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Photographer Kevin Taylor covers photography questions, news, processes to assist the novice or pro in uncovering processes to create a better photo or learn new technique.
USING PINTEREST TO PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY PHOTO SESSION The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. It’s also the perfect opportunity to capture these moments with a holiday photo session. Whether you're planning a family portrait, a couple’s shoot, or a fun session with friends, Pinterest can be an invaluable tool in your planning process. Here’s how to use Pinterest to plan your perfect holiday photo session.
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Create a Dedicated Board Start by creating a dedicated Pinterest board for your holiday photo session. This will be your central hub for all the inspiration and ideas you gather. Having everything in one place makes it easy to organize and access your favorite pins when you need them.
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Gather Inspiration Pinterest is a treasure trove of creative ideas. Use the search function to find inspiration for holiday photo shoots. Some useful search terms include:
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Holiday family photo ideas
- Christmas couple photo shoot
- Festive outfit ideas
- Holiday photo props
- Winter wonderland photoshoot
As you browse, pin the images that resonate with you to your dedicated board. Look for different styles, poses, settings, and color schemes that catch your eye.
- Plan Your Outfits One of the key elements of a successful holiday photo session is the outfits. Pinterest is full of ideas for coordinating outfits that complement the holiday theme. Whether you prefer classic red and green, cozy winter whites, or a more modern palette, you can find plenty of inspiration.
Create separate sections within your board for different outfit ideas. Pin images that show how to mix and match colors and patterns effectively. Don’t forget to consider accessories like scarves, hats, and jewelry to add a festive touch.
- Choose Your Props and Decorations Props and decorations can add a lot of personality and festivity to your photos. From simple items like Christmas ornaments and wreaths to more elaborate setups like a hot cocoa stand or a faux snow scene, Pinterest has endless ideas.
Search for “holiday photo props” and “Christmas decorations” to see what others have used in their shoots. Pin your favorites and make a list of items you’ll need to gather or create before your session.
- Select Your Location The right location can make your holiday photos even more magical. Whether you’re shooting indoors by a decorated fireplace or outdoors in a snowy landscape, Pinterest can help you find the perfect setting.
Look for pins that feature different types of locations, such as cozy indoor settings, festive urban scenes, or serene natural landscapes. Pin the locations that inspire you and think about how you can recreate or adapt these settings for your shoot.
- Plan Your Poses Knowing how to pose can make a big difference in the outcome of your photos. Pinterest is full of posing guides and ideas that can help you look your best. Search for “holiday photo poses” or “family photo poses” to find ideas that suit your style and group size.
Pin the poses that you like and practice them ahead of time. Having a few go-to poses in mind will help you feel more relaxed and confident during your session.
- Coordinate with Your Photographer If you’re working with a professional photographer, share your Pinterest board with them. This will give them a clear idea of your vision and help them prepare for the shoot. Your photographer can provide valuable feedback and suggestions based on their expertise.
Discuss the ideas you’ve gathered and make a plan together. Your photographer can help you with everything from choosing the best lighting and angles to setting up props and guiding your poses.
- DIY Elements and Crafts Pinterest is also a great resource for DIY projects and crafts that you can incorporate into your holiday photo session. Whether it's making your own props, creating custom decorations, or designing festive backdrops, you can find step-by-step guides and inspiration.
Search for “DIY holiday photo props” or “Christmas crafts” to discover fun and creative projects. This can be a great way to personalize your session and involve the whole family in the preparations.
Planning your holiday photo session with Pinterest can be a fun and creative process. By gathering inspiration, organizing your ideas, and collaborating with your photographer, you can ensure that your photos capture the joy and magic of the season. So start pinning, get inspired, and make this holiday season one to remember with beautiful, festive photos.
Happy planning, and may your holiday photo session be merry and bright!
www.tapcreative.studio
https://www.pinterest.com/taylorartphotography/
Beach photo sessions are meant to be fun, capturing the beauty of the sea, the sand, and of course, you! However, it's common to feel a wave of nervousness before stepping in front of the camera. If you're feeling apprehensive, you're not alone. Here are some reasons why people might feel this way and tips to overcome these jitters.
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Body Insecurities:
- Many people feel self-conscious about their bodies, especially in swimwear or revealing outfits. Concerns about how they will look in the photos can deter them from booking a beach photo session.
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Weather Unpredictability:
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Beach sessions are highly dependent on the weather. The fear of unpredictable weather conditions, such as rain, strong winds, or extreme heat, can make people hesitant to plan a photo shoot at the beach.
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Privacy Concerns:
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Beaches can be crowded, and the presence of other people might make individuals uncomfortable. The lack of privacy can be a significant deterrent, especially for those who feel self-conscious or shy about being photographed in public.
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Sand and Water Issues:
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The beach environment can be challenging for photo sessions due to sand getting everywhere, potential water damage to equipment, and the discomfort of posing on uneven or hot sand. These practical issues can make people think twice about a beach session.
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Logistical Challenges:
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Organizing a beach photo session can involve a lot of logistics, such as travel to the location, finding the right spot, dealing with changing facilities, and timing the session for the best lighting. The complexity of planning can be overwhelming and discourage people from opting for a beach shoot.
Feeling nervous about a beach photo session is natural, but it shouldn’t deter you from capturing beautiful memories. Acknowledge your feelings, prepare as much as possible, and focus on enjoying the moment. Confidence comes from within, and when you embrace your unique beauty, it will shine through in every photograph.
https://tapcreative.studio/
Most people are nervous about setting up some type of sexy photosession, but here are some reasons why you should.
