Photography is as much a learning process as it is an art form. From beginning photographers all the way to world-renowned professionals, we all must set aside time to learn about every aspect of creating art through our lens. I'll post a new episode each Wednesday where I share my thoughts and adve…
What are the best tools for photography? I spend a lot of time talking about what the reviewers say. If you listen, they will have you believe that the best gear is the gear that has the highest megapixels, the things that will produce the sharpest image quality, the best colors—that sort of thing. I've long argued against this, saying that, in most cases, these costly items are overkill. The megapixels and incredibly sharp resolutions are a wasteful investment when you consider that the average photographer will never produce the billboard-sized prints these devices are designed for... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-best-tools/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
For most of us photographers, the reality is that we're not making a living from photography. For many of us, that's deliberate. Some simply don't want to turn a favorite hobby into a job. Others of us may have goals and dreams, but perhaps we're just starting out, or the demand for our particular brand of photography just isn't that high yet. Whatever the reasons, the point is that most of us have to do something else for a living—and everything else that we have to do, from jobs to family obligations, takes away from the time we have to devote to photography. All of that leads to us seeing all kinds of photographic opportunities as we go about the rest of our lives. But, because we are busy with the rest of our lives, we just don't stop to take the picture. I'm sure it's happened to you, and it's definitely happened to me many times. How many times have you noted that thus and such place looked like a great spot for photography—but you didn't have time to stop.., Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/taking-notes/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
There are a few things that top the list of struggles for photographers. For instance, portrait subjects who find it hard to be comfortable in front of the lens, or lighting that just won't cooperate no matter how you try to modify it. But nothing is so ubiquitous as the weather. It causes all kinds of problems, from rained out trips to the high humidity that results in frizzy hair. So how do we photographers deal with the weather? Well, the first step is planning around it. It's always a good idea to check weather forecasts and plan our photography tripsaccordingly, choosing days when we think the weather will be just what we need to complement our photographs... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dealing-with-the-weather Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Today, I find myself thinking of the concept of “the hero's journey.” If you're not familiar with this, it's basically a type of plot that you'll commonly find in novels. The idea is that while the destination might be the goal, it's not what makes the bones of the story. Rather, the heart of the story is in the journey—the hero's journey, in which he or she perhaps literally journeys across the land, faces a whole lot of adversity, and in the process, undergoes an inner journey in which the hero learns, grows, and adapts. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dont-discount-the-trip/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
As a photographer, sometimes you get the sense that opportunity isn't finding you. There are no new places around you to take interesting new photographs, and you don't have the time or money to head out on a trip to somewhere exotic. You fall into a kind of doldrums, unable to move forward, and find that it becomes an incredible struggle to get the inspiration you need to create something new. Worse, that attitude often extends into other areas of photography. Your work isn't being published or displayed because no good opportunities have presented themselves to you, for instance. Once you get into this mode of thinking, it can be tough to break free, to keep going. I've been there myself. The thing is, an opportunity is not something that will come to you. Though it is a challenge, an opportunity is something that each photographer creates for themselves. Let me show you some ways to make the opportunity happen. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photographers-make-opportunities/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
How many times have you snapped a few pictures from the hip only to realize the lens cap is still on? How many times have you taken a few photographs, only to come back later and find spots and smudges in them because your lens had a fingerprint or dust on it? I know these sorts of things have happened to me more often than I'd like to admit. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/good-habits-are-the-enemy-of-silly-mistakes/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
If you've never heard of “sunk cost fallacy,” I'll take this opportunity to explain it. It's a phenomenon that happens when you've invested in something so that you're unwilling to stop pursuing that thing. Among gamblers, the idea is that if they keep betting another few bucks, eventually, they'll win. They've sunk too much into their evening of gambling to walk away without a win. Sunk cost fallacy isn't just about gambling, though. It rears its head everywhere. You'll see it in someone unwilling to sell a car they've invested a lot into because they won't recoup the value. You'll see it in managers who refuse to give up on a system that just isn't working for the company, but they keep pursuing it because they've sunk time and money into that system and feel they can't turn back now... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-dangers-of-sunk-cost-fallacy/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
One day seems like the perfect day for some fall photography—the leaves are beautiful, the sun is shining—but you don't have the time that day because life's other demands are calling. The next day? It's snowing! That's a picture-perfect example of how opportunities can truly be fleeting. Sometimes, we miss photographic opportunities because we think, “It'll be there another day, I can always come back to this.” But, the problem is, that isn't always the case. Seasons change—sometimes rapidly before we realize what is happening. We pack up and move across the country, then look back at where we came from and recognize that we missed opportunities while still there... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/opportunities-are-fleeting/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
