The Professional Photographer Wears Multiple Hats

I was asked by a client recently if I could photograph an event and just deliver all the RAW photos for them to edit themselves. Being a professional, I had to explain why delivering "uncooked" images is a totally unprofessional and wrong way to work. That's essentially asking for you to start the work, but...

My Photo Bag Contains No Tip Jar

As a working freelance photographer, you never know where your next gig will come from. One day you're photographing an architecture photograph or a political conference, the next day the president of the U.S. Yesterday, I was hired to photograph a 50th birthday party with Polynesian fire dancers that will get printed to remember the...

The Difference Between Going Out to Make Photos and Simply Going Out to Live (and Finding Photos)!

There is one way to make photos that involves taking the camera down off the shelf, dusting off its (n)everyready case, peeling that leather wrap off and setting it aside, removing the lens cap, putting the camera in hand and heading out to make photographs at the birthday party, holiday celebration, or ___________ (your event...

Photography Doesn’t Work Anymore As A Way To Relive Moments (In the Short Term)

I have a dilemma. I went to friends' family gathering celebrating their grandson turning one. The big "one"! They are a beautiful family and I looked forward to going and of course brought a camera. That's always the big decision: Do I take a film camera, a Leica M5 with a 50mm f1.4 Summilux or...

Portrait Magnet: A Dandy Rolleiflex T Dressed to the Nines in its Gray Leather Suit

I carried with me a Rolleiflex, held high in my hand with my elbow bent to keep it at chest level. No strap. No case. Just the Rolleiflex. It's a model T, a later model that is a bit of a dandy of a camera, dressed to the nines in its fancy gray leather suit....

Creative Withdrawal The Day After

Do you know how when you go out and splurge on a meal that's chef-prepared, how it's a bit of a let down the next day when you find yourself heating up a can of soup at home? (Even Amy's, a good organic soup, it's still a can of soup!) Or you get to visit...

Not Trying to Be the Fashion Police But…

I offer a free portrait session in my studio every Monday for senior citizens age 70 and over as a way of creating a formal portrait in a sea of phone snaps and because I think it's important to document them in a formal legacy portrait, photograph them looking their best. LOW RESPONSEI've been offering...

Creating the Purposeful Photograph For Viewing

I set up the camera carefully. Take my time, find my view, then adjust it. Ever so slightly. A little more of this, a little less of that. What you leave out is just as important as what you leave in a photograph. You can see the whole process here. And it is a process....

Kenneth Wajda Photo Critiques, 1-On-1 Mentoring and Book Publishing

Kenneth, who has judged photography contests and has been a professional photographer for over 30 years, is now offering 1-on-1 critiques of photographers’ work online. Here’s how it works, with three levels of participation offered. For less than a dollar a day, and for less than the price of a photography workshop, you can get...

Productive Photographically in These Pandemic Times

This pandemic has certainly caused a major disruption in the lives of photographers. I've heard many say that it has stifled all creativity, there's just nothing to shoot. Sure, there were the photo essays on the pandemic, and people social distancing, masking up, etc. But after that, what's left? What's wrong with me? I've had...