Uncle Bob's New Business Cards - Have New Camera, Will Shoot Weddings

Uncle Bob was Prone to Camera Strap Related Accidents (Photography Cartoon - Photo, Photographer)

Everybody knows or has an Uncle Bob.

Of course, his or her name may not actually be Uncle Bob, but we all know someone like him.

That quirky Uncle that always has his camera with him, and always seems to be not working it quite right.

You know the one who made you pose for what seemed like hours when you were a kid so that he could get that "perfect" family photo, and of course that photo never seemed to turn out quite right.

Maybe it's an Aunt, a Grandfather, or a family friend, but most of us know an Uncle Bob character.

So a couple of years ago when I got the idea for a series of photography cartoons, Uncle Bob seemed the perfect character to star in them.

I've put them up here on the Art of the Image Youtube Channel for you to enjoy. Feel free to leave a comment and let us know who Uncle Bob reminds you of in your family or circle of friends, and you can change the name or leave it out to make sure you don't offend the person.

Also, if you have any ideas you think would be good for future Uncle Bob cartoons, please feel free to post them in the comments section below too! I welcome your creative assistance. :-)

Uncle Bob's Top 5 Reasons Your iPhone Is More Camera Than You Can Handle

Happy Monday Folks!

Uncle Bob here, back to deliver your Monday dose of photography insight, straight from my brain to yours.

Your good ol' Uncle Bob was fooling around with his iPhone today, and it dawned on me that the iPhone is likely more camera than most folks can handle.

Here's why...

Reason #5 Your iPhone is more camera than you can handle...
You still don't have a clue how to use half those photo apps you downloaded off iTunes.

Reason #4 Your iPhone is more camera than you can handle...
You keep accidentally hitting the video switch on your iPhone and making movies when you meant to take a picture.

Reason #3 Your iPhone is more camera than you can handle...
You haven't figured out that you can turn your iPhone horizontal and take a horizontal photo. Duh!

Reason #2 Your iPhone is more camera than you can handle...
You may be the King of popping blowfish or shooting tanks on your iPhone, but you just can't seem to tap that shutter button at exactly the right moment that you wanted to take the photo. At least that's what you tell people when they ask why all your photos are of people's bums.

Reason #1 Your iPhone is more camera than you can handle...
Half your iPhone photos look like your finger, and you can't figure out why. Here's a hint... take your finger off the lens stupid!




See you next Monday,
Uncle Bob.

Uncle Bob's Top 5 Reasons To Buy A Canon 7D

Reason #5 to Buy a Canon 7D - Your Canon 5D MkII only focuses properly about 25% of the time, so you're hoping the Canon 7D will have a focus system that works.

Reason #4 to Buy a Canon 7D - You can't afford a Canon 5D MkII and you want a full frame Canon DSLR because it'll make you a better photographer.

Reason #3 to Buy a Canon 7D - You don't like the 1D and 1Ds series DSLR cameras because they're too heavy, their names are too long, and they cost WAY too much money.

Reason #2 to Buy a Canon 7D - The 7D will be the new Canon DSLR high ISO King. If you like to take naked pictures of your wife in the dark while she's sleeping without using any lighting so you don't wake her up, you're going to want the 7D.

Reason #1 to Buy a Canon 7D - Seven is two more than five. Seven tenths is more than five tenths. If Canon named the 5D MkII after the fact that five out of ten times you'll get a sharp photo, then it stands to reason that the 7D will give you a sharp photo seven out of ten times. That's two tenths more reason to buy a Canon 7D over a 5D MkII.

See you next Monday,
Uncle Bob.



Canon EOS 7D - One Flickr Users Canon 7D PipeDream

Canon EOS 7D - Why Most Of The Canon 7D Specs Are Wrong

Canon EOS 7D - Will We Be Seeing a Canon 7D in September?

Uncle Bob's Top 5 Ways To Tell If Your Camera Is Smarter Than You?

5. If your Canon or Nikon DSLR camera takes a better picture in P mode (full auto if you don't have P mode) than you do in manual, your camera may be smarter than you.

4. If you don't think you could pass a quick quiz if I dug up ten questions out of your camera manual, your Nikon DSLR or Canon DSLR camera just might be smarter than you.

