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Everything Must Go!

May 1, 2013 — Marion, IA

Since 1917, Porter’s Camera stores have been serving photographers across the country, including fine folks just like you.  It has been my personal pleasure to help write this last chapter with you.  We’ve come to a crossroads where the evolution of how consumers find their consumables doesn’t neccessarily match our tried-and-true business model.  For decades, our customers fondly flipped through the folds of our oversized mail order catalog for the first time discovering photographic novelties, new Nikons and capable Canons.

Page from the Past! 1968!

Together we saw the rise and fall of industry giants like Kodak and Polaroid and the birth of the digital age that took them from the cutting edge to yesterday’s news.  We watched all of this with a passion hard to express in words.  Not only did the digital age change many of the rules on how we shoot, but it also changed the way we buy our equipment.  Thanks to the internet, no matter where you are in the states, you can participate in this AMAZING WAREHOUSE LIQUIDATION SALE.  Pass on the word to all your penny pinchin’ pals looking for awesome deals on camera gear and accessories.  It just doesn’t get any better than this!  It’s like a sidewalk sale on steroids!  But it won’t last forever.

Allow me to share my insight on a few of the most incredible deals we’re offering while our supplies last.  I’ve found deals on really useful items in our inventory that’ll make our competition cringe!!!  They can’t touch these special offers !  But this is a Liquidation Sale, so when an item sells out  . . . it’s gone!  There are NO RAINCHECKS or anything like that, so don’t come crying to me if you miss out on the savings, hahaha!

Lowest Price Ever on Nikon’s Flagship D4 DSLR body, $900 Off Retail!

Click to Buy!

That’s right folks!  $900 off the D4, wow!  Now you can own the 10 frame per second multi-media machine that laughs at low light as it delivers outstanding image quality in any situation for almost $900 less than EVERYBODY ELSE, including B&H!  This will not last long, so be sure  to order early.  If you were on the fence before,  you will not see a better price.  Trust me, I’ve looked . . . a lot!  And this isn’t one of those stupid bait and switch scams.  This is an unopened box from Nikon, Nikon USA warranty, no gray market crap.  Everything is in the box Nikon packed it with when they shipped it.  We simply need to move ALL our inventory, and somehow this is still on the shelf!  Win for you!

Lowest Price Ever on Nikon’s D800 DSLR Body

Click to Buy!

Another incredible offer.  This is almost $250 less than B&H.  The only time I remember a price this ridiculously low was when Staples screwed up a coupon ad campaign and had to honor 30% off any they had in store.  Most stores didn’t have it in stock, but a few folks argued that if they purchase in the store (not online) they should get the price, and in a few cases it was honored!  You won’t have to argue with us on this price, we would love to put them in your hands!  They need a home.

And we’re not just liquidating our professional gear!  EVERYTHING MUST GO!  So check out these deals I’ve found that are totally worthwhile for beginners, hobbiests, and working pros alike!

All Purpose Ultra-Zoom or Travel Lenses on the Cheap

Want more out of just one lens!  Ultra-Zoom lenses offer the convenience of a single lens solution for easy of transporting without sacrificing focal range.  The boss said these gotta go too!  Here are some options we have left:

 Sony 18-200mm $300 OFF

Sony 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 Zoom Lens was $549.99, NOW $249.99
Click to Buy!

Nikon 18-200 $130 OFF

Nikon 18-200mm f3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR II Zoom Nikkor Lens was $849.99, NOW $719.99
Click to Buy!

Or you can go for broke with the largest zoom I’ve ever seen in a single lens, and grab this crazy super-duper zoom from Nikon!

Nikon 18-300 $150 OFF

Nikon 18-300mm VRII AF-S DX f/3.5-5.6 ED Nikkor lens
was $999.99, NOW $849.89
Click to Buy!

Looking for deals on Fast Glass?  Best Deals on f/2.8 Lenses

We have the Tamron fast wide to normal lenses on sale!  Check these out!  First we have the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8VC for Nikon mount.  It is a perfect wide angle to normal focal length for DX sensors.  With a really fast aperture of f/2.8, it can be used in very low light (especially with the Vibration Compensation turned on) and can help you get the nice soft backgrounds!