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Boost Confidence:
- A sexy photo session can help you see yourself in a new light, boosting your confidence and self-esteem. It's an empowering experience that can help you appreciate your own beauty and uniqueness.
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Celebrate Milestones:
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Whether it's a significant birthday, an anniversary, a personal achievement, or a fitness milestone, a sexy photo session is a great way to celebrate and commemorate important life events.
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Gift for a Partner:
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Sexy photos can make a unique and intimate gift for your partner, offering something personal and thoughtful that they can cherish.
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Empowerment and Self-Love:
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Embracing your sensuality and celebrating your body can be a powerful act of self-love. It allows you to feel empowered and proud of who you are.
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Try Something New:
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Stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new can be exhilarating. A sexy photo session offers a chance to experiment with different looks, styles, and expressions.
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Document Your Beauty:
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Professionally taken photos capture your beauty in a way that everyday snapshots can't. These photos can serve as a lasting reminder of how you looked and felt at a particular time in your life.
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Creative Expression:
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A sexy photo session allows for artistic and creative expression. You can collaborate with your photographer to create unique and personalized images that reflect your personality and style.
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Enhance Body Positivity:
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Embracing and celebrating your body through a sexy photo session can enhance your body positivity. It's an opportunity to focus on what you love about yourself and to see beauty in your imperfections.
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Memorable Keepsake:
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High-quality, professionally taken photos become cherished keepsakes that you can look back on for years to come. They can also be passed down as a part of your personal legacy.
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Have Fun:
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Above all, a sexy photo session can be a fun and enjoyable experience. It's a chance to pamper yourself, play dress-up, and enjoy a professional photo shoot that makes you feel like a star.
These reasons make sexy photo sessions a worthwhile and fulfilling endeavor, offering both personal and artistic benefits.
We do a lot of unique events and working with The Village Players (the oldest community theatre in Hillsborough county) is a fun organization to create some unique imagery. Our goal is assist in the promotion of their shows as they typically have around 4-5 each year and operate as a not-for-profit theatre group.
**Just a side note, due to their non-profit status as 501c3 we do not charge the theatre for our time or image creation. We are a fan of the arts and The Village Players is our organization of choice to volunteer with and assist in getting the word out.
So what’s the process that we do help out and create some fun work?
Usually, we know the play in advance since the schedule is out - this helps as it allows us to start coming up with ideas. Currently as this is being worked on - The Music Man - our goal is to make some graphics that appear to match the era and feel of the of the early 1900’s. Since we haven’t started work, since that session is in July - our last play was Clue. I’ll do a post on the music man post session.
Our sessions are booked 2-3 months in advance, our schedules are a bit crazy. We bring the studio to the theatre and a lot of times, it’s one of the first full dress rehearsals of their show.
Image are taken in front of a green or gray screen depending on what we’re working on currently as they’re relatively easy to extract. I’ll post a video on the extraction process and link it here - at this point it’s much easier and the AI tools make the process a lot smoother.
The image with the police officer is a post extraction shot.
Once we make extractions of the entire cast it’s time to place them into the images we created for the play. Usually it’s 2-3 show photos and the cast imager.
For extractions, we either use Pixnub’s EZ Green Screen or the Adobe Extraction tool - it really just depends.
Whether it’s theatre, sports or our Comic Lucy the process is very similar. It’s a lot of fun and we enjoy the process of creating new imagery for everyone we work with.
For the upcoming Music Man at The Village Players Valrico - the 2023 Show Dates are the following:
Performance dates are on August 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 8 p.m. and matinees on August 13 and 20 at 3 p.m. Doors open at least 30 minutes before curtain.
Tickets are on online at: https://tvpvalrico.ticketleap.com/the-music-man/
**The Canon RF 28-70mm F2.0 L USM lens has been around for a while, but it was recently added to my lens arsenal as I update my equipment to mirrorless. It was purchased to replace the EF 24-70mm lens that I’ve used for numerous years and to this day is one of my favorite lenses.**
Why did I take the plunge and spend a lot to get this lens updated?
Well… some of the events we have low lights and the lower aperture is another way to get these images to look better. Also, we’ve been using the EF-RF adapter and even though they do a great job, there always felt to be a little lag when using it on the Canon R5 mirrorless.
There are lots of videos/podcasts that go over all the specs, but I’ll do a quick and dirty.
Key specifications:
· Full-frame format
· Available in RF-mount only
· Aperture range F2–F22
· 95mm filer thread
· Minimum focus distance: 0.39m (1.28 ft)
· Weight: 1430 grams (3.15 lbs)
**The weight, which we all seem to here about is surprising at first but as I got to use this in various events I didn’t notice. During the last few months, the camera was used in the following events**
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Cheer
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Dance
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Powder Sessions
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Senior Sessions
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Studio Images
After working with it and taking thousands of shots, I’m ready to go over my thoughts.
The RF 28-70 Lens takes beautiful images with great color and excellent handling of distortion at the wider end of the lens. In action shots, zooming in and out, there was great sharpness – maybe a slight drop at 2.0 but in low light situations it seems to happen. Either way, the images came out and were what we needed.
RF 28-70 2.0L and focusing
**Comparing it to the 24-70mm with the EF adapter, the 28-70 is lightning quick in focusing. This is important for us during live events, since we don’t get second chances during performances. When set to infinity, the RF 28-70 2.0L can focus on an object at the nearest focusing distance faster than I’m able to time it. When we were at the dance recital, I also noticed the lens was quiet and noiseless when going to electronic shutter.**
Who Should/Shouldn’t buy the RF 28-70 2.0L?
