Diana 12/5/18 Diana 12/5/18

Food photography

I'm excited to announce I am also offering my services for food photography.

During the years I enjoyed shooting dishes I've been preparing and in awe learning tricks and tips from the best food photographers out there. In this article I'm giving a quick overview why food photography is so important for any business establishment serving food and drinks.Nowadays consumers and clients use the internet as the first source of information. And it's no surprise! Even when I get a restaurant recommendation my first thought is to check it out online, to see the images, to look at the venue and to see what the menu has to offer.There is so much diversity, so much choice that standing out as a business is more and more important and the quickest way to do so is using social media and the internet. And because people are visual beings, an eye catching image of a delicious looking dish can even make your mouth water and your stomach rumble. No wonder it's said "You eat with your eyes first". Images are the best marketing tool, even when scrolling through hundreds of feed posts a good image can pull you in and make you want to find more. And when your restaurant is in a multicultural city full of tourists and students it's important to show off what's on the menu in a way anyone would understand in order for them to know exactly what they are getting. You might not want to show every dish in images but a menu and a website that features the high margin dishes will also help with gaining more profit. It's important to make the dish the star of the image but don't forget to integrate little touches to make the table look inviting. It also shows the personality of the restaurant and when you find a place that speaks to you, you keep coming back for more. In my opinion there are two types of food photography images:

The minimalistic - this is the image where the dish is the only element in the frame. This could focus on the details of the dish, getting close to some of it's ingredients or get a full view of the platting on an empty background/surface.

The story teller - this is a more complex image, the dish is now part of a story, and the photo includes other accessories in the frame such as: drinks, other table ware, other foods, and even objects from outside the kitchen that could add to the story(a magazine, a watch, a postcard, sun glasses). For an extra element, human interaction can be used by shooting hands on the table wear, cutting bread or passing plates.Why not contact me now to discuss my food photography service and see how my business can help yours.

Diana 12/2/18 Diana 12/2/18

What to wear at a couple shoot

The question I get every time before a couple or engagement shoot is: What to wear? In this post I will try to talk about the do's and don'ts when thinking of clothes, coordination and awesome images while still trying to be comfortable and portray your personality. I am hoping this will make everything easier on the day, so none of you is stuck surrounded by piles of clothes 2 hours before a shoot wondering what the heck should I wear?!?! It's definitely best to think of the clothes for the shoot day ahead of time so you know your favourite pair of shoes is already polished and your cute dress is ironed and ready to shine.

Be yourself

The photoshoot is about the two of you and who you are, don't go to formal if you're the active type. Choose clothes you feel comfortable moving in, hugging in and even dancing in. These images should be fun and relaxed without the pressure of an event. Your outfit should also make you feel confident, so wear pieces that feel like "you" and the better you feel the better the images will turn out. I want to see your personalities as you relax in front of the camera and become more aware of each other and less of me :)

Coordinate

You are in love, you are a team and you want to celebrate your relationship and your similarities but it's best if the clothes aren't too matchy-matchy. So what's the best way to coordinate without going for the same colours? A few ideas are: go for the same colour family or choose accents of the same colour in your outfits. Don't shy away from vibrant colours as long as the other's outfit is more neutral. Or choose contrasting colours that accentuate each-other: like yellow and blue, or green and red. What's even more important is to keep the style similar so it looks like you are both going to the same place and have the same vibe.

Keep it simple

I always ask for simple colours and prints. As much as patterns can be fun they can distract from the true subject of the image: the two of you. Also simple, classic clothes are a better idea to new trends, bold prints or questionable graphics. Pastels and neutrals can look great on anyone more so than neon hues. These images will be shown to your family and shared with friends for, hopefully, many years to come so why not go for something that is timeless? If you want to stand out add some of your favourite accessories (a colourful brooch? a bright set of shoes or maybe the latest hat in your collection?) don't hesitate to highlight your quirky style!

