I am clutching my 5DMKII and literally buzzing inside, thinking about the photographic potential of the new year. The possibilities are endless. Now, I just have to commit the time and passion required to become a great photographer.

In that spirit, I think we should all try to keep these 10 New Years Resolutions. Now, everyone say after me:

1. I will learn how to use my camera.

This seems like an obvious point, but we are all guilty of skipping our camera manual and just fiddling with settings. Ah, this one works right? Spot-metering? Why not. Hey, what does that button do? Seems to make things darker. Hmm.

I’m going to admit something to you that I ask you to keep hush-hush. I haven’t actually read my 5DMKII manual. I know. Horrible! I’m guilty of arbitrary button pushing and royally messing up shots because I don’t really know how to use my camera. Let’s all become technical experts of our cameras this year. Deal?

2. I will not use the Auto setting on my camera.

Instead of relying on your camera’s dubious Auto settings, force yourself to learn how to use manual settings. Upgrade to Aperture priorty mode (AV) first. Once you understand Depth of Field, jump into Manual mode. You will make mistakes and feel frustrated when you completely blow-out a shot, but this is the way we learn. Don’t get discouraged by your mistakes. Learn from them and push on!

3. I will not use on-camera flash

The only photos you should take with an on-camera flash are ones that end up on your Facebook wall of shame. Tape down that pop-up flash if you have to. Instead rely on your skills as a photographer to capture shots in low-light.

Shoot with a wide-open aperture, as low as your lens will go. Decrease your shutter speed & increase your ISO. Steady your camera on a tripod, gorilla pod or table top. Invest in a good lens. I suggest the 50mm f/1.4 or the f/1.8 if you are on a budget.

Shot with the Canon Rebel Xti (400D) + 50mm f/1.4

4. I will not be hindered by the gear I do not have.

You can take great shots with any camera. From an iPhone to a $20 Holga to cheap point and shoot to a 1DMKIII. Don’t let your lack of gear limit you, but rather let it open up new possibilities to be creative.

Until 6 months ago when I upgraded to a 5DMKII, I was shooting on a Canon Rebel Xti (400D). I shot weddings, actor’s head shots, fashion, landscapes, you name it. You don’t need a 5DMKII to work as a photographer. Get creative. Be resourceful. Rent lenses. Make reflectors with $2 poster boards. There is always a way to do things cheaply, you just need to hunt around a bit.

5. I will shoot in RAW

Everyone, go find your camera right now. I’ll wait for you. Got it? Ok. Set your picture quality to RAW. Done? Good! Take some snaps in RAW right now. Feel the power. Now you can start shooting for real.

5DMKII, 85mm f/1.8, 1/200 at f/2.0, ISO 100.

6. I will learn how to process my shots

No shot comes straight out of the camera perfect. Every shot needs a little bit of processing TLC to take it to the next level. Learning how to process photos can feel overwhelming at times especially if you are technically challenged. It really isn’t that scary, just time consuming. I recommend starting with Lightroom. You can download a free trial and take it for a spin. If you are completely confused, sign up for a Lynda.com account. It’s the best video tutorial site on the web.

7. I will share my photos with others on the web

I know so many photographers that take thousands of photos, upload them on their computer, and never share them. Some lack the confidence, some are worried about copyright infringement, and some just don’t find the time in their busy schedules to share their photos. What a waste! If you are not currently sharing your photos, go right now and join Flickr, Tumblr or Facebook and post three of your best shots. Done? Great. Hi-five!

8. I will accept critiques of my work.

Receiving criticisms about your photos is difficult and sometimes hurtful, but it is the only way we can progress as photographers. Yesterday I asked Joseph Linaschke to look at my portfolio and tell me honestly which shots should go. He told me to ditch 4 pictures out of 16. Pictures that I had spend hours shooting and retouching. I didn’t want to get rid of them and it physically hurt me to remove them, but after I did, my portfolio was much stronger.

Canon Xti, 85mm f/1.8.

9. I will set goals and be proactive about my photography career

I have personally been in a photographic rut for the past couple of months. The weather has been rainy and miserable. I’ve had been taking on other work to pay the bills and I’ve lost focus with what I want to do with my photography. So right now, you and I are going to sit down and set some goals, both small stepping-stone goals and big lofty life-changing goals. These are some of mine:

*I will learn one photography-related skill every day
*I will continue to improve my Photoshop skills on a daily basis
*I will book at least one creative fashion shoot every week.
*I will build a network of creative producers, stylists, make-up artists, and models

Lofty goal:
*I will get my photography published in a major publication this year!

