They will help you go from this:
To this 🤩😎!
#1 Set up the Best Lighting
This is the most important thing to do!
The best way to do is to set up your computer or phone in front of a window.
By doing so, your face & upper body will enlightened by natural & homogeneous light.
If the light is too harsh, soften it by closing your net curtains if necessary.
If you cannot move your computer, find a lamp with a shade and a white or day light bulb (not a yellow one).
You set it up behind your camera on it, et voilà!
And here is what you want to avoid:
- Direct backlight: you become a dark area, unrecognizable.
- Direct overhead light: shadows appear under your eyes, nose & chin… not flattering.
#2 Be aware of your Background
The best background is plain & simple, like a plain wall without any/much decoration.
The idea is to avoid distraction caused by a large bookcase or a colorful piece of art for example.
As the angle of your computer camera is large, the screen might included a lot behind you… like the couch with the pile of laundry waiting to be folded.
And even if this is most of us’ reality, we all want to avoid a messy (back)ground. So let’s pick up things on the couch / floor & close the visible doors.
You can choose to use a virtual background too if you’re running out of options.
#3 Put a DND sign (Do Not Disturb)
If you have kids, a partner or a roommate, let them know you’ll be on a video call & you can’t be disturbed during this time. Keep them busy (& safe) 😋.
If you have pets, make sure they can’t access the space you’re having the online meeting in.
Make sure this is understood / planned ahead, in order to avoid having to stand up & pick up kids/pet/partner & take them out of the room!
#4 Set up the Best Position & Posture
With easy tricks, you can avoid the followings:
- Double chin: Just set up your camera higher!
The lens needs to be higher than the eye level but not higher than your head: at your hair line will be perfect.
If you are using a laptop or a monitor, put it on a large book.
If you are using a smartphone, use a tripod or a selfie stick. I use a two-in-one for phone & I love it!
- Face distorted: because the lenses are wide-angle lenses, the closer you stand, the larger your face / nose / nostril will be.
The trick is just to keep the camera about an arm away.
- Shoulders down: this is the natural evolution… we all tend to slide down the chair or on the desk 😜.
By sitting on the edge of the chair, your back will be straight & you’ll appear engaged & interested.
Ideally, the thighs make a 90° angle with the upper body.
#5 What to Wear
The following recommendations are stylist-approved by Chrissy Ramski-Güleç, also known The StyleIST:
- Color on top or a white t-shirt with a nice (suit) jacket
- Plain color rather that Desigual colors 😋
- Mat fabric rather than shinny fabric
And let’s avoid:
- Black & white
- Logos
- Fluo colors
- Stripes, lines
- Low-cut tops
And let’s go one step further: let’s make sure your top is not competing with your background (real or virtual).
Keep this in your mind: pick comfortable items! Not itchy, not too small (compressing), not too big (uncovering your shoulder), not too fussy (need to be adjusted continuously).
Not too comfortable either (pajamas & sport clothes ⛔️😬).
If you feel like it, you can add simple jewelry, like small earrings or a light necklace.
Be aware that if your glasses don’t have an anti-reflection effect, they will reflect your screen & make your eyes invisible.
One more thing: If (and only if) you remember to ALWAYS switch off the camera before standing up, you don’t have to worry about the bottom 🤣.
Well, in real life, we all end up jumping up to catch the cat or the kid or the partner 🤪, to adjust the curtain because of the sun or to open the door to the delivery guy.
So don’t forget to wear a suitable bottom 👖🩳🩲😇!
#6 Do your Hair & Make-up
As it is part of the most basic morning routine, to do your hair is not a surprise.
But for you who is used to touch/play with your hair, you might want to attach it with a ponytail or a headband.
If you never wear make-up, there is ONE thing that will make a huge difference on video calls: Powder!
It will mattify a shiny skin, which can appear faster than we think with the screen light.
Otherwise, you can use the classic combo foundation + mascara + light lipstick.
Definitely no need here for an “Evening make-up”, let’s keep it simple.
#7 Get the Best Sound
If the quality of the sound is low, participants will not have a good experience of you speaking and YOU won’t have your message being heard!
This can be changed easily by using the microphone sold with your smartphone or by purchasing a lavalier microphone.
For this former, not need to actually wear it: having it on the table just in front of it will work.
#8 Pay Attention (for real)
Don’t get distracted by notifications on your phone, so let’s put it away, on silent mode 💤.
Close all the other windows on your computer to avoid your attention getting attracted by a new email in your inbox.
Put distracting things away from your desk.
If you’re using your phone, make sure you switch off all the notifications & set up your devise on DND if possible.
Now, I have a question. Have you ever heard about the Resting Bitch Face ?
Yes, it is a real thing, with a wikipedia page & some articles about it.