Location matters

Think of your surroundings when picking out colours for your outfit. You two are the subject of the image so it is best to try and stand out. If you're in a park don't wear green and you won't blend in with the trees. This location will also work better for active wear or smart casual than a restaurant or a busy street will; In the city the clothes can be more formal and vibrant colours can make you stand out from the crowd and the grey buildings.

Make-up

The engagement shoot objective is to enhance your natural beauty and being pampered and feeling confident in how you look is a great idea before a photoshoot. The camera can sometimes flatten the features, show every detail and enhance uneven tones so going for a neutral accent on the eyes (for example mascara can enhance the eye's shape and define the lashes) or some foundation and lipgloss may highlight your attributes.

Other details

Details like an interesting neckline or back, an interesting belt or tie, can bring the entire look together. I like focusing on the details and I sometimes crop really close to see smiles and hugs and interlaced fingers so why not show off your engagement ring, your pretty manicure or that new scarf or hat? An idea that can bring more variety to the shoot without changing your entire outfit is layering: a cardigan, a scarf, a vest.

Diana 6/20/18 Diana 6/20/18

About friendship

Growing up I managed to make a few friends along the way, it was part of my daily life. It was normal to have someone to talk to, to laugh with, to cry with. Loyalty, love and sisterhood were part of me from a very early age. I grew up with support as a base ..and now looking back it seems easy... my life was easy (even if I probably would have never said that back then). I was lucky but never realised it until it went away for a while.Fast forward to 2018: I have been in UK for 8 years and in the last 2 there is a piece missing and I think it's connection. I have great people around me here, we have fun and I think they care but it somehow feels they speak a different friendship language, one I'm still getting used to. My base, the people I grew up with, the relations we built together are somehow different. We all played in the same mud, crowded in our small apartments, dreaming the same dreams. There was a partnership, we were all in the same sort of situation, our personalities, values and hopes were built from the same blocks.There are many types of friends but the ones who truly make a difference are the ones you click with, the ones you will always remember and the ones you can be yourself with.

The things in common

Ok I know you might not believe me but I have a friend who reads my mind ..or I read hers ..umm who knows?! It's always been this strange bond between us from loving the exact same band for the exact same reasons and blurring it out in the same time, to knowing how to open up our souls and feeling like what we receive back in return is exactly what we were looking for. Maybe in another life we were twin souls. Did I say how lucky I am?Having a friend who knows you inside out is awesome and to get to know someone is easier when you have similar values, interests and ideas about the world. Some people grow up together, spend time together and learn to enjoy the same things and others meet later in life in that new photography meet-up and bond over their love for food and diets. I think the deep lasting friendships have to be built on a common ground.

The good the bad and the ulgy

Friends move your heart, become part of you and that bond can rarely be broken. But this is not only because you've been perfectly in tune all the time. It's also about going really dark and hating each-other for a moment and surviving it. Seeing someone in their weakest, meanest place and knowing that part of them is what builds the trust. If you've never seen the ugly parts can you truly say you know someone? If it's all flowers and rainbows can you really feel connected, when every human has some darkness/sadness in them?!Friendships can be messy: you get annoyed at something you fight, they think I'm impulsive I think they're irrational. But somehow you come back together, you know what it means to have someone real, someone who gets it, someone loyal, you know how important it is in this world to have someone to raise you up. And no matter how far you go or how little you talk that connection never really goes away.I know my friends, I don't have many but I have authentic ones, ones that keep me in check and that welcome me with open arms no matter what and for whom I would do the same in a heartbeat.

The team work

Friendship should inspire you to become better, without it being a competition. As humans, we grow, we gather knowledge and we look at this world wondering what the hell we're here for?! It's an amazing feeling to have around you people that wonder the same, that need to be pushed but also push you forward. Unfortunately sometimes circumstances change and somehow people who you thought you knew move further and further away. I had this awesome friend in University, he really got me, we clicked and me, as a Romanian girl that attaches herself to people and holds on, thought I made a new friend for life! (friendship and loyalty is my base remember?!) ..but sometimes it just doesn't work. But those 2 years were awesome!I think real friendship doesn't fade (or it shouldn't) but as any relationship you have to keep it going, you have to put the effort in asking questions or being there with answers and opinions when needed. Friendship implies balance between two people; it may seesaw sometimes if one person is in a stickier patch than the other, but both partners have to know that they can (must, even) both give and receive. It's team work!

