Photography get-togethers offer a lot more than  commradery. They are great ways to grow as a photographer.  When you see how other photographers photograph the same scene or subject, it tells you a lot about the way you see things and ways you might improve your own photographs.

Here are some things to you might do at your next social shoot:

• Talk to other photographers about the gear they brought to the shoot and why.
• Ask other photographers their goal for the day.
• Get their Flickr information so you see can see what they accomplished after the fact.

Photography is all about choices. Seeing the choices other photographers made in the same situation is one of the best ways to learn and improve.

Written by Trevor Warren

If you always have a camera with you like I do, you probably encounter a lot of everyday situations that would make for great pictures. If you’re photographing people or buildings and think you’ll ever want to use the image for commercial purposes, you’re going to need to have a signed model release form or property release form.

It’s much easier to take care of this on the spot vs. exchanging information and trying to get one after the fact. One great way to be prepared is to create pocket sized release form that you can easily carry with you at all times.

There are several sample release forms you can find on the web. Unless they were written by a legal expert specifically for your location however, you should consult an attorney in your local area to guarantee you are protected. Below are some resources for informational use:

• NY Institute of Photography Basic Model Release
• Sample Model Release Form (LawDepot.com)
• Release Form Generator

  *Use at your own risk

Hopefully these links will help you create release form you can carry with you so you never miss another opportunity!

Written by Trevor Warren

If you are looking to improve your action photography below are some strategy tips that will help.

1. Shoot in Burst Mode
Nearly all DSLR’s are "Burst Mode" capable with a minimum rate of 3 frames per second. Taking multiple shots at once will improve your odds of getting the shot.

2. Use a Fast Memory Card
A lot of people do not realize that memory card speeds  vary significantly. What this means to you is, a faster memory card will let you take more photos at the crucial moment. Right now the cheaper memory cards are 133x (133 time the speed of a CD Rom). These cheaper cards can write about 2 Raw files per second which will make your burst mode much less effective. The high end cards today are 600x speed which would allow you to capture 8 Raw files per second (if your camera is capable of that speed). The difference will cost you though. A 16GB memory card at 133x speed is about $30. The same size card at 600x speed may cost $75 –$100.

3. Use Continuous Autofocus Mode
Some of the great moments during a sporting event only last a fraction of a second. You won’t have time to refocus on a subject in many instances. Switching your camera from "Single" autofocus mode (where you refocus each time you take a picture) to "Continuous" autofocus, which will instantaneously refocus for you, will be a great help and is crucial in Burst mode.

4. Use a Sturdy Tripod
If you are in a position where you must shoot action from a distance a sturdy tripod can be crucial to getting sharp images. The greater the zoom power of your lens, the more of a factor camera shake becomes. A sturdy tripod, preferably one that can pan smoothly to follow action will be a significant help.

Hopefully these tips will help improve your action shots! If you would like to learn more techniques sign up for one of our Sports Photography classes.

Written by Trevor Warren