Your turn! Write them down and post them on your blog, Facebook page, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. Get them out there in black and white type where you can’t dismiss them.

10. I will connect with other photographers

There is a vibrant and passionate photography community sharing their knowledge and experiences everyday. If you aren’t currently visiting the vast array of photography blogs and resource sites, you are missing out on a wealth of knowledge that won’t cost you a cent. Right now, join Twitter and follow these photographers

Let’s make 2010 a productive and inspirational year! What New Years resolutions are you are making?

Friend me on Facebook, Twitter, & Flickr.

Photo by Scott Stulberg.

I was just looking through my portfolio this past week and physically cringing at how bad some of my old shots are. I almost deleted them from my Flickr stream, but then I realized that each photo represents a part of my photographic journey.

My photography evolved a lot from the days when I use to take pictures of Pez, cupcakes, and interesting trash I found in my back alley. It seems so silly now, but had I not spent everyday shooting, learning, and exploring the world with my camera, I wouldn’t be taking the pictures I am taking today.

Super hero Pez, Canon Xti, 50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/60, f/5.0, ISO 100.

I bought my first dSLR, the Canon Rebel Xti (400D), in November 2006. I had one lens other than the crappy kit one, the 50mm f/1.4, and I shot absolutely everything on it. From concerts to portraits to landscapes and nature I took that lens on many adventures. Unlike a zoom lens, a fixed prime lens forces you to physically position yourself to get the shot. That usually means getting up close, lying on the floor, or squeezing your body in crazy spots to get decent angles.

I spent almost a year shooting exclusively with the 50mm f/1.4. I couldn’t afford another lens, so I just had to make do with what I had. I think this forced me to learn the basics of photography (exposure, light & composition) and really know how to use my camera.

Xti, 50mm, f/1.4, 1/320, ISO 200.

I shot almost everyday. I went on photowalks and started shooting things around my neighbourhood, and the beautiful landscapes of Vancouver. Whenever I traveled abroad in the next year, I took thousands of pictures. Some were good, some were meh, but the sheer act of taking pictures everyday made me a better photographer.

Photographing Chichen Itza, Mayan Riviera, Mexico.

Because I only had one lens at the time, and no money to buy another one, I started renting lenses for specific shoots or just for fun. For $35, I could rent a $1500 70-200mm IS f/2.8 for an entire weekend. I rented everything from wide angles to macro lenses to honking zooms, experimenting with different subjects and styles of photography.

Sunset Flare, Xti, 70-200mm IS, 70mm, 1/250, f/7.1, ISO 200.

Polish dancing boots, Xti, 70-200mm IS f/2.8 lens, 153mm, 1/80, f/2.8, ISO 200.

Xti, 100mm f/2.8 lens, 1/80, f.2.8, ISO 100.

Xti, 70-200mm f/2.8, 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 200.

I didn’t read many “how to” photography books (too boring) or take classes (too expensive), I just spent hours on Flickr and other photographer’s blogs. I connected with these photographers, asked them questions, shared my photos, and studied theirs.

I learned what I needed to improve on and what style of photography I liked. I was immediately drawn to colour and magic hour light. The subject matter I found most intriguing was people. But, people were not as easy to come by as trash in my back alley.

Jessie Farrell, Canon Xti, 50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/30, f/1.4, ISO 100.

I begged everyone I knew to let me take pictures of them. And if they said no, I snuck candid shots when they weren’t looking. At the time, I was also spending a lot of time shooting Jessie Farrell (Canadian Singer/Songwriter) and her band on their first year touring Canada.

I followed them around snapping their performances, as well as the behind the scenes moments. I learned a lot about shooting in hectic places with really difficult lighting. This gig also connected me with other musicians who wanted promo photos for their websites and promotion.

Canadian Singer/Songwriter Kylee Epp, Xti, 50mm f/1.4.

Jesse Godin, Xti, 16-35mm f/2.8 lens, 18mm, 1/100, f/2.8, ISO 100.

When I couldn’t find any people to shoot, I photographed animals. When I was traveling in Australia, I took a series of “animal portraits” of the fabulous creatures I found. Again, I only had one lens with me, the 50mm f/1.4, so I really get up close to these animals to fill the frame. This was ok with koalas, kangaroos, and lorikeets, but not so much for man-eating crocodiles and sharks.