Think about Kristen Steward or Kanye West… You see?
The definition is “A facial expression that unintentionally appears as if a person is angry, annoyed, irritated, or contemptuous, particularly when the individual is relaxed, resting or not expressing any particular emotion.”
Sounds familiar 😜?
The only solution is to actively create a more positive facial expression. A slight smile, a little smirk will do it.
This will show you’re doing good, you’re engaged into the conversation, you’re here with them.
#9 Do a test run before the show begins
Just like you would work on what you want to say, let’s make sure you show what you want to show.
You might realize your camera lens is dirty (use a small clean & soft cloth, like the ones for the glasses).
You might spot a little stain on your shirt.
You might discover your camera isn’t straight.
Just to make sure everything is ready for the show 💃.
#10 Don’t forget your Profile Picture
If you need to leave the meeting for a few minutes, it is strongly advised to mute both camera & sound.
So, other participants will see your profile picture.
It’d be too bad to show a holiday picture or anything not-so- professional when you’ve been working hard using all the tips above 😎!
So pick up a professional portrait as a Zoom profile picture to be consistent with who you are professionally.
That’s all Folks!
I hope you will use these tips & feel and look great during your Zoom meeting.
A big thank you to Chrissy, the StyleIST, for her professional advices!
I wish you all the best & loads of success!
Please comment & share 🤩!
PS: You may know me as a Family Photographer. I also work with entrepreneurs to create their business portraits, consistently with their brand… and their ambition!
So if you need to work on your image, get in touch with me here!
Nowadays, smartphones are everywhere. Actually, smartphones are everything: calendar, camera, notepad, maps etc.
It’s becoming more & more difficult to live without our phones. We bring them everywhere we go & get desperate if the battery goes down too fast.
Addiction? Who said addiction 😂? Yes, I think we are addicted.
Another consequence of us having an eye on our phone all the time is that we aren’t “here & now” anymore.
Having coffee with a friend? Both smartphones will be on the table. Our attention can get distracted by notifications in 3 (!) different ways.
We can hear them (noise), feel them (vibrations), see them (message on the screen).
Now, the biggest respect we can show to the person who’s spending time with us is to keep our phone upside down, in silent mode, far away from us.
This gives a clear message: you / our conversation / the time we spend together is more important than whatever my phone has to tell me.
It’s offering ourself a ”here & now”, some quality time without the interference of the “out-there”.
Another aspect of having our smartphone with us all the time is that we also have a camera wherever we go. An easy-to-use & light camera.
We end up taking a lot of pictures with our phone. Dozens of pics in a normal day. Hundreds maybe during special events.
Can we imagine not taking pictures with our phone during the following events:
- sibling’ wedding ceremony,
- our baby’s 1st birthday party
- our eldest daughter ‘s graduation,
- the farewell party of a dear friend,
- actually any kind of intense events life offers us & that we want to remember forever.
But we might want to think about really living the moment & not through our phone screen.
A few years ago, I had a very special moment like this with my now-late mother. We went on a hot air ballon flight during sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey.
A truly unique, intense, magic moment, which I wanted to be able to remember forever.
Guess what. I don’t remember it.
I remember the “before” & the “after” but I don’t remember the “during”. And believe me, I’m deeply sad about this.
How come I end up not remembering this moment?
The answer is simple: because I was taking pictures most of the time. I was so amazed by the spectacular landscape we were flying over during sunrise that I photographed it during almost the whole flight. I wanted to capture this beauty forever & I forgot about living the moment.
I love the pictures I took on that morning but they feel bitter-sweet.
What about the experience I was living & what about the “mother & daughter” experience we were supposed to have? It’s gone forever.
Just by taking pictures or making videos all the time during an event, we’re making our memories of the event loose.
We document our lives with our phones, to make sure we’ll remember our happy moments but it seems to be counterproductive.
We give less attention to an experience when we know that it will be safely stored in our smartphone.
So we’re putting a lot of energy in creating memories & we get the opposite result!
(And, let’s face it, most of the pictures we take all the time with our smartphone are only worth being shared on social medias.)
In many cases, scientists are finding that constant photo taking actually diminishes our ability to recall our experiences, diverts our attention, and takes us out of the moment.
How come this is happening?
Giuliana Mazzoni, professor of Psychology, University of Hull, says that “we use smart phones and new technologies as memory repositories. This is nothing new – humans have always used external devices as an aid when acquiring knowledge and remembering” (here is her full article).
Writing certainly serves this function. Maybe you’re like me: I keep a notebook on my nightstand to write down all the ideas/thoughts/things-to-do that make my brain busy & prevent me from sleeping? Here we are, same logic!
When we’re taking a lot of pics with our smartphone, we see everything trough our screen, in 2 dimensions already.
