Volume 01 | Spring 2011

Shootsac Photo Tip no. 32

“Halo Lighting”

Introducing New Spring Covers

Visit Our Summer Styles

SaLeChanging Your True Color Cover

Newsletter

Should Film be the digital photo-grapher’s ‘F’ Word?Interview with film photographer Jill Thomas

Jessica Claire maternity image by film photographer Jill Thomas

Hello Shootsac Friends!

Welcome to June! You may notice that our newsletter looks a bit

different, as we’ve spent the past month giving it a fresh look and

we hope you love it!

It’s no coincidence that this change is coming in June. After all,

June is a month for BLOOMS, and what better way to celebrate

than to turn our little newsletter from a bud into a gorgeous

blooming flower! There’s something about June that makes me

want to run outside into the fresh sunshine and never go back

indoors. Lucky for me, here in Southern California, most days this

is actually possible :)

This month, we’ve got some great goodies coming your way. We

will take a look at our signature True Color Covers and have a little

lesson in how (and WHY) to change them. We have some great

new designs which are absolutely perfect for this month that we

can’t wait to show you! We’ll also be taking a look at the Shoot-

sac as a tool for FILM shooters--yes, that’s right, I said FILM! Jill

Thomas, an amazing film shooter will show us what’s in her bag

and how she uses it on the go.

Read on below, pass this to a friend (or ten), and then get outside

and SHOOT!

xoxo

New Cover: Rosy

Photography is all about light and the different ways to capture it. One of my

absolute favorite ways to light a subject is using backlighting or “halo light”.

Of course there are many ways to achieve this using flashes and artificial light-

ing sources, but nothing is more powerful in an image than good old-fashioned

natural backlighting. Fortunately, living in Southern California, I’ve had many

opportunities to practice this technique with it being sunny most of the year!

Halo lighting is a technique that can be used at all times of the day, especially once you know

where to look for it and how to shoot it. If you’re shooting midday when the sun is more

PHOTO TIP

no. 32exAMPLe no.1

Halo Lighting

directly overhead, you’ll need to shoot in an area where the light is more filtered, for ex-

ample, through trees. The most important thing is to make sure that your subject has their

back to the sun and no uneven splotches on their face (see example no.2).

The absolute best time of day to halo light, or backlight, is about 45 minutes before the

actual time of sunset on a sunny day. Again, you’ll want to make sure that your subject

has their back to the sun and, if at all possible, you’ll want to avoid shooting towards a

plain bright background such as the sky (see example no.3). If you can angle your shot so

that there is something slightly darker in the background (such as a hill or the angle of the

beach), you will get a much more flattering result and avoid a head being lost in the sun.

(see example no.1 on previous page).

Give Halo lighting a try your next time out and let us know how it goes. Happy Shooting!

exAMPLe no.2 exAMPLe no.3 (What not to do.)

PHOTO TIP no. 32 (Cont’d)

We couldn’t be more thrilled with the new covers we have for you this month! In

addition to our “SLICK” black cover for the gentlemen (best seller at WPPI ’11), we

have two covers that could only belong to June! Aptly named for their patterns and

how they make me feel when I see them, I’m so excited to introduce you to...

June Blooms

Click your favorite above to pick one up today – I have a feeling these aren’t going to last long!

REMEMBER – All three are part of our Summer Styles Sale, so pick one or all up before 5pm PDT

on Tuesday June 28th to get at an unbelievable price.

Shop the entire Summer Sale: New Covers, Special Pricing on Hip Slip and Free Shoulder Pad

Slick Rosy Bloom

INTeRVIeW:

Using Shootsac for shooting FILM with Jill Thomas!

FILM: It’s the “F” word on everyone’s minds and lips these days! With

its stunning range of color and exposure latitude, many photographers

are going retro and trying out film shooting! Although the Shootsac was

designed and developed as a lens bag, film photographer Jill Thomas has

found another way to use it and we LOVe it! Read on to learn about Jill,

film shooting, and what’s in her Shootsac!

Using Shootsac for shooting FILM with Jill Thomas!

1. Tell us about you! Who are you, where did you come from, what is your

photography background, etc.

I grew up in Arizona with the most amazing family. I was always taught to be active,

busy, and to go for my dreams. After I was married, my husband and I moved to DC

for his work and school. It was in DC that I started a blog, so my family could keep

up with our DC adventures. I began first taking photos of my kids. I was always in-

terested in photography and made it a little hobby. It was enjoyable to get all sorts

of fun reactions to my photos on my blog. So, we were surrounded by several poor

college students as friends who started asking me to take their photos for their Christ-

mas cards. Well, the word got out and more people were calling. I only had a point

and shoot camera and iPhoto! So, that Christmas my husband surprised me with my

first SLR camera. From there a dream was created and I always had my family and

my husband by my side, cheering me on. I like to say photography chose me, since it

became something so quickly, without me even knowing!

2.Jill,haveyoualwaysbeenafilmshooter,orwasitatransitionforyou?

No, I started my business digitally and transitioned to film. It was a major transition,

but the best decision I ever made for my business! I’m certainly happier doing what I

love most, which is film.

3. If you started off shooting digitally, what made you decide to make the jump solely

toshootingfilm?

After receiving my first SLR camera, I kind of became obsessed with photography.

I wanted to know all I could about photography, which included film. So, I started out

by playing around with film in my personal work. I loved the results! I loved how

it looked, the colors, and the texture. I found myself shooting film more and more as

well as playing around with more old cameras. At this point, I was hating my profes-

sional work, so I began trying to Photoshop my digital work to look like my film work.

