Take & Talk Pics

Monday Message 010 – The Snooze Button “Just 5 more minutes” Rob thinks to himself, as he rolls over. His phone, rudely blaring, interrupts the perfect dream. BEEP- BEEP- BEEP- BEEP- “nooo” he utters, thinking about his dream, being keynote speaker at WPPI 2016. Swipe. Such a simple move to earn a bit more time of rest, no work, no problems, and an overwhelming guilt trip for wasting that time. So many of us do it though. We sneak by reality and think we just earned something because we are tired. There are enough things happening day to day to justify the 15 minute crave for rest each morning. At what cost? I would argue one of the worst parts of my day are those brief moments in the morning; that transition from laying down snoring my brains out to sitting up rubbing my eyes. It is one of the worst parts to my day! If I hate waking up so much why do I hit the snooze 3-4 times? It doesn’t make sense. I hate it… let’s do that 4 times. Now Photo World is this Monday Message really about waking up each morning?

Hey Photo World! I am so excited about the next chapter here on Take & Talk Pics and I hope you are as well. First of all a reminder: I will be conducting the first ever webinar here on Take&TalkPics.com and I want you to be a part of it. Click HERE to register! Friday interviews are saying good bye for now as I want to respond to the countless emails and connections asking for a different addition to the show and blog. Introducing the Fundamental Friday’s! Each Friday I will be bringing us back to the basics and walking through a new segment each week. I am serious. Shutter Speed, Aperture, I.S.O., White Balance, Grey Cards, Composition, Full Frame vs. Cropped Sensors, etc… This change will help educate the introductory and hobbyists photographers out there. Heck I feel like I learn something new each time I teach a Photo 1100 class at the College of DuPage. Also I would like to invite you intermediate and professional photographers out there to join the conversation. Leave helpful tips and tricks in

Today’s featured guest is Lauren Kinsey   Lauren is a wedding photographer based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida who has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Style Me Pretty, Weddings Illustrated, The Knot, and many other luxury wedding resources for brides. Lauren is a unique wedding photographer compared to most these days as she shoots on film 100% of the time! HI, I’M LAUREN Weddings are a living, breathing phenomenon. Every couple has a love language that is unique to them and I am privileged to be able to capture that language on film. I live for it. The organic nature of film allows me to slow down and turn a discriminating eye to detail and real moments that tell the story of you. I want my art to express beauty, life, and most importantly- love. My vision and aesthetic are so important to who I am as as artist. I want to tell your story in a way in a meaningful and pure way. I have been honored to have my work featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Once Wed, Style Me Pretty, Weddings Illustrated, The

052 Monday Message 009 - Grey Market Grey Market equipment... should you buy should you pass by? Rob shares his take. Also he reminds us of the first ever Take & Talk Pics webinar. 

Hey Photo World -- Big Changes in the Works - Honoring 50 So today is a bit different because I don’t have an interview for you. I thought about making a bonus episode and releasing this information on a Thursday but I felt this was too big of an announcement and too big of a time in the Take & Talk Pics Photography Podcast that this needed to be a true episode on its own. First of all I would like to thank each and every one of you for your dedicated support and continuing to follow along. Sending me questions, sharing things you are finding within the photo community, and getting to know the amazing photographers and business owners we have on the show. When we launched on April 6th 2015 I never gave a thought to an episode 50 existing. You can hear it on my end with the early episodes for sure… I had no idea where this was taking me. Getting to know the amazing team over at ImprovePhotography.com, being introduced to many of the instructing photographers associated with Out of Chicago conference, conne

Today’s featured guest is Anna Jaye Goellner.- goal-ner   Anna is a wedding photographer based in Portland OR. Her photography career started with photojournalism and that is the story telling approach she uses in her wedding work. Anna stays somewhat quiet and in the background while capturing authentic love stories, at each wedding she has throughout the world. As her approach and style is constantly honest; her weddings are far from consistent. Each love story she captures is unique and keeps her on her toes from start to finish. Anna tells us that passion is everything and we talk about how being honest and keeping a good heart combined with a positive genuine attitude truly drive passion. Resources: Google Drive W: annajayephotography.com Blog: annajayephotography.com/blog

Monday Message 008 By: Rob Krueger I recently received an email containing 6 questions about starting in Wedding photography. This Monday Message is just my thoughts on these questions. I am just one photographer in thousands so I do not try to act like my answer is the 100% best choice, but I am completely honest is saying what I think. The Questions: 1) What is the most versatile lens? 2) What size should the images be that you give your clients? 3) What is the best way to fins a photographer who will let you second shoot for them? 4) Is it unreasonable to charge $1000 or so when getting started doing weddings? 5) Someone told me I should put an ad on craigslist. Is that ever okay? 6) Best way to light up a dark reception hall? Listen up for my answers Most Versatile Lens Ever!

