creativeLIVE is a FREE photographic education resource. The team at creativeLIVE bring some of the best photographers in the industry to teach 2-3 day courses that are livestreamed for you to watch, completely free. During the workshops from 9-4 (PST) these teachers are livestreamed internationally so you can watch, learn and even ask questions (through FB, Twitter, and more). Topics vary on everything from workflow, to lighting, posing and more. Previous teachers have included Jasmine Star, Bambi Cantrell, Zack Arias, Sue Bryce and more! The teachers pour their hearts and minds out for you all to learn!

How do they make money, you ask? If you want to purchase the ability to re-watch these classes in the future, they are usually$99 to purchase during the livestream and $149 thereafter. But just to sign up and watch there is zero cost during the actual livestream.

So now for the big news… my creativeLIVE classes!

I am teaching two creativeLIVE classes. My first class is Social Networking Essentials for photographers May 30th (I’ll be addressing this more in the future). The ‘big one’ is “Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photographers“. I can promise you nothing short of an epic class PACKED with information. I’ve been planning and working on this class for months, and I am ready to wow you.

You don’t become a photographer to become rich, or to do what is typical. You become a photographer because it is your passion and you have a vision. Stand out from the crowd. Ditch the ordinary… embrace the extraordinary! This workshop will encourage you to channel your creativity and do something unexpected.

As a fashion photographer, I regularly utilize an arsenal of tools to make my work stand out. Locations, hair and makeup, wardrobe, concepts, story-telling, creative lighting, props, creative retouching and more are ALL elements I regularly use in my fashion work. In this 3-day intensive workshop I will be teaching you how to infuse the concepts of fashion photography into your portrait and wedding work.

This workshop is not for people who aspire to become fashion photographers (although I’m sure they could learn something too!). Instead, this is for portrait and wedding photographers that want to take their work to the next level!

Here are some topics we will cover:

- Idea generation/inspiration

- Story-telling

- Executing a fashion flair shoot, gathering your creative team

- Creative in-camera effects

- Elements of Fashion Flair

- Creative Studio Lighting

- Posing

- Social networking and fashion flair

- Creative Retouching techniques

- Fashion Flair in Action!

- Equipment and technicals

Finally, I have created a Lindsay Adler & creativeLIVE facebook group. This facebook group is meant to serve a number of purposes.

1. Send me your questions and what you’d like to see in my class! I’ve already incorporated a variety of your suggestions! You all wanted to know where I get my ideas… DONE! You wanted to know some creative lighting techniques? DONE!

2. When the class is happening, feel free to discuss, ask each other questions and build a community.

3. I will be running a variety of competitions with FANTASTIC PRIZES before, during and after my creativeLIVE workshop. I’ll have prizes from: LiveBooks, Datacolor, Lensbaby, Sigma, Broncolor, California Sunbounce, Imagenomics Portraiture, Nik Software, OnOne Software, DropIt Modern, Kelly Moore Bags, After Dark… and tons more during my workshop and also through my FB group/blog competitions!!! I’ll be posting more about these competitions soon, but I already have one launched… feel free to get started!!!

In anticipation of my creativeLIVE class, I want to get your creative juices flowing!  I’ve planned out a few fun competitions to get you thinking outside of the box and to really engage with the class. First, let me introduce some pre-conference competitions and their prizes. I want you to start thinking of ideas, questions and get ready to break the rules.

Below are your missions, if you choose to accept them. In order to succeed you must think outside the box. You must push your creative boundaries. You must WOW me!

When watching Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photographers… don’t just stop at watching. You must do! You must put what you’ve learned into action… not only will you improve your portfolio and refine your creative vision… you can also win great prizes!

Pre-Conference Competitions:

The winners for the pre-conference competition will be aired on creativeLIVE during my workshop! I will also post winner’s on my blog for all to see!

In  Fashion Flair you’ll learn how to take the concepts of fashion  photography and apply them to your portrait and wedding work. Lighting,  props, post-processing, concept, styling, hair & makeup, and more.

Let’s start with challenging you to use a basic prop:

Competition #1: Lace

Use a piece of lace in a unique way. Any way you want, on any subject you want. Submit your image to this Facebook page or Flickr group. There are no rules… Just wow me. Don’t be typical. Excite me! You can get lace at a fabric shop, online, ebay, etc. Lets just do something gorgeous with it. Lace has been used a million times before– so what can you do thats different or how can you use it to make a stunning image for you and your clients.

Deadline: May 29

Prize: IMAGENOMICS Portraiture Retouching Software (its awesome)

Competition #2: Avant Garde Helmet

Its always great to have creative props and accessories around the studio. I love having crazy ‘fashion pieces’ like helmets, sunglasses, hats and more. One of my iconic images is simply crazy glasses and red lips. For creativeLIVE, I invite you to be inspired a make an amazing helmet that will serve as a stunning centerpiece to a beauty/fashion image (great for model portfolios, high school seniors, musicians and more).

I will shoot my favorite pieces during creativeLIVE. PLUS, if your designs are impressive enough, I will even use them in a REAL fashion editorial to run in a high-end fashion magazine!

