From 24 April to 14 May, we are doing a $14.95 portrait special at Place d’Orléans: This will be a separate setup in the mall. So we needed to set up Backdrop with backdrop stands Light stands with umbrellas Studio Flashes Radio triggers Camera on Tripod Laptop 4×6 photo printer Payment mechanism Order forms Envelopes Batteries, chargers, cables, power cables, and more. There’s a lot of work involved in such a setup – and we have to take it down every evening if we want to be sure nothing is stolen. Back to setting up! The post Mother’s Day Shoot first appeared on SPEEDLIGHTER.CA ..read more

The advent of the digital age has transformed the way we take, store and share photographs. With social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook becoming increasingly popular, people now primarily click pictures on their smartphones and upload them online for the world to see. In such an era, the relevance of a brick-and-mortar photography shop might seem limited at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that such shops still hold tremendous value in the digital age. To begin with, brick-and-mortar photography shops offer a physical space where photographers can go to ge ..read more

When we quote for product photography, the client often asks “why so much? It takes just a moment to take a photo, surely?”. But as you can probably imagine, it is not as simple as that. There is more expertise and work involved than you may think. Let me show you. First, there is the setup you require. At a minimum, this: That is, a light setup of some sort – at a minimum, a light box and a nice reflective surface, but often extra “kicker” lights, special reflectors, and more. And a high-definition camera (that is a Canon 5D-SR, a special 50 Megapixel camera), and a 100mm f/2.8L macro lens ..read more

Always the contrarian, let me explain why I argue against conventional wisdom that “long lenses compress perspective”. The reason: They don’t actually do that. They only cause blurry backgrounds. What compresses perspective is your vantage point. Before I explain: let me just show you. here’s two shots I took from the same position. Same position, same camera, and using 24mm and 200mm lens focal length, respectively. Same picture: the small Christmas tree, with the jewellery store behind. Now let’s crop the heck out of that first shot, the 24mm picture. No other changes – just a *(pretty extr ..read more

After you travel, you will come home with photos. And then you will put them away. My message is: look at them again. Months later. Years later. Even decades later. Here’s a few images from a trip to Rome in 2005 – and still I find new photos there: You find new photos because: You change. The world changes, and what is normal today is special tomorrow. Technology changes. You can now save photos that were unsalvageable just a few years ago. Art changes. You overlook things, and looking again means that you are less likely to overlook it again. So: go through your old phots and see what you ..read more

…and with that, I mean, “matters concerning gear”. These matters are generally overrated. “What camera are you using” is usually not an important question. Gear does not always matter, in other words. But that is not to say that equipment is not important – because it is. In the studio I use Canon 5D, Canon 5DSR, and Canon 1Dx Mk2 cameras, with a rage of “L”-lenses. Pro equipment is usually expensive – but you can get good deals buying used. Like in the Michael Willems Photo store in Orléans: I have an amazing 7D MkII available in the store right now: with only 8300 shutter actuations, this i ..read more

I was in Oceanside, California, a week ago, where my son Jason got married. And although I was not the official photographer, I could not resist taking some photos. As you see, I am using flash outside, to balance the ambient light with the subject light. That is, of course, not the only way to do it. You can also just increase exposure overall. This I what the official photographer did. Here’s Daniel, Jason and me: Nothing wrong with that – just not my style. But as a photographer, you must be able to control light so you get to choose what style you get. It has to be a conscious decision ..read more

At my store (http://www.michaelwillemsphoto.com) we buy and sell quality used camera equipment, like cameras, lenses and flashes. Film equipment, like the equipment above, as well as modern digital equipment (like right now, a Nikon D3200, a Canon 1Dx Mk3, and a Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera). You can see the full list on https://www.michaelwillemsphoto.com/specials.html. Which prompts me to ask: when do you upgrade? Do you buy new or used? Film or digital? That’s really two questions. My opinion: Film vs digital: shoot a roll of film regularly. It forces you to get good. No preview, and you pa ..read more

I have some very good used equipment for sale at the store – some mint, as new. One of those is a Canon 8-15mm EF L USM Fisheye. An amazing lens. And fun. At 8mm on a full size sensor, you get a dramatic 180º view in a total circle: Here’s the store itself: (When using it on a crop camera rather than on a full frame camera, the image is cropped so you do not get the full circle.) I prefer to make the outside white, by the way. Out of the camera, the outside is black. This kind of lens is most fun when you get close to things. And this lens allows you to get close… here’s Alex at the store ..read more

It has been very busy at the store (http://www.michaelwillemsphoto.com), so as you will have seen, little time to post. And yet, the need to learn does not decrease, so I will post regularly again. Yesterday, we posted a composite photo of Maya, our intern, to support Pride Month: To make this image, we did the following: Take six photos, using simple lighting, with different props, taking care that the composition was mainly vertical (i.e. not wide). In each photo, use a background flash gelled to the right colour – or almost the right colour. I use Honl Photo gels. Take the photos to the c ..read more