There's one big aspect of creativity that tends to get lost in the shuffle of everything else. We spend a lot of time thinking about how to think in innovative ways or learning new techniques and approaches to art. In all of this discussion about creativity and how to be creative, we lose sight of the fundamental fact that creativity is often about mindset. That old “mind over matter” saying rings true, I think. Aside from techniques, skills, knowledge, and new ways of thinking, it's the desire or the motivation to be creative that is the thing that drives us to make photographs. The thing is, it's not the easiest thing in the world to always be in that positive, motivated mindset, especially in this day and age with so much happening in the world. We must always remember that overcoming challenges and motivating ourselves to be creative starts with our view of the world we live in... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/seize-the-day/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Here's something I've discussed before, though when I last spoke about it, it was a bit different. It's the idea that we must get to know our surroundings or subjects to photograph them most effectively. Today, I'm framing it a bit differently because we photographers have a habit of always going after something new. New places, new subjects—we want to expose ourselves to as much new and unique as possible. It's all in the name of creating new and exceptional photographs. Most of us believe that if we're seeing as many new things as possible, we're photographing new things that may haven't been photographed as much by other photographers. To an extent, this is a good thing. Where would photography be if none of us ever left our backyards? Most of the world wouldn't have been explored through the lens! Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/extreme-familiarity/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Adaptability—Being adaptable is one of the key parts of being a photographer. There are a few different ways to look at this, too. Being flexible can apply to the vagaries of daily life, the things we photograph, and even the techniques and styles we use to create our photographs. On the day-to-day level, being adaptable means being able to roll with whatever the day throws at you. Sometimes, this means you expected the day to be sunny and warm. Still, it turns out cold and rainy—thus, you need to adapt, which could mean bringing extra gear to accommodate different lighting conditions or protecting your equipment against moisture. This can also mean your car breaks down on the way to your location. For most of us, the hassle and annoyance of such a thing would stop us from taking photographs. But is it possible to explore your immediate area while you're waiting for the tow truck? Being flexible means not coming home empty-handed, no matter what happens to alter your best-laid plans... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-best-laid-plans/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Searching for meaning is something that most of us photographers do almost by default. After all, that's the point of creating artwork, isn't it? To create something meaningful that resonates with the people who enjoy it. And that's why we spend so much time talking about how to imbue our photographs with meaning. Here is perhaps another way to look at or to approach that search for meaning. As I said, this is something that most of us do sort of automatically as part of the creation process—but when we're searching for ideas or photographs to take in the field, we're also usually searching for other things beyond meaning. We might be looking for beautiful objects or looking for things that fit a theme we happen to be working on. For some of us, at times, the objective is to search out new things that no one has ever photographed before. In this way, the search for meaning almost becomes an accessory to the rest rather than the primary focus of what we've set out to do on a given day. Perhaps instead of searching for the next new thing, things to fit our themes, or things of particular beauty, we should focus the whole of our search on meaning alone... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/searching-for-meaning/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Experience and insight is what makes each of our perspectives unique. No two of us can lead the same life. Even though on the surface, it may seem as if some of us are on very similar paths, we all experience it a little bit differently. Every person will have a different set of successes and failures, joys and hardships, achievements and ambitions—the list goes on. Our experiences are even more unique than our fingerprints. And I think these experiences can—and perhaps even should—be applied to the art that we create. Experiential art, or art created through the lens of our experience, is the truest way I can imagine to create unique things. It's nearly impossible to photograph something that has never been photographed before, but no one has photographed these things through your eyes. That's the key thing to remember here. The thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with the things that you photograph are what gives you an individualistic frame of reference that no other person is going to have because no other person has lived your life. To put this in simpler terms, let's look at real world examples. Imagine yourself out on a photographic outing, and you want to take a picture of a tree. Millions, probably billions of trees have already been photographed. If the tree you are photographing is particularly notable for some reason—because it's gigantic or has unique features—then you're probably not even the first person to have taken a picture of that particular tree... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/experiential-art/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
We photographers produce an awful lot of content. It's not just the photographs that we put up to share with the world, but also the words that we publish, too. Many of us run our own businesses or have photography as a side gig or a hobby that we promote via websites, social media, and elsewhere. Some of us just enjoy blogging, so we do that along with our photographs. The point is, we put out a lot of content—and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Now, you'll often hear from marketers about two different types of content, at least broadly speaking. This would be evergreen content versus timely content. What's the difference? Evergreen content is the stuff that is good and relevant no matter when one consumes it. A blog post that is still relevant a decade after it was published is evergreen. Timely content is relevant to the time in which it is posted. Things like current events fall into this category—they burst onto the scene, and their relevancy fades away with time. Among photography sites, gear reviews are a common example of timely content. Once the next flagship camera launches, the reviews about the now older model are no longer quite so relevant anymore. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/evergreen/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