This is a great action/sports photographers that need a versatile lens. It’s great in low light, clear images. More then likely, I’d add wedding photographers into the mix as the lens will more then likely fit their needs.
Cost of the RF 28-70 2.0L
The Canon RF 28-70 is expensive. At $2899, it’s nearly twice the price of the Canon RF 24-70 2.8.
Conclusion
I love this lens, but it fit into the category of various uses that made our images better in lower light settings. The 24-70 is also a great lens and half the cost but we were looking for a bit more pop in the lens. If you have a smaller budget, there’s nothing wrong in the
That said, if you use anything other than the EOS R (obviously), or have an EOS R but you want a wide-mid zoom lens that is incredibly sharp while not needing the extra stop of light of the 2.0 aperture, I’d recommend the Canon 24-70 2.8 instead. It retails for $1699, is much lighter, a little smaller, and takes images that are just as good.
In the end, the Canon RF 28-70 2.0L is a great lens, but it’s a little soft at f/2.0, and while it’s great at 2.8 and above, it doesn’t offer much that the Canon 24-70 2.8L II doesn’t. So while this lens is good enough, probably the best lens in its class, it’s likely not good enough to justify its $3000 price tag for most photographers. But if you’re looking for the best wide-mid range zoom lens ever made, this is it.
Pros
- Very well built
- Fast f/2.0 aperture
- Quick focus in live events
- Great image quality
Cons
- Big and heavy
- Expensive
We work with a lot of sports teams and one of our top products is a Senor Sports Banner. Whether it’s at the stadium, gym or arena they can really pop and also make for added touch in both team motivation and athlete support.
Working with a lot of teams, I want to share a few tips in the process. This can make the process easier, less stressful and avoid any last minute rushing.
Here are a few steps to get the process going for your sports banner search.
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Find a photographer: Look for a photographer who specializes in sports photography. Ask for recommendations from friends, search online for local photographers, and check their portfolios to see if their style matches what you're looking for.
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Discuss your needs: Once you've found a photographer, discuss your needs with them. Let them know you want to order a sports banner and what you want to include in the design. Provide any logos you want to include.
- Schedule to have the photos taken with the photographer you want to have the images done. Be sure to plan ahead as the more popular photographers book out before the seasons start and may not be able to get the desired completion done.
- Once the images are ready to preview, select the desired number of images via the proofing through the photographer. Once you've agreed on the design with the sports banner provider, review it to make sure everything is correct. .
- Once the order is complete, wait for the drop shipment and then hang the banner:
This is a broad approach but the process needs to be planned out in advance, since the process can take a bit of time from appointment booking, photographing the athletes, image creation, proof viewing and ordering the final copy.
Most of the time, last minute waiting won’t result in the desired timeframe that you’re wanting.
Metallic paint photoshoots and podcasts can be popular for several reasons:
- Aesthetic appeal: Metallic paint adds a unique and visually stunning element to any photo shoot or podcast. It can create a futuristic or high-tech look and feel, adding an eye-catching element to the subject being captured.
- Creativity: Metallic paint opens up a world of creative possibilities for photographers and podcasters. It can be used in a variety of settings, from studio shoots to outdoor photoshoots, and can be combined with other elements, such as lighting and props, to create unique and captivating images or recordings.
Show Notes
In Florida, there are various ways to get Pinup Photos done, but we decided to put some tips together to help out the process.
Research and choose your photographer carefully: Look for a photographer who has experience with pinup photography and whose style you admire. Check their portfolio and reviews to get a sense of their work and approach.
https://tapcreative.studio/tap-room-podcasts
We recently had a discussion on why have a Sexy Photo Session and being in the Tampa Bay area, these can be done outside, inside or both - so what would the reasons be to do this?
Having a sexy photo shoot can be a empowering experience for several reasons:
Tap Creative Studio
Hiring a professional couples photographer can bring several benefits to your photo shoot. Here are some reasons why it may be a good idea to hire a couple photographer: We bring a dynamic duo to our Florida based sessions.
- Experience and expertise: A professional couples photographer has the experience and expertise to capture intimate and emotional moments, as well as to create beautiful and creative portraits. They have a keen eye for detail, and they understand how to work with lighting, posing, and composition to create images that are both beautiful and meaningful.
- Chemistry: A duo photographer team has a unique understanding of the chemistry between two people, and they can help you to feel relaxed and comfortable during the shoot. This can result in more natural and genuine expressions, and in images that truly capture the essence of your
TAP Room Podcasts
Taylor Art Photos
Tap Creative Studio
High School Sports have a long history of downtown rivals and this was evident this past week in Riverview Florida. I’ve had the pleasure of working with both East Bay High School and Riverview High School - both are situated a few miles apart. Before the season started, both teams had their Football Team Pictures and Individual images taken - where the studio was transported to both schools.
Historically, the teams would go out to the field sit on bleachers and you’re at the mercy of all 80 players ready at once and also the weather cooperating. Both sessions this summer with the teams, it stormed as we were already inside.
I’m often asked, what makes our photos different from others. - The answer is simple, we continually focus on ways to create an image that feels top quality and something that could also be present in a magazine or a graphic that you would see on ESPN.
The other part of our editing process is, at times not everyone can make photo day. The edits are done, so in the event the unforeseen occcurs and a student misses the session, we can coordinate with the parent and coach a time to get image completed. This happened recently due to an injury, post team photos the parent and student came to the studio and we did their images. I was able to add the student into the team photo before delivery to the team and we didn’t miss a beat.