Here’s what to do:

1. Purchase this inexpensive helmet:

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Gear-13332-PhysiciansCare-Safety/dp/B000GP5L1M

2. Go nuts!  Bedazzle it. Add spikes. Paint it. Add fringe. Do whatever your heart desires!

3. Mail this helmet to creativeLIVE.

creativeLIVE

Attn: Lindsay Adler Shoot

757 Thomas Street

Seattle, WA 98109

Note pieces will not be returned. 

PS: Feel free to send in other props as well if you want! Sunglasses, headpieces, and more! Just remember, the competition is only for these helmets!

PRIZE: Admission to After Dark Kansas City (Value $500), 16×24 Miller’s Print Wrap

Deadline: Received by May 29

Check out what I’ve been working on so far! These are my ideas!  VERY much works in progress.

My bedazzled helmet, so far!

My bedazzled helmet, so far!

Competition #3: Graphic Location

Find a location with strong graphic elements, and shoot it! This image should be dynamic and the graphic shapes of the environment should be central to the photograph! Also, don’t forget that you can even composite images if you want… all that matters is the final product!

Prize: Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photography (book), Creative Studio Lighting DVD with Lindsay Adler

Deadline: May 29

Pre-Conference Rules:

1. Images MUST be taken between April 1 – May 20 

2. Images MUST NOT be boring or typical.

3. You must have a model release for your images. Can be men, women, children, or couple.

4. Images should be sized between 800 x 800px, 72dpi with no watermark.

5. Post to Lindsay Adler’s Flickr Group/Facebook group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/lindsayadler/, http://www.facebook.com/groups/creativeLIVE.Adler/   With you submissions please include which competition you are entering, your name, and some way to contact you. OR you can email me at Adler.creativeLIVE@gmail.com

Please watch in the near future for information on the competitions DURING and AFTER the creativeLIVE workshops! More great Prizes!

Before I did this shoot, I tested my techniques a variety of times. There was no manual or ‘how tos’ for this technique… and basically I had to experiment and be okay with failure, and hope for success!  Whenever I am doing a shoot with a brand new technique, I’ll often do whats called a ‘test shoot’. I’ll find a model who needs to build her portfolio and bring in hair/makeup to help me test this new technique (whether its lighting or perhaps specialty makeup, or something out of the ordinary). I’ll do this so I can perfect the technique and then also be able to save time on the day of a big shoot. Not only does it give confidence, but I can use my test images in my mood board to show my creative team what ideas and techniques I’ll be utilize in a full editorial.

For this liquid black skin technique, I tested a few times until I had perfected the makeup, the skin, the light and photoshop. I have since shot two editorials with this technique. Here I am sharing the images of “Shadow Warrior” which ran in both Styleology Magazine and Hint Magazine this year. Typically magazines will only do exclusive features, yet in this case they were fine with non-exclusives. For “Shadow Warrior” I wanted clothing and poses that were generally more aggressive and even a bit animalistic at times. For each image I wanted to reflect the idea of a dangerous creature that can easily hide in the shadows… the clean graphic lines and shapes should reflect the creature’s evolution toward being a dangerous but elegant predator. As with any editorial, I felt that some images were very strong, others weak, but regardless I certainly got a couple images to add to the portfolio!

My creative team:

- Wardrobe: LSC for 4 Season Style Management

- Model: Maria Durrthy from VNY

- Hair/Makeup: Johnny Gonzalez

Without further delay… Here they are!

Shadow Warrior, Hint Magazine, Photos by Lindsay Adler

Lindsay Adler, Styleology Magazine, Shadow Warrior

Lindsay Adler, Styleology Magazine, Shadow Warrior

Lindsay Adler, Styleology Magazine, Shadow Warrior

Lindsay Adler, Styleology Magazine, Shadow Warrior

Lindsay Adler, Styleology Magazine, Shadow Warrior

Lindsay Adler, Styleology Magazine, Shadow Warrior

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In my class I tried to pour my heart and mind out for you, providing you with as many tips and tricks as I could fit into the short timeframe! I haven’t seen the final version (yet) but I’m sure you’ll not only learn a lot, but likely catch me with my antics.

I truly feel that these days, too many people do what is easy and typical (and what they see everywhere around them)… and with SO many photographers out there competing for so little business, you must find a way to stand out. Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary? Why do exactly what everyone else does, only to have to compete with everyone else? This class helps provide you tips and tricks for embracing your creativity and orchestrating/creating images that grab your clients’ attention.

In Fashion Flair, I share how you can use the concepts of fashion photography and integrate them into your portrait and wedding work. You can take techniques such as unique location, creative lighting, story-telling, styling, and props, and make really powerful images for your clients! I teach about natural lighting, lens choice, composition, creative in-camera effects, lensflare, studio lighting and more!

For this class I do three distinct shoots; two themed (story-telling) engagement sessions on location, and one ‘fashion flair’ portrait studio session. As the viewer you can come along on this shoot as I explain how I developed my ideas, where I got the props/clothing, and what I’m seeing as I shoot. I talk about what lenses I choose, and why I select a certain composition. You can see me direct my subject, and also view the images I select to retouch. We had a great time, got some great images, and I really think I was able to share useful knowledge on how to take your portrait/wedding images to the next level of creativity! Think outside of the box, create a production, do something original!  I sincerely hope you enjoy the class… I loved filming it!

