July 2012
314 posts
Anonymous asked: What do you think of Canon's 650D sir?
Anonymous asked: X100 or Xpro-1? Is the Xpro-1 with 2-3 lenses worth the extra scratch?
9 tags
Anonymous asked: How would you react if you were threatened by some lame lawyer for $300,000 because your awesome photos were apparently not good enough? Do you feel that this could be a decline in the industry if there is any success on the client/lawyer's behalf? I certainly would never shoot a wedding if I knew there was a possibility in me losing money for providing a solid product. That last part was a...
7 tags
russgillespie asked: Jack, great idea this. My question is do you think there is a good market for a wedding photographer that only shoots black & white?
Anonymous asked: Hi Zack, how do you get skin look really soft? I tried to stick to your saying "the larger the light source the softer the skin" and put a softbox or umbrella really close to my subjects. On some however you still see unflattering skin (looks worse in the pics than for real). Any tips? Thanks!
Anonymous asked: Flash. Photography becomes a whole new monster when you put a flash on. Quite frankly it scares me. Is there anything you suggest for those of us that don't use a flash to get our feet wet and start learning?
Anonymous asked: How do you approach people/orgs for personal proyects without giving them the impression that you are "working for free" ?
maxalmontephotography asked: Hey Zack. Hope everything in Asia is going smooth... Also Zack i really want to thank you for creating such a great Q&A blog and also taking the time to write back to all of us here with great Q's and some Not so great. Is like having a mentor and yet not having one because there are so many of us you don't know personally. Thank you man! Really appreciate what you are doing for us....
Anonymous asked: hi Zack, what's your opinion about phottix odin for Nikon? Is it worth to invest in such eq? Thanks!
8 tags
Anonymous asked: Hey Zack. Can you give me some recommendations about buying used lenses? I'm about to buy a Canon telephoto. what should I do when I check the lens for the first time?
thespcshp-deactivated20130513 asked: Zack! I asked a question on here about a week ago and haven't seen an answer - what gives?! (the question was about your thoughts on professionalism in the photography world)
shootingheadz asked: Hi Zack, just a quick question about your fantastic seamless white BG blog post I just stumbled upon... Will the white BG be blinking on the display if you're chimping with the highlight warning on? Is the BG actually blown out or should you aim to keep some detail? Thanks so much for all your sharing matey :-)
Anonymous asked: when you hand hold your off camera flash at wedding receptions. do you keep one of those small cup diffusers on there? or are you going straight flash?
Anonymous asked: Hi. I've seen some love for the $100 50mm 1.8 on here. I have it and I agree it's a great buy, but I find it incredibly difficult to get 1.8 into sharp focus for portraits. Is it because it is a $100 lens or am I doing something wrong? The shutter speed is usually pretty fast. FWIW, I'm using the 7D / 19 pt auto focus system. Thanks!
Anonymous asked: what type of grid did you use in the shoot with jared polin? was it the 1/8 or 1/4 honl?
4 tags
Anonymous asked: Olá Zach, I'm a Portuguese Wedding photographer and I’m trying to renew my website to a top level. Unfortunately I’m having a hard time finding great web designers to work with here in Portugal. Do you have any references of where to look for good web designers?
Thanks, Love your work.
Thanks, Love your work.
Anonymous asked: I just finished looking over some of the photos on your website. I was curious to know if you edit heavily with Photoshop or do you make sure things are perfect in camera?
Anonymous asked: I'm confused about aperture. I've read on your blog and other blogs that you'd go for 5.6 or more for shooting portraits and like f8 for shooting macro shots. I don't understand why?
4 tags
Anonymous asked: Are you right-eyed or left-eyed? And when did you realise which one you are?
Anonymous asked: Zack, could you compare the AB1600 and Einstein? I've seen the 1600 on a couple of your startup gear lists over the Einstein.. I assume this is a value decision in order to put the additional $140 toward a Vagabond mini, 85/1.8 or something else.. but in your experience what does that extra $140 get you and is the Einstein worth considering over the long haul? Thanks
Anonymous asked: Hi Zack. Are you in Hongkong now? Is the Philippines included in your itinerary?
1 tag
Anonymous asked: I read about your camera settings, but do you have any pointers when shooting moving subjects with the x100. I am having trouble getting shots in focus.
Anonymous asked: so I been shooting in auto mode but really want to start shooting manual my question is if I put my camera in manual mode do I have to put my lense in manual mode?
melonfishphoto asked: Did you figure out a way to use your colorchecker passport on capture one? I see you still use it in your posts but am curious how you utilize it with the phase. Thanks!
6 tags
Anonymous asked: who makes good plugins/presets for lightroom 4 ?
aprintedbutterfly asked: Could you repost the link to your wood cut business cards? I'm in the midst of rebranding planning and I'd love to see them!
Anonymous asked: If I am shooting a lens at 200mm focal length attached to a 1.5x crop sensor camera, what is my minimum shutter speed for shooting hand held? Is it 1/200s or 1/300s?
