Instagram and the Crop

You've seen it in the Instagram stories or captions of your friends and those you follow on IG. Another photo ruined my Instagram. In today's digital age, most folks are only shooting for social media and many of you are only shooting for Instagram. Let's start to embrace the image ratio for IG. The most common image size is 2:3, which is found in your traditional DSLR and 35mm film. Instagram crops portrait oriented images to 4:5.

Here's an example:  

4x5 crop of Jordan Emanuel

4x5 crop of Jordan Emanuel

2x3 original of Jordan Emanuel.  

2x3 original of Jordan Emanuel.  

The first image is the shoot I wanted. The second image is the one I got out of camera. Make sure to remember the crop or image ratio you need when taking your image to avoid frustration in post production. An image fan totally change because of a crop, so make sure that all the information you want in an image is there.

Even better, newer cameras (and some older ones too!) are taking into account crops for social media. In the Nikon D850, I'm able to view the image in 4:5 before I take it.  

Now get out there and create!

Tools of the Trade: Samsung Premium Care

As a business owner, I need my tools to work in the moment. I don't have an entire IT or finance team behind me. I was pleasantly surprised by my Samsung Premium Care experience. I was in the hospital last week and my beautiful S8+ fell from my hospital bed. The gorgeous front screen shattered. Was i disappointed, sure. I've never had a phone screen break on me and I was a bit worried with how long or tedious the replacement process might be. I reported the issue to Samsung via their Facebook Social Media Support Team. Within minutes, I had a link to their premium care website. Assurant Solutions, the company that handles Samsung's Premium Care issues, sent me a replacement phone overnight. Within 2 business days, I had a replacement device. Quality, quick customer service. It doesn't get much easier or better than that  

 

Samsung Galaxy S8+ with front screen cracked.  

Samsung Galaxy S8+ with front screen cracked.  

Shooting Fitness and Activewear Photography on the Sony A9

I've been a big fan of Sony's latest addition to the MILC, mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, market. Their Sony A9 camera has been rumored for years and it delivers. As a shooter of digital medium format and Canon professional DSLR and cinema gear, why does a camera like the Sony A9 matter?

One word. Speed. This camera shoots a silent 20 frames per second with absolutely no mirror blackout. This means I can get the shot that I absolutely need in one sequence rather than having the talent (model, athlete, subject, etc.) replay a scene or motion over and over again. 

I love my Hasselblad X1D, the image quality is unmatched, but for athletic shoots, I'll be sticking with the Sony A9. A less frustrating time for my talent, usually means better content and content will always be the most important thing in an image.

Here are some images from my latest shoot with Laura Wall.

 

 

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