In business, it is too easy to assume that a person can do something because you see another person trying to do everything. For businesses with small budgets or internal teams, we know that getting value out of a pro is an essential part of doing business....
When John Coyle shoots a portrait, he yells sweet nothings like: “You’ve got the look.” “Oh yeah. I wish you were here earlier. You could’ve shown (Insert name here) a thing or two.” “Best. Smile. Ever!” “Keep that smile big. Keep that smile bright. There you go! You’re doing great!” “You look amazing!” John and I were on a shoot last week where a gentleman overheard John coaching one of his co-workers. This guy said, “Oh, man. What kind of bullshit...
Building a personal brand can be tricky. There are some people that shamelessly promote themselves using personal branding as their vehicle. Others are masters at the craft and have cultivated their brand while establishing themselves as true experts. We asked Mary Lou for her tips on creating a personal brand....
Just like insurance companies, not all photographers rate their services the same. We explore the differences between photographers and their rates - all-inclusive vs itemized rates. ...
Read this: “We’re shooting Grandma today. Our concern is that she may be too hot due to her white hair and skin tones. Close the barn doors and throw a grid on that. An over-exposed grandma will force us to burn her down later. Whoops – sorry grandma – didn’t mean to flash you yet. Alright, put three slaves behind the setup. She needs to be sharp, but the subjects in the back will be soft....
In the summer, everyone has water on the brain in one form or another - oceans, lakes, pools, a hose (we aren't picky). We explore one of John's fine art inspirations: water....
Let’s get something straight: Having a limited budget or being short on time is not a good enough reason to sacrifice quality. “Champagne taste on a beer budget” is a problem that requires a creative solution. One of the biggest mistakes made in marketing efforts is to exclude creative partners from the budget and time conversations. You never know what a creative can do unless you ask. We frequently have clients state, “Listen, we have this project,...
Architectural photography is a diverse and intricate field. We can get technical and give insight from behind the lens, but we decided to ask the experts (property managers, architects, contracts & more) for their 8 Architectural Photography Tips....
2016 marks my four year anniversary at Coyle Studios. Above, you’ll see a photo taken on my first day of work and a more recent photo from a shoot in March. I look so happy in 2012. Why do I look so disenfranchised in 2016? Because of crap like this: Being part of the photography process is hardly ever glamorous and sexy. There are long days, and we’re usually moving on a mission. Coming into this role was...
Restoring the Mount Royal sign was a treat. The sign was found on "American Pickers", and the current property owners wanted to display it in their lobby. Coyle stabilized the sign and secured it for a stunning display. ...