We’ve increased our sports photography business in Florida substantially over the last 10 months. What we found, was that our brand of sports photos was gaining traction in both Tampa and the state abroad and it was time to brand out a bit. As we’ve expanded deeper into sports photos, we decided it was time to branch off our social media in the sports realm and have a page just focused on athletes.
www.taylorartphotos.com/podcast
It’s crazy to think in a few months the decorations will be up, staring with Halloween. In fact, the first Halloween store appeared the second to last week in July as they begun their store prep. The time of year is crazy and the old adage - “So many things, so little time” is absolutely true.
As you plan for our “Christmas Story” photo session, we put together a few tips to assist.
www.taylorartphotos.com/podcast/podcast-57-time-to-book-your-christmas-session
Christmas photo sessions in the Tampa market don’t need to be traditional. Why not add a bit of flare to your photos and maybe add the pink bunny suite… err wait paint. Or maybe try to avoid shooting your eye out. At Taylor Art Photos, we strive to be a bit different and create a fun, sassy photo session that isn’t a mini session but a fun experience for unique photos. .
As we like to create new sessions and also add onto pop culture, we started working on some fun edits with Stranger Things. In the Tampa Bay area, we started up our Stranger Things photo sessions and had a bit of fun along the way.
taylorartphotos.com
Photo sessions sometimes come as a second thought after an initial conversation. Things get crazy, we all have some sort of day to day activity that takes us away from a project or thought. To assist in your planning, Pinterest has a unique tool to also give you an overview of when searches are conducted for topics
trends.pinterest.com/
Using this as a reference, it could assist in planning your session, sport event and possibly get the booking date of your liking, instead of rushing around at the last minute. The fall is the busy time of year in photography and why not get a better idea of when to book your session and also get some creative ideas of what you want to do.
For session booking in Florida and in the Tampa Bay market - head over to www.taylorartphotos.com
youtube video link
Photo sessions sometimes come as a second thought after an initial conversation. Things get crazy, we all have some sort of day to day activity that takes us away from a project or thought. To assist in your planning, Pinterest has a unique tool to also give you an overview of when searches are conducted for topics
trends.pinterest.com/
Using this as a reference, it could assist in planning your session, sport event and possibly get the booking date of your liking, instead of rushing around at the last minute. The fall is the busy time of year in photography and why not get a better idea of when to book your session and also get some creative ideas of what you want to do.
For session booking in Florida and in the Tampa Bay market - head over to www.taylorartphotos.com
youtube video link
In this tutorial podcast we're going to learn how to quickly cut out hair with the Refine Edge Brush Tool in photoshop.
The link to the video is located at:
https://youtu.be/o7iFoaMukq4
My first go at trying out on the Unreal Engine and as they say - warts and all.
The ultimate goal is to create a small world to also use in composite photography. This is my third time using the software and a bit of trial and error - but also the way I learned photoshop. For Tap, the goal is to use both UE5 and merge with photography/composites to create new worlds and expand the creative horizon.
https://youtu.be/CBC7OtfmBjc
www.taylorartphotos.com
My first go at trying out on the Unreal Engine and as they say - warts and all.
The ultimate goal is to create a small world to also use in composite photography. This is my third time using the software and a bit of trial and error - but also the way I learned photoshop. For Tap, the goal is to use both UE5 and merge with photography/composites to create new worlds and expand the creative horizon.
https://youtu.be/CBC7OtfmBjc
www.taylorartphotos.com
My oldest son is big into theatre, it’s wasn’t something I surrounded myself during my younger years but as he’s progressed in acting I’ve become more involved. What caught my attention off the beginning was the subpar imagery that went out for the cast members and what I saw on social media. It was to the point where my wife and I volunteered to make sure proper images were created - we were a little selfish since our son was involved and wanted those also for ourselves.
We’ve worked with a lot of teams for their images both full team and individual shots. What has been learned over these are a few tips as a reminder when getting yourself or your athlete ready. We haven’t come across and athlete who doesn’t want good images, so be sure to come with your game face and let Taylor Art Photos assist in the process.
- Get a full nights rest. Like planning for a game, being exhausted or sleep deprived will come across in the image. So as you prepare for the game, do the same for your images.
Being based in Tampa Bay, it seems we’re centrally located to cover a good portion of Florida. Taking the I-75 or the always fun I-4 it allows you to pivot and cover the north, south or eastern portions of the state pretty quickly. This gives us the ability to meet with teams whether they’re in our backyard or down in West Palm Beach fairly quick.
What’s our process in taking the studio to your high school, gym or other facility in discussing Team Pictures. One of the first questions is desired time, if it’s a high school team is it during pre-season, after school or at an event they’re hosting. Looking at the size of the team, we’ll discuss expected turn around time for edited images. Typically, the larger the group and the more images the longer the turn around time.
I was recently approached about doing music edits for a bodybuilding show, which in the past is something i’ve done to help out a few friends here and there. For posing routines, you typically have only 60 seconds to show off in the evening show when it’s just you on stage and I’d match the music accordingly to what was provided. The edits that were done wouldn’t generate any editing awards and when recently asked if I’d do it as a favor but unfortunately my schedule is quite hectic and couldn’t do it.
In Tampa Bay, we have beautiful weather around the year. It can get chilly sometimes but that may last a few days and we return to warmer temps in our winter months. For our Powder Sessions, the weather plays an important factor - too humid and the powder gets lumpy and if it rains… well… there goes your outdoor studio
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We purposely pick November to April for the drier conditions, when the chance of an afternoon storm takes place. Powder Sessions are messy and it’s not something you’d typically do indoors; unless you have a large open space with good ventilation. Usually we get away with our scheduled dates and this year, we had our first weather postponement.
https://www.taylorartphotos.com/podcast
Working with athletes in the Tampa Bay market, I have the privelege of capture moments in Sports Photography and creating unique photos for both schools and individuals.
