Now Offering Portrait Photography Training! -- Kim Binfield Photography -- San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma

I am very, very pleased to announce that I am now offering in-person instruction in portrait photography. I have been wanting to do this for over a year so I am thrilled to now be teaching it!

I've prepared a set of concise handouts that we go over during our one-on-one course. Along the way we will walk around to find the best light. We will also be picking up your camera throughout the class as we adjust your camera settings and practice the techniques covered in the handouts.

What you will learn:

• how to take a portrait step-by-step in sunshine, shade and indoors
• where to find the best light and place your subject
• a bit about aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how they work together
• how to navigate and adjust your camera's settings, dials and menus
• shooting in aperture priority mode
• bonus: basics on how to shoot landscape and action photos
• recommended lenses and gear for portraits

Along with the handouts, you will go home with a sheet of homework to practice your new skills right away. I am excited to see the portraits you will be able to take after our class and am happy to critique and/or answer questions you may have as you are practicing.

"Before my lesson with Kim, I only knew how to use the "point and shoot" functionality on my SLR.  Kim was able to teach me the basics of photography, how to use my camera (despite the fact I have a Nikon and she uses a Canon), and what settings to use for various types of photographs.  She provided an easy-to-reference cheat sheet which has become my bible in my camera bag!  I still have a lot to learn, but now have the basic knowledge I need to practice.  I highly recommend this lesson to any parent or individual."  - Laura Baruch

"A great class!  Kim provides excellent handouts that give tips for taking portraits in a way that is easy to understand.  My goal in taking her class was to learn how to take better portraits of my 5-month-old baby using my SLR camera.  It was perfect because it was just what I needed to know and nothing I didn't -- thus it was not an overwhelming amount of information.  Kim took time with me to answer all of my questions on exposure and helped me to understand more about exposure metering and white balance.  She is passionate about the work that she does and has given me the motivation I need to really start working on my photography skills."  - Cara Cardenas

The 1:1 Portrait Photography class is being offered at an introductory price of $125. The class length is approximately one hour. Additional time, topics and live photography sessions are available as add-ons. The class is intended for beginning SLR users who would like to take better portraits for personal use. I shoot Canon but can also teach Nikon.

Get in touch to schedule a class and have it tailored to your needs!

~ Kim

Kim Binfield Photography Website . Blog . Contact Me
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Portrait Classroom listed as one of the 10 Best Photography Apps -- Adorama reviews DSLR instruction apps iPad iPhone

In the press! Camera store Adorama lists Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials as one of the 10 best instructional photography apps. If you missed their post check out all ten apps here: 10 Apps That Will Help You Learn Photography.

See what they said about Portrait Classroom, a collection of ten portrait photography tutorials by Kim Binfield Photography for iPad and iPhone here:

"Not everybody is looking to make great general purpose photos; some have a more specific task in mind. For those looking at still images of people there is the Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials, a $1.99 app from Kim Binfield Photography.

The tutorials are for users that want to snap images with a DSLR and uses simple, easy to follow instruction that walk a user in how to set up, frame and snap still portraits as well as providing details on camera set up."

So... Put your iPad or iPhone to work and better your DSLR photography with the Portrait Classroom app!

~ Kim


Kim Binfield Photography Website . Blog . Contact Me
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Learn along with me! DSLR photography instruction app for iPad and iPhone -- by Kim Binfield Photography

If you're lucky enough to be receiving a fancy DSLR camera for Christmas or if you've had one in your bag and just aren't using it to its full potential... get started with my app Portrait Classroom and you'll be taking stunning photographs of babies and kids in no time at all!

Friends or family getting a camera... let them know about the app!

Click here for all the info. Available on iTunes for iPhone and iPad.

Happy Photographing,
~ Kim

Kim Binfield Photography Website . Blog . Contact Me
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Where and how to photograph the city of San Francisco

Traveling to or live near San Francisco? Here is an article from the America's Cup site with tips on where to best photograph the lovely city including its skyline, cable cars and of course Golden Gate Bridge: http://www.sanfrancisco.travel/neighborhood/castro-upper-market/photo-vantage-points.html

I love how it is detailed down to the cross streets!! Happy photographing,

~ Kim

Kim Binfield Photography Website . Blog . Contact Me
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Portrait Classroom Summer Sale!

