School Portrait from Michael Berliner on Vimeo.

********* School Portrait is currently nominated for a 2012 Webby – if we made you smile, PLEASE cast your vote to help us win the People's Voice Award! http://pv.webbyawards.com/ballot/119 *********

Directed by Nick Scott – www.nickdavidscott.com || http://twitter.com/nickdavidscott
Produced by Michael Berliner – www.picopictures.co.uk || http://twitter.com/michaelberliner

Thanks for all your support – we hit one million views in ten days!! We made this film in one day for £200 at a friendly school in South London. We never imagined the film would get this response and we're so glad you're enjoying it!

In December, we asked you to tweet YOUR school portraits to #SchoolPortrait – watch the Xmas Special featuring the competition winners! http://vimeo.com/34181225

We've been featured in hundreds of blogs and newspapers. Top features:

Huffington Post: http://huff.to/sRkmKe
Washington Post: http://wapo.st/shfP1l
Failblog: http://chzb.gr/rx6FUo
Gizmodo: http://gizmo.do/tepuic
London Evening Standard: http://bit.ly/tqSgee
The Sun: http://bit.ly/ut4CUr

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We’re often techies. OK, we are techies and electronics geeks. We read, we buy, we play. Digital photographers are techie junkies at times and I am no different. Because of the nature of my personal photographic work and being an instructor of students all over the world, I do keep up with current trends for digital photographers.  These are exciting times for us, and the available tools for our passion are getting larger, more complex and most of all, fun! Lets talk about 10 technology trends that are here or forthcoming. I’ll be breaking these down in detail over the next 10 articles, here is my introductory summary.

When was the last time you stepped into a Starbucks and didn’t see someone doodline on an iPad? Lets face it, they’re all over the place. Yuppies, professionals and regular folks likes us playing with their iPads. How does cool new tool help the photographer? Think of the future, cloud computing. Its coming, and its the next-step of the web. The iPad is more than a glorified iPhone with a few apps. Its gaining steam. For photographers, look for more and more image editing and display options in the future. At the size of a magazine, there isn’t an excuse for not having one.  Let me put it this way, as a photographer, I’ll be hooked on this thing first day I get mine home.  No, its not going to replace what I can do with Lightroom, Photoshop and Elements, but I can do just about anything I want to most photo’s on the fly, and its great to display my work to others, video included. Its a web app notebook, eReader and photo display/editor all built in for me in a small package. Put this on your holiday list, you’ll want one.

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Recent Photography Trend #2: Point And Shoot Size DSLRs

Mirrorless Without the Pentaprism And Almost 1/2 the Size of a DSLR

Sony NEX5AB Nex NEX-5A/B 14.2MP DSLR Digital Camera With 16/2.8 Black

Now we’re talkin! We all know how backbreaking a heavy DSLR can be with huge lenses and accessories. Folks, things are getting simpler and smaller. Enter this years entry into the new subcompact DSLR, the mirrorless digital camera. Get the lightweight advantage of a small point and shoot with full DSLR capability at a low price with good glass, and we have a new class of digital camera.

Olympus PEN E-P2 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens

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Recent Photography Trend #3: High Dynamic Range Photography (HDR)

I’ve written about this extensively, and it looks like HDR is going to have a place in our workflow for some time to come.   HDR is actually a simple concept, but somewhat tricky (until now) to implement for digital images. HDR is a number of images, taken at different exposures that when combined in software, contain an entire dynamic range of the scene, elements from the extreme shadows to the extreme highlights, and everything in between. Got all that?

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Recent Photography Trend #4: Digital Photography Workflow Software

One of the trends that has been growing for advanced and enthusiast photographers is the use of image editing workflow software. The market is dominated by Adobe Lightroom and Apple Aperture. The first out of the gate a few years ago was Aperture, however dominating the space now is Adobe with its recent release of Adobe Lightroom 3. Both are top notch. Apple based professional photographers tend to favor Aperture as it is strictly for the Mac and integrates well with iPhoto. The rest of the world favors Adobe Lightroom. Which is better?

There isn’t an answer to that question, bothhave their pluses plus a few minuses. For the PC users, you need to understand the Mac mentality, its slightly different but the “just” is rocking image management and quick on the fly image corrections and the abilty to output slideshows and photobooks lickidly split. Like I said, both are excellent, low cost complimentary additions to help with a higher volume workflow. Teamed up with Photoshop or even Elements, and you have real solid toolset for the busy photographer that wants to keep their images organized.

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Recent Photography Trend #5: Professional Quality Digital Video

It has arrived. The convergence has occurred of the video camera and the digital still camera, especially the DSLR. Now standard equipment on the latest DSLRs, digital video not only is on the wish list, its a must. Gone are the days of separate cameras for still and video to schlep on vacation, you have both capabilities in the same camera with pro level results.

Click Here for sample video from Canon USA

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Recent Photography Trend #6: The Super Zoom

One of the most perplexing problems facing myself as a photographer today, besides the 7-10 split at the bowling alley, is how to lighten my load a I strive for simplicity. Lightening my load is is a a constant challenge. Like you, my camera bag gets heavier and heavier as I collect DSLRs, lenses and accessories. I’m into simplicity now. Lighten my load, use less equipment and get the same quality results. A trend that has been growing in recent years is the use of the all-in-one zoom lens. My students often use them and the rate is increasing I am discovering, and I’m seeing unexpected EXCELLENT results from them in their use of all-in-one zoom lenses. That doesn’t say that super zooms don’t have their tradeoffs, they do.

