Clues For Improving Your Photography

Start a year-long Photography Project in 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:29:00 +0000

As a keen photographer, your list of

resolutions for 2012 might include an

intention to photograph a particular

subject you’ve always dreamed of

capturing, to learn more about your

camera and what it’s capable of or

simply to take more photos, more often.

Many photographers choose to embark on a year-long photography project as a result of a new year’s resolution or just from a desire to focus their photographic efforts with a specific goal in mind.

Why?

Personal photography projects can benefit photographers of any experience level – from keen enthusiasts to working professional photographers. Tim Gander is a photojournalist-turned-commercial photographer who praises the benefits of fitting a personal photography project into your schedule. In the past he has undertaken a project to photograph the unique characters and everyday goings-on at an old pub in Bath which has since shut down. More recently he has been working on an ongoing personal project to photograph the bustle of the local livestock market. Previously on the Wex Blog, Tim wrote about what personal photography projects are and why photographers should consider doing one…

Personal projects have an intangible value. They allow a photographer the opportunity to stretch their creativity, try out new techniques without the risk of jeopardizing a paid assignment, or explore a subject which fascinates them.

To find out more about Tim’s personal photography projects, his post Photography: this time it’s personal! is definitely worth a read, or check out his blog here.

The 365 project

A photography project that many photographers choose to get involved in is a 365 project. If it’s not obvious already; you take a photo every day for a whole year (and since 2012 is a leap year, you’ll need to take an extra photo!) Mark Stephenson completed his first 365 project in 2011 and we caught up with him to find out how he got on…

Congratulations on completing your 365 project in 2011! How did you feel on December 31^st when you finished the project?

Thanks! It was a strange feeling on the last day. I had a massive sense of achievement, but also the sad feeling that it was the end of an era. For a short while I toyed with the idea of carrying the project on and doing another year of photos, although for my sanity I decided not to.

This mage of a kiwi fruit is one of Mark's favourites from the year

Have you taken the time to look through all 365 of your photos in one sitting yet? Did you notice any significant changes in your photography, whether it be your style, level of skill or otherwise, over the course of the year?

I haven’t actually but it’s something I will definitely do soon. It will be fun to relive the whole year in pictures and I’m sure it will bring lots of memories back. Personally, I haven’t noticed a massive jump in skill level but I’ve had plenty of comments telling me I’ve improved a lot over the year.

What are the biggest positives that came out of doing the project?

The biggest positive was that it got me using my camera gear on a daily basis. That was the main reason I took on the project – I felt I wasn’t shooting enough. I would find I’d go for weeks with the camera gear sat lonely in the cupboard. Another benefit that’s come out of doing the project is I feel myself thinking more like a photographer every day. Spending a whole year constantly looking for interesting shots changes the way you see the world and even after the project I find myself looking for shots where before I may have missed them.

When all else fails, your cat may provide some photographic inspiration

What did you struggle with the most while working on your 365 project? Were there days where you really didn’t want to pick up your camera?

The struggle is the sheer relentlessness of the project. It’s the days when you have to stay late at work and just want to go to bed when you get home that I found the most difficult. I found it really helps to have some backup ideas. I’d recommend making an “ideas list” for those days when your creativity is lacking. Failing that, the cat was always a good fallback.

Do you have a favourite image from 2011? We’d love to hear the story behind it if you have one!

I think my favourite image is the kiwi fruit shot. I love the vibrancy of the colours and the simple nature of the photo. I took it quite early on after reading about someone doing something similar. It’s a shot I’d like to have printed on a canvas for the kitchen some time. The photo that gets the most attention is the pigeon shot, people seem to love it. Apart from that I proposed to my girlfriend one day using a photo which I suppose is pretty memorable! And now we will always have that picture to look back on.

One of Mark's more memorable photos from his 365 project

Any advice for those considering starting a 365 project or something similar?

Do it. It’s a big commitment but if you’re even considering it then I think you’d benefit from the experience. Once you’re over that initial hurdle of starting and you’ve overcome all your commitment issues, don’t give up. There were many days when I really didn’t want to take a photo, but I also found I got some of my best images on those days as I really pushed my imagination and creativity. As I mentioned before, making a list of ideas is a great help, and please just don’t give up. For the sake of that one photo on the day you want to throw in the towel you’ll thank yourself in the long run if you get through it.

You can find Mark’s final set of all 365 images from his project on Flickr.

Tips for completing a 365 photo project

We also spoke to Helen Ogbourn, another successful 365 project photographer who finished her year-long photography project on 31st May 2011. She shares with us some of her tips for getting through the year and finding inspiration when you get stuck…

Take your camera everywhere you go because quite often the best photos come when you least expect it. Try using your camera phone or a compact camera for a change if you usually use a DSLR.
Don’t be too particular, not every photo in a 365 project is going to be brilliant. Some days will be far better than others and some days are just about getting any photo. Don’t give up, it’s worth sticking to it for the better days!
Share your photos online and get people to follow along, then you are accountable to an audience! It’s nice when people enjoy the photos and follow your experience.
Have back-up ideas. Some days will be full of inspiration and you’ll be spoilt for choice. Make a note of the extra ideas so that you can go back to them on a day where you are feeling less inspired.
Join a photo sharing site such as Flickr. There are many groups out there to join and plenty of encouragement from other 365-ers to keep you going.
Set some themes for yourself or ask others for suggestions. For example, you could spend a week taking black & white photos or a week of street photography.
If you don’t want to think of ideas yourself, websites such as The Daily Shoot will set you a theme each day and can be followed online, by email and twitter.
Take the opportunity to learn more about your camera while you do the project and challenge yourself to take photos using different settings.
Don’t leave taking your photos until the evening. Get used to thinking about them from when you get up in the morning, it’ll soon become a habit and then you won’t have that evening panic.
Go to the library or a bookshop and browse photography books and magazines – you’ll get plenty of inspiration.

Other projects to consider

Taking one photo each day for a whole year will not appeal to everyone, but there are plenty of other weekly and monthly photography projects that may be more practical for some people. We asked Helen about her photography project experience over the past year and found out a little more about the personal photography goals she has lined up now that her 365 project is done and dusted…

Why did you decide to start a 365 photo project?

Having received a compact camera the year before as a gift, I decided it was time to learn how to use it to its potential and in no time I had caught the photography bug. The only issue was that I had no real idea about types of photographs I wanted to take. It was then that I took on the challenge of taking a photo every day for a year to explore the possibilities.

What is your advice to someone who’s thinking about starting a 365 project or other daily photography project?

365 photo projects are certainly not to be underestimated! They require commitment, imagination and a bit of patience but after a short while the project becomes a part of your everyday life. The challenge of finding a photo opportunity each day can be difficult, however, it’s worth persisting for the satisfaction and rewards that you experience throughout the year.

What are the biggest positives that have come from working on your various photography projects?

I soon realised I was taking a lot more notice of the world around me and enjoying otherwise mundane activities such as my commute to work! Over the course of my 365 project I got to know my camera incredibly well and used it as an opportunity to shoot with other types of camera, try all different camera modes and use different processing techniques. I’ve became a much more confident photographer and have started to realise that there are types of photography that I find particularly rewarding.

Can you tell us a bit more about the self-portrait project that you’re currently working on?