Our brain knows something else is creating memories so it’s not working as effectively as usually. Indeed our brain will create memories less intense, less precise, less clear, less stronger.
Because we don’t need to rely on our memory much in many many occasions …. We have smartphones :).
A dentist appointment or a birthday? On our calendar.
A genius idea or the shopping list? On our notes.
Our sister’s cellphone number? On our phonebook.
Which day we had our last periods? On a special “Cycle” app.
Our hand-written letters? WhatsApp messages.
We give our phones the mission to remember…. and our brain knows! It doesn’t create memories as efficiently as it would.
When it comes to strict information, I think it’s great & that we’re lucky to have these helpful tools at our fingertips.
When it comes to special & emotional memories, I feel we’re loosing something.
To sum up:
When we are taking pictures during an event, because 100% of our attention is not in the moment:
- we are distancing ourselves from fuller participation
- we’ll have a poorer recall of the actual event
- we’ll have less memory material to awake when we’ll look at our pictures.
Attention & Intention
To be fair about smartphones, I looked for studies about taking pictures with a (real 😋) camera & the impact on memories. There are a few & the conclusions are more or less the same: when we’re taking too many pictures, we’re not paying attention & our memories are less precise.
Believe me, I am the first to say “Pictures have an endless value, they are part of our visual heritage, they just have to be taken”.
I still stand by this AND by taking pictures on a conscious way.
We should think twice before taking pictures all the time, in order to find the right balance between:
- snapping constantly, missing the whole moment & not creating real memories
- taking a couple of shots, being here & now AND creating memories material (to be able to recall our moment in the best way possible).
So how can we find the solution to the equation: “Good quality memories” + “Pictures to remember”?
For me, the solution is double:
- Truly pay attention to what is happening, to be “here & now”, to avoid being distracted.
This makes us see more details & feel more intensively the emotion of the moment.
We can keep our smartphone at reach (remember, it’s more than a habit, it’s almost an addiction so it might take time to feel ok without our phones in our hands) but do our best to see the event directly with our eyes & not through a screen.
We can rely on others (friends, family, professional photographer here to create the most beautiful pictures) to take pictures & get them later on.
- Have an intention before taking a picture.
I personally feel one thing can make a huge difference, may we use a smartphone or a DSLR: Our intention.
Let’s wonder “Am I taking a picture I value or Am I just having a modern reflex?”
As soon as we do pay more attention during an event, special moments will stand out & we’ll get better at choosing the right moment to take a pic.
If we think about the interest of the image we’re about to take (= we take a step away from just following a reflex), we might end up not taking that pic.
And for a further step, if we think about the result we want to achieve (= setting up our camera according to our photo intention) before taking the picture, then we will act consciously.
So by paying attention, we really enjoy the moment & we are creating quality memories.
From this full presence, we can develop a photography intention & more meaningful images.
So let’s be conscious of our actions & do our best to be “here & now”.
Let’s put our phones down for a moment & enjoy life, happiness & beauty in the simplest way, with all our senses.
Let’s act with intention & let’s think about what we’re about to do.
And if you want to make sure images are created during a special event, rely on someone else to capture lovely moment.
You’ll be sereine & phone-free during the event, you’ll be creating great memories to recall & you’ll receive beautiful images of the moment.
Have a lovely day ☀️!
If you’re tired of not getting the pictures you want,
If you feel helpless with all the buttons & options available on your camera,
If you can’t wait to finally be happy with your summer pictures,
Here are easy solutions!
Why should you stop using the automatic mode?
Because with the automatic mode, the camera only takes into consideration the available light. That’s it.
It’s not its fault, it was defined this way :).
You need to tell your camera that your subject is moving fast or that you’re photographing a stunning landscape.
But how?
Nothing easier & without going into the semi-automatic ou automatic modes: Just by using the Scenes modes.
Most of the pictures we take during summer are divided in 3 categories:
- People (moving & not moving)
- Landscapes
And there is a Scene mode for each of these situations!
1. Moving people
Your kids playing on the beach or jumping in the pool, our partner running on the beach, your dog trying to catch the frisbee…
There are many occasions when your subject will be moving.
By choosing the “Sport Mode”, your camera will set up a high shutter speed (lest’s say 1/250 or faster like 1/500) to freeze the movement & an aperture large enough to achieve a well-exposed photo.
2. Stationary people or Objects
During holidays, we are relaxed, sun-tanned & we have free time. A looot of free time. Is there any better time to take lovely portraits of your family?
The best for a portrait is to have a blurry background. It makes the subject stand out.
Luckily, there is a mode that will do the job!
It’s called the “Portrait Mode” & sets up a large aperture (let’s say f/4 or larger if you can like f2,8) to create a blurred background.
