The perfect camera bag may not be out there, but there sure are a lot of duds. We have 10 factors you should consider before buying your next camera bag.

How many camera bags do you need? You'll possibly end up buying more than you need, at least until you find out what matters to you in a camera bag.

That's why having a checklist like our 10 factors can help you save money in the long run. You'll know what you want.

The post 10 Factors to Choose the Perfect Camera Bag appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode256

Is your photography experience social or private? One of the things that changed photography for many of us during the lockdowns is the absence of social interaction that we got from photography.

Do you gain creativity from working with others, or do you need to be alone to concentrate on your photography?

The post What's Your Photography Experience? appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode255

The best way to organize Lightroom Classic is to use the method that makes the most sense to you.

Many Lightroom Classic trainers ignore this basic truth and go on to teach their way, without giving any path or options for people who just think about things differently.

We'll show you a resource that can help you learn how to organize, find and share your photos using Lightroom Classic.

The post The Best Way to Organize Lightroom Classic appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode254

We share 5 ways to get tack sharp photos in this episode, and it's easier than you think. If you aren't getting the sharpness an detail you need, check out our episode.

We'll tell you why your photos need to be sharp, and where you need sharpness. Then we'll go into the 5 different techniques you can use to ensure that you capture and share tack sharp photos with your audience.

Every photo needs sharpening.

The post 5 Ways to Get Tack Sharp Photos appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode253

We'll share 5 reasons visual storytelling is something you need to incorporate in your photography. People are wired to consume stories. Give yourself an unfair advantage in your next photo.

People engage with visual information much faster than text, and we're infatuated with stories. We'll help you understand why and how to engage your audience with visual storytelling, and without going over the top.

The post 5 Reasons Visual Storytelling is Critical for Photographers appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode252

I asked Lee to give me her objections to use off-camera flash in her photography, and she gave me 5 answers...and more. Check out why some folks don't like OCF.

Let's be fair, some of her reasons are about convenience and some are about a lack of experience. Does that mean she should embrace off-camera flash, or is she doing just fine with her photography using available light?

The answer is in this episode.

The post 5 Objections to Use Off-Camera Flash appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode251

Learn 5 reasons why no one likes your photos. it's not just a matter of skill, but also about taste and style.

You can learn all the technical skills that you want, but what really matters comes from your heart & soul, and it only appeals to a specific audience.

You can never be all things to all people, but you can learn what your audience wants from you - and doesn't want.

The post 5 Reasons Why No One Likes Your Photos appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode250

Want to know the best way to organize your photos in Lightroom Classic? It's the method that makes sense to you, and we'll help you create a strategy to organize your photos.

It's frustrating to keep wasting your time searching for photos in Lightroom Classic. A little organization isn't that hard, if only you know what tools to use and had a strategy.

That's what we're discussing in this episode of I Like Your Picture, and there's a nice bonus at the end to help you out.

The post Best Way to Organize Your Photos in Lightroom Classic appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode254

If you want to create superior photos, there's one rule you need to keep in mind. It's not one you were taught, like the Rule of Thirds. We'll explain the single most important rule in photography.

Once you understand this rule, everything else falls into place. It helps you understand the reason why you create photos and how to keep them from sucking.

The post 1 Simple Rule to Create Superior Photos appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode249

Creative photography is the objective, not merely documenting some person, place or thing. We'll tell you why adhering to photography rules doesn't lead to creativity.

If everyone does the same thing by following the same rules, how do you break out to get noticed? We'll share why it's good to break the photography rules so you can stand out of the crowd.

The post Creative Photography is the Objective appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode248

Break the photography rules you've always been taught if you ever want to escape mediocrity. Nothing great ever came from following the rules.

In this episode, we'll explain when and why photography rules are important to follow. Then we'll tell you why you should break the rules to learn more about your creativity and style.

The post Break the Photography Rules to Break Out of Mediocrity appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode247

As photographers, we aren't looking back. We'll share what you can expect from this podcast in 2021 to help you be the best photographer you can be.

Expect a little attitude this year. 

The post What to Expect in 2021 appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode246

Tired of getting blank expressions? Learn how to direct your portrait subjects with one simple technique. We'll also discuss which poses to avoid.

In this episode, we discuss:

The post How Do I Direct My Portrait Subjects? appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode245

Lens choice can be a tough decision. We'll help you understand how different aspects of your lenses can work for your photography. Sometimes the most expensive lens isn't the best choice.

