Let's Talk Tuesday: Instagram!

It's Tuesday again and you know what that means.....

Dear Golden Girls,

 I'm social media illiterate. Truly, I barely understand Facebook, but instagram is something that everyone tells me I should have. What am I missing out on, and how can it benefit my business?

Sincerely,

Insta-what?!

Dear Insta-what?!

    No worries, we got you!  Instagram is the best!  Girl,  the social media age is alive and well and it is the best thing for your business. It's the link between you and your potential clients. The best thing about it, is that it's FREE!!! That's right, FREE MARKETING!

Here are some tips to help get you going:

• Create a separate business Instagram account. 
• Download a photo resizing app (Instasize, etc) and it will resize your photos and put white borders around your images. It gives your gallery a sense of professionalism, even if you are just posting photos of your lunch.
• Consistency is key! Curate your photos to show your best work. This is a mini portfolio in the hands of millions of users. Once they see your amazing work they'll be hooked and want to see more.
• Use hashtags. # is a hashtag sign. Clients can search hashtags using specific phrases (for example, #inlandempirephotographer) and get directed to your image! Choose broad and descriptive words catered to each image: #weddingphotographer #polkadotdress #Photographerlife etc.
• Follow fellow photographers, past clients, small businesses, etc. 
• Share at least once a day, up to 3 images a day. 

We'd love to see you on Instagram! Follow us here: instagram.com/goldengirlsworkshops

Post your Instagram username in the comments. We'd love to follow you!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have a Let's Talk Tuesday question for us, please send an email to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Let's Talk Tuesday!

Let's Talk Tuesday is our designated day to answer reader submitted questions! Let's get to it!

 Dear Golden Girls,

   I feel like no matter how hard I try, I'm just not getting it. My images look blah, and they are not sharp enough, not creative enough, and just plain old BAD. I see all these amazing photographers and my work just sucks. I'm getting frustrated and contemplating selling my gear and taking up knitting. What's wrong with me?!

Sincerely, 

    Frustrated Franny

Dear Frustrated Franny,

We have all felt this way at one point and, sometimes, we still do. If you feel like you are in a rut and your work isn't reflecting you, maybe it's time to take a break and find inspiration in other ways. I challenged myself to not take any photos of people for 30 days. It was hard but it really helped me not only work on my skills, but it also forced me to find a new perspective!

Another great idea is to join a blog circle with a weekly theme. (Ahem...Work it Wednesdays!) Sometimes, all you need is a little creative push to get your wheels turning and your confidence up!

Here's a major tip: Never stop learning! Go out there and meet a fellow photographer, buy them coffee and pick their brain. Attend some workshops and sharpen your skills! Sometimes, even when we think we have all the knowledge down pat, it takes a different teacher or a different lesson to help it all sink in and really make sense. Maybe what you are missing is something obvious!

Or, maybe you are just lacking confidence. My dear Franny, I can tell you from experience it gets better, it really does. The reason we are photographers is because we are artists! This is the one thing that fills our love tank up.

Remember: Comparison is a thief of joy! Don't let your insecurities stop you! You can do this girl!!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have a Let's Talk Tuesday question for us, please email us hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Let's talk Tuesday!

Let's Talk Tuesday is our designated day to answer reader submitted questions! Let's get to it!

Dear Golden Girls,

How do you get natural looking poses? What are you saying to your clients?

Sincerely, 

Natural Pose Seeker

Dear Natural Pose Seeker,

      More often than not, our clients are not professional models. They don't know how to pose themselves and they are looking to us for guidance. When I meet my subjects, the first thing I do is try to break the ice and just be real. I'll try to get them relaxed and I'll give them two tips to help with their session:

1. I'll quote Sue Bryce: "Chin forward, down." (I actually renamed it the duck pose!) They watch me do it, we have a laugh at how ridiculous I feel, but then they see my double chin disappear!

2. I tell them to shift their weight to the back leg, again I'm demonstrating all this time and being completely silly! They laugh, tensions release, etc!

I start off by not posing at all, I like let them act completely natural, so that I can study their movements and mannerisms. Once I've got a few ideas, I'll always ask them to mirror me, or watch me do it first. Once in position, that is when I get them to give me that natural expression or look. Posing shouldn't be too dramatic or extreme. The point of photographing this moment is to remember the way this moment was.  I'll explain to them what I want but all the while I'll say "if you don't hear anything from me you are doing it right!"

"The point of photographing this moment is to remember the way this moment was."

Here are some bonus tips to keep in mind!

• Make them laugh, if you're not a comedian, it's OK, just be silly! It doesn't matter if they are laughing at you or with you as long as you get that smile!

• With couples have them just stare are each other, it will immediately create that intimacy when trying to create a real moment. 

• Have your client move! Create motion, walking, talking, tickling, etc. I love to have a client walking away from me and then I'll yell "Turn around!" and BAM! Love it!

• Set them up and leave them be! I love to create the setting but leave the clients. Sometimes, if I feel they are really nervous, I'll say I'll be right back, I need to get a battery. Then, I'll put on my long lens and go hide somewhere! So sneaky! <3 

Hopefully these tips help you out the next time you're out with your clients!

Happy Tuesday! Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have a question for us, we'd love to help you out! Please email hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!