Sunday Shoutout} Morgan Kervin

If you're a member of the photog community, you know who she is ... and ... if you don't, you should. Morgan Kervin is not only a talented photographer, but a mentor to other photographers as well. Some say she is generous to a fault.

Like many of us, Morgan is completely self-taught, and she's not afraid to admit that her first camera .... was a disposable! According to her, falling in love with photography was, and is still, "an insatiable urge to document every moment of life." I guess that comes with the territory when you have small children. LOL. In fact, many "photomoms" consider their children to be their inspiration. Which holds true in Morgan's case as well.

Morgan not only offers quality art to her clients, she also offers a variety of services for photographers. Check out her blog for tutorials, workshops, posing guides and more. Also, if you can't find the answer on her blog, simply find her on Facebook. Morgan is like Radio Shack ... If you've got questions ... she's got answers.

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1637226044752#!/pages/Morgan-Kervin-Photography/245730439650

http://morgankervin.blogspot.com/

copyright morgan kervin 2011

copyright morgan kervin 2011

Morgan Kervin: Fun Facts

 

~If you could photograph anyone in the world who would it be? Anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Oh! hmm.....I don't think there is one person that I would love to photograph more than my own kids, but if you make me choose it would be Zac Efron, Jared Leto or Paul Walker. In Greece or Australia

Jared Leto? ... A woman after my own heart, :)

~How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Lucky, helpful, determined

~What is the most important part of a sandwhich?

The veggies

~If E.T. called you ... what would you say?

I don't have any skittles

~ How many hats do you have in your home?

I honestly have no clue! I, myself don't have any, but my kids and husband have quite a collection

Thank You  ... for all that you've done .. and all you will continue to do



"H" Family } Sneak Peak

The "H" Family

Little Man did was NOT letting go of that sucker. LOL. No way .... No how. We got a few suckerless shots in when Mom said, " If you say cheese, I'll give it right back." It worked! But ... in all honesty ... I actually liked the sucker. I love capturing personalities and honesty in my photos. What is more honest than a kid with candy? 



Amanda Blogs About} Photo Composition - The Rule of Thirds

Ahhhhh ... the "rules" of composition .... a frustrating notion to some ... an artistic necessity to others. But, one thing we all know is, rules are made to be broken ... so ....please don't think that you have to follow these rules consistently. It is more important to express yourself as an artist. Simply think of these "rules" as a set of guidelines that merely assist you in giving your photos more impact.

The Rule of Thirds

Considered by some to be the most important of the Rules of Composition, the rule states that any form of visual art, in this case a photo, should be divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines.... like a tic-tac-toe board. The idea is that the most important elements of the photo should be placed either upon the lines or directly at the intersections. Many photographers consider where the lines intersect to be the "sweet spot". Some feel that placing the most important elements of the photo on the sweet spot(s) makes the photo feel more balanced than centering the subject.

Centered Vs. Rule of Thirds: (photos below are property of Don Paulson)

Centered

Rule of Thirds



LANDSCAPES:
 For landscape photos place the subject where the lines intersect and the horizon on the upper or lower line

For lack of a decent, available landscape to photograph yesterday

this is what I came up with as an example. To make this photo work

correctly with the Rule of Thirds the tree line would need to be even with the

top grid line

A better example of a Landscape photo following the Rule of Thirds can be found HERE

PORTRAITS:

 For portraits place the subject's face at one of the intersections rather than centering it. Make sure the subject is looking directly at the camera or is facing inward, toward the photo, to avoid leading the viewer's eye out of the photo.



Simple, Right? Of Course! Some DSLR's even have the Rule of Thirds grid accessible through their viewfinder.... making taking a well composed photograph that much easier. Happy Shooting!

Amanda Blogs About} Being Legit

Please Be Advised: The information found in this tutorial is not legal advice. I am a photographer, not an attorney. If you would like legal advice, please contact your attorney. Happy Reading!

Okay so, you've got your equipment, your portfolio is ready, and you're ready to take the next step and open a legitimate photography business. But where do you start? What documents do you need? Do you need insurance? And ... where do you find these answers? Well, after talking to a few dozen photographers, reading a few books, and contacting a few government and state agencies, I think I can finally put together a checklist of all things (or pretty close) needed to get your business up and running .... legally.

