Recommended Camera Gear

Whether you're an aspiring pro or an as-green-as-can-be beginner, when the time comes for a new camera—it's easy to feel overwhelmed. To help, I've put together a list of great gear I recommend for shooters of all levels. ***This post will continue to be updated as needed.***

Point-and-Shoot Gear

First up on the docket is my beloved point-and-shoot, the Canon S95. I fell in love with this puppy when I initially planned to buy something else, and found myself stopped in my tracks by this little treasure. 10 megapixels, a huge 3" LCD screen, glorious high ISO noise reduction, a smorgasbord of shooting modes (including manual mode which can be hard to find on a point-and-shoot)—and it fits in my pocket!? Sold! :)  It's the size of your phone with much of the power and control of a dSLR. Amazing! I love this camera so much, when Emir and I went to Morocco last January, it was the only one we brought with us. (Check out the photos from Marrakech and the Sahara Desert to see why it was the only camera we needed!)

The S95 comes with a standard wristlet strap, but I opted instead to keep my camera more accessible with a traditional neck strap, which has served me well whether riding camels in the Sahara or jogging down the Vegas strip.

To keep my S95 safe when it's not in my hands, I tuck it into this neck-strap-compatible case. Truth be told—as much as I love the high-level protection it offers, if I were looking again, I'd give serious consideration to this other case too, as it also works with a neck strap, but unlike the case I have, this one has a pocket for memory cards, etc. Bonus!

Accompanying my beloved S95 is my favorite bendable little tripod, the Joby Gorillapod (for point-and-shoot cameras).This little baby comes with me when I travel and has made all kinds of shots possible that couldn't have happened otherwise. I've used it on table tops for self-portraits, in the desert sand for night shots, or wrapped around Times Square barricades when shooting a long exposure. The clincher? It fits in my purse along with the S95! :)

The G12 was the other semi-compact camera that almost tore me away from the S95—but not quite. The key differences of the G12 include a faster shutter speed capability (up to 1/4000),  a built-in neutral density filter, and slightly better zoom. For more details on why my decision to go with the S95 was so tough, check out this in-depth comparison.

dSLRs

Ok, ok... so what if you're looking for a dSLR? They can range in price from about $500 to well upwards of $2500 and the differences between them can sometimes be hard to spot.

Professionally, I shoot with the Canon 5DMII. It's a great camera that I love dearly, but it can be more camera than some people care or have need for, so it might be worth a look at some solid alternatives. :)

If you're looking for an entry level dSLR, I love the Canon Rebel series. The Rebel T3 is a great place to start and is available with a kit lens for roughly $500 (at the time of writing). That's a lot of power for less than $500 bucks! Why is it so cheap? It's only 12 megapixels (which is more than plenty for most people, provided you're not committing violent acts of cropping!). It's also important to note that it shoots HD video in 720 rather than full HD at 1080p, but other than that, it's a pretty rad way to get your feet wet in the dSLR world without breaking the bank.

If you prefer an entry level dSLR with more megapixels and a full 1080p, check out the Rebel T2i. For less than $700, you get a great camera that gives you 18 megapixels of yumminess along with plenty of freedom and flexibility for a surprisingly great price.

If you are inspired to jump beyond the Rebel series, check out the EOS 60D. You get total cinematic control (manual exposure!) over your HD video shots along with the ability to add external audio components—all with 18 megapixels of photo deliciousness. With a basic starter lens (18-135mm, f/3.5-5.6), it's all yours for less than $ 1300 (at the time of this writing). Already have a Canon EF or EF-S lens? Get the camera body itself without the lens for less than $1000.

Let's Talk About Lenses

A good lens can make a dramatic impact on your photos, so if you're on a budget and aren't sure where to get the  most bang for your buck, it's better to have a modest camera body and a great lens, than the other way around.

So what makes a lens great? Well—like so many things, it depends on what your needs are. But before you think about  your needs, it helps to understand what to look for in a lens. For those of you who haven't read my book yet, here's a crash course on the main two factors to start with when comparing lenses: focal length and maximum aperture. (This information is generally included with the name of the lens and is also written on the outside of the lens itself.)

