Where to Print Your Photos

I recently decided to start selling my photography to people other than my family and I knew that if I was going to sell my work to someone other than an aunt or cousin, it might be time to upgrade my printing situation. Previously, I was content with having Walgreens print a photo here or there or simply using one of the printers I have at home (HP and Epson). However, as I embarked upon this next stage of my photo career, I realized that it was time to get serious and find an actual printer. After spending a couple days scouring the internet, requesting sample papers, and testing out ICC profiles in Lightroom, I finally settled on two printers -- AdoramaPix and ProDPI. I'll give you a quick rundown on why I chose these printers.

What to Think About When Buying a New Camera

Rather frequently I receive a text message from a friend or family member that reads something along the lines of "Hey, I was thinking about buying this type of camera, what do you think?" or "I'm looking for a new camera, what would you recommend?" When confronted with these questions I often start by asking another question "How do you plan to use your new camera?"

When entering the market for a new camera it is important to first think about how you plan to use the camera and what you want to take pictures of. For example, if you are looking for something relatively easy to use that will work well in most situations, then you might choose a point and shoot camera. If you are in need of a well-rounded camera that offers some advanced features and an interchangeable lens system, but do not want the bulk or price of a DSLR, then you might choose a mirrorless camera. Then again, if you are looking to delve more seriously into photography and require a camera with more specialized features that will grow with you over the years, then you might consider a DSLR.

Toy Cameras

Photo Courtesy of Lomography Website

I love to shoot with "toy" cameras aka lo-fi cameras with a plastic lens. Some people consider these cameras to be cheap and not worth the money spent on them. But, I disagree. There is a certain thrill in not knowing exactly what your picture will look like. Sometimes you're surprised with happy accidents and other times you have dismal results.

My favorite toy camera is my Diana Mini. It can fit in almost any bag and it is very light. I prefer to use Kodak Elite Chrome film (no longer in production but you can find it on eBay) that I then have "cross-processed." In case you don't know, cross processing involves the deliberate processing of film in a chemical solution intended for a different type of film. So, usually, color negative film uses C-41 chemicals for processing and slide film (like Kodak Elite Chrome) uses E-6 chemicals for processing.  When I have my Elite Chrome cross processed, my pictures have the most vibrant colors that simply cannot be replicated in any photo editing program.

If you're interested in experimenting with a toy camera, consider trying a Diana Mini. It is one of my favorites and it is always in my camera bag. The Diana Mini camera is produced by Lomography and is modeled after the 1960s original Diana camera. The Diana camera first appeared during the early 1960s as an inexpensive box camera and they originally sold for 50 cents per unit. It is a plastic-bodied box camera that uses 120 mm film and 35 mm film and is known for taking soft focus, impressionistic photographs. The Diana Mini camera is similar in that it also produces the same lo-fi results. The Diana Mini shoots 35 mm film and allows you to choose between half-frame and square frame shots. You can purchase the Diana Mini and Flash for $99 at the Lomography store or website.