3. If you keep forgetting to lower the ISO when you go from an indoor, low-light location to an outdoor, bright light location, your Canon or Nikon DSLR camera just might be smarter than you. (It is actually if it has an auto-ISO setting like my Nikon D300's do :)

2. If you've ever accidentally formatted the memory card in the middle of photographing a wedding, your Nikon or Canon DSLR camera just may be smarter than you.

and #1 on Uncle Bob's Top 5 Ways To Tell If Your Camera Is Smarter Than You...

1. If you've never read your camera manual, your Canon or Nikon DSLR probably IS smarter than you.

See you next Monday,
Uncle Bob



How To Thrive As An Artist Without Selling Out:
The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money

Uncle Bob tells Joe McNally, "Enough is Enough!"

Okay people, I know you've been thinking the same thing I have, that Joe McNally needs to be told, so Uncle Bob is going to be your voice... the voice of photographers around the world, so listen up Joe!

I'll give you the short version first Mr. Joe McNally... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

What's that you say Joe? Enough of what?

As if you don't know!

Enough of the fancy shmancy photography already! You're making it really hard for the rest of us to do our jobs! How in the name of Kodachrome are we supposed to make our clients happy when they're looking at your suped up, slicked back, sick, pants around your crotch with your underwear showing for all to see because you're so cool, pictures and comparing them to ours!

You're clearly not thinking of anyone but yourself Joe. What about the rest of us photographers?

You're not the only one trying to earn a living with your camera you know!

How do you expect us to satisfy our clients when they can go to www.joemcnally.com, your fancy pancy website with your ohhhhh so good pictures and see what they could have got if they booked you?

How Joe? How? Uncle Bob and the rest of the photographers on this planet want to know!

It's really not fair at all Mr. Joe "I'm Michael Jordan with a camera" McNally. I mean, you have some pretty MAJOR unfair advantages. The deck is stacked in your favour. The Nikon gear, the Nikon photo shoots, the Nikon Speedlight DVD's... just look at this slick looking DVD ad from Amazon.com. Geez! Our clients can't even go shopping without getting hit over the head with you getting all in their face with "look how great my photos are" ads.



(by the way, I really liked the video... I've got your older one too... still trying to figure it all out... Uncle Bob's no spring chicken you know... BUT HEY! Don't get me off topic! I mad at you!)

The government should fine you like they did Microsoft for breaking the anti-trust laws and creating a monopoly on good photography. You can't have it all Joe. Bill Gates had to learn the hard way. Maybe it's time the government took Mr. Joe McNally down a notch.

And it's not just the Nikon stuff Joe! No, you have go and be a National Geographic celebrity, Time, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, GEO, Fortune, Business Week, LIFE, New York, Mens Journal... where does it end Joe? Does Joe McNally have to get all the best gigs?

(loved the "Future of Flying" by the way... some awesome photos in that article - FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, MCNALLLY! I'm trying to make a point here, stop distracting me!)

I mean, just look at this photo you shot of the Pegasus!


photo by Joe McNally, from National Geographic's "Future of Flying"

Did you really have to light it so freakin' awesomely? Really Joe?

The rest of us don't all have 4, 236 Nikon SB-900 Speedlights with 10 British Secret Service Agents carrying them around for us Joe. You're hardly making it a level playing field.

Or what about this one Joe? Showing the rest of us up with the torchy dude twirling fire and all...


photo by Joe McNally - www.joemcnally.com

Was the beautiful balance of ambient, fire, and subject lighting really neccessary Joe? Really?

Or what about this one of James the welder dude I just got in your email...


photo by Joe McNally - www.joemcnally.com

Do you have to be so good with the Speedlights Joe? I mean we ain't even talking big powerful strobes here! Speedlights Joe... you're showing us up with Speedlights!

So I'm pleadin' with you here Joe. Do you think Joe McNally could save some awesome for the rest of us? Can you leave a little WOW Juice in the jug so we can have a little drink?

And for crying out loud... do you really need to haul out the 5, 672 freakin' SB-900's at every gig? Come on Joe! You're making yourself look good just from shear speedlight volume, not to mention the platoon of US Army Rangers you got carrying them all around for you.

That's all Uncle Bob's askin' Joe. Just leave a little for the rest of us mere photographer mortals.

Sure you wrote a book or two to try and teach us about how you do it. I know, I know, you thought that would make up for it.



