“If it’s just for fun, you can use whatever you want. If you’re using it for work, you want a full-frame sensor and the highest megapixels that you can afford,” Christopher advises.

Once a camera is selected, a photographer must be conscious of how to set up lighting situations correctly and effectively. Clouds often prove to be a photographer’s worst nightmare.

“[Take, for example,] when you’re shooting outdoors and you have a subject you’ve lit with lights and you’ve lit it so that it’s backlit with the sun, or at least there’s sun out to make the scene look crisp. If a cloud rolls by and you keep shooting, your model might be giving you really great stuff to work with, but it’s all in the shade and your lighting has gone to waste.”

Nighttime photographs, to an amateur, may appear to require special training to capture. Taking a photograph where the model is illuminated but the blackness around her retains its dark shade requires special knowledge to execute. Obviously, a flash would illuminate the entirety of the photograph, therefore obliterating the intended image.

“It’s just a matter of balancing your background and your foreground,” Christopher says. “The model has to be very still. She cannot move. In order to capture the darkness, you’ve got to use a very slow shutter speed – probably a minute to two minute exposure. You’ve also got to have light on the model. With that long of an exposure, you don’t need much light at all.”

When transitioning from photography as a hobby to making a living taking pictures, there are several ways to gain credibility in the field of image creating. Photographers may try their luck by submitting their best shots to contests or offer headshots to a theater company. However, Christopher advises that a webpage is the most important thing an amateur can possess in order to further credibility and create establishment.

“It’s very important to have a website. You can also get lists of manufacturers for whatever you want to shoot. Make a promo card and just start sending those out to ad agencies, marketing people. Trying to shoot editorials for magazines,” Christopher suggests.

Perhaps one of the most important things a beginner can do is build a strong portfolio. Highlight your best shots by printing them on 11”x14” paper and inserting them into a folder or scrapbook large enough to hold them. A strong portfolio sampling your work may mean the difference between receiving jobs and gaining no credibility in the photographic field.

*all photos are by Jason Christopher Photography

Framing your subject within the shot and paying attention to lighting situations and the overall composition before snapping the photo ensures minimal editing in the aftermath of the shoot. Some photographers carelessly snap numerous photos of the same scenario in the hopes of capturing their vision in one of the photographs.
“I call it the ‘shoot-and-pray’ method,” Jason laughs. “You just keep shooting and pray that you get a few good images out of it. It’s a waste of time. Your model is going to get bored, and you’re going to look like you don’t know what you’re doing…because you don’t.”

Before the digital age began dominating the realm of photography, photographers were given an average of 36 images per film roll, in which to contain their desired images. Having attempted traditional photography myself, I understand the disappointment that comes with inexperience. If the film doesn’t develop properly for any reason, your images are forever obliterated. If the camera settings are askew, the photographs may end up blurry. This may be a major problem when traveling long distances to photograph a model or object. In situations such as these, digital photography is particularly beneficial.

“The benefits [of digital photography] are cost; you don’t have to buy any film. Another benefit is instant gratification. You see the images right away.”

In spite of the added benefits, Jason still prefers the traditional method.

“I hate the invention of digital cameras. I wish it never happened,” Jason says.

Photography must be learned properly in order to be appreciated. If the camera is on “automatic” and the photographs being created are decent in quality, there leaves little necessary room for improvement. The best thing to do is learn from the ground up, especially if you plan on making photography a career.

“My advice? Take workshops. If you can’t afford a workshop, there are lots of online sites that explain photography. There are so many ways to learn photography. Take your digital camera and turn off the LCD [Liquid Crystal Display] setting. Don’t look at [the instant image that appears on the back of it once you have taken a picture]. Only shoot 36 frames per subject. Then, go back and compare then. Instead of shooting and looking at the image, shoot and shoot and shoot. Then, go back and look at your images and see what you did wrong. Or, buy an old, cheap, film camera and learn to shoot film.”