Having thoroughly enjoyed my first photo project, I wanted to continue to push myself to learn more about photography and decided to take on another one. I’m currently approaching the end of a 30 day project of self portraits which has been a huge challenge! I don’t love being in front of the camera and haven’t previously had a lot of experience of taking photos of people, so I thought this would really get me out my comfort zone.
Initially I was unsure about what a self portrait should be. 26 photos into the project I find myself in a very different position. I enjoy the challenge of thinking of new ideas, I don’t mind being in front of the camera and I’ve come to the conclusion that self portraits can be anything from capturing the very ordinary to the more creative and posed shots. They’re also a great way to experiment with focus settings as a much more manual approach is required here. Tripods are also very useful for this kind of project, but not necessary if you are willing to experiment a bit more.

Do you have any plans for another year-long photography goal in 2012?

I’ve started to take weekly photos in 2012 to reflect my year, in which all photos must include some part of me and an item that has been significant in the week. I am processing the photos using Adobe Lightroom presets, all with a similar tone, so that they fit nicely as a collection to print in a photobook at the end of the year.

A 365 project isn’t for everyone, do you have any other suggestions for those wanting to embark on a photography project that doesn’t require taking a photo every day for a whole year?

Here are some more ideas you may want to consider for photo projects:

52 week photo project – one photo each week for a whole year
30 day photo project, perhaps using a particular theme. For example: black and white photos or mobile phone photography
A day in the life – take one photo every hour for a day
Work your way through the alphabet and take photos of things beginning with the letters A-Z
Photograph the seasons throughout the year
A self portrait project
A time specific project, for example, taking a photo at 3pm every day, week, month or year

To see more of Helen’s work, visit her blog or Flickr.

So, are you planning on starting a photography project in 2012 or have you already begun? If so, let us know in the comments below – we’d love to hear what you’ll be focusing on photographing this year!

Source: blog.warehouseexpress.com

Ten Top Wedding Photography Tips

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:53:00 +0000

Article from Kapow - www.kapowphotography.co.uk. You can read more wedding photography tips and business advice with Kapow’s new iPhone app titled: Wedding Photographer's Starter Kit.

At every wedding we shoot we meet guests with shiny new DSLRs. It’s amazing how often one of them will come and ask for advice because they are about to photograph their first wedding. Karl and I are total photography geeks so we never mind chatting about our equipment and sharing some of our techniques. Because of this approach we find that we make a lot more friends (and therefore customers) rather than if we strive to keep our wedding photography ‘secrets’ to ourselves.

Wedding photography can be one of the most rewarding professions around. The emotion that you can evoke when you give a newlywed couple their wedding photographs can be incredible. Once you have experienced this you will be addicted to improving your work and growing your list of satisfied customers.

Unfortunately shooting your first wedding is not as easy as buying a big camera with a bigger lens and turning up at the church. You are going to be capturing the most important day in the couple’s life and you should prepare accordingly.

So here are 10 tips to consider when you're asked to photograph your first wedding:

1. Manage expectations

Every photographer with aspirations of becoming a professional wedding photographer should start out shooting weddings for free. In this ‘current financial climate’ a lot of couples are looking to reduce the cost of getting married and would be grateful for some free photography. This will take some pressure of you and as long as you explain to them that it is your first attempt, they will understand if your work isn’t quite up to the standard of Damien Lovegrove.

2. Create a 'Shot List'

It’s important when you are starting out to create a photography shot list to use during the day. Speak to the bride and groom beforehand and come up with a plan of what photographs they would like and when they will need to be taken. Great uncle Bob might be sat in a corner for the entire wedding day but if he’s on your list, make sure to seek him out for his portrait.

Once you have ticked off all your official photographs you will be able to relax and have fun with the camera capturing the emotions of the big day.

3. Enlist the help of the Groomsmen

Ideally you should ask a friend or relative to help you shoot your first wedding but if this isn’t an option, ask the groomsmen for help. After all, they are really there to help with the smooth running of the day and not just to look pretty.

Give the best man and each of the ushers a copy of the shot list and a timetable of events. Ask them to give you a hand calling the guests for the group shots especially. When you are preparing the photograph of the entire wedding party you won’t want to be running round on your own, retrieving guests from the bar.

4. Know your camera inside out

We often joke that anyone with a decent camera can photograph a wedding and this might just be the case if the weather is perfect, the vicar is cooperative and the wedding is being held on a beach in Mauritius. In reality you probably won’t be getting at least two of these whilst shooting your first wedding. You might get a rainy day, the vicar will only allow you to shoot from the back of the church (without flash) and the venue might be cramped and dark. These are the situations where a professional photographer will make his work stand out.

You must know what your camera is capable of in every situation. Experiment with different ISO settings and know where the acceptable range is in case you need to squeeze a bit more light out of a badly lit room. Learn how to use the different focusing modes to track a moving subject. Practice using flash as a main source of light and also a fill light and ensure you are competent in any lighting situation.

These techniques will ensure you are ready to tackle anything that the wedding day will throw at you and they’ll ensure that you are shooting with the camera and not fiddling with it.

5. Shoot a lot

It costs nothing to fill up a memory card so shoot and keep shooting all day. I don’t mean keep lining the guests up for group shot after group shot but shoot everything you can. The venue, the cars, the flowers, etc. should all be on your standard list but try putting on a long lens and shooting the guests again and again from different angles. If you are standing back and not getting in their way they’ll ignore you after a while and you’ll get some great shots of them relaxing and enjoying themselves.
You’ll find as you shoot more and more weddings you will become more efficient and the amount of ‘keepers’ you’ll get on a typical day will increase over time. When you are starting out you can try and offset this by keeping that shutter busy.

6. Research the venue

Always go and see the church and wedding venue before the big day. Especially if you haven’t been there before. Try and meet the wedding coordinator and explain to them that you are a novice photographer. You’ll usually pick up some great advice from them and they will show you all the usual spots for the best photography.

At your first wedding you are not trying to create unique images that have never been seen before so have a look at what others have shot in the past. Visit the websites of local wedding photographers and the chances are you’ll find some photographs from a wedding shot at your venue and you will be able to take inspiration from them.

7. Hire but don’t buy

It’s very tempting when you have been booked to shoot your first wedding to go out and buy a new professional camera with all the accessories that inevitably come with it. The trouble is, it will probably cost you more money to buy the camera than you will earn from the wedding. This means that you are running your business at a loss right from day one.

It’s much better in my opinion to rent the equipment that you need for the day. That way you’ll have excellent gear to use and it also means that your current camera can be used as a backup if things go wrong.

Do ensure to book the rental for a day or two before the wedding. This will give you time to familiarise yourself with the different button layout and tune the camera to your ow preferences.

8. Be polite and professional

There are a lot of stories about wedding photographers being rude to guests. A guest told me he’d been to a wedding once where the photographer was stood on the steps setting up the group shot, smoking a cigarette whilst whistling and barking orders at the guests. Don’t be that photographer!
After a wedding only a handful of the guests will actually see your wedding photos. The only experience most of the guests will have of you is watching you work. If you are rude or discourteous then you can forget any referral work, no matter what the standard of your photography is.

If you are polite and professional with the guests this will also reflect in your photography. Most people hate having their photograph taken so making this as painless as possible is your aim for the day.

9. Backup, backup and backup again

Alex Lindsay from Pixel Corps is often heard saying ‘A photograph doesn’t exist until it exists in three places’ and we tend to agree. During a wedding there is usually some downtime when the guests are eating and this is the first opportunity you have to start your backup strategy. We always take a laptop with us and copy the cards to the hard drive while we are on our break. This also gives you the chance to quickly scan through the photos that you have already taken and you can double check that you have everything that you need so far.