The gratitude

I've talked about the bad things and how relationships are stronger when you go through hardship and darkness, but that's not what they are for. Friendships are for comfort, support and love. So if you have that person in your life don't forget to show your appreciation. An "Oh my God you look amazing in that picture" or "I'm so grateful to know that people like you exist" might be unusual but it's rewarding. Maybe it's because I'm growing older and I am finally understanding what is more important, or maybe it's because I've been missing some of my friends, but the people in your life are what you will remember at the end, and not the clothes you bought or your latest car. Humans are made for connection, we are social beings, we are all here to grow together and make awesome memories and maybe leave this world better than we found it.There is so much to be said about this topic! I think my version of friendship should be at the base of any important relationship, it's rare, it takes time, it's raw and exciting and full of curiosity - the family you choose.Guys you know who you are! I am proud to have you in my life; I am lucky to know people like you, my people, my team. Thank you.

Diana 6/5/18 Diana 6/5/18

A couple photoshoot

On my holiday I had the amazing chance to shoot with Alina and Mircea on the streets of Cluj Napoca. I was contacted by them on social media about a quick 2 hours shoot and was happy to comply. I used to know them back when I was a student in Cluj and this was a great opportunity to catch up!The discussion about the photoshoot was short and sweet, they didn't know what they wanted and I didn't know what to expect. But we did start with the idea of urban portraits.When I asked whether they want romantic portraits the reply was that they're not romantic anymore. But I have to disagree completely! Maybe it's not candles and flowers and loving eye gazing but the connection between them is palpable.And even after 10 years together there is a feeling of closeness, of knowing and of partnership with all the quirkiness and vulnerability that it comes with :)Happy to see that, though more grown up, they are still the fun people with great style I remember from back in university. If you're interested in a pre-wedding or couple shoot please take a look at my website and get in touch :)

Diana 4/13/18 Diana 4/13/18

Photography Notes: Should I have two Instagram accounts?

I have pondered on this particular thought for a while: Should I have an Instagram account for both personal and business posts or should I keep it all separate?It's a tough choice (at least I thought it was). Here's some points you should probably take into consideration:

Are you a shearer?

Do you like to share every moment of your day, every silly face, every donut you eat, and run you have to go on afterwards? It's great, it's fine ..no problem with that .. but.. are you taking your best pictures in these situations? Do you want your clients to see this side of you?

Can you separate the two?

If your business is you, if you take photos of real people and their events, of life with it's wonders and it's tears then maybe sharing a bit of your own is not such a bad idea. After all you want to really know your clients and you can't really expect someone to open up fully when they don't know who you are. Put them at ease with a few messy hair days and favourite hiking spots. The more they know you the more they know what to expect and if you're on the same wave length.It's easier to separate your personal life when your business profile is unrelated to who you are. Maybe you shoot fashion or business headshots but you're favourite outfit for everyday is a comfy animal onesie... that's quite a contrast right? Even so, when we have clients we are talking about human beings who you want to build great relationships with, so I think showing your beautiful face once in a while is not that bad :)

Do you have a style?

During my hours and hours of browsing, and swiping, and double clicking on Instagram I learned one important thing: you require a theme, a style that people will get accustomed to, will follow because that's what they want to see in the morning while sipping coffee. So ? Are you the adventurer with pretty images in the mountains? Or the lifestyle blogger with a great sense of art deco. Or maybe you like beauty or fashion? It can be anything as long as it's consistent. Does this style go with your daily life? Yes? Great mix it all together.No? Then think about the amount of people on Instagram (over 800 million monthly active users) and also think about the Instagram algorithm - scary right? It is more difficult to have active followers when they don't know what to expect from you everyday. Let them know what you are about by being consistent in your style and the ones who love it will follow. It is more likely to get people interested in one or two themes you post rather than all your hobbies and favourite foods and family pics put together.