A large aperture = a small figure = a narrow depth of field
3. Landscapes
For landscapes, we will prefer to have the whole image sharp. In order to achieve this, a small aperture is necessary.
If you want an easy way, you can pick the “Landscape mode”, it will set up a small aperture (like f/16 or f/22) & choose the right shutter speed accordingly to have a well-exposed photo.
A small aperture = a large figure = a deep depth of field.
I hope you’ll enjoy taking pictures during summer & that you’ll be happy with the results!
If you think your images are still not good enough, don’t hesitate to drop me a message! I’ll do my best to help you out!
And don’t forget I give photo lessons all year long… so you can be all set for next year’s summer 😉!
Enjoy your time 😎🤩!
First, let me tell you what a Boudoir photo session is.
A boudoir session is a photography session where you wear sexy outfits, lingerie, dresses, or even go scantily clad & get your photographs taken.
The photographer & the model will work together to create beautiful, sexy, confident images of yourself.
The Wikipedia definition is: “Boudoir photography, or sensual photography, is a photographic style featuring intimate, sensual, romantic & sometimes erotic images of its subjects in a photographic studio, bedroom or private dressing room environment, primarily intended for the private enjoyment of the subject and his or her romantic partners”.
I think this definition misses the main point of a Boudoir photo session & definitely forgets about the impact on OURSELVES that a Boudoir photo session can have.
Why? Just because women are not defined by having or not a romantic partner, therefore the images created during a Boudoir photo session do not automatically involve our potential partner.
Here is the thing: most of the women struggle with their body image. Not with all the same complaints (too small, too big, too long, too short, cellulite, shape of the nose etc) but the list is endless.
The bottom line is, every woman is their own worst critic & picks on something about themselves regardless of how beautiful they are.
A Boudoir photo session is about YOU (& body positivity).
The “gorgeous, glamorous & confident YOU”.
Do you remember or even know that person?
Maybe not. A Boudoir photo session can help you reconnect with her.
it will help you see yourself as you really are, as the people who love you see you.
It is about you & your body.
It’s about the image you have of yourself.
It’s about self-confidence & getting out of your comfort zone.
It’s about celebrating yourself just the way you are.
It’s about trust & « let-it-go » attitude.
It’s about empowering & pride.
It’s a unique gift to yourself.
It can be a ton of fun. Trust me!
Here are some feedbacks of the latest Boudoir photo sessions:
Miss P.
”I have always been very shy in front of a camera, but at the same time very curious of this feeling of being uninhibited in front of a lens. I desperately wanted to try but the problem was: "who will I trust enough" to be at ease in front of?.
I knew Noémie had had few sessions of "sexy pictures" with other ladies and I loved the result. So I went for it and it was scary at first but absolutely fine and fun and surprisingly, it freed me and made me finally be at peace with my body, its shape, its flaws and its uniqueness.
I am so proud and grateful to Noemie for making me feel like a goddess for one day. Now, the problem is... I want to do it again, and very soon !”Miss C.
“I needed to see myself from another perspective. I thought about doing a Boudoir photo session with Noemie as we already worked before & I trust her eye & her kindness. I also saw some beautiful images taken by her during Boudoir photo sessions so I thought “Why not me?”.
I knew she would be able to make me feel relax, to give me great tips, without any judgement.
The photo session itself as a good & even funny experience, as I discover the “behind-the-scene” of a lingerie photo session! There are special poses that reveal our best side & we need to push the furniture away or find our balance on a chair! I realized that even professional models use special poses & tricks so I felt better!
Noémie knows perfectly the poses that made me look great. At the beginning, I was stressed but after a while, I had fun & I stopped being self-conscious.
The result is stunning. The pictures are natural, I recognize myself in a sexy, confidente, full of life version of me. I dared overcome my self-consciousness. When I don’t feel so good about myself, I think about these images & they help me to feel better & to keep my chin up. I try to be that woman on the pics, who does deserve pride.She is not perfect but this doesn’t matter, she is beautiful as she is. Finally, I am able to say: “I’m beautiful this way :)”.
For me, a Boudoir photo session is a way to capture forever our intimate femininity. No need to be naked or even to wear lingerie: a camisole, a pair of heels, whatever outfit you love will do the job.
The images aren’t created much to be shared on social medias but to be kept for yourself (& maybe your partner), to reveal to yourself your beauty & your femininity. “
PS: I have the agreement of P & C to use these images online. They chose them according to what they want to be online & public.
When I left France back in 2013, I felt an urge to bring memories of my family, my friends, even the cities I lived in, in my suitcases. Thanks to pictures, I was able to take little pieces of my past (& its limitless value) with me to Istanbul.
Will you leave Istanbul (replace by the city you live in now) this summer?
If so, you might not want to think about it now & get the best out of your last months in your beloved city.
