I'm currently living in an area of the country where I don't have many friends or family nearby. This makes expanding my portfolio to include more people shots a little more difficult than it might otherwise be but I'm trying to get in touch with my own "inner model."

I've never, ever been one to enjoy being in front of the camera, and I still don't. Adding to my own natural reluctance to step in front of the camera are the difficulties of trying to set up a shoot (sort of) with a model (sort of) who has to be in two places at once.

Lighting, focus, and well, all that important photography stuff is very difficult to get right when you're behind and in front of the camera.

Of course, after all that effort, I couldn't even fill out my own MR form correctly, but after my second try and ...

I have to keep reminding myself that art photography is not the same as stock photography. The two do overlap sometimes, but often a photo that sells well here, would get torn apart as a work of art.

I'll never forget the one major rule in my photography classes in college. NEVER photograph flowers, puppies or babies, unless you want the professor to, um, "rip you a new one" if you know what I mean.

The rule was in place to basically keep amature photographers from making the mistake almost everyone makes in the beginning: taking boring pictures of things because they are cute or pretty.

Now I'm finding that the no flowers rule is standing up pretty well here at DT, with the exception of really unique or extraordinary flower photos.

However, cute pet photos such as this one of my new puppy,...