Tips from a photo editor

Hey, it's Leonor, with a special photography edition of the newsletter. Tips, travel, equipment and more [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hello! I’m [Leonor Mamanna](, deputy photo director at Businessweek magazine and Pursuits. Perhaps you’re wondering: what does a photo director do, exactly? I commission photographers and produce photo shoots, which often involve a lot of logistics, and then select the best shots along with a talented art director to make the magazine and website the most beautiful they can be. Which is all to say, you may not recognize my name, but you’ve definitely seen my work. And, boy, this last week was a doozy. [Have you heard of aero camping?]( You fly your very small plane into rural areas and pitch a tent on the airstrip or sleep in a nearby cabin. I am very much a “city mouse” and a nervous flier, so while this seemed like my nightmare, I knew it would be a fun challenge for an adventurous photographer. And what a challenge it was! Between scheduling and inclement weather, it took more than 8 months from when the piece was first assigned to when the incredible [Stephanie Noritz]( was able to finally fly off with writer [Jackie Snow]( to get it done. Those storm clouds almost ruined what would have been our last attempt at capturing the story. Photograph by Stephanie Noritz for Bloomberg Businessweek I’d say it was worth it, even if I am a tad biased (and honestly thought it was never going to happen.) The images Stephanie was able to capture from the plane and in the nearby area, on the Idaho side of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, were nearly enough to entice this urban dweller to look into my own aero-camping adventure. But first I have to look into buying a plane—[or at least make friends with some pilots](. Looks dreamy right? Click through to learn how airplane camping works. Photograph by Stephanie Noritz for Bloomberg Businessweek OK, so maybe you’re not lucky enough to have a magazine send a professional photographer along with you on your vacations. Same. My colleague [Lily Girma]( recently wrote about the boom in the business of getting that Instagram-grid worthy shot—[specifically the flying-dress photo]( that’s sparked a multimillion-dollar industry. [Flying Dress Photo]( in Santorini, Greece, books out full packages including hair and makeup, transport, assistants and the flowy satin garment itself, for over $1,600 a pop. [Her Dress Jamaica]( has bookings every day, year-round. (Not into dresses? [Flytographer]( connects with local photographers around the world for whatever you might dream up). If you have a couple hundred dollars per hour to spare, this photo editor would be very impressed to see some of these shots while scrolling. A moment made for the grid. Source: Flying Dress Photo Barring paying a professional, today’s cameras make it easier than ever to DIY, and by that I mean asking your travel companion to take some shots. (Spoiler alert: I have some photography tips in the Q&A below and @brian_jacobss these next paragraphs are for you.) [We profiled four models]( earlier this year that come highly recommended by TikTok and Instagram influencers, which means they’re both user-friendly and also workhorses. From left: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, Nikon Z 50, Fujifilm X100V, Sony ZV-1F Photograph by Jessica Marx for Bloomberg Businessweek Personally I had various hand-me-down [point-and-shoots]( when I was a teenager and have relied heavily on a Canon PowerShot G series for the last 10 years or so. Now I have my eye on the Fujifilm X100V which can mimic the quality of film and also has the ability to capture video, which I do a lot more of now that I’m a mom. I’m also excited at the idea of carrying around [this pocket-sized Polaroid printer](. You can send photos directly from your phone and immediately have a cute little keepsake to give to friends. Connect with Leonor on her [website]( Travel stories that inspired me Calling a photographer to say, Hey! Can I pay you to go to this gorgeous place? never gets old. Travel stories really are one of the most fun things to assign. Here are some of the most memorable assignments I’ve made in my eight and a half years at Bloomberg. [Wayne Lawrence in Thailand]( Saving Elephants, One Unforgettable Vacation at a Time [Victoria Hely-Hutchinson in Sri Lanka]( A Decade After Civil War, Sri Lanka Dives Into Luxury [Peter Bohler in Peru]( Vast Cultural Riches Are Hiding in the Shadow of Machu Picchu [Emli Bendixen in Wales]( With Food and Drinks in the Spotlight, Now’s the Perfect Time to Visit Wales [Adrian Gaut in Zanzibar]( Visit the Most Beautiful Spot in Africa VIP access If you’re a fan of whiskey, wine, beer and spirits, Bloomberg Pursuits is creating a club just for you. We’ll be sharing exclusive spirits news, building a tasting community and offering access to special cocktail events and releases. Be the first to sign up for the [Top Shelf Society newsletter](. Photographers worth following As a photo editor, I spend a lot of time on Instagram looking at images and finding new talent. I also use it to keep up with photographers whose work I am familiar with. If you’re looking for a fresh feed, give these favorites a follow. [Gabriela Herman]( Gabriela and I go way back, all the way back to when she broke a toe while on assignment for me in Greece. She didn’t tell me until well after she got back, and I certainly couldn’t tell anything had gone amiss when she sent me the photos from the trip. She most recently photographed [walking trips in the Berkshires](—with all her bones intact. Walking town to town is a magical way to travel through the US. Photograph by Gabriela Herman for Bloomberg Businessweek [DeShaun Craddock]( I have never been a person who enjoyed concerts; they are loud and crowded, and I don’t want to stand for so long. But I love the dynamism of great concert photography, and DeShaun gets so many fantastic shots that I’m always surprised to discover that he’s not up-close-and-personal on the stage with the artists. [Janelle Jones]( I work with Janelle a lot—we often collaborate on [The One series]( which highlights the best-of-the-best products across all categories. And it is often a creative challenge. Can you imagine how difficult it is to make a corkscrew look beautiful? [Or a stack of a books?]