Are you interested in being featured?

Being featured is a great way to get yourself and your brand out there. A feature account with thousands of followers to pick your image to share would be amazing. But it's becoming more and more difficult and most times getting featured it's not only about one image. Curator accounts choose the best of the best and they do that by looking at your entire account. And here is where it becomes very important to share your greatest images, have a style and be consistent. Yup, basically very similar to the point above.

Conclusion

Instagram has grown so much and the majority of people I know (and are interested in photography) have at least one account. It's an awesome network for sharing your images, art and lifestyle and it's also pretty good for socialising and inspiration. The application even made it easy for you to change from one account to another. You have Stories! The silly faces and the days in the animal onesie while eating a donut can be shared there freely for 24 hours.So really the only reason for not having multiple Instagram accounts can only be that .. it's kinda difficult to keep up with two in the long run and you don't have inspiration for new captions :PPS: Personally I decided that I don't need to share pics in my onesie so I keep mine all business, and the odd dog walk (but with free reign on the stories). I did decide I need a separate Instagram account for my art. So in the end I still have two ;)

Diana 4/10/18 Diana 4/10/18

Photography Notes: How to find and contact models

I believe everyone feels a little tension when trying to find a model and when reaching out to someone new. I'll share some of my advice to finding and contacting models for your awesome, new photography projects

The search

My go to place to find models is Model Mayhem. This is where I was first contacted by a model, and the first place I look for people for my projects. It could be familiarity but it's also the fact that it's an awesome resource with a large network of creatives. I used to spend hours reading their forums a few years ago and learned a lot from this community. The website is not the most intuitive but it does offer the opportunity to browse for different people depending on location and experience and also allows you to post a casting call for a specific photoshoot.

A similar website is Purple Port. I joined Purple Port a year ago and I feel like a lot more things are happening on it and people seem to be more active in arranging events and photoshoots. Most of the castings, events and models are looking for payed work so if you are looking for Time for Print definitely check the model description first.

A few things to consider when looking for a model on these resources:

Last active date - make sure the model is active on the website you then avoid waiting for an answer that might not come.
Read their profile. It's great to know a few things about the person who you will work with. You might also discover the type of work they would be excited by or if they recently had a change of haircut.
Can you afford the fee? Do they accept TFP (Time for Print)?
Does the model go with your photoshoot theme? Make sure you have an idea about the photoshoot you want to organise.

The third resource I would recommend is Instagram. If you don't have an Instagram account yet ..then ..what are you doing??!?! It's my favourite social media platform and the app I am most active on. It is also a great place to look for models and be found by models.Finding models on Instagram is a bit more challenging than with the other two platforms. Here are some tips:

Tags! search for the right tag! I live in Cardiff so I would search for: #cardiffmodel #cardiffmodels #cardiffportrait #cardiffactor #cardiffphotographer etc. You get the gist..
Other photographers in your area. If you follow other photographers in your area check out their profile and see who they worked with. Most photographers tag the model in the image and this way you can find their account.
Call for models. Use appropriate hashtags in your posts and stories to advertise that you are interested in finding models in your area. You might get lucky :)

The message

Now that you have a few models that would be great for your shoot it's time to reach out. This is the moment when I get a bit sweaty and nervous: what are they going to say? What are they going to think? What if I make a grammar mistake? Ahh what if my work is not good enough.. (yes indeed we all have those thoughts)But what I say to myself is: I can never really grow without challenging myself, the model is just as nervous as me when working with someone new. We are all human and we all try to figure this world and this life out.Ok back to the message. A simple introduction and enquire should be enough."Hi [pretty model name], I really like your portfolio! Currently I am interested in doing a [style of shoot] in [location] and I believe your look would be perfect for this. I was wondering if you would be interested in doing a TFP shoot. You can check some of my work here: https://www.instagram.com/dianatphotography/ to see my style. Let me know if you would like to have a chat about the opportunity of working together.Have a great day,Diana "Message Tips:

Be nice but be yourself. Don't be too formal, don't use words you wouldn't normally use, talk about your excitement about working with them (that's the whole reason you are reaching out right?!)
Add a link to your work and even to a personal account - the model will feel more at ease knowing who you are and what your style is.
If you can't pay the model make sure you ask for a TFP or test shoot from the start.

