Canon AE-1 Program Sample Photos in Hallstatt, Austria | The Perfect 35 mm Travel Camera

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Hello everyone!

I am Myles Katherine's sister, Natalie Anne, and I'm excited to share a bit about my journey with film cameras with you! Myles has inspired me, as she has my entire life, to be more creative, thoughtful, and curious about the world. Photography is her passion and is the instrument she uses to embrace everything in life. I have always admired her skills and thus have been remarkably intimidated to pick up film photography on my own. When I told her I wanted to bring a film camera with me for my work deployment to Europe for four months, she knew just the one and by golly it's now one of my favorite possessions!

The Canon AE-1 Program is timeless, durable, and takes impressively sharp shots. While it is a bit weighty, this adds to its charm. There is something so satisfying about snapping a photo and pulling its winding arm. It can take some getting used to focusing, especially for close-ups and portraits, as it does not have autofocus. But, once you get the hang of it, the photographs are so sharp and beautiful. And even the ones that turn out a little soft are dreamy and special in their own right. Plus, isn’t that the fun of film photography?

Myles also thought this camera would be a good idea for me because it has a full auto mode. The original version of this camera, the Canon AE-1, does not have this feature. So if you’re looking for a camera that is a bit more user-friendly for beginners, the Canon AE-1 Program is the way to go. And if you’d like to delve into more advanced modes, like shutter priority or full manual, you have that option with this camera as well. The best part about it is that you get that professional film camera vibe without the complication, so it’s the perfect 35 mm travel camera! Not to mention, it has that classic black and silver vintage 35 mm camera look, so it looks cute even sitting on a shelf when it’s not being used.

For the lens, I use the standard Canon FD 50 mm f/1.8 lens. This seems to be the one most people gravitate towards for this camera. It’s affordable, small, and sharp!

One of my first tests with this camera was bringing it for a weekend trip to Vienna and Hallstatt, Austria. Hallstatt has been on my bucket list for quite some time. It was actually the inspiration for Arendelle (Frozen fans, anyone?!) and it feels so magical.

I took this Hallstatt Day Tour from Vienna, via Viator, and it was the perfect introduction to this beautiful corner of the world. I couldn't recommend this tour enough! If you want to read my full review of this tour, you can find it on our travel blog, C’est Le Brie, here!

I went on this bus tour solo and felt comfortable the entire time. It was a longer bus ride, with beautiful scenery throughout the Salzkammergut region. We had time to explore Hallstatt on our own where I grabbed a Frankfurter and fries for lunch, wandered the town, went up the tram to the Hallstatt Viewing Platform, and took a short boat ride. Most importantly, my Canon AE-1 Program was loaded with film and ready to go. I took some of my favorite shots on this excursion, and was so happy my sister had recommended this camera to me. She had heard great things about it, but I think we have both been so impressed with the results. I even think she's a little jealous she doesn't have one yet!

Below are all the photos I took in Hallstatt using Kodak Gold 200 and Kodak Ultra Max 400 35mm film. If you're interested in purchasing a Canon AE-1 Program, you won't regret it! I know without a doubt that I’m going to treasure these images forever.

-Natalie Anne

P.S. Make sure to check out our travel blog, C’est Le Brie, here! We share all of our travel adventures, tour reviews, hotel and restaurant recommendations, photos, and even recipes! And don’t forget to watch our YouTube video about the Canon AE-1 Program here!

WHERE TO BUY THE CANON AE-1 PROGRAM

Amazon

Etsy

KEH Camera

B&H Photo

eBay

The Best Way to Backup and Organize Files as a Photographer | Tips for Keeping Your Files Safe

 

Hi everyone!

As a photographer, I can’t imagine anything scarier than losing all of my files. My clients would lose their precious memories and I would definitely never be hired again! It’s taken me years to figure out the best way to keep my files safe and organized, and I want to help you do the same! It takes some getting used to, and I still spend entire days going through old files (from before I had this system down) and putting them into folders. It’s taken some trial and error in terms of the best way to name folders and the easiest way to find the files later. But now, my files are exactly where I need them to be and I know they are safely backed up.

Backblaze and Smugmug are the two main services I use for backup and storage and they are game-changers. I use Backblaze as an online backup system that continuously backs up my external hard drives (all 5 of them and over 23 TB!) and it only costs $60/year for UNLIMITED STORAGE (!!!!!!). The best part is that you can access your files from anywhere and download them directly to your computer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been traveling and realized I forgot to move some files onto my computer to edit. So I just log in to my Backblaze account, download the folder, and I can get straight to work. If one of your hard drives crashes, Backblaze can send you a new one with all of your files on it. When you log into your account, it’s basically a mirror image of your finder window, with all of your hard drives and folders exactly the way they look on your computer (see screenshot below). It’s actually the greatest service ever invented. Use this link to get a month of service from Backblaze for free!

backblazefolder.jpg

I use Smugmug for all of my client galleries. I upload my edited images straight from Lightroom (using a lightroom plugin) into a gallery and then send the link to my clients. My favorite part about Smugmug is the app, which I use to download images from any of my galleries and upload to instagram, facebook, etc. I have the Portfolio plan which is $180/year and includes UNLIMITED storage. I have wedding galleries up there from 10 years ago that my clients can still access. They can also order prints and other gifts directly from the gallery. Use this link to sign up and get 15% off your plan! I’m telling you, it’s so worth it. I keep all of my folders on smugmug super organized too, which makes the app even easier to navigate and find files when I’m traveling. See the screenshot below to get an idea of how you can organize your different types of photos!

Honestly, I’m always looking for the most affordable way to run my business (I’m a bit of a cheapskate) and these two services are life-changing to me as a photographer. I’ve spent a lot of hours researching backup services and gallery services, but these two take the cake for me. I’ve been using them both for YEARS and I haven’t had any issues.

After a photo shoot, I come home and upload the files to my hard drives, which are then safely backed up to Backblaze (so if my house burns down with my memory cards AND my hard drives, they are still safe). Then, after I’ve finished editing a shoot, I upload the final images to a Smugmug gallery. My files are then safely in 3 places, 2 of which are online, accessible from anywhere, and safe from a house fire.

In terms of organizing my hard drives, I wanted to share a screenshot sample of my folders. This has proven to be the best way to not lose files and it’s pleasing to look at with my OCD brain. I also scan my film negatives at home, so I keep those files separate from my digital files. Essentially, the format is YEAR>MONTH>PHOTOSHOOT. I also have video files and other things that I make sure to keep separate from my photography.

fileorganization.jpg

I hope this helps you find an easy and affordable way to keep your files safe. It can be overwhelming when you first start organizing everything, but it’s so worth it when it’s done. It’s also important to name your files something that you’ll remember, in case you need to find them later. When I export my final images, I make sure to use keywords that I won’t forget. For example, if you took a trip to Florida with your family, you could name the files FloridaFamilyTrip2020. Then, ten years from now you won’t have a hard time finding the images.

If you found this post helpful or if you’d like to see more of my work, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing. Find out more here!

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below, I’m happy to help! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this crazy time!

<3 Myles Katherine

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Never delete another photo because you’re out of storage. SmugMug offers unlimited, high-res storage & you can save 15% if you click my link after your free trial. #ad https://shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=505515&m=49765&u=1135228&afftrack=