INTERVIEW (Cont’d)

In my mind, I didn’t think I could base a photography business on film in the 2000’s.

However, I was fortunate to find a film photographer who did ... Jose Villa. I won his

charity auction and had a two hour sit down lunch with him. At that lunch, he told me

all the things I needed and desperately wanted to hear. I could have a film business,

I could do what I loved, and be successful! After that meaning I never really looked

back at digital.

4.Howdoesshootingfilmmeshwithyourbrand?Meaning,whoareyourclientsand

whyaretheysoattractedtofilm?

When I started my business, I decided my main goal was to provide clients with artis-

tic, beautiful images. Film has really allowed me to do this. Film is soft and beautiful

plus it makes people look amazing. Most of my clients who find me, find me because

INTERVIEW (Cont’d)

they are attracted to the look of film and are seeking out a film photographer. Also,

and probably the most exciting, is that most of my clients are artists themselves. So,

I end up working with a lot of artists who trust me and allow me to really create my

artistic vision. I also document a lot of other photographer’s weddings. I’m always

honored when another photographer seeks me out to capture their day. Working with

film and different camera types, has helped me to attract the kind of people who are

exciting for me to work with!

5.Asashooter(filmshooter),howdoestheShootsachelpyou?

SO much! When shooting film, especially during a fast pace wedding, it is crucial to

keep your film organized. It takes out room for mistakes, as well as allows you to work

much quicker. Most men film photographers I know, tie lens bags on their belt, so

they have pouches that carry their film. As someone who loves fashion, let’s just say,

you will never see me wear a lens bag on my belt. The Shootsac has become my per-

fect and ideal film organizer as well as film holder while I’m shooting.

6.Whatisyourbesttipforlearningtoshootfilmforthosewhoareinterested?

GO OUT AND SHOOT FILM! Also, get Jonathan Canlas’s book, ‘The Film Guide for

digital photographers’. He tells what cameras, film types, and equipment are needed

to begin shooting film. He also talks about how to meter and what lighting you should

look for. It basically tells you everything you need to shoot film right away. You can

read my review of the book and also a link where to find it here:

http://jillthomasphotography.com/blog/2011/02/film-is-not-dead-find-guide-is-here/

INTERVIEW (Cont’d)

7.WhatisyourbesttipforusingaShootsacasafilmshooter?

keep it organized! the Shootsac has 6 compartments, I use them like this:

front left: 120 film | front middle: 35mm film | front right: exposed film

back left: extra battery, cell phone, and keys

back middle: 2nd camera insert for 120, loaded and ready

back right: close up lenses, or my sx-70 Polaroid. This camera folds up and slips into

the pocket so perfectly!

It is always the same for me. So at a shoot, when I’m in a hurry, I never have to think

about it. I know right where the film goes and I know where to grab. My assistant

handles the Shootsac at a wedding, since she is the one loading film and keeping it

ready for me. She completely agrees, there is no better film bag for us!

8. Tell us 5 things about you that have NOTHING to do with photography

1. I am a mother of 3 kids. I love being busy and doing fun activities with my family, these include

going to the beach, camping, outdoor escapades, skiing in Utah, anything that requires us to go!

2. I wish I was an amazing surfer. Since moving to San Diego, I’ve been working on it and

am very determined to get better! :)

3. I’m very inspired by fashion and of course, I love to shop. My favorite stores would be

Zara and Urban Outfitter.

4. You can always find me on one of my 5 favorite interior design blogs! I kind of waste a lot

of time looking at design blogs, pretty obsessed!

5. I dream I will make enough money to live on a street called Shore Drive and my backyard

will literally be the beach. Also, I’d own a 1970s motorcycle like my husbands so we can

cruise the PCH together at sunset.

INTERVIEW (Cont’d)

From our Customer Service Desk comes a question we see every now and again:

How do I change my True Color Cover?

I’m so glad you asked! Our covers are designed to easily attach and detach in or-

der to give your Shootsac OR Hip Slip a hot new look on a whim! Plus, all of our

covers work interchangeably between your two bags, so you’re always covered.

On your Shootsac, in between the back pockets and the material dividing them

from the front lens pockets, is a strip of Velcro. each cover (including the basic

black one that comes with your bag) has a corresponding strip of Velcro perfect

for attaching to the bag. All you have to do is line up the Velcro and make sure

the front of your cover hangs over the front of your bag covering the lens pockets.

For the Hip Slip, the entire front inside of the pocket is Velcro friendly, so line it

up as desired, attach, and make sure it hangs over the front pocket…this way you

still have easy access to your laptop or iPad® at all times.

Need a visual, no problem. Check out this video to see a demo of how to change

your True Color Cover.

BONUS FEATURE:

One really great feature on ALL of our True Color Covers is that they have lens-

cleaning cloth on the backside! We suggest that you use the cleaning cloth to give

your glass a little polish before your first shot and throughout each event – clean

glass = clean photos!

CUSTOMer SerVICe DeSk

New Cover: Bloom

Thank you so much for hanging with us and

hope you’ve picked up some great tips for

improving your photography! If you know

someone who’d benefit from the things you’ve

read, please share this magazine with them.

It’s going to be an exciting summer, so make

sure to keep connected and if you know some-

one who isn’t on our mailing list, well help

them sign up!

Happy shooting!

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