iPad

Another iPad Application for Photographers

by Dave Warner on September 2, 2025

One of the interesting things that is happening out in Apple land is the proliferation of ‘applications’ for photographers. No, I don’t mean the program that will manipulate the image on your iPhone or iPad, but content. In the old days, we called it eLearning, computer based training, computer assisted instruction - you get the idea. But now, it’s call an ‘app’. Seems like every photographer out there is racing to get their slice of knowledge out to the world through this mechanism. The first ones I’ve looked at are pretty lame, but when you spend 99 cents on it, you can’t get too angry about it. Odds are, you’ll look at it once and then never mess with it again.

However, they are starting to get better, and I got a press release (below) from San Francisco Bay Area photographer Kim Binfield. She was also kind enough to give me a code to unlock the program for free (saved me $1.99) and test it out.

This is one of the first ones that is starting to ‘get it’ when it comes to putting some educational content on the iPad. They’ve got a menu that allows you to navigate to the tutorials, a glossary of terms, resources, contact and an about page. Each of the tutorials has text, sample images and they give you the equipment and settings that were used. Not too bad. So, my recommendation? Worth the $1.99 if you are new to photography and interested in portrait shooting. What should these types of programs have that they’re missing? Well, when we get to branching, using some instructional design concepts, voice over and a quiz to test how much you’ve retained after you finish - we’ll be there.

Announcing the launch of “Portrait Classroom” - a brand new iPad App for aspiring photographers!

Owners of digital SLR (DSLR) cameras, many of them new parents, often ask: “Why aren’t my photos any better than the ones I took with my point and shoot camera” and, “Why don’t they look like the photos taken by professionals?”

Now, in a series of 10 tutorials, the all new ‘Portrait Classroom: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials’ App (currently available exclusively for the iPad) teaches camera owners how to take portraits of babies and children like a professional photographer!

PORTRAIT CLASSROOM: Baby and Child Photography Tutorials has been created by San Francisco Bay Area photographer Kim Binfield, to help anyone improve their photography. Available now from the iTunes App Store, for just $1.99, the App expertly describes from start to finish how to create stunning, keepsake portraits. Ten example portraits with detailed tutorial text and ‘before and after’ images describe how users can create similar portraits using their own digital SLR camera. Users of the App will learn about techniques and resources that will enable them to capture the images they’ve always wanted!

EACH TUTORIAL:

- Describes, in simple language, the set up for the portraits (including notes on composition and interacting with the subjects)

- Provides essential details on the camera, lens, ISO, shutter speed and aperture settings used

- Describes the portrait’s natural light and how to replicate it (no external flash systems or lighting are used for the portraits allowing amateur users ease of replication)

- Presents a full range of ‘before and after’ shots showing how the final image was obtained including shots straight out of the camera and through to post processing

- Details the editing steps taken in Adobe Photoshop that will often also apply to Photoshop Elements and similar editing programs

PORTRAIT CLASSROOM has been created for parents, hobbyists, and aspiring semi-pro photographers who want a hands-on guide to taking better pictures of babies and children. For those who have bought a DSLR camera but can’t get photos any better than their point-and-shoot camera, or if they are using their DSLR on ‘green’ auto mode, then this App is for them!

Users of PORTRAIT CLASSROOM will learn how to get professional looking results with their existing camera equipment and learn about additional photography gear, software and resources, much of it inexpensive, that can further enhance their portraits. Many of the tips included in the App can be applied to point-and-shoot cameras as well, though the App is geared more towards DSLR cameras.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Download the Portrait Classroom iPad App at the iTunes store or via: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/portrait-classroom-baby-child/id385486822?mt=8#

Read the Portrait Classroom Blog: http://www.portraitclassroom.wordpress.com

View the Portrait Classroom Demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6BKhuo_EZM

Join the Portrait Classroom Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Portrait-Classroom/148498991834270

Join the Portrait Classroom Flickr Group (users of the App can upload images they have taken using tips from the App): http://www.flickr.com/photos/portraitclassroom/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer Kim Binfield provides premier, custom portraiture within the San Francisco Bay Area. She formed her portrait photography business in 2005 after nearly two decades of enjoying the craft. She is a mother of two young children, a ‘mompreneur’ and is available for interviews at: [email protected].

CONTACT: [email protected] for further screenshots, promotional codes to review the App, or additional information about the App (which is available now, for just $1.99 from the App Store)

QUOTES FROM USERS OF THE BETA VERSION:

“Provides as much information as a detailed series of magazine articles, but for a fraction of the cost.” — Paul Blair, Edinburgh

“The Before and After shots were particularly useful alongside the text. I will use many of these tips next time I’m taking photos of my kids.” — Carrie Gallison, California

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Does the iPad mean the death of the 24-hour cable news channel?

by Dave Warner on April 11, 2026

Seems like a bold statement, but bare with me a minute. Let’s face it, I’ve only had the iPad for three days, and I’m already predicting mass changes in media? I’m not an Apple junkie, I don’t drink the Steve Jobs cool-aid, AND I waited a week before I ran out and bought this new fangled device.

