Time Out with Tanya

sitting poses

Sitting Pose Tips, Ideas and Common Mistakes

You can have the best, most perfectly prepared subject with phenomenal hair, makeup and styling and have gorgeous light at your disposal, but bad or mediocre posing will make it all moot. Even an experienced model who knows how to work the camera can use a little coaching to look best from the camera’s perspective ... Read more

How to Shoot a Basic Model Test | Gear, Shot List, Agency Requirements & More

With the shifting requirements for model tests, there is a misconception that all test shoots must be grandiose productions and equipped with a full team. In fact, when first approaching a modeling agency to test you will almost always be asked if you have your own team.  In this article, I’ll walk you through how ... Read more

Dynamic 3-Light Sports Portrait Setup

When it comes to taking sports photography portraits, capturing dynamic energy is the name of the game. Sports portraits often convey a sense of action and energy with dramatic poses and lighting, the latter of which often relies on using off-camera flash. While some photographers try their best to avoid using flash, it’s really not ... Read more

3 Ways To Photograph Family Group Photos With Flash

Setting up one directional off-camera flash with a shoot-through umbrella may be your go-to lighting setup for family formals, but what other ways can you light a group of people to create more drama or visual interest? Light alters the mood of a scene through modifiers, quantity, and color. Even with family photos, you should ... Read more
one light portrait setup

Easiest One Light Portrait Setup for Professional Headshots

How many lights does it take to create a great, pro quality image? In my early career, my answer was “as many as I can get.” But over time, I learned that some of the most beautiful portraits are captured using simple setups. No need for multiple lights, sets, and gear to get gorgeous results. ... Read more

5 Creative Accessories to Conceal Distracting Backgrounds

We’ve all been there: you have great clients but a less-than-superb background. How do you deliver the high-quality, creative imagery that your clients have come to expect? Creative accessories are perfect when you need a spark of creativity or need to block distracting elements in your scene. These simple tools can transform an ordinary shot ... Read more

DIY Reflector | 3 Ways to Make Your Own Reflector

It's a long holiday weekend which means the beach, BBQ, and DIY projects! If you're going out to Home Depot to pick up a few tools to fix something around the house, make sure you add bead foam to your shopping list.
how to design a photo album

How to Design a Photo Album | A Step by Step Guide

Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, printing is an important aspect of photography. Instead of images lost in clouds, hard drives, or social media, printing your photography into wall art or albums makes your photography tangible. Selecting your favorite images for print and laying them out in a story gives them more value and ... Read more

An Introduction to Posing Female Models

Working with agency models is a highly coveted and sought after goal for many aspiring fashion and beauty photographers. While there are many models who know their angles, the reality is that many of the agency models you are likely to test with in the beginning are new faces in the fashion industry. These new ... Read more
SLR Lounge - Best Photography Insurance Options

Photographer Insurance Guide

Let’s face it, photography is not a cheap venture to get into. Regardless of whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, buying and keeping your gear up-to-date can be very expensive. Because of this, it’s incredibly important to keep your equipment safe from theft and damage. Having your gear stolen or broken somehow can be ... Read more
Photography Tips Camera Reviews and News

8 Affordable White Backdrop and Background Options

Tanya Goodall Smith

Minimalism is a concept often utilized in photography. There's nothing more minimal than a white backdrop. Here are 8 white backdrop options that are affordable and accessible.

Photography Tips

My Trick For Getting Kids to Smile Naturally in Photos 99% of the Time

Tanya Goodall Smith

I've devised a little trick for getting kids to smile naturally 99% of the time. It's so simple and it's effective on most anyone who isn't a trained model or actor. Here's how it works.

Photography Tips

How to Plan a Photoshoot in 7 Steps!

Tanya Goodall Smith

Have you ever had a grand concept for a photo shoot but weren't quite sure how to go about executing it? This is part one of a five-part series on being your own art director. Today we're talking about planning the shoot.

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Photography Tips

7 Prom Poses and Ideas for Memorable and Fun Photos

Tanya Goodall Smith

Get your prom on and head into your next teen dance photo shoot armed with our best tips for posing and photographing teen couples and large groups.

Photography Tips

Frame Within a Frame | Examples and Tips For Advanced Compositions

Tanya Goodall Smith

Creating a frame within a frame is one of the basic principles of composition that can add a lot of interest and impact to your images.

how-to-pose-for-pictures-so-you-don't-look-fat
Photography Tips

Anyone Can Be Photogenic! How to Pose So You Don’t Look Fat in Photos

Tanya Goodall Smith

Posing is an art form that takes practice. Check out these 6 videos with posing tips from expert photographers. How to pose so you don't look fat in photos.

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Photography Tips Photography Careers and Business

How Much You Should Charge for Photography

Tanya Goodall Smith

One of the most asked questions I hear from aspiring photographers is “How much should I charge for photography?” There’s no simple answer but here are several resources that may help you figure it out.

Photography Tips Flash Photography

No Studio? No Problem: 5 Simple Lighting Setups for Portraits On-location

Tanya Goodall Smith

5 simple lighting setup for portraits on-location, including specific examples, BTS shots, and diagrams.

Photography Careers and Business Marketing for Photographers

What Art Directors and Designers Look for in Photographs

Tanya Goodall Smith

Ever wondered what art directors & designers look for when purchasing photographs? Here's a look into their minds and how to tailor your work to suit.

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Photography Tips

How to Remove A Soft-Edged Object Using The Pen & Clone Stamp Tools In Photoshop

Tanya Goodall Smith

In this tutorial we take an SLR Lounge Critique submission and show you how to make the changes we suggest.

Photography Tips

6 Tips to Executing Your Planned Photo Shoot — Be Your Own Art Director Series Part 2

Tanya Goodall Smith

Tips for executing a planned photoshoot from my own experience and from what I've seen others do. Take what works in your situation and use it to improve your photo shoots..

Photography Tips Photography Careers and Business Food Photography

10 Ways to Continue Booking Photography Jobs All Winter Long

Tanya Goodall Smith

Are you tired of losing portrait income during the cold winter months? Consider adding one of these 10 niches to your services line-up to fill the gap between weddings and outdoor family photo shoots. Your bank account will thank you.

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