In areas of technology, it’s impressive on the continual development of what the camera can do, even more impressive is the ability of what phones can do. Some of these are quickly replacing what photographers would do just a few years ago. So how do you stand out in a crowded field when technology is advancing?
Taylor Art Photos is always working on creative and fun new photo concepts to share with our clients. The Pin-Up Portraits have been all the rage this season and we love how well this art technique works for different costume ensembles and styles. From recreating 1950s ads to retro looks, and boudoir to kittenish costumes, it’s the art technique we’ve honed using our experience and our clients’ unique demeanors that make every shoot a fun and exclusive success.
This Podcast was video recorded and can also be viewed in Youtube.
Video Link:
At TAP, we try to put together best practices on having you prepare for your special day. We put together a top 10 list of things to prepare when you’re planning your maternity session.
1. Pick the Date - Every woman's body is different and each woman shows at a different time. Choosing the date is a fine balance between when you’re showing but not when you’ll be so far along you’re to uncomfortable for the session. The best time to take your photos is in your third trimester, between 28 and 32 weeks. At this point, your bump will be showing well and look great in photos, and you will still be able to move around and pose comfortably. The other part is, if you wait to long you may end up in labor as a possible outcome by waiting to far into your pregnancy.
Taylor Art Photos
In this podcast, we are working with powder photography. This is a type of photo created using powder and movement. We will be applying the rainbow effect, creating a fun look for your clients as you look to add a bit more creativity to your sessions.
You Tube Video
We’re closing in on the completion of our second volume of our graphic novel, Lucy the Devil. What does it take to create a composite, graphic novel that is done in the studio?
The video below part of our session for lucy, editng the image and how we go about creating the composite.
Lucy The Devil Link
On our podcast/video session, we created a quick tutorial on changing eye color in Photoshop.
Step 1: Zooming in on the eyes, you can either use the (ctrl +) or magnifying tool.
Step 2: Utilizing the Lasso Tool - you’ll want to map out the section of the eye you want to change color. Draw the selection around the eye.
Step 3: Once you drawn around the eye, select the Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer. Selecting this will also create a mask and impact the area selected by the Lasso Tool.
Step 4: In the properties section of the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer appear in Photoshop's Properties panel. Turn on the Colorize option by clicking inside its checkbox:
Step 5: In the Layers panel, the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer sits above the image on the Background layer. Change the blend mode from Normal to Color. This is a subtle change, but allows for more detail in the eye.
Step 6: To choose a different color for the eyes, drag the Hue slider. Dragging the slider from left to right cycles you through all the colors of the rainbow, moving from red on the far left to oranges and yellows, greens, blues, magentas, and so on, all the way back to red on the far right.
Step 7: After choosing a new eye color with the Hue slider, drag the Saturation slider to the left to lower the intensity until the color looks more natural. This is subjective and you’ll want to find the intensity that works best for your image.
Step 8: After the coloring is set, select the brush tool and use the “Black” fill to cover any overlap of eye color you would find in areas the lasso tool overlapped. Since my version wasn’t perfect, this was used to take away any color bleed onto the skin around the eye.
Once your complete the edit to your liking, the image is complete.
You are an athlete! You practice day in, day out all year long. Why wouldn’t you want to capture images that are just as unique as you are. At Taylor Art Photos, we’ve added Sports Photography into the composite imagery world. So what does this mean?
For the athlete, it means merging digital elements together to create something unique and new creates a sport composite. Recently, I was approached by a high school and they wanted new imagery for the Volleyball team. I ended up setting up a edgier design that the team loved and pushed the teams pictures to a new creative design. I brought the studio to the gym before their game day and worked with each player. Each athlete went through some new poses and they each had several images to from their session. This was also used to create the team picture.
You are an athlete! You practice day in, day out all year long. Why wouldn’t you want to capture images that are just as unique as you are. At Taylor Art Photos, we’ve added Sports Photography into the composite imagery world. So what does this mean?
For the athlete, it means merging digital elements together to create something unique and new creates a sport composite. Recently, I was approached by a high school and they wanted new imagery for the Volleyball team. I ended up setting up a edgier design that the team loved and pushed the teams pictures to a new creative design. I brought the studio to the gym before their game day and worked with each player. Each athlete went through some new poses and they each had several images to from their session. This was also used to create the team picture.
A lot of times when we’re approached by a client, they’re not sure what they want. The conversation is usually starts off with, “what got your attention?”
We create a lot of unique imagery to assist in the process, which also increases our knowledge or new processes and allows for continued improvement.
A lot of times the imagery ends up being composite, which has been around for years and new technology allows for more unique images, animation and the blurring between on set location and in studio.
If you’re thinking about trying a creative session, here are few clues as to why this might be something of interest.
Our Portrait Powder Sessions have a season in Florida, where we conduct them outside during the months of late November to Late May. It’s the drier months in the state, along with cooler weather when we’re outside. The Tampa Bay weather at times is tricky, so we plan accordingly.
Tap Room Podcast Notes - Click Here
We wanted to look for ways to make an Enhanced Metallic Portrait for the Holidays and we couldn’t find an exact supply we liked. Being the always creative crew we are, the challenge was to create our own coloring to meet the color blend and shine we’re looking for. What we did was in the end, create a Christmas Metallic Color scheme that makes for a fun Holiday Photo Session.
Tap Room Podcast Notes - Click Here
It’s September and if you haven’t thought about it, the time to plan for your Holiday photoshoot is “NOW”
Last weeks podcast went over Halloween and we like to blend both Holidays at times, but some might cringe at the thought of Christmas planning. Especially with it being still Hurricane season in Tampa Bay.