And the DVD's, yeah... we covered those. They're good Joe, sure.

But you're killing us here Joe. Killing us!

Just a little Joe... just a little. That's all good ole Uncle Bob is asking.

For the all the rest of us photographers Joe... think of the rest of us. And think of little Tiny Tim at Christmas too Joe. Maybe he'd like to be a photographer someday.

See you next Monday,
Uncle Bob

Uncle Bob's Top 5 Reasons Your Mother is a Better Photographer Than You

5. Mom doesn't pretend to know how to use her camera. She just pushes the little thingie-ma-bob and takes the picture. You'd miss it because you were playing with all the settings because you know more than Mom does about taking photos.

4. Mom takes pictures all the time of everyone she loves. You're too busy reading blogs about photography and trying to get all the latest rumours on what new cameras are coming out. Mom doesn't care about any of that, but she loves to take pictures of her kids, grandkids, family and friends.

3. Mom has a nice little camera she carries everywhere in her purse. When she sees something that catches her eye, she pulls out her little pocket camera and takes a picture. You would never shoot with a little point and shoot camera like Mom's. It's beneath you.

Of course, your camera is a little heavy, especially with all the lenses and flashes you need to take your amazing photos, so you don't take your camera out with you much. Usually just when you're getting paid for it. Hence, Mom gets tons more photos than you. Some aren't that great quality, but at least she got them!

2. Mom just takes a picture and then emails it or posts it on Facebook. She doesn't tinker with it. She doesn't spend hours in Photoshop trying out a million different actions. You know you can get a much better looking photo if you play with it a bit in Photoshop or Lightroom.

Of course, you hardly ever get that done and your photos sent out or posted because you're too busy playing with them, so everyone thinks Mom is a better photographer than you because they never see your photos.

1. She's your mother. Are you going to tell her you're better than her?


See you next Monday,
Uncle Bob



How To Thrive As An Artist Without Selling Out:
The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money

Announcing our new guest blogger...

none other than...


Uncle Bob from Uncle Bob's Photography!

Yes, that's right folks. We've managed to wrangle Uncle Bob himself into writing for us here at Art of the Image!

Uncle Bob has agreed to share with us some of the best of what he's learned about photography over the years, including tips on shooting, photographing difficult subject, how to deal with customers, what camera settings to use, and much, much more!

We're scheduling Uncle Bob into our Monday timeslot, so be sure to check in every Monday to see what Uncle Bob has to say!

P.S. If you'd like to write for Art of the Image, let us know. Email us with your article idea(s) and tell us a little about yourself.

Uncle Bob Foofed All The Time

How to Thrive as an Artist Without Selling Out:
The Unconventional Guide to Art and Money

Uncle Bob's New Fusion Photo Video System

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Uncle Bob was Prone to Camera Strap Related Accidents

Uncle Bob Loved Meeting With Potential Clients

Meeting with potential clients is a skill. Like any skill, it needs practice to perfect.

When you're meeting with a potential client, do you do most of the talking? You shouldn't. Your potential client should be doing most of the talking.

Having a hard time getting them to open up? Ask questions and ask the right questions. Let the client tell you the answers. Each answer will set you up for the next question(s).

Ask open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions are great for clarifying something, but they aren't great for getting a conversation going and getting information.

Listen. Listening is a crucial skill. A lot of business people aren't very good at it. Most of the best business people are very good at it. Shut up and listen.

Take notes. It's not rude, it's flattering. Clients will see that what they're telling you is important enough to you that you are writing it down. DON'T hide behind a laptop typing out your notes. This is rude, and puts up a barrier between you and your client. You lose eye contact, and you'll end up losing your client. Type your notes into your laptop AFTER the meeting is over and the client has left. Better yet, wait until you're back in the office.

Follow-up. Send a quick email saying how much you enjoyed meeting with them and would be more than happy to answer any further questions they might have. Dial it up a notch and send a personal hand-written note in the mail. You'll stand out.

Let your enthusiasm show. Your potential client should see your enthusiasm, positive attitude, and genuine love for your work. Learn to love meeting with potential clients. It will show, and your clients will see you as genuine. Your booking rates will soar.