Photograph by Kevin L. Moss, Nikon D80, Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical IF Macro Zoom Lens, F/7.1, 1/400 sec ISO 320 handheld with AF and VR engaged

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Recent Photography Trend #7: Digital Infrared

Color infrared image by Kevin L. Moss. Nikon D70 IR converted DSLR, post-processing in Photoshop CS5

Back in the film days, or BF (before digital cameras) a small breed of photographers would load up their 35mm cameras with infrared film (in the dark I may add!), attach special filters in front of their lenses, and pursue a true art of infrared black and white photography. It was difficult to work with at best. The photographer would have to store the film in cold temperatures, and never knew what type of results they would get from the film, you see, we didn’t have immediate feedback like we do know with LCD’s on our cameras.

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Recent Photography Trend #8: Using Color Management

The advent of digital photography and expertise by the new breed of photographer has prompted an important addition to a photographers workflow. Color management. Photographers are by the most part all digital now, and learning the importance of matching the colors they see on their computer display to what is being output to their photo printers. Hence the importance of a color manged workflow.

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Recent Photography Trend #9: Full Frame Digital SLRs

In the past few years all of our major DSLR manufacturers have solidified their product lines with full frame (35mm equivalent) digital SLRs.  With that advent in mind, many a pro and enthusiast have declared film “dead”.  Its taken over 10 years for us to get to this point where the technology was affortable and possible, and now in the digital world we have the potential quality in a digital SLR that rivals that of medium format photographer, really!

The new, undisputed king of DSLRs where price isn’t an object, this is Canon’s new flagship full frame DSLR. Canon took its best professional practices, and integrated them into the new leader. This is a professional tool, built for the professional.  Its where silly arguments like megapixel count is left for the amateurs. This is the best quality and most durable camera available. About twice the cost of Canon’s more affortable full frame EOS 5-D, this full frame DSLR is in another class.

Click here to read the rest of the article…

Recent Photography Trend #10: The Return of Black and White

Black and white photography never really did go away, there is still a legion of fine art black and white photographers out there practicing their art. What digital photography has given us however is a greatly increased interest in photography as a whole, and with that increase a whole new slew of black and white photographers.

Written by: Kevin L. Moss, Publisher of DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY DAILY

This book was A3 size, perfect alternative when you already have the big portrait on your wall.

Every portrait is going to be judged by the expression on the subjects face. It doesn’t matter if you are a photographer or the customer because everyone hates a fake smile. The portrait session is usually ruined if the smile is a forced fake cheesy one
So how do you avoid this problem?

First Things First

Like anything in life, the planning is an important part of the process. When you are making a appointment for your child’s portrait session, there is no need to prep your child in any way.
A good photographer will know how to work with your kids to get the expressions that they need. Any coaching you do before your session will only make the photographer’s job harder. Kids are really good at just going with the flow, so they don’t need a whole lot of build-up for the portrait session.

What should they wear?

One common pit fall that will make any portrait session difficult is when a child is forced to wear clothing they don’t want to wear. Some parents never have this issue with their kids they will generally just put on the outfit and be happy with it. But if your child isn’t so easy, try this: Bring two outfits that you like and let them choose which one they want to wear. That way, they feel like they are in control, but really you are still choosing the outfit.

Slowly Slowly

The first few minutes after a child arrives usually sets the tone for the session. Don’t rush them into the studio. Take a few minutes to let your child get their bearings and let the photographer start building a friendship with them. Once the child is comfortable, they will head into the studio of their own accord.

Mothers looking

When I am photographing any child, one of the biggest obstacles is often the mother. It is human nature to try and guide your child, but it will drive the photographer crazy. Every time you say, “Say Cheeeez” or “That’s not your real smile” you are adding more confusion to the situation. Sometimes it is best if mum just reads a magazine and act like its just no big deal. Trust me, It can make for a great portrait.

Forget Smiles

From my view behind the camera, I’m not interested in kids making a smiling face. I’m interested in actually making them laugh and then capturing it in the camera. That is the only way to get an authentic expression. The key is to have a whole bunch of tricks and strategies ready, and since every child is different. A joke that makes one child laugh might be totally lost on the next one. Working with kids is truly an art, just like the actual photography. If you don’t believe me, just ask any teacher. The people who are best at interacting with children are almost always the best photographers.

Have Fun!

Really, the best advice is to just have fun and enjoy the session. If your child is not in the mood to smile that day, just let them be. My best portraits are children who don’t smile in there portrait session (smile or no smile) it will have a very emotional impact.

When you just cant decide what to pick because there is just to many you like from your lifestyle photography shoot why not you put them all in one of our unique books for one fixed price.
Another great bookshoot by lifestyle photography.

Book shoot is designed as a solution for customers whom already have the big portraits on the wall and still want beautiful pictures of there loved ones every year or two, its a more cost effective way of doing things while capturing all of your special moments as often as you possibly can for one fixed price.

A bad Passport Photo can haunt you for several years afterwards. Here are some tips and tricks to have a passport photo taken and not cringe every time you look at it.

• Try to keep hair a simple full style that will not cast shadows on your face.

• Don’t wear white or cream or very pale pastels clothes; Stick with flattering shades bright, vibrant colors or a crisp navy blue.

• Keep your makeup shades natural and matte for the most part. Don’t forget the lips.

• The most important rule for all… call into us at Lifestyle Photography to get that professional Passport taken. We promise that you will leave us with that perfect passport photo.

Two kids that i stumbled across on my travels around Cambodia in January this year. It was an amazing place that only pictures can really describe and the poverty in which they live in was indescribable, having said that the majority of children we had encountered were happy in there everyday coming and going, it also made me think that maybe i was the one living in real poverty.

Special offer you buy the print and we will pay for the frame. Yes you save on average 100 euro. This is a limited offer while stocks last and only applies to sizes 20″x 16″ upwards.  Offer ends 31st of March 2011. All orders must be completed by March 31st. See in store for details or just call 00353 42 9327757.