After the wedding we return to the office and back the photographs up to our main editing machine. We use Macs so once this has completed we use Time Machine to make another backup of the photographs to an external drive. After this round of backups has completed, the external drive is taken off site and put in a fire safe at one of our houses.

Then and only then do we know that we can reuse a memory cards for the next wedding.

10. Keep it simple

There’s a saying in sport ‘Don’t try to win the game with a miracle shot’. The same theory applies to wedding photography. Don't attempt to be over creative because you think you have to. Keep it simple. Good, sharp, uncluttered and in focus images are what you are aiming for. Trying to be too arty and spending too much time looking for that miracle shot could waste precious time that could be used to capture a dozen other ‘banker’ images.

Shooting your first wedding can be nerve-wracking but you’ll soon find that it can also be tremendous fun. Get to know the groomsmen and bridal party before the wedding day if you can. This will help you all relax and the fun you are having will be reflected in your photographs. Share your work on all the social media sites and before long you’ll be receiving referrals, gaining a reputation and hopefully be well on the way to building a successful wedding photography business.

Article from Kapow - www.kapowphotography.co.uk. You can read more wedding photography tips and business advice with Kapow’s new iPhone app titled: Wedding Photographer's Starter Kit.

Photographing Fireworks – How to Get It Right All the Time!

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:23:00 +0000

With the New Year just a few days away, you have the perfect opportunity to catch all those magical fireworks display on camera. But do you know how to make it work? Do you have the skills to capture all those breathtaking moments on camera? While a lot of people are not sure if they can do it right, you need to know that photographing fireworks is not as difficult as most people think it is. It’s really quite easy – if you know the tricks!
So, what do you need to do if you’re planning to photograph fireworks? Here are some tips you may need to consider:

Bring the right equipment.

When shooting firework displays, it is always advisable to use a tripod. Since you will be using longer shutter speeds to capture all those sharp images, you need to make sure that your camera remains as rock solid as it possibly can. And relying on your hands to do the job can be a very challenging one, to say the least. Just how long do you think you can keep your hands steady? It just can’t work. Period. My advise – get a tripod.
Another necessary equipment that you need to bring along with you on location is a remote release device – wheter it be a cable or an RC unit. This will help ensure that there will be no unnecessary shakes as you release the shutter.

And please don’t forget to bring a flashlight with you. It’s really hard to fumble in the dark when you are trying to adjust your camera settings, right?

Lastly, don’t forget to pack in some spare batteries and memory cards. You’ll be shooting a lot of photos so it’s better to be prepared for any eventualities.

Get the best possible view.

To do this, you may need to visit the area at daytime so that you can plan well ahead of time. Scout for areas that offer a clear view of the spectacle that is about to happen. Consider sites that satisfy the following criteria:

Free from all possible obstructions such as buildings, trees, cables or other people’s heads. A high vantage point such as the top of a roof or a hill will be ideal for such purposes.
Includes a famous historical landmark that may help enhance your shots.
Has a vast body of water. The fireworks’ reflection in the water can add drama to your photos!

Don’t put yourself in smoke’s way.

All fireworks produce smoke and this can get between you and that perfect shot you’re aiming for. So, find out where the wind is blowing and pick a location that is not against it. This way, the smoke won’t affect the quality of your photos and you’ll get sharper, more vivid images.

Know the perfect settings.

To capture the best fireworks display photos, you may need to consider the following camera settings:

Don’t use your flash. It will take the focus out of the bursts.
Keep your ISO low (preferably at 100) to increase your chances of getting sharper images.
If your camera has a fireworks mode, use it. If it doesn’t, don’t forget to keep your aperture at f/8 to f/16.
Set your shutter speed between 1 to 15 seconds. But if you really want to capture some really good photos, use the bulb mode.
You may use the infinity focus or the manual focus mode. Different experts have different opinions on this one so go ahead and see what works best for you.

Some more useful tips in photographing fireworks:

Keep shooting. It’s good to take a lot of pictures to increase your chances of getting that perfect shot.
Track your results from time to time. Make sure you’re not shooting a batch of duds.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Do you want to shoot from a wider perspective? Do you want to include silhouettes in the foreground? You can do these and more! Feel free to do whatever you want. Keep experimenting!

So, there you have it – the secrets to shooting perfect fireworks photos. Now, do you feel confident that you can shoot some pretty good photos this New Year’s eve? Go for it!

PS. It's one thing to learn a few tips from these articles I provide you for free but this link takes you to where you will learn how to get 'paying customers' to your photography business. Hey, but if you don't need customers, skip it!

FREE: 11 WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:14:00 +0000

CRAFT & VISION have just released their latest e-book: 11 WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY.

It’s a compilation of articles from proven Craft & Vision authors. There’s no recycled stuff in here, no excerpts from existing eBooks. It’s all new and made with love.

This eBook is jam-packed with 11 articles that will help photographers of all levels improve what they do.

And yes, it’s free.

Craft & Vision is a collection of hands-on, practical articles written by the following photographers (David duChemin, Piet Van den Eynde, Andrew S. Gibson, Nicole S. Young, Alexandre Buisse, Stuart Sipahigil, Eli Reinholdtsen and Michael Frye).

You will gain fresh ideas and insights into improving your photographic vision and the skills required to compose the images you want to make. It is 67 spreads (as in 134 magazine pages) which makes it the second largest eBook they’ve ever produced.

Download it. Enjoy it. Tell your friends about it.

Click here to view more details

P.S. This e-book has proved very popular! There is a limited number of downloads per day. So if you can't download today, please come back tomorrow.

Trick Photography and Special Effects

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:27:00 +0000

This is cool stuff and it works.

There's sooooo... much you can do with your next shoot and even apply to your existing photos here.

**You can truly amaze people with this! Wait until you see the stuff he uses as samples I'm still reeling from it....

I'm surprised it's so cheap given they also provide a bunch of good extra free stuff I've tried to describe below:

In addition to the (190 page) Trick Photography and Special Effects e-book, you get four additional bonus miniature e-books, at no extra charge:

Core Photography Fundamentals - This e-book goes over the basics concepts like aperture, depth of field and bokeh, shutter speed, ISO, focusing, white balance, how to get the sharpest photo possible, various accessories you can get for your camera, etc.

Introduction to External Flash Photography - Using an off-camera flash can be very useful when photographing people (as you know). This e-book tells you about the most popular techniques and suggests useful equipment needed to get started right away.

How To Make Money with Photography - Learn how to get your photos accepted into stock photography agencies and how to sell photos as fine art prints. (if you learn just one thing you're ahead right?)

Filters for Lenses and Plug-ins for Photoshop - This e-book reviews the effects filters and Photoshop plug-ins so you'll know how to create fun and 'trippy' effects.

I think I was getting a little serious with photography of late so I'm pleased I found this ... it has given me ideas I hadn't considered earlier ...probably will you too!

This link explains it better than I can plus you cansee the sample photos

...have fun with this one,

Krister

PS. Let me know of any good trick or special effects shots you do.

PPS. If you look around the site carefully there's a cool little pdf you can download for free too (it's worth downloading)

Win PhotoShop for Life!

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:46:00 +0000

Today I learned about this contest, and it seems pretty good to me, so I'm sharing the info ...

Here's the deal --

If you like to edit your photos, here's a contest to win what many people think is the best graphics package available.