Learning the essential elements of photography will enable the photographer to create more vibrant images with less “doctoring” of photos after the shoot. Nevertheless, the true composition of photographs is an art slowly becoming dissolved by the elements of Photoshop and eight gigabyte memory cards.

“Ultimately, the real art of photography is fading fast.”

“First thing to consider is what you’re using [the camera] for. If you’re going to take pictures and put them on a website but not print them, make sure it’s a Canon or Nikon with 8 to 12 megapixels. Also, make sure the camera is solid and has a good warranty.”

The brand of camera purchased makes a large difference in how smoothly it operates. “Both Canon and Nikon are really good cameras,” Jason says. The better quality your camera is, the sharper the image it produces.

Essentially, a photographer and his camera become one. The particular camera a photographer uses is just as vital as the guitar played by a musician. Cameras, like guitars, come with special features that may be more appealing to some than to others. Not all cameras possess the same features or may be used for all types of photography.

“Make sure it feels right in your hands. It’s just like a car; you’ve got to make sure it feels right.”

Camera sensors are an equally important feature to consider when selecting your first SLR camera. Sensors are internal devices which transfer the image data to a digital electric signal. “Sensor size is the most important factor when determining what camera to buy,” Jason advises. A full frame sensor is manufactured with dimensions nearly equal to that of standard 35 mm film. This sensor captures the entire image as it is seen through the lens. An APS sensor is smaller in size and crops out tiny sections of the image.

When searching for an additional lens, keep in mind that not every lens will produce optimum quality. Lenses are generally manufactured to accurately fit only the same brand of camera. “Do not buy off-brand lenses,” Jason advises. “You’ll pay a little bit more but, in this case, it’s important.” When a Nikon lens is put on a Canon body, the parts don’t exactly fit together the way a Canon lens would on a Canon camera.

Success ultimately boils down beyond simply the camera purchased by a photographer.
“Just because you have a 21 megapixel camera doesn’t mean you’re going to take amazing photos. You still have to be a good photographer. I’ve taken really great photos with just a point and shoot.”

In addition to camera and lens brand, sensor size, and megapixels, Jason advises any beginning or amateur photographer to begin learning the skill at square one.

“The best thing would be to buy a digital camera but still learn your photography fundamentals and practice them. Just because you’re good doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t be better. Even Robert DeNiro still takes acting lessons to keep himself fresh.”

Like so many independent artists today, his first endeavor wasn’t so successful. Though Christopher currently holds a prominent reputation in his chosen profession, much of his young life was spent engrossed by live music. Through his bands, Rock Bottom and Badfun, he desperately tried to make a career of music. When stardom fell out of reach, Jason was left picking up the pieces.

“What happened was that whole grunge sound came into existence and there was no more room for the rock sound,” Jason says. “I was dead set on being a rock drummer. When the band broke up, I didn’t have a backup plan,” he laughs.

Fortunately, Jason began the next phase of his life shortly after his failed music career.

“I lived near Agoura Hills and near there was where they shot Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman starring Jane Seymour,” Jason explains. “My mother worked at CBS, so one day she said ‘How about I get you on this show as an extra?’ The show was shot literally 2 miles from my house, so I got a job as an extra.”

It was during his television work that he re-discovered his calling in photography.

“Ever since I was thirteen I wanted to be a photographer. I just didn’t know what direction I wanted to go in,” he reflects. “When my band broke up, I thought that was the end. I guess when one door closes, another opens. Then the show got canceled. I guess I worked on it for about 5 years. So now I thought ‘what the hell am I gonna do?’”

In spite of his panic, he did succeed in finding more work on the small screen. Though he enjoyed his work in the studio, there was still something missing in his life.

“I turned thirty. Literally, I woke up one day and said ‘I need to be a photographer.’ I walked into the office of the show I was working on at the time and said ‘I quit.’”

That action alone began what would evolve into a successful career in photography.

The art of creating images spans a broad range of subjects. Photographers specialize in portrait, wedding, photojournalism, landscape, still life, and advertising, just to name a few. Jason would eventually stumble upon fashion photography and begin pursuing a career in capturing images.