Meeting with potential clients is not a chore. Like anything else that is worth doing, it's worth doing right. Practice, strive to better yourself at it, and enjoy it! If you can't, your business is going to show it.

Uncle Bob - One Fatal Step

Watch where your walking. Seems pretty obvious advice, but it's easy enough to get caught-up in the moment during a busy photo shoot, wedding, or event. Next thing you know, you've knocked something over, stepped on something you shouldn't have (God forbid you do what Uncle Bob did above), or bumped into something.

We've all done it at some point. Sometimes it isn't even our fault. Somebody else has set something down where they shouldn't have, or they're standing right behind you trying to see over your shoulder, you don't see them, and oops!

Seems like such an obvious thing, but so easily over-looked when we're working quickly and absorbed in what we're doing. Periodically take a second to take a quick look around and re-orient yourself. :)

Read Your Camera Manual

A lot of people never really take the time to really get to know their cameras.

Your camera manual can be very enlightening, especially if you've never opened it.

Take a few minutes to browse through it. You never know... you just might learn something you didn't know.

Uncle Bob Knew Good Lighting was Critical

Good lighting is critical.

There's nothing wrong with using flash, but how you use it is everything.

On camera flash, pointed straight at your subject, SUCKS.

(**EXCEPTION** On camera flash dialed down to -2 or lower and used outside for fill is ok, off camera is better)

Off camera flash can look great.

More is most often not better.

Less is most often best.

Subtle is wonderful.

Hard light can be nice.

(if you have no idea what I'm talking about, read this.)

Rockstar Demographic Lens Chart of Photographers

Uncle Bobs New Business Cards & The Importance of Professional Wedding Photography

A common term that professional wedding photographers know all too well is "Uncle Bob". When we hear about an "Uncle Bob" situation, we usually laugh, shake our heads, sigh, or a combination of all three. "Uncle Bob" in this context refers to someone at the wedding (or going to be at the wedding) taking photos who is not a professional. They are often a family member, often an actual Uncle, and are often taking photos for free or close to it.

The problem with "Uncle Bob" is that, while he or she probably takes very nice pictures of flowers in the garden, the family dog, and occasionally a good family photo, "Uncle Bob" is just not experienced at photographing weddings.

Weddings are a "live" event where just about anything can and will happen to throw a wrench into the schedule. A professional wedding photographer knows this and can adapt to situations that arise with a transparency and skill that can only come from experience, skill, and training. "Uncle Bob" just doesn't have anywhere near the experience, skill, and training of a professional wedding photographer.

A wedding... YOUR WEDDING, is a pretty important event. Some would say a VERY important event, perhaps one of the most important events in your life. When I see people recommending having a relative or friend photograph a couple's wedding, I cringe. Not only is this putting a HUGE amount of responsibility on a person who is unqualified to do the job (and likely also isn't even aware of just how unqualified they are until the day of the wedding), but it's setting up the bride and groom for some serious disappointment.

A wedding day isn't a repeatable event. Unlike a portrait session or a commercial shoot, where we can re-schedule if there is a problem or the shots don't turn out as the client wanted, you can't do this with your wedding. You could try, I guess, to get all those guests back on a given day, at the same location, with all the same attire, same decorations, etc... (you get my point), but I don't think you'd be very successful, nor would you want to.

When all is said and done, the only thing you really have left to remember your big day with is your wedding photos. You've put a lot of time and effort, not to mention expense, into such a big event, so don't you want to make sure your wedding photos will be beautiful memories of that wonderful day?

I feel bad when I hear stories of couples who were very disappointed with their wedding photos taken by "Uncle Bob". I have couples contact me hoping that I can "fix" their photos that "Uncle Bob" took, and I feel bad when I have to tell them that there is very little that can be done. Even when something can be done, the amount of time involved in "fixing" their "Uncle Bob" photos is going to make it a much more expensive process than if they had just hired a professional wedding photographer in the first place.

Take the time to look through the portfolios of professional wedding photographers. You'll quickly see the differences in style and vision, but more importantly, you'll see the difference in quality. Compare the images of some of the best professional wedding photographers with those shot by someones "Uncle Bob". The differences become VERY evident, VERY fast! You'll quickly develop a feeling for what you like and what appeals to you, and you'll be able to see why having "Uncle Bob" or a "bargain" photographer shoot your wedding is just not worth it... at any price.