The first set of numbers you'll see represent the focal length, measured in millimeters (mm). Smaller numbers represent wider angles (fitting more of the scene into the lens) while bigger numbers are referred to as being telephoto (more close-up to your subject).For example, a 24mm lens will take photos that appear further away than photos taken from the same location using a lens with a more close-up focal length of 135mm. Some lenses are referred to as "fixed" lenses, meaning they offer a single focal length only (like 50mm), vs. "zoom" lenses that offer a range of focal lengths (like 70-200mm for example).

The second set of numbers is the maximum aperture. It refers to how wide the aperture on a given lens is capable of opening. That means, a 50mm, f/1.4 lens has a focal length of 50mm, and a maximum aperture of f/1.4. Simple stuff, right?

Most "kit" lenses that come included with dSLR camera bodies are a good place to start for a general, multi-purpose lens. They often range in focal length from something like 18-55mm or 18-135mm, are relatively inexpensive ($175-450) and generally feature a maximum (widest) aperture of f/3.5 - f/5.6, depending on where you are within the zoom range. (This means that your maximum aperture may be f/3.5 when you're zoomed out as wide as the lens will go, as you begin to zoom in, your maximum aperture will be reduced to f/5.6.) If you want some additional zoom power, check out the 18-200mm, f/3.5-5.6 (right around $600 at the time of this writing).

Lenses start getting more expensive when you do any of the following:

• increase focal range (greater zoom capacity)
• increase maximum aperture (the wider the maximum aperture, the more $$$ you should be prepared to spend)

(Note: As you move from inexpensive kit lenses to higher quality specialty lenses, you're also generally moving from plastic to glass construction, which also tends to increase not only the price, but also the weight of the lens.)

Lenses with wide maximum apertures (usually f/2.8 or wider) are referred to as being "fast" because their wider apertures make it possible to shoot without flash and hand-hold the camera in low-light situations with a "faster" shutter speed that doesn't require a tripod. They're also great for achieving very shallow depth of fields.

If you're looking for a "fast" lens to try, I suggest starting with a 50mm prime lens (a prime lens means that it has a fixed focal length, and doesn't "zoom"). 50mm is a great standard focal length that let's you practice active compositional skills by moving yourself closer (or further) from the action as needed. (My 50mm lens spends more time on my camera than any of my other lenses—combined!) You can find an inexpensive one with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 for less than $120. Or, if you want glass construction and a slightly "faster" max aperture of 1.4, you can score one for about  $420.

My personal favorites amongst my current lens collection include the 50mm, f/1.2, the 16-35mm, f/2.8, the 70-200mm, f/2.8, and the 100mm, f/2.8 macro.

Of course, owning all the greatest gear in the world won't do you any good if you don't know how to use it. :) For a fun, non-intimidating introduction to getting the most from your camera (whichever one you have), check out my labor of love, Your Camera Loves You: Learn to Love it Back!

Mastering Photoshop

Whether your photo processing style is minimal and more natural, or whether you're a fan of extreme digital effects—Photoshop is part of your digital photo life. And if you're new to the world of digital imaging, you may be wondering how in the world you can get a grip on the basics (let alone the various nuances that make Photoshop the software bohemeth that it is)? Messing around and exploring on your own is great, but it only goes so far. After all, Photoshop is one seriously sophisticated piece of software!

I started my learning process 10+ years ago with an old, enormous, 1000+ page book called "Inside Photoshop 6." (It could possibly win the award for the worst cover design of any book I've ever seen. Don't judge!). As I carefully worked my way through each exercise (even the ones that looked less than exciting), I made a point to explore the why behind what the author was having me do, rather than mindlessly clicking along without much regard to what was actually happening. In other words, it's easy to work your way through even the best of educational books and come out knowing little more than when you started if you don't pay attention to the why behind the process. Using your critical thinking skills while you work through the exercises in any book will help you learn to "think" like Photoshop, understanding not just where to click... but how, when, and of course—why.