Today’s featured guest is Tom Phelan.   Tom is an artist using his photography to document the changing Midwestern landscape. Although he does this in a way like I have never seen before. His subjects include dilapidated barns, rusted out cars, and a variety of objects accosted with rural life. Shot In The Dark   I like to explore.  Since just about everything in the Midwest has already been "discovered," my journeys of exploration, such as they are, tend to have as their aim the rediscovery of things either forgotten or existing in relative obscurity.  Whether old cars or farm buildings, I am fascinated with objects that have essentially outlived their usefulness, but whose presence says something about the society that generated them, as well as the individuals who once used them.  In this sense, my photographs comprise a record of some of the places and objects I have encountered during the course of the past several years.  I find greatest satisfaction in the discovery of objects that might well be placed

Today’s featured guest is Ben Chernivsky. Ben is a wedding photographer and owner of ThisIsFeeling.com. Ben’s philosophy is quality over quantity. He uses this strategy in the building of his business and Ben along with his team of 3 photographers capture nearly 100 weddings per year with that same high standard. "It's Not About You" - Ben Ben understands all the problems that come when trying to plan a wedding and going into every email, every meeting, and every phone call knowing that it is not about him, but about the client in need of his service and this has been a game changer - not just in his business but in his life. The ability to visualize yourself in others shoes can help build stronger business relationships and personal relationships. HELLO, I’M BEN // BOSS-MAN, PHOTOGRAPHER, CONSULTANT I’m a man of few words until I begin talking.  I feel many, many things in life.  I am a blubbering blob of body and bone, full of passion and positivity.I like cats.The ocean both fascinates me and scares me bey

Rob Krueger here with Monday Message 007   Info.takentalkpics@gmail.com Stay cool Photo World! And Happy Shooting! -Rob Be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter and automatically you will be entered into our weekly iTunes gift card giveaway! 2015 © Take&TalkPics #HeyPhotoWorld #PhotoWorld

Today’s featured guest is Garrett MacLean.   Garrett is an Environmental and documentary photographer based out of Detroit MI who tells the stories and happenings of the people throughout Detroit. In 2007 Garrett’s work in Haiti was shown at the San Francisco Art Gallery. His project titled No Fat Hatians, Images from Haiti's Central Plateau; featured subjects in their lives, the many struggles they face on a day to day basis, and the urgency the nation faces as a whole.  Born and raised in Massachusetts. Graduated from Middlebury College in '99.  Began a self-taught photography path while living in Boston, with a Nikon 2020 as my 1st camera.  Shows in NYC, SF, Oakland, and Detroit. Shot for TIME, VICE UK, Hyphen, YES Magazine, Under the Influence, amongst others.  Currently rehabbing a 110 year old house in Poletown, Detroit.

Today’s featured guest is Jeffrey Ross.   Jeffrey is a commercial photographer based out of Naperville IL. Together with his wife Catherine they own Ross Creative Works. They combine Jeffrey’s photography and Catherine’s design work to create powerful imagery, marketing, and advertising materials for their clients throughout the country. We are a design and commercial photography team that creates powerful imagery, marketing, & advertising. It makes sense that a graphic designer from North Dakota and a photographer from Florida would manage to set up shop in the middle ground of the Midwest. Home base is just west of Chicago in Naperville, IL. Catherine believes she really is living down south. And every winter Jeffrey is ready to run away and sell coconuts on the beach somewhere. Fortunately they work well together. Jeffrey likes vintage records and knows every store that sells vinyl in a 50 mile radius. He has also figured out 5 different ways to sleep on an airplane and is considering writing a travel

Rob Krueger here with Monday Message 006 Two rules and one tip! Rules are made to be broken and my tip today is just something for you to try out and play with a bit. Have fun and Happy Shooting! If you have any questions about Lightroom please feel free to reach out and contact me directly. Info.takentalkpics@gmail.com Stay cool Photo World! And Happy Shooting! -Rob Be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter and automatically you will be entered into our weekly iTunes gift card giveaway! 2015 © Take&TalkPics #HeyPhotoWorld #PhotoWorld