The winner gets the current version of PhotoShop, and every upgrade as long as you're alive.
(They won't allow you to upgrade after you are dead, apparently. Sorry, but there's gotta be a limit!)

The contest is legit. I know the company offering this deal.

I've entered; maybe you'd like to enter, too. Why not?

Sign up here: http://appsumo.com/~PALB

All the best!

Krister

Free Hasselblad Exclusive Hands-On Event

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 07:28:00 +0000

Hands-On Exclusive Invite

Dear reader,

You are cordially invited to an EXCLUSIVE Hasselblad hands-on event courtesy of ePHOTOzine.

Location: Hasselblad Studio, Ground Floor, 71 Fanshaw Street, London, N1 6LA. UK.

Date: 20th October 2011

Time: 10:00h to 17:00h; stay all day or just drop in for a while.

At this fantastic event you'll get the chance to get hands-on with the Hasselblad range! You'll be able to take photos of model Katie Green; there will be a still-life set up for you to shoot and the opportunity to view your images on Eizo monitors. Broncolor will also be on site giving lighting demonstrations throughout the day. Remember to bring your own Compact Flash card so you can keep the images you take.

It is a relaxed and informal shoot, no strings attached and no sales; Hasselblad want you to experience working with their cameras and are looking forward to an enjoyable day!

RSVP: Please respond by the 12th of October to support@ephotozine.com, with "Hasselblad invite" in the subject bar.

N.B. The first fifty respondents will also be entered into a prize draw to win a one-year Advanced website, worth £119, courtesy of foliopic.com!

See you there!

Krister

Making Light

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:13:00 +0000

New eBook Available: Making Light

MAKING LIGHT is all about producing beautiful photographs with your off-camera flash. These practical techniques are specific to one remote flash so you can forget about all the fuss of using tons of equipment.

Learn how to fill in harsh shadows, balance ambient light, rescue fading evening light, or substitute for a complete lack of light. With the perfect blend of theory and easy-to-understand exercises you’ll gain the insight you need to rock your triggers and modifiers for both Canon and Nikon flashes. Through 9 case studies you’ll see just how simple and powerful your off-camera flash can be.

Making Light is available now as a downloadable PDF for just $5USD.

Special Offer on PDFs:

For the first five days only, if you use the promotional code LIGHT4 when you checkout, you can have the PDF version of Making Light for only $4 OR use the code LIGHT20 to get 20% off when you buy 5 or more PDF ebooks from the Craft & Vision collection.

These codes expire at 11:59pm PST August 21st, 2011.

Making Light is a great primer for anyone who is interested in using their hot-shoe flash to make truly dynamic images. The examples are easy to follow and put into practice immediately. If you have one hot-shoe flash already, this eBook will teach you how to work some photographic magic by taking it off your camera. You'll learn about different options for triggering it remotely, where to place it, and how to balance your flash with the ambient lighting. Yes, it's one of those topics which can be intimidating, but going through this book will provide you with a dramatic improvement in learning to master your flash.

Learn practical techniques like...

Flash fundamentals and characteristics of light
7 easy steps for setting up your Canon or Nikon flash unit, off-camera
A failsafe 10-step approach for shooting great photos with off-camera flash
How to eliminate those nasty shadows caused by your flash
Learn all about the basic gear for off-camera flash shooting

Remember: The downloadable PDF is just $5USD, or only $4 today if you use the discount code: LIGHT4.

Order here now

The Evocative Image

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:19:00 +0000

A Photographer's Guide to Capturing Mood

Andrew S. Gibson

The Evocative Image is an inspiring introduction to the processes and techniques specific to making photographs that express what we feel. With great examples, creative exercises, and insightful comments Gibson offers up his unique perspective on how he injects mood and atmosphere into his photographs. Learn more.

Where our hope for a photograph is to communicate more than just information, but to create impact and an emotional response, an understanding of some of the tools to create mood is essential. This ebook discusses interpretation, golden hour, blue hour, low light, wide apertures, long lenses, and other technical considerations that have an aesthetic effect on the mood of the photograph.

By taking our creative input into consideration we’ll be better prepared to capture the extraordinary in the ordinary; we’ll be “making” photographs instead of simply “taking” photos. The Evocative Image is Andrew Gibson’s 4th Craft & Vision title.

Food Photography: Tips and Tricks the Pros Use

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:28:00 +0000

by NYI Instructor Karen Schuld

Karen Schuld is an NYIP Instructor and began her career as a still-life and food photographer in New York City. Her approach is to rely on instinct plus the photographic skills she has developed throughout her career. Major corporations, such as Colgate-Palmolive Company, Revlon, and Procter & Gamble commissioned her to create looks unique to their products. She gives every shot a natural, not contrived, look. For samples from Karen, visit Karenphoto.com and Sprouts in the Hood.

One thing I have learned over the years is that it is easy for a photographer to make food look bland and tasteless. But, of course, the goal of a food photographer is to make the viewer desire the subject of your shot. Making food look appetizing requires a knack for styling, a careful eye for detail, and an ability to use light in a way that will bring romance and drama to your subject. Here are some tips and suggestions that can enable you to achieve a photograph that will whet the imagination — and the appetite — of the viewer.

While some photographers approach food shots in a static way by carefully contriving the shot, I prefer a more free-flowing, spontaneous approach to styling. As I shoot, I rearrange the food as often as it takes to get the right look. I view the plate as my canvas, and the food as my medium. Just as with any photograph, I try to achieve a design that draws the viewer's attention to my subject — in this case, the food. But, in shooting food, my goal is also to create a whimsical, playful design that juxtaposes unexpected colors and textures. For example, I toss herbs onto an entrée to add zest or include colorful fruit to achieve a more vibrant shot. The way I position myself and my camera also enhances the flow of the shot. While I sometimes shoot food large format with a tripod, I prefer shooting with my DSLR. It leaves me freer to move around my canvas and experiment with different camera positions and angles.

Food that looks fresh is appealing to a viewer; so it is important make your food look natural and not too staged. You should constantly check that your food stays fresh. Greens tend to wilt quickly. Meat can start to look exceedingly dry if you're not careful. A little water spritz can add moisture to your food, while steam can give it a "hot out of the oven" look. If you are a beginner, it can be beneficial to work with an experienced food stylist. A stylist can prepare your food so it is photo-ready and can bring another set of eyes to the set.

A good photographer always pays attention to detail. For any photograph to be successful, the photographer must select the right props and surfaces. Food photography is no exception. Choosing a special location or creating a staged environment for your subject can greatly enhance your shot. Choosing the right plate, bowl, glass or cutlery can also significantly improve the look of your shot. When you shoot food, it is important to choose a color scheme that that will complement the color or character of the food. A black background can intensify the color of a dish, while shooting on a white background will always create a clean look. Also, be aware that cuisine and culture go hand in hand, so document food by covering a region's people, markets, restaurants, and special dishes. Consider shooting a series of both close-up, medium, and wide shots that begins with the ingredients and ends with final food presentation.

Lighting is key to setting the mood for your photograph. Whether your concept requires drama or mystery, excitement or stability, you must carefully consider the lighting that will work for the situation. Use lighting you feel comfortable with. Natural light can work well with food but artificial light gives you more control over the look of the shot. A backlight with a little fill can make your food look luscious, while a sidelight can show texture and depth. It is very helpful to use a "stand in" entrée while you set up your lights, to get just the right atmosphere.