Even if you only have a kit lens, don't dismiss it and think you need to spend more money on an expensive or "pro" lens. 

A lens is just a tool, and your style of photography and the results you need in your photos can help you dictate the right lens choice for you.

The post How Lens Choice Impacts Your Photography appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode244

This is a brief episode to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and to let you know we'll have some Black Friday deals for you to save on your favorite photography things.

The post BONUS: Happy Thanksgiving 2020 appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the Black Friday Deals at:  https://williambeem.com/blackfriday

If you want to spend on gear, make sure you get value for your money. There are a lot of cool things on the market, but you probably don't need most of them to make great photos.

Take it from a man who got caught up in Gear Acquisition Syndrome and learned which items are really important based upon the type of photography you like.

In this episode, we'll discuss how to recognize value for your money when you're ready to spend on gear.

The post How Much Should You Spend on Gear? appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode243

Never give all your photos away. Your reputation is at stake, and people who ask for all the photos in a session often have a misunderstanding of what you offer. We can help you clear up that issue.

There are always photography groups where someone asks what to do when a client asks for all the photos.

By then, it's usually too late. You should have specified a written agreement before taking the first photo.

We'll help you understand why this request is a problem and how you can avoid it in the future.

The post Why You Shouldn't Give All Your Photos Away appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode242

Your reputation as a photographer, or what people think about you, can be the difference between getting someone to hire or collaborate with you or not.

Like it or not, everything you say and do impacts your brand as a photographer. Even if you aren't in business, you still want to collaborate, work or share with other people.

In this episode, we'll discuss some of the things that help you define your audience and determine your appeal to them.

The post What is Your Reputation as a Photographer? appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode241

Were talking about how to photograph cities in this episode. There are many approaches you can take, including architectural, cultural, shooting for color and more.

You don't have to photograph an entire city in one visit. In fact, it's best to narrow your focus and concentrate on one aspect of city life. As we like to say, think like a coffee table book.

That advice allows you to think about the story you want to tell and what kind of photos you need to tell the story of your favorite city.

The post How to Photograph Cities appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode240

Learn how to photograph holidays and family events without ruining the day. You'll capture photos that tell stories for your family for years to come.

We'll teach you how to look for moments, stories, emotions and colors that add to your memories.

We'll also review how to structure those photos to tell the story of your family gathering.

The post How to Photograph Holidays appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode239

If you want to know how to photograph strangers, we'll share our experiences and advice. You'll get tips about when to get candid photos or posed shots, and how to ethically photograph strangers.

Photographing strangers is a great way to share how people live and work in their environment. It's also a great way to remember people you meet and interact with during your travels.

There are some cases when you want a candid shot vs a posed shot. We also cover some cases when people react poorly to being photographed by a stranger.

The post How to Photograph Strangers appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode238

Knowing how to photograph kids helps you capture those family moments, yet still get something better than snapshots with Aunt Edna's knee in the photo. We'll help you get the right results.

The trick isn't to pose or take over your family gathering and turn it into a photo session. Instead, we'll teach you how to plan and prepare for events to unfold naturally so you'll be ready to catch whatever happens.

The post How to Photograph Kids appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode237

AI is a growing trend in photography software, but is AI photography software killing creativity by changing the way we work?

The trend for AI powered photography workflow saves time, but it also eliminates a lot of decision points to process a photo.

Is this a creativity killer, or just a natural evolution with new technology?

The post Is AI Photography Software Killing Creativity? appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode236

Have you tried using creative photography exercises to improve your photos? Photography is like anything else. You gotta do your drills to improve your weak spots.

If you play sports, you do drills to build muscles and reactions to events in your game.

Creative photography exercises help you automatically react to find the best opportunities for photographs, no matter what genre of photography you enjoy.

Check out this episode and we'll tell you how you can practice key aspects of your photography so you get better photos.

The post Creative Photography Exercises to Improve Your Photos appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode235

Color photography should't include random colors that lack harmony. In this episode, we'll help you organize your color photography to make an impact.

You'll learn how to choose colors that work together using color harmonies, themes and mood.

As a bonus, Lee shares a tip to enhance your colors quickly and easily in Lightroom or other post processing tools.

The post Color Photography with Intent appeared first on William Beem Photography.

Visit the show notes at:  https://williambeem.com/episode234