( And yet she always manages to come up with something smart and lovely. The Durand corkscrew and puller. Photograph by Janelle Jones for Bloomberg Businessweek [Andre D. Wagner]( Although we’ve never had an opportunity to work together, I’ve admired Andre’s work for years. His black-and-white street photography feels both timeless and modern, and a [recent collaboration with Polaroid]( is especially exciting. [Justin J. Wee]( I think Justin is one of the most creative and inventive artists in editorial photography. Everything he does, from portraits to still lives, all have something extra special about them, an unexpected twist, a sparkle. I often go back to the images he shot for our[2020 holiday gift guide](for inspiration. A maximalist moment of comfort for a spa day at home. Photograph by Justin J. Wee for Bloomberg Businessweek What else is on my mind BOOKS: I am a voracious reader (I read over 100 books last year and have read 70+ this year). I mostly read fiction, but last month I read [Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change](, and it is still on my mind. Angela Garbes explores how the Covid-19 pandemic brought to light the way society values—or doesn’t—the work of caretaking. For fiction, I’d suggest [Olga Dies Dreaming](, a novel about a complicated and messy family, a pair of siblings based in Brooklyn and their politically radical mother back in Puerto Rico. Into romance novels? They’re booming. And these are the 13 best genre experts say you should read. TELEVISION: [Glamorous]( on Netflix was such a fun show. Marco is an aspiring influencer (played perfectly and fashionably by up-and-comer Miss Benny) who takes a dream job with none other than Kim Cattrall as his boss. The entire thing is slightly ridiculous in a perfect way. PODCASTS: [Slow Burn Season 3]( hosted by Joel Anderson all about Clarence Thomas is alarming, frustrating, illuminating and all around excellent. MOVIES: I have been telling everyone I know that they should see[Past Lives](, an emotional, heartfelt movie about two childhood friends with a special connection who are brought back together decades later as adults. I was a puddle by the end. NEWSLETTERS: In their words: “[Evil Witches]( is a newsletter for people who are mothers.” In my words? It is a refreshingly honest newsletter with a supportive community of parents who understand that parenting can be fun and exhausting in equal measure. So, you had some questions… And we’ve got answers! Whatever the topic, keep them coming for next week via our [Bloomberg Pursuits Instagram]( and [e-mail](mailto:askpursuits@bloomberg.net). How do you see AI impacting photography? Well, Phil Gioia (@pgioia) and Poupay Jutharat (@poupayphoto), personally, I wish photographers would stop feeding the machines all of their imagery, but I understand the desire to play and learn new technology. Last August, our colleagues at [Businessweek wrote about Dal-E](, a fun new toy from OpenAI that has the ability to create the sort of stock imagery that typically costs a lot of money to create. There is definitely a solid business model there once you get past the copyright issues, diversity issues, pornographic issues, labor issues… Mostly the way I think about it is that if there is a point in which AI can have an original creative viewpoint, we’ve lost to the robots and have bigger problems to think about! Created with the prompt: “Staff at a magazine coming up with jokes” Illustration: Dall-E What are some trends in photography that you are excited about? While AI has been dominating so much of the conversation—ahem, Alex Thebez (@alexthebez) see above—it has been fun to see the analog gear that has been gaining popularity. This week, Matt Kronsberg wrote about Retrospekt, a company that is [taking old Polaroid cameras]( and refurbishing them with very cute patterns and designs. Or, if you have the budget, 24-karat gold. There is a Polaroid 600 Malibu Barbie model that I have in my cart right now for when I finally [go see Barbie]( in the theaters. Secondhand nostalgia is driving demand for vintage tech. Source: Retrospekt How can you take good photos and video with your iPhone? Fair warning: I’m a photo editor not a professional photographer, but here are my personal tips. Switching up your angles to give yourself a variety of options is a great first step. Get high, get low, move a few steps to the right or left, get closer, move back. And of course, being aware of the light is critical—where is the light coming from? How is it illuminating your subject? Are there any strange shadows being cast? Do they help or hurt the composition of your photo? [David Suh]( is very popular on TikTok for a reason, so give him a follow, @dalilahz_. He has a ton of videos with tricks for both the photographer and the subject. But my number one MUST? Your phone is dirty. Clean your lens! An oldie but still a goodie: How to Manage All Your Vacation Photos. Leica all the way? We have a review of the [M11 Monochrom]( in the works right now, so keep reading Pursuits, Valentin (@valentinowest_). Otherwise I am not a gear head. Luckily for you, we have reviewed [the Leica M10]( and [the Leica Q]( models before. At those price points, they are not what I would describe as a beginner’s camera, but if you’re getting serious about photography, a Leica is a worthy investment. From left, top row: Leica C-Lux, Panasonic Lumix ZS200, Fuji FinePix XP140, Ricoh GR III. Bottom row: Contax T3, Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX100. Photograph by Jessica Pettway for Bloomberg Businessweek If you’re just starting out though, one of these point-and-shoots [my colleague]( and [photographer Evan Ortiz]( wrote about a few years ago would be a nice place to test the waters. There’s even [a Leica C-Lux in the mix](. New for subscribers: Free article gifting. Bloomberg.com subscribers can now gift up to five free articles a month to anyone you want. Just look for the "Gift this article" button on stories. (Not a subscriber? Unlock limited access and [sign up here](.) Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. 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