In conclusion, it is important that you spend adequate time preparing to ensure that you have the right foods, props, surfaces, lighting setup and personnel to make the shoot successful. It is essential to focus on styling and attend to all the details involved in the shot. Although there is no one right way to plan, style, light, and shoot food, always keep in mind that the end goal is to make your food look fresh, colorful, dramatic and, hence, appealing to the appetite. Your final shot should be one that stimulates the senses.

31 Photography Quotes by Ansel Adams

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Ansel Adams photo

Ansel Adams was a great American photographer, most well known as a master landscape artist. Most of his photographs depict natural landscapes of the American west. Born in San Francisco in 1902, Ansel Adams trained as a concert pianist before deciding to become photographer. He became famous for the technical skill with which he produced spectacular images of the American landscape. He advocated straight and un-manipulated photography. His works were exhibited all around the country, and he helped establish the department of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1940, and was awarded a number of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation to photograph National Parks in America.

Influential as both a teacher and lecturer, he was also an avid conservationist. He published many books of his images, and also technical and training guides to teach beginning photographers. In 1980, Ansel Adams was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Throughout his long and storied career, he also was frequently quoted about photography, and often conservation of our natural resources. Following are some of his simple, though often deep, quotations, sourced from brainyquote.com.

“A good photograph is knowing where to stand.”
“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”
“A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into.”
“A true photograph need not be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”
“Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships.”
“I tried to keep both arts alive, but the camera won. I found that while the camera does not express the soul, perhaps a photograph can!”
“In my mind’s eye, I visualize how a particular… sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph. It is an intuitive sense, an ability that comes from a lot of practice.”
“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.”
“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”
“It is my intention to present – through the medium of photography – intuitive observations of the natural world which may have meaning to the spectators.”
“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer – and often the supreme disappointment.”
“Millions of men have lived to fight, build palaces and boundaries, shape destinies and societies; but the compelling force of all times has been the force of originality and creation profoundly affecting the roots of human spirit.”
“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
“Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.”
“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.”
“Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.”
“Some photographers take reality… and impose the domination of their own thought and spirit. Others come before reality more tenderly and a photograph to them is an instrument of love and revelation.”
“Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter.”
“The negative is comparable to the composer’s score and the print to its performance. Each performance differs in subtle ways.”
“The only things in my life that compatibly exists with this grand universe are the creative works of the human spirit.”
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”
“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”
“These people live again in print as intensely as when their images were captured on old dry plates of sixty years ago… I am walking in their alleys, standing in their rooms and sheds and workshops, looking in and out of their windows. Any they in turn seem to be aware of me.”
“To photograph truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record the qualities of nature and humanity which live or are latent in all things.”
“Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop.”
“We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium.”
“When I’m ready to make a photograph, I think I quite obviously see in my minds eye something that is not literally there in the true meaning of the word. I’m interested in something which is built up from within, rather than just extracted from without.
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
“Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.”
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”

If you found this article stimulating then you’ll probably like The Making of 40 Photographsby Ansel Adams.

Review of "Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers"

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:14:00 +0000

"Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers" Review

Seller: David Peters

Summary:

"Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers" is a collection of 22 videos, which demonstrate how to edit digital photos using Photoshop. Each video is a step-by-step tutorial of the most common image editing tasks in Photoshop.

Product Details:

The main product is a set of 34 instructional videos. These include 12 video tutorials for Photoshop, from Photoshop 7 through to the later versions bundled with Creative Suite products (CS2 and CS3). Most of the videos are less than 5 minutes long. The longest video is 12 minutes and 48 seconds.

The topics for Photoshop 7 through CS2 are:

- Change Eye Color
- Change Hair Color
- Fix Underexposed Photos
- More Punch Photo
- Instant Tan
- Panoramic
- Double Chin
- Remove Red Eye
- Remove Spots and Blemishes
- Remove Unwanted Objects
- Remove Wrinkles
- Whiten Teeth

The topics for CS3 are:
- Batch Rename
- Batch Resize
- Change Hair Color
- Double Chin
- Eye Color
- Instant Tan
- Look Funny
- Look Slimmer
- More Punch Photo
- Photomontage
- Red Eye Removal
- Remove Spots and Blemishes
- Remove Unwanted Objects
- Remove Wrinkles
- Replace Backgrounds
- Selective Color
- Smooth Skin
- Soft Romantic
- Straighten Image
- Fix Underexposed Photos
- Whiten Teeth

"Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers" also includes the following bonuses:

- Video tutorial images: These are the exact same images edited in the videos. The customer can work on the same images and practice the skills each video demonstrates.

- Flickr tutorials: A step-by-step guide on how digital photographers can make the most of this free site to share (and show off) your photos. There are 14 videos on Flickr alone.

Format: Online video in both Flash and Shockwave formats, which can be viewed online and downloaded into the user’s hard drive The tutorial images are digital image files (JPG).

The Flickr tutorial is in online video format as well.

Thoughts on the Product:

Whether you edit digital photos for fun or for work, these video tutorials will make the tasks much easier.

Photoshop is a powerful graphic editor, but the learning curve can be pretty steep. You could spend hours learning everything yourself, or pay for a class. Or, you could watch these videos and learn the most common digital photo editing tasks at your own pace.

Video demonstration is an excellent way of learning a complicated software such as Photoshop. It’s like looking over the shoulder of an instructor - but one that you can pause, rewind or fast forward as needed.

The best way to use these videos is to have Photoshop open in another window, pause the video to complete each of the steps demonstrated, and then compare your final result with that of the video. Because the
tutorial images are included, this is easy for users to do. You get instant feedback and practice.

The tutorials are for different versions of Photoshop, from Photoshop 7 to CS3.

Where to Learn More: www.edityourdigitalphotos.com

Video Review of "Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers

<a href="http://www.linkedtube.com/z1nmuEwfnWQ69054ed1a92d5d7e3adb81dcd376f3ab.htm">LinkedTube</a>

Avoid The Most 12 Common Digital Photography Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:17:00 +0000

With digital cameras at their most affordable, anybody can be a photographer these days. The problem is, it takes more than a camera to take good pictures.

It takes a certain eye, a way of seeing things, to take pictures that make people go "Wow!" Fortunately, it can be learned. And the more you practice, the better you'll get at it.

If you're interested in becoming a good digital photographer, I recommend the "Shoot Digital Pics Like the Pros,", a free report.

Start by taking a look at these most common mistakes people make when taking digital pictures:

1. Not knowing your camera

If you never read your digital camera's manual and learn its features and how to use them, you won't be able to make the most of it.

2. Not using a tripod

Tripods allow you to take the sharpest pictures even in low light. Use one as often as possible.

3. Not giving the camera time to focus

Digital cameras need time to properly focus and get the right exposure. It can take a fraction of a second or a couple of seconds. Account for this when taking pictures.

4. Relying too much on zoom

Using the camera's zoom feature makes the picture grainier. Get as close to the subject as possible.

5. Taking pictures against the light

This makes the subject dark and the background too bright.

6. Relying too much on the flash

Natural light gives the best pictures, so use it as much as possible. Flash tends to make images look harsh.

7. Not taking enough pictures

It's almost impossible to take the perfect shot at one try, so take many pictures. With digital photography, this doesn't cost you extra. Try different angles and compositions.

8. Always putting the subject dead center

Learn the rule of thirds in composition, and you'll have more interesting pictures.