Rainbow lorikeet, Xti, 50mm f/1.4mm, 1/100, f/2.0, ISO 100.

Sleepy Kangaroo, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/5.0, 1/250, ISO 100.

Koala. Xti, 50mm f/1.4 lens.

I also experimented taking artsy shots with the LensBaby Composer. I’m not the ‘artsiest’ photographer. I’m more inclined to make photos as realistic as possible, which is part of my debate with HDR photography (which I did learn how to do by the way :P). Nevertheless, this lens gave me a new perspective on the types of shots I could get with my camera.

XSi & LensBaby Composer.

My first HDR :P

After a while, I got bored of just taking pictures of things that I was just observing and wanted to create shots I could control. I was also modeling at the time, so I took particular interest at my own shoots and started grilling every photographer I worked with about lighting.

This is when I discovered David Hobby’s Strobist blog. The DIY off-camera photography he was doing and talking about was exciting, challenging, and oh so sexy.

Setting up the strobes for a summer shoot.

It took a while to accumulate the gear I needed to take sext shots; 3 strobes (580EX & 2×430EX, two umbrellas, stands, & the Alien Bees Cybersync Remote System), and a long while to actually learn how to use it.

I won’t lie, when I first started using strobes I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was even kind of scared of them, so I asked people who knew what they were doing, and watched and learned. I found a few settings that worked and practiced a lot. Once I’d learnt the basics, I started to experiment, sometimes even on the job (shh.. don’t tell), but usually taking pictures of myself.

Then, Alex Lindsay of TWiP (This Week in Photography) asked me to fly down to San Francisco be a guest on his popular photography podcast. I really felt like a n00b photographer then especially compared to one of my heroes, photojournalist, Steve Simon. I felt like I hadn’t done anything of note, just taken some nice photos. In fact, I’m sure that at first I was interviewed more for my modeling talents than my photography. My Flickr stream did contain more pictures of me than by me.

Xti, 50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/100, f/4, ISO 100.

Being on TWiP was a huge wake up call. I realized then, that if I wanted to be a photographer, I had to step up and know my stuff. I couldn’t rely on being a pretty girl with a camera that took pretty pictures. I had to get down and dirty with photographic theory, photoshop, the technical specs of my gear, and build a portfolio with content in a style that I wanted to actually work in.

I was inspired by photographers like Nick Onken, Chase Jarvis, Joe McNally who had unique and strong styles and got hired to to do major commercial work in this style.

Shauna, Canon XSi, 85mm f/1.8 lens, f/3.5, 1/200.

Canon XSi, 24-105mm f/4.0 lens, 45mm, 1/100, f/4.0, ISO 100.

Zara set-up shot.

I decided I wanted to shoot portraits, beauty, and fashion. I really needed models to shoot portraits, beauty, and fashion photography. I bought a second awesome prime, the 85mm f/1.8 and put up a profile on the social networking site “where professional models meet photographers, ModelMayhem. I’d found some great models to work with and I booked four for the next week. A Canon Canada Rep was nice enough to send a XSi (450D) loaner to me, so I had an extra body on these shoots.

Bella, Canon XSi, 85mm f/1.8 lens, 1/125, f/2.8, ISO 100.

I really wanted to push myself to see if I could actually create the images I wanted. After the first shoot, I realized I needed a professional makeup artist and a stylist because I am absolutely rubbish at these things. So I brought Mika (MUA) and Tami (Stylist) on board.

They helped me develop the concepts I wanted to shoot, and make sure all the details (hair, makeup, clothes) were there.

Sexy Stephanie, Xti, 85mm f/4.5, 1/125, ISO 100.

Canon Xti, 85 f/1.8 lens, 1/200. f/4.5, ISO 100.

I also knew I had to become fluent in Photoshop (CS4), so I buckled down and learnt how to use it. I spent days perfecting images, learning techniques, watching every retouching tutorial on Lynda.com and finding out the best and most efficient ways to retouch and process my images. Once I’d mastered the basics, I started to explore different processing styles.

I spend hours scouring photographer’s portfolios and flickr to find inspiring shots and trying to emulate them. Through this process I learnt all kinds of PS ninja tricks and started to develop my own style.

Xti, 50mm f/1.4 lens, f/2.5, 1/100, ISO 100.