There's been a lot of buzz about the “death of prints” in photography. But frankly? Prints aren't going anywhere. They may become less popular over time as digital technology continues to proliferate, but there will always be a demand for prints. Why is that? Well, some people argue that prints are the only way to preserve photographs forever—though I would argue that the exact opposite is true. That's because prints degrade with time. No matter what papers, printing methods and archival techniques you choose, there will come a day when your ancient print just isn't salvageable anymore. Digital image files, I would say, will always be around so long as we take care to back them up in multiple places. Particularly images that we make public. Perhaps all of our cloud drives will go by the wayside, and private data there will be deleted, but once it's on Facebook? Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/prints-arent-going-anywhere/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
We all experience creative lulls occasionally, and sometimes, a good break is in order, so we spend a few days or weeks focusing on things other than art. Whatever the case may be, when you've not been engaged in art for a while, it takes a little bit to get back into the swing of things. It's like going on vacation and then coming back to work. Your mind is still in “vacation mode” even though a whole different set of tasks is now in front of you. This is something that anyone in a creative line of work experiences from time to time, and some of us experience it on a daily basis—that moment in the day where you're not at your most productive, and the art and creative ideas just don't flow as freely. That's why I think “warm up” exercises are a helpful tool in our arsenals. These are little things we can do to keep the creative gears turning so that when it's time to really think critically about artmaking, we don't find ourselves seizing up. So to that end, here are a few ideas for exercises that you can do. Some of these things are pre-shoot exercises, and other exercises are things you can use to get over a lull after you've had a longer break from photography... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/exercising-your-creative-muscles/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
We spend so much time talking about photography—and for those of us who enjoy this pursuit as more than a passing hobby, we spend a lot of time in photography. Some of us who do this for a living spend most, if not all, of our time immersed in images and the world of art in general. But what about the rest of life? Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/making-time-for-yourself/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Creative guilt is a surprisingly common phenomenon. You've probably experienced it, and if you're like most of us, you've probably experienced it more than once. Perhaps we can call it part of the human condition for people engaged in creative works. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-creatives-guilt Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Most of us photographers are very particular about maintaining our tools. Lenses need to be stored in dry, temperature-controlled, padded places to prevent scratches mold growing between the elements, or even something like oil leaking between the elements. We take great care to ensure that our cameras are well-protected if it is raining, or we might even avoid taking photographs that day simply to prevent damage to our equipment. Some of us invest lots of money in camera bags to keep our equipment armored, dry, and safe, even on the roughest of trips. But what about the most important tool of all? Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/maintaining-your-tools/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
The more you dig into advice about photography—and really, probably advice about anything—the more you will find conflicting advice. One of these contradictions is within the way we're taught to work on or to pursue our art... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/taking-a-break/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Not long ago, I had the chance to talk with a childhood friend. We started reminiscing about school—the teachers who shaped us, the friends we made, and the moments that stuck with us. Some of our classmates are still around, while others have passed on. We talked about our kids and grandkids and how our interests changed as we got older. At some point, we landed on music. It has always been a big part of our lives... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/from-the-first-note/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Weddings are momentous occasions that encapsulate the essence of love, commitment, and celebration. As such, the decision of whether to allow guests to take photos during the ceremony can spark considerable debate. This nuanced discussion touches on preserving the sanctity of the moment, while also embracing modern social practices and personal preferences. Let's dive deeper into the arguments on both sides, and explore potential compromises that cater to various needs and expectations. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/navigating-camera-use-at-wedding-ceremonies/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
As photographers, we pour our hearts into our work, often searching for the next opportunity to showcase our art. But what happens when that opportunity comes with a price tag—literally? Lately, I've been wrestling with a growing trend where photographers are asked to pay to submit their photos to contests or books. It's been on my mind, and frankly, it's a bit troubling. Let's explore why this practice is gaining traction and whether it's truly fair to the artists who create the work. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-ethics-of-paying-to-play-is-it-fair-to-charge-photographers-for-exposure/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Creating new photographs is an incredibly exciting thing. I think at one time or another, we've all rushed home with our digital negatives to process them quickly because we're just so eager to show them to the world. And that excitement is wonderful—we should be excited about our photography. It's that kind of passion that breathes life into it and keeps us producing more photographs. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/aging-photographs/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Photojournalism is more than just taking pictures; it's about capturing the essence of events as they unfold, often in the most challenging circumstances. During the Trump rally assassination attempt, the true spirit of photojournalism was on full display. Four seasoned photographers stood their ground in the photo pit while an intern, understandably, fled the scene. This incident highlights the bravery required in this field and underscores the dedication to getting the shot that tells the story... