I found this great tutorial for photoshop you may want to check out :



This is a great tutorial for photoshop

Sincerely,

Tony

For all you aspiring portrait photographers this is a must read ........

For all you aspiring portrait photographers this is a must read :


http://laurencekim.com/2013/02/19/how-to-sell-portrait-photography-part-1/#

So I have recently begun to shoot again after a month of my camera being in the repair shop. I let my girlfriend take some portrait shots of me all dressed up.

Here is the original that she took:

Original 

Here is the finished image with some digital retouching:

Digital Retouch

I found this article on Linked In and it has some food for thought about the customers we go after as Photographer Professionals.

http://socialmediatoday.com/feldmancreative/1883061/what-do-you-call-most-effective-approach-marketing     

This article should put things into perspective when it comes to marketing your business and it also relates to how you should handle clients. Those that want to keep coming back to you will know that you care about them! This means you should show each client that you care weather it be a thank you gift at the end of the year or in the initial meeting with the client you listen to them and learn what they want to get out of the session etc.... Some look to photography as a quick way to earn a buck but in reality we need to be able to spend time with each of our clients and cater each session to the individual clients. High Production Value goes along way in any business that you are in and especially in the photography business. What is production value mean it means you offer things like snacks and drinks during a shoot, it means you dial in correctly in camera versus shooting 600 images in the hopes of getting a few to fix in post processing. It means you use things like a light meter to speed up dialing in your camera when in a studio, it means having things ready when it is time to shoot. When you stream line your business process from beginning to end you will see wonderful results. Clients will be more happy and you will be more happy!

Would you like to see some inspirational photographers? Then you will want to check this out!

Here is a link to some inspirational photographers :


http://phlearn.com/inspirational-photographers

Here are some amazing resources for photographers.....

Here is a list of some pretty important resources for all photographers that are worth checking out. 

American Photographic Artists association

http://www.apanational.com

American Society of Media Photographers

www.asmp.org 

National Press Photographers Association's

Cost of Doing Business Calculator : This link helps you figure out your cost of doing business.

https://nppa.org/calculator 

Professional Photographers of America

 http://www.ppa.com

Creative Live : Great resource for Photographers!

https://www.creativelive.com 

Essence of Soul Photography will have a show featuring photographs from his recent trip to Jackson's Hole.

Just confirmed Gallery Show on December 27th 2013 in Ashville, North Carolina. It will showcase my photographs from Jackson's Hole, WY. You will be able to purchase prints at the show. Details to come within the coming weeks. 

Some classmates that are pretty talented. I think you should check out their work.

Here is a list of some of my classmates that do some pretty stellar work and when you get a chance you should check them out.....

 Maria Davis:

www.mariadavisphotography.com 

www.facebook.com/MariaDavisPhotography

 Sonny Beton :

www.sonybetonphotography.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sonny-Benton-Photography/526150360806548

Megan Hutchens:

www.meganhutch.pixawebsites.com 

https://www.facebook.com/cutiesandpoochies

Lori Ray :

www.lorirayphotography.com 

www.facebook.com/Lorirayphotography

Tara Darling:

wwww.TaraDarlingPhotography.com

www.facebook.com/TaraDarlingPhotography

Michael Oliver :
www.olliephoto.com
www.facebook.com/MichaelOliver

Michelle Rojas:

www.RojasPhotography.wix.com/MichelleRojasPhoto

www.facebook.com/MichelleRojasPhotography

Simon Torres:

www.simontorresphotographymanipulation.com 

Madison Weaver :

www.madisonweaverphotography.com 

www.facebook.com/MadisonWeaverPhotography

I am working hard on a bunch of things to improve my web presence.

Portfolio website should be up by the end of the week. It will feature Wildlife and Landscapes. It may also include portraiture and event photography.

New Changes coming ...

As I finish up my certificate program I will be having a portfolio website up and running by the end of the quarter. Its been a long week and why does it always feel like as I am in school that I get sick or that I can't sleep... Hopefully I will get my camera back this week..

Help me join in the fight to help fight against Leukemia. I am trying to raise $100.00 or more.

I need your help. I am walking with my girlfriend to help support her father. All I need to raise is a $100 for the walk next week. Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Buy my photography ;)

You can now purchase wildlife prints from Essence of Soul Photography ;)

Ok so if you didn't know I do have a electronic store where you can buy coffee mugs and such.

Essence of Soul Photography Coffee Mugs......

Great Quote !!!!

"Ultimately photography is about who you are. It's the seeking of truth in relation to yourself. And seeking truth becomes a habit."

Leonard Freed

Photoshop: How to Make a MAGRITTE SURREALIST PAINTING

Tips for capturing Meteor Showers on the Eastern seaboard.


Eastern states viewing of meteor showers will peak prior to the proposed time the last meteor shower produced the most over charlotte between 9 and 1 am  and after that it died down. Shooting with a 50 prime lens can be beneficial with the use of a tripod of course. I also recommend heading out to the country so there is less light pollution and an open field is best.... You of course shoot with a wider lens too but you will want to watch your screen to dial in your exposure time of the skies. You will also want to keep your focus on one section of the sky versus trying to move around to other sections of the sky you will have the best results.