Here is a short trailer for the video:

During one shoot, I put together an engagement shoot themed “The Princess and the Frog”. What are the key elements of that story? A frog, and handsome prince, and a kiss. Here are a few of the images I came up with!

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

For a second engagement shoot, we wanted to involve the couple’s pet dog in the themed story. To do so, we incorporated the dog as the wolf in “Little Red Riding Hood” with our own creative photographic twists!

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Finally, I showed a few creative studio lighting techniques I regularly utilize. I have been hired to do TWO MORE Kelby Trainings, where I’ll share a lot more about techniques for creative studio lighting. I also ahve a DVD on the subject as well (store.lindsayadlerphotography.com).

Fashion Flair, Lindsay Adler, Kelby Training

Brooke and I both love creating… but also love teaching, so we decided to combine our passions and we did a workshop together this April in the Mohave desert outside LA. After we did our desert workshop, I was DYING to shoot in the desert. I saw the images that all the attendees had and it was killing me! They were excellent! Thats exactly what I wanted to happen on our workshops, yet I wanted to shoot, but I don’t believe its appropriate for me to shoot at my own workshops.

Lindsay Adler and Brooke Shaden desert workshop group shot!

Attendees shooting our model at the Lindsay Adler and Brooke Shaden desert workshop

Attendees shooting our model at the Lindsay Adler and Brooke Shaden desert workshop

So to handle our urges to shoot, Brooke and I jumped in a car the day after the shoot, grabbed our lovely model Sonalii, hair stylist/makeup artist Mariah, and drove nearly 2 hours into the desert. Our plan was to shoot the poppy fields. I looked up online that the high season for poppies is mid April. It was April 15, and when we arrived at the famous poppy reserve in CA there were NO POPPIES!  Zero! Thankfully, while we had been driving we saw a beautiful desert scene with huge power lines beside them, so we decided to modify our plans and shoot there instead.

When Brooke and I teach (and shoot together), we note our different goals and approaches to image making. As a fashion photographer I am thinking about mood, lighting, movement, clothing and model as my main elements. Brooke often focuses more on storytelling and creating beauty out of the darkness, and also creating the completely unexpected. I do beauty and fashion, she does ‘dark beauty’ and fine art. She’s incredible and if you don’t know her work… you MUST see it.

When we went out to the desert, we took our model Sonalii and I got to work with her first before the sun went down. I focused on the model’s beauty (wanted closeups, beauty shots, far shots, scene establishing shots… basically as if I were shooting an editorial) as well as the clothing. I played on the idea of the movement of the dress and the rich beams of light from the setting sun. Brooke only (well, almost only) shoots after sunset. So the second that the sun dipped behind the hills, it was Brooke’s turn to shoot. It was a great little partnership and we have a BLAST shooting and running around (avoiding rattlesnakes and other creatures!) out in the desert. In the behind the scenes video below, you can see both of our images as they are being made. I joke repeatedly about being able to ‘destroy’ Brooke in our photo shoot out… but the entire point really is that there is no competition– its all about the love of art and love of making art (and love of her!!).

After both our shoots were done it was nearly dark and the sun had long past set, yet there was still color in the sky. I asked Brooke to throw on the dress we had for the model so I could do my very own portrait of the famous Brooke Shaden! First, I will say that I almost never shoot in these lighting conditions. It was dark, very dark, with no real direction or control to the light. I wanted to make a portrait that fused the styles of Brooke and myself– I wanted it to fee like a fashion image but have the light and hair movement that brooke often incorporates into her photograph (if you haven’t seen it, check it out).

I had my hair stylist/makeup artist Mariah flap the dress (which was already moving in the wind), pumped my ISO WAYYY up to 4000, and snapped a few frames. I did a lot of exposure and color correction in post, but regardless the image is striking and I am very pleased. It was exactly the fusion I wanted between her style and my vision!  Many of you asked how I created this shot, so I included the details below!

Portrait of Brooke Shaden by Lindsay Adler

Canon 5D Mark 2 

Sigma 70mm-200mm 2.8 lens at 112mm

ISO 4000

f/ 2.8

1/50 sec : No tripod.   Yes optical stabilization 1

Exposure: Manual

Sonalii desert shoot by Lindsay Adler Photography

When approaching a shoot as a fashion photographer, I love to incorporate light as a way to set the mood. I frequently will include the sun in the frame and lens flare. I always find that adding movement of some sort (to the subject or fabric) is a way to add interest to the image. I framed this shot with the sun in the image, and used the movement of the dress combined with the rigid pose of the model to create a strong composition.

Sonalii desert shoot by Lindsay Adler Photography

Again, I love including lens flare. I changed some of the color tones in this image to give it a quiet and thoughtful feel, like that peaceful quiet as the sun begins to dip beneath the horizon.

Sonalii desert shoot by Lindsay Adler Photography

When shooting an editorial, you often want a beauty shot. For me, this shot can either focus on the makeup, jewelry, or simply help introduce you to the ‘subject’ (model) of the shoot. I love the textures of her hair and wanted a closeup that would show this.