Of course, we've moved quite a bit past Photoshop 6 (currently with CS5, the equivalent of Photoshop 12), and my beloved book that first introduced me to the wonders of Photoshop is now pretty outdated (which also means it's cheap... you can get it on amazon for as little as $0.01!). Thankfully, other incredible authors like Deke McClelland have put together more recent books like "Photoshop CS5 One-on-One," which I highly recommend and use as the text book for the various classes I teach.

After pouring my way through books, I moved on to other awesome learning materials like Photoshop User Magazine and website. Super guru and genius Scott Kelby leads the charge as well-known Photoshop trainers, writers, and artists pool their knowledge together into a one-of-a-kind educational magazine with an incredible online component.

For $99/year you get 6 issues of the tutorial stuffed magazine, access to their vast collection of online resources and tutorials, a direct phone number to their Photoshop  help desk, and—free shipping from B&H (among other benefits!). If you use this link and enter the code FRIEND, you'll also get the "Best of Photoshop User: 12th Year DVD" free!

All these years later, I still subscribe to the magazine and am continually amazed with each issue.

My advice to newbies is: learn as much as you can about every aspect of Photoshop. Work your way through as many lessons and tutorials as you can, even if you don't particularly care for the specific example or final outcome. Your goal should be not just to learn how to set text on fire or create the illusion of molten lava, etc., but to understand the various available functions, commands, and techniques and how you can use them to suit your fancy whenever the spirit moves you. Many of the same techniques can be applied in different genres whether you're a mixed media collage artist or a portrait photographer.

Sometimes, the best thing you get out of a tutorial is a by-product of the lesson itself. Discovering a new way of doing something, a command you'd never noticed before, or a simple keyboard shortcut you'd somehow missed previously. The more you read, the more broad your knowledge becomes.

If you're anxious to play but are stuck for ideas, check out the contests and galleries at Worth1000. They have assignments and Photoshop competitions for users of all levels. It's sure to inspire some exciting pixel play.

Enjoy!

"A" Stands for "Auto" (Not "Awesome")

Lots of folks have been asking me all kinds of questions about the book I'm writing, and while I'm over the moon with excitement, I haven't gone into a lot of public detail yet. BUT--I thought I'd share part of the overall concept with you. :) (The name of the book is NOT the same as the name of this post—in case you wondered!) [Editor's update: The book is out and it's called "Your Camera Loves You: Learn to Love it Back!"]

The book is based on one of my favorite classes that I teach on a regular basis (at least 4-8 times per year). It's a super basic, start at the beginning, sort it all out digital camera class embracing the premise that any and all cameras are capable of being pretty rad... if you know how to work them.

The problem is that most people don't.

They buy a camera, set it to "auto" and keep it there until they become frustrated. Eventually they hunt around for a newer model with hopes that the fancier camera will magically make their photos look better. Of course, it doesn't... and they don't... and the poor sap ends up back at square one, with only a bruised bank balance to show for it.

In an effort to break the cycle, I teach folks how to get the most they can from the camera they already have. You don't have to have a fancy-pants pro-level dSLR (or any dSLR) to get great shots--You just have to know how to work it. (As I tell people in class, "Don't be afraid to get bossy!")

To prove it, I thought I'd share with you a couple of sample photos I shot for the book while Emir and I were camping in Morocco's Sahara Desert. These were both captured (only moments apart) in the black of night with my Canon S95 (a super compact point & shoot camera retailing for less than $400).

This first image was captured with the camera (and flash) set to "auto." Needless to say... it looks awful. Where were we? The Black Hole?

This is literally the same scene, captured with the same camera only a few seconds later in a different shooting mode (in this case, manual mode). It is not a product of Photoshop, but rather... something much better. I like to call it... knowledge. I simply canceled the flash and increased the exposure time (by slowing the shutter waaaaay down). And... BAM!

Now, you can not only see the camels and the twinkling stars, but you can feel the warm glow from the campfire that was roaring behind me the whole time!

The book is slated to hit the stores sometime this summer (I will definitely keep you posted!). In the mean time, the next class is on the calendar for Friday August 12, 1-5pm. Contact SCC at 402.437.2700 to get signed up!

What Can Mascara Teach Us About Business?

