subject generally softened light is more flattering so use a softbox/umbrella or bounce the light off the ceiling a reflector or bounce card depending on the location.

4. Clear the background of all distractions or change your angle to avoid getting irremovable distractions in shot.

5. Avoid horizons, structural lines or lamp posts coming out of heads.

6. Use variety in your images, don’t photograph the same location for 20 subjects especially from the same angle.

7. Avoid bright eye catching colours in the background of your image if you don’t want them to compete as a focal point with your main subject. (posters, shop signs, postboxes, garish clothing, litter etc.) This is especially important in an otherwise dull coloured scene.

8. Try to position the camera parallel to your subject’s waist in order to get the correct proportions of your subject. You can shoot higher if you want to make them look shorter or for head shots if you want to help chins disappear.. You can also shoot lower if you want to make their legs look longer but be aware that shooting up the nose is generally unflattering and if your subjects jawline isn’t that strong you will need to pose them so their neck and face don’t seem to merge into one (that’s never a good look!!)

9. Simplify your shot as much as you can, choose a plain background to make your viewer look at your subject. Fill the frame with your subject to make it clear they are your focal point. You can also position them to one side using the rule of thirds, again on a plain background to help show they are the main focus.

10. Keep it relevant, if you’re intention is to create a themed shoot make sure your subject works with the theme and isn’t wearing clothes that contradict the theme, to make your whole image communicate the theme you are going for you need to considering styling, colours, look of your subject, props, lighting and location.

Comment with your favourite images taken on location or to give feedback on our post.

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A new model’s guide to basic wardrobe contents.

As a new model it can be a bit daunting knowing what bring and what not to bring to a shoot in regards to styling. This is a basic list of the essentials that you should pack in your suitcase for photography sessions:

You may want to be selective with the below depending on your gender, or you may not ;)

Basic makeup kit with a minimum of 4 different lip and eye colour shades. (Even if working with a MUA it doesn’t hurt to have a backup kit just incase the shoot doesn’t go to plan.)

Wet wipes, underwear tape, safety pins, straws to drink through without smudging lipstick and a variety of jewellery and bags to accessorise with.

Basic hair accessories – a couple different types of hair clips, hair band, brush and straighteners.

Basic sets of underwear in white, black and nude. Including a strapless bra. The variety in colour helps when shooting light coloured tops or when straps are on show so even if you don’t work to lingerie levels it is good to have a variety of colours.

Smart black heels/shoes, comfortable flats, snazzy looking trainers, chunky wedge shoes, boots and a couple more pairs of heels so you have maximum variety in footwear. 

Black, long sleeve polo neck tshirt’s are timeless, simple and easy to layer accessories or jackets over.

A leather and a denim jacket – both photograph well.

Tops and/or dresses with lace detail – lace photographs well.

A bold coloured dress/two piece outfit that works with your skin tone and hair colour.

An unusual looking garment that would make a strong impression.

Plain t-shirts in a variety of colours and cuts which suit your colourings.

Smart trousers, jeans, linen trousers, short skirt and a long skirt.

A striped or patterned top and plain jeans/skirt.

A striped or patterned dress.

A big comfortable jumper.

Thick socks for warmth!!

Your main goal is to have enough variety of outfits and looks to allow you and the creative team to produce images with maximum variety. As a model it is key for you to be able to vary your look, this will get you work in a range of genres and help you produce a varied portfolio and ultimately get more work.

For a visual record of the above and more tips on styling have a look at my board on pinterest.

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Going Pro? Let Me Help You Kick Start Your Photography Business.

The first step to getting started professionally is usually the scariest!! I know, I’ve been in your shoes, lacking confidence and not being sure where to begin. Over the last 14 years I’ve helped many people who have also felt like this.

My aim is to inspire you and help you along in your Photography journey as much as you feel you need me. I provide thorough and concise consultations on the business and aesthetic side of Photography, we can hold a one off session, set up regular support sessions until you have gained your confidence or even just hold a quick phone call session as and when you need it. 

Here are the areas of business that I can help you get a handle on:

• Branding
• Insurance
• Marketing
• Networking
• Bookkeeping
• Selling your work
• Writing a Business Plan
• General Professional Practice
• Making the most of your time
• ​Creating Professional Contacts
• Approaching Potential Customers
• Figuring out your Target Audience 
• Creating a Safe Working Environment
• Building an Online and an Offline Presence
• Charging Appropriately for a viable business
• How to Maintain Excellent Customer Service
• Creating Efficient Workflows within your Business
• Contracts, Licensing and Other Important Paperwork
• How to Objectively Analyse your own work for Self Development
• How to Build, Maintain and Optimise your own Portfolio Website without Breaking the Bank

Session Format

Sessions can be held over google meet for those who aren’t local to the South West of England.

1-2-1 sessions at either my Honiton studio or I can come to you. 

Take our going pro readiness assessment to help me build out your session plan and see where you are at:

Cost of Tuition Sessions

Skype or phone call sessions are £45 for up to an hour, evening and weekend slots are available as well as daytime sessions.

1-2-1 sessions are £139 for three hours. Sessions at your home/studio may incur a fuel charge depending on your location.

Included in your session fee are worksheets so you can continue to progress once our session has ended. For all online sessions screen recordings will be available in our online membership after your session.

​You will also get personalised tuition to cover exactly what you need depending on your type of business. Sessions are flexible, relaxed and taught at your pace, please let me know if you have any learning difficulties or disabilities so I can accommodate for this in my session plans.

It is important for me to note that I can get you started with contracts and bookkeeping in order to set yourself up but I am not a solicitor or an accountant so you will need to confirm and clarify your documents with someone with the appropriate qualifications. What I do know, however, is that if you can produce something that covers everything you intend to say in your different types of paperwork then you will save time and money when it comes to paying out for legal and financial advice. 

I look forward to hearing about your photography. 

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