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8VC $100 OFF

Tamron SP AF17-50mm f2.8 VC Di II Zoom Lens for Nikon
Was $649.99, NOW $549.99
Click to Buy!

Or if you have a Sony and don’t need the Vibration Compensation, you could get this one.

Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 $100 OFF

Tamron SP AF17-50mm f2.8 Di II Lens for Sony Alpha
Was $499.99, NOW $399.99
Click to Buy!

Need a little more reach?  We also have the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 for Sony/Alpha mount on clearance.  This one is ideal for sporting events, indoor and outdoor.  Check it out!

Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 $170 OFF

Tamron AF70-200mm f2.8 Di LD Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha
Was $769.99, NOW $599.99
Click to Buy!

Lowest Priced Telephoto Option, Nikon 55-200mm for just $100!

We have these entry level Nikon telephoto lenses for next to nothing.  If not for you, they’d make a great gift for your budding Nikon photographer friends.  55-200mm length is appropriate for backyard adventures and some larger playing fields.  If they forgot to grab one when they got their camera, here is an opportunity to pick one up on the cheap.  $100 off!

Nikon 55-200mm $100 OFF

Nikon 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
Was $199.99, NOW $99.99
Click to Buy!

Best Clearance Pricing on Tamron Ultra-Wide and Ultra-Telephoto Lenses for Sony Alpha!

Sony/Maxxum shooters can save big on the ultra-wide angle Tamron 10-24mm lens and super telephoto 200-500mm!  I’ve seen used lenses sell for more, and these are brand spankin’ new!  If you know anybody shooting Sony, forward them this post ASAP, you’ll never find an opportunity like this again to round out your camera bag!

Tamron 10-24mm $100 OFF

Tamron SP AF10-24mm f3.5-4.5 Di II LD Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha
Was $499.99, NOW $399.99
Click to Buy!

Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 $160 OFF

Tamron SP AF200-500mm f5-6.3 Di Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha
Was $959.99, NOW $799.99
Click to Buy!

Feeling a Little More Creative?  15-25% Off all Lensbaby Gear!

Lensbaby 15-25% OFF retail

15% to 25% OFF Lensbaby Bits
Click to See Selection!

Discounts On Everything in the Webstore, Including . . .

Bags

Every camera needs to have one, right?  There are some outrageous deals on them now.  Here are a couple of my favorite.  The Lowepro Slingshot is great for grab and go, and shoot on the run scenerios.  The ProMaster L500 offers a lot of usable, well protected space for UNDER 20 BUCKS?!?! Wow!

Lowepro Slingshot 202 $20 OFF

Slingshot 202 AW
Was $99.99, NOW $79.89
Click to Buy!

ProMaster L500 $83 OFF

Promaster L500 Bag, Fern
Was $99.99, NOW $16.99
Click to Buy!

Strobist Gear for Cheap Off Camera Flash Rigs

Want to get more dramatic lighting with your flash unit, but don’t have much loot?  Get the darn thing off camera with these adapters.  Just attach your flash to the slave trigger and connect that with the umbrella bracket.  Stick the bracket on a cheap tripod or light stand , It’s that easy.

Optical Slave Trigger $10 OFF

Promaster Optical Slave Trigger
Was $19.99, NOW $9.89
Click to Buy!

Umbrella Bracket $12 OFF

Universal Umbrella Bracket
Was $24.99, NOW $12.39
Click to Buy!

Light Stand $12 OFF

Promaster LS2 Lightstand
Was $39.99, NOW $27.89
Click to Buy!

For the sake of convenience, I put the light stands in my studio on these tripod dollies.  I have no idea how I went so long without them.  Moving my lights around is no longer the headache it used to be.  And now that they’re half the price . . !

Tripod/Light Stand Dolly $40 OFF

Tripod Dolly for Smooth Tripod/LIght Stand Movement
Was $79.99, NOW $39.99
Click to Buy!

Lens Filter Clearance Deals

Every filter in the warehouse has to go!  Corrective or Creative they can’t stay here!  Many made my “Porter’s Picks the Best of the Buck or Less List”.  Here are some of the greatest deals.

50% off Variable Neutral Density Filters!

You can actually alter the amount of light blocking by spinning the front element like a polarizer, GENIUS!