I’ve already been approached in August about family holiday Christmas cards and the closer we get to the end of October the crazier things get.
TaylorArtPhotos - Podcast Notes
Halloween season is nearly upon and this time of year is a lot of fun for photographers who like to venture into the creative editing realm of their craft. But how do you plan for it? Well…. we put together a quick list on how to plan for it.
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First item would be to find a photographer who does cosplay or creates graphics for that realm.
- Search Facebook/Google (City/Town) for cosplay photographer. My personal search would be “Tampa Cosplay Photographer” or “Tampa Halloween Photographer”
- Don’t wait to long to find your photographer, the closer the time gets to the Holidays the harder it is to secure what you want.
Continued at Taylor Art Photos
We’ve been asked, “What’s the difference between pin up photography and boudoir?”
**WHAT IS BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY?** When looking at boudoir portraits they’re a bit more “risque” in nature, and usually kept a bit more private. Boudoir allows you to show your sultry, sexy side, showcasing intimacy usually with a little bit of class. What we’ve discovered over the years is that an alternative side which is more bold pops out from the individual and giving the client a confidence booster in the process. With boudoir photos everything is tailored to your own comfort level.
PIN UP PHOTOGRAPHY HISTORY
Dating back to the 1900’s, pin up style was meant to be fun and a bit flirtacious. Pin ups are intended for informal display, they are meant to be “pinned up” on walls and be admired. GI’s kept them on hand when overseas, especially during WWII which the government used to boost morale of the service men at war. The pin up photography was meant to show the armed forces that the girls waiting for them were worth fighting for. These photos were found inside barracks, hung up in submarines and tucked into soldiers’ pockets. Eventually the images left the bunkers and entered into day to day advertising in the 50’s.
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When’s the best time to book your photosession?
Answer: Once you have an event date, whether it’s bodybuilding or another desired event. Right away.
The answer seems dire, but you’d be surprised how often I get a call, text or email that they want a session and what are my openings currently. It literally happened last week. A popular/solid photographer will be booked months in advance and if you want to ensure you get what you want… book sooner vs. an opening. As I type this, I have a solid list of bookings into October of this year and it’s early April currently.
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One questions I’m asked frequently is why did I start TAP?
The answer itself is varied but can be summed up quite easily - I wanted nice bodybuilding pictures after seeing awful images. I did photography dating back to my college years (storm chasing) kept it on the low profile for a long time but as more creative ways to doing images appeared it created a desire to get back into the swing of things. That’s the easiest of answers, but ultimately went a lot deeper.
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At times you might come across a chat room or message board and the phrase TFP comes up. You may question the meaning, shrug it off or just ignore it. If you do a generic search for TFP, you’ll most likely come up with Total Factory Productivity (the ratio of aggregate output (e.g., GDP) to aggregate inputs) More then likely, this isn’t the message board you’re in so time to dig a bit deeper.
The traditional term for TFP in photography circles is “Trade for Print” however it also has been used in Trade for Photos or several other acronyms with similar meanings. For this, a team which usually is a photographer and a model (or models) work together on a photography project. Everyone works for free, but they all receive the images to use in their portfolios. At times, this does include Hair stylists, makeup artists but would depend on the project.
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There isn’t a week where I’m not approached by a company or person wanting to take over my edits post photo session. You may or may not have seen this out there (maybe not if you’re not a photographer) but it’s good to know where your images go post “click”.
A lot of photography studios are one man/woman operations and if they aren’t in the field/studio working they aren’t getting paid. Sitting at a desk costs money for some - there really isn’t an easy way of breaking down this further.
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We've been busy with sessions and we're re-starting the podcasts after a little of time off.
Always looking to work and experiment with new mediums, we started working on our latest project - Metallic Paint Sessions. Working with a model, it was a unique experiment in setting up but working on a project for the first time the experience was trial and error.
Our model showed up and through our communications it was also his first go at this type of project so it was the blind leading the blind to kick this off.
Taylor Art Photos is always working on creative and fun new photo concepts to share with our clients. The Pin-Up Portraits have been all the rage this season and we love how well this art technique works for different costume ensembles and styles. From recreating 1950s ads to retro looks, and boudoir to kittenish costumes, it’s the art technique we’ve honed using our experience and our clients’ unique demeanors that make every shoot a fun and exclusive success.
When prepping for a shoot, I still get anxious and nervous before taking a picture of someone i never met before. So it’s understandable people get anxious before having their pictures taken. This is still true when I try a new concept out and almost always I’m just excited to see what images will appear after we start.
I can attest the longer I work in photography, the less anxious I get but I still get excited before each session. I do understand for most of my clients, a photo session isn’t a regular occurrence so if you can’t combat nerves by doing this over and over again, what can you do?
During 2020, we decided to try something a bit new and create a Graphic Novel that utilized all composite imagery. We learned a lot through the project and have already started on Volume II of Lucy the Devil. What we also started working on was a specialized photo session that puts you in a picture Graphic Novel.
Creativity can start at any time and a lot of times it starts with a slight movement or quick thought that might be part of an intuition. The ideas can come from anywhere and what I find is the client sometimes doesn’t move forward with the thought or suggestion as they feel it might not be appropriate. From the photographers perspective, please don’t hold back.
People go back and forth with the decision for a Mini Session and Full Session
What’s the difference and what can you expect with each type of session.
Recently, there has been a lot of offerings with photographers for mini sessions, especially during the holiday season during the later part of year. But the real question is, what’s best for you and how to choose between each session.