Sonalii desert shoot by Lindsay Adler Photography

If I can infuse a sense of story-telling into my images,  I will. Here I had the model run away from the camera. Not only does it introduce dynamic movement, but it also gives the idea that perhaps the model is running away from something or perhaps that the camera is pursuing her. I turned this image black and white, and then added an orange/yellow split tone in Lightroom.

Sonalii desert shoot by Lindsay Adler Photography

Many of the images above included a lot of movement and more storytelling. For this image I wanted something that felt a big more regal and refined. I posed her in a natural way and incorporate the vast environment behind her. I thought this image looked/felt much more like an advertising image than many of the other shots (also because the dress/scene is dominant, while her face is more subtle in the frame).

Sonalii desert shoot by Lindsay Adler Photography

After it was “Brooke’s time to shoot”, I saw this composition that I had to shoot. I really really wanted the model in the opening underneath the power line with all the mimicking forms in the background. I knew that it could be a powerful image and also play even more into the story telling. After Brooke had shot her first part of the scene, I yelled to the model “quick, run toward the big hole”. Although it sounds like I was talking in code, she knew exactly what to do, and this was the resulting image. Brooke’s post-sunset light is pretty fantastic.

So, basically to wrap it all up. I love Brooke. I love teaching. I love photography. I love shooting in the desert. I love this model Sonalii. I love life.

I have been invited by the incredibly sweet and very talented team at Kelby to join them for the first ever Google + conference for Photographers in San Francisco. The conference size is limited to 750 people, though much information will be available online and streaming on Google + as well. If you’d like to know what the event is all about, take a look at this video below:

So let’s talk about my role in this event. I will be teaching a few classes, doing some portfolio critiques, and leading a photo walk!

Monday May 21: 3pm  Photo Walk in Marin Headlands (sign up to join me!)    http://www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm  I’m going to try to grab a model to come along with us, so you can see some of my shooting techniques around this environment. Its a beautiful scene for lovely textures and golden gate bridge background! More details will be provide when the date gets closer!!

Tuesday May 22: 5:30-6:30 Live Fashion Photo Shoot

Wednesday May 23: 5:30-6:30 5 Creative Studio Lighting Setups

I will likely have more things added to my line up including portfolio review and more… so stay tuned and watch the Google + Schedule for more information. There are several other speakers there that I LOVE and am so excited to see speak and hang out– where they are very talented photographers or just incredibly nice people! Hope to see you there!!!

Icy beauty shot by Lindsay Adler

When I do announcements about events, I like to include a photo and a bit of educational material too. In this beauty shot I did early this year, the model is illuminated 100% by natural light. In this image she was placed directly in front of a window and put in a V of black foam core. By putting the black foam core close to the left and right sides of her body, I used whats called “subtractive light”. Basically I was able to shape the face with shadows and NEGATIVE fill.  I was able to have the soft and even qualities of window light, while also defining her cheek bones, jaw line and sides of her body (by having the black foam core near her face). Finally, I wanted to add a little sparkle to the eyes so in this case I put a small silver reflector beneath her chest. You can see the resulting catchlights in her eyes. This model, Lizzy (from MC2), is one of my favorite models to date. She is just so unusual and so striking. Her skin is flawless, her jaw line is stunning, and her eyes are amazing. Not only that, she is as sweet as they come!

Model: Lizzy from MC2

Makeup: Griselle Rosario

Equipment Choice and Settings:

- 5D Mark II

- Sigma 150mm Macro Lens

- ISO 500, f/2.8, 1/100 sec

This editorial, Rorschach, was something I had been meaning to do for awhile. If you look at my work, you can see that I frequently like to play with the idea of symmetry and repetition. I enjoy when mirroring an image or creating a repeated pattern helps to make the image and scene more surreal. Furthermore, I love symmetry as a strong element of composition. Its funny, when I first started in photography I learned that a symmetrical composition was relatively ‘weak and undesirable’… yet now I embrace the balance and peaceful energy (and abstract qualities) that it provides to my images. If you flip through my portfolio you will see that it is a visual tool I utilize frequently.

Several years ago I saw the movie “Watchmen” based on the popular graphic novel. I enjoyed the visuals, costumes, and score of the film (great Smashing Pumpkins song in there!). In particular, the character Rorschach got my creativity flowing and I began to form an idea around creating a mirrored-image editorial reminiscent of ink-blot test. Rorschach is a character whose ink-blotted face changes to create intriguing abstracts. It wanted to create an editorial that would border on abstract but still have fashion/form be a central element.

For this shoot for Fault Magazine, I was able to put my desires for symmetry and play on Rorschach into practice.

I worked with creative team:

Wardrobe: LSC for 4 Season Style Management

Hair/Makeup: Griselle Rosario

Model: Lizzy from MC2

Publication: Fault Magazine

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Behind the scenes with Lindsay Adler

When developing the concept of the shoot, I instructed my wardrobe stylist that I needed clothing that were black and white, and structural (or had graphic elements). I remember when she showed me two outfits in particular that just SCREAMED ink blot– I was thrilled. For makeup, I instructed Griselle that I wanted something graphic and that would feel like and ink blot test… something that perhaps had texture and graphic elements to it.  Finally, I told the model that I needed really graphic poses that looked great in silhoutte. I needed a strong silhouettes (and asymmetrical poses that I would mirror later) in order to achieve the visual dynamics I was seeking. The final mirrored looks were all achieved in Photoshop CS5 using lighten and darken blend modes, and layering the same image on top of itself. My model had perfect skin and a great look– almost alien-esque in appearance but still stunning.

