photography on a budget

**The following article was written by guest contributor, Emily Powers.**

While we’d all like to have a few more dollars in our pockets, learning to simplify—to reduce, reuse and recycle—is as invigorating as a long, sweaty workout. The process can be a bit painful, but the results are well worth the effort. Don’t let your wallet keep you from taking better photos.

Myth No. 1: I need top-of-the-line, fancy schmancy equipment to be a great photographer.

Not true. I’ve had the same SLR camera (a Canon 20D) for three years. Would I like to upgrade? Sure. I drool over the B&H catalog when it comes in the mail, but my equipment doesn’t define me. Lighting, post-processing, exposure, and creative composition are just as important as my camera body and lenses. Get the most out of what you’ve got by studying your camera manual and foraging online for free tutorials, tips and tricks.

Myth No. 2: In order to snap a jaw dropping, WOW photo, the location has to be perfect.

Explore your community with new eyes. See that weathered, abandoned barn? Oh, look at that way the light filters into that tiny alley and hits the ivy covered walls! I wonder if we could take a few pictures inside that adorable boutique bakery; let’s go ask! The way that lonely, two-lane road snakes through the hills is so poetic. Did you know there was a park tucked in behind that neighborhood? Look at those brightly painted murals on the side of that building. That sign is hilarious!

Photo dates are a free and fun way to grow as a photographer. Your community is an oyster; there are pearls hiding in the most unassuming, ordinary places. Grab your camera, head out solo and capture the world around you. Want to experiment with modern portraiture? Invite a significant other, child or friend to model for you. I like to occasionally schedule a photo date with another camera enthusiast and take turns photographing each other’s families; that way I’m in a picture once in awhile too!

Go on a photo date each month and your skills will dramatically improve as you wade outside of your comfort zone and photograph new people, places and things in new ways. Classes, books and workshops are helpful, but they cost money and nothing compares to self-discovery; get out there and engage the craft!

Myth No. 3: I have to print every photo I take!

Most of us seem to be on one side of the coin or the other. I let photos sit on my hard drive for months, years even, before shipping them off to the printer. More often it seems people head to their local box store’s one-hour-photo and print off a bunch of 4”x6” pictures that eventually end up in a random album or junk drawer.

Print thoughtfully. On my digital scrapbooking layouts, I try to incorporate more than one photo on a page so my printing pennies stretch further. Similarly, I often use storyboards as wall art so that I can get more than one photo on a single print. An economical way to organize and display many photos is to create a stylish, coffee table, photo book.

Many of the online digital photo printing sites offer free prints, discounts and coupons. Sign up for their newsletters or special offer emails so you stay abreast of the latest deals and get the most bang for your buck.

Taking better photos is within your reach and your budget. Four years ago, I didn’t know what an aperture was or how to desaturate an image in Photoshop. A little sweat equity and a whole lot of curiosity go along way.

BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS WITH TIPS:

Download this layered .psd template and use it to document your first photo date! The storyboard is 20”x20”; print your finished artwork and hang it on the wall or resize your layout to fit in an album or photo book.

Addy and Ellie brings to life a magical backyard photo date with my daughter and her “delphant.” The template is also perfect for a year-in-review layout. I plan to create a separate storyboard print for each year and hang them gallery style in a hallway in our home.

PINCH YOUR PENNIES TIPS:

1. If you can’t afford to fork out a bundle for Photoshop, give Gimp a try! Gimp is free photo editing software available at www.gimp.org.
2. Shop for photo date props at secondhand stores, flea markets and garage sales.
3. Download free Photoshop Actions or Lightroom Presets at www.deviantart.com.
4. Instead of purchasing a pricey macro lens, get a less expensive extension tube to add macro capability to your current camera set-up.
5. Check out www.digital-photography-school.com for free tips on how to get the most out of your digital camera.

PINCH YOUR PENNIES ASSIGNMENT:

Pull out your calendar and schedule a photo date! Brainstorm a list of possible locations, models and props. When you get back from your first photo date, use the 20”x20” storyboard to document your adventure. Print your artwork and hang it on the wall or resize the storyboard to fit in an album or photo book.