Promaster Variable Neutral Density Filter, 55mm
Was $47.99, NOW $23.89
Click to Buy!

50% Off Close-Up Filter Kits!

Enter the world of Macro Photography on the Cheap!

49mm 3-Lens Close Up Filter set
Was $54.99, NOW $27.39
Click to Buy!

Other Miscellaneous Clearance Camera Accessories Worth Peeking At!

As previously mentioned, EVERYTHING we have is priced to move, it might be best just to check out www.porters.com to find the little dodad you can’t live without.  But here are a few others that really caught my eye!

HD Fluid Video Tripod Head $50 OFF

Perfect smooth stable support for video, standard 3/8inch mount to pod and 1/4 X 20 for cameras.

Promaster HD Video Head
Was $99.99, NOW $49.89
Click to Buy!

Bulk Film 100 Feet of 100 ISO Tmax $38 OFF

All film and darkroom supplies heavily marked down.  Grab this and empty film cartidges for super cheap film shooting!

Kodak T-Max 100 ISO 100 35mm Bulk B&W Film, TMX402 100 ft.
Was $67.99, NOW $29.69
Click to Buy!

Will Crockett Instructional Video Under $2

Will Crockett, professional photographer, eductator, and down right likeable guy produced his first ever DVD to help regular folk learn how to master their equipment.  Everybody can learn something from the 78 minutes of time his spares for us mere mortals.  For under $2 add it to your order and give it your neighbor!

Will Crockett’s Point, Shoot and Share
Was $9.99, NOW $1.59
Click to Buy!

Check out the BEST DEALS UNDER A BUCK post for really cheap goodies!

You can find that list at Porter’s Clearance Sale Best Deals Under a Buck!

Cheers,

Paul

Click Here to Browse!

Porter’s WebStore Liquidation Sale Best Finds Under a Dollar

As promised, here is the list of items I’ve found most interesting and useful FOR LESS THAN $1, AMAZING!

And if you haven’t seen the Awesome Porter’s Clearance Deals OVER a Dollar, you should check them out too!

TAP PINK WALLET PRINT ALBUM 79¢

With graduation season in full swing, the timing is perfect!

TAP Superior Gems Wallet Photo Album, Pink 79¢
79¢ Click to Buy!

UV Lens Filters 79¢

Well now there really IS cheap lens protection, but some of the creative filters have huge discounts to!

Clear View UV Filter, 49mm
79¢ Click to Buy!

Canon Leather Case for Powershots 79¢

These will fit nearly all of the ELPH series cameras and many of the newer Powershots.  Actually I don’t see why you couldn’t stick your Coolpix, Optio, Fuji, WhateverBrand in here!  For 79¢, it’s worth the gamble . . . and if it doesn’t fit, you have a perfect holder for a deck of cards

Canon PSC-1000 Compact Camera case
79¢ Click to Buy!

Photographic Contract Pad 79¢

Neat little pad of contracts to use when meeting with a client for a shooting project!  There are 50 sheets legal sized.  Pretty useful tool.  If anything it ensures you cover all the basics like fees, equipment and facility rentals, travel expenses, etc.!  I can’t show you a photo of a page our you’ll just print it off, HA!  But really, they’re put together quite nicely, and for 79¢ . . .

Photographic Job Contract, Pad/50
79¢ Click to Buy!

AA Batteries Storage Case 79¢

Get yourself organized.  I have 6 different flash units in my light kit that use AA’s.  Knowing which are charged and which are dead is crutial.  Grab a few of these cases to help you keep your batteries organized.  You can lock them together too.  For 79¢ it could save you a bouquet toss!  Totally worth it!

Battery Case for (8) AA Batteries
79¢ Click to Buy!

Microfiber Cleaning Cloth 69¢

Use them to clean your lenses, your LCD screens, your glasses, your monitor, etc.  Believe me you’ll find uses!

Economy Micro Fibre Cloth
69¢ Click to Buy!

Blue Crane Traning Videos Starting at 79¢

Who wouldn’t like to know a little more about how to operate their cameras?  These Blue Crane instructional videos are model specific!  Find the one for your camera and get your learn on!

“Introduction to the Nikon D5000″ DVD
79¢ Click to Buy!

