Free Florabella valentines template

Join Florabella on Facebook for a FREE and fanciful set of Valentines templates for use in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

Link is here: http://www.facebook.com/FlorabellaActions?sk=app_187049641343878

best lens for new portrait photographers

Sharing one of my favorite tips from my Portrait Classroom app today! If you’ve just bought or received a fancy DSLR camera for the holidays there is one additional item you should buy if at all possible. It is a lovely, little lens that creates dreamy portraits and is surprisingly not too expensive. It is the 50mm f1.8 lens!

I am a Canon girl and started with the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens. It sells for about $120 USD. I have since upgraded to their 50mm f1.4 lens for my business but the results with the f1.8 are unbelievable for the price and in most cases all that you will need. Straight out of the box, you will notice dramatic and beautiful results with these “fast”, prime lenses. They allow you to take photos in low light (which is often necessary when you are shooting with natural light and no flash). Secondly, the wide open apertures they allow create beautiful blurred backgrounds behind your subject (also termed “bokeh”). All of the focus, literally, is on your subject when this lens is used at its widest apertures (f1.8, f2, f2.2, etc) which makes for a very dramatic portrait.

Here is B&H’s page for the Canon version of the 50mm 1.8 lens. They also sell the Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens, among others. You can also buy them through Adorama, Amazon, your local camera store and more. The point it – just get one and you’ll be happy you did Your portraits will be a lot more professional looking and probably the type of photos you were hoping to get with your fancy new DSLR!

Here is an example of a photo taken with my 50mm lens. With my camera in aperture priority mode, I set the aperture at f2.2. This lens and setting will produce the bokeh / blurred background and sharp subject.

This image is covered in further detail in Tutorial 9 of my app – Portrait Classroom!

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Portrait Classroom app: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials
For iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id385486822?mt=8
For iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id480534706?mt=8

Kim Binfield Photography website

Tags: aperture priority, canon 50mm, child photography, nikon 50mm

Portrait Classroom Now Available for the iPhone

Portrait Classroom is now also available for the iPhone (it has the same content as the iPad version, but optimized for the iPhone screen).  Download the app here:

Get the iPhone version (and check out the YouTube demo)

Get the iPad version (and check out the YouTube demo)

Reviews of the iPad version here.

About: Learn to take better portraits with your digital SLR. Portrait Classroom – Baby and Child Photography Tutorials is an insider’s guide to taking better photos. The app presents ten tutorials that detail the set up, camera settings & equipment used, and Photoshop image editing steps for a collection of ten baby and child portraits.

What People Are Saying

Portrait Classroom iPad version reviews:

  “Portrait photography is a snap with an iPad app” … “Perfect for parents, amateurs and those wanting to shift their camera out of ‘automatic’ mode and get a little creative, Portrait Classroom will provide you with loads of skills and tips.” from Babyology

  “One of the first ones that is starting to ‘get it’ when it comes to putting some educational content on the iPad. They’ve got a menu that allows you to navigate to the tutorials, a glossary of terms, resources, contact and an about page.  Each of the tutorials has text, sample images and they give you the equipment and settings that were used. Not too bad. So, my recommendation? Worth the $1.99 if you are new to photography and interested in portrait shooting.” from Dave Warner on LensFlare35

“The interface is so easy, clean, and well, let’s face it, awesome. … Click on the camera and you’re about to see some settings. I know how beginning photogs love to know settings you’re using! While each tutorial is carefully written and thoughtfully explained, you always have the Glossary to turn to. Want to REALLY know what that word means? Now you can. All in one easy spot. Kim provides you with resources, including what she has in her camera bag. Her go-to props and accessories to help her with newborn photography as well as other child set ups let you know that you don’t need a lot to really be effective. I was impressed with this app. I think if you’re a new photographer, starting out, this is a great way to learn about how to tackle the infant and child world.”   From Pink Ink Studios (now sadly closed)

And reviews by iTunes users have included:

