Be a model

be a model,become a model,Archerphoto,professional photographer,portfolio for models

The main problem that a person who wants to devote to being a model is that there is no really valid course. You’ll learn it while you’re working. But while the prettiest part – posing, parading, appearing on magazine covers – is known by everyone, there are thousands of details that are not so obvious. We’ll tell you some.

How to be a model

In general, models should have basic notions of law because they are often signing contracts. And on some occasions, they believe that these contracts bind them absolutely, while in others they fail to ignore the risks. Of course, when things become complicated, you have to contact a lawyer.

Marta Ortiz,be a model,become a model,Archerphoto,Sergi Albir,fashion
Marta Ortiz in Mompó, 2011.

A person dedicated to the world of fashion should be able to distinguish the work of a professional photographer from disasters that makes an amateur or someone who claims to be professional. Not being able to distinguish these details can make you lose many hours of work in sessions that you think will provide you with some valid material and it is not.

Rookie photographers rarely get really professional results. Opportunities for a starting are not to be missed. When you go to an agency, you must show them the best you can give. Not a badly framed photo, worse edited and with a pose and expression that do not favor you. That could prevent you from being a model. But don’t give up: it is solved with good photos. But you know that the first impression happens only once. Do not waste your ammunition.

You may think that you do not know how to educate your taste to learn to distinguish some things from others. You can compare top fashion magazines like Vogue or Elle, for example, with everything else.

Lidia González Regolf, professional model ny Archerphoto,Sergi Albir,be a model
Lidia González Regolf in a shooting for Andrea Anton.

Find your place

There are many types of models. Improve your acting (you can look for acting courses, but avoid model courses, which are usually a total rip-off ). Take care of your physical form, your food and try to work well as a team. And of course, take advantage of your specific skills: if you dance, practice a sport or have some peculiarity that can make a positive difference, it is important that you exploit it and take advantage of it.

fotógrafo profesional puedes leer este artículo en español

I’m Sergi Albir. I’m a professional photographer. If you need photos you can contact me at sergi@archerphoto.eu or with a Whatsapp at +34644459753. You can do it right now. 

Landscapes 101

Landscapes by Archerphoto, professional photographer in Spain

Photographers are people who carry a camera way too often. So even when they are doing something else, it’s not strange they stop for a while and capture an image.

Landscapes 101

In my case, some of those landscapes can be stored during years. I classify my pictures and file them in the computer. If I am not in a hurry, they won’t be shown until I need to. The idea is having some material to display when I’m out of juice. It seems the moment: I am a professional photographer in Spain. I live in Valencia and it’s nice to shoot here, but I’ve got some pictures from Germany, Slovakia or United Kingdom in my PC. It’s not my usual business work, but it may be useful for finding some different material.

 

Bratislava

Short term visit, but the Danube was worth a shot. I’d like to come back and see the city with more time to enjoy.

Bratislava, Landscape 1010, by Archerphoto, professional photographer

 

London

For me it’s really captivating. Being there with a camera it’s having a great time. Architecture, people, food… It’s simply great. And you can see I have a thing for the rivers. Thames is also a charm.

London, by Archerphoto, professional photographer

 

Xàtiva (Valencia)

Over a mountain in a summer sunset. It was really hot and I came down on foot. I liked the result.

IMG_3206_small

 

Majorca

Mountains, and sky. I let the sea out of this picture.

Landscapes 101 by Archerphoto, photographer in Spain

 

 

Moraira (Alicante)

My old IXUS 40 was useful that day. Now I would have shot with my cell phone, but then…

Moraira, 2007

 

If you need to hire a photographer, well, you found the right guy. A mail (sergi@archerphoto.eu), Whatsapp, Telegram or phone call to +34 6444 5 9753. If you want to see more pictures, please visit my Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/archerphoto. Este mismo post en castellano: http://www.archerphoto.eu/paisajes-101

Five tips for your profile picture in Linkedin

It is pretty obvious that Linkedin is a business network. So if there is a place where appearances are important it is there. A controversial appearance can make you lose a job that aspires or a customer decides not hire your company to appear unprofessional.

