The Raw Report
Known as the Velcro Couple, Sara Frances and Karl Arndt's talents mesh gently, sometimes not so gently, when debating techniques or artistic principles. Fusion is their media, on the edge of contemporary technology. Their collaboration between still and cinematic imagery is sometimes refined and quiet, sometimes raucous and noisy. That's the sound of those pesky muses that flit back and forth between still and motion editing bays. Husband and wife yes, but also a marriage of art, idea and approach. "We're not satisfied if we don't learn somethi...
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Look great with practical, tactical clothing
By Sara Frances | April 17, 2013
Our jobs as general practitioners of photo and video require comfortable, durable stylish dressing. Recently Karl and I discovered the 5.11 Tactical clothing line, which fits absolutely every venue we work in from country club formal to 4-wheel rough terrain and dirt.
Mobility...
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Photo session 5 minutes; Postproduction 2 hours
By Sara Frances | March 17, 2013
Today’s typical business group photography happens so quickly that the focus has shifted in many cases to optimization in Photoshop. Since most groups are commissioned late in the meeting or conference planning, we rarely have more than a couple day’s notice. Therefore our fee is...
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rebels vindicated: the most maligned photo specialty worth deeper look
By Sara Frances | February 04, 2013
The commercial photographic community has long looked down its collective nose at the wedding photographer without realizing this skill combines just about every other specialty. A much harder job, if practiced to the hilt.
Food photography and...
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How to apply magazine quality food photography techniques at a wedding
By Sara Frances | January 18, 2013
If you think “posing” and “lighting” are an odd choice of words when photographing wedding cakes, think again. Cakes are sculptural, with the added challenge of fine, subtle surface details, executed usually in white on white. The cake image should be delectable, fun and...
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San Francisco is a great subject for photojournalists
By Sara Frances | December 27, 2012
Opening Jan. 17, through Feb. 24th, RayKo Gallery once again comes up with an interesting, memorable exhibit. Work of eight local documentarians is featured.
Photographs shown are by Janet Delaney, Lou Dematteis, John Harding, Gabriela Hasbun, André Hermann, Michael Jang, Mimi...
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John Hartman interview tells all: set a better style to stay viable
By Sara Frances | December 26, 2012
Sara Frances: “John Hartman has long had my respect as an innovative teacher, but better - John is a working photographer who has weathered a great many changes in our industry. Welcome to The RAW Report at ProPhotoCoalition, John!”
John Hartman: “I love my profession. I...
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Rehabilitation of old photos revives memories and generates gratitude.
By Sara Frances | December 20, 2012
Photoshop’s tools for quality, fast acting corrections are now so easy and plentiful. I hope to add a few insider tips to your tool bag
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This is your chance to weigh in with salient comment on event video and equipment.
By Sara Frances | November 14, 2012
It is really possible to foresee a return - or a new interest - to wedding memories, video or still, as a high-priority, high-ticket item in wedding budgets?
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3 surprising wet darkroom users featured
By Sara Frances | November 07, 2012
Traditional wet photo media from a trio of artists at our favorite RayKo Gallery's upcoming exhibition. Kirk Crippens, Maggie Preston and David Wolf are the featured artists.
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amateur or pro - festival color spread out for the taking
By Sara Frances | November 04, 2012
Knowing when and where to travel to find the most exciting imagery unfold in front of your camera is the first step toward cultural photojournalism. Not just great scenes, but real people doing real things are what we all want to experience and capture. Life and emotion are simply hard to get a handle on, as the outsider, the nosey, camera-wielding intrusion that is so often the bane of locals. No photojournalist wants to be thus labeled, or treated with suspicion and disrespect.
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Photo books are judged by their covers - at least in part
By Sara Frances | October 25, 2012
It's true that we more likely pick up a book in the store is we're attracted to the cover image. The same goes for wedding albums. After a long interval where minimalist, plain black leather covers were the most popular, recent years have had a happy resurgence of interesting materials, color and most importantly of cover art.
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John Hartman's famous, annual Boot Camp workshop coming soon
By Sara Frances | October 11, 2012
The 2013 John Hartman Marketing Boot Camp is designed for both new and established photographers who want new and challenging photographic ideas, who want to improve the efficiency of all their marketing, and who want to build and increase their sales. This workshop not affiliated with Createasphere or ProPhotoCoalition.
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How to compete in today's do it yourself kid photo market
By Sara Frances | August 29, 2012
Making a great experience for child and infant portraits and their parents is a the only way to get and retain clients. Whatever you scenario - brick and mortar studio, home studio or in-the-home outcall sittings - there is a lot of pre-planning needed to set your services aside as worthy of significant investment rather than parents just making their own snaps.
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Photo Workshop Travel Opportunity to Guatemala for Easter festivals
By Sara Frances | August 26, 2012
Here's a small group trip to work and share with a variety of artists, and it's moderately priced. An interesting opportunity, especially for anyone working with a hybrid camera or just getting started in making both stills and video. You'll be in an ideal place to capture once in a lifetime color and action.(Note: This trip and photo workshop not affiliated with CreativePro sites or Createasphere)
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Innovative techno style recipe brings photo income in tight Real Estate market.
By Sara Frances | August 16, 2012
My new scenario: drive up, leave the engine running, hold my iPhone steady, snap and go. Not quite that easy, but almost. The right time of day is a necessity, and experience to select an angle for greatest curb appeal.
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Color makes or breaks a portrait: a case study.
By Sara Frances | August 09, 2012
Here's a typical case of disparity of clothing color and pattern for an important portrait. Shown right next to each other, it's obvious how incompatible clothing color and style can be.
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No good deed goes unpunished! No greed too big...
By Sara Frances | June 28, 2012
... to try to swindle a well-meaning photographer out of reasonable remuneration. Think you won't be sued for donating your time, equipment and expertise? Wrong answer when attorneys get into the mix and so-called friends try to scam you! Oh yeah, there's money here, but nothing for us.
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How to edit and present to generate bigger orders
By Sara Frances | June 25, 2012
Behind the scenes there are five little steps clients never see that will make you money.
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Werner Herzog goes inside the skin with inmates' personal commentaries
By Sara Frances | June 15, 2012
Jumping, itching inside my skin is how I felt watching Herzog's latest movie - an enticing, loathing sensation that was all too personal - yet his approach made it impossible to stop watching or to forget the grisly details.
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