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/through-the-lens-of-danger-the-courage-of-photojournalists/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Oh, those were the days! It's incredible how much has changed since I was a kid in Hinton, West Virginia. There was something almost adventurous about needing to go to the payphone two blocks away to talk with a friend. I remember it vividly. The payphone stood under a big tree right next to the courthouse. It felt like a secret mission every time I left the house, coins jingling in my pocket, ready to make that call. The payphone was a sturdy old thing with a heavy receiver and a slightly scratched glass window that always reflected the sun just right... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/nostalgia-and-lessons-from-childhood-adventures Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Can you force creativity? Should you force creativity? The answer to the first question is most definitely yes—you can force creativity. But for the second question, things get a bit murky. My gut instinct is to say that no, you should not force creativity. But, sometimes, you have to. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-creative-flow/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Since painting with light is what we photographers do, we've discovered over all these decades how to utilize light in many different ways. When you stop to consider it, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of things we can do simply by manipulating light. We've learned to apply colors to lighting or to utilize the colors of the ambient lighting around us. Intensity varies — sometimes bright lighting is what we need, and other times, we seek to capture as little light as possible to focus on specific, hard-to-capture points of light, as is the case with long nighttime exposures. Color and availability are just two of three major factors concerning lighting. There is another, one that maybe we don't pay attention to as much as we could, and it can have as dramatic an effect on our images as color and availability. This third factor is the direction or angle of the lighting. Once you consider this, you'll see how this aspect can revolutionize your photography. Let's look at some of the things you can do with angular lighting... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-beauty-of-angular-lighting/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Audiences are a tricky beast! Who are these people? On the broad scale, we often categorize our audiences into two groups: Those who look at prints, and those who consume photography digitally. But that is painting with a very, very broad brush—and it's vital that we go deeper to really understand audiences and their various disparate fragmentations. I'll explain why it's critical to understand these audiences in a bit. First, let's examine how these audiences fragment into smaller groups. For instance, on the digital side of things, it's not good enough to say “digital viewers.” Digital audiences can be subdivided into social media audiences, those who visit photographers' websites, those who subscribe to email lists for PDF images, those who follow digital photography magazines, and so on... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/fragmented-audiences/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Today, we're diving into the magical world of night sky photography. You're in the right place if you've ever wanted to capture the stars in all their glory. Let's get started! Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/capturing-the-cosmos-a-journey-into-night-sky-photography/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
What is a photographer's medium? I can see where maybe you're scratching your head and thinking that our medium is of course photography. But technically, that's not quite true. Not when you think about the finished products that we produce. So let's look at it through the lens of other art mediums. Painting for instance. If you're a painter, then your medium could be oil on canvas, or maybe you're a watercolor artist. Perhaps you prefer to work in acrylics. Mixed media artists combine different mediums to get whatever effect they desire. Same goes if you're a sculptor—then your medium could be clay or stone. Sketch artists might choose charcoal or pencil as their medium... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/blurred-mediums/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
There are so many different things that photographers prize highly. The answer might be different from one photographer to the next, too. Take prints, for instance. One photographer may treat them as a precious artifact, storing them in perfect condition, using only the best archival materials, and handling those prints with gloves. That's the most valuable thing to them, so they take great pains to keep those prints pristine for decades. Other photographers might have different answers. Cameras are something we all value very highly. They're the tool of our trade, the same as painters value their brushes. Other types of gear might be the most valuable thing to you—the perfect lens that allows you to take just the sort of pictures you enjoy, whether that's a wide angle, a fast lens, a long lens, macro or tilt-shift. Some of us value the latest and greatest post-processing techniques and software highly. We might spend hours researching, learning, and experimenting with new techniques... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/time-is-valuable/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
The biggest part of photography is coming up with new kinds of art. To do that, we take our inspiration from all kinds of places—the conventional art world combined with the things that inspire us as we go about our lives—but there are some other unconventional sources in which we can look. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/a-new-format/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
For many photographers, the idea of creating a still life image is boring. Who wants or needs yet another photo of a bowl of fruit or a vase filled with flowers? The fact is, however, that still life images don't need to be boring — and even if you do choose to go with more traditional subjects, the creation of these images will prove to be a valuable learning experience. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/can-learn-still-life-photography/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Certain things in life make the act of creation quite difficult. At times, adversity arises and makes it hard for us to power through and keep producing photographs. This could be any type of adversity. Maybe it's a physical injury or ailment that makes it much harder for you to travel, hike, or carry your camera gear. It could also be mental or emotional adversity. Everything from depression to stressful life events like the loss of a job or even a loved one can take us out of the frame of mind to create artwork. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/using-adversity-to-your-advantage/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