“I started off just doing headshots,” Jason explains. “I started noticing fashion magazines at Barnes and Noble. I liked the clothing, the couture, the whole idea of telling a story with photos. The key of fashion photography is knowing fashion. I just started looking through fashion magazines and I learned fashion. I wanted to shoot women with beautiful clothes on. I needed to teach myself fashion; what looks good on a woman and what doesn’t.”

“Photoshoots require careful preparation. Models must be notified, budgets must be discussed, the locations must be selected, and a wide variety of other variables must be solved in order to produce images of perfection,” he continued.

“It takes about a week of planning. You gotta cast the model; you go over the concept; how you want to display the clothes. Do you wanna go on location or in the studio? You gotta find the location; set the date. Sometimes it can take 2 weeks before you get everyone in sync. Meanwhile I am planning and trying to find what the designer wants; what look they’re going for.”

Although Jason primarily shoots living models, his artistry isn’t limited to that particular genre.

“I love shooting landscapes, whether it be sunsets, mountains, or old buildings. I also like shooting people, just regular people on the streets.”

Jason’s trip to the southern states illustrated all the luxurious colors of nature. Having spent much of his life in the bustling streets of Los Angeles, a trip to the country served as a photographer’s retreat to paradise.

“I’ve never seen old homes just left there on the side of the road. Shooting that, you realize there’s a culture there. I wanna capture that.”

The recent precedence of internet browsing has brought forth a wave of successful businesses. The quality of a website can now determine the level of respect the public holds for an individual. An easily accessible, well-constructed website draws a larger crowd and instills credibility in the site-possessing individual or company.

“I’ve had a site online for at least 10 years” Jason says. “You have to think of yourself as a brand. Nowadays, you have to have a good website that brands you. That includes the colors and logo. It’s got to navigate clearly. People wanna see pictures right away. You know ‘Can this guy shoot?’ The website is very important.”

No statement could ever be more true. However, though owning an impressive website may be important for any company, the internet also allows room for amateurs to gain unearned attention.

“Having a website has totally increased my business and my exposure,” Jason shares. “If you wanna talk about the internet, it’s actually hurt my business. You get photographers who really don’t know what they’re doing, they just fix their photos with photoshop and they can get hired. They can take any poor shots and make them good.”

The digital age has virtually paralyzed the world of film, enlargers, and developer chemicals. Dark rooms are practically a thing of the past.

“Good photographers are only good photographers because we shot with film and you can’t retouch your work” Jason articulates.

Jason now receives over 24,000 monthly visitors to his website.

As mentioned on his website, Jason offers workshop opportunities for up-and-coming and intermediate photographers. The classes offer tips on working with and posing live models, adjusting lighting situations, and understanding the process of shooting photographs.

“I tailor [the workshops] to the needs and skill of that particular photographer. I have one this weekend and the guy sent me a list of what he would like to learn, so I customized it for his needs. I once had a woman who didn’t know the correlation between f-stops and shutter speeds, so I literally had to start at square one. In my workshops, I teach people how to work with clothes, how to work with the model, how to direct a model. I go over a shoot really from beginning to end.”

Not every high-end fashion photographer sets aside time for scheduling workshops; this alone sets Jason apart from his fellow photographers.

“Some people have asked me why I have workshops. I want all photographers to be equal. I want us all to be at the same level” Jason shares.

No matter what career choice an individual takes, one will always seek after sources of inspiration and motivation. Jason deals with the same problems as any other artist. How does he deal with it?

“It’s been tough,” he admits. “I know I am really good at what I do. I know I will deliver a product that will impress the client. I can only do what I like and hopefully get a call for work. That keeps me motivated.”

If you would like to follow his career or possibly schedule a personalized workshop, check out his website: www.jasonchristopher.com.

Fashion Shoot For Gods Daughter Clothing from Jason Christopher on Vimeo.