Monthly Snapshot Issue 09 | May 2019

T H E M O N T H LY

#ISSUE 09

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A NOTE FROM COLE: OVERNIGHT SUCCESS People “on the outside” have no idea what it’s like. It’s easy to watch from afar and think that people become successful because of good luck… ...or maybe it was their upbringing. ...or maybe because they had money to begin with.

Or, maybe it was actually they put in the work and worked around the clock for the last 7 years. I am talking about myself.

While also divulging my greatest fear, which is having some of my best friends change their opinion of me and make judgments about me because of my level of success compared to themselves who have been “struggling” for a while.

You see, things can get “weird” with friendships when you all started at the same place but then ultimately make some different decisions that can dramatically change someone’s trajectory of life. Odds are if you are reading this, you too, are putting in the work to ultimately change your life. To give you a level of freedom that you just can’t get anywhere else. ...and that is awesome and worth every hour of hustle and grind that you are putting in.

Despite what others may think on the outside, selfemployment is not glamorous and it sure as heck isn’t easy but boy oh boy is it worth it. There is nothing like being your own boss and ultimately being able to “finally get ahead”.

BEST PART OF BEING YOUR OWN BOSS IS BEING ABLE TO GO WHEREVER YOU WANT, WITH WHOEVER, WHENEVER YOU WANT. THIS PHOTO IS NICOLE & I VISITING BOSTON THIS PAST WEEK.

You know what I mean… pay off that credit card debt, take a vacation with your family and be able to add a couple of excursions without having to cringe over the price… etc.

So do not give up and embrace the journey but also remember that despite what others may think of you, you know the truth. This isn’t an overnight success story for you. Life is full of decisions and this life of freedom and hustle has a price but you made a choice to put in the work to get it.

This is a bumpy roller coaster that never seems to end, yet the most freeing journey you’ve ever been on.

Buckle up, enjoy the ride and stay true to yourself friends!

Cole

WHAT’S WORKING: COMMUNITY BRAINSTORM RECAP B Y K AT E G U E R T I N

FAVORITE PHOTO GEAR! Got an Amazon gift card burning a hole in your pocket from our recent Easter Upgrade promotion? Not sure what to spend it on? Check out our members top 10 Gear Essentials to never be without! What great pieces of equipment do you want to add to your camera bag? Do you already carry all 10 of these things with you? Happy shopping!

1. “NIFTY FIFTY” 50MM/1.8 PRIME LENS (THIS ONE IS ALSO A GREAT BUDGET LENS FOR THOSE STARTING OUT!) CANON

NIKON

2. “LOVE ME SOME BOKEH” 85MM/1.8 PRIME LENS! CANON

NIKON

3. ERGONOMIC CAMERA STRAP-- WE RECOMMEND THE JOBY ULTRAFIT SLING! 4. LENS PEN (AWESOME FOR CLEANING OUT THE DUST MITES!) 5. QUALITY CAMERA BAG-- WE RECOMMEND CHECKING OUT HOUSE OF FLYNN! 6. EXTERNAL FLASH (YONGNUO BRAND SPEEDLIGHTS, AVAILABLE FOR UNDER $100 ON AMAZON ARE A GREAT STARTER FLASH IF YOU DON’T OWN ONE!) 7. SD CARDS-- WE LOVE THE SANDISK EXTREME PRO CARDS! SD CARDS

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CF CARDS

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PRODUCT CREDIT WINNERS: JULIA VONNE H E I D I VA L E J O

8. EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE-- BACK UP THOSE FILES IN A SAFE SPACE! WE ARE LOVING THE 4TB SEAGATE BACKUP PLUS PORTABLE! OR THE LACIE RUGGED MINI 4TB 9. FLASH DIFFUSER/REFLECTOR-- OUR MEMBERS ARE LOVING THE ROGUE FLASHBENDERS LINE! 10. EXPODISC-- (SAVE YOURSELF SOME MAJOR EDITING TIME BY NAILING YOUR WHITE BALANCE IN CAMERA WITH THIS MAGICAL TOOL!) Whatever you decide to buy, from thrifty to spendy, these pieces are sure to become favorite “go-to” tools in your arsenal!

4 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR B Y B E T S Y D AV I S

Let’s face it: as photographers, all of us love some new gear don’t we? It comes with the territory, I think. We are always interested in what kind of gear others are using, and it’s fun to see what using new gear is like and what it does for our photos. But there’s just one thing… Photo gear is expensive. And I don’t know about you, but especially when I was first starting out, there was no way I could drop thousands and thousands of dollars on new lenses, cameras, bags or straps all the time. Being committed to growing my photography business on a budget, I learned 4 easy ways to save money when it came to photography gear, and I’m excited to share them with you!

RENT One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to rent camera equipment before buying. When I first started out, I had no idea this was “a thing.” But sure enough, even if you live hundreds of miles from the nearest camera store, there are amazing are reputable photo rental companies available online. One of our favorites is LensProToGo.com (https://www.lensprotogo.com/). Renting a lens is a great way to test out a new piece of equipment, or to compare gear that you are considering buying.