The last time you went shopping for mascara... did you feel as confused and overwhelmed as I did? Yikes! We seem to be suffering from a plague of sorts in our society. It's known as the "Over Abundance of Choice," and it tends to drowns us on a daily basis... even when shopping for something completely mundane and ordinary... like mascara.

While at a photo conference in Las Vegas recently, I found myself at the CVS along the strip and couldn't resist documenting this outrageous collection simple products used to extenuate eyelashes. The sales clerk laughed along with me as I pulled out my camera and started capturing the different choices.

Voluminous mascara, lengthening mascara, voluminous & lengthening... in one. There were shimmering mascaras, water-proof options, and mascaras that provide 'lash definition.' With names like "Colossal," "Falsies," or my personal favorite, "Stiletto," they all sounded... kinda the same. There's even nutritional mascara which claims to make  your lashes "soft and healthy."

Some brands promised 11x the volume or claimed to increase length up to 85% (though I'm not sure I could see, let alone hold up my eyelids if my lashes suddenly became 11x heavier and 85% longer). Remember a year or so ago when one of the companies had actually produced a battery powered mascara with a vibrating wand? I laughed out loud when I saw the commercial for that one... (who wants vibrating pointy objects near their eyes?) which curiously, was nowhere to be seen on the Vegas shelves. You can, however,  still find telescopic "Last Explosion" wands that appear to posses magical powers of some sort...

(These photos represent only a small sampling of what was available... as there were so many, I actually got bored photographing them...)

The kicker is... they all basically do the same thing.

What you may or may not have realized, is we have a very real problem on our hands. All of this choice is actually becoming problematic, as discussed in the article, "The Tyranny of Choice" or in the TedTalk video with Dr. Barry Schwartz, referring to the notion that less is  more in what he calls "The Paradox of Choice."

There is substantial research showing that too much choice actually prevents us from being able to make decisions (on everything from shampoo to mascara... to 401(k) investment options), and tends to diminish our overall satisfaction (regardless of the outcome) if/when we finally do make some sort of decision.

When I stumbled across some of this research, I was actually... thrilled. I had been feeling like our society's tendency towards an over abundance of choice was bordering on burdensome rather than liberating for quite some time... and felt avenged to know I wasn't nuts... that there were other people who felt this way, along with research to back it up.

Of course, that's not to say that no choice would be any better. Somewhere out there is a middle ground... but we seem to have lost sight of it in blind pursuit of limitless options.

Over the past two years, with this gut feeling (and now solid research in mind), I've made several very conscious choices in the way that I run my business to ensure that it's easy for my clients to have a great experience and feel completely satisfied with the end result, all in record time.

The only real choice they have to make, is to hire me in the first place. From there, the rest is easy. You can read all about it in my recently released ebook, "A Guide to a Wickedly Fast Wedding Workflow." In fact, you can even download a sample chapter if you'd like. (PLUS--> now through Sunday Feb. 27th, you can save 20% with the discount code: WICKEDFAST)

With my workflow and business philosophy completely redefined, I'm proud to say that all of my 2010 wedding clients received their wedding photo proofs and album designs within one week of their wedding.

Less fuss, more satisfaction and time to enjoy it. :)

Canon PowerShot S95 vs Canon PowerShot G12

The prowess of my dedicated 'purse cam' recently reached new heights with the acquisition of Canon's new point and shoot dream boat, the PowerShot S95. I had been looking at and planning to buy the PowerShot G12---until I happened upon the S95, which completely t-boned my G12 intentions. That's not to say my decision was simple. In fact, one could make a very compelling argument that both cameras could have a fiercely defendable place amongst your collection. It's not unlike the fact that, despite the prolific existence of desktops, laptops and iPods… apparently, there is still a niche in our lives that is perfectly suited for the iPad.

My goal was to replace the horrific noise reduction and laughable control options of my archaic SD750 (circa 2004) with something that has manual control in super compact and portable form, and it was not an easy choice. Not by a long shot. The G12 has some unbelievable bonus features, and though it's obviously much smaller/lighter than my 5DmII, the S95 literally fits in my pants pocket. Even on the rare day when I don't mind sporting a pair of skinny jeans. Word.