Five tips for your profile picture in Linkedin

 

 

Five tips for your profile picture in Linkedin

1. Choose a positive image. Except that you must prove that you are hell’s human resources director, you should not use a photo that you seem angry. Avoid aggressive looks of concern to the observer. If you use that kind of photo people seeing your profile will have very little desire to make any deals with you. Best if you smile.

2. A personal image. This means  no dogs, no logo of your company as unique id, and forget completely that idea of a photo of your child, your niece or your cousin. You. They want to know who you are. You can also save a group photo.

3. A professional image. We’ve got to be alone and reasonably positive picture. Now discard all those photos that you are under intoxication or other. A little decorum does not hurt, and if visitors to your site think they’re too prone to bebercio or drugs will feel somewhat unsafe to put their money with you.

4. A well-made image. It is not necessary that you show the world’s best portrait of the year, but a professional photographer will do a good portrait. Save yourself poor focused, blurred, distorted or neglected. The work of a professional is available. You can get an affordable session and it will be a profitable investment. Try to be critical of the image you want to use: the fact your brother-in-law has bought a new SLR camera won’t get you good photos if he is not really great. And please do not use that picture you did at the wedding of someone, that will present you with a little acceptable appearance.

5. A recent image. All Right. Everyone says that in 2008 that picture came out great. It is true that you have gained, you no longer have a mustache, you have a new nose and  you have no longer these hairs, but, uh, you look like Tom Selleck. Nope. Not working. The photo must be recent and a normal person should be able to recognize you smoothly.

Some of these tips can be applied to many of the photographs that you want your customers to see, and Linkedin, and on your website or on your Facebook, but that depends, of course your common sense.

Obviously I can give more advice, but it is also true that I am a photographer and am dedicated to making professional portraits, among other things. So if you need photos is not a bad idea you contact me and concert an appointment. Working mainly in Valencia (Spain), but I will go almost anywhere when needed. You can send an email to sergi@archerphoto.eu or send me an Whatsapp or Telegram at +34 644459753, or even call me, because when  I’m shooting I won’t take the phone.

Cameras and photographers

It’s a fact that photographer make the pictures and  cameras are just tools.  A camera, for good or bad it is, will have the results determined by what the person has in his hands get. So most times the camera is not the differentiating factor. That said, quesabesde.com a Spanish web, released a study based on the EXIF ​​data from the cameras of World Press Photo 2015. Basic conclusions have been that – at least this year – Canon is sweeping the floor with competition. Specifically, EOS 5D Mark III is the camera which has gotten more winning photos.

Statistics and graphs Quesabesde.com
Statistics and graphs Quesabesde.com

Obviously, everyone likes to know that your camera is the one that has been most successful (and myself), but beyond that, most professional photographers agree that Canon and Nikon and obtain very similar results when we speak of images.

Cameras and photographers. Why Canon is taking the upper hand?

Now, I have tended to always keep the theory that the fact that Canon, in general, is less expensive and there is more supply in resale. And I have often seen the professionals working with Canon. So when we talk about professional use, has results like these. The second prize is for EOS 1D X, a camera even better than the 5D Mark III, but much more expensive. The 5D Mark II, an earlier model of Canon, takes third place. Nikon takes very little, Apple takes a prize with an iPhone and Sony is notably absent. I do find remarkable the presence of Olympus and their EVILs. The 5D Mark III has just seen announced its successors, the 5Ds and 5DR, but the general impressions, so far, are new EOS are not as bright as the two previous models, despite the impressive 50 megapixel camera that can capture. We’ll see if the new cameras quickly replace the Mark III.

As I say, what matters is not usually the camera. With a humble Ixus 40 can be made interesting pictures. Well, actually I already can not. Lens got jammed and never got back to life.