One look in an app stores and you’ll find options upon options of photo apps to choose from. The goal of any developer is to stand out amongst its peers. One such app that came across my plate was Enlight Pixaloop. The goal of this app is to animate a static image and overall it does a pretty good job for quick edits to add a bit of flare to your social media postings.
Color powder sessions are a relatively new type of session that does lean towards the world of dance and gymnastics, but also can be used to create a unique experience for a model, athlete or someone who wants a fun unique experience. What makes these unique is the contrast and pop of the colors against the black backdrops.
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When people think about professional prints, dollar signs seem to a appear and suddenly your photography sessions seems that much more expensive. That thinking can actually cost you money in the long run and we’ll go over a few common misconceptions when ordering high quality prints.
You deserve the best photos and they should show off the imagery through a professionally-made print. To top it off, those prints aren’t all expensive with a variety of top notch selections.
When it comes to cheap prints, it really defeats the purpose. Typically the materials are cheap and the print that you purchase won’t last very long.
Things to consider when purchasing prints are prints that are resistance to fading, scratching, UV protection and a good quality substrate on the print to name a few.
One of the things to discuss with your photographer is also the wide range of products and the best way to display your images - which will be another podcast later on.
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It’s the final phase of 2020 and I’m sure like the majority of it, the Holidays will be a nice distraction after a unique 2020. The time is also important to consider a Christmas photoshoot with your loved ones, which can turn into fun pictures and cherished memories.
In today’s podcast, we’ll go over the essentials to creating photos that are unique and frame worthy to either share on cards, social media or on the wall of your house. With various styles to choose, from classic family portraits to amusing Christmas composites with the new technology available - you can also consider being transported into a Christmas realm.
If this is your first round of family Christmas photos, it’s a lot to take in and you may want to control the environment. This could result in stiff or not the most candid images you may want to share with friends and family. Keep in mind, when working with young kids and animals, be patient as they operate under a different set of rules.
Welcome to the daunting task of choosing a photographer. The field is crowded and as soon as you raise your hand about having a session done, you’ll get bombarded by hungry TOGS. Before taking the plunge, here are a few tips to help out in your search.
Whether it’s your personal brand or company image, a simple change to an image can increase more awareness and show off your brand creativity. When you add a little bit more of an “UMPH” to your image, it allows for a more memorable impact to your followers or potential clients.
When dealing with a complex idea or product, it’s always harder to try and explain in writing/text when relaying information. If you’re looking to increase awareness and knowledge, simple imagery can make it easier to understand. Copy and flat images don’t always bring an idea to life as well as an animated image.
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It’s been a tough year for those who attend comic cons and there’s been lack of opportunity to utilize the costumes that people work so hard on creating and sharing so when approached about setting up a fun Deadpool session with a popular cosplayer we rolled out the blue screen and said let’s go. This isn’t a Podcast about doing a comic con session, but planning for a cosplay composite session.
Our focus isn’t just the image of the character, it’s also trying to bring out the characters essence and also the usage of other imagery that reflects the character. Working with our clients, our understanding of them increases during the session as we learn about the personality, demeanor and a lot of times humor. This doesn’t occur when you chat with them either on the phone and/or texting prior. The goal to have a level of comfort is important to us as we focus on delivering an enjoyable and relaxing session.
There are many ways to create a story, at TAP we’ve been busy during the COVID year on creating a graphic novel made from photos within the studio. Our goal was create a photonovel with film noir flair and devilish humor, that follows Lucy the Devil after her rise from Hell as she looks for some fresh fun with her friends in tow.
To create the story, numerous sessions were required that followed a script where overlays, composite photography was utilized and creating a new world that started within the studio. The goal was to create unique forms of art within the story and also push our skills that also allowed for us enhance the sessions with our clients during this time.
This time of year starts one of the most enjoyable times of the year and after all the 2020 fun, the Holiday(s) are arriving and we couldn’t be happier. To kick things off we’ve been working on Halloween photography sessions in the Tampa Bay market and utilizing Pinterest not only for ideas but to promote our brand. Looking into trends on what to post and also to see what’s the insight into trends that we could potentially utilize for photoshoots. When wanting to learn more on what’s trending it’s possible to see what the interest levels for Halloween, Christmas and various other activities in the “Trends Section” of the business analytics section of your account.
With the high end phones delivering solid AI performance on photography, the questions arises why invest in hiring a photographer at all? At events, people are taking selfies or photos of others and seem to be in the moment for the event itself. So why hire a photographer with the proliferation of all the cameras accessible to everyone?
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When reviewing photos on Instagram and/or Pinterest, at times photos come up that seem to good to be true. Did someone wait for the perfect moment, was it stage or just a lucky shot was captured. Chances are, it was created on a computer from various images and you were caught in “awe” of the composite photograph. Some composites are very subtle and you may not even know it’s there, while others are more noticeable and feel like you’re in the middle of watching a movie and you’re struck at the artistry of that image.
Not sure of what a composite image is? A composite is a photograph that combines several photographs or stock images into a single image. This process has become increasingly popular as a way of creating images either real or surreal; your only limitation is your imagination.
As I was looking through some recent Tampa Bay beach portraits I’ve done over the year, I thought about what made them successful. Many of our female clients who choose these sessions are competitors, who are used to standing on a stage in a small competition bikini and hitting sassy poses. But, not all of our clients have that skill set or experience. And, the truth is, you don’t NEED to be a bikini athlete to create captivating portraits.
You can be a receptionist, a CEO, a stay at home mom, the owner of your own business - none of it tied to beauty or fitness - and still have these portraits done. These are my tips compiled by my creative director and myself.
