My wedding season is winding down, but my children's portrait photography sessions are starting to pickup. It's just the nature of things as we cycle from one season to the next.

In my pursuit to be better than I was last year, I looked around to see whose work and expertise could elevate me as an artist. One name that kept popping up to the top of my head was Tamara Lackey.

Let me at the outset tell you that Tamara is a friend. We first met at a workshop hosted by Jesh de Rox. Tamara and I continued to stay in touch (and that's one good way to be on top of someone's mind, eh?) but both our studios got busier and things got a little quiet. Then all of a sudden I heard that Tamara had written a book called The Art of Children's Photography.

Subsequently, I met her at Learnfest, another workshop hosted this time by Tamara, Audrey Woulard, Lena Hyde and Laura Novak. (Learnfest is now on an indefinite hiatus and that's why the link points to a very good review of that workshop!)

In early January of this year, Tamara announced that she had co-produced a DVD with Rex Ballard, called Inside Contemporary Children's Photography. I sent Tamara a message saying that I was intrigued by the DVD and wanted to know where I could buy it. Her prompt response was to simply ask for my address. A couple of days later I received her generous gift. So, let me be clear that I did receive this DVD gratis. This blog post, however wasn't solicited by her or me. It was truly an after thought because I absolutely loved what Tamara was able to teach me in 90-very-quick-minutes. I say “quick” because it left me wanting to hear and see more.

Her breakdown of different kinds of children and how to approach them was my biggest take away. I have two kids of my own whom I photograph constantly, but that doesn't make me an expert on all the different kinds of kids there are in the world. Tamara, of course, generalizes to some extent. But her opinions come from the vantage point of a lot of experience. Just look at her images and you will be amazed at how intact the children's souls remain. In some children, she is playful and down-right goofy. While working with some others – those who are cranky or shy, her approach is much more reserved and quiet. In any of the scenarios, you can tell that being respectful of children is very important.

There is also a fairly detailed section of the DVD where Tamara and her studio director talk about how to run a successful portrait photography business. If you are starting out, this is going to be doubly valuable to you.

I wholly recommend this DVD if you are considering specializing in children's photography or at least making it part of your business.

Be sure that your approach is going to be different (and Tamara and I hope that it will be), so please don't think of this DVD as a template for what you MUST do. Think of it as a template of what you CAN do. These are suggestions and very good ones that will help you make your business sing if you adopt even just a few of them.

I wholly recommend this DVD if you are considering specializing in children's photography or at least making it part of your business. Tamara's approach is genuine and her love of children is as clear as a sunny day. The DVD itself is very well produced. After all, Rex Ballard's litany of achievements as a Director of Photography and Cinematographer include National Geographic and The History Channel.

You can buy this helpful tutorial as a DVD or a download here. [This isn't an affiliate link and I don't get a dime for promoting it!]

BONUS: If you are going to be in New York City this Friday (October 29, 2010), Tamara Lackey will be presenting at Photo Plus Expo. She is an enthusiastic speaker and her presentation is not to be missed.

UPDATE: Tamara has generously given Tiffinbox readers a $30 discount if you buy her DVD by Friday – November 5, 2010. That brings your price down to $169. This is NOT an affiliate offer and I don't make a dime for promoting it here. Yeah, it's that good. Get it!

If you are anything like me, it's been ages since you read a real page turner. Busy photographers we all are but that doesn't mean we get to stop learning and perfecting our craft.

Photographer and author Ed Verosky is running a special Halloween SALE on all of his books.

If you have been on the fence about getting his books (see the big fat images below as well as in the sidebar of this blog), this is your chance to save 25%. But the sale ends October 31. So hurry!

If you have enjoyed the posts here on Tiffinbox and want to find a way to say thank you, simply click the images below to order your e-books. Yes, those are affiliate links. But they are of e-books I have read and found very valuable.

THE DISCOUNT CODE IS: “PHOTOBOOKS”

Buy 100% Reliable Flash Photography:

Buy 25 Amazing Boudoir Photography Techniques:

If you do buy one or both of the e-books, do chime in below with your comments about them. I do want to hear your feedback. Did you learn anything from them? Were they priced just right for you? Would you feel good about letting your friends know about the e-books being available here? Your comments are valuable. You have a voice.

Thank you again for your support!
Seshu

This guest blog is a second for Jen May Pastores. Her first post was about her Cambodian photo project.

Beyond the online sphere of social media, smart phone efficiency, and the praise of technological advances that the world goes gaga for there is still an unfulfilled satisfaction that plagues many of us. It’s a real desire for a true connection without the abbreviations or vagueness that often travels through digital walls. Symptoms of this desire starts with often checking emails for replies, scanning Twitter for mentions, and counting likes and comments on Facebook. This is where Woot Camera intervenes to present a pleasant breakaway from the modern day overload.

Woot Camera is a personal project that sends a disposable camera to strangers across the world. It arrives in a purple box in the mail–sent from the previous photographer–and when opened a personal handwritten note sits on top to greet the new photographer. Included are instructions to take a single, creative image with the Woot Camera and then send it off to the next person. When completed the camera returns to me and the exposures will be developed and shared online. It’s a fun example of balancing the intimate joys of a tangible connection and sharing it with the multitude of users on the Internet.

