Marc Silber's Blog, page 5
July 7, 2020
What is the “Squinch” and How Will it Improve Your Portrait Photography?
Do you want to know how to capture honest expressions in your headshots? Do you want to know how to make your photographs look more natural and even cooler? Here’s some advice from an outstanding headshot photographer Peter Hurley, who Marc recently interviewed. He was back with us giving tips on the squinch, to give your headshots that special touch.
What is the Squinch?
Peter describes squinching as narrowing the distance between the lower eyelid and the pupil. This shows confidence through our eyes. When we are confident, we tend to squinch. When we are scared, our eyes widen. Our internal feelings are expressed externally through our eyes. We tend to do this on a daily basis and not just when being photographed. So, in that way, squinching adds to the expression value of our face.
A Natural Squinch
When we laugh, we tend to squinch.
Squinting Vs Squinching
It is important to note that the eyes brows should not be moved in order to squinch. Widening your eyes or trying to use them to reduce the distance between the eyelids and the pupil is called squinting. This does not make the expression on the face look authentic.
Independent SquinchingSome people do not have even eye sizes. For them, one eye is usually slightly bigger than the other one. In such people, squinching the smaller eye does not equalize the difference. So, they should squinch each eye independently, reducing the distance between the pupil and the lower eyelid only for the bigger eye.
Relaxed eye Vs Squinching
While posing in front of camera with relaxed eyes can make the photograph look normal, squinching radiates coolness. Peter prefers to shoot his subjects squinching because they tend to look fearful otherwise.
Relaxed Eye
Squinching
Mastering the SquinchSquinching may not come naturally to you while taking a photograph, even though we tend to squinch on a daily basis. It takes muscle memory to be able to squinch as soon as the camera is on. So, it takes some practice to get a shoot ready squinch at any time.
Negative Squinching
Peter describes negative squinching as ‘Brain Freeze’ or ‘Sanpaku’, which is when either the white space below or above the iris is visible.
The white iris can be clearly seen on three corners of the eye in such a case. This takes away from the look the photograph is trying to convey.
Check out the video to see exactly how Peter directs a subject and an interesting chat about the squinch and to learn more from Peter’s squinch book.
Learn More about Peter Hurley:
Website
Peter’s Headshot Crew
Instagram
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Find all our past podcasts here.
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July 2, 2020
Tips for Portrait and Headshot Photography feat. Photographer Denice Duff Ep 42
Don’t use heavy makeup.
You can have the model hold.
White foam cards are good for light on women’s face for a softer touch.
More people on set can make the subject nervous.
Looking up looks hopeful, looking down looks pensive.
Have your model start by sitting.
About Denice Duff
Denice studied photography at the TISCH School of the Arts at NYU. She then came to LA and starting landing jobs in front of the camera from national commercials and Films to guest star TV roles from Matlock to CSI Miami. She was a contract player on the Young and the Restless and also directed a film distributed by Blockbuster. She then took on the role of Agent at the Bobby Ball Agency and launched careers for hundreds of actors. She then left to further her first passion behind the camera helping artists. Whether directing them in award winning music videos or shooting their headshots or PR shots for magazines Denice, after many years in Hollywood, is STILL so in love with her job.
Important Links
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Connect with Marc Silber
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Join the AYP Club and become part of the community!
Check out our new FREE course which gives an introduction to the Cycle of Photography!
Buy Create book here
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July 1, 2020
The Secrets to Expanding Your Creativity as a Photographer feat. Marc Silber Ep 41
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June 26, 2020
Tips and Demonstration for Portrait Lighting with Photographer and Director Joshua Shultz Ep 40
Joshua Shultz started out his career as a photographer. Taking photos of musicians, actors, models and anyone else he could work with. He always aspired to be a director. He has photographed for such publications as, Rolling Stone Magazine, Elle, Bellus Magazine, Billboard etc. He saw photography as one place he could learn directing. Now moving into the world of film making he hopes to tell unique interesting stories.
Show Notes
Use your histogram to understand your lighting better than the LED screen on camera.
You need to experiment with different lighting techniques and setups.
Light meters help you train your eye to understand lighting.
With film, you are totally in control and responsible for every aspect of the image.
50mm lens is the closest to the human eye.
Be aware to adjust your lighting to the subject you’re shooting.
Just do it. You’ll learn so much more from doing than any other way.
Important Links
Use our link here to get 25% off your next Bay Photo order.
