Marc Silber's Blog, page 15
January 27, 2018
3 Big Tips for Stunning Wedding & Portrait Photography
The amazing wedding and portrait photographer Bambi Cantrell gives us her biggest tips for lighting, location, and working with people when she’s on a photo shoot.
Tips for Taking Stunning Wedding Photos and & Portraits:
Find the prettiest light source
Work with light from a window or be in an outdoor environment if possible
The more lighting equipment you have, the more uncomfortable people feel
Look for catch lights in the eyes and shadow areas on the face
If you learn to identify light, you can take beautiful photos anywhere
Find a location where you have some natural light
Don’t pick a location that is a distraction
It’s not about the location, it’s about the face
Clean, simple lines work best
Have the subject forget about the camera
“Expression beats perfection.”
Look into your subject’s eyes and talk to them and pull from them great expression.
You don’t want them to think of it as a photographic experience
Pay close attention to your subject as you communicate because you will start to notice small things will happen with their mouth and eyes that show excitement and great expression.
Good questions to ask to loosen up your subject:
What makes you happy?
What’s your favorite color?
What do you do for a living?
Once the compositional elements are met, it’s more about finding out who the person is.
If the subject starts to feel a little stiff, move them several times during the shoot. The more they move, the more they forget about the photographic experience.
Don’t take yourself too seriously when on a shoot. Don’t lose that magical moment that happens in people.
You can see more of Bambi’s work on her website and you can follow her on Instagram at @bambicantrell.
Check out more of our video’s with Bambi at Advancing Your Photography Youtube Channel.
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January 22, 2018
Light is Language: 5 Photo Tips & Advice from Joe McNally
5 Photo Tips & Advice from Joe McNally
Watch Video.
Mastering the art of light is one of the most critical steps in order to become a successful photographer. But often times, the most important thing to do, is the hardest to master. But don’t worry. Watch AYP Show’s new video, featuring 5-quick photo tips & advice from photographer Joe McNally. McNally talks about how light is its own language and how it can move us forward in a photograph.
Tips & Advice for how to use light as a language:
Light can be used to describe your subject, embellish or elaborate a scene
Too many photographers are scared of light
Flash and natural light can be hard to work with at first, but don’t worry…
You’ll know good light when you see it.
Don’t be afraid to wander around and try new things with light.
A well lit photo has a bigger impact on the viewer.
Good lighting makes the photo more visceral for those who weren’t there.
Great lighting makes the viewer wish they were there.
If the quality of lighting is poor, it can reduce a beautiful scene to just average.
Light can take you forward.
You can follow more of Joe and his work on his website, Joe McNally Photography or on Instagram at @joemcnallyphoto.
You can check out Joe’s books as well >>here.
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Be one of the 1st to read Marc Silber’s brand new photography book before it goes on SALE! Sign up here for the exclusive offer!
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January 12, 2018
9 Tips for Amazing Photos with Photographer Bob Holmes
with National Geographic Photographer Bob Holmes
Struggling to really make your photos stand out? We’ve all been there. Our friend Bob Holmes stopped by AYP studios to help out and give you some personal tips he uses when he’s in a rut. Watch his tips for creating amazing photos.
Even if you’ve seen Bob before, this video is part of our newest and latest format we are trying out! It’s short and sweet. Plus, this video will give you easy access to his top tips— you can play it on your phone while you are out shooting for quick and easy to access tips!
In just over 3 minutes, Bob Holmes covers his big tips for how he gets his fantastic photos and why he has received “Travel Photographer of the Year Award!” He is the only photographer to be given the award FIVE times, most recently in 2017.
Want quick tips from a real pro? Watch now.
Follow Bob on Instagram.
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January 5, 2018
Why Set Your Photography Goals? (Or are you waiting for them to knock on your door?)
Sunset over Point Lobos, Carmel, CA
I wrote this a few years back about this time, so I thought I’d put it out again for 2018!
Hey, like everything in life, if you don’t set your photography goals, they’re not likely to just happen on by and knock on your door.
Let me ask you, when was the last time you thought about your goals as a photographer? Lots of us keep going out and shooting the same pictures over and over—you know the ones I’m talking about. Nice shot the first few times you got it, but after a few hundred, even you’re tired of seeing it! How does that happen? You get good at a certain type of photography and keep on going out and finding that shot again.