BUY USED OR REFURBISHED I know how tempting it can be to have that shiny, brand new gear calling your name, but I am here to tell you – I’ve bought both used and refurbished gear. There’s no shame in my game! While I recommend buying your primary camera new, I love a good deal on used or refurbished lenses!

Purchasing refurbished gear through major photo companies like Canon, Nikon and Sigma is a great way to save a little cash on your new gear. Refurbished products from these companies undergo comprehensive quality checks and inspections, and also come with a warranty.

When buying used gear, I highly recommend that you purchase through reputable companies like Adorama, B&H or KEH. These companies apply a rating system to their used gear to help you determine and understand it’s condition prior to buying, as well as offering a warranty.

MAKE AN OFFER Never pay full price again! Not too long ago, a friend told me about an awesome way to get brand new authorized USA camera gear (not gray market) for less than retail price… Sound too good to be true? I promise you, it’s not.

With Greentoe, you name your price on camera gear, and they submit your offer to authorized retailers for approval.

I have personally purchased camera gear through them (including my amazing Canon 5D MarkIV), and couldn’t be happier with the experience!

DON’T CHASE THE LATEST & GREATEST Finally, and quite possibly the most important, the best way to save on new gear is to purchase what you need. I am of the belief that having the latest and greatest gear will never make you a stronger photographer if you don’t already know how to work with what you have. There is a time to upgrade your equipment for sure, but before doing so, I would challenge you to identify what it is about your current gear that is holding you back. Never fall into the trap that new gear will solve your technical issues. Instead, focus on practicing and learning to perfect your skills with what you have. At that point, new gear will be an asset and not a crutch.

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PRO MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

WHITNEY LERCH WHERE I CALL HOME: Pittsburgh, PA YEARS I’VE BEEN IN BUSINESS: Formally, 1 year; bought my first dslr in January 2015, with no knowledge of how to use it and no training whatsoever in photography and dove in!

MY NICHE / WHAT I SPECIALIZE IN: My passion is live music photography and I also love cityscapes (especially at night!).

If I’m shooting for clients, I prefer more of a lifestyle approach and really struggle with true posing. I like to capture genuine moments, documenting the connection between people and their true personalities.

WHY I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY: I’ve always had a draw to the arts, since I was a young child. From acting, to singing, to playing instruments and painting. I never had an opportunity to explore photography until adulthood and I think there’s just something special about seeing the beauty in what others may think is just an ordinary, day-today sight. To leverage what others might refer to as the harsh, bright sun, to create

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a kiss of golden glow that highlights a person, just as their partner leans in to kiss them...it’s fascinating to take a moment to just truly appreciate our surroundings and fully understand how beautiful the world is.

And to see a client’s self-esteem elevated, when they receive their images, is what makes it all worthwhile. The excitement of a mom, who is struggling with the transition to parenthood, and sees the love captured in your images and begins to glow is an incredible moment. One of the most touching things has been realizing that I’m seeing clients come back, again and again, not because family photos are another one of those things they feel they “have” to do, but because I’ve become a crucial part of their family’s story.

ONE CHALLENGE IN MY BUSINESS THAT I’VE OVERCOME: Organization...I didn’t get into photography with the intent of starting a business and being hired by clients. I got into it as a hobby, as a creative outlet and as a means to combine two passions... experiencing live music and creating art.

As time has gone on, it has evolved into so much more and I really didn’t even realize it was happening until one day I was shooting my second wedding and had several other sessions booked and no means of organizing any of it! No contracts, no invoices, no centralized schedule...

Organization has never been my forte, so I still struggle from time to time, but Cole’s has provided so much education and so many resources that I have incorporated into my day-to-day functioning and it’s been such a huge help!

ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT COLE’S CLASSROOM IS: Seriously...ONE thing???? That’s so unfair. Ok, if I have to commit to a single thing, I have to say the community. It’s unbelievable to me, the positivity and support that comes from the CC community. The resources and education are incredible, as well. But the community is like nothing you can find anywhere else. It’s not that it’s positive, it’s that it’s positive AND constructive. Cole’s has truly developed a safe space where I not only feel comfortable putting myself out their in a vulnerable state, asking for feedback, but I also feel empowered and confident to provide constructive feedback, as well. People are truly here to learn, not just to have someone tell them how amazing they are. I mean, don’t get me wrong, my CC fam IS amazing...but if all we are ever told is that, then how do we keep growing?!?! I love how engaged the members and the mentors are and appreciate the community more than you can imagine.

3 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I have my own private, acoustic annual music festival in Nashville...the 3rd annual Whitfest will be February 2019!

