Month

June 2016

Ep 80: How to get multiple shots and looks from your portrait photo shoots

If you want to get the best bang for buck – or give your client the best bang for their buck – all it takes is a bit of planning and forethought. In this episode, Gina and Valerie discuss how you to get multiple shots from your portrait photo shoots. And we’re not just talking about getting your subject to bring heaps of different clothes. Here, we outline how one pose can achieve a variety of looks, and how to create differences with only micro-adjustments. #ginachallenge #goingwiththeflow 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 Question from Michael Brewer “I wanted to say how nice it is to be part of this group. I haven’t posted for a while, because my camera gear was stolen...

Bargain hunting: 7 tips to consider when buying used camera gear

There are many bargains available online when buying used camera gear, but always do your research before you part with your hard earned cash so you don’t end up with someone else’s junk.   1. Safety Beware of shonky dealers. Check their online rating and feedback and where possible try and meet them in person. Trust your gut. Ask questions like: What was the camera used for? Where and how was it stored? Are you the first owner? Why are you selling? Any mould, scratches, chips on the lens or sensor?   2. Check under the hood. Ask about how many actuations the camera has (this is a fancy way of saying shutter clicks). The shutter clicks (actuations) on a camera tell you how many times it has been used, much like the kms or miles a car has driven. Camera shutters have a lifespan depending on the model and...

Pixel perfection vs the art of buying great wine

I once knew a photographer, Richard Barrett (not his real name) whose work was absolutely perfect. Every single image was perfectly composed and sharp as a tack. Every pixel was exposed precisely and the post production was flawless. Technically, I could not fault his work. He was also a nice guy and yet his photography struggled to get noticed. Why? I believe it had to do with the way he ordered his wine… An Artist and a Scientist walk into a bar. The Scientist carefully studies the wine list and chooses a wine based on all the data he is given, including the region the grapes are grown in, the history of the wineries and the reviews of each bottle. The Artist orders the same bottle the people on a nearby table are drinking because that’s exactly what he feels like. I believe the way a photographer orders wine, or...

Ep 79 How to find great daylight for portraits anywhere

Sometimes, you have to work with what you’ve got. Life doesn’t always provide you with perfect shooting conditions. So, in this episode, Gina and Valerie discuss how you can find great daylight for portraits anywhere. They also talk about the importance of exposing for different parts of the image – and the surprising results you can achieve from this. 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 Useful links 2 Million Photos In 8 Years Or What It’s Like To Be Obama’s Photographer Shoutout Listener Question from Katrina Schubert “I’m in the early stages of starting a small photography business. I want to shoot families, kids, head shots and hopefully school formal portraits. I’m at the point where I need to start building a portfolio...

Quote: I love this quote so much!

“Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark.” ― Jay Danzie

Shooting and directing portrait of Hannah

In this tutorial, we go behind the scenes as Gina shoots and directs a portrait of Hannah, who is not a professional model.

Can’t focus? Try this App

Do you find you get easily distracted by shiny things? I’m always looking for productivity hacks to keep me focused especially when I’m retouching images or writing. When I first saw this app, I was skeptical. I just didn’t get how a few nature sounds could possibly keep me focused and alert. I was so wrong! This app is brilliant. I use it when I’m retouching images and I’ve also used it to help me relax after a big day of shooting and it’s even great for power naps. Check it out here Give it a go and let me know what you think.

Ep 78 How to create quick and easy portraits anywhere

What happens when you head to Sicily with a group of photography enthusiasts to capture a series of awesome portraits, combined with an unforgettable culinary journey? Well, Gina Milicia has done just that. And in this episode, she shares her adventures with Valerie, along with: what gear she packed, what went wrong, how she achieved her shots, and what the group learnt along the way. #ginachallenge #rustic 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 Gear List 5DMK111 70-200mm L series 11 24-105mm L series 16-35mm L series   4x pocket wizards 2 x yongnuo triggers 1 x 580 EX11 1x Yongnuo speedlight 1x Chimera portable beauty dish 1x grid 1x med softbox 1x small softbox 1x plastic dome 1x paper bag   Tripod Manfrotto...

Understanding colour profiles

In an ideal world, I could photograph a man wearing a blue suit and a yellow cap, sitting in a red Fiat 500 (the coolest car ever made). I could use any camera, process it using any RAW file software, retouch on any computer and print it on any printer. The reds, blues, yellows and skin tones would be identical through the entire process. Sadly, we don’t live in that world. Cameras, monitors, software and printers speak different languages and see different versions of colours. This makes what should be the relatively simple exercise of photographing, post-processing and printing one of the most frustrating exercises possible. The good news there is a workaround. It’s a bit like a language interpreting service for colours. Introducing: colour management. Colour management, like the UN, gives all your devices consistent colour profiles (the way they see colour). The gorgeous red Fiat 500 I photographed...
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How to direct and pose like a pro

About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

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