A lot of people have been asking me how I get such great photos on my iPhone. And yes, I have a few favorite apps I use most of the time. They can help to create the image and the look you are after, but keep in mind that the iPhone and its apps are just tools. Use your creative eye first and foremost. Never rely on your tools to do the work for you.

That being said here’s a list of photo apps on my iPhone (in no particular order). Check em out!

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Are you looking for a casual photographer that will capture spectacular special moments in a “candid” style? What about just portraits? I specialize in capturing both styles for you and your family.

Let’s go take a walk in one of Calgary’s many parks and I will grab natural moments of your family without the images looking posed. I think this “candid” style is much more relaxed, more natural, and shows moments which are much more memorable.

Contact me now and ask about the Family Sessions which start at just $99 for a two hour session anywhere in Calgary. When we are done, I will edit the images and place the finished and print ready files on a CD which you can get printed anywhere.

Family Sessions
2 hrs                           $99
4 hrs                           $350

Infant Sessions
2 hrs                           $250
(Includes proper studio lighting brought to your location)

Weddings
Ceremony                                                                     $550
Ceremony + Pictures after the event                            $990
Ceremony + Pictures after the event + Reception        $1550

Glamour/Fashion
2 hrs                 $199
4 hrs                 $499

Industrial
1/2 Day             $350
Full Day            $650

Visit thinkdan.ca for more information.

*All sessions receive a CD with final images. No prints provided.

An essential photographic tool that a good photographer will often use is compositional rules. Compositional rules refer to the simple act of framing your subject in the viewfinder in such a  way to make the final picture of greater interest or to have greater impact. It is not unusual for a new photographer to frame a subject exactly in the middle of the viewfinder to do this. While this is technically not bad, this sort of composition usually isn’t very interesting.

Compositional rules are really just guidelines…there really aren’t any rules in photography period. Depending on the subject and situation, using these guidelines will teach you to see your pictures in a different way and change your approach to photography in a very positive and different matter. Let’s take a peek at some of them.

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So I’ve seen a few photographers work in different ways, some are organized and some fly by the seat of their pants. From my experience, I’ve found that this can lead to some problems such as lost files, memory cards that are full from your last shoot or inconsistent exposures. I like to be organized and stick to a system so that I do not loose things and my pictures can consistently turn out well. Here is a quick process list of how I work my system from preparation to the shoot all the way through post-processing.

1. Before the shoot I always make sure I have my memory cards in my bag, lenses clean and batteries charged. Do this the night before.
2. Review your kit the morning of the shoot to make sure you have all your gear lined up. If you need two lenses, pack these, plus your flash. This is a no-brainer. What is important is leaving out the gear you don’t want to take, I hate taking more weight than I need. I usually pack my camera body, one mid-range zoom, one telephoto and one prime. Always take at least an extra battery, memory card and charge cords if you can.
3. Reset your camera settings and make sure you choose your correct ISO, White-Balance and click on RAW + JPG.
4. During the shoot, do you your thing. Make magic!
5. Immediately take the images off your camera and store them in a particular system. I always store mine as follows:
   a.    Year Folder > Month Folder > Specific Date (taken off the camera)
   Eg.   2009 > May > 05.31.2009
   b.    Split this folder into RAW and JPG.
   c.    Add a “Touched up” folder so you can preserve the original photos.
6. Format the memory card once you have the photos backed up.
7. Do your post-production work.
8. Clean your equipment with micro fiber cloth, lens pen and rocket blower.
9. Put your toys away.

Using this system, I have improved my work flow and quality of my work dramatically. Not to mention being able to find all my photos when I need to reference them later.

Man, this guy is one of my favorite commercial photographers just keeps on astounding me. I think his work with big time cameras like the Nikon D3, Hasselblad and other expensive equipment…but this is a side that really surprised me. Reinforcing the fact that it’s not a camera that can be the most influential part of the equation, but rather the mind. He uses his iPhone and doesn’t do any photoshop work to it.

Follow the link here to see what I am talking about.