Follow-up discussion

If the message doesn't come back it could be for a multitude of reasons .. but I guess you'll have to try with another model ..and let it be.

Now let's say the answer comes back.

It's a NO - Great! We have an answer, not the one we want but .. we don't have to wait around anymore, we know a reason. Best to say thanks and keep an open link for future collaborations (networking is key in the Photography Industry)

It's a YES - Awesome! The discussion is open now it's just about finding a date, a place and explaining your vision as best you can! I recommend making a Mood Board on Pinterest.

Here's an example of a project I am hoping to work on soon, and a good tutorial from Kayleigh June about Creating a Mood Board. It's not a bad idea to go for a coffee beforehand if the project is more complex. If your project is minimalistic and it doesn't need much preparation make sure you let the model know what style of clothes to bring and how to do their hair and make-up on the day.For example regarding the makeup and clothes I could say: "The style of the project is urban/street. Basic idea: a casual look, minimalistic (no crazy patterns ) something like jeans and a loose jumper/tshirt. For the make-up a day look/natural colours with accent on the eyes and glossy lips. As for the hair I love it curly and full of volume as I can see it in your portfolio" (and yes I did actually sent this in a message). After this don't forget pointing out the dates and times you are free and keep in touch. Also make sure you check a couple of days before the shoot that everything is still on schedule.There you have it!Good luck with your new photoshoots :D

Diana 9/29/17 Diana 9/29/17

Editing fairy lights portraits

A quick example of fairy lights photography, a la Brandon Woelfel and the editing from underexposed image to something portfolio worthy.

I shot these with a friend in her room. I already have a blog post about Brandon Woelfel photography where I'm deconstructing his style and this is an example of results using some of those tips. :)

As props we had a mirror, a wardrobe with reflective doors, a couple of fairy lights and the models glasses. The star shaped fairy lights I used I found in Primark but there are many options on Amazon also. I recommend micro fairy lights. The model was sitting with her back at the reflective wardrobe door. The lights behind her are from a few string lights that were hanging on a free standing mirror in front of her. I used my Nikon D7100 and my 35mm 1.8 lens.

The bokeh effect is due to the wide aperture. In the image above you can actually see the mirror behind her. I like how the glasses reflect the lights she is holding.

I also tried using a prism to create a blurred effect as it can be seen bellow.

The images were edited in Lightroom to increase the exposure and brighten up the shadows. Saturation was also increased and I played with the colours for shadows and highlights to bring more of the blue and pink tones.

Diana 8/23/17 Diana 8/23/17

Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400

I tested my new 35mm camera, Pentax MX with the Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400 film this week. This was my first experience using a film SLR and was nervous about two things: Would the camera work properly? Would shooting film be worth it?The answer to both questions ended up being: Yessss!!!

About Fujifilm Superia 400 X-Tra

C-41 colour negative film (developed quickly by most developing companies)
36 exposures
400 ISO
Fine-grain images
Beautiful grain and colour rendition

Diana 8/21/17 Diana 8/21/17

Delicious bruschetta recipe

This is a simple bruschetta recipe I made on a lazy Saturday morning for brunch with what I had in my fridge. I was in a photo mood so I just took a few snaps and put the recipe together. I hope you will enjoy it too.

Bruschetta Ingredients

2 slices of bread
15-20 cherry tomatoes (they are usually tastier than normal ones)
2-3 medium mushrooms
1-2 garlic cloves (you can skip this if you don't like garlic)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 pinch of pepper
1 pinch of salt
a bit of cheese (I used feta cheese because it's all I had but cheddar or mozzarella would be great too)

Steps

Toast the two bread slices
Cut the mushrooms into small slices and bake them for 5 min in an oven heat up to 180. (keep the oven on for the end)
Cut tomatoes in 5mm cubes and put them on top of the toast.
Then add the salt, pepper and oil.
Top up with garlic, the baked mushrooms and finish with the cheese to cover all the ingredients.
At the end just pop it in the oven for 5 min or just enough for the cheese to melt.