Wishing you could take dreamy portraits of your loved ones? Want to use your fancy digital SLR camera like the pros - or at least take it off green auto mode sometimes?

Join nearly 3,000 others who are learning portrait photography techniques and camera settings through my app Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials.

Need a boost to get you started? The iPhone version of Portrait Classroom is on SALE for just 99 cents through July 8, 2012. Prefer the glossy and highly rated iPad version - it is $1.99!

Purchase and view Portrait Classroom in iTunes here:

For iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id385486822?mt=8
For iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/app/id480534706?mt=8

Get out there - it's summer! (apologies to readers in parts of the world that aren't having summer now - look on the bright side though, this sale is for you too!)

Enjoy and thanks to all who've purchased the app thus far!

~ Kim

Kim Binfield Photography Website . Blog . Contact Me
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the family home

Lately I've been especially enjoying photo sessions of children and families in their own homes and yards. Everyone is relaxed, wardrobe and accessories if needed are on hand and when we look back on photos we often want to see and remember the familiar day to day surroundings. This session was definitely one of those sessions and it was also my first meeting of their second, sweet baby girl.

For in-home sessions, a good amount of natural light is needed and almost any weather outside except for very dreary cloudy or rainy days will work. It is important to clear out some clutter and keep only the details that you wish to be recorded on display. You can prepare some for this ahead of time and when I arrive I will scout out areas in your home that are most suitable (generally due to lighting) and assist in final prepping of the areas. Think cozy arm chairs and sofas, beds, cribs, benches .... all near large light sources such as windows, sliding glass doors, open doorways ... You're on your way to memorable family photos at the family home.


~ Kim


Kim Binfield Photography Website | Blog | Contact Me

Displaying family photos - Pottery Barn - Kim Binfield Photography

Looking to frame and display your session photos with style AND ease? Take a peek at Pottery Barn's new "Gallery in a Box." I came across this today while browsing to frame my own family photos and loved it! Choose from white, espresso brown, or black frames to suit your decor. Combine two gallery sets and make a real statement piece. Frame a corner around a breakfast nook or similar cozy corner of your home or arrange like the Pottery Barn photos in this post. The Gallery in a Box sets come with templates to do so!

~ Kim

Kim Binfield Photography Website | Blog | Contact Me

What two years looks like -- San Francisco Bay Area Family and Child Photographer

Two years. How to photograph it and what changes take place in that time?

Below are photos taken exactly two years apart of my girls in the same spot. My two girls are also two years apart in age. In the first photo they are 2 years old and newborn and in the second photo they are 4 and 2 years old. We all know they grow up quickly but there is no denying just how quickly that is in this series.

This is a project you can do yourself. Take a photo of your loved ones, pets, trees in your yard or local environment in each season, whatever it may be in the same spot over a period of time. You will photographically mark the progression of time and likely have a zen-like thought or two along the way.

Happy New Year to all and thank you for another wonderful year! And, stay tuned as I will be catching up on blog posts from the busy holiday season early in 2011.

~Kim


Kim Binfield Photography Website | Blog | Contact Me

Our iPad App has launched! -- Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials

Launched just last week, the iPad App Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials is an insider's guide to taking better portraits. The App presents ten tutorials that detail the set up, camera settings, equipment used, and Photoshop editing steps taken for a collection of ten of my baby and child portraits.

Learn how you can take keepsake, professional looking portraits of your loved ones yourself! Portrait Classroom is geared toward digital SLR owners, though many of the techniques can also be used by those with point-and-shoot cameras. The App is a collaboration of my gadget loving husband, myself and our expert programmer here in the SF Bay Area.

See more about it in the links below! View and purchase on iTunes in the App store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/portrait-classroom-baby-child/id385486822?mt=8

Blog
http://portraitclassroom.wordpress.com/

YouTube video demo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6BKhuo_EZM

Next up is the iPhone version forthcoming soon!

If you don't have an iPad or iPhone I'm happy to arrange for individual and small group training.

Get out there and take (better) photos!

-Kim

Kim Binfield Photography Website | Blog | Contact Me

What's that music? - Marin Photographer

Since the recent launch of my new website I have had many of you ask me, "What's that music on your site? I love it!"