Archerphoto, photographer in Spain

EOS 5D Mark III review: Personal Impressions

EOS 5D Mark III
EOS 5D Mark III

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III review is one of the matters I had to do. I’ve had this camera for more than 6 months now, so it’s time to make an accurate analysis about my personal impressions. Here you will find detail of technical issues and links to other review, but mostly you will find my personal feelings about this camera. It’s possible you are interested in raw data comparisons, and you can have them, but when I look for an important piece of work like that, I love to find what other photographers have said about it. Especially when they are not paid by any company to bias their written opinions. I am paid by Jalalala SL, my own company, so you may understand I am not marketing any camera.

EOS 5D Mark III review. What’s new.

If a camera is called EOS 5D Mark III you have to make the references to Mark II. I won’t be very innovative. EOS 5D Mark II was an impressive feature that brought outstanding HD video and high ISO with impressive performance with affordable prices. And 5D Mark III is more of those features. Some people expected a big leap from Mark II to Mark III with some impressive new feature. Bad news. Mark III is an impressive camera with lots of small details improved from its predecessor, but there is no miraculous new feature. And, oh, it’s more expensive. But we can take a look to the highlights…

AF System

Perhaps the most important improvement in the camera is introducing the same AF System (and hardware) used in the EOS 1Dx. The Mark II had a 9-points system. Good, but probably too humble for such a great camera. In its usability it was probably the most important problem you will use if you are going to work with Mark II. Mark III has61 bright points with advanced programs depending the movement you think are going to find. Of course there is an automatic version, but adding options to improve performance is important in this camera.

EOS 5D Mark III review
EOS 5D Mark III review

Shots per second

If you add the dramatic increase in AF performance to the update in shots per second (from 4 to 6) you find that now it is a suitable camera for sports. Not as good as EOS 1D series, but now you don’t feel like a turtle when you shoot in bursts. Shutter has an average life of about 150,000 shots. It may sound very high, but it’s just standard in Canon. My Mark II had an estimated life of 150,000 also and I sold it with 180,000 without any problem (I told the guy, of course, but I haven’t received information that he has had to replace it yet). There is some curiosity about the shutter life. I saw a web with info about shutter lives, with info added by customers and it seems it is not exactly a normal distribution: if camera is OK, shutter will live way far more than 150-200,000 shots. But the average number of shots is pulled down if it’s defective (those die before 15,000 shots). In that case, I suppose, Canon would replace your shutter if in warranty, so, effective shutter life is more than that those 150,000 declared shots.

Dual slot: SD and Compact Flash

Really interesting. There is lots of combinations to take advantage of this feature.

Processor

Digic 5+ is one of these magic things… You don’t see it, you can’t touch it, but it’s there and it’s making changes. Better performance with high ISOs and, what it is very important, it will correct lot of defects of older lenses you have or buy, so suddenly everything looks slightly better. That makes the camera even more valuable, because is improving your actual gear value. But not all lenses profiles are included, so perhaps you will need to connect your camera to your computer uploading profiles in camera.

Depth of field button

Right to its place. Now it’s more usable.

Rate button

Interesting for classifying pictures while are in the camera. I don’t use it, but it can be worth in some situations. Not to me, yet. Mostly gets my pics rated when I fail to push another button.

Screen

From 3″ to 3’2″ and from 940,000 to 1,040,000 pixels. OK, an improvement, but not a critical one.

Viewfinder

From 98% to 100&. It’s OK. Thanks for that. Another of the little things from Mark II that help to understand why EOS 5D Mark III is a better camera.

Silent shutter

To be honest, I didn’t notice it had this feature until some days after I bought it. For ceremony, theater, classical music, etc, it’s a blessing. Unexpected.

5D Mark III review
5D Mark III review

EOS 5D Mark III review. The quality

Holding a 5D Mark III doesn’t feel very different from holding a 5D Mark II. Strong, bulky but tolerable and solid feeling. But it feels very differently from holding, for instance, a small DSLR like a 400D or 600D. The grip is much better and you can feel 5Ds have a heavier, more trustable skeleton magnesium-alloy from the first moment. Of course, the cost of that is not just money: weight is serious, but you can be sure that you can hold the camera all day long even when you are not a strong guy. If you have big hands, there is no problem: the camera is easy to handle and has all the controls with distance enough to be accessed in a quick and handy way. As usual in Canon, two control wheels to quick access to main features. Don’t expect using this camera with one hand, because you will need both of them. However, one of the most important features in this camera is not easy to find in any sheet of characteristics: everything is accessible. Even if you are not an expert photographer, you’ll get used to it in minutes.