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The post Tips and Demonstration for Portrait Lighting with Photographer and Director Joshua Shultz Ep 40 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
June 19, 2020
How and Why Your Attitude as a Photographer Matters feat. Documentary Photographer Daniel Milnor Ep 39
Daniel Milnor spent twenty-five-years as a full-time photographer but is currently “Creative Evangelist” for Blurb, Inc. the world’s premiere print-on-demand publishing platform. He splits his time between the smog-choked arteries of Southern California and the spiritual landscape of New Mexico where he’s been known to hike, paddle, climb, ski, ride and explore all the spaces in between. Milnor is a complete and total nonbeliever in social media and feels these platforms have done irreparable damage to human communication skills and attention span while unleashing a level of consumerism the planet simply cannot survive.
Show Notes
I became a better human being when I quit full time photography.
When you’re a professional, you have to think so much about the small details that you can forget to think about other people.
The internet made a huge shift. Photographers began to change their focus from the story of their photos, to themselves.
If you think you’re one of the people who has become a “hater”, do these three things.
Call a fellow creative (whether you know them or not) and you’re going to ask how things are going in their creative life (not business). Then you’re going to ask them what they might need to help improve their creative life.
Write a letter by hand to someone that inspires you.
Take a day off thinking about yourself and your business once a week.
Important Links
Use our link here to get 25% off your next Bay Photo order.
Connect with Daniel Milnor
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Buy Create book here
Check out our merchandise
The post How and Why Your Attitude as a Photographer Matters feat. Documentary Photographer Daniel Milnor Ep 39 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
Travel Photography and Composition Tips from National Geographic Photographer Bob Holmes Ep 38
Robert Holmes career as one of the world’s most successful and prolific travel photographers has extended over 35 years. He was the first photographer to be honored twice by the Society of American Travel Writers with their Travel Photographer of the Year Award and he is the only photographer to be given the award 5 times, most recently for 2017.
Important Links
Use our link here to get 25% off your next Bay Photo order.
Connect with Bob Holmes
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Buy Create book here
Check out our merchandise
The post Travel Photography and Composition Tips from National Geographic Photographer Bob Holmes Ep 38 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
Tips for Creating Powerful Images from National Geographic Photographer Cory Richards Ep 37
What transcends good photography into great photography is emotional connection.
A huge goal with photography is to connect the viewer of the photographer to their emotions to evoke change.
Corey doesn’t like to use composition techniques to make an uninteresting photo interesting.
It doesn’t matter the kind of camera you have to take a truly great photograph.
About Cory Richards
A climber and visual storyteller, Cory Richards was named National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2012. Mr. Richards’s camera has taken him from the runway to the wild and remote corners of the world, from Antarctica’s unclimbed peaks to the Himalayas of Nepal and Pakistan, in an attempt to capture not only the soul of exploration but also the beauty of modern society.
Important Links
Use our link here to get 25% off your next Bay Photo order.
Connect with Cory Richards
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The post Tips for Creating Powerful Images from National Geographic Photographer Cory Richards Ep 37 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
June 13, 2020
Tips for Making Money with Photography, Writing, and First Look at Next Book with Marc Silber Ep 36
Get 25% off your next Bay Photo order!
Connect with Marc Silber
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Join the AYP Club and become part of the community!
Check out our new FREE course which gives an introduction to the Cycle of Photography!
Buy Create book here
Check out our merchandise
The post Tips for Making Money with Photography, Writing, and First Look at Next Book with Marc Silber Ep 36 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
Tips to Improve Your Photography from Wedding Photographer Pye Jirsa Ep 35
Pye Jirsa is a director, photographer and educator. Founder and Partner of Lin and Jirsa Photography, a boutique Southern California wedding and portrait photography studio, and SLR Lounge, a photography education website, Pye devotes his time to helping photographers develop their shooting and business skills.
Important Links
Use our link here to get 25% off your next Bay Photo order.
Connect with Pye Jirsa
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | SLR Lounge
Connect with Marc Silber
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Buy Create book here
Check out our merchandise
The post Tips to Improve Your Photography from Wedding Photographer Pye Jirsa Ep 35 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
Lighting Tips from National Geographic Photographer Bob Holmes Ep 34
Robert Holmes career as one of the world’s most successful and prolific travel photographers has extended over 35 years. He was the first photographer to be honored twice by the Society of American Travel Writers with their Travel Photographer of the Year Award and he is the only photographer to be given the award 5 times, most recently for 2017.
Show Notes
It’s hard to be a travel photographer with a family.
Be preoccupied with details.
You’re responsible for what’s in the frame.
Move your subject to the light that you need.
Green light from leaves doesn’t give great lighting.
Get the person to respond to the camera in a genuine way.
Important Links
Use our link here to get 25% off your next Bay Photo order.
Connect with Bob Holmes
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Marc Silber
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Buy Create book here
Check out our merchandise
The post Lighting Tips from National Geographic Photographer Bob Holmes Ep 34 appeared first on Advancing Your Photography.