I think to be a creative kind of person, there is a certain level of mercilessness required. At least, if you want to be the type of creative person who learns and grows. And when I say mercilessness, I certainly don't advocate being merciless toward others. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/merciless/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
I've found that this is very true throughout my career. There are lots of reasons to be doubtful, reasons that, if you let them, will stop your creative pursuits before you get underway. It starts with the dive into photography itself. You may feel like you are not artistic enough to become an artist or the very thought of learning all of the things that you will one day need to know might seem overwhelming. Then, as you progress, it can be challenging to work up the courage to display your images, to ask for constructive criticism. Photos might languish in a folder on your computer simply because you don't have the confidence to do much else with them... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/overcoming-lack-confidence-photography/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Second chances can be powerful, especially in places we think we know well. Revisiting familiar spots, where all the obvious photos have already been taken, presents a unique creative challenge. It pushes us to look deeper, finding fresh perspectives and capturing what's truly unusual. That's why I believe in going back to those well-trodden places—it's an opportunity to see them in a new light. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dont-count-on-second-chances Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
What are our motivations for making photographs? If you ask around, among friends and neighbors, you'll quickly find that many photographers harbor dreams of making money or becoming known for their art. But are those the right reasons for creating photographs? Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/why-do-we-make-photographs/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Art always seems like such a planned event. It's a production. We think about our ideas, we jot them down, we plan and plan for how we can take the perfect photograph. Then comes the day when we actually set out to take that photograph — that, too is a production. It's often a long trip laid out on maps, organized through lists of gear that we check twice before we depart, and so on... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/letting-art-happen/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
We've all heard that old saying, “There's no accounting for taste.” There's so much truth to that. Tastes vary so much from one person to the next that no matter what, there is no one right answer that will satisfy absolutely everyone. That puts photographers in something of a conundrum. Of course, we want to produce photographs that people will love. But we can never guarantee that these images will be broadly loved because there's just no accounting for taste. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/personal-aesthetics/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Gear wishlists. We all have them, and they're often quite extensive. Filters, lenses, new camera bodies, lighting equipment, computers, and software — some of our wishlists are extensive! But is any of this stuff really necessary? Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/forget-about-gear/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Something is interesting about photography that you may not have noticed before. And it's one of those things, just like the perfect composition, that you can't “unsee” it once you see it. Have you ever noticed that the overwhelming majority of photographs — almost all, if not all — neatly fit into one of a few niches? We have genres like landscape, abstract, portraiture, urbex photography, nature photography, wildlife, etc. There are lots and lots of different categories, but when you compare the number of well-known categories to the millions of photographs created each day, it's actually quite shocking that 99%, if not more, of these millions of photographs, can all fit into one of these genres. Really, looking at it another way, it's actually extraordinarily difficult to find a photograph that doesn't fit within one or more genres. Isn't that interesting? Here we are, all of us attempting to create unique works of art, but yet, all of our works are easily classified along with the works of everyone else... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/broadening-your-horizons Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
Art really is timeless—and that is true across all mediums, be it photography, sculpture or something like literature or movies. To see what I mean about the timeless nature of art, look no further than books. Here, you'll find works that could be a century old, two centuries, or perhaps even older than that. And yet, we still read them today and get value from them... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/art-is-timeless/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography
We all have lots of old ideas laying around in the form of handwritten notes or archives. Here are some thoughts that may help you use some of those ideas in your photography. Podcast notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/working-with-the-ideas-youve-already-had/
There is a lot of information on how to plan shot lists or choose gear for photography projects, but what about the creative side of planning? Here are some thoughts that may help you! Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/tips-for-planning-a-photography-project/
Changing tastes are a fact of life—and that means it's worthwhile to look at images that you may not have enjoyed before. You might see something new. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/changing-tastes
What is the photographer's voice? And more importantly, what does it mean to express that voice? Here is an essay with some of my thoughts on the matter. Podcast notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-photographers-voice/
Sometimes, breaking the rules better serves a photograph. Experienced photographers know that the rules are best followed most of the time, but not always! Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/when-you-know-enough-about-the-rules-to-break-them/
Technically correct photos aren't always artistically correct. Sometimes, the wrong techniques or effects are actually the right choices. Podcast notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/sometimes-correct-methods-techniques-wrong/
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is a very real thing in photography. Here are some of the places it crops up, and what you can do to get past it. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/overcoming-fomo/