In December I promised a look at the new photo studio when there was something to see - here it is! We’re really happy with the new, downsized digs and it’s probably 90% complete. The new studio is where my time has been going, along with the photo a day project. Sorry I haven’t been keeping up with comments here on prophotolife and the follow up to my prior post. I hope to have a day this weekend to pull those things together.

Our approach for the studio move was to …

The abbreviated version for those in a hurry: in two weeks I’ll be diverting my attention from prophotolife to my photo studio and new photo a day 2009 blog (I hope to see you there). This conclusion has come after countless hours of deliberation and, believe me, it hasn‘t been easy. For the “fuller” story, read on…
A few things have amazed me since starting prophotolife almost a year ago:
1. The unbelievable reception from readers. We’ve jumped around from topic to topic, sharing random thoughts, and there’s always been someone there …

For quite a while I’ve been planning on shooting more personal work. No specific plans, I’ve just felt that I need to get out and shoot with a camera more, just for fun. That’s why we all got started in photography, isn’t it? The joy of taking photographs. Now, with the internet, there’s also the joy of sharing our passion through posting images and sharing online discussion.
Let me go ahead and give the punch line to today’s post: I’m starting a new photo a day blog in 2009. The goal …

As mentioned in last Friday’s post, I’m busy creating a handful of new videos for coming weeks so this is a rare Monday without a new prophotolife vid. But Monday deserves a video so here’s a good one from one of the masters: well known annual report photographer David Tejada. I really like his use of a strobe shooting through the diffused window, it allows David to set up overall lighting for the scene and then he’s free to shoot from various angles. It’s a real trick to create interesting, …

Our friend Udi at DIYPhotography.net has come up with another great giveaway of interest to any photographer that shoots portraits. Photographers of all levels are encouraged to submit their favorite portrait(s) of someone special in their life for a chance to win one of three copies of the new studio (high end) Portrait Professional 8 Software. More info on the contest, software and how to get a demo download of Portrait Professional 8 are posted at DIYPhotography.net.
Entry is open to all photographers so I had my eye on the prize..until …

I’m gearing up for next week, when we’ll be shooting some new location portraiture videos for prophotolife (so stay tuned). In advance I wanted to cover some of the equipment we’ll be using, hence this video showing our DIY location computer stand, large diffusion / reflector frames and a very cool new toy, a portable, battery operated studio light. And here’s a correction: in the video I say the battery pack gives over 200 flashes when fully charged, they actually claim over 500 full power flashes with this strobe when …

If you’re in the Cincinnati area here’s a great chance to get together with other photographers, so let your friends know. David Ziser has just announced the details of a Cincinnati Photo Walk on August 23, with a fun, 2 hour route that starts at Fountain Square and crosses over into Northern Kentucky. There’s more info on the Cincinnati walk on Digital ProTalk.
It’s part of the first ever “Worldwide Photo Walk”, an idea created by Scott Kelby and organized through NAPP. Watch the video and see if your city is …

I was surfing the ‘net the other night, checking up on what prophotolife readers have been shooting and I came across this photo on reader Trent Palmer’s flickr photostream. Finally, proof positive that “Elvis ain’t dead”, he’s popping wheelies on a minibike somewhere.
While the existence of The King is some pretty big news it’s not the big news of the week, that would be the release of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2.0! You can download the software, order a boxed version or a get a 30 day trial version directly from …

I look at many of the videos here on prophotolife as building blocks. What do you do with building blocks? Well, once you’ve collected enough of them it’s time to build something. That’s what this video is all about, connecting the dots on some prior lessons and combining them to create a product photo in an environment. There’s a little something new, plus something borrowed from episode 15, plus the lessons of episode 6 and the return of our good friends the stick-in-a-cans and clamp light from episode 1. It …

Where a blog is going
So, just three months into this blogging journey, where are things? Well, my photo studio business is doing really well. The prophotolife videos are continuing to draw in viewers and people are asking my business partner, Bob, and me about doing workshops or seminars on everything from studio lighting to color management. So that means I’m trying to find a balance for everything, trying to figure out just what I’ve created and where I want prophotolife to head. Running a photo website, I’m finding out, creates …