Feb 21 2010

surprise Q & A!

Alternate title: Scott Peterson Killed His Wife but He Did Not Write a Best-Selling Photography Book.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter (@thepigbear) or are friends with me on Facebook know that for several hours today I entertained questions for a surprise photography Q & A. Just a fun little bonus for those social media geeks out there like me.

I decided to mix things up a bit and put the answers together in video format rather than written. I’m realizing that although it may have saved me time it most certainly will not save me face. I’m a freak on camera. Not like Paris Hilton and John Edward’s mistress. That’s a different kind of on-camera freak. I just talk excessively with my hands, tend to ramble and mutter, and am prone to occasional fits of giggling. That aren’t funny. I won’t blame you if you don’t laugh. Or better yet, if you laugh at me. I’ll surely be fielding a Skype call from Samantha tomorrow just so I can actually see her roll her eyes at me.

At any rate, here you go. Thirty-two uncut minutes of freakishness. You might find some nuggets of photography info in there but you’ll have dig past the strange facial expressions and the (embarassingly incorrect!) assertion that Scott Peterson wrote the book Understanding Exposure. He most certainly didn’t. Bryan Peterson did though.

Enjoy!

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robinFebruary 21, 2010 - 10:19 pm

ERIN!!! thank you so much for answering my 10 million questions! this was so incredibly helpful and your explanation on creating a custom WB was a big “AH HA” moment for me. i never knew how to do it (to be quite honest i was too lazy to look it up), so thank you for that! also, i can’t wait to meter off skin. i hope using a grey card & your recs on metering will make a difference in my photographs.

thank you again for being such so generous with your time & knowledge, and i look forward to the next Q&A.

btw, you should totally host a workshop.

JoannaFebruary 21, 2010 - 10:47 pm

That was SO helpful – thank you for doing that!

TinaFebruary 21, 2010 - 10:50 pm

Loved it! So much fun to watch And I didn’t laugh at you at all… other than your title! Hehe

MollyFebruary 22, 2010 - 7:23 am

Thank you so much! Loved it! (and I agree with Robin about the workshop!!)

AmyFebruary 22, 2010 - 7:51 am

Hi Erin – Great Q&A! It was fun to watch and learn. Thanks! Amy

LaceyFebruary 22, 2010 - 7:56 am

Ooohhh….looking forward to watching this. And, Bryan….Scott…..honest mistake! :- D
Funny. But honest. ;- D

NatalieFebruary 22, 2010 - 8:07 am

Nice Q&A. I’ve always wondered how you used the gray card. Seeing you use it in sessions made me curious.

DanielleFebruary 22, 2010 - 8:16 am

Loved this! Thanks so much! I also agree on the workshop I am sad I missed out on asking questions – I am behind on the twitter and even though I am a fan on facebook it never showed anything on the page for me Hope I can catch the next one!

MeganFebruary 22, 2010 - 8:42 am

It was nice to see and hear you. This was a fun way to answer all those questions!

adminFebruary 22, 2010 - 8:45 am

I guess I should clarify about the Facebook thing…it went out to my FB friends on my personal page which is different from the fans on my business page. If you want to be “friends” on Facebook just send me a friend request with just a short little message that you read my blog so I can place you.

DanielleFebruary 22, 2010 - 10:15 am

Thanks Erin! That does make more sense – I’ll have to get to that too – in the meantime you gave me the kick in the butt to get on twitter and start to learn all this new stuff before my kids are old enough to be using it! So thank you!

MichelleFebruary 22, 2010 - 10:16 am

Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Danica NelsonFebruary 22, 2010 - 10:33 am

Oh I just love you! You’re so hilarious and this was very helpful. You’re a huge inspiration to me. I’d LOVE to get the action you use for sharpening for web, and I’d also love to see your post-processing steps whenever you do that! You’re the best.

lindeyFebruary 22, 2010 - 11:58 am

erin you’re so darn cute & kind to offer your help. i haven’t used a grey card since my nyip days when i shot with film! i recently ditched raw on my last several sessions -finding that i was not making changes enough to justify the extra step and huge files. i’m going to go put my hands on my card right now…it really does keep a session’s edits clean and balanced ;o)

JaimeFebruary 22, 2010 - 12:42 pm

You are so very helpful, Erin! Thanks a billion. My biggest hangup is still nailing exposure due to my metering issues. I really liked your explanations b/c they were so simplistic! Now off to practice. You rock!

MyraFebruary 22, 2010 - 12:44 pm

I love this and it is so helpful! Thanks Erin…you are so cute!

Melanie C.February 22, 2010 - 12:55 pm

Erin, this was awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. It was really informative! I would love the action you mentioned and I am definitely interested in your post-processing steps. I’m also going to try and find the How to photograph your life book you mentioned. Thank you again, this was really great!

BiancaFebruary 22, 2010 - 1:50 pm

Hi Erin! It’s been so long, but I wanted to tell you that your little blog over here is so fun!! And your photos on your business blog are fabulous as usual. Also, not too long ago I finished reading “Understanding Exposure” and would agree with you that it’s a great book on exposure and really made it all “click” for me. You had lots of great ideas and info on your q&a – you are one talented chica – and it was good to “see” you again!!

AmyFebruary 22, 2010 - 2:10 pm

That was so fun! You never cease to amaze me! And for those wondering about your post-processing, you described it briefly in your FAQ’s (Nov 07) for those that can’t wait!

KarlyFebruary 22, 2010 - 2:33 pm

This was the highlight of my day. A napping baby, a cup of tea, and a FUN pgotography lesson – perfect! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and keeping me motivated to play with my camera. Might have to run out and buy myself a grey card.