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Our Black Rabbit portrait sessions, done either with the MOXIE styling or as a high-end portrait, is one of our most popular requests. Our clients often want to know what they should bring, so we are listing our costume suggestions.
Options range from MoXie to Portrait and can then lead into other creative avenues.
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The portrait mini-session has become a big thing this past decade. Photographers choose a day, clients come in and go with 30 minute sessions. They throw in a cute bunny or hay bale and snap quick photos. Prices are generally low, but we’ve seen some in the hundred dollar range for these sessions.
Years ago, when I was primarily photographing athletes, my wife brought us to this type of session. In the end, she received one portrait she really loved and one she liked. She chose one of the pricier sessions, and in the end didn’t even walk away with a family photo she loved. We have two boys and getting them to both look at the camera with the same look can be challenging - one the photographer wasn’t up for with a “quick client turnover” approach.
Since then, I added family portraits, art portraits, creative portraits and our new highly-stylized MOXIE sessions to our portfolio. Our Tampa portrait sessions provide clients with ten polished images, which are selected by YOU from a digital album. MOXIE portraits provide clients with 5 highly edited images, using our MOXIE process.
Now, with old school studio or mini-session mentality, you may think you are getting the same photo with gradual changes. A better smile, not as winky, your hair tousled just right. But, the joy is that our sessions generally last 1.5 hours long to ensure you get the winning portraits and a variety of looks.
Alluring, sexy, flirtatious, serious, playful, modest, sincere, thoughtful, dangerous, happy. You are multidimensional and although you may be used to the smile and click routine, we work with you to really capture your personality. There IS NO RUSH.
More Than a Mini-Session
New to TAP (Taylor Art Photos) is our MOXIE Portrait Sessions. MOXIE is an acronym for Models Of eXaggerated Interest & Enhancement. Plus, it embraces the spirit of our objective, for our clients to let loose with pep, determination and a certain je ne sais quoi.
MOXIE portraits take your photo, captured by Tampa Photographers Kevin & Erin, and using our exclusive editing techniques we will enhance features to create a caricature-of-sorts from that photo. Key features are larger eyes, a more doll-like face, and an augmented waistline.
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A lot of couples experience their first professional photos during your engagement. Preparation for a wedding can be daunting at times and our goal is to keep this part of your wedding planning easy, enjoyable and a bit of fun. From the beach, to the city street or the park we got you covered for your Tampa Bay engagement portraits. We've put together SIX Tips to help you along the engagement journey.
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Puerto Rico recently beckoned and enjoyed both the wonderful culture of the island, but also the areas of its beauty. When traveling out of your normal comfort zone and known area, you’re bound to come across some hurdles. In our recent trip, it was no different. Located in the tropics and where the Atlantic touches the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is a 2.5 hour flight east from our home base of Tampa Bay. The photo shoot was planned nine months out, rooms and cars were booked and our planned location to stay was in Arecibo, about 45 miles west of Puerto Rico.
Taylor Art Photos loves creative works of art. Turning portraits into art. From studio to outdoor settings, we give 100% to each session.
Most of our clients want the model session experience. Whether they are competition lean or simply want the glamour, we take them to beautiful Florida settings and capture an amazing set of poses to lightly touch up, along with our signature portrait styling.
But, every now and then our creative team says, “Let’s do THIS!” And next thing you know, we are giddily adding props and sketching out pose concepts. That is what led to our Shipwreck Portrait Session.
We already held our concept shoot to bring it all together. The pictures are amazing. See for yourself! We shoot in a remote section at Beer Can Island (Longboat Key), so that you won’t feel like everyone is staring at you. It’s a private-esque session!
We provide the main props. You provide the outfits. We assist in posing. You add your own personality.
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The art of the gym shoot can be fun, nerve wracking and exciting all at once, especially if this is your first go around with a gym shoot. A few things to consider when planning or booking a session with your photographer.
- Considering the potential of impact to clients in the gym, be sure there’s a good relationship with the gym owner and the photographer. The very least permission from the owner to allow the shoot.
- Bring at least two changes of clothes as you might change your mind, have time for additional outfits or just change your mind at the last minute and not like the selection.
- People will watch, which isn’t a huge issue as most are curious on what’s going on and it’s a novel experience for most at the gym. For the most part, the majority of individuals will look at you to see what the fuss is and then go back to their workout.
- Plan for your session during the downtime in the gym, if at all possible. When booking a session, it’s much easier to go during a slower time for patrons of the gym. In the Tampa Bay Area, this is usually a Sunday and find it’s easier to maneuver around and set up for each shot. If you interfere to much with the members, they’ll start getting grouchy and that translates into a grouchy owner of the gym.
- Be flexible. This isn’t saying your physical flexibility but in utilizing equipment you weren’t planning to use. At times, what was planned with an athlete doesn’t look quite right and we zig to another machine and the picture looks ten times better. This doesn’t mean the athlete or photographer did anything wrong or different, but the picture just fit better at that moment.
- Plan ahead in what images you like. This opens dialogue between you and the photographer, but also gets you motivated on your upcoming session. This excitement not only assists with motivation, but also allowing for a certain level of comfort and expectation as your day approaches.
- Bring your business card! In this day of social media and brand creation, this might seem odd but you never know who will be around and want to network or create a new opportunity.
There are many reasons to plan ahead, but based on our experiences we came up with 7 reasons +1 why you should be sure to plan ahead.
You'll want to make sure you don't miss out on the experience you deserve.
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Consumer vs Professional grade photo paper quality. What's the difference between the two? Do you get what you pay for or is it just a pricing scheme?