There have been LOTS of reviews and predictions made, but I wanted to add my voice to the chorus. First, there is no doubt about it - this IS a transformative device - it is a disruptive technology as they say. Why?

Well, I could say it’s because I am sitting on my deck, writing this blog post. At first, I tried using Dragon voice systems to dictate the post. It worked great, but for some reason, I like typing my posts.

OK, I switched over to EverNote because I thought I could type it as a note, sync it to my computer and then copy and paste it into the blog. Worked great, but wait! Doesn’t WordPress have a new app for the iPad? Of course they do, so now I’m set. But did you just follow the process? LOOK at what is available already! I just sat out here, surfed the App Store and found what I needed. Then I tried it to see if it fit. Amazing…

So, the death of the 24-hour news channel? Where did I get THAT from? Well, have you seen USA Today? The Wall Street Journal? The New York Times? The applications they have written redefine the news-reading experience. Curl up in your favorite chair, put the iPad in your lap and get ready to immerse yourself in something that you won’t be able to put down.

That’s what has happened to me - I haven’t turned the cable news channels on all weekend! And, you know what? I haven’t missed the same stupid stories, played over and over again, for who knows what audience. I mean really, how many drivers can we watch try to evade the LA Police for two hours? And…can’t we pick our OWN news to read about or listen to? OK - you can get on the web, go to all the news sites for what you want. But…it is REALLY different on the iPad with the applications and their behavior; I can’t explain it with words.

I picked the stories I wanted to read, I didn’t surf, I didn’t search, but I flicked and tapped. I spent time looking at fantastic photographs and compelling video that filled the screen. I thought about the experience; what it means for media in general and what it means for us as photographers. And all that came to mind was OPPORTUNITY!

Who is going to crate all this media rich content? Who is going to produce those HTML 5 iAds that Jobs is so excited about? We are… And you must get one of these devices in order to see what the possibilities are!

Media, and newspapers in general, have needed something to kick-start their industry. I believe the time is now and the devices are here. So, for those who jump in first, it may feel like it’s the Wild Wild West, but the opportunity is there. For those who DO take the chance, they’ll be able to capture the high ground and be part of this renewal, this energy, this moment to revitalize their business.

For the rest of us? Well, let’s just say my wife doesn’t know I’m working, but thinks I’m just out here enjoying the spring weather. Let’s not spoil it for her. More work anyone?

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Does the Pending ‘Death’ of Newspapers Deliver More Gloom for Photographers?

by Dave Warner on March 25, 2026

I’ve been thinking about this a lot these days - how are all the massive changes going on in the media world going to affect us as photographers? What does the introduction of all these devices mean for us as well? iPads and other tablet devices - are we going to just look at them as tools to show our portfolios better; as a remote monitor for our HD DSLR’s, or is there an opportunity there that might really spur some photographic opportunities?

If you or a family member is IN the newspaper or magazine business, you’ve been thinking about this as well. Wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. In just a couple of years, the changes have been dramatic. But, it can’t be that all newspapers and magazine are just going to disappear! There has to be SOME way that they are going to morph into something else, right?

Well, in my research, I began looking at what some companies are doing. And in doing so, ran across some exciting things. First, if you haven’t checked out the New York Times or Boston Globe Readers, you are missing a real treat. These are Adobe AIR created wrappers for content, and they make reading a newspaper on your computer screen SO much better! If you look at how these readers where built and then into the future of where they are going, you start to feel a little more comfortable. In fact, Adobe says that they are coming out with a ‘packager’ that is going to allow Flash to run on the iPhone and iPad! Another problem solved. Just watch this YouTube video as an example…

Now think about what you just saw and the opportunities for photographers. The car commercial - clearly some studio work and a LOT of it to show all the different angles of the vehicle. How about all the video in there? Clearly, they are not going to go out and ask the guys who make movies and get paid a TON of cash to do it to film these covers and inside stories, are they?

I’ve been told I’m obsessed with the convergence of still photography and film - maybe so, but when you watch something like the example above - don’t you get excited for the opportunities it presents for us? Newspapers and Magazines are going to have to adopt these kinds of technologies or they are going to die. Television AND radio stations are really trying to boost their online components. Television - they’ve got video, but who’s shooting the stills for their sites? Radio - they don’t have the capability to do either, but they need it as well.

So, this death I’ve been hearing about? Maybe it’s just consolidation, and MAYBE it spells opportunity for those photographers who figure out a way to get there first. What are your thoughts?

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