It should be simple. Take pictures. Make money.
Terra (QUESTION): Can we discuss a price list and what I should charge for services like family sessions, family parties, individual portraits, and a friend’s underground band wants me to do a shoot for them as well? Phillip Van Nostrand (ANSWER): For all of those things, you have two options: one is easier to do and the […]
Lauren (QUESTION): What are some of the biggest photography mistakes you see photographers making, both business-wise and skill-wise? Phillip Van Nostrand (ANSWER): I think a big waste of time that I see people doing is playing around with edits a lot, trying vignetting, or vintage edits, playing with contrast, etc. I kinda wish someone had told me to […]
Shooting Runway Fashion SARAH (QUESTION): Do you have any tips for shooting runway events outside? Should the images be tack sharp? Should I use a flash? I am shooting Aspen fashion week. PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND (ANSWER): Runway shows should be incredibly lit, so you don’t really have to do anything but pull the trigger. You should also […]
Shooting for Fashion Bloggers KATIE (QUESTION): With these fashion blog shoots, are they paying you? If so, how do the bloggers make money? Is it from people wanting to advertise on their blog? PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND (ANSWER): No, I’m not getting paid. It’s all for the connections for me from the exposure on their blogs. […]
Wedding Vendor Relationships DENISE (QUESTIONS): Do you provide all your vendors with images? Do they refer you out? PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND (ANSWER): I do usually provide my vendors with images, but in the past my main source of referrals has been from brides and grooms (and sometimes their mothers). I think this is due to my personality type and […]
Shooting Multiple Exposure on the 5D Mark III JESSE (QUESTION): How do you shoot multiple exposure on the Canon 5D Mark III? PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND (ANSWER): 1) On a Canon 5D Mark III, press the button on the left with square and a paintbrush inside it, go to Multiple Exposure Mode, set it to On: ContShtng, […]
Interior Photography SHANNON (QUESTION): Hi rockstar! I recently accepted a job doing interior photography. I will be photographing kitchens for a local cabinet maker. As I mainly photograph people (and mostly outdoors), I wanted to see if you have any tips for interior photography. I will probably be using my 17-55mm 2.8 lens as my other lenses […]
Fisheye Lens BRIAN (QUESTION): Hey Phillip, My name is Brian and I am the Curly photographer from Minnesota!! Love your work and energy! What kind of Fisheye lens do you use? I love the 3000 dollar trick and this sounds like a blast. Cheers! PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND (ANSWER): Hey Brian! How are you? Nice to […]
Time Management KRISTEN (QUESTION): Hi Phil! I have a question, regarding time management. My annoying tendency is if I say we are shooting for a half hour we end up doing close to a full hour anyways. How do you stay strict with the time limits you have set, without seeming like a jerk when you have […]
Depth of Field JEFFREY (QUESTION): In this image, how did you get the shallow depth of field between the face and the rest of the body? PHILLIP VAN NOSTRAND (ANSWER): Jeffrey, I shot this photo (above) at an aperture of f/2.5, which is a really shallow depth of field (especially on a 135mm lens like I […]