Photoshop feature we never knew existed on SRL Lounge

This is a great and you should check it out :

http://www.slrlounge.com/photoshop-cs6-feature-we-never-knew-existed

This article is helpful for those who want to learn how to read the light in photography :


http://fstoppers.com/how-to-read-light-in-photography

Hey folks I 've been quite busy with school work and so forth and taking pictures. I found this article today and its a great read!  So check it out :


http://lumenatic.com/2013/07/15/shooting-a-ferrari-ff-in-the-studio/

Fiddlers Grove Festival ......

I was inspired to take on a personal project from a recent APA meeting I had attended. The photographer decided to get involved with the retired blues musicians of North Carolina. He created amazing promotional piece from that work that got him some amazing new clients. So I wanted to do the same but with another style of music that doesn't get a lot of publicity or coverage. I chose to look into the bluegrass festivals of North Carolina to start my journey in preserving the music and the people that play the music. I really didn't think anyone would really talk to me because I had my 5d mark II with a 70-200 lens attached to it. I am sometimes shy especially when I am trying to make contacts in the field of music that I would like to capture and preserve. Boy was I in for a real treat instead of trying to focus on the main performances on the main stage. I decided to let the music be my guide and the first jam session I encountered was only a short distance from where I parked my car. There were three gentleman, one a lawyer who played the bass, the other was a gentleman in his late 40's maybe who picked up playing the fiddle after he had attended his first Fiddlers Grove Festival back in the early 70's. The third gentleman was a banjo player and he had acquired a very special banjo from the late 1800's I think. Together these three gentleman would get together at the festival to play the music they love and to share their stories of the music and the history.  I wasn't expecting a huge history lesson but I got one and it is pretty interesting. I had introduced myself and told them that I was a photographer from Charlotte that had asked to come up and document the event  and I also wanted to shoot video and take pictures of the instruments etc. The instruments are part of the history and I thought it was important to capture them when they made an appearance and to also capture the sounds that they produced. So for the video that I took I wanted it to raw and kind of unscripted, like you were looking in on a private jam session from folks that just love to play. One of the first things I learned when talking to these guys is that there are two kinds of sounds for bluegrass. Bluegrass is the sound that came after World War II and focuses mainly on each of the musicians individually. The Old Time Music are the instruments that predate World War II and the focus is on the music and not the musicians themselves. They gave me some names of other people I should look for and probably talk to and also pointed me to the direction of the lake where I would probably find more jam sessions.  I took a video of trio playing a song for me and then I took some photographs of them and their instruments before I moved on to another group.  There is so much more to this day and I will eventually be sharing it all with you. One of the key things you will learn about Fiddlers Grove is that it is a place that keeps the music alive and also inspires and turns people and kids onto the music. There are people that have come to Fiddlers Grove for over 30 years and they continue to come back year after year to play and meet others folks that love the music. Everyone there is really easy going and they are so accepting of strangers that have the same kind of passion for the music as I do. Fiddlers Grove is put on by the Van Hoy Family up in Union Grove NC. Union Grove is on an hour drive from Charlotte and is so worth getting to experience! For only $5 you get to hear and listen to some of the most talented people in the Carolinas who are passionate about preserving the style of music that reaches into the depths of their soul and just makes them happy! Saturday is the main day filled with lots of music and dancing and is so worth the trip.  The best kept secret though is to mingle with those that are camping and having their own jam sessions. You can learn a lot and even get to see some truly one of a kind historic instruments. I got to see Martin Guitars, Wayne Anderson Guitars and Fiddles, a banjo from the late 1800's, an antique Honner Accordion with golden pearl inlay, antique and classic Bass's from the early to mid 1900's.  There is something special when you talk to people to find out why they enjoy the festival and then they tell you they have a special treat hiding in their tent. When they pull those rare musical instruments out and begin to play a tune for you then you know you are in the right place.  To learn more about the festival you can go here : www.fiddlersgrove.com

Sometimes you find the unique people at festivals like Fiddlers Grove all you have to do is journey to the camps and let the music lead you to where you should be.... You might just brighten someone's day!

( Alan Davis with his Honner Accordion)

(From Left to Right Rob Morrison who plays the Fretless Banjo, Reid Ringer who picked up the fiddle after coming to his first Fiddlers Grove Experience back in the early 70's, and Ronald Raxter who plays the Bass.)

Photos were taken by Essence of Soul Photographer Tony Russo and are copyright protected. 

I had the opportunity to shoot video of the Dancing with the Stars Fundraiser for the Humane Society of Charlotte.

It was quite the experience indeed.  Here are some of the valuable things that I learned while shooting.