I ate this all on my own but you can share if you'd like! Quick and easy :)Enjoy ...

Diana 8/18/17 Diana 8/18/17

How I chose my first film SLR

I'm a digital photographer. It's easy to shoot, once, twice, check later, tweak the exposure, shoot again. But I was always fascinated by film photography, nothing compares to the colours and the grain of a 35mm print. So a couple of months ago I went on a search for my first film SLR.We're talking about vintage cameras ok? So like 50-60 years old! Older than me cameras! Buying second hand was the only choice really and this works best if you're patient and do the research.

First film SLR: The Budget

I went to the website I thought had the best chances on: Ebay. After looking at prices for vintage SLRs, I decided on £70 as the maximum budget.I already have two vintage cameras which I got really cheap (£10) but film SLR cameras are a bit more pricey. In the same time, I know myself, and I know I can get bored quite easily so I couldn't invest too much and get a newer model.

First film SLR: The Research

I think I knew the style even before I knew the budget. I knew the look I liked, and there seem to be a large pool of cameras to choose from. There were many brands on offer from that period and each brand had many other versions. This was getting complicated .. the sleepless nights begun. (Did I tell you I hate too many choices?! I'm so indecisive!)There were a few things I went through to make sure I'm taking the best decision.

Talking to friends

My friend was Google, I asked it a lot of questions: Best film camera? Best budget film camera? 35mm SLR cameras? etc etc etc. I also asked some people I know ;) they recommended a 35mm first: "Disregard the medium format cameras until you are serious about film as they are more expensive".

Reading forums and reviews

After making a list of brands and versions I started to look more in depth into it by searching for samples images (Flickr is a great resource for this). Here's a list of my favourite articles on the subject:Camera guide from Curating Cuteness (she also has a great film guide with samples images)I still shoot film (what a great resource of articles!)Japan Camer Hunter From a long list of brands and versions such as: Nikon, Canon(I must admit my strong loyalty to Nikon didn't let me look at these much), Olympus, Minolta, Pentax, Nikkormat. I ended up with just a few that still tempted me: Minolta (SR-T, XD11/7 or X-700 series), Pentax (K1000 or MX), Olympus (OM1), Nikon (Fm2n).

Asking people online

After reading all I could read online I decided to post my own question on a Flickr group and a Facebook group. My list was shorter and shorter and my heart was in between Pentax and Minolta. I needed help to finally decide. I must admit the answers there weren't different to what I've seen during my days of research .. but it was more for reassurance that I'm going in the right direction.

First film SLR: The Conclusion

Tips I gathered along the way:

Get the camera brand you own as you might be able to use the same lenses

Great advice ..but in my case my Nikon camera is a cropped sensor and you can only use full frame lenses on 35mm film cameras. Also the vintage Nikon bodies have a different lens mount to the current ones.

Make sure you get a bright viewfinder (there is no screen on the back)
Make sure the batteries used for the light meter are still readily available in shops. Some vintage cameras use mercury batteries that are more tricky to find.
Get a camera that is working even without batteries especially if these are difficult to get hold of or replace.
Go for a prime lens, preferably from the same manufacturer. This was something I decided from my own experience with digital cameras. Wide aperture prime lenses offer a sharper image and faster shutter speeds.
Try to get a metal body instead of a plastic one - they tend to last longer.
Be patient and persistent, you can find new listings every day and you will find the perfect camera for you. I waited for a long time to find mine while searching each day: Minolta XD11/7 or Pentax MX on Ebay.

I know £70 sounds like nothing compared to the prices of the DSLRs these days, but these cameras are build to last and take great pictures, plus I can bet my children will inherit it and it will be just as good.I present to you my new baby: The Pentax MX (just arrived and can't wait to test it!*)*Review in a future post