Did you know that after you take a photo in JPEG option your camera will process that file according to an exact mathematical formulation determined by Hans at the camera factory? Hans (not his real name) is commissioned by all camera manufacturers to calculate the amount of contrast, sharpening and white balance that is added to your image when you select the “shoot in jpeg” option in camera settings. Most entry level DSLR cameras and beyond – and some point and shoot cameras – give you the option to shoot in JPEG or RAW or a combination of both. A RAW file is like a digital negative. It contains unprocessed data taken directly from the camera sensor. A JPEG is a RAW image that your camera has processed (according to Hans’ personal preferences). I use to have two beautiful chickens, Marija and Consuela, who were prolific egg layers, forcing me...

When you’re photographing men, it can be easy to fall into the trap of cliched and “done to death” poses. You want to achieve shots that are natural, flattering and have a “wow” factor that make people take notice. In this episode, Gina and Valerie talk about the one pose that you should NEVER use (but which so many men want to do), the “classic go to” poses you can pull out of your arsenal to get a great shot every time, simple styling and grooming tips that can make all the difference, and the best way to direct men on photo shoots. This week’s theme for #ginachallenge is – you guessed it – “men”! Click play to listen to the podcast or find it on iTunes here. If you don’t use iTunes you can get the feed here, or listen to us on Stitcher radio. Show notes   Bokeh (blurry background)...

Love, love, love The War of Art Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield. It’s a beautiful book full of inspiring quotes and awesome practical advice to help get past creative blocks and continue to be inspired every day. Here are a few more of my favourite quotes from this book and I had to stop myself from just quoting the whole book. It’s right up there with Nutella and coffee! “Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.” “We must do our work for its own sake, not for fortune or attention or applause.” “The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.” “It’s better to be in the arena, getting stomped...