9. Forgetting to check the horizon

When taking pictures with the horizon showing, make sure it's level.

10. Selecting a low-resolution setting

Your camera will allow you to select different resolutions. Don't be tempted to choose a low resolution just to save on memory space. Instead, buy additional memory for your camera and always take your pictures in high resolution.

11. Trying to take too much

Don't try to include too many things in one picture, such as people and scenery. A picture is more effective when it's focused on a single subject.

12. Not using the camera

You'll never know when a good photo op will come up, so have your camera with you at all times.

It may seem like a lot to think about, but with practice, these things will become second nature.

For those who want to learn even more digital photography techniques, check out the free report, "Shoot Digital Pics Like the Pros,", It's a short but info-filled guide that will have you shooting digital pictures like a pro in no time.

Find out more about "Shoot Digital Pics Like the Pros" here:
www.learndigitalphotographynow.com

Sell Your Digital Photos

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:15:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2011 Version of the comprehensive guide to freelance digital photography, "Sell Your Digital Photos".

The first edition of this ebook came out in 2008 and it has gone on to become one of the publisher's bestselling ebooks.

But "Sell Your Digital Photos" is actually more than an ebook. You receive the ebook. You get several photography bonuses. And you also gain access to their VIP area with a database of more than 400 magazines and other publications that pay great fees for freelance photography!

This new 2011 version has 216 pages of comprehensive information on selling your digital photos.

To celebrate the release of this new edition we're putting it on sale for just $27.95. So if you buy it today you'll save $12 and receive everything mentioned above.

Get this while it's hot...and very up-to-date.
Click here

Advanced Exposure

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:47:00 +0000

Your camera offers a range of advanced tools to assist and complement the built-in exposure meter

In most situations your camera will produce perfect exposures but there are times where it may need a little help to get the best results. Fortunately most cameras offer a range of tools to help you judge and fine-tune the exposure that your camera has set. Here are a few of them.

Histogram

A histogram is a graph showing the spread of tones in an image, with the peaks to the left showing the darkest areas and the peaks on the right showing the brightest areas.

In an average picture, with an equal number of dark and light areas, these peaks should be evenly distributed across the image. If your image is underexposed the peaks will be bunched to the left end, and perhaps fall off the end of the graph, while with overexposure they will be over to the right.

Simply adjust your exposure to get the peaks nearer the centre. However, with some subjects the peaks need to be biased to one side. With a snow scene, for example, they should be over to the right. If they're in the centre it means your snow is mid-grey in tone.

Many cameras offer a live histogram so you can view it before shooting, rather than having to go into review mode and see it afterwards.

Bracketing

Another sure way to guarantee perfect exposures is to shoot every picture at a range of exposure settings.

You can do this manually, of course, but most cameras have an auto-bracket feature that can do this for you. When you press the shutter it will take one at the exposure it thinks is correct, plus one or more shots either side of that, in third, half or whole stop increments (determined by you). It all happens in a fraction of a second.

Image: Bracketing is useful for tricky metering situations when you aren't sure which exposure will produce the best result

Dynamic Range Adjustment

A perfect exposure is generally regarded as one that records detail in both the darkest and lightest parts of the scene (excluding high- and low-key images).

Sometimes, though, the subject contrast is beyond the sensor's ability to record detail in both the deep shadows and bright highlights.

Many cameras now include a Dynamic Range feature that boosts detail in the shadows and/or holds back the highlights, much like Photoshop's Shadow/Highlight feature.

Use caution, though. Apply too much and the image will look unreal, and noise will be increased in the shadows.

Image: The Dynamic Range feature boosts shadow and/or highlight detail

High Dynamic Range (HDR)

High Dynamic Range photography, or HDR, takes the Dynamic Range adjust feature a stage further.

It involves taking a range of shots at different exposure settings (you can use the auto-bracket for this), then using either Photoshop or dedicated HDR software to combine these shots into one image that incorporates a wider range of detail than you can get from a single shot.

However, the effect can look cartoonish and unreal if applied too heavily. Some cameras now offer an HDR option in the camera.

Image: HDR is a technique that involves taking several shots at different exposures and blending them together on the PC

By Nigel Atherton.

25% off the Captivating Color eBook!

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:11:00 +0000

A week ago today dPS launched a brand new eBook - Captivating Color: A Guide to Dramatic Color Photography.

The reviews and feedback from readers have been fantastic and so to celebrate the release of the eBook we've decided to run a little competition to give away a brand new iPad 2 to one lucky buyer of the eBook.

Win an iPad

We thought it'd be a great prize as our PDF eBooks are readable on iPads (you just upload them to your computer and then drag it into iBooks via iTunes) plus they're fun for photographers with the growing range of photography Apps and new cameras.

If you buy Captivating Color before 9am next Tuesday (Melbourne Time) you'll be in the running to win a 16GB iPad 2 (you can choose which color) worth just under $500.

If you are one of the thousands who have already bought the eBook you're already in the draw. This is open to people world wide to enter - we'll ship the iPad anywhere.

Here's the Offer

Also to keep things neat we're going to extend the 25% discount and bonus eBook giveaway until Tuesday also. So all in all you get:

25% off the Captivating Color eBook - worth $19.99 for just $14.99
A Bonus eBook - Seeing the Light - worth $12 (but free with this purchase)
An Entry into the iPad 2 giveaway

As this email goes out you have less than 7 days to take advantage of this deal - so don't hesitate and pick up your copy of Captivating Color today here.

Charity Photo Auctions in aid of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0000

On 11th March 2011, the Japanese coast was hit by a massive tsunami after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, leaving many dead and many more homeless.

Many photographers have agreed to submit high quality photos to be auctioned to and to give 100% of the proceeds to theJapan Earthquake Tsunami Relief Fund organised by the GlobalGiving Foundation.

This project will disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps, Save the Children, and other organizations on the ground.

So, please consider donating a print to the sale.

Learn how.

Captivating Color - A Guide to Dramatic Color Photography

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 08:22:00 +0000

Mitchell Kanashkevich is a tirelessly curious world wanderer and a travel/documentary photographer. His main passion lies in capturing disappearing ancient cultures and the human condition in unique, challenging situations.

His range of subjects is fairly broad, but whether he is photographing nomadic shepherds in India, life in the last traditional villages of Eastern Europe or sulfur miners working in a volcanic crater, Mitchell's common aim is always the same - to capture the human element.

Mitchell does freelance work and shoots documentary photo stories and write eBooks, mostly in collaboration with “Craft & Vision” as well as “Digital Photo School”. In just a day or two he will be launching his new e-book by the name of

Captivating Color – A Guide to Dramatic

Color Photography

Please look out for my next post for this exclusive and fascinating book.

Much of Mitcell's travel/documentary photography is represented by Getty Images, while his cultural portraits, both colour and black and white are in the private collections of photo lovers and collectors worldwide. So expect to learn some very useful tips from this great photographer.

You can check out his portfolio at

http://www.mitchellkphotos.com/photography.html

What Is Freelance Photography?

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:50:00 +0000

A photographer that is for hire for an array of types of photography is practicing freelance photography. At one point, or another, in the lives of most photographers, there is a period when there aren’t one or two specific photography niches that they specialize in.

Freelance photography allows photographers to hire themselves out in different photography niches, as well as sell their photos as stock photography. Customers hire freelance photographers when they have a need for some quality photography but they don’t have the skills, the equipment or the time to do it themselves.