I could shoot, light, and make sweet pictures. All I needed was a kick ass camera. I’d spent 2 great years with the Xti, but I’d grown out of it. I needed something full-framed and powerful, so I bought the Canon 5DMKII. I’ve never looked back.

Canon 5DMKII, 50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/125, f/5.0, ISO 100.

After 2 1/2 years, I feel like I’ve perfected amateur photography. Now, I’m ready to work as a professional. And so my next photographic journey begins! Wish me luck!

Canon 5DMkII, 85mm f/1.8 lens, 1/80, f/2.2, ISO 100.

5DMKII, 85mm f/1.8, 1/500 at f/5.0, ISO 100. Natural light & white reflector.

Visit my portfolio for more photos.

Questions? Comments! You know where to leave ‘em.

Just a quick video message wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday! 2010 is going to be a good one… I can feel it!

As a general rule, photographers can never have enough gear. And there is nothing that pleases us more than receiving practical and useful photography-related gifts. It’s true that most of the items on our “Dear Santa lists” loom in the 1K+ department, but there are plenty of little odds and ends in the under $200 that we all need and would love to receive.

1. Kata Sensitivity V ($90): Is the slimmest, sexiest photo/laptop combo bag out there. It has enough room for your dSLR, two or three small lenses e.g., 35mm, 50mm & 85mm), a 15″ laptop, and a flash. It has lovely little pockets for pens and memory cards as well. It is extremely comfortable and is excellent for travel & everyday use.

2. Crumpler photo bags: Crumpler makes the funkiest, designer photo bags on the market. If you have a teen shutterbug on your list, definitely opt for one of the limited edition”X Million Dollar House” bags. The 3 Million Dollar House $55 is perfect for light travel with just your camera body and one lens. I use the 6 Million Dollar House $119 for camera body + two small lenses. They are well-constructed, as well as being fun and flashy. They also have a pretty neat neck strap for $30 called Industry Disgrace.

3. BlackRapid RS-5 strap: Neck pain is one of the huge downsides of lugging your camera around with you all day. Unfortunately, as a photographer, that’s your job! So give your photo sweetie the gift of a better camera strap. I’ve been using mine for a week and love it. Yes it’s a bit bulky, and may look dorky with evening wear, but hey, we’re not the ones that are supposed to look pretty! Also, camera straps that say “Canon 5DMKII” on them are basically large, flashing signs that say, “Hey thieves, please steal me!” Sacrificing boasting rights > having your baby nicked!

4. Portable 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector: Every photographer needs reflectors in all sizes, so you can never go wrong with a 5-in-one reflector. For portrait photographers, opt for a 22″ – 38″ multidisc, for fashion/wedding photogs opt for 48″ or bigger. There is no real difference in quality between brands so save your $$s and buy the cheapest one.

5. Memory cards: No photographer will turn their nose up at a high speed 8-16GB CF or SD card. Sandisk Extreme IIIs are ace. Seriously, you can never have enough. Also, some photographers prefer shooting on 2 or 4GB cards, in case something happens to the card, they haven’t lost as many shots. I like shooting on big cards. The more images I can pack in without having to change the card, the better.

6. Spare Camera Batteries: Sounds like a really unromantic gift, but imagine the joy your shutterbug will experience when a battery dies at mid-shoot and they realize they have a spare battery in their bag. I would give that gift giver the biggest hug ever. If you aren’t a technical sort, you’ll need to find out what camera battery your photographer’s camera takes. If you can’t get access to their camera to, ask google. I heard Google knows a lot of crazy things.

7. Fuji Instax from Photojojo: Polaroids are coming back with a vengeance! Teens and hipster 20-somethings, are in love with the immediacy and creative possibilities of shooting Polaroid. I just got mine and I have to say that it is a very fun camera to experiment with. (The Instax is currently out of stock, but they should have it in soonish.) Check out the Photojojo store, they have lots of neat photography-related gifts.

8. 50mm f/1.8 ($100): This is the best gift you could buy a newbie photographer. Shooting on a prime lens forces you to learn framing and good composition techniques, instead of relying on the dreaded zoom on a kit lens. If you are feeling generous, opt for the 50mm f/1.4 ($350). It is one of the most beautiful & crisp lenses out there.

