All of us at some point blames the camera for missed shots. Our cameras have shutter lag, not sharp enough, slow AF, misfocused, noisy ISO, aperture not wide enough, not fullframe, and a lot of other stuff… What if our cameras can talk back to us?

Here are some stuff I think our cameras will tell us.

1.  “READ THE F***ng MANUAL” –  When we get a new camera, we open the box, get the camera, load the batteries and forget about the manual.  It is there for a reason.. to help us use the camera to its best performance.  Read it before using google.
2. “CHECK YOUR SETTINGS” –  Cameras are made by engineers not Artists.  Don’t expect it to know how your photos will turn out.  
3. “HOLD ME RIGHT PLEASE” – We sometimes hold it to look cool not to take cool photos. Learn how to hold your camera properly.  It will make your photos avoid blurs or misfocus.
4. “STOP LOOKING AT THE SCREEN AND SHOOT!” – We should stop chimping.  Shoot more and stop analyzing your photos too much.  Learn to be confident with your shots.  You should try to have an idea of the final shot before taking one.
5. “SORRY BUT I CAN’T HELP YOU TAKE GREAT PHOTOS! LEARN SOME PHOTOGRAPHY YOU DUMBA**!” – The sad reality of all the advancement of camera technology… It will not make you a great photographer.  You should understand that photos are made by YOU and not your camera.  Filters don’t make stunning photos.  Expensive lenses don’t take sharp images on their own.  It is YOU.. Yes, YOU who are shooting.  The one looking at the camera.  The one who bought or borrowed it.  Cameras are just tools to help us take photos.
   

   AWESOME ONELIGHT FIELD GUIDE BY ZACK ARIAS and GREAT INSPIRATION FROM RINGO STARR PHOTOGRAPH BOOK

So, do you want your cameras to talk back to you?  Better improve your skills before it happens.

The post If only cameras can talk… appeared first on Raymond Marquez Photography.

I never thought that galvanized iron can be used to make functional furnitures and at the same time becomes an art piece in your home or space.

Schema Furniture is a Philippine based company that makes hand-made furnitures by weaving metal wires.  Yes, you heard it right.  ALL HAND MADE. Their products ranges from lamps, chairs, and even tables.   We did a series of shoot for their new catalog and website.

Here are some photos of their awesome art pieces.

Quadretto Urban Pendant Lamp

Schema Dining Table

A Cote Coffee Tables, A Cote Chair and Quadretto Bullet Floor Lamp

A Cote Table Lamp

Octa Macarena Pendant

You should definitely check their website to know more about their awesome products.

www.schemaproduct.com

Some BTS during our shoot

The post Schema Furnitures appeared first on Raymond Marquez Photography.

All of us need a portrait. We use it on our social media accounts. We pick our “best picture”, best expressing the image or status we want to project to our peers, relatives, friends, etc.  Some use it for their professional sites such as LinkedIn, or corporate website. But do you think your portrait sells?

Here are 4 tips to help you nail a portrait that sells:

1. Keep it simple – Photos do not have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to be full of props or in an Instagram-worthy location. A simple black, white or grey background is a great option. The focus should be on YOU, not your background.
2. Be yourself – It might sound easy but it is not.. not for all.. People tend to project a particular image they have of themselves but in reality, it is not actually their real identity. Just be honest and try to tell your story to your photographer. If you are feeling shy, talking to the photographer about yourself can help him or her ‘direct’ you.
3. Know your audience – Think of who you want to notice your portrait. Try to keep your target audience in mind before doing your portraits. For example, if you will use your portrait on LinkedIn, dress to impress. Your social media portraits can show some of your fun side.
4. Trust your photographer – This is one of the most important tip I can tell you.. Remember that the photographer’s camera and lenses are your windows to the world. He will help you tell your story to your viewers. Try to build rapport with the photographer and he will definitely make you look good.

Everybody deserves to have an amazing portrait.  Try out these tips on your next portrait session.

By the way, here is my self portrait.

Share your recent portraits with us on the comments section!

The post 4 Simple Tips on Nailing a Portrait that Sells appeared first on Raymond Marquez Photography.

About a couple of months ago, me and my friend Bob Cristuta, COO/Co-founder of Timebox Consulting, KroniklrPH and SlowMoManila, got a chance to talk to Diego Ramos, Co-founder of Horsepower.ph.  At that time, I was looking for new subjects to add to my portfolio.  Luckily, Diego allowed us to take some portraits for their team.  I started with one light and then added some more for the white background shots.  I used my Fujifilm X-pro1 for this shoot which was amazing as always. I had a nice conversation with each of the subject that made it easier to capture their best portrait. It was an amazing day of shoot with great people and an awesome company.

I think that every business should have great pictures not only for their products, but also for the team behind  the business.  It is always great to know who you are doing business with.  So it’s better to update the corporate portraits with a better one and drop those id pictures away.

By the way, Horsepower.ph is what we entrepreneurs, freelancers, and SMEs are waiting for.  Checkout their amazing website for more info and also checkout their team photos.  Click here for their site.

Here are some of the shots from our shoot.

Jojy Azurin – Co-Founder

Diego Jose Ramos – Co-Founder

Hannah Crisostomo – Co-Founder

The team of Horsepower.ph

a great candid moment captured during our shoot

And here are some BTS shots

Shooting and having a nice conversation with Diego

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