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

When creating this editorial, it was a challenge to envision what the final results would look like. In the image above, for example, I shot the raw image with only a slight idea of how it might appear in the end after the mirroring effect. As I worked in Photoshop I ‘struggled’ with the push and pull in my mind of HOW abstract to make the piece. Do I make the entire editorial all about repetition and graphic elements? Or do I play more with symmetry and layering? In the end I embraced both options in the post-processing effects.

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Behind the scenes with Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

Rorschach Fashion Editorial, Fault Magazine, by Lindsay Adler

This editorial is in the current issue of Fault Magazine, available online and on newsstands. I included the portrait of our model, Lizzy, below to show you an idea of the versatility of the model as well as how hair/makeup/wardrobe plays a transformative role.

Portrait of model Lizzy (before hair and makeup)

Since WPPI I’ve been to AZ, Dallas, Austin, Niagara Falls, and Northern PA for events… and next week its on to Northern NJ (Photo Northeast), Photoshop World in DC, then to Istanbul! I have the best job IN THE WORLD but I have been going non-stop!

WPPI Wrap up:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Ok, no it was just the best of times. WPPI is really one of my favorite times of year.  I get to meet and connect with hundreds of people that share the same passions as me. I get to see friends I haven’t seen in a year, hang out with awesome people in the photo industry, or meet ‘online friends’ in person. This WPPI was as crazy and busy as ever. I’m not sure I really ever stopped to breathe at all!

Top Ten Practices for Social Networking by Lindsay Adler, Millers Booth, WPPI 2012

There are really two main reasons I love events like WPPI (and WPPI in particular).

(1) I get to be inspired. I have the ability to not just see new work that inspires me, but also meet the people behind the work and hear their stories. Furthermore, I then get to hang out with and socialize with these amazing people like Sue Bryce and Jerry Ghionis. I’ve seen their work, heard their presentations, but then get to meet them as ‘real people’. Its pretty fantastic. I am always looking for inspiration online from other portrait and fashion photographers, but this is always from a distance. Meeting these people really sparks a drive and passion in me to produce. The parties this year at WPPI were amazing. Whether a relaxing time to chat in a bar, or an amazing penthouse party with free massages, or a massive party in a club… it was all great because of the awesome people I got to hang out with.

Lindsay Adler and Sue Bryce at WPPI 2012 awards

This year at WPPI University (in Vegas before the big event). I got to speak after Jerry Ghionis and the morning before Sue Bryce among other incredible incredible photographers. That alone is an honor, especially in front of 500 or 600 people. To top it all off, I was invited to speak on a panel of photographers for “This Week in Tech” with an incredible line up of photographers. We talked about the role of technology in photography and whether it is a benefit or a menace, and everything in between. You can check out the links and chat for TWIT here.

Lindsay Adler and Jerry Ghionis at WPPI 2012 awards

Finally, I also went to the WPPI award ceremony. This was the first year I entered, and I only entered in video category. I loved watching the awards ceremony because THAT is inspiring. I get to see amazing work, incredibly unique approaches to photography, and it makes me want to push myself harder. In fact, one of my resolutions for 2012 is to look at the categories of the competition, give myself deadlines, and push myself to produce in these categories. We’ll see how it goes!  Anyway, I entered three videos, and I placed in first and third! I will post the links to these videos in the next few weeks… but honestly I was STUNNED! My videos were wacky and edgy and I didn’t think I would win. I found out later that my first place video actually got a perfect 100 score!!!! I can’t wait to share it with you all. As you know, I get up in front of hundreds and even thousands of people regularly, but when I won this award it was the first time I really was embarrassed and didn’t know what to say. If you know me… I never don’t know what to say.   Well, I got up there, confused, surprised… and thanked everyone for not thinking I was crazy because of how wacky my work can be, particularly the winning video.   I was a bit silly, but very happy, in front of 2000 people.     Looking at other people’s work during the awards truly got my urges going to produce more work, and better work! Furthermore, amazing people like Dawn Shields inspired me to think of ways that I can use my photography to give back to the community and those in needs. She is a person with as much heart as she has talent… A LOT!

Lindsay Adler receiving 1st place award in the video category at WPPI 2012 awards

(2) I get to inspire others. When I teach and share, I seek for people to come to me and tell me I inspired them do push themselves in some way. That’s my goal… to help people push themselves creatively and also provide guidance along the way.  Perhaps I inspired them to try a new technique. Or maybe one of my images inspired an idea for a shoot. Or maybe I just inspired someone to truly pursue their passions. That’s what I aim for in my classes… to inspire not to instruct necessarily. For example, in my Creative Retouching class (sponsored by Adobe) I taught a variety of the creative techniques I use in Photoshop. I wasn’t trying to teach buttons or specific processes… but instead how to use Photoshop as an extension of your creativity and to allow it to open up even more creativity possibilities. I had a full house (400+ people) and was pleased that many people said I achieved my goal– to get people to see Photoshop and creative techniques as a way to extend your expression and vision.