Of course, living in various countries is a great luck. But it is not easy to move every 3 to 5 years, to re-adapt to a new culture & to re-create your social life every single time.
And it is hard to leave a place you love, your friends & take a new step to the unknown.
A family photo session brings your family together in the places you love in Istanbul.
The images I created for my clients are everlasting memories of their happy moments here, as well as a part of the family history. Family portraits are for you & your partner as much as for your kids. And they are great gifts to your families living in your “home country” too.
For the past years, I photographed a lot of "about-to-leave-Istanbul" families. So, based on my experience, I'd like to give you one main advice:
-- Book now a spring or early summer photo session --
By booking a spring or early summer photo session, you'll avoid many things that'd make the photo session not so fun or even impossible to happen.
Here are some examples of things that might occur:
- You'll be all too busy to even think about a photo session so it won't happen.
- The one who's working might need to leave Istanbul earlier than the rest of the family. Without your partner, the photo session won’t happen.
- A few weeks before you’ll leave, you might need to go for a few days to your “new city” to find a new home & a new school for your kids. It will be a stressful time.
- During a "last-minute" photo session, you might think "this is the last time I see this place I love" everywhere we go & it won't help to have a positive state of mind.
And some info from the photographer’s side:
- Make sure your favorite photographer 😉😎 is available as soon as possible.
- All photographers get very busy at that time of the year, to book now a spring session is to be 100% sure your spot is secured.
- The photographer will have the time to edit & process your images & to deliver them to you before you leave.
And if you’re still not sure a family photo session is important, especially before moving away:
- It’s a way of celebrating all the happiness you had while living here.
- Every member of your family will be on the pictures.
- Your years in Istanbul are & will be forever a part of your life. You & your family deserve to be captured in the city that was such an amazing environment during these years.
- These images will have a unique & very high value. They will be worth being printed out, framed & hang on your wall in your new home, thanks to all the memories they will represent.
- It’s about creating the visual patrimony of your family. Your kids will be thankful to have these images. And their kids too!
☀️☀️ Once the session is booked & organized,
all you have to do is to join me & have 2 or 3 hours of happy moments
with your family in beautiful places in Istanbul. ☀️☀️
Don’t hesitate to send me a message, just click here or go to the “Contact” tab of my website. I’m looking forward to reading you!
And if you’d like to subscribe to my monthly newsletters, it’s right there
A photo tour is a walk to a special area, picked by the organizer, in order to take pictures of what makes the location interesting. Most of the time, the organizer knows the area & is able to tell you about it.
I’m a big fan of photo tours as they get me out my photography routine. If you wonder how a photo tour can be good for you, here are 6 reasons to help you.
To be understood
You know that feeling when you want to get the best shot of a detail on a monument & your family or friends are looking at you like you’re crazy & ask you to hurry up?
Well, with fellow photographers, nobody will judge you :) because they know what it’s like to photograph & they love the same thing you do: Photography!To make new friends
Photography is a hobby for so many people, there is a good chance to meet people you’ll get along well. Especially during a photo tour, as this means you already have a lot in common!To try something new
There are lot of new things to be discovered during a photo tour: an unknown location, a special light, some unique kind of workers…So many reasons to go out of your comfort zone.
And when you’ll see someone trying this or that setting, it’s a great occasion to ask them about it & to learn!To develop your own vision
No pressure, no stress, nothing to prove, no judgments. During a photo walk, freedom & peace of mind will help you to develop your eyes, to identify what you love to photograph & your style will become more asserted.To go out!
Let’s admit it, sometimes, it is hard to pick up your camera, go out & take pictures. Photo walks are a great occasion to finally do so. You made a commitment to the organizer so you just have to go :)!To practice
Once you’re out there, as it is the point of the photo tour, you’ll practice photography. For 2 (or more) hours straight. You will get the best out of this special time.
Thanks to all the reasons above, you’ll get better, you’ll understand new things & you’ll in a great atmosphere.Here are images I took during a guided visit of the Yenikapi & Kumkapi areas, in Istanbul. The guide was Mustafa Kemal Dönmez, french speaking professional guide in Istanbul.
When it comes to buy a camera, the possibilities seem endless.
In this article, I won’t talk about the new models coming up or even specific brands. I won’t tell you this camera is better, as it all depends on your needs (& financial capacity).
I want to help the owners-to-be to project themselves as photographers, as purchasing a “not-so-suitable-for-me” camera might keep you away from photographing & all the fun which goes with it.
I keep this article simple in purpose. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments section.
“The best digital camera is the one you have with you & use.”