This is a signal that it’s time to tune up your skills, or turn your shooting on its head and do something totally different. An assignment I always give students at my workshops is to go out and get shots that you normally wouldn’t—get out of your comfort zone.
This takes us back to the subject of your goals. Since it’s a new year, this is a great time to set your goals. Start now, ask yourself questions about your photography:
1. What area would you like to improve?
2. Are there types of shots you’d like to get (nudes, travel, artificial light, etc?)
3. What are your plans to study other’s work? (Museums, books, blogs, etc.)
Then just put this all together and set yourself a goal. Oh, one more thing I bet each of us needs to do: Take more shots. Unless you’re out there shooting daily, you’re not taking enough shots.
Do me a favor after you’ve done the exercise above, leave me a note and let me know what you came up with AND send me some of your shots!
Good Shooting!
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December 31, 2017
Big Changes on the Way in 2018
Advancing Your Photography is undergoing some exciting changes in the new year
In 2017, Advancing Your Photography grew tremendously, and we could not have done it without all of your support and enthusiasm.
Our first book, the AYP Handbook continues to be a great success and we are working on book #2!
We are making some major, exciting changes to Advancing Your Photography to guarantee we give you the best photography experience we can!
Stay tuned in January to find out about all about the big things we have planned, but we also want to know, what would you love to see from AYP in 2018?
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
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December 30, 2017
9 Photography Tips to Kickstart Your Creativity
Award-winning Photographer Bob Holmes share his best tips for finding your inspiration
9 Photography Tips to Kickstart Your Creativity:
Look at lines and diagonals
Capture Gestures
Find a punctuation mark, it can make your photos sing!
Important to have an element of “”energy” in order to be compelling
Show movement
Hold camera steady to avoid blur
Be receptive and open
Look at other visual media and look at it consciously
Look at photography books
Learn to see, don’t just look… SEE!
Big thanks to our friend Bob Holmes for sharing his tips with us. You can find more about Bob and his work on his website or on Instagram @bobholmesphoto.
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December 18, 2017
13 Composition Tips to Help You Step Up Your Photography
to help you step up your photography
Composition is the heart of your photography. Here’s wisdom from 6 world-class photographers:
Joe McNally (@joemcnallyphoto) tells you to bend the rules
Camille Seaman (@camilleseaman) says think of everything as shapes and learn to “choreograph” your images
Ed Kashi (@edkashi) tells us about “candid intimacy”
Joey L. (@joeyldotcom) talks about achieving balance like the master painter
Deanne Fitzmaurice (@deannefitzmaurice) talks about finding the layers in your composition
Bambi Cantrell (@bambicantrell) wraps up with how to have your subject forget the camera is there and reminds us that “expression beats perfection every time.”
You’ll find lots more tips from these pros and many others in the Advancing Your Photography Handbook, a great gift for your favorite photographer, and you’ll have it by Christmas for them.
of Advancing Your Photography and immediately get a bonus of Marc’s eBook, Focus on Beauty.
Jumpstart your photography and take it to the next level with this easy to understand and use handbook that is packed with tips from some of the world’s best photographers. Find out how you can apply their secrets for capturing outstanding photos. With this book you will understand all steps needed to be a fantastic photographer. Buy it, read it and use it to create photos that you and others will love!
“Marc’s new book is an all-in-one, easily accessible handbook drawn from his huge library of interviews with top photographers — and packed with information that can be put into action immediately. This book will show you how the pros do it. Study this and take your best shot.” Chase Jarvis, Multi-Award winning Photographer and CEO/Founder of CreativeLive
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December 5, 2017
Composition Wisdom: 15 Tips for Amazing Photographs
15 Tips for Amazing Photographs from photographers: Chase Jarvis, Bob Holmes & more
No matter what camera you’re using, even a smartphone, the two most important aspects to getting awesome images are composition and lighting. In this video, we’re giving you 15 tips to help you take amazing photographs from some of the biggest names in photography, like: Chris Burkard, Bob Holmes, Chase Jarvis and – even Marc Silber.
15 Tips for Taking Amazing Pictures:
Observe the scene without the camera first.
Sometimes the simplest scenes are the best.
Get close to your subject, then get closer.
Shoot alone.
Give subject 100 percent of your attention.
We saved the best tips for last! For tips No. 6-15, watch the video>>>Composition Wisdom: 15 Tips for Amazing Photographs.