JenniferFebruary 22, 2010 - 3:14 pm

I just have to say that you are the most awesome photographer ever!! No one would sit down and answer all those questions with that much detail! I’m so impressed! And if we didn’t already have all of our photo sessions for the year booked with you I would book them!

Thanks for all of the advice and help. I took notes and can’t wait to go get some of the things that you recommended.

And I saw that you weren’t answering questions until last night after I sent the question about the swings so I wasn’t waiting around or anything. I know enough to know I needed a fast shutter and I think I got some cute pictures.

Thanks!

chesleyFebruary 22, 2010 - 3:24 pm

thanks so much for all of the info, this was great! if you decide to send the pp info that you mentioned, i’d love to see it! ditto on the above comments regarding a workshop! my 2 yo little girl watched some of this with me and kept saying, “she said poop!” ha!

j.j.February 22, 2010 - 3:28 pm

hi! ok it took me about three HOURS and thirty-two minutes to finish watching but that was so fun (and thanks for the shout-out). btw i totally miss hello. and when i say that i miss hello, i mean, i miss talking to YOU on hello!! hope you’re having a good monday!

EvaFebruary 22, 2010 - 4:00 pm

Thanks for this Erin. Would you be willing to email me the web sharpening action… thanks so much.

adminFebruary 22, 2010 - 4:09 pm

So glad so many of you enjoyed the video…makes it worth the effort to know it was helpful!

AngFebruary 22, 2010 - 6:14 pm

Just to ditto what’s already been said: you really are awesome. I just have a P&S camera and am just starting to dabble in exposures and ISO’s and all that, but you have a way of explaining things that just makes sense. I LOVE that you’re so friendly, so helpful, so down to earth, and not at all snobby or pretentious (as your talent would allow you to be). I just really appreciate all you do, including the blog. I check it every day and always find a smile here! Thanks again!

nickiFebruary 22, 2010 - 7:14 pm

Erin you are so cute and so genuine! How sweet of you to take the time to do this. I am very proud of you and your work (as I sit here in my office looking at my canvas)!

HeatherFebruary 22, 2010 - 8:21 pm

Thank you for that! It was entertaining and full of great advice

CoriFebruary 22, 2010 - 10:17 pm

Hi Erin,
I am a regular reader of both of your blogs, but I don’t think I’ve ever commented. I LOVE your work, love, love, love.

Thank you so much for this wonderful q & a! I learned so much and appreciate you being so generous with your time.

KellyFebruary 22, 2010 - 10:33 pm

Hi Erin! Thanks for answering my questions, and for giving up part of your Sunday evening! The video was great and very informative. You are too cute, and I love your shirt! Thanks again!!

AnonymousFebruary 23, 2010 - 12:18 am

That was AMAZING and so very very helpful! Gosh, if I could spend just one afternoon with you, I feel like I could learn so much! The way you explain things just really clicks with my brain! LOL And you seem so darn likable too! Please do these videos more often!

MichelleFebruary 23, 2010 - 12:19 am

Angela TomczakFebruary 23, 2010 - 1:22 pm

Wow. Thank you for your time and knowledge!

KendraFebruary 23, 2010 - 1:50 pm

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! So helpful and fun to hear you answer all these questions.

KristinFebruary 23, 2010 - 5:11 pm

Erin, Thank you for this. You are so kind to take time out of your busy schedule to help us little peons out!! You are awesome and so stinkin cute!!

Kristi B.February 24, 2010 - 2:10 pm

Thanks for answering so many questions. Very informative! Would love to see the Gap photo… Also, would definitely be interested in seeing the steps you take when you edit. So interesting to hear you shoot jpeg. I do too, but feel like maybe I shouldn’t… makes me feel better you do… your photos are AMAZING! Have enjoyed following your blog as of recently… heard of you from Karen Russell.

Amy SargeantFebruary 24, 2010 - 2:35 pm

Thank you so much! I learned a lot.

MarciFebruary 25, 2010 - 8:50 pm

So fun and informative. Thank you for always being so willing to share your knowledge.

Sarah kFebruary 25, 2010 - 9:18 pm

loved this – my first visit to your site and it was so fun to hear a photographer speak.

thanks for all the sharing – it was fabulous

PS – you look so much like my mom when she was young it’s eerie.

MollieMarch 2, 2010 - 11:45 pm

That was great! I learned so much…thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom:o)

I have to say, you’re adorable. I like you even more than I did before watching the video…and that was a lot!

Dawnelle BrownApril 25, 2010 - 4:18 pm

You rock. Thanks so much. that was fun. you had me smiling. not b/c of the hands or funny expressions… but telling me not to smile and the poop thing.. my son’s going to love it. I love your post-processing. Please.. please…pleeeeeease share a tutorial. I’ll pay, seriously… your indoor family shots are amazing.

Tammy KayJuly 18, 2010 - 8:41 pm

Hi Erin! I know I am late to this post but it was so very helpful. I am trying to learn to shoot on Manual! I would love your web sharpening action if you are still offering to send that to your viewers. Thanks and I hope you do another one of these again! Oh, and I was wondering do you use Lightroom? What are your thoughts on Lightroom verses CS4?

Blessings,
Tammy Kay

Liza EggersSeptember 2, 2010 - 9:55 am

Oh my! Erin! I have to say..I love your Q&A. How sweet of you and to be so comfortable enough with your work, to share your insight! Thank you!

TiffinyApril 6, 2011 - 8:11 pm

I can’t tell you how helpful that was! Thank you sooo much for taking the time to help us newbies! Your awesome : )

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