There are different types of digital cameras:
- DSLR (digital single lens reflex) (full control over settings, with interchangeable lenses)
- Mirrorless or Four Thirds (lighter than DSLR; with interchangeable lenses)
- Compact (Point & Shoot) - (small & light without much -if any- control over exposure settings; lens is not interchangeable)
- Smartphone (you may already have one of these, so I won’t go any further)
Now, I’d like you to think about yourself: what you want & can invest (time & money) now … & what you’re willing to do later:
- Your money investment range (camera + lens + accessories)
- Your skill level
- The weight you’re ok to carry around (maybe for hours)
- Your time & money investments to learn how to use your gear
- Your need of videos too
- Your desire to change your lens
- Your will to edit & process your images
And the things you might like to photograph:
- Close-ups (flowers, details, insects) - DSLR
- Portraits (kids, family) - DSLR or Mirrorless
- Sports - DSLR or Mirrorless
- Street photography - Mirrorless or Compact
- Travel photography - Mirrorless or Compact
- Nature or landscapes - DSLR or Mirrorless
- Wildlife - DSLR or Mirrorless
So, here are the steps I advise you to follow:
- Define what kind of photographs you want to take
- Rank the things which are the most important to you (video or interchangeable lens for example)
- Define what is a no-go (weight or budget)
Now that you have this in your mind, you’re ready to discover the 3 main types of cameras available in the market.
Let me tell you more about the different types of cameras, with their + & -
Compacts
+ They have the great advantage to be light & small. You’ll always find a place for yours in your backpack or handbag. They weigh about 200-300g, are about 10x6x4cm (the size of a wallet) and their costs vary between 300 & 700€ (for the “expert” versions).
They are very easy to use: “point & shoot” is all you need to do.
There won’t be much to learn about it (expect for the expert models) as they don’t often offer setting controls.
They would be good for street & travel photography.
Nowadays, they often offer 4K video.
If they offer Raw format, you’ll be able to fully edit & process your images.
- They can’t be upgraded as the lens is built-in.
They might not be good at sport (not fast enough) or wildlife (the zoom would reach its limits).
In low-light situations, they might not give you nice results (noise).
They are quite small so if you have large hands, check in a shop if you can access the buttons comfortably.
Here is a link to more info about the compact cameras available in the market in 2018.
Mirrorless
+ Smaller & lighter than DSLR.
They weigh between 400 & 700g (without the lens)
The variation of the sensor size creates a large price range: from 500€ up to 2000€, & in most of the case the sensor will be larger than compacts’.
The lens is interchangeable & you can have full control over the exposure settings.
You can buy a kit camera in specialized shops with a basic lens (18-55mm) or just the body & choose the lens that fits your needs.
Some brands choose an old-fashion esthetic.
Some of them have 2 SD card slots.
They offer Raw format so you can fully edit your images.
They have 4K video.
- The expert mirrorless cameras will be quite expensive.
The no-expert have cropped sensors (not sure it’s really a “-”!)
The lens offer is not always very wide for every brand.
Some of them have short battery life.
The viewfinder is digital so it uses energy
They are not that big so if you have large hands, you might want to make sure you still can access every button & wheel you need.
Beginners would need to invest on photo lessons.
Here is a link to more info about the mirrorless cameras available in the market in 2018.
DSLR
+ The largest offer for camera bodies & lenses.
They are a real long-term investment (from 1300€ up to 4000€).
The lens is interchangeable.
You can buy a kit camera in specialized shops with a basic lens (18-55mm) or just the body & choose the lens that fits your needs.
Some of them have 2 SD card slots.
They always offer Raw format so you can fully edit your images.
They have 4K video.
- The heaviest & largest cameras (from 800g up to 1,3kg without the lens).
Suitable accessories are a must, to carry & protect the camera & lenses.
They have large menus & a lot of things to set up. Help might be necessary.
They can be seen as a great target to malicious people.
Beginners would need to invest on photo lessons.
Here is a link to more info about the DSLR cameras available in the market in 2018.
When you have the control over the exposure settings, and if you bought this kind of camera for this specific aspect, I advise you to find the best way for you to understand how things work. A lot of great tutorials are available on Youtube & on specialized websites.
If you know you need a face-to-face learning method (and you live in or travel to Istanbul), I’d be more than happy to organize private photo lessons for you.
Don’t hesitate to leave comments, ask questions & to share this article!
”A bit about myself”
My cameras: For my 30th birthday, I was offered my 1st DSLR camera: a Nikon D40 with a 18-55mm. I enjoyed it very much for many years. I bought a telezoom lens a few years later, to have a larger range of possibilities (it then became quite heavy!).
Then turning into professional, I upgraded to a Nikon D600, a full frame DSLR, with a 24-70mm, a 50mm & a 35mm.
And 2 years ago, because of some shoulder pain, I switched to Fuji XT-2, a cropped-sensor mirrorless camera, with a 16-55mm (equivalent of a full-frame 24-70mm) and a 23mm (equivalent of a 35mm).
