A collapsible Still Life booth For a full-size person and other don’t needs but must haves!

Impact Photo Booth. This collapsible booth is a full-size person! You can set this up and take it apart very quickly, and its wholly broken down into a small carrying case. It is lite by LEDs, so if you want to light beyond that, you will have to supply your own, but for many jobs, this is the whole kit for a quick down and dirty portraits or fashion work. It is getting easier and easier to do this!

It is a printer, yet it does not print but cuts. And what it cuts is very intricate cuts. Think T shirt printing and Stickers. The machine is a super precise Exacto controlled by scanning and the imagination. At first, it appeared to be nothing more than another NEW printer on the market, bringing the total to a million. How many inks cartridges does it take? Where do they go? I was shocked when I watched a video of this thing in action. It can cut so precise and so quickly the ability to create strong imagery to be used in so many manners of marketing or fun. To be creative with this little machine looks like joy.

Betta Fish Tank. The kit is for the new breed of fish that are day glow! This is not a joke people! They have the technology to do this now! With the black light that comes with it, the fish, through a special diet, will glow bright like the back of a spencer’s gift store! Being so incredible Kid friendly, it will take you back to your unique childhood whimsy.

And of course, if you have read my previous posts, you know I am all hopped up on this fun little gadget. How many hours could I just waste playing detailed games that are lovingly put together by one of the greatest game makers!? Again, Kid-friendly, Win-Win!

This thing seems like the least fun on the list, but it can do cool stuff like print on a hat or a plate! What?! If this is a new job pursuit: a career in T-shirt and coffee mug printing with my brother hot cutter, I might as well go the whole way and get this unit. Heat Presses are not generally kid-friendly primarily because it gets up to 400 degrees! Now that I think about it, these are things I would like to have during all this downtime to brighter mine and others day! Anyway, its fun to think about it.

VANKYO Leisure 3W Mini Projector

I have bought a few things over the years from amazon that have been helpful, fun, and interesting and on and on. It’s amazing to me, Amazon that is. Well, recently, I was asked to write a review on a product that I purchased from the company itself. I bought this out of curiosity but also for my son who loves to watch one of his favorite things on You Tube and that is Singing Monsters. I project it on the wall in his room and he loves it. And for the price I cannot believe you can get this much light power. Amazing. Here is my feedback on the Vankyo Mini Projector

VANKYO Leisure 3W Mini Projector with Synchronize Smartphone Screen

We bought this for our 5-year-old son. So much time at home this year helped us make this decision.  As Halloween was approaching, I was looking forward to having some fun with this gadget as it works well for do-it-yourself Halloween fun.

First off, it is very bright for a medium sized room. If you can get it nice and dark this really puts out a great image. The sharpness is exceptionally fine and so does my son.  When I get the position of the image and it’s in focus it is amazingly good. It has both a keystoning level and focus knob on the top behind the lens. The focus does what it suggests and the keystoning level helps “square up” your projection if you are not shooting straight on to the wall. When using the projector recently I have had problems with the focusing ring. As I turn it in either direction the lens is not moving. I am going to contact customer support on this to see what can be done. I will update on how support helps me with this issue.

The mini projector has a large group of inputs and this is where I have to say, it works best with a Google cast or its equivalent. Once I plugged my Google cast into the HDMI slot and fired up you tube this took on the life I was hoping out of this little machine.

It has, on the amazon spot, info on this:

How to Realize Wireless Screen Mirroring?

https://www.techjunkie.com/screen-mirroring-galaxy-s9-galaxy-s9-plus/

It suggests you buy a box.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073PCG77G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1PhzFbKNZR4DF

I have not been able to realize screen mirroring. Somehow this makes your smart phone work wirelessly with the projector but for as simple as they make the set up, I cannot get this to work. Again, this is where my google cast works great.

Once again with all this wireless gadgetry, I have about a 50/50 chance of it working right away. I must noodle with it quite a bit but once it's up and running I have a fun time with my new gadgets! It is also an attractive projector and looks exactly like a baby projector to the big boys you see in a sports bar or conference room. But of course, thousands of dollars cheaper.

It has a fan to keep it cool and its quiet. You can still hear it and if you are sitting next to the vents you can also feel the heat. That said, it is still incredible for the size. As far as sound goes the built-in speaker is not that bad, but its quality is so-so. Again, you can find workarounds especially for this unit which is so incredibly priced. Please keep in mind, for its cost it produces a lot for your entertainment dollar.

Pros:

Light Weight/Quiet/Attractive/Sharp Focus/Fun to project/Easy to set up with Chrome Cast (specifically)/Nice Case $$$/Accessories/Cables/Price is Great

Cons:

Wireless Features Clunky/Hard to establish phone to projector Connection/A bit Hot/Loud but I can overlook this.

NYC-Places To Get Headshots Done!

Shooting “Studio” Headshots in New York City is a Creative Challenge! Photographers need space to shoot in and space in Manhattan is at a ridiculous breaking point in terms of $$$$. Unless you are a terribly busy and or a well-known photographer you may have a studio. But many times, the reality is you must work with a limited amount of space unless you are sharing a studio with 7 others in Manhattan and 5 others in Brooklyn. If its LinkedIn Head shots, Executive head shots, or even Lifestyle, shooting in Manhattan is a convenience for many as travel time outside the Burroughs can be time consuming. I have seen a wide range of offerings from other Photographers and everyone is able to make it work! If you need headshots, feel free to reach out to me for free advice, it is free! As a bonus I have a time lapse I am sharing to show how I shot an executive portrait photo. As two additional bonuses I am sharing Indiana Kwongs article “Complete Guide to a Great Headshot” A great Headshot 101 Info Page and Pixpas, Headshot Photography - 7 Tips to Take Professional Headshots to keep on hand.

Read More:

Indiana Kwongs article “Complete Guide to a Great Headshot”

Pixpas, Headshot Photography - 7 Tips to Take Professional Headshots

First impressions are the most lasting.

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Do Photographers Complain Often? Or are they like any other Career Individual?

I stumbled upon another great article from Fstoppers. Entitled Eight Annoying Things Photographers Do That Harm the Industry. (By Paul Adshead)

His List, I broke down, is as follows:

1. By Being Creepy

2. Forgetting Manners

3. Name-Dropping Too Much

4. Not Giving Credit on Social Media

5. Breaking Promises

6. Obsessing Over Gear

7. Rejecting Any Kind of Criticism or Suggestions

and

8. Telling Lies

The read is interesting as there is a well written and detailed response under each segment. Worth checking out for certain. The one I responded to the most was #7 Rejecting Any Kind of Criticism or Suggestions. Now this goes both ways sharing AND receiving. If the ego is to controlled to accept criticism, this will not help. But at the same time I have received excellent criticism and also just down right insults disguised as criticism. You have to think both through. Giving criticisms takes some thought if your truly want it to help another. And the same goes coming back.

Donald Bowers Photography and Music Video Performances

I had forgot about many of these performances I have photographed over the years. I decided to make a short vignette of some of the greatest performances and events I have been to and photographed. Florence was very overwhelmed at the size of the space as it shot up 4 stores in size. Santigold was at ease and had quite the dance squad.