My Favorite Accessories

This was originally posted on the House of Smiths blog.  Enjoy!!

There are a zillion accessories available to purchase.  Emilie says there are no right or wrong choices.  She says if you something that inspires you, go for it!  Here are some of the accessories she recommend.

Hakuba Monopod and Tabletop Tripod.  Sells for about $28.  Monopods vs Tripods are easier to capture creative angles.  However, a tripod allows you to take timed self portraits.  This is the perfect combo.  Emilie recommends using a monopod whenever photographing crafts, projects, products and home decor.  They allow you to shoot at a lower shutter speed while still getting sharp images.  Learn more about Shutter Speed & Sharper Images Here & Here.

Reflector Disc Soft Gold & White - 32".  Sells for about $25.  Reflectors are my favorite fill light tool.  Using a reflector takes a little practice but the results are amazing.  Read more about using your reflector Here.

Happy Snappers.  Sell for around $25.  If you're photographing kids you must have one of these.  They fit right around your lens.  They come with squeakers and are the perfect tool to get perfect smiles.

Universal Wired/Wireless Remote Shutter Release.  Sells for about $30.  Universal shutter release supports most DSLR cameras, providing a wireless shutter release without the limitations of a traditional cable release.  It is ideal for studio or travel photography, and for the enthusiastic photographer who wishes to have the freedom to move around the subject while shooting.  You can be in the picture rather than behind the camera.  It can also be especially advantageous when taking long exposure photos.  Read a little more about using a long exposure Here.

Photo By Emilie Eye Action.  Sells for $15.  An Action is a recording of a series of commands in Photoshop to which you apply a name.  Later on, you can play that recording back on a different image and have Photoshop do your work for you.   Emilie has created an Eye action that makes Eyes absolutely sparkle.  Read a little more about Emilie's other Actions Here.

Lightscoop® Light Modifier.  Sell for around $30.  Lightscoop® is a smart low-tech device that creates soft, flattering light by redirecting your camera’s pop-up flash to a ceiling or wall.  

Don't let your family photos merely live in your computer.  In Emilie's workshop she teaches 10 rules to live by.  One of them is to print and display your work.  She taught me that my number one skill to improving my photography is my own ability to evaluate my photos.  Printing my images is one of the best ways to view, evaluate and enjoy my images.  Some of my favorite albums companies are Shutterfly, Kodak and Blurb.

This is just one trick of many I learned while attending Emilie's workshop.  Her workshop includes how to shoot in Manual Mode, more lighting rules, her go to poses and her easy Photoshop process for editing. Emilie also teaching ONLINE classes.

Emilie's Salt Lake Workshops

Emilie's Online Workshops

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