Even though I think I’m nice & fun to work with, it is not always easy for all my clients to look at their partner’s eyes & show all their love when they’re outdoor, wearing a gown/suit & with a camera pointing on them… Anyone can be overwhelmed by the situation itself. Love, affection & tenderness for the other are here but might be hidden by stress or discomfort.
Last August, a lovely lady came up to me as she wanted posed images of her & her husband H. to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary.
Posed images are something I almost don’t do, except for business portraits (one-to-one photo sessions). I mainly photograph people in action, walking in Istanbul, having interactions within the family, having fun.
How would I manage to evoke genuine emotions, to get them visible when my clients are just posing?
This is a challenge I always wanted to work on & that the reason why I invested on unique tips to create genuine happy & emotional moments during a photo session
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”I want to capture their eyes saying “I’M SO IN LOVE WITH YOU!” & offer this memory to my clients”
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The 1st part of the secret ingredient is a unique type of preparation. A classic one leads to find the right place, the right time, the right outfits, the route during the photo session.
This special preparation is unique as the couple has to find, for example, objects that make them think about their other half or a song that reminds you of a lovely moment in their relationship.
This preparation has a hidden advantage: my clients arrive at the photo session excited about revealing to their partner what they prepared, just like kids!
When revealing their beforehand prepared interactions, I can see the magic gaze in their eyes & the body language begins to be more spontaneous. The couple feel highly connected & create lovely & intense moments. Just perfect moments for me to photograph, with emotions, loving states of mind, extra connections in front of the camera.
It’s really about them, their story, their anecdotes, their words, their love.
A very special thank you to Mrs & Mr LOVE 😍!
Scroll down to discover their live feedbacks & of course their photos!
The “Smash the Cake” sessions come from the USA & get trendy: so fun, so colorful & an amazing occasion to capture candide moments of the baby!
Such a photo session can be done when the baby is about 1-year-old: he needs to be able to sit without falling head over feet & to have the capacity to reach things. Still, it’s better when the baby is not much able to stand up or walk, so he won’t escape the scenery!
What about the cake?
The cake needs to be colorful to attract the baby’s attention. Avoid red & brown colors as they’re to close to natural “fluids” 😬. The cake also needs to be soft & creamy so it'll be messy and this is the fun part of it!
As the baby will be sitting with his legs around the cake set up in a low cake-stand, a 2-tiered cake will allow him to reach the top of the cake & then dig in. A higher cake would only work if it stays on the floor. It depends if you want the “fallen cake” image! The only thing we don’t want is the baby’s face being hidden by the cake.
Be generous with the food coloring for the frosting (to go natural, here are great tips!).
I know it’s not great for health but a sugary frosting will help the baby getting back at it.
What about the scenery? As it will get messy, I’d advice to set up the decoration behind the baby with washable items (rather than disposable ones). Be aware that there will be some food left on the ground so if you’re doing this outdoor & you’d prefer to avoid ants & insects to be attracted to the area, put a large cloth underneath the baby & the cake.
Which colors to choose? You can pick up a theme & coordinate the baby’s outfit & the decoration. Bright colors will create a dynamic & fun atmosphere.
Help is necessary as 1 person will take pictures when the other one will interact with the baby. To motivate the baby to touch & dig in the cake, don’t hesitate to show him that he can do it. Have also noisy & colorful toys to be shook around to get the baby look towards the camera.
I advice to be only 2 persons around the baby as the idea is to keep him focus in the cake or looking at the camera if possible. Too many distractions won’t help.
Keep siblings away too.
When is the time to have this session? Take into account the nap times & the lunch break. The baby needs to be fully awake & not completely full otherwise he might not be interested into the cake. Avoid having the photo session done before or after the birthday party, as it is tiring for everybody.
To the parents: during the session, with or without a professional photographer, you will - yes, it’s an affirmation 😂 - get messy too. Just because it’s fun, because their baby is having fun, it’s hard to resist not to go & help the baby picking the cake, helping him to smash it. So get dressed accordingly. You can also prepare a large cloth to roll the baby up in the way to the shower if it’s reachable. Or prepare a big bag to put away the messy clothes & have clean extra clothes. Baby wipes & kitchen paper rolls will be very helpful too.
In August 2018, I was very lucky to meet a very nice & kind man called BT. He lives in Singapore, loves to travel & owns a Leica Q. An inspiring man with an amazing gear. Or the other way around, as you prefer :).
He got in touch with me to organize photo lessons during his one-week holiday in Istanbul. I'm used to teach photograph to foreigners living here, one lesson every week or every other week. 7 days with 3-hour photo lessons per day was quite a challenge for me. And I loved it! We loved it!
