Paterson Photography

Started in 1985 Paterson Photography has grown year after year. Offering photography services such as family, commercial, advertising, graduation and more.  Mike started teaching photography classes over 20 years ago and was the first photographer in southern Alberta to offer courses. With courses available at his studio in Lethbridge as well as at locations throughout the province and country. Many have tried to copy his lighthearted fun teaching style but they have not succeeded! Paterson Photography is also the leader in photo restorations, able to digitize all size prints from mini wallet to life size.  Also leading the way in photo printing Paterson  Photography can print your digital files on a variety of media up to 44×100″

Forget about the Joneses

I have seen many times a business or a person gets off track by trying to keep up with the Joneses. You are your own person / business and unless there is a real reason to change don’t keep changing. If making a change has a purpose like improving your product or life then that is one thing.

If you are changing because someone else did then DON’T!!!

Who are the Joneses?

Some students come in for classes and they tell me they are interested in changing gear. Either to a different camera manufacturer, model, type, etc. When I ask why they cannot answer. They are doing so because someone else did or someone said they should. If you need the new technology then make the switch, if not then don’t!

Keeping up with the Joneses

A great lesson!

Read moreForget about the Joneses

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Ready for new home

Another print ready for its trip to a new home.

I love this shot and happy to see it become so popular!

#nature #naturephotography #canon #lethbridgephotographer #summer #naturecanada #ourcanadamag #bbcearth #ShareCanGeo #outdoorphotographycanadamag #myalberta #albertalife #dailyviewalberta #greatescapepublishing #imagesofcanada #natgeowild #travelalberta #canon5DMkIv #alberta Waterton Tourism #cloud

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Back to business

Over the summer I have heard from a number of people with business questions and concerns about their businesses. So this fall I will be doing some posts on getting back to building your business. Summer is over, kids are back in school so now lets get our businesses in shape.

Business

One of the first things I would like to address is time management. Specifically social media time wasters. It seems that everyone is pressed for time. In actual fact we all have the same amount of time we just need to use it better. Get off your smart phone, stay away from social media and limit your other time wasters on-line. You will get a lot more done at work and your personal life will be better for it.

Posting

As a Pastor said at a church training meeting this summer “Nobody is waiting for your next social media post. Nobody cares if you post today or tomorrow. Your church, or your personal life, is not going to change for the better or worse by not posting for a few days”. In business it is the same. Check your social media accounts once a day. Do your posts, answer inquiries, make comments. THEN get on with your life.

I have had weeks that I have posted 7 amazing posts each week. My sales for those weeks are no better, and sometimes worse, than weeks that I do not post. Many weeks when I have zero posts on social media I have done the best sales. One week this past summer when other people were up late shooting sunsets, stars, etc and posting on-line I was in bed by 9pm. Up at 6:30am. At work by 8am. My sales for that week were close to four times as much as a standard week. Not one post on social media.

Comments

Also limit the time you comment on others posts. You may think you know how to solve a problem for someone, but most people on-line are not looking for help. They are looking for sympathy or someone to do it for them. I spent hours helping someone with a issue this past summer. Myself and a couple other people used our knowledge to help them get out of a bad situation. In the end they did nothing we recommended and are now paying the price as their business struggles.

Set aside a set amount of time each day and when that time is used, STAY AWAY from any more social media. Edit images, market your business, clean up, do paperwork. You will find you will get a lot more done!

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What print size won’t crop your image

Why does that print size crop my image?

So what print size will I be able to print without loosing any of the image? The question is almost daily. “Why is it when I get a 5×7, 8×10, 11×14 or 16×20 print made of my digital file I have some of the image cut off”?

The answer

A digital camera sensor is NOT the same proportions as the print sizes mentioned above.

Why are those print sizes so popular? According to history the sizes that we have come to know as normal where used by photographers that shot 645 medium format. These sizes fit this format perfectly.  35mm Film and most sensors in digital cameras are proportioned to 4×6, 8×12, 11×16, 12×18, 16×24. Only these sizes will give you the full image file without cropping any of your image.

Cropping can be a good thing if you plan for it. It can allow you to get closer to the subject and eliminate “extra” parts of the picture.  For some pictures it is a killer.  Imagine a picture of a large family and the people are from one edge of the image to the other.  Then the client asks for a 16×20.  Well you now have to choose who in the family that you are going to cut out. Or you will have to do a lot of editing to add sky or foreground to the image.

Full print size
The full digital image
Cropped print size
When you ask for a cropped print size

So what should you do?

When shooting images imagine that you have crop lines in your viewfinder. Or do like many did in years past and draw the crop lines in – if you so dare or are crazy enough to try.  Then leave space around your images for the cropping to the common sizes. 

If you want to do something artistic like shooting a image to print to 24″x8″ make sure that you let your client know first. That way they won’t try and order a 8×10 from that image. Or maybe do one that is more artistic in posing then do some that will fit the common format sizes.

If you do mess up and crop too tight for the print size, add some space using Photoshop. Unsure of how to add space ask when ordering and I will help you with it.

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Slow Down!!

What you see when you slow down!! I was out for a walk the other night at Belly River Campground in Waterton Lakes National Park. I have to walk slowly with my lung condition and this night was no different with the heat and humidity. As I stopped to catch my breath I could hear something in the tree beside me. It was a gentle noise like a light breeze but I could hear something in the tree. I stood still for a minute then this little guy appeared in front of my face, He had been checking me out as I stood there and had decided that I was no danger. Probably because of my wheezing he figured he could outrun me 🙂 🙂 . So he continued with his feeding. I was able to shoot a pile of images, the only thing that caused me to stop shooting was the horde of mosquitoes that showed up and the fact I left the bug spray in the van.

What you see when you slow down

So the next time you are out shooting, don’t be in a rush. Slow down and see all the things that you would miss if you were rushing past.

#nature #wildlife #naturephotography #canon #lethbridgephotographer #summer #naturecanada #ourcanadamag #bbcearth #ShareCanGeo #outdoorphotographycanadamag #myalberta #albertalife #dailyviewalberta #greatescapepublishing #imagesofcanada #natgeowild #travelalberta #sigma #sigma150600 #calgary #alberta #Waterton

More on my exploring

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Laminate Announcement

Laminate Sale

After close to 20 years I have switched to a new laminate!

Why New Laminate

Well first it was the fact that there is no more of the old stuff being made and supplies are getting low.

Second is because this new laminate is AMAZING!!! Just developed in the past year this laminate is thinner, clearer and has less of a texture than the sand so it shows the print even better!

It has taken a few months to test this new product and the results are in……. I LOVE IT!!!!

So a few things are happening with printing.

Starting today all work will now be printed on the new laminate. In order to show you the quality I am offering FREE lamination on all 16×24, 20×30 & 24×36 prints till the end of July. Limit of one per customer and you MUST mention this ad to get this..

ALSO>>>>>>>>>

I am selling off ALL display prints in the studio at 50% off. Some frames available as well at 50% off when purchased with the print. I want to switch my display prints to the new surface and this way everyone can get a bonus!!! LIMITED quantities!!

Prints you will be proud to sell or to display on your walls!

When you need quality photo printing in Lethbridge Paterson Photography is the photo lab you should be using! I will make your digital images look the best they can. We are the only choice for exceptional service and amazing prints!

About my printing

I print for all types of photographers – Individuals & families, professional photographers or beginners, photo studios, businesses, industry, – ANYONE that needs a quality print. I am here to help. Friendly helpful service is standard and at no additional charge! No longer do you have to settle for poor quality department or drug store prints!

Printing department

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