Even when I was not unhappy with my 5D Mark II, the AF performance, the dual card slot and the extra ISO are useful features, but the real advance is in quality. Sharper, nicer, better pictures with better colors. The new sensor and image processor are conceived to provide better results without complicating the work for the photographer.

The camera is better sealed than Mark II, which is a good feature for a professional photographer in Spain, but I am sure is even better for photographers who work in more extreme environments. I feel quite comfortable with the general sealing of this camera, but I would love to have it totally impervious to water and dust. Just paranoia.

Another improvement that is really interesting is the headphone socket: this camera has a real usability for video, so it’s very useful having controls and feedback in audio. Mic hasn’t improved, however.

As a conclusion: for me, it’s unmistakably a great camera. Great heir to the 5D Mark II and it’s worth the about 3,299 € it costs. I’ve read some comparisons with Nikon D800 and it’s impressive sensor, but the results are not really different. However, I am a Canon boy. But it’s not a matter of heart, it’s a matter of gear. I just could not afford to buy the same gear again :)

Review list:

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/canon_eos_5d_mark_iii_review/

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/digital-cameras/1294075/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/5d-mk-iii.htm

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/digital-slrs/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-review-50007897/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii/

 

 

 

Valencia

Mercado de Colón, Valencia

Valencia is my home town and it’s where I live now. Sun, beach, colorful place and funny people. On the other hand we’ve got some issues with our politicians but, then again, who hasn’t?

Valencia is a 800,000 inhabitants  city on the shore of Mediterranean Sea. If you include the metropolitan area you can count about 1,300,000. Mostly flat, as long as an important part of the area was desecated from a lagoon, the Albufera de Valencia. The Albufera is partially wet and it’s the only protected natural space in a capital in a UE city. Or I read that some time ago.

Mercado de Colón, Valencia by Archerphoto, professional photographer in Spain
Mercado de Colón, Valencia by Archerphoto, professional photographer in Spain

Valencia is very famous for the Fallas, giant monuments made of cardboard and wood that are exposed in the street during less than 1o days.  After that they are burnt  in March 19th, Saint Joseph. It’s kind a way of a good-bye to the winter. The festivities are popular, but you can find a growing social pressure against it. Lots of problems with traffic and the constant fireworks and explosions happening. People hurt by fireworks, wasted money, social discussions. Yeah, I’m one of the people who disagrees with the festivities, I’m not trying to be impartial.

Architecture in Valencia

The cultural inheritage is really important. Valencia was a kingdom some centuries ago and was integrated in Aragon Crown and after that in Spain. Palaces, religious and civil buildings are very important, and also contemporary architecture. Most important civil Gothic building in the world, Silk Exchange, is inside Valencia.

There is also a cathedral, important baroque palaces (Marqués de Dos Aguas). Architecture in Valencia is  really interesting. As a commercial photographer in Spain, when I have some time I love to shoot those buildings.

 

[slickr-flickr type=”gallery” search=”sets” set=”72157594196951145″]

Some more pics in http://facebook.com/ArcherphotoinEnglish

Welcome to Archerphoto commercial photographer website

This is my English-speaking website: Archerphoto commercial photographer. My name is Sergi Albir, I am Spanish (I live in Valencia, Spain), so you may find some odd-looking English in these pages. Please be patient and if you just can’t stand one of my mistakes, please send me an e-mail and I will correct that one.

I am a Spanish professional photographer and writer (and producer) who does love pictures, images, movies and all these things. One of my main activities is shooting portfolios for incoming models. I encourage you to come to Spain and shoot with me, take a look and, if you’re interested, ask me for a quote.

Feel free to look all the pictures. Hope that you will like them! Of course, you can find me in Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ArcherphotoinEnglish)

Archerphoto self portrait
Archerphoto self portrait

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