“Great app”  by Big Uncle Kyle: “This is a great app to assist with photo’s of children. There are many helpful pointers regarding SLR settings (which confuse the heck out of me) and lighting. The photos my nephew turned out awesome.” 5 stars

“I learned so much”  by Pamela Velez: “In just the first five minutes, I learned so much! I will be practicing with my grandson!” 5 stars

“Really helpful” by Onesffox: “I have young kids and am just learning photography. This app is really useful. It tells you how to set up, and process various poses and styles of photos – I’ve used it to get several great photos of my kids! Thanks for all the ‘insider tips’!” 5 stars

“Great app!!” by SDFotofan: “Lots of great info!! Especially useful before and after photos…. Looking forward to the next edition.” 5 stars

“Excellent” by Speedyb7777: “As a beginner photographer, this app is an excellent resource for tips and solid instruction.” 5 stars

“Great for parents!”  by fotogfan: “This gave me a solid foundation of photographing babies, the info was very clear, and the tutorial images & settings & equipment info was very helpful. I also really liked that you added a glossary to this app. This really helps a beginner like me.” 5 stars

“Just right” by EmDeeBee: “Just the right balance of technical expertise and inspiring encouragement. The results are beautiful” 5 stars

iPhone Demo

Sneak peek at Portrait Classroom for iPhone [DSLR Photography App]

It truly is, we promise, getting close now! The iPhone version of our app, Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials, is nearing completion.

We’re submitting it to Apple soon for approval and then, fingers crossed, once approved it will be available for download on the iTunes app store.

Portrait Classroom for iPhone is very closely based on the successful iPad version. It has all of the same content – the same tutorials, images and text. It is simply configured to fit the iPhone screen. Stay tuned for its debut … a wealth of insider secrets and training, even more compact and ready to take with you on the go!

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Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials iPad App available in the iTunes App store here. iPhone App coming soon!

Kim Binfield Photography website blog

Tags: announcements, app, DSLR, iPhone, photography, training

Portrait Photography is a Snap – Babyology reviews Portrait Classroom iPad app

We started the new year with a great review from Babyology, a blogsite that posts modern finds for hip kids and parents. The review titled, “Portrait photography is a snap with an iPad app” concludes “Perfect for parents, amateurs and those wanting to shift their camera out of ‘automatic’ mode and get a little creative, Portrait Classroom will provide you with loads of skills and tips.”

Read the full review on their site here!

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Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials iPad App Available in the iTunes App store here.

Kim Binfield Photography website blog

Tags: babyology, portrait classroom, review

iPad photography course

Welcome Christmas iPad and digital camera owners! As you’re having fun with your shiny, new toys be sure to use them to their fullest potential. Check out Portrait Classroom – our photography training app for iPad. For just $1.99 you can take a mini course in portrait photography and learn a ton of tricks and methods for getting your best photos yet!

We’ve seen a great boost in sales over the holidays and we thank you for your participation and enthusiasm!

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Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials iPad App Available in the iTunes App store here.

Kim Binfield Photography website blog

A giveaway and sale for us creative types!

If you’re new to portrait photography or looking for fresh ideas and inspiration head over to http://www.soulographer.com/final-christmas-giveaway/ for their sale and Christmas giveaway!

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Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials iPad App Available in the iTunes App store here.

Kim Binfield Photography website blog

Free Florabella Collection holiday card templates

Fabulous freebie — Merry & Bright Holiday Card templates — today at one of my favorite vendors, Florabella.

“For a limited time, Florabella Collection (Photoshop Actions, Textures, & Resources for Photgraphers) is offering the fun, festive “Merry & Bright” Holiday Card templates for FREE to all Florabella Facebook Fans! All you have to do is “Like” the Florabella Facebook Page and then you will have access to download the file (look under the FREE? tab) for the download link! This set is not only great for Holiday cards, but can be used year round!”

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Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials iPad App
Available in the iTunes App store here.

Kim Binfield Photography website blog