Thus… I obsessed.  I fretted about which size purse I typically carry on any given day. Would the G12 be ok in it? What about with a case? Would the larger weight drive me bonkers? Would I even notice it amidst all the other stuff that's usually in there? What if I'm riding my bike (or hitting the town)? Would the S95 be better? If I did get the G12, would it end up sitting on the shelf waiting for the call of the open road, while I make more practical and daily use of the camera that's built into my 'always with me' phone?

How would I use it? Am I ok with a wristlet, or do I really want a neck strap? Is it worth having to source my own, as even though the S95 has dual wristlet openings, they're not the right size for a standard neck strap? Do I want/need the flip out LCD screen on the G12? Should I really care that I can put a lens converter on the G12? If I find myself wanting a rig like that, wouldn't I just bring along my real gear and call it good? A hot shoe? For a personal/vacation camera?

What about long exposures? I have a mini-gorillapod from Joby that I'm wildly fond of. Like the S95, it easily fits in my pocket, or my purse. But with a minimum aperture of only f/8 and without the built in neutral density filter of the G12, could I even achieve a slow enough shutter speed in bright conditions on the S95 to bother with letting my beloved gorillapod weigh in on the decision?

As you can see… not an easy decision. Here's the skinny.

Both the G12 & the S95 cameras feature the following:

• Full manual control
• ISO capabilities of 8o-3200
• 10 megapixel capture
• Slowest available shutter speed of 15 seconds
• RAW + JPEG
• HD Video
• Digic 4 Image Processor
• Hybrid Image Stabilization
• Smallest available aperture of f/8
• A staggering collection of 'scenes' including a built-in tilt-shift simulator (referred to as 'miniature') and fish-eye effect

I was actually told that on the inside, they're essentially the same camera (same sensor, processor, etc...). From there, they start to differ, but only slightly. And what one seems to give, the other appears to take.

G12 Highlights - $469

• Faster shutter speed (up to 1/4000 compared to the S95's max of 1/1600)
• Better grip (feels similar to dSLR, the S95 is really tiny in comparison)
• Built-In neutral density filter (amazing!)
• Flip out LCD screen
• Hot shoe for external/off-camera flash
• Ability to add lens converters to extend focal length up to almost 200mm
• Connection for an intervalometer
• Comes with a neck strap
• Effective focal length of 28mm - 140mm (vs. the S95's range of 28mm - 105mm)

G12 Drawbacks

• The viewfinder is a joke so I'd likely end up holding/shooting with it like a regular point and shoot anyway
• At 12.4 oz, the G12 is more than twice the weight of the S95 (6 oz)
• The extra weight makes it too heavy for vertical shots on my beloved gorillapod (horizontal shots are fine though...)
• Maximum aperture of f/2.8 (compared to 2.0 on the S95)

S95 Highlights - $369

• Crazy compact. At only 6 oz, it's less than half the weight of the G12
• Because it's so light-weight, it's perfect on my mini-gorillapod, which also fits in my purse
• Slightly bigger LCD screen (3") than the G12's (2.8")
• Maximum aperture of f/2.0 (at the widest focal length, of course), vs. f/2.8 on the G12 (also only at wider focal ranges)

S95 Drawbacks

• Maximum shutter speed of 1/1600
• No built in neutral density filter to compensate for a max shutter speed of only 1/1600
• There's no hotshoe/intervalometer connection
• Comes with a wristlet strap only. If you prefer to wear it with a neck strap for constant access like what you'd be used to with a dSLR, you'll have to make one yourself or find one specially designed for the smaller connections of a compact point and shoot (a standard neck strap won't fit through the tiny slots, but it's worth knowing that there are in fact, two). You could have your choice of a traditional double sided-neckstrap or a singly attached lanyard style.

