The ACP Blog
Featuring posts, articles, insights and knowledge pertaining to my own experiences and the world of photography.The Best Locations In Charleston, SC For Your Family Photo Shoot
Wow, this is fantastic! You’ve decided to book an outdoor photo session, and your timing couldn’t be better. With fall right around the corner, cooler weather will soon be here, followed by some autumn colors. And with all of Charleston available as your personal background, and an amazing photographer (me!) to capture you at your best, it’s going to be an incredible shoot.
Now, how do you decide where to have your session?
I’ve been shooting around Charleston for many years, and I can help guide you in your selection.
First, we want to consider who is being photographed and why. Is it just you, for a portrait? For a headshot? Is it an engagement session? Maternity? Is it a family session? Children? How young? How many? Pets? We want to keep in mind things like attention spans, distractibility, bathroom access, parking, how far a walk once parked, and mood.
Here are some of my favorite locations within 15 minutes of downtown Charleston.
The French Quarter
Yes, that’s a very broad area. I like to start at Washington Square Park and end up on Queen Street at Philadelphia Alley. There are beautiful doorways, wrought-iron lamps, brick/cobblestone streets, tree-shaded alleys, and historic pre-Revolutionary buildings and churches. If your session lends itself to a stroll through one of the most beautiful spots in downtown Charleston, then this area is ideal.
The Battery
Hampton Park
Here we have a wonderful rustic/rural background. It’s a quiet spot with tons of gorgeous oaks, flowers and greenery. Plenty of room for kids to run around, too. There are formal gardens, walking paths and gazebos galore. We can choose one location, or wander through several.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Reserve (or any beach!)
This location includes the beach as well as areas with trees/shade and marsh. You’ve got a quiet beach, lighthouse views, waves crashing on rocks, and awesome golden-light opportunities. I like this location better than nearby Folly Beach because it has areas that offer more privacy. Ssshh! It’ll be our secret.
Riverfront Park. This one’s in North Charleston. This location has a great variety of looks. Manicured gardens with fountains, walkways along the river, tree-shaded paths, and some cool urban backdrops nearby as well. It’s a scenic spot that’s usually quiet and well-suited to a session.
Lastly, don’t overlook having the photo session right at your own home!
For families (especially with young children), it can sometimes be best to have a fun family session right at home where kids are often the most comfortable. There are usually fun props available and places both inside and out that lend themselves to memorable photos! When the setting is a place that’s emotionally meaningful, like a kid’s bedroom or their back yard, it makes the finished image mean even more.
Choosing the right setting can be key to capturing an image that you will love. Give me a call, and let’s discuss the perfect location for your upcoming photo session.
How to Shoot Better Photos on Your Mobile Phone
You might not always have your camera body on you but what about your mobile phone? Learn the basics of shooting better photographs on your mobile so wherever you go, you’ll always know how to make the most of the device you’ve got with you.
What Constitutes Cheating in Photography?
Even though we’re firmly in the age of Photoshop and advanced digital manipulation, the issue of honesty of representation and what constitutes cheating in photography has a lot more history and nuance than just the clone stamp. This thoughtful video examines the topic and what it means to cheat in photography.
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Source: fstoppers
15 Terrific Tips for Traveling With Camera Gear
Flying with camera gear doesn’t have to be hard. Whether you’re a professional photographer traveling for a job or a hobbyist traveling home to see the family over the holidays, these tips can make your next trip fly by with ease.
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Source: fstoppers
Great Advice for Any Aspiring Travel Photographers
In his third installment for Adorama TV about his assignment series on Malta, travel photographer and journalist Doug McKinlay gives some great advice on how to cover all your bases and make the most out of your commissioned trip.
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Source: fstoppers
Could You Shoot a Photo Blindfolded?
Ok, I’ll be the first to admit that shooting blindfolded isn’t something you will likely ever have to do, unless you have some really weird clients with very specific needs. Nonetheless, it’s a fun challenge, and it’s quite enjoyable (and hilarious) to watch!
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Source: fstoppers
Four of the Biggest Photography Rip-Offs to Avoid
Unfortunately, photography is an expensive passion, but what do you really need to spend your money on? In this video, Marc Newton looks at four of the biggest photography rip-offs you should avoid at all costs, and he doesn’t hold back.
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Source: fstoppers
How to Produce 65mm Sensor Sized 12k Footage With a Super 35mm Camera
Most of have probably created a panorama at some point by stitching several images together. Some of you may have even tried the Brenizer method to mimic the look and feel of a larger sensor. I wonder, how many of you have stitched video clips together to mimic large-format cinema cameras?
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Source: fstoppers
The Imminent Death of Micro Four-Thirds
Micro four-thirds is a sensor size with which companies like Panasonic and Olympus have developed a number of very popular cameras. The most popular being the GH series of cameras, namely the Panasonic GH5. Recently, Panasonic opted to develop a full frame camera system and many including myself feel that the days of micro four-thirds are now numbered.
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Source: fstoppers
Does a Good Computer Help in the World of Photography and Video?
For a while now I have been into computers and building them properly to handle the work I planned on doing for the next few years. About two years ago, I started to notice that the work I was doing and the cameras I was shooting on was something my computer struggled to keep up with.
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Source: fstoppers
Feeling Stuck Creatively? Here Are Some Tips to Get You out of That Rut
Being in a creative rut can be a vicious circle of trying too hard to get out of it and only meeting more frustration when you can’t find the results you’re seeking. This great video will give you some helpful tips to bust out of that rut in no time.
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Source: fstoppers
Hundreds of Drone Pilots Violate FAA Restricted Airspace to Get the Perfect Shot of Hot Air Balloons
The 47th annual Balloon Fiesta kicked off earlier this month and has a new obstacle to contend with. The flagship event held in Albuquerque, NM has had logistical problems in the past, but a new problem has arisen in the form of drone enthusiasts looking for the perfect shot.
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Source: fstoppers
FAA Approves DJI to Authorize Drone Flights in Controlled Airspace
Flying in controlled airspace near airports requires you to submit a complex authorization to the FAA and the process may take up to 90 days to get approved. But the federal administration just granted permission to nine organizations, including DJI, to process near-real-time airspace authorizations.
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Source: fstoppers
How and Why You Should Print Your Photos
Now that we’re firmly in the digital age, printing photos has been relegated to an optional step in the photographic process, one that many photographers rarely (if ever) take advantage of. This great video talks about why one photographer feels printing photos is so important (even in this age) and how he goes about it.
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Source: fstoppers
Is This the Best Used Camera Your Money Can Buy?
With rapidly developing technology and new releases happening often, you can find a lot of good deals on used cameras. Today I’ll introduce you to one that might just be the best your money can buy.
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Source: fstoppers
How Often Do SD Cards Really Fail?
There’s been enough dissections on how Canon and Nikon shot themselves in their respective feet by releasing mirrorless systems with only single card slots. Trust Tony and Chelsea Northrup, though, to spice things up a bit with some scientific analysis.
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Source: fstoppers
Elinchrom Announces the Transmitter Pro for Fujifilm
After Sony, Canon, Nikon, and Olympus, it’s now Fuji’s turn to get access to all advanced Elinchrom features such as HS, HSS, and TTL.
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Source: fstoppers
2018 U.S. Fall Color Prediction Map for Landscape Photographers
Just in time for the upcoming autumn season in the United States, here is the 2018 fall color prediction map to help plan your outdoor photography adventures.
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Source: fstoppers