Lindsay Adler's Platform Class for Adobe at WPPI 2012

Lindsay Adler's Platform Presentation at WPPI 2012

I just want to make sure I take a moment to thank everyone who came to my classes. I really enjoyed my platform class for Fashion Flair, and feel like it had a great response! So… thank you!! I taught all over the place!  WPPI University, a master class on Photoshop and my own Platform class on Fashion Flair.  WPPI is an event filled with passionate people looking to learn, and I am honored to have been part of their WPPI experience!  I had the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of great people. They asked me lots of questions about photo techniques, equipment, ideas and more. We chatted about life, inspiration, our dreams and plans for growth. Its a great way to start the year to inspire myself and share passion with others.

A few more thoughts:

I always want to grow. If I’m not learning or improving, I feel I’m falling behind.  If I learned anything from WPPI this year, its that I need to shoot even more. I am always the one telling people to shoot… but I need to shoot even more.  Give myself projects, goals and deadlines. I need to look at more art, more photographers and to push myself just like I push others. So to all the other teachers and photographers I met, thank you for encouraging me to push myself!

Here are a few other images and thoughts from my WPPI experience!

Lindsay Adler Posing with her friends at Photoshop Cafe for the release of her first educational DVD

I launched my first DVD at WPPI on Creative Studio Lighting techniques with Photoshop Cafe!

Me and my crazy shoes at WPPI 2012!

I wore lots of fun shoes this time around at WPPI! Also, during the last day of WPPI I went out into the middle of the desert to shoot my episode of FRAMED.  I will be sure to post a lot more photos, behind the scenes and the video when it airs!

Lindsay Adler shooting behind the scenes for her FRAMED episode

This Monday my Grandmother passed away, and now I appreciate the images I took of her more than ever. I’ve looked at them a dozen times to appreciate the emotion and memories that the images bring up.

Grandma, Photographing the People you Love by Lindsay Adler

What’s tough about life and loss, for me, is more about the pain that others feel. I have no doubt that my grandmother is in a better place. In the last few months of her life, her sharp wit and eloquence had deteriorated rapidly and it was clear she didn’t want to continue in this lesser state of existence. Yet what pains me is the pain my family, particularly my father feels. My dad was a great son. He did everything he could for his mother. He called her every day. Visited her often. Would buy her anything she needed. He was a great role model of how I should be a better child. So through this ordeal, all I can do is hope I can ease the pain of my family.

I’d like to take a moment to talk about what my Grandmother taught me in my experiences with her, and appreciate those lessons. Grandparents to me have always seen like mythical creatures– all loving, wise, with the ability to see beyond the now into the ‘what can be’. I was lucky in my life to have four wonderful grandparents that loved me and their families deeply. Unfortunately, with the loss of my grandmother, I have no grandparents remaining. Yet they have contributed many important things to my life.

My grandmother was a very strong-willed, eloquent and intelligent woman. I feel that I got much of my drive, love of language and passion from her. Here are a few things I feel she imparted to me.

1. Be a strong woman: My grandma was a strong woman. When she spoke, she spoke with force without being too forceful. Although most of her life she did not have a job, that never meant that she took a lesser place in the family.  She did not stand for disrespect. She allowed her intelligence and thoughtfulness to earn her respect. My grandmother always encouraged me to be a strong women in all forms of the word. She encouraged me to be successful in my career and education. She always taught me that I don’t have to put up with crap from anyone. I don’t need to deal with anyone treating me poorly or pulling me down in life. If I accept something lesser in life, then I deserve it… so I should always aim for bigger and better.

2. There are no excuses: Later on in her life, we had several discussion about achievement, life, and life’s obstacles. It was sometimes amusing to see how she didn’t accept excuses as excuses. At one point in my life I had let a bad break up situation bring me down, and her response was basically “Onwards and Upwards”.  There were no situations in life that could be used as excuses– no one else will truly care about what reasons you have for failure or distress. You must always push past these things. Life is only as good as you make it. She lived this throughout her life, particularly with the last decade of life when she encountered MANY unfortunate situations. Yet she didn’t give up… she pushed past the obstacles to live. She taught me really to step back in life, and see that most of my problems were only temporary and that I must see them in this light. There were always bigger things waiting for me around the corner, in her view.

3. The beauty of language: My grandmother loved language. She always prided herself upon selecting JUST the right word to communicate a feeling or concept. She loves the nuances between different words, and how these slight differences can mean a world of difference when communicating. I could only ever hope to be as eloquent as my grandmother. Yet as a child and even as an adult, hearing her careful and proud choice of words was always inspiring.  I feel that much of my academic strength and success as a communicator has come from my grandmother.

In short, my grandmother was not just a grandmother who nurtured me as a child. The lessons she taught me (through our conversations and through how she lived her life) are important lessons that have shaped who I am as a woman today. I loved her so much and was able to spend a few days with her this December as her health began to fade. I am lucky to have known her not just as a grandmother, but also as a woman. I will miss her, and I already do, but I am thankful for how she has shaped me.

Let me give you a few tips on how I use Twitter to help grow my business.