After crazy amounts of back and forth dialogue, here's what I based my decision on:

• My main priority, next to having manual control, was compact size. I can carry the S95 in my pocket or my purse... even with my favorite little tri-pod.
• When I pack my gear bag for personal/travel photos, I usually only bring two lenses: my 16-35mm f/2.8, and my most fave, the 50mm f/1.4. So I didn't feel like the extra focal length of the G12 was a necessity (though if the S95 had it, I certainly wouldn't complain)
• The one feature on the G12 that gave me the greatest pause was the built-in neutral density filter. Since the minimum f/stop on both cameras is f/8, it's awesome that the G12 has both a faster maximum shutter speed and the ND filter, making it possible to shoot at wider apertures or use longer shutter speeds, even in broad daylight. I decided that if I really need ND capabilities, I could keep a snippet (or two) of a ND gel in my camera case for the rare occasion when I might want it
• Even though the G12 feels like a dSLR in your hands, the viewfinder is so laughable, you really have hold it and shoot with it like a true point and shoot, so... the S95 just made more sense to me. For now. :)

Here are some shots from a recent trip to NYC, captured on the S95, all straight out of camera.

This was a test to see what kind of slow shutter speed I could get away with in a bright situation (Times Square at night is far from dark!). This was exposed at 2 seconds, f/8, ISO 80. A ND filter would've been nice in Times Square, but wasn't absolutely necessary.

Here's another long exposure in a darker area. 6 seconds, f/8, ISO 80. In this darker scene... no ND filter? No problem! (Don't you love star bursts at f/8?)

This is an example of the built-in feature called 'miniature' that mimics a tilt-shift lens. (Also available on the G12)

An example of the built-in fish-eye effect (also available on the G12). I'm not usually a fan of 'effects,' but this was fun to pull off without having to lug around my fish-eye. :)

A low-light shot. Unbelievably clean, and the color looks great. 1/30th, f/2, ISO 800

Here's the gorillapod set-up that made the long exposures (the first two sample images) possible--> I just wrapped it around one of the many street barricades nearby. (This behind the scenes image was shot with the ancient SD750 I was so anxious to replace.)

I still entertain the idea of getting the G12 to bring on once-in-a-lifetime trips (like an upcoming one we have planned for Morocco... with bright sun and lots of sand, making an ND filter look pretty attractive), but... for now, I am madly in love with the S95.

Either way, you really can't go wrong. They're both happiness in a little black box. :)

A Floating Workshop: Camera Cruise, Let's Go!

How cool is THIS? A 4 day "Camera Cruise" with yours truly and the likes of David Beckstead, the Bui Brothers, Frederick Van Johnson, Sara France, Kevin Swan, Shaun Austin, Frederick Van Johnson and more! It's a floating workshop where you get personal attention from some of your favorite professional photographers who have been there/done that and and are eager & willing to help you rock your world! Thursday, November 11, 2010 4:00 PM  – Monday, November 15, 2010 10:00 AM $1,250 includes four days full of workshops, shooting and face time (AND lodging/meals). Leaving from/Returning to: Mobile, Alabama Stopping in: Isla Cozumel, Mexico

I'll be sharing my wicked fast workflow and album production process using none other than Adobe InDesign. Join the revolution!

For full details, check out the Camera Cruise blog or the Camera Cruise registration site.

Mentee: Katrina

Katrina *gets it.* Since launching her business just over six months ago... she is already well on her way to many of the revelations and epiphany moments that can often take years to arrive at. What separates Katrina from the countless numbers of folks who pick up a dSLR on a daily basis and proclaim their professional ambitions to the world, is that Katrina is willing to invest. Not just financially, but emotionally and even more importantly.... she's willing to invest time. Folks often underestimate the amount of power hours that go into not only mastering your craft, but also... building a viable business. Many of the folks who email me asking for advice are looking for magic bullets, a simple 'to-do' list that will turn them into a guaranteed success story overnight.

But... it just doesn't work that way. There are helpful hints, lessons and strategies you can pick up along the way to accelerate your learning (hence, the mentoring.....) but... in the end... you still have to do the work and put in the effort. Of course, that's why it's all so rewarding!