On day 1, we met to get to know each other & to go through the basics. Then, I organized 6 walking tours in different places in Istanbul, at different times of the day so we'll have to face quite a large range of situations & photography challenges.
BT is a mindful, curious & hard-working student. He faced, like everybody, difficulties & mistakes but his will to achieve what he wanted to achieve was strong. It was great to witness him spreading his wings into the photography world. I could see he was not seeing things anymore, he was looking at them & looking for something different to capture.
Albert Einstein, one of the men who worked on the most complicated themes, said that "if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough".
So every time I struggle to explain a technic point, I know I have to study more, to understand more, to find new ways of looking at the situation. And then I study until it becomes simple & spontaneous for me to explain.
If I may, I'd add that you need to be able to explain it in different simple ways, so everyone, with different knowledge & backgrounds, can understand it.
That's another trick about lessons: the teacher needs to discover the way the student thinks, understands & memorizes, in order to explain things in the most suitable way.
So I ask questions, not related to photography, to find how to explain things to my student: I draw, I show a video, I give an example with the camera, I ask the student to do the same & to explain it to me.
The 3rd point is to give confidence to the learner by supporting them on their journey. Step by step, through hesitations & mistakes, that's how we learnt how to walk & that's how we learn everything.
I'm always supportive & I listen to the doubts, fears, issues of my students. And I am very curious about the kind of photography they love & what kind of images they want to achieve.
Learning photography takes time, efforts, commitment but it is simple. Not easy but simple.
Since I gave photo lessons, I discovered myself much more patient than I thought & I learnt how to become a better listener and a good & positive critic.
I feel very lucky & blessed to give photo lessons and to be part of someone's photography journey.
To receive more info about my lessons, get in touch with me here.
Here is the feedback from BT. THANK YOU so much for your trust & kindness!
Nowadays, most of the people still think size matters to get sensational results.
When we spot a guy with such big & heavy camera, with a huge & long lens, we think "oh, that guy must a such a great photographer".
The truth is that a "big lens" is not equal to great images. Neither so-called professional gears don't make someone with no knowledge turn into an award-winner. As I won't win any F1 race because I'd be driving a Ferrari.
My first lens was the classic "kit lens" 18-55mm on my Nikon D40.
Then I wanted something bigger. I invested into a 28-300mm.
Then, as I switched to the full-fram Nikon D600, I invested into a 24-70mm, a 50mm & later a 35mm.
As I left Nikon to Fuji xt-2 (cropped sensor), I used a 16-55mm & a 23mm.
But let's speak about first things first, here is a reminder of the major roles lenses play:
Inside the lens, there is the diaphragm, which is the mechanism that makes a variable aperture to control the intensity of light that passes through the lens.
Along with shutter speed, this is what controls the exposure received by the film or image sensor.
A lens can be "zoom" or "prime". If there are 2 numbers to define the lens (16-55m for ex), you'll be able to zoom. If there is only one focal length, you'll have to walk :D!
The aperture & the zoom settings will have consequences on the depth of field.
The focus is made through the lens, either automatically or manually.
The lens might have an integrated stabilisation system to avoid motion blur.
It took me quite a long time to find the lenses I love & which are part of my photography life now.
I don't regret any choice I made, every step was an occasion to learn what I like, dislike & need.
My photography changed when I began to use the 50mm (for full-frame - so for a cropped sensor, it'd be globally 35mm).
I had to walk. I had to move. I actually learn to go & get what I want. Walking makes me discover new places, meet new people & enjoy even more my photography experience.
And I found out that I was putting much more intention into what I was photographing & at the same time, I was letting myself explore much more too. I just loved every aspect of using a 50mm lens.
And I had to push a bit further composition & framing. To be honest, I think I actually learnt how to compose & frame. Using the grid on the screen, I worked in the rule of third or symmetry. I used the environment to frame my images. I just liked my work more & more, as I think my images were getting stronger.
The great things about the 50mm lens:
- It's (quite) cheap, light & small
- It shows you the world without much distortion
- It very often has a very wide aperture, which makes it a luminous lens.
Click here to read a great article about amazing photographers using specific lenses (and most of them are prime lenses).
And here is a short guide about the purposes of lenses:
8mm - 24mm: Ultra wide angle (fisheye): Wide panoramas & skyscapes, artistic
24mm - 35mm: Wide angle, Interiors, architecture, landscapes
35mm - 85mm (50mm common): Standard, General purpose
85mm - 135mm: Short telephoto, Portraits, candid
135mm - 300mm: Medium telephoto, Close sports, action
300mm+: Super telephoto, Far sports, wildlife, nature, astronomy
And here are the results of shooting the same subject with a wide range of lenses. See how the focal length has a huge impact!
