The TapRoom

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.

Podcast 71: Using Pinterest to Plan Your Holiday Photo Session 08/05/2024

Podcast 71: Using Pinterest to Plan Your Holiday Photo Session 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. 1. 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. 2. 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: 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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! /episode/index/show/taproom/id/32231597

PODCAST 70: TOP FIVE REASONS PEOPLE MIGHT BE HESITANT ABOUT A BEACH PHOTO SESSION 07/29/2024

PODCAST 70: TOP FIVE REASONS PEOPLE MIGHT BE HESITANT ABOUT A BEACH PHOTO SESSION 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. 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. Weather Unpredictability: 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. Privacy Concerns: 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. Sand and Water Issues: 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. Logistical Challenges: 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/ /episode/index/show/taproom/id/32227972

Podcast 69: Top Ten Reasons To Do A Sexy Photo Session 07/22/2024

Podcast 69: Top Ten Reasons To Do A Sexy Photo Session Most people are nervous about setting up some type of sexy photosession, but here are some reasons why you should. 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. Celebrate Milestones: 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. Gift for a Partner: Sexy photos can make a unique and intimate gift for your partner, offering something personal and thoughtful that they can cherish. Empowerment and Self-Love: 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. Try Something New: 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. Document Your Beauty: 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. Creative Expression: 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. Enhance Body Positivity: 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. Memorable Keepsake: 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. Have Fun: 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. /episode/index/show/taproom/id/32227192

Podcast 68: Theatre Sessions and Extractions 07/07/2023

Podcast 68: Theatre Sessions and Extractions We do a lot of unique events and working with (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 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 or the 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: /episode/index/show/taproom/id/27395979

Podcast 67: Canon 28-70 Lens Experience 06/29/2023

Podcast 67: Canon 28-70 Lens Experience 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 - Cheer - Dance - Powder Sessions - Senior Sessions - 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 /episode/index/show/taproom/id/27314103