I was thrilled to hear about her slow and methodical acquisition of new gear... meaning, she buys what she can afford after saving up from the work her business has already brought her. Those of you who know me well know that I'm a bit of a personal finance maniac (thanks dad!), and one of the mistakes I see so many aspiring photographers do, is to rush out and drop mad money on gear. The latest and greatest camera won't turn you into a photographic super star... and the sooner folks realize that, the sooner they can focus on developing the actual skills that will bring them success. As much as I wish owning Emeril's pots and pans would transform me into a gourmet chef.... I'm not holding my breath. :)

We talked about some techniques... and largely discussed carving out your niche, working with clients and balancing life/work/family/personal needs. A compassionate teacher whose heart is handed to her students on a daily basis, Katrina balances her passion for photography with a full-time teaching career and her main priority.... her family that includes her husband and their two young sons.

Her recent FB post said, "I had multiple epiphanies during my chat with Khara today about what my goals are and how to accomplish them, what an awesome experience! Thank you Khara, you ROCK!"

YOU rock Katrina! You should be proud of where you are and all that you've accomplished already. Congrats on taking the first leap! :)

WPPI 2010 Wrap Up + Photographers Ignite: Uncle Bob Photo

(If you're looking for the Uncle Bob Ignite video, it's at the end of this post! :) - Enjoy!)

What fun we had again in Vegas this year! We arrived on Sunday, dropped off our bags and immediately checked out the scene at the conference.

Emir came along and was an INCREDIBLE source of support and encouragement. I absolutely enjoyed having him there with me... and don't know what I'd do without him! I love you sweet thing! Here, he solves some last minute IT challenges.... :)

Sunday night, we got cleaned up... (I know, worst camera phone EVER!) and I was surprised to discover that I actually fit into this dress.... Hallelujah! I suppose that all the running has really started to pay off! ha! I'm proud to say that I continued my training by cranking out another 13 miles along the Vegas strip in the wee hours of the morning during the conference. (It was kinda crazy to see people in the casinos at night when we were going to bed, and again in the morning.... still in the same seats at 5:30am the next day when I headed out to run.... I guess they were really having a great time!)

Sunday night meant dinner w/ friends (gasp! no photos!) and surprise tickets from me to Emir for Cirque's LOVE. (Which, is aptly named... as we LOVED it!)

Later, Emir held his own as the only guy alongside Michele M. Waite, Kellie Kano, Stacey Kane, (Emir & I), Rebecca Peters and Melissa Jill. One of the best things about attending conferences, is the opportunity to connect (and re-connect) with so many friends! Great to see you all again ladies!

I've been looking forward to teaching my first WPPI Master Class since last year's WPPI.... and was so excited it was finally here! I was bursting at the seams with passion to help fellow photogs be the best they can be. We talked about using Adobe InDesign as part of a regular work flow as well as some basic design principles to really hit the ground running.

Last year, while boldly following my heart down a path that eventually lead to this year's Master Class, I found myself under the supportive wing of this fun fella... Joe. :) He introduced me to the rest of the Rangefinder family and welcomed Emir and I back to Vegas with his hearty grin and a big bear hug. You're the best Joe!

I am eternally grateful to Adobe, AsukaBook (Lindsay... you rock my world!) and Banti Album Proofing for helping to bring this class into existence. Their support made this learning opportunity a reality, and I'm not the only one who was grateful. One quote I received after the fact was from Jake who said: "2 years of WPPI and @kplicanic was hands down my best class yet!" Those simple words made the countless hours of prep, writing, planning (and stressing!) completely worth it. I am THRILLED that everyone seemed to really enjoy it and left better equipped to rock their businesses. Yay!

It was ultra exciting to have Adobe dream team members Julieanne Kost and Allison Goffman sitting in on my session. Truly an honor ladies! Thanks so much for your support!

The icing on the cake was afterwards when we met up with other Adobe conference speakers including Kevin Ames, Jim DiVitale, and Art Suwansang for drinks later that night.

We had a lot of fun... but no fluff here! This class was bursting at the seams with hard-core substance! (Hence, the serious looks of concentration... ;)

Of course, I was up to my usual antics.... (I have no idea what I was illustrating with my wide open arms.... document bleeds perhaps?)