7 tags
Anonymous asked: How can I approach a photographer to allow me to shoot weddings as a second shooter knowing that I'm a newbie in photography (only taken a few courses)? What do I need to get started?
Anonymous asked: Hi Zack, thanks so much for all the knowledge sharing. I'm at a dilemma whether to put up pricing information (I do portraits) on my website - a lot of the 'advice' online says that if customers can't find it, then they get pissed and leave because 'you're not transparent and upfront'. I did notice that you do not have any such info. Neither do some of the other...
apisgogo asked: Dear Zack, what you will do if you haven’t nailed the shots in the middle of a shoot? (time is running out). Moved the light direction, change the frame angle, asked the model to pose differently, change the camera settings, change the flash power, but still haven’t come close to nail it.
7 tags
neilorrphoto asked: What is a good starting price range for Weddings and Events? Should I price per 1/2 day, per hour, or per picture?
8 tags
Anonymous asked: Hi Zack, I loved the wedding shots on your blog. Could you please elaborate on how you ride the exposure controls on the X100 and the flash unit? I imagine I'd miss many situations by either blowing out the highlights or underexposing. "Practise, practise" is probably the answer though :)
Anonymous asked: For the past year and a half, I have been shooting with an entry level dslr and a 50mm. I'm at a point now where I have a steady stream of lower end portrait clients. I've also had a number of possible clients who liked my work but after being told what I shoot with decided to go with another photographer. So, I think (?) it is time to start saving up to create a pro level kit. ...
Anonymous asked: Hey Zack. I currently have a Canon Rebel t2i and I have some money saved up ($800) and I'm trying to figure out how should I spend it. I was thinking maybe getting a 5d classic because of the full frame sensor even if its 7 years old, but I also dont have any off camera light so I also would like to get maybe an alienbee and a good modifier. So my question is: Which is going to make a bigger...
jpdiv asked: If you need a portfolio to get clients and clients to build a portfolio, where do you start? Clients or a portfolio?
Anonymous asked: I bought your One Light Workshop on DVD during the intial run (love Meg's music, my husband stole the shirt). How can I load it to run on my iPad?
6 tags
Anonymous asked: Who do you call when you have photography related legal issues?
6 tags
mikeholman asked: Will I ever stop being so critical of my own photos?
6 tags
Anonymous asked: Howdy, Zack! How does the XPro-1 AF compare to that of the X100. Faster, Slower? Same? I have a Fuji X100 and I love the image quality and size of it, but personally, the AF is too sluggish for me. I was thinking of replacing my Nikon DSLR with an XPro-1 (I'm not a pro, just a traveling hobbyist), but not if the AF is any worse than the X100.
16 tags
gabes-pictures asked: Hey Zack, Thank you so much for doing so much for me when I had zero clue on lighting. Thanks again for being such a mentor. I got the basics down, knowing how things relate and what happens when you change what settings. I am having a difficult time with lighting the a wedding reception dance area. Is hand held the best lighting option for doing dance photos, or is there a way to leave the...
shakmc asked: Hi Sack and Allen, My name is Osvaldo I´m from mexico I just finished the Graphic University, and I want to start my own photography business, I been work taking photos to graduations. My economic situation is low, in mexico is hard buy a pro gear, working hard I buy a nikon d7000 with a cheap lens. My questions are What do you recommend buy a new lens or upgrade my body? I feel restricted...
Anonymous asked: Hi Zack, Greetings. I gotta question. If you are shooting in RAW, does the color space matter?
n-sonic asked: Zack, I know that you're a big fan of X-Pro 1. Have you tried NWX-7? Which one would you choose and why?
4 tags
Anonymous asked: How would one, (or what all goes into) figuring a fair Commercial License? Do you set a specific price? Do you negotiate with the client? What's the BEST way to figure this?
5 tags
edtritton asked: How has your workflow changed, if at all, since you switched to Medium Format?
Anonymous asked: There are great places on the internet to learn about lighting and f-stops and all the technical things. I'm on the way with that. But learning what to do with your portrait subjects when they're in that sweet set-up you've created? Getting something out of them for the camera? Posing without it being, um, posey? That's another matter. I get to that point and feel a bit lost....
Anonymous asked: As someone who went to photography school, what do yo feel is an advantage you had over the self-taught folks, if any, starting out?
7 tags
Anonymous asked: Here's a toughie, Zack. I'm comfortable with the price I ask for my work, but a lot of people who contact me about doing work for them act shocked when I tell them what I charge (it's not astronomical, but it's also not $50 for a CD full of files!). My problem is that, because photography is tied so tightly to who I am as a person, and I find my ability to be something of value...
8 tags
Anonymous asked: Can you tell me about your portrait of the girl sitting the on baggage claim conveyor belt? Where did the idea come from? Who is it? Why did you take? Looks like it could be a candid... but it's not, right?
Anonymous asked: Zack, have you any experience with the radio popper JrX Studio triggers? I use a mix of AB800's and hotshoe flashes for my work, but frequently work without an assistant... So adjusting power levels mid-shoot can be a real pain in the a55! Having a trigger system that would let me adjust power right from the camera would be sweet. Cheers
