FAQ: random questions wrap-up

Thank you for your fabulous questions this week! Feel free to keep em coming! I'd love to hear your feedback. If you can't find your answer here, check the comments section!

Q. I would love to know your tricks on getting your white balance to be so beautiful. Do you do it in camera?

A. I usually have my white balance on auto, then adjust in Lightroom if necessary. I think I'm used to the way my d700 guesses WB. When I had the d80, I usually kept WB on cloudy, since tones came out much too cool otherwise. Play with the WB dial and get a feel for what your preference is!

Q. Do you use any noiseware to soften your pictures?

A. No. If I want to minimize noise, I use the noise reduction slider in Lightroom, but it doesn't make a huge difference. If I really hated the noise, I would probably just use the reduce-noise filter in PS. I usually don't bother trying to get rid of noise, however, because if I'm shooting at a high ISO, it's usually intentional and I don't mind the character the noise gives the photograph.

Q. What were your favorite sites to help you get better at your craft when you first got started?

A. I think the place I received the most inspiration from was Flickr! I totally spent hours just perusing photographs and reading captions. I haven't been to Flickr in AGES though, I really need to get back on!

Other than that, nothing specific. I went everywhere. I perused various forums and blogs, and googled anything I didn't understand. I also followed dozens of photographer's blogs, but I eventually realized that I was getting such varied inspiration. I also couldn't keep up with them all. So I decided to follow only a handful of photographers whose work I truly admired or who inspired me the most.

Q. How do you go about finding great outdoor locations? Do you subscribe to the "forgiveness is easier to get than permission" idea and just go wherever? Or do you pre-arrange (and pay for) every photo shoot?

A. Part of me thinks you can make any location look good. I let the client choose their location, and if they can't decide, we choose together. I go anywhere that's free and safe.

To find a location, I drive around looking for parks, fields, buildings, shopping centers, etc, or I get online and search for the type of location I want.

If a client wants to use a fancy hotel or botanic gardens as their location, I call the venue and ask. If there is a fee, the client can pay for it if they like. I won't trespass on someone's property unless I get permission.

Some of my favorite Utah locations include: Sundance, Riverwoods, Provo Canyon, Soldier Hollow, Utah Lake, Spanish Fork Canyon, apple orchards, downtown SLC, Springville Art Museum, the International Peace Gardens, Trolley Square, Saltair, train stations, Memory Grove Park, Pioneer Monument, and Ensign Peak. Almost any corner of any old street or any field is beautiful in Utah. The options are endless. I had a little trouble finding locations in Dallas, but Boston is a goldmine. Now I just need to explore Colorado. :)

Q. To get better shots in low lighting, would you recommend upgrading the lens first or the camera body first?

A. Lens!

Q. What size do you crop to? Do you adjust the ppi when you crop or just leave it?

A. I never crop or compress unless I am saving a picture for the web. My blog images remain in their original dimensions, but are compressed to either 400x600 pixels or 500x333 pixels. Since compressing de-sharpens the image, I do like to sharpen for the web in Photoshop before I post them online, but I never sharpen otherwise.

Digital pictures are usually 4x6 in dimension by default, but they can be enlarged to almost any size you want. I save them as-is. All my photos are saved in their original dimension, either at 300 or 600 dpi, and at a 10 or 12 in quality. I may crop an image in when preparing to make an 11x14 print, but I never compress it.

Q. What are your tricks for getting people comfortable enough to photograph?

A. Be comfortable and relaxed, create a fun and friendly environment, and crack lame jokes. :) Sometimes posing is essential. Posing is a difficult art to master since you want them to look natural. It takes a ton of practice. You have be be totally aware of what's awkward in the viewfinder. If a hand or hair is out of place, don't even bother taking the picture. Stop and fix it.

Q. Any tips on taking pictures of newborns or squirmy toddlers?

A. I am not the best at either, but here are a few tips! For newborns, I like them in their element (usually at their home), comfortable, fed, in just a diaper or a onesie (or similar), laying on a blanket, bed, or cuddled in someone's arms next to a bright sunny window. For toddlers, I let play as they like. I give them lots of smiles and hugs and tell them how cute they are in between photos, and when they are stopped doing something distracting, I let them play for a moment before I call their name (camera ready). I also make silly faces or sounds between photos, and I ask them questions such as, "hey cutie, what's your favorite color?" or "what are the color of MY eyes?!" I also bring toys and treats to get their attention if necessary. The key is to make it comfortable. Be patient. Don't get flustered. Take breaks.

Have a fun weekend! I am shooting a wedding here in Denver tomorrow, wish me luck!