Today’s featured guest is Paul Audia.   Paul Audia is a Chicago based beauty and fashion photographer who also expands his creativity beyond the still image - his video work is equally impressive. Paul has been published in countless magazines and websites. His award winning work proves his mastery with lighting both in studio and on location. Great photographers are on a constant quest to capture that perfect shot. From locations and lighting to lenses and shot lists, they listen. They plan. They focus. But when it comes time to shoot, instinct takes over. From art to fashion to portraits and commercial work, Audia possesses a unique vision, bringing technical mastery and genuine spontaneity to every shoot. Whether capturing models with wild horses in Connemara, Ireland to shooting catalog work on the color-drenched cobblestone streets of Guatemala to hanging off a cliffside balcony in Portugal, he is fearless in pursuit of his vision. He harnesses light, creativity, lines and curves to evoke emotion, tell a

Today’s featured guest is Bryan Peterson.   Bryan is an award winning commercial photographer and has been for the past 30 years and educator in photography for the past 20 years. He is the founder of Bryan Peterson School of Photography and has done work for clients such as American Express, Kodak, UPS, Phillips, and Citibank just to name a few. In addition, Bryan is the author of such bestselling books as Understanding Exposure, Understanding Shutter Speed, Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography, and Learning to See Creatively.

040 Monday Message 005 Joby GorillaPod Focus Promaster MG2 VKtech release plate http://takeandtalkpics.com/affiliates/buy-same-gear/  

Today’s featured guest is Levi Sim.   Levi is a photographer based out of Lake Oswego, Oregon. With his signature Steve Jobs tribute portraits Levi is a down to earth photographer driven by his passion for the medium. As a man who wears many hats, both figuratively and literally speaking, Levi has one other passion than his photography and that is his family. His family is the foundation to why his approach with images is so strong and successful. You’re working hard to make your business stronger. You’re working hard to make your life better. The things that drive you are your passion for your family, your work and your life. We’re alike that way which is why I’m here to help you. My passion is making photographs that help tell your story. I want to make photographs that help you share your passion with the world. I want people to see you the way I see you. I know when they see your passion for life they will support you, too. Your business impacts a very important part of your world - your family. I feel th

Today’s featured guest is Chris Smith. Chris is a Chicago based Photographer and creator of Out of Chicago.com. His blog has been a growing resource for photographers looking to photograph the city as well as surrounding areas. The growth of the Blog has been amazing and Chris now has the Out of Chicago podcast and he is the author of The Photographer’s Guide to Chicago. To top it all off this upcoming weekend will be the second annual Out Of Chicago Photography Conference. Chris Smith is the guy behind Out of Chicago. He is the author of The Photographer’s Guide to Chicago and host of the Out of Chicago Podcast. Chris specializes in photographing Chicago at night. By day, Chris is a high school physics teacher and lives with his wife and two kids in the Chicago Suburbs. I hope that the Out of Chicago blog becomes a useful resource for anyone trying to get great shots of the city of Chicago and the surrounding areas. I will try to provide info on the best locations to shoot. There will be ideas for day and we

Hey PhotoWorld! - Take & Talk Pics Pricing Your Photography How do we begin with pricing our service as a photographer? Better yet how do we take it to the next level once we have started bringing in clientele? Listen in to today’s Monday message where I share the financial story of my first wedding photography gig and why it was the right fit for me. Remember to factor in: What is the true value you bring to the table? How much have you invested in your business (time, money, and education)? What expectations do you want your clients to have?  What (if anything) sets you apart in these early stages of your photography? I fully believe that perceived value is a big factor in this industry. However, that same idea is often abused. Being genuine has never hurt in the long run. For those of you looking to grow take a listen to Episode 003 with Chis and Lauren Also listen between the lines of Episode 027 with Skip Cohen of Skip Cohen University. These two episodes talk business and more specifically they talk

Today’s featured guest is Nick Page.   Nick is a freelance photographer based out of Dayton Washington. He specializing in weddings, portraits, architecture, and fin art landscapes. He is a co-host to the weekly Portrait Session podcast, a regular guest host on the Improve Photography podcast, and contributor to the Photo Taco Podcast. All this and he still manages to conduct workshops and make amazing artwork. Robs thoughts. -- I love the discussion on "the Walmart mentality" where Nick explains, in a unique but brilliant way, that your customers always get what they pay for. Not to be confused by the idea you can charge more to attract easier going clients, but honing in on your ability, seeing where your value stacks up, and working to niche down into the appropriate market. Nick shared: Totally immerse yourself in your craft. -- What a perfect statement! So simple and easy to take with us #PhotoWorld. I am a freelance photographer specializing in weddings, portraiture, architecture, and fine art Landscape