Freelance photographers typically and often work odd hours. It is not unusual for a photographer to have an irregular shooting schedule, or a photo session at off hours of the day or night. Most freelancers enjoy theflexibility that this allows.

Actually, there are basically only two types of photography:

stock photography and
assignment photography

Stock photography is the selling of photos after they have been taken (as a rule). And assignment photography is when photographers are hired to photograph people, places and things as determined by thecustomer hiring. The term ‘hired’ can be misleading. The photographer is not an employee of the customer, but a self-employed consultant.

Part-Time Freelance Photography

Part-time photographers can do very well as freelance photographers.

Many photographers use freelance photography:

to find photography markets that pay the most in an area;
to find out what specific photography types are in the highest demand;
to transition to full-time or more focused niche photography; and
to sell their own photos themselves

My experience continues to be that most photographers freelance. There are just a couple of prerequisites to freelance:

A digital camera
Internet access
Know-How

That’s it! Of course, there is much more needed to be efficient and proficient. But, that is really all you need to get started.

What Is Freelance Photography?

It is a tremendous help if the photographer knows the various photography niches. Many photographers are sometimes confused by the “photography niche” issue. As a rule, photographers want to photograph everything! That’s fine. However, knowing the various photography niches helps photographers in a number of ways.

First of all, knowing the niche will help the photographer understand that standards within the specific niche. For examples, portrait photography is a niche. Within the niche of portrait photography there are niches. Senior portraits and executive portraits are examples of two distinct niches within a niche. The standards of ‘senior’ portraits are somewhat more ’creative,’ ‘edgy,’ and personality-driven. And, of course, the standards for executive portrait photography are dramatically different from those of ‘senior’ portrait photography. It helps the quality of the photo when the photographer knows the niche standards’ differences.

Also, knowing the specific photography niche is very helpful to the photographer in choosing how to communicate marketing messages to customers. Using the ‘senior portrait’ example and the ‘executive portrait’ again, the photographer’s marketing message must be different because one audience is a bunch of high school students. The other audience is experienced professionals. The languages that appeals to them are dramatically different. Knowing the niche helps determine the useful language and categories.

Also, knowing specific photography niches will help the photographer compile great looking portfolios. Some of the biggest mistakes that photographers make are with their portfolios. One mistake is that photographers put too much in their photography portfolio. Sometimes, people portraits are mixed with landscape photography, etc. Although the offending photographers’ intent is to show their work, to the experienced eye, they’re showing their lack of knowledge. With portfolios, less is more!

Photographers should only show their best. And niches shouldn’t be mixed unless the portfolio is specifically demonstrating the range of the photographer. Unless the ‘range’ portfolio is requested, stick with the ‘less-is-more’ specific niche.

How To Freelance Photography

This is the challenge for most photographers that freelance – knowing what to do, when to do it, where to do it and how! That is a lot to know! But, you can learn over time. It isn’t necessary to “know-it-all” before you start. Knowing the basics, however, is key.

A good thing to know is that the current growth explosion in the photography industry has a positive effect on freelance photography. The current demand worldwide for photos is not being met by current supply. Freelance photographers can profit from that growth.
Freelance photography is perfect for home-based photographers. In fact, many people are choosing photography as a source of extra income. This is the perfect fit for the work-at-home-moms of the world.
Knowing what is selling in the market is done through research. Research what is in demand, what are the prices, what is the most lucrative, what are prices, etc.
Knowing how to shoot quality photos is critical. Again, it’s important to know the standards of the different photography niches. Standards of quality are a given. However, within some specific niches there are varying standards – that benefits the photographer that knows the differences.
Editing photos ‘know-how’ is very helpful to the freelance photographer. Digital photos often needsome minor editing. (As a side note, digital photo editing is a photography niche that many knowing photographers freelance in.)
In this digital photography world, knowing how to optimize (make easier to find) web pages, photos,titles, descriptions and keywords will help customers find your photos online.
Knowing ‘where’ to start saves a tremendous amount of time (and money, sometimes – if you don’t know, you might purchase unnecessary expensive equipment that you don’t need).

Knowing where to find good information is the ultimate solution. There is an “information overload” in freelance photography ‘how-to.’ Unfortunately, much of it isn’t that “informative.” Two very good and very informative freelance photography beginning solutions and why they are very good (in my opinion):

Both provide good ‘how-to’ information on where and how to start. Both also provide very good brief explanationsof the different photography niches. And you will be successful following the steps in both of them. One of them offersmore information about successfully entering the stock photography market. A consistent source of income for the freelance photographer is selling their existing photos as stock. This one provides information on taking photos and selling them to magazines. The magazines’ guidelines, requests, prices paid, etc. are provided
The other resource is also very good and very informative. This particular resource offers a 100% guarantee that their freelance photography course will make you money.

I have both of them. They are both very, very good! Successful freelance photography is very doable and very within your reach.

Freelancing also develops your photography business skills. It’s one of the best kept secrets in photography. But, now you “know the secret!”

Adding Emotion and Feeling To Photographs

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:50:00 +0000

One thing that makes a great photo is its ability to convey emotion. Emotion in a photograph, or any work of art, is what helps a viewer connect with a piece if that emotion is prevalent in the viewer. Happiness and joy, sorrow and despair, these are some of the easier emotions as they are universally felt, at one time or another, by all on this planet.

Emotion, or a feeling, is what can bring a snapshot out of obscurity and make it shine. Think of a normal sunset picture from the shores of Hawaii with just the horizon and a bright orange sun dipping low. It’s beautiful for sure and even better when viewed in person. Now pull the zoom back to a wider angle and show a couple in silhouette, sitting on lounge chairs facing the waves and reaching to each other to hold hands. Different people will connect with each photo in different ways, or maybe not at all. Those in a romanic mood will enjoy the photo of the couple and those looking for calm without distraction may enjoy the singular sunset.

My point here is you can’t guess which mood people will be in when they view your work. Which is actually a good thing, because the photo should be your expression of what you see and feel through the viewfinder (unless you are attempting a neutrally biased photojournalistic stance). Here then are some tips to help convey emotion and feeling in photographs to help make a stronger connection with viewers.

Realize What Type Of Mood You’re In While Shooting

Your emotional state has the largest impact on the emotional quality of your photos. When I look back through travel photos I will often noticed a dip here and there in the number of photos taken on a particular day. The quality is also off and I can remember just what I was feeling that day. In most cases, I had that, “Just not feeling it today” blah that comes and goes for us all. And it shows in my work. Ok snapshots of mountains, but nothing to write home about.

Other days I feel like the world is my oyster and I’m uncovering hidden gems left and right.

It’s important to understand where you are and realize that will likely come through in your photography (while realizing just like anything in life, some people are really good at faking it). Give yourself a break on the down days and be sure to pick up your camera on the upswings. Just remember that neither lasts forever.

Tighten The Shot

Often a singular emotion gets lost in a busy scene. This goes for photos as well. Simplify the main subject of the image before hitting the shutter release. A wide angle view of a festival in the streets might show the size, which can be impressive in its own right, but the feel of that party is best conveyed on the faces of those dancing or performing in the crowd. Zero in on the action. It may tell the difference between a large crowd who is standing around, bored or a large crowd having the time of their lives.