All participants signed up last month when I first released the project and since then Woot Camera has traveled to five cities on the east coast. Other places like Canada, Dubai, Japan and more cities in the states are on the itinerary, as well. Participants have expressed excitement in sharing this experience and are eager to see the results. Who wouldn’t enjoy discovering a package in the mailbox in front of their home that encourages creativity and new friendship?

Woot Camera will continue to rescue the dissatisfied, gadget-addicted-junkies with a second round of participants starting before the holidays. The best part about this is that anyone can start their own traveling camera project. Tie a disposable camera around a tree or leave one on the subway. The possibilities start with you giving back in a unique way. Photojojo, an online source of the best photo tips and DIY projects around, is also another great place to discover fun ideas.

Follow Woot Camera’s journey on Twitter (@wootcamera) or sign-up to be a part of the project.

Chris Orwig, an author and teacher asks us to redefine our notion of what a photograph is in this video. I think it is instructive of how photography must go back to its roots – when things we saw in front of us were genuinely appreciated and the person making the images was so much present in the images they were making.

As Orwig says, the world does not need another Ansel Adams or Annie Leibovitz. The world just needs YOU behind your camera. Creating images that are more indicative of who you really are. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I did. One of these days, if Chris' schedule opens up and he is interested, I would love for him to guest blog here too.

If you want to hear or read more about what Chris Orwig is saying, I wholly recommend his book Visual Poetry. Here is a dedicated website for it.

This is a guest post by Ingrid Spangler. Ingrid has been involved with photo sharing and social media (before it was called social media), with an account on Flickr going back to 2004, and before that was active on Fotolog and Fotola for two years. She has been with AdoramaPix for over 3 years, and is responsible for all the social media, as well as copywriting, promotions and marketing. She has been an avid photographer from the time she was a child, and studied film at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she learned to shoot on a Bolex 16mm movie camera as well as studying film theory and visual aesthetics. Some of her favorite all-time photographers are Lee Friedlander, Robert Frank, and Harry Callahan. Currently, Ingrid says, “I'm just crazy over Matt Eich and Noah Kalina. I'm lucky that in my job I get to see lots of photographs and I'm constantly inspired by the work I see rolling out of our printers everyday.”

Choosing an online lab for your print fulfillment can be overwhelming. There are a lot of labs out there, how do you wade through all the choices and find the right lab for your clients' images?

Start by asking what is most important to YOU. Is it price? Is it quality? Is it a wide selection of products? Is it having access to knowledgeable customer service?

Of course I'm sure you've answered that ALL these things are important. You want the highest quality materials and print quality at the best price. You want to be sure that you have access to someone who has the power to make things right if there is ever an issue with an order. Is it possible to get everything you want in one lab?

Store and More

Let's start with the order process and the website's ease of use. I'd look for a lab with plenty of storage for your images and the ability to share links directly back to your images. This is important because you want to be able to maintain your images for as long as your clients are going to want to order copies. This could be indefinitely! Lots of clients may come back a year or more after a wedding or portrait session to reorder prints for themselves or as gifts; you won't make a sale if their images have expired and/or are no longer available.

Try Before You Buy

Does the lab offer test prints? This is important for a couple reasons. First, it allows you to experience the order process, if it's difficult or not user-friendly, now is the time to find out, not when you have sweaty palms and a deadline looming. Test prints will also allow you to gauge turnaround time and how well your potential lab keeps you informed of your order's progress. Do they let you know when your order has shipped? Do they provide tracking numbers, if applicable? Do they let you know in a timely manner if there is a problem with your order?

Your test order should also give you the chance to try out the various papers and processing options that the lab offers; compare what a glossy print versus a matte print looks like. Do they offer color corrections and how do those affect your images?

Will or can the lab print your studio name or copyright information on the back of the prints? How does this show up?

Control

It's not just a Janet Jackson song. What kind of control does the lab give you over your images?

Cropping

As you know, digital images are often in different proportion than many traditional print sizes. If the aspect ratio of the image file does not match that of the print size chosen, how does the lab deal with this discrepancy? Ideally, you should be able to control the cropping, if necessary, or at the very least see how the lab will print the images.

ICC Profiles

Does the lab offer ICC profiles? With a properly calibrated monitor, profiles allow you to soft-proof your photos and see your images the way the lab will print them. Profiles (along with a calibrated monitor) are the key component in maintaining the most control over color and what your final printed images will look like.

Auxillary Products

Can you do one stop shopping for prints, photobooks, canvases, etc?

Quality

This is probably the most important thing to look for when shopping for a lab. What good are all these other options without quality materials and quality personnel producing your prints?

Are you familiar with the reputation of whatever brand of materials are used? If not, do you like the way the prints look and feel? Is there a good choice of different kinds of papers for different types of images? Do they print in-house or outsource? Is there some kind of quality control in place?

How is your potential lab's customer service structured? Can you get to a living, breathing person on the phone (or instant messenger, live chat, etc.) if you need to? If you have a question or if there is an issue with your order, how is it handled? Are the customer service agents knowledgeable? Ideally, they should work in the lab (not be outsourced), understand the workflow and know the products offered inside and out.

The bottom line is that your reputation is only as good as your photography and people will judge your photography mostly by the prints they see.

Your clients will see your images for a short time online or in print when they see proofs, but they'll live with them for a much longer time. Make sure they have good thoughts about you whenever they look at their prints by choosing a lab that does justice to your photography!

Get $10 in print credits when you sign up with AdoramaPix – http://www.adoramapix.com