2. Some people collect coins, or stamps, or comic books...I seem to collect careers. When I’m not shooting, or working at my ~50+hr/wk “day job”, I’m running a non-profit organization call CureRock that raises funds and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer 3. Jeep Wrangler girl, here

FIND WHITNEY ONLINE:

WEBSITE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

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PHOTO TIP OF THE MONTH A RT I C L E & I M AG E S BY E D E L C L A R K

Step 2: Set aperture to somewhere between F5.6 and F8 - you don’t need bokeh for this so it’s better to have that wider depth of field to ensure sharp focus!

HOW TO CREATE A WHITE OR BLACK BACKGROUND BEHIND YOUR SUBJECT IN SECONDS!

Step 3: Stick to your lowest ISO, and 1/200th second shutter speed.

Maybe you are just starting out, and haven’t yet built that kit list of backdrop stand and reams of backdrop paper. Or maybe you just don’t want to cart it with you everywhere you go! Whatever the reason, if you suddenly find yourself needing to take a portrait against a white or black background, these tips are worth keeping in mind!

TO CREATE A WHITE BACKGROUND: Basically, this technique uses a softbox behind your subject, set to just enough power to be bright around your subject without losing any detail around them.

You can simply add contrast to create a silhouette if you’re feeling creative, or add a fill light in front to correctly expose your subject!

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Step 1: Set up a softbox and light (speedlight or strobe) directly behind your subject.

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Step 4: Set up the second light source with diffuser (again, strobe with an umbrella or softbox, or even a diffuser directly on your speedlight) in front of your subject - or to a 45 degree angle depending on how you want to light them.

Step 5: Turn the background light to full power - take a shot and see how much of your subject is also blown out around the edges. Then lower the power, take a shot, and repeat until the background is nicely blown out but your subject outline isn’t (your subject WILL be dark but that’s ok for now!)

Step 6: Now, set your fill light in front of your subject to the lowest power, take a shot, and raise power as necessary to properly expose your subject’s face.

Boom - instant white background with perfectly exposed subject!

TO CREATE A BLACK BACKGROUND: This technique is all about overpowering the ambient light, including the sun, so that you can block it out from hitting the sensor of your camera, while still exposing for your subject!

Step 1: Turn your camera to manual mode and attach your flash (or trigger for strobe) Step 2: Set the shutter speed to 1/200th (standard flash sync speed), and set ISO to 100 (or as low as possible)

Step 3: Narrow your aperture until the picture is completely black - probably around f/18 or f/22!

Step 4: Use your flash on full power close to your subject (you might need two flashes if it’s very bright outside, or a strobe). It doesn’t matter if the flash is too bright at this stage.

Step 5: Take a shot, and adjust the aperture until the exposure on your subject looks good!

And Hey Presto! Black background regardless of how bright it actually is!

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NEW & COMING SOON! NOW AVAILABLE...

IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY NOTICED, WE’VE BEEN HARD AT WORK MAKING SURE TO CONSTANTLY BE RAISING THE BAR AND ADDING MORE AWESOME CONTENT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP SITE FOR YOU!

Here’s a list of recently added items that are now available, as well as upcoming things you can look forward to!

BACKSTAGE PASS EPISODE 7

NEWBORN SESSION WITH BETSY!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW!

BACKSTAGE PASS EPISODE 8 THE NEXT EPISODE WILL BE RELEASED MAY 15TH! THIS IS A NEW INDOOR LIFESTYLE SESSION WITH KIMBERLEE - WITH TWIN TODDLERS!

CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO THE LIVE WATCH PARTY! 8

T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

COMING SOON...

AVAILABLE IN THE TREASURE CHEST SOON!

LIGHTROOM MOBILE PRESETS COMING MAY 10TH

FAMILY PORTRAITS SHOOTING GUIDE BUNDLE COMING MAY 26TH

GEAR HIGHLIGHT B Y K E L LY A C S

EVER HEARD OF THE 24-70MM? So if you haven’t heard of the Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 lens, you’re welcome. Well, not if you want to save money.

You’re probably asking why on earth do you need ANOTHER lens? Well, friends, because THIS lens is basically ALL you need when you go on vacation. If you’re like me, you probably stress about what lens to take with you on family trips, and you can think of a good reason to choose all of them.

“Maybe I’ll take my 35mm, so I can capture the gorgeous landscapes!

Or maybe I should take my 85mm so I get those PERFECT portraits of everyone! They’d love that!

Dang it, my 135mm is AMAZING! I’m SURE I can use that one on the beach…”

And before you know it, you have just added an extra 295 pounds of crap to your overloaded carry-on. So if you are looking to get an all-in-one option for those quick trips and don’t want to have to go to the gym to carry it all, this is a clear winner!

CANON

NIKON

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PA R T N E R D I S C O U N T D E TA I L S

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T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

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T H E M O N T H LY S N A P S H O T

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7 REASONS TO JOIN THE INSIDERS CLUB HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CUT YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT WHILE UNLOCKING DRAMATICALLY MORE MEMBER BENEFITS? FOR THE BEST VALUE, YOU’LL WANT TO UPGRADE TO OUR INSIDERS CLUB.

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