Tripod Reducer Bushing 29¢

These little adapters are actually really useful.  I have different tripod heads, flash adapters, lighting adapters, release plate adapters and such that require a 3/8′s threading.  With this little adapters I can mount any of those things to tripods, superclamps, C-Clamps and such that use a standard 1/4X20 threading!  Brilliant! And at this price you can by them by the dozen!

Tripod Reducer Bushing/ 3/8 to 1/4X20 Adapter
29¢ Click to Buy!

Half Gallon Bottle Kit 69¢

Yeah, it’s just a half gallon bottle with a cap.  They block light and are great for keeping your darkroom chemistry in when not in a tray, that’s the idea.  But hey, it’s a half gallon plastic bottle for 69¢ . . . you can keep anything in it.  Think outside the box here, extra cleaning chemistry, homemade detergent, fill it with cement to make a boat anchor, put your hooch in there (okay maybe not the hooch — Porter’s does NOT condone the use of this bottle to put hooch in, hahaha).  But you get the idea!

Boston Brown Chemical Bottle, Half-Gallon
69¢ Click to Buy!

DigiPouch 79¢

It’s a little pouch with a drawstring you can put your compact camera in, or any other little device for that matter.  Cool thing is the material is soft enough to polish the LCD screen with!

Promaster Digipouch Large, Purple
79¢ Click to Buy!

Well that’s a good start!  Remember to browse around the webstore!  There are TONS of things I didn’t list!  And for the best deals more than a buck check out the other post!

Cheers,

Paul

Hey, folks!  I was recently presented with the opportunity to explore the desert Southwest in Arizona.  I thought this would be a great chance to play with Nikon’s newest (and more affordable) full frame DSLR, the D600.  Below is a list of the gear I used to capture the images you’ll find in the gallery at the end.  If you’d like a closer look at the gear, you will find the names are actually links to the products on our website!  Just click to find out more.

After some rather lengthy and heated internal debate with my selves, I decided to bring just 5 lenses and 1 flash along to use with my new D600.  I brought 4 prime lenses.  For wide-angle I selected the 24mm f/2.8.  The 50mm f/1.8 served as my normal lens.  I grabbed the 85mm f/1.8 for telephoto, and the old school 55mm micro-nikkor for detail shots.  Also packed, but very rarely used, was the 80-200mm f/2.8 and an SB-900 speedlight.  Call me crazy, but I still kinda prefer the 80-200 over the 70-200VR, because it happens to be a tic smaller.

Since I took mostly prime or fixed focal length lenses instead of zoomers, it was important for me to find a way to get really quick access to the gear.  A big bag was pretty much out of the question, because I was unsure how far we would be trekking.  The last thing I wanted was a bunch of unnecessary weight on my back. I’m just a skinny guy, not a pack mule.  Thus I elected to run with a strong, maneuverable strap and belt accessories.  The Carry Speed Slim MarkII strap proved indispensable.  It allows you to tuck the camera around your hip and out of the way, but can be pulled up to shooting position without causing any “strap burn” from dragging it across your shoulder.  The camera moves independently from the strap on a guide of sorts.  It’s brilliant!  Best strap I’ve ever used. I prefer it even to the similar Black Rapid systems.  I did modify it with a Manfrotto quick release plate system, as I do almost all my accessories, to speed up the process of moving it from strap to pod to bracket, etc.  For toting my glass, I put two primes together with a double rear lens cap and shoved them in a simple lens pouch hooked to my belt.  Another body (or, in my case, the 80-200) could be hooked onto a Spider Rig.  Again, I used the Manfrotto plate system on my other hip.  For stabilization, I brought a super light-weight Tamrac ZipShot tripod which I was able to attach to my belt loops using the nylon stretchy strap jobbies that hold it together when collapsed.

Here is a picture of my initial desert rig:

So, you’ve got Baby posed and surrounded by props — but, where’s his smile? In last week’s post we began discussing baby portraits, what makes them tricky, and how to overcome hurdles. Now that you’re in the know about prep, gear, and posing, you may be ready to dive into some nitty-gritty details. If so, read on! In Part Two, we’ll discuss how to capture the perfect facial expression, and ways to bring emotion through in an image via editing.

