Whether you’re a food blogger who wants a polished look on their homepage, a home cook looking to impress friends and families on Facebook, or a professional photographer wanting to expand her milieu to appeal to the burgeoning foodie movement, taking great pictures of food relies on a few key principals. To avoid washed out, uninspired, and – gasp! – unappetizing food pictures, follow these three basic rules. (more…)
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What’s an Introductory Video and Why Does Your Website Need One?
Engaging with your customers is the golden rule of marketing, but how exactly do you go about it? Because video appeals to the eyes as well as the ears, it’s an ideal medium for engaging and interacting with potential customers. Introductory videos can tell a story, introduce your brand, and – most importantly – keep visitors on your website longer. Today, we’re discussing a few ways your website could benefit from an introductory video. (more…)
Your Simple Guide to Taking Great Blog Pictures
It comes as a shock to absolutely no one that blogs are a big thing. Everyone, from celebrities to hipster foodies to the vegan stay-at-home-mom next door, uses this digital medium to express themselves and share their knowledge. Other than the writing, good-looking pictures can make or break a blog. While professional bloggers, especially those who write about art, photography, food, fashion, and other visual media use specialized equipment, even the amateur blogger can improve their site with well-composed and well-edited smart phone photos. Follow these three photography tips to immediately improve your smart phone picture-taking skills and take your blog to the next level of awesomeness. (more…)
How Professional Portraits are a Must-Have in a Connected Business World
Think back to where or in what context you might have seen the portrait of a CEO. Maybe it was a formal, posed shot of an unsmiling guy in an uncomfortable-looking suit hanging in a bank or in the Board of Trustees room at your university. Maybe you remember an iconic portrait gracing the pages of a magazine, like Steve Jobs and the apple encouraging you to “Think Different” or the CEOs of Ben and Jerry’s smiling and offering some of their signature ice cream.
In today’s internet-reliant world, your portrait follows you everywhere, (more…)
Casting Call: 3 Things You Need to Know about Headshots
Whether you prefer stage, screen, or television (or, like most actors, any paying work you can get!), then you know that your headshot is your business card. Traditional headshots consist of a close-up, black and white shot of your face and head, although color headshots and ¾ shots are also acceptable. Casting directors use headshots to see whether you have certain look or fit a certain type they’re trying to fill in their production. In short, headshots are how you, as an actor, get a job so be sure to follow these three essential tips when looking for a headshot photographer. (more…)
Weird is the Word: Creative Photography Trends for 2015
Commercial photography, creative photography, or stock photography. Call it what you will, but high-quality pictures for advertisements, blogs, and websites are an industry to themselves and, as such, are subject to trends. Getty Images, the ubiquitous, Seattle-based stock photography juggernaut, just released their 2015 webinar discussing what trends will move the industry in 2015. Today, Dallas commercial photographer Doug Davis takes a look at some of these trends and discusses why off-kilter images have become so popular. (more…)
Capturing Christmas: Top Tips for Great Holiday Pics
Christmas pictures are forever. Whether they’re goofy, earnest, or just plain sweet, pictures from Christmas parties and Christmas mornings are what memories are made of. Be sure to follow our three simple photography tips for creating fun, contemporary Christmas pictures.
Bring Plenty of Backup
If there’s one essential rule of capturing great Christmas pictures, it’s (more…)
Does Your Website Need Video? 3 Essential Questions to Ask
Over the past few years, video has become a pillar of many successful online marketing strategies. It seems like everyone from start-ups to huge corporations are incorporating video content into their websites and social media efforts. While the research says that video is a smart way to boost your marketing efforts, some serious thinking and planning needs to happen before you invest the time and money into producing a video for marketing. Today, Dallas video producer Doug Davis discusses three essential questions you need to ask when considering adding video to your marketing strategy. (more…)
Why Your Online Store Needs Professional Product Photography Now!
A quick online search will yield you plenty of blog posts and articles offering tips and tricks for taking good product pictures for your online store or business. While do-it-yourself product photography is a good option for some businesses, if you don’t have the right equipment and know-how, you’re going to end up with less-than-stellar product pics gracing the pages of your online store. And, unfortunately, a poorly lit, grainy, or badly composed product picture can turn off potential customers and negatively impact your bottom line. Today, Dallas product photographer Doug Davis shares a few reasons why you should consider consulting a professional when putting together your product pages. (more…)
Take the Drama Out of Your Next Family Portrait
Behind every stiff, formal, awkward family portrait (and, let’s be honest, at least half of all the family portraits you’ve ever seen or been a part of fall into one of those categories) is a photo shoot fraught with drama, uncomfortable clothes, and stress. However, your next family portrait session doesn’t have to be a bad memory. Today, Dallas portrait photographer Doug Davis shares a few pro-tips on making the portrait-taking process pleasant, relaxed, and rewarding.
Embrace Informality
There’s a reason why posed studio portraits seem dated: (more…)