This post is to thank Stevie Q for allowing the use of his song here on my site and to share with you about his music. The song of his that I have featured on my website is Garden Party. I first heard it driving in the car with my girls and have loved it ever since! His other songs are fun and sure to please your little ones too. Check out his music on his site at StevieQ.com. There you can download his songs one by one or you can download his album.


Kim Binfield Photography Website | Blog | Contact Me

What I'm Up To - Marin and San Francisco Portrait Photographer

Welcome to 2010. It's a brand new year and I'm busily working away in Tiburon, during these very rainy weeks, on my ..... brand NEW website! Yes, I'm very excited about it. The site will be going live within the next couple weeks.

I'm learning all kinds of geeky computer things. This teeny tiny image is called a favicon: I created it using a part of my logo in Photoshop. It is a small image that appears up on the internet browser tab next to Kim Binfield Photography when you're viewing my new site.

So, be sure to stay tuned, because there just might be a special or two when the new site is unveiled!

Kim

Then and Now - Marin Children's Photographer

My youngest is now a one-year-old! Here are two photos of her. One as a precious, sleeping newborn and one as the sweet and fun-loving girl she has grown to be in her first year. Her older sister got in on the documenting as well. Pictured here at age two, she is now a big three-year-old.


Portrait Tip: Photograph your child or have them photographed in or on a piece of furniture (sofa, chair, table, bed, crib) within your home at newborn, 3 month, 6 month and one year milestones (or as often as you like) to document their development in these early days.

Kim Binfield Photography

Cropping and Print Sizes 101

Today a crash course in how cropping sometimes changes the look and composition of your photos. Also a visual guide showing examples of various print sizes and giving you the go ahead to dream big! The print sizes guide is obviously better seen in person at actual size, but together I'm hoping the Print Sizes Guide and Cropping Guide below will be helpful.



The Crop Guide below assumes that your proof is full frame at a 4 inch x 6 inch ratio. Proofs from my studio are all sized at this ratio unless otherwise specified. Thus if you want a print of exactly what you see in your proof, you'll need to order a 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 16x24 or 20x30 image. A 5x7 print will trim a little bit of your photo off, an 11x14 print will trim a little bit more off and so on. (Disclaimer: There is an error in the below guide- 20x30 is the same ratio as 4x6. It is depicted wrong on the guide.)

If these are helpful, fantastic. If not, just pay no mind :) Happy cropping!

One portrait; three looks

I'm in the middle of editing a few photo shoots at the moment. I've had maternity, family, and sibling portrait sessions along with some photos at a local preschool. I can't wait to share with you in the next few blog posts.

First up is from a session held with one of my dearest friends that I met in Kindergarten, yes that is over 30 years ago now!! The family put up with cold Marin County winds and a touch of fog but we were still able to snap up some beautiful portraits. Here is one of my favorites and it's a good example of how one photo can have many different looks. More from this session and the other sessions in my next posts...

yellow polka dots and seashells

Sunny days are here! In these pictures of my older daughter, I brought the shell along as a prop. When giving it to her I realized I had never shown her how you can hear ocean sounds in a shell. It is little things like this that make being a mom a wonderful journey for me.

Movie Making 101

Kim Binfield Photography is now showing in the movies!! Well, ok, we've got our portfolio of portraits being broadcast on YouTube.com but we're still pretty pleased about it :) See our movie here on YouTube or play it on the video screen below:



You too can have your images (of your family, flower photos, travels, teapot collection, whatever you can think up!) made into a "movie" and then broadcast on YouTube. There are many ways to do this, but this is how I did it...

I selected portraits from the last few years of Kim Binfield Photography that I wanted to feature in my movie. The portraits were digital photos in .jpeg format. I also created a few .jpegs in Photoshop for the title and end pages to display the name of my business and website and treated them just like the portrait images when making the movie (basically a slideshow).

Next, I browsed the help files on YouTube and found this article that took me through the process step by step. My computer happened to come with Windows Movie Maker software on it, though there are a number of similar programs that will do the same thing for you. YouTube has numerous other help articles you can also refer to until you are saying "That's a Wrap" on your film too. Happy Movie Making!!