Expressions

Babies are full of expressions — open-mouthed wails, yawns, awed gazes and grins, to list just a few. But capturing the right body language at the right moment can be tough with a finicky baby. And some parents are set on getting a smile, regardless of Baby’s mood. In these cases, you’ll need to cover your bases.

If you can’t get a smile right away, capture other expressions that might surprise Mom and Dad. Sometimes a sleepy pout, yawn, or wonder-stuck gaze can be just as cute as smile, particularly when you apply the right edits.

After you get these shots — quickly, to preserve Baby’s mood — go for the golden smile.  To make things easier, you may want to consult Mom and Dad. They know what makes Baby smile, and may be able to clue you in to a particular toy, sound, or tickle that does the trick. If Baby needs you to do something silly — say, “moo” like a cow, or pretend to bonk your own head — get over your embarrassment, and do it!

However, if Baby needs Mom or Dad to inspire the smile, frame around them. Come in for a close-up or a birds-eye (a shot from above) if they’re tickling Baby’s feet. But remember, when you hit the shutter button, you want Baby’s eyes on you. Sometimes I grab Baby’s attention at just the right moment by asking, “isn’t Mom silly?” Any words will do, as long as your tone is loud and upbeat.

Editing

All the editing in the world can’t turn a bad baby picture into an adorable keepsake. But editing can affect the tone of an image. Adjusting color is one way to change tone. Switching to black-and-white or sepia can drastically alter the mood of an image — positively, if applied right. For example, switching to grayscale can reduce any red coloration around Baby’s eyes left over from an episode of tears.

I also like shifting to black-and-white when Baby isn’t looking straight at the camera, but the image is still cute. This produces a more wistful or sentimental-looking picture. Lastly, the stark contrast of Baby’s soft skin against a dark muslin background can be emphasized by a quick switch to black-and-white, particularly when it comes to “naked baby” pictures. Softening the focus in these images, as well, can add to their glowing, fragile feel.

Preparations

When booking a baby shoot, I find it’s wise to ask Mom and Dad exactly what they’re envisioning. Often, parents have their own vision of the “classic” baby picture in mind, and it’s in your best interest to understand their interpretation of that image.

Also, see if they want pictures of Baby in more than one outfit. If time is a concern, suggest they stick to one outfit, or a single outfit plus “naked baby” pictures. Some babies cry during outfit changes. To avoid shots of a red-faced infant, you’ll need to schedule time for tear-drying, or just keep things simple.

Lastly, remind Mom and Dad to be mindful of scheduling around feedings and naps. Sessions run smoother when Baby is well-fed and alert (unless Mom and Dad are looking exclusively for “sleeping baby” images — in which case, as long as Baby is handled gently, naptime may be the perfect time).

Posing, Props and Equipment 

What do you need on hand for a Baby shoot, besides your studio basics?  For “naked baby” or “diaper” images (lots of parents want these pictures), be prepared with a space heater or a hair dryer to keep Baby warm.

You’ll also want a noise-making toy to lure Baby’s eyes to the camera. And, to keep your hands free for grabbing Baby’s attention, you may want to set up a tripod and shutter release. This way, you can lean close to engage Baby without having to bounce back to the camera.

Once prepared with these items, you’ll want to consider posing. For younger infants, parents may want to see Baby lying on his or her tummy, head propped on the fists or lying against Baby’s arms. But be mindful of Baby’s capabilities. If Baby can’t lift his or her head, don’t push to the point of tears. If Mom and Dad are set on this pose, come back to it at the end. In the meantime, capture other cute shots. With proper encouragement, Mom and Dad will often abandon unrealistic visions, once assured you’ve got other adorable pictures.

In most cases, Mom and Dad are tracking Baby’s growth and abilities. If Baby just learned to sit up, focus on sitting poses. Likewise, if Baby can stand with support, you may need a posing block, small chair, wooden chest, or other sturdy item to show off Baby’s feat. Which brings me to my last point: props. Stuffed animals, flowers, blocks, and birthday cakes can enhance an image, particularly if Baby is restless or inattentive. Parents will  like these images more if they bring sentimental props from home. So, try capturing candid shots of Baby engrossed in these props.

That wraps up Part One. Be sure to check back for more information on facial expressions and editing tips!