1. Who I Follow:

I use Twitter to do research on target clients and to start a conversation. Its like Chase Jarvis says…Twitter is a 24/7 cocktail party where you have the opportunity to chat, pass out your business cards, start conversations and fine target clients.

Lets take a very basic example. Lets say that I want to shoot for VIDDI magazine (fictitious for this example).  I’ve sent them emails with my photos, emailed the editor, and even called… yet no one has responded. This happens to me all the time with a variety of publications. I figure out the names of some of the writers and the editors of VIDDI magazine and follow them on Twitter. YES, I also follow VIDDI but more importantly I follow the ‘decision makes’ at these publications. Then I watch. I see what they are tweeting about and how me might connect on a PERSONAL and PROFESSIONAL basis. What projects are they working on? What hobbies do they have? I watch until they tweet about something I can relate to or something where I can give insight. Then I tweet at them. I introduce myself, and put myself in a positive light that I care about the same things they care about, and take an interest in them. I do this for awhile. I get my name out there to them associated with someone who knows about their business and someone they can relate to. Eventually they recognize “@lindsayadler” in a positive light.

Ideally, I am able to engage them and we even start a twitter conversation. I add comments, and ask questions, and I am no longer a random name “lindsay adler”… but now I am “Lindsay Adler” that girl from twitter I’ve been chatting with.

That next time I send the editor of VIDDI an email, they will recognize my name and perhaps open the email or take a second look. When I call and the secretary says “It’s Lindsay Adler”, they might answer the call. Or perhaps during I twitter conversations I can ask to call so we can chat in person. Or perhaps I watch the target clients twitterfeed for an opportunity where it looks like they may need my photographic skills. If there is a hot topic the editor or writers at this magazine are talking about, I might even do a blog post from my perspective and send them a link to show them we are on the same page mentally/professionally.

Its hard to say what exact opportunity will open up, but Twitter is your chance to join the online cocktail party where you have the opportunity to network with the people you are trying to work with/for.

2. Who Follows Me:

I have a lot of great twitter followers out there, and I try to be a resource for them. I try to share useful information or if someone needs help, I try to answer a question or two for them.  I have worked to build a twitter community of ‘virtual’ friends and colleagues. Periodically, this community becomes a great resource for me.  In my time on Twitter I’ve had people recommend me jobs when they knew someone looking for model portfolios or advertising campaigns, or knew of projects that would fit my skill set (either out of their market or didn’t fit their niche). I’ve had people help me to put me in contact with my target clients, or give me advice on equipment, and a plethora of other things. Ideally you become a resource for your target audience… tweeting content and links that they will find useful. This way your target audience will be following you, associate you as an expert, and then when they need your photographic skills… you are the first person they think of.

In short, there is no straight explanation of how your twitter followers may help you. They might be your target clients and hire you for a job. Or they might just be a good network of colleagues when you are looking for answers. But if you don’t have that community or network built… then you’ll never know.  I found my studio through Twitter, got major sponsors through Twitter, and got put in contact with editors from some target magazines… all through Twitter.

My announcements: DVD and Creativity KIT!

This week for WPPI, I am launching my online store where I sell a variety of cool products that I regularly use to help breathe creativity into my photography! I will be selling my books, DVDs, online tutorials, and much more! Ive got high resolution texture packs (5000px), my favorite lightroom presets, and the two big projects I’m announcing.

1. Fashion Flair: Creative Studio Lighting

Fashion Flair Studio Lighting

In this DVD I share how to break the rules and create striking fashion lighting for your portrait and fashion imagery.  Many photographers stick to ‘the rules’ of studio lighting. But YOU want to stand out from the crowd and create high-impact images. We will cover ring lights, lensflare, beauty lighting, composite lighting, unique studio modifiers, and much more!

There is over 2 hours of content, many demos, and is a great way to push your creativity once you feel you’ve mastered traditional lighting. This is a ‘must have’ for those of you that want to push your creative boundaries or just feel bored my the usual techniques of studio lighting.

$79.99  http://store.lindsayadlerphotography.com/

2. Think Outside the Box: with Lindsay Adler: Creativity Kit

Think outside the box with Lindsay Adler

Creativity is so important for photographers. Its why we get into photography in the first place! Yet as a travel the country and speak to professional photographers, many feel drained and uninspired. This creativity kit is mean to be the solution to invigorate them and give them new tools and techniques to create exciting images.

This creative kit includes:

• Fashion Flair: Creative Studio Lighting: (see above)

• 20 Grunge Textures: Use these textures to add grunge and visual interest to your photos. Great for HDR portraits, textured fashion and more!  I’ve used these textures in a variety of projects I’ve worked on through the years including photos of rappers, composites and high-fashion editorials. These textures are 5000px on the long side… in other words they work great for files taken with the 5D Mark 2 (21 megapixels) or smaller!
• 25 Fashion Presets: I utilize a variety of Lightroom presets in my fashion work, and I have made 25 of these presets available to you!
• Creative Retouching DVD:  I get asked all the time how I do a variety of my creative retouching techniques like making skin look white/porcelain, doing a 3-D effect, adding textures and more. This download teaches you 10 of my favorite effects!
• Lensflare tools for in-camera effects: In the past few months of have be utilizing a variety of tools including crystals, acrylic ornaments, and more to create striking blur/flare effects in my images. I have received GREAT feedback on these techniques and now I share them with you by including several of these tools in your kit!

