Elizabeth Halford Photography {the blog} » photography {in real.plain.english}

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{Pick My Brain}

In recent months, I’ve had an influx of emails asking if I run workshops, teach classes or do in-person training on photography. In the beginning, I laughed it off but now I realise that you all really do want this (I mean really…I’m getting so many emails now!)

There are many ways to learn from me. Here are some scenarios where you might find my brain useful:

{Phone/Skype Consults} We can talk on the phone or video on Skype about anything photography. I’d love to answer your questions, help you brain storm or speak with you on a particular subject surrounding photography. And with Skype, I can even share my screen and show you how to do stuff! Which means you could even email me over some images to work on with you. For Skype video chats, I can record our session and send your the video so you can go over the new things you’ve learned again and again! £50 per hour UK (you must speak English and there is a min. of 1 hour which means if we get your sorted in 30 minutes, there is no refund)

{One to One Shootout} We can go out with your kids or an adult pretend client for a fun session together. I’ll show you how I would be photographing them if they were my kids or client, talk you through everything going through my mind as I shoot and we can even sit down afterwards and I will show you my workflow, help you get started editing and allow you to have all the raw files which result from the time together. An excellent option for parents who want to professionally photograph their children, beginners or photographers who are new to working with people. £400 half-day

{One to One Talk} I can literally talk about photography all.day.long. The option for you if you want to get together for a coffee with our laptops or pick my brain in person. £75 per hour

{Speaking Engagements} I can prepare and deliver an original talk for your photography club, workshop or seminar. £100 per hour

{In-Studio Education} If you want to come see how I set up my mobile studio, take my studio photos, edit them and interact with clients. £500 for a 4 hour half-day devoted to you. Includes a real studio session with a child, family or adult model for your observation. You will also be able to use photographs you take in your own portfolio.

My big disclaimer: I am NOT a techie! :) While I do clearly understand the technical foundations all photographers need to know, I haven’t memorised the Kelvin scale of colour temperatures and I can’t tell you how to build your own camera. I speak plain English, not techno babble. I hope that from our time together, you will understand the heart and mind of a photographer passionate about my craft and the people whom I serve. If you’re not there yet, I have enough passion for the both of us!

A note on currency: When you have a business that can essentially serve the entire world via the web, currency is a confusing issue. The currency of the world for the type of business we’re in is US Dollars. Everyone understands them. The exchange rate is usually favourable and most websites that sell downloadable products sells in Dollars. My in-person prices are in British Pounds because they’re in person, here in the UK. My downloadable products are in Dollars because they can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

  • Jamie

    Reader question: What steps do you have to take when editing a picture before converting it to black and white. I see all these amazing black and white photos that have great color and crisp lines but mine turn out funny…dark and kind of blah. Thanks!!

  • http://arnewtruthphotography.blogspot.com Alethia Rains

    I’d really like the opinion of someone I dont know!!! My friends and family ofcourse are going to be nice…can you please offer any suggestions, I added my blog above (website) Thank you so much!

  • elizabethhalford

    @Alethia: You can either send me a photo and when I have time, I will email you back (can be up to a month depending on my availability) or if you want to sit and talk, we can Skype (see above) and talk about many photos. I can even share my screen and show you some editing stuff and vice versa!

  • http://arnewtruthphotography.blogspot.com Alethia Rains

    Thank you so much, ill work something out :)

  • Melanie

    Hi, I look forward to hearing from you when you have set up a workshop. Perhaps you could add me to your mailing list! Many thanks, Melanie

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrow/ Julie Carrow

    I love to take pictures but have the hardest time with editing. I have photoshop elements 7 and do not know how to use….have attempted numerous times to no avail….any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Julie

  • Angela

    Hello, I am a student photographer and this weekend I have arranged for a belly portrait with a mom to be. this is all new for me and i was curious what are things i should be considering going into this experience?

  • Debbie

    If I am not mistaken you use a Canon 7D???? I have a new Canon 7D and would like your advice on focus issue. Mainly for groups of people. I understand I need to bump the f stop to 11 or above…any other suggestions. I just feel I am not getting fabulous focus and groups are a challenge? Is it just me…am I just not steady :>) Thanks!!!!

  • Veronica

    Hello,
    You do amazing work! Truly, truly beautiful! May I ask, what type of camera and which lenses do you use?

  • Donna

    Hi Elizabeth,
    I was wondering if you do any kind of business mentoring. I’m just right at the begining and could do with someone to ‘hold my hand’ if you like.

  • Donna

    Hi Elizabeth,
    I just wanted to sing your praises and say how much I learned in our telephone consultation tonight. I really appreciated your non-technical, no mumbojumbo approach and I feel it was money well spent and will save me money spending on the wrong equipment or things I just don’t need. I can highly recommend Elizabeths 1-1 consults, and I look forward to chatting again in the future, thank you.

  • Jessica

    Elizabeth,

    Thank you so much for all your videos! I have learned so much. It seems like most photographers never want to giveaway any of their secrets, but you are so helpful! I just have two quick questions… when you use the brush tool in PSE to conceal or reveal, is that a default brush or one you downloaded? I can’t seem to fing a brush with soft edges.

    Two, I have some Florabella actions which I have been trying to figure out how to change the opacity on the entire action. I have asked for help on the Florabella facebook page and flickr page with no reply. I do not have the “folder” option where I am able to click and have the layers drop down. I just have the layers. I have learned to fake a layer mask from your video to tone down the actions on the face, etc. but would really like to be able to town down the entire action with one click of the opacity. Any ideas on why my LUXE actions don’t do what yours do?

    Thank you so very much!

  • angela

    I am currently in a ‘business of photography’ course at university and as an assignment need to research pricing! So, my question: what are the factors that help you determine your price when doing a portrait for a private client – non commercial?
    Thanks, your blog has provided me with wonderful resources!

  • karen

    Love your blog. Plain english is great,, since I am also not a techie. I do have a question or two. I am shooting a friend;s wedding soon ( yes, silly me for agreeing to do so) and we live in a winter wonderland (whistler) and I am not used to shooting portraits in the winter. Any advice? I will be shooting on the mountain and I am freaked out about low light and all this white stuff (snow) around me and getting the correct exposure. I am happy to take shot of icicles and neat patterns in the snow etc.., but I am a little concerned about shooting in low light on the peak of of a mountain and getting it right. Have you ever done winter weddings? and what can you suggest?

    Thanks for your time.

    Karen

  • http://www.janamelindaphotography.com Jana

    Hi Elizabeth! Love your blog and your vimeos! I have a question (have yet to find an answer on google!) Is there a way to batch process photos in PSE9 using actions? Say, if I want to run the same action on 10 photos at the same time…is there a way to do it? My fingers are totally crossed that you will say yes! LOL!!!
    xo,
    Jana

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