(1) Form: First and foremost you need to decide what form of business will make the most sense for you and your business needs. **There are three basic forms of business: Corporations, Partnerships, and Sole-ownership (sole-proprietorship). Each form of business has variations that must be considered when making your decision. Do some research to determine which is right for you.

(2) Licensing: In order to run a business legally, most cities will require that you have either a business license, an assumed (ficticious) name permit, or a combination of the two.** A ficticious name permit, or DBA, is usally required when the name of your business does not include your legal surname. In some states, such as Texas, the permit doubles as a business license. And ... in other states, running a photography business does not require a license at all. Contact your local city hall to find out what type of licensing is required for your area.

(3) Federal Taxes: A Federal Tax ID number (EIN) is required for all businesses. This is how the IRS idientifies you as business entity. If you are a Sole Proprietership your SS number can be used as the EIN. You can apply for an EIN for free at http://www.irs.gov/

(4) State Taxes: **If you are starting a business in a state that charges sales tax you may be required to charge, collect, and pay sales tax.This means that you will also need a Resale Number, also known as a State Tax ID. There are some exceptions. **For more information contact the State Board of Equilization office or check your state's website. Remember: When getting paid for a job, and you charge sales tax, this is NOT YOUR MONEY! You will be required to file with your state and pay these taxes either yearly or quarterly, depending on the state your in and the size of your business.

(5) Business Account: Do you need to open a seperate checking account for your business? YES. Opening a seperate bank account for your business does two things: (1) It keeps you organized .... your accountant will thank you ... even if YOU are the accountant (2)** It proves to the IRS that you are serious about your business and that you are working toward making a profit. Check with your bank to determine what type of checking account is best for you and your business.

(6) Business Insurance: Business insurance is highly recommended no matter how big or small your business may be. You have spent a ton of money on equipment, right? You want it to be protected, right? Get Insured! Most insurance companies will cover all of your photography equipment as well as offering you liability to protect yourself ... in case a client was to get injured at your studio or by some of your equipment. USAA offers small business insurance. If you are a member of the PPA they can also direct you in the right direction. You can also contact your current insurance provider.

There you have it. Don't have all of this yet? .... Don't freak out. It's okay. Everyone starts somewhere. Take a breathe, collect your thoughts, and then start making some phone calls. You'll be up and running in no time. Remember: There are different requirements for every state, county, and city. Please contact your local government offices to confirm exactly what is needed for your area. Hope this helps!









Credits:
**The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion by Maria Piscopo
Billie Bush
Morgan Kervin
www.irs.gov

Sunday Shoutout} Double Diva Designs

Hey, Hey! It's Sunday again ... and we all know what that means! RECOVERY .... after the New Year. LOL. While all of you fellow photographers (or scrapbookers) are out there skimming the web and making your New Year's business plans, resolutions, and Best of 2010 Albums make sure to stop by Double Diva Designs for all of your digital designing needs.

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I ran across Double Diva earlier in 2010 while I was searching for affordable mini accordian album templates. Not only is Double Diva affordable .. the designs are awesome and easy to use! And ... they have everything! No seriously folks ... everything. From full sized albums to luxe cards to digital papers to custom image boxes and  the list goes on.

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Here's a few facts about the owner/operator/designer herself, Jennifer.

~Jennifer is a Veteran Photographer (10 plus years folks!) and has owned businesses in Dallas as well as Florida

~ She is the mother of TWINS!! Yes  .. that's right. A photographer and the mother of twins! How does she do it???

~ She is PASSIONATE about designing. So passionate in fact ... she sometimes dreams designs and heads straight to her laptop upon waking. That is dedication ... and I love it!
~ Her designs are used by photographers in 13 countries and all 50 states!

If you wanna know more about Jennifer and how she started Double Diva Designs please click here. She tells the story better than I do I must say. ;)

Or ... just head on over to Double Diva Designs and check out all of the great designs and templates she has to offer. Jennifer does custom work as well so if you're looking for something special .. let her know. Happy New Year!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DoubleDiva?ga_search_query=Double+Diva&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/DoubleDiva-Designs/126057180759386