The value is WELL over $200, but for now I have a WPPI show special of just $124.99!

http://store.lindsayadlerphotography.com/

Think outside the box with Lindsay Adler

After quietly flipping through the pages of my portfolio, he shut the book, set it on his desk, and calmly told me to start again. START AGAIN. I had to blink about a dozen times in order to believe it was real. I had surrounded myself previously only with people and opinions that constantly gave me praise and encouragement. Family, classmates, professors, friends, and other local photographers… but this was a different sort of opinion, and unfortunately the opinion that potentially ‘mattered’.

He explained that my work, while of excellent quality, was just too typical and too commercial. He explained to me that in the world of fashion photography, anyone can take beautiful images… but thats not what is important. More important than quality is concept, originality and style. He said that just about every image in my book was too ‘commercial’ and felt too “American” (which later I found out he meant that the work was too safe and didn’t push any boundaries).  Style is key. What can you do to stand out from the crowd and create a recognizable body of work?  I’m very lucky that I didn’t leave that meeting shattered. As I exited the office into a cold London fog, I became determined, and dug in to start again.

One of the hard things in photography is to know whose opinions to take seriously. If you ask enough people, you’ll get markedly different opinions, so you have to be sure you ask someone whose work and opinion you admire, and who has your best interest at heart. Some people don’t know what they are talking about, and other are just mean.  I knew that this editor, however, was being purely matter-of-fact, and he has since seen and loved my work.

Little Red Riding Hood Fashion Flair Session

So the moral of this little story is that we ALL face rejection and criticism, but you should only use it to allow yourself to grow.  You need to go out and seek critique and advice in order to improve, but be wary of where you seek your advice. Don’t just seek positive reinforcement all the time.

No matter how successful you are, you will still face rejection. Its just part of the game. Its like falling in love. A man might be smart, handsome and sweet but that doesn’t mean you fall in love with them because it isn’t the right fit. Its the same thing with your work. It might be great quality, creative, original, but it might not fit a particular client. Not everyone will love your work, but that doesn’t mean its not fantastic. And also, just because your mom and family loves your work doesn’t meant it doesn’t need improvement!

And so while we are talking about love… Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you can spend it with someone you love, whether friend, family or partner!

The image I shared above in this post was a ‘fashion flair’ engagement session with a beautiful bride and groom, where we told the story of little red riding hood! I had so much fun creating this dramatic scene.

Next I’d like to share my schedule for WPPI. WPPI is one of my FAVORITE conferences of the year. I love the people… everyone is energetic and passionate about starting or growing their careers. Its a great event with lots of parties, great learning opportunities and just truly great people. I’d say that last year at WPPI is where my photo teaching career really started to take off. I started to really build my name and establish myself in the industry… and so I cannot WAIT for this year!

If you are coming to WPPI, I’d LOVE if you come to one of my classes and said hi!!! Its not too late to sign up!

Friday February 17th:

11:30am-12:30pm: WPPI University Sponsored by Millers and Sigma: “In Search of Inspiration”: In this presentation I will be sharing a variety of tips on how to breathe creativity into your work! We will discuss where I get my ideas, the importance of personal projects, and how to stay inspired. I will share behind the scenes information on my favorite shoots, how they came about, and how they were executed. Get ready to come away with the passion to push your creative boundaries!

Sunday February 19th: 

3PM-5PM: WPPI Platform Sponsored by Adobe: “Creative Retouching Techniques”: In this class I will share my favorite techniques for making an image more creative in photoshop. To me, Photoshop is just another tool of photography to help you create your vision. I will show you how to add textures, create a 3D effect, how to make porcelain skin, creative composites and more!

Creative Retouching Platform Class, WPPI, by LIndsay Adler

Monday February 20th:

11:30-12:15: Sigma Booth: Fashion Photography and the Creative Eye

1:30-2:15: Sigma Booth: Location Fashion & Portraiture: Light & Lens

Tuesday February 21st:

10:30-11:15: Sigma Booth: Location Fashion & Portraiture: Light & Lens

11:30AM-12:15PM: Millers Professional Imaging Booth: “Top Ten Best Practices for Social Networking”:  No one wants to waste their time online social networking… so don’t waste time! In this presentation I will cover how to use social networking to efficiently and effectively grow your business. These concepts apply to all types of photography across all social media platforms!

12:30-1:15: Sigma Booth: Fashion Photography and the Creative Eye

2:30-3:15: Sigma Booth: Location Fashion & Portraiture: Light & Lens

Wednesday 22nd:

8AM-10AM: WPPI Platform: Sponsored by Millers and Sigma: “Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photography“: You want your work to be original and stand out from the crowd. In this presentation I will teach you how to take the concepts of fashion photography and apply them to your own portrait and wedding work. Concepts include: lighting, story-telling, props, posing, locations and more.  Your images with grab attention and allow you to target a higher-end clientele. You should come away from this class with excitement to go push yourself creatively!

10:30-11:15 (Subject to change): Sigma Booth: Location Fashion & Portraiture: Light & Lens

12:30-1:15:  Fashion Photography and the Creative Eye