9. Basic Lighting kit: For budding fashion, beauty & portrait photographers, a lighting kit is essential. They can be quite pricy, so if you are only looking to spend less than $100, just buy one light stand, or one shoot-through umbrella. I would be over the moon, if someone bought me a lovely new umbrella to replace the one that turned inside out during a particularly windy shoot. :S

10: Flash ($250-450): Again for the budding portrait photographer, an off-camera flash is essential. They are pricey: The Canon 430EX is about $250. Buy some rechargable AA batteries and a charger as a bonus gift to get extra smiles!

11. Alien Bee’s Cyber Sync Wireless Triggers: ($150) For the Strobists out there, nothing would be more appreciated than some wireless radio transmitters. I’ve been using these strobe triggers for a year now and I can vouch for their unfailing accuracy. They are about 1/3 the price of Pocket Wizards.

12. Camera cleaning kit: Might not get the ladies swooning, but I’d be pleased as punch to receive a new cleaning kit. Again, cleaning fluid is cleaning fluid, so don’t get sucked into buying the expensive name brand stuff.

13. Flickr Pro membership: For $24 you can hook a budding photographer up with a place to share their photos, make unlimited albums of their content, and mingle with other shutterbugs.

14. Gorilla pod: ($50-100) For super creative types, nothing spells F-U-N like a tripod with bendable legs. Think of all the cool shots you can get by hooking your camera up to railings and tree branches? Oh yes. So much fun! I recommend the SLR-zoom with ball head combo ($89) for most dSLRs (Nikon d90, Canon rebels) & the Focus ($100) for pro cameras, like my baby, the 5DMKII.

15. The Moment it Clicks book by Joe McNally ($32) Gorgeous book that will inspire any photographer. It’s less a how-to book and more a behind-the-scenes look at some of Joe’s most amazing work. Check out Joe’s blog too. Lots of good, free advice!

16. Lynda.com subscription: Every photographer needs to have a handle on post-processing in Photoshop. Lynda makes it easy peasy to learn all the essentials and advance techniques for retouching and processing your photos in short instructional tutorials. It’s well worth the subscription fee!

17. Old film camera: If you have an old film camera gathering dust in your closet, consider passing it on to a young, budding photographer in your family. If it is in need of repair, head to your local photography store, and get it tuned up. If there is nothing wrong with it, then it shouldn’t cost you very much at all to buff it up a little. Throw in a few rolls of film and maybe some printing vouchers and you’ve got a very touching, sentimental gift.

18. Photo lesson voucher: If you are a more senior or pro photographer, consider giving a newbie shutterbug an inspiring photo lesson. The gift of knowledge and experience is worth more than all the items on the list above.

Hope this list has helped you with your last minute present buying & Happy Holiday shopping! Remember to bring your iPod and noise-canceling headphones when you head to the mall because you might experience violent head pain after hearing the the latest Miley Cyrus Xmas tune over and over again.

Questions about any of the items above? Or more suggestions? Comment below!

The BlackRapid RS-5 is by far the best dSLR camera strap I have ever seen. Barry Anderson of Mogo media and 5DMKII shooter introduced the RS-5 to me when I was DC for the Photoshop Live event. At the time, I was lugging around my beast of a camera all morning and had the worst neck spasm from shooting video footage of the White House (yet to be edited :S).

The BlackRapid RS-5 is not only comfortable, but it redistributes the weight of your camera so that you feel no stress on your neck. The locking fastener screws directly in to your tripod socket and allows you to quickly grab and swivel your camera. It makes you feel like a photo ninja. Hiyah!

Another great feature is the handy pocket in the strap which fits your iPhone, iPod or a Flip. There is also a zippered pocket where you can store extra batterys, memory cards, biz cards, and very small snacks!

Mine just arrived today! Photowalk anyone?

Download Voices for your iPhone.

If you think this is weird, you should see the outtakes! Oh boy. I’ll post the behind the scenes video once I recover from this all-nighter. ZzZ.

I had a lot of fun making this video and playing with the Voices app. There is nothing funnier than sounding like a drunk robot or a possessed chipmunk. Especially at 3am after being up for 30 hours and engulfing massive amounts of helium.

The lights were so smoking hot they popped a few balloons including the one that surprised me in the video!

Best $29 I ever spent. How can you not love a raccoon hat?

For more info & fun, go and checkout all the voices sound bites I made on the Taptaptap blog. The Voices app is only 99¢ and worth every penny.

PS. Chipmunk costumes are unbelievably hard to find. Hot business opportunity, any takers?

Thanks to Josh & Pasquale for all their help!