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Daniel Norton

This is how you use a light meter properly – they’re really not that difficult or scary

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While they were once a fixture in every studio and photographer’s gear bag, light meters seem to have fallen out of fashion ever since digital photography came along. And while it’s true that we now have a lot more options for exposing our shots, the humble light meter can still play a very valuable role in nailing the shot quickly and consistently.

The cost of messing up the exposure of a shot, twiddling some dials and shooting another isn’t as expensive as it was in the film days, light meters can still save you a lot of time and hassle. And in this great video, Daniel Norton walks us through how to use a light meter, along with some tips and tricks to make your life a little easier when using one.

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How to take captivating portraits by connecting better with your subjects

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What makes a great portrait? Is it the light on the subject? The composition? The pose or expression? Or what about the connection from the subject to the viewer? Well, the answer isn’t simple, it’s all of those things and much more. And one of the most important but often overlooked aspects of portraiture is probably the connection between the photographer and the subject. How you go about engaging with your subject is one of those things that will make or break a photoshoot.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re photographing a model, a builder on a construction site, or your 3-year-old, you still have to interact with the subject in some manner in order to get the best out of them. In this video photographer, Daniel Norton addresses this and has some helpful tips for connecting better with your subjects.

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How to find photography clients when you have no idea where to start

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When it comes to running a photography business, there’s far more to it than just knowing how to a good picture. You also need to understand how business works and figure out what your target market is – or at least learn what a target market even is if that’s a whole new concept to you. Not everybody is a potential client.

But how do you go about identifying who they are? And how do you reach out to them once you know? In this video, Daniel Norton walks us through… Well, it’s more a mindset than a process. How to identify the people you want to become your clients and how you can approach them.

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What to do when your client doesn’t like the photos you took?

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Well, it can happen to everyone – you love the photos you took, but your client isn’t entirely pleased. What should you do when this happens? In this video, Daniel Norton discusses how to deal with this tricky situation, focusing on taking headshots in the studio and resolving the problem on the spot.

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Don’t be a photography snob

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No matter if you’re a hobbyist or you’re paid for your photography, I’m sure you’ve come across all sorts of unpleasant situations. In this video, Daniel Norton reflects on some of the situations that we’ve all been through. Snobbism and vanity are something we’ve all encountered. To be honest, we may even be vain or snobbish to some extent, and maybe we’ve done some of the things he mentions. This video is a bit of a rant, but it’s an important reminder of what not to do and how to be a better human being.

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This is why an octabox is the best modifier for portraits

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While I don’t think everybody will ever agree on a single modifier that works best for shooting portraits, we all have to start somewhere. Usually it’s with one light and one modifier. So, where does one begin in their search for the perfect portrait modifier?

Photographer Daniel Norton explores that topic in the above video, and explains why he thinks an octagon softbox (aka “octabox”) is the best and mose useful modifier for portraits.

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Can you really get good commercial photography for $19?

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The race to the bottom never seems to end. The latest is a new service claiming to produce marketing photography for as little as $19. Yes, that’s right, photography that normally costs thousands for only nineteen bucks. The service is called Catalog and they’ve raised $1.5 million to kick the business off.

They’re not the only company starting up with a similar model, either. Photographer Daniel Norton discusses these types of services in this video, and how they’re really not a great thing for either the customer nor the photographers who might shoot for them.

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