Focus On Faces

This is a fairly straight forward bit of advice that may seem obvious, but many of us avoid people photographs when in a new situations with strangers. When possible, always ask permission before taking a picture of stranger, especially head on. Again, remember your mood will possibly influence theirs and if you are trying to capture them as naturally as can be (without being a sniper hiding in the shadows), keep your demeanor as neutral as can be. Simple raised eyebrows while pointing to your camera does work and it doesn’t require a huge smile on your part, as if you are asking your subject to smile back.

Chances are they will convey what they wish. If life is hard, they likely won’t smile and their face will often tell the tale of their hardships. If they are joyous, or just young, you may get a beaming smile. And with any good portrait, remember to get sharp focus on the eyes. And share the results with your subject if you can.

Set Your Camera Down And Observe

I tend to get lambasted when I tell people to stop shooting and set the camera away, so this time I’ll simply tell you to put the camera down for a minute. Forget about shooting and just sit and observe. Your mood has a big part in what and how you shoot, but also realize that being a shooter in a situation often means you travel in a bubble.

To break out of that bubble and absorb more from the world in which you are immersed, sit. And observe for 15 minutes. The mood of those around you will often become more apparent with this relaxed stance.

Return If You Can

If you are shooting a subject which you can return to, do it. The same street or beach or room will have a different feel on different days, especially if the weather changes often. And your mood can shift as well from day to day. Return to a location with an open mind for a second look and you may be surprised to find not only are the characters involved different, the feel of the place is different too.

Conveying emotion in photography is a surefire way to help your work connect with those viewing it. It will help lift the quality of your work and give it more punch. Before you hit the shutter release next time, think to yourself, “What emotion am I trying to convey?”

By Peter West Carey

Peter West Carey is a world traveler who loves sharing his experiences and knowledge at photography workshops, through photo presentations and photo tours. Find him on Facebook, his blog and Twitter.

What type of photography returns the most money? ...you may be shocked

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:03:00 +0000

By Roy Barker

If you are keen to look further into the wedding photography

market or you want to get started, this is close to being

what I would call the wedding photography rule book. It

even provides necessary document templates for ensuring

you get payed.

A thought! ....What's the point of starting a wedding photography business and end up eating noodles the rest of your life while you sleep in the park? ...Joking!

My point is that to take good pictures there is a lot that goes into play, looking carefully at how other Masters do it, reading, investing (in new equipment) and the list goes on (as you know) so why take up dust photography if it's not even going to give you enough to buy toothpaste. Who wants to see pictures of dust? I guess there would be someone, but I don't think they'd pay.

In my experience the three major areas of profitable photography are:

- weddings
- babies and children
- portraits (general)

Not always in that order but I'll tell you why I put weddings first.

'There are no second chances in wedding photography'...is the main reason. If

your camera gets stolen immediately after the wedding, you can't call everyone

back and say "Let's do it again!"

The next reason is, YOU the photographer are in the position of power in this field. Remember that because I'm going to refer back to it. Once the wedding and reception are over, you have the KEY to the goodies and creativity.

All concerned parties are now waiting on and trusting you to deliver. This effects pricing and UP-SELLS. Do this part right and you can do less weddings and lead a good wealthy photographer lifestyle.

The other two areas of photography I mentioned are also lucrative but not as lucrative if you do wedding photography right.

There are sensitivities which many overlook. Here are some to ponder...

- The bridal party get tired of having their picture taken with relatives and friends after all they are there to enjoy their wedding as well. The photographer must identify when this is happening and fix it fast.

- All the shots are demanding. Meaning, you will be required to shoot the ring when it goes on the finger, little six year old Johny kissing the bridesmaid in the corner (I saw that happen once), the grandparents laughing, intoxicated aunt Sarah dancing on the table, the cars, formal shots etc..

You really need about ten photographers but there's just you ..right? I know you can see where I'm headed with this. With more money comes responsibility and work. Hey.. but the earnings are really, really worth it!

A little while back I had one of my readers contact me about being (nearly) ripped off by some knucklehead client. She remains anonymous for obvious reasons. I stress this one same thing - you must protect yourself as well as making sure you please the client and in the same breath 'make an excellent profitable return'.

Note: You will need a contract, reminder letter, proper invoice, a thank you letter, and THIS ONE is important - an extended time agreement. You should also add an upsell strategy, two would be better (my favourite) where you give away a large shot and duplicate it in smaller sizes to be sold to the guests with the bride and grooms blessing (because you gave them a free framed big portrait or similar). The bride and groom sometimes sell it for you - make it worth their while and they will.

Your shots must be exceptional - I'm assuming you know how to do that already.

You can see there are methods to be used in this process to make it more profitable than simply taking shots and charging for your time. That's why I recommended this product on my site because it provides ideas, answers and documents for all these elements and the issues which have been tested... and work! One wedding will pay for it many times over AND you'll be able to use the same stuff at every wedding after. That's SO good and it beats koala juggling for a living!

You can get it here.

Hope this has been of some help,

Krister

PS. Always, always, always take two cameras to a wedding even if you have to borrow the other camera.

PPS. If you do weddings correctly, the babies, children and portraits come to you by default :-)

Here's that product link again

Filters explained

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:05:00 +0000

What are the different type of filters available for your digital camera and what does each one do? Our filters explained article covers graduated filters, ND filters, Polarising filters, and UV filters.

Grad filter (Graduated)

Graduated filters are usually neutral density types (more commonly called ‘ND Grad'), with the ND effect on one half gradually blending to the other clear half. Useful for balancing lighter skies with darker foreground detail.

ND filter (Neutral density)

Neutral Density filters reduce all wavelengths of light equally, so that the final result shows no colour bias. Useful for extending exposure times, such as when trying to capture motion blur.

UV filter (Ultraviolet)

Ultraviolet filters block UV light from entering the lens. As they have almost no effect on images in everyday use, many people keep these on their lenses permanently to protect the front element from any damage.

Polarising filter

The most useful filter, a polariser sorts incoming light into a single polarity. By doing so, it can deepen blue skies and minimise reflections in water or glass, for example.

Source: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com

Quick question: Can you take photographs like the ones below?

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:07:00 +0000

If so, You can make money just by submitting your photos online!

That's right! I'm going to show you step-by-step how you can submit photos online and earn
up to $5000 week after week!

All in your spare time!

All you need is a digital camera and an internet connection!

From the desk of Jarrod Hardcastle
Freelance photographer and creator of DigiCamCash.com

Hi, My name is Jarrod Hardcastle. I am a freelance photographer and the creator of DigiCamCash.

Right now, on this very website, I am going to show you how to make money just by using your digital camera and submitting your photos online. It's simple and you can get started in just a few minutes from now.

Not long ago I stumbled across a simple, yet extremely effective way to make money just by using my digital camera. I had been trying to make decent money as a photographer for a few years but now that I have discovered this secret source of income I am earning far more then I could have imagined.

And do you know the best part?.. I am still earning money on photos I submitted online over a year ago!.. and I will continue to earn from these photos for ever.

	There is no limit to how much you can earn. The more photos you submit the more money you will make!
	This job is FUN! I truly look forward to waking up in the morning and taking photos with my digital camera.
	Want to be your own boss? This is perfect for you! Don't put up with your current boss any longer.
	You get paid on time, every time!
	You get to choose your own work hours.
	Have holidays whenever you want!
	You can get started in just a few minutes and there are no expensive outlays!

I have now created a fool-proof system that lets YOU earn money from your photos and you can get started in just a few minutes from now...

You don't need an expensive camera
You don't need expensive printing equipment
You don't need your own website
and you don't need any photography experience at all!