Specials thanks to:
Chase Jarvis- Follow Chase and his work at www.chasejarvis.com or on Instagram at @chasejarvis
Chris Burkard- Follow Chris and his work at www.ChrisBurkard.com or on Instagram at @chrisburkard
Bob Holmes- Follow Bob and his work at www.robertholmesphotography.com or on Instagram at @bobholmesphoto
You can follow Marc at @marcsilber and don’t miss our next video, SUBSCRIBE NOW: Advancing Your Photography Channel
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October 13, 2017
Photo Tips: Using Light as a Language
Excerpt from Chapter 4, Advancing Your Photography Handbook
Whether you are an amateur or a professional, every photographer knows that light is the most important factor in your photographs. Since photography means “light writing,” light is your basic tool that you are working with. Joe McNally, an outstanding master of photography and thus of light, told me, “Light is language, think of it that way.”
The first step of really learning the language of light is to closely observe it. As we discussed, this begins with your study of the masters, to see how they used light, what their light sources were, and how did these strike their subjects?
Let’s look at this painting by Johan Vermeer, the master 17th century Dutch painter who painted simple everyday life, using mainly the same two rooms of his house and often the same subject (a great place to start: no elaborate studio, make up, lights, etc.) Look closely at this painting and take note of what you see: One light source coming through the window, which lights the side of the woman facing it, leaving the left side of her face in shadows. The cream wall behind her is hit by the light, giving fantastic contrast to her top and blue apron. The objects in the room are only lit from the window and by light reflected from the wall and are bright or shadowed accordingly.
Here’s an example of one of Marc Silber’s images from “My Mexico” which will appear in my new book, Forever Young. As you can see, he took advantage of the “Vermeer” light coming in from the north facing door, gently striking these two young girls, waiting patiently. Give it a try yourself, it’s always wonderful light to “speak with” as a language.
Try This Lighting Exercise
A very rewarding exercise, both in learning light and composition, is to find a room similar to that used by Vermeer in your home, dorm, or apartment, recruit a willing subject and simply reenact this as a photograph. One light source, one subject, you and your camera. Get in the habit of observing light wherever you are – inside or out. What is the main light source, what are the secondary sources, where is it being reflected from, etc? Wedding and portrait specialist Bambi Cantrell showed me how she sizes up light in a room by holding her hand out and noting how light strikes it, then turning her hand to see any changes from other light sources.
MORE LIGHTING TIPS: For more on lighting tips from Joe McNally, Bambi Cantrell and more, watch one of our most popular videos on our YouTube Channel>>>”Lighting Tips: How to Capture that National Geographic Style.”
Plus, order your copy of AYP now and we are throwing in a bonus copy of Marc’s E-book, Focus on Beauty.
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September 28, 2017
Sports Photography Tips
An excerpt from Advancing Your Photography, Chapter 7
Photo Credit: John Todd, Photographer
Whether it’s your kid’s baseball game or your favorite team, sports are always a great opportunity to capture some stand-out images. Here are some tips from sports photographer John Todd, whose work has appeared in USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN the Magazine:
His approach is “simple and clean.” “How can I make my subject pop out of the frame?”
He always works out what the story is that he’s going for before he goes out and shoots. Then he’ll be able to go after those shots. He said the key is to “Get low, get high.” For example, with soccer or a field sport, try to get as low as you can. Then get high: go up in the stands, which helps you clean up your background and gives you perspective.
He shoots with a 70-200mm and has trained himself to be able to get the camera in place and shoot one handed for fast reaction time, which is essential to capture the “Decisive Moment” and emotions.
Just as in playing a sport, in photographing sports, practice is essential. He’ll go in his backyard and practice quick focusing. “That’s really the key to sports photography!”
Learn more:
Watch our to catch more of his action packed sports tips. Check out and follow him on .
>>Try our these tips and post your results on instagram using #AYPClub.
And be sure to get your own copy of Advancing Your Photography (order now to get bonus ebook Focus on Beauty.)
is a No.1 Best Seller on Amazon right now, thanks to all of you! We cannot tell you enough, how much your support means to us! Don’t miss out on our great we have right now. When you order your copy of AYP, we are including a free copy of Marc’s E-book, Focus on Beauty! Click !
LISTEN HERE: Check out Marc’s latest podcast with Sprouting Photographer. Get quick tips on visualization, equipment, capture and processing.
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