Casey Templeton Photography

It is OK to be overexposed!  When I am trying to make a good photo in a scene that isn’t always the best looking, I try to never accept the light I see as the best it can be. I overexpose my images to clean-up the backgrounds and to bring out the vibrancy of the colors that you can’t see, but are always there.  You may hear a photographer say that cloudy and overcast days are the best for taking photos, this is because some of the most vibrant colors are in the shadows (and no harsh light on a subject’s face, but for this post, it is because of the colors).

Here are a few examples:

Now go and overexpose!

A common headache for photographers getting started with digital photography is keeping their images organized; if left untouched, images can get lost in the shuffle very quickly. The key to keeping images organized is to come up with your own naming structure for your images and folders. In this post, I am going to explain my process of keeping images organized.

The goal is to have all of your images named in a way that if they are all put into a single folder together, they would all be in order by the date they were taken. Same for all of the folders we keep the photos in.  Often, your camera will come with a photo editing software you can use in taking your photos off of your memory card and onto your computer.  You can also use Apple’s iPhoto, Windows Live Photo Gallery, or for more advance photographers, Apple’s Aperture or Adobe’s Lightroom.

If you use a program such as Camera Bit’s Photo Mechanic to download your images, you can use this in your naming window:
{iptcyear2}{iptcmonth0}{iptcday0}_YourEventName_{seqn}   =   100302_YourEventName_001
or
{iptcyear4}{iptcmonth0}{iptcday0}_YourEventName_{seqn}   =   20100302_YourEventName_001

It is also important to keep your images similarly organized in the program you may use to organize your images such as Apple’s Aperture, Adobe’s Lightroom or any other program that may be provided in your camera’s software.  Below is how I keep my Aperture library organized.

I’ve received several request to give simple camera/post-production/shooting tips so here is my first of many weekly photo tips. Please feel free to leave comments with questions as well as suggestions for other photo tips. Enjoy!

Cloudy White Balance, My Go-To

Starting photographers often complain about dull or blue tinted photos that make their subjects seem lifeless. My cure for this is to start using cloudy white balance.  This setting can be found on most digital point-and-shoot as well as DSLR cameras and uses a cloud symbol. I use cloudy white balance when shooting in direct sunlight, when using a flash, indoors with natural light coming in from windows as well as any other situation where my images seem too cool. This works great for natural skin tones.

Below is an example of a piece of finished wood that is inside near a window, the difference is stunning.

Auto White Balance vs. Cloudy White Balance

I am thrilled to announce two 1-month internship opportunities with Casey Templeton Photography for Summer-Fall 2010.

Position Summary:

This is an opportunity to work in a broad range of environments and with a broader range of clients. Photographers who wish to gain experience in on-location commercial photography will find this opportunity particularly beneficial. This position will also give the participant unique insight into the challenges and strategies involved in maintaining a photography business.

The first 1-month internship will take place between May and August, while the second will run between September and December. The participant must be available for six days a week during their assigned four week block. $1,000 will be provided to help cover living expenses during the internship.

Skills:

The best candidate is a driven individual with experience, either through education, work, or both, in photography or video and a desire to advance in the field.
An understanding of basic functions and principles of the camera and photography is a must.
Proficiency with Apple computers is preferred.
Proficiency in basic web design and Video and Audio capture is a plus but not required.
Firm grasp of social media management preferred.

To Apply:

• Download Application Form and submit with a resume
• Write a short essay (feel free to be creative in both writing and presentation) explaining why you would be the best candidate
• Find/take a creative self portrait
• Submit a portfolio of 10 images (longest side 1024px) or a video (posted on YouTube)