Lessons from the Shoot:

1.  Always have back up camera batteries!
2.  Be willing to change your camera's position on the fly in order to get the video shots that you need!
3. You should have an assistant help capture clips when your on a potty break.
4. Have fun and enjoy it immensely. If your not following your heart then why are you there...
5. Drink plenty of fluids and eat before you begin work , and bring snacks to much on.
6. Listen to your clients to make sure you are capturing the video they want and need.
7. Have an assistant or help take still photographs of the event.
8. Process the footage in a timely manner for immediate turn around. Three days is old news for promotional material.
9. Meet your deadline!
10. Bring your Tripod!!!!

Here are some links for Photographers that will help them build an awesome Business Plan.

Hey guys and gals this week I thought I would make it easier to find information on building your photographic business plans.  The first link leads you to the Small Business Administration. This site has a free tutorial on what goes into writing a business plan and also has a free business plan template where you fill in the blanks and then it does the rest for you. In the financials section you just plug in the numbers and it will export them into excel for you. You have to have word and excel to complete your plan but its definitely a big help. The second link is for Photoshelter.com and their free guide for your photographic business in 2013. The third link is for a workbook from the Savvy Photographer blog. The guide is free and also gives you a workbook to help follow your goals as a photographer all you have to do of course is provide your e-mail address.   The fourth link is Use Plus which can help you write licensing into your metadata of your photos and can be found on the ASMP website. The last is from the NPPA which offers a free cost of doing business calculator that will help you figure out what it's going to cost you to do business. This is great in helping you to understand the costs of running your business so you can adjust accordingly. If you need to change anything as far as costs go you can revisit the calculator and enter your new costs.

http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/starting-business/how-write-business-plan  

http://www.photoshelter.com/mkt/research/2013-photo-business-plan-workbook 

http://thesavvyphotographer.blogspot.com/2012/01/free-downloadable-business-plan.html

http://www.useplus.com/index.asp 

https://nppa.org/calculator 

John A. Russo Jr. 

Essence of Soul Photography

Laser Light Paintings at Dharma Lounge

I had a rare opportunity to take some photos of a high end laser unit doing its thing at Dharma Lounge. Here are the unique one of a kind Light Paintings that I captured.

To learn more about Dharma Lounge and their events you can visit : http://www.dharmacharlotte.com

New Series concept for the Reflection of the Soul Series 2013

I have a new direction for the Reflection of the Soul Series in 2013.  A new element will be added to the process to produce one of a kind experience and results. Since I will be using flowers instead of skies I will be excited to see what the results are. I will be producing 20 images for the 2013 series maybe more over the next 11 weeks and there is a possibility that  I may produce more.   I for some reason on my last visit to youtube came across the youtube video on primary perception Myth Busters decided to test the experiment again and proved it not to be a myth here is the video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fStmk7e9lJo

This video kinda resonates with what I will be doing for the series so the results should be interesting.

Hopefully I will be able to amass the amount of flowers needed for my work ....

Gallery submission form and materials are complete and will be dropping them off at the Light Factory.... What an interesting process it has been :) 

Finals are this week

This week I have finals for the quarter and then I get a week off !!! I am so excited. The downside to this weekend is I have to work both friday and saturday. Saturday is my birthday.....

These are pretty cool :



http://www.petapixel.com/2013/03/08/humorous-tongue-in-cheek-posters-for-photographers/#more-103315

Things will be getting back to normal later this week...

Keep on Taking Pictures....

Sometimes your model does not want to partake in a photo shoot. Apparently she wasn't in the mood for a late night photo shoot because she was extremely tired. Polly is our pet of two years she is a rescue dog from the local shelter. She is a big bundle of love at 10 years old. So when your pet is extremely tired do not try and doll them up for a photo shoot....

Thunder Snow Storm hits Charlotte

Black and White HDR of Thunder Snow....

This tree can be found  across the border at Millers Produce Farm  in SC. This is an HDR of the tree that sits on the property.  As the thunder snow came down it created a one of a kind opportunity to photograph. If you look close enough you can see a heart within  a heart being revealed.

Sometimes you have to go out into the world while the others head for the safety of home to be able to get the shot that no one else will take.....  I got off work this past saturday at around 4 pm. I watched the  storm roll in on my way home. I got home took a shower and then grabbed my camera and hit the road.        
I had to fill up my car with gas because I was nearing empty so I went to my usual place Millers Produce on highway 51 just over the South Carolina border. Miller's Produce has the cheapest gas prices when you pay for your gas in cash.  Their farm is located across the street and thats where you can find this beautiful tree standing in all its glory. It looks even more spectacular when its covered in snow!  This was where I started to take photographs of the snow storm.  After taking some photos at Miller's I proceeded to the greenway along the creek across from the Trios. Lets just say that walking on the nature trail as the snow is falling is quite a special treat. Here are just some of the photos:

Can you see the heart in the middle of the creek covered in snow ?? 

Charlotte Nightlife @ Dharma Lounge Charlotte NC

Here  are some of the things I like to shoot at night in and around Charlotte.