One of the awesomest book publishers around, Peachpit Press, was kind enough to send a few copies of one of my favorite design books ever: "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by brilliant artist/author Robin Williams. Five lucky folks went home with one of her books (Peachpit generously also included a few copies of another of Robin's books that I love, "The Non-Designer's Design & Type Book"). Thank you Scott!!!!!

Following my Master Class, I got to visit the great people over at the AsukaBook booth where I did a couple of quick demos explaining how to export from InDesign specifically for AsukaBook. If you've never checked them out.... some seriously great folks over there! Luv you guys!

Me, gettin' my 'Britney' on. (Love the headset mic!)

Ok.  So, yes..... that horrible looking man pictured below.... is me (Thanks to Jen Mckendrick for snapping and sending such fun shots!). (Scroll down for the full 5 minute VIDEO)

Kevin Kubota and crew organized what was the very first (and hopefully not last!) "Photographers Ignite." Featuring 20 photographers, each with a single 5 minute presentation to share. It was wildly fun and entertaining! Other speakers I was honored to share the stage with included: Kevin himself, Vicki Taufer, Scott Bourne, Ace Cuervo, Doug Gordon, Carolyn Wells, Jerry Ghionis, Gustavo Fernandez, Craig Strong, Mike Steelman, Sarah Petty, Riz Crescini, David Jay, Becker, Katie Trujillo, Jed Taufer, Jessica Claire, Amy Parrish and Jules Bianchi w/ Joy Bianchi Brown.

It was to be the official closing session for the conference and it was suggested that I submit some proposals. So.... submit I did. Perhaps as many as 5? After finishing what I thought was my last proposal idea.... I was brushing my teeth one day when the idea for Uncle Bob came to mind. I ran to the computer, submitted it and quickly went back to brushing my teeth where it dawned on me.... I might actually have to go through with it (costume and all) if it was chosen. Ha!

So.... I began writing...... then editing. Then writing some more. Then, I threw the whole thing out and started over. TWICE.

Write/re-write. Then.... record to test timing. Followed by (are you surprised?) more editing and re-writing.

Eventually, I went thrift-store shopping... not for fun things like shoes or purses.... but for.... "Bob's" clothes.

I roped Emir and my soon to be sister-in-law in on the action and created the imagery for the 20 slides that would auto-advance every 15 seconds for what was to be nothing more (or less!) than a 5 minute presentation. These are a few of my fave slides....

I enjoyed the entire creative process almost as much as the live performance. :) The days leading up to the event were spent twittering on behalf of Uncle Bob (much to the confusion and bewilderment of those he reached out to!).  It was a riot to watch people's faces wash over with a smile as I walked through the audience before the show welcoming everyone, shaking hands and telling them how great it was to see them again (since the last wedding they photographed where they surely ran into me.... er..... I mean, Bob!).

One email I found waiting for me upon my return home said: "Hey Khara! Just wanted to say, AWESOME 5 minutes at Photographers Ignite. I really ALMOST did wet my pants!! LOL. Great Job!!" People almost peeing their pants? SCORE! (wow... I continue to be amazed and how truly unattractive I am in this outfit! ha!)

If you want to see the whole 5 minutes for yourself.... check out the video below. :) What you can't see well in the video is the final slide, which brings home the point of the whole presentation. It says: "Don't be Uncle Bob! You just spent a week learning great things from great people. Go forth and put your new found wisdom into action! (Don't be Bob!)

Panel This!

What are you doing tomorrow bright and early? Don't sleep in! Join yours truly and a stellar line up of social media/blogger enthusiasts for a panel discussion on what makes it so darn fun.  Hope to see you tomrrow!

Openin' Up in the Big O!

Yours truly is proud to have been invited to come speak at the Co-Op Photography Studio, My Studio, in Omaha a week from today! (That's Monday, Feb. 22nd folks!) I'll be discussing: Design basics Intro to Adobe InDesign Marketing & Social Media (Blogs/Twitter/FB) Wedding Photography – The Big Picture

The cost (which includes lunch! Yum!) is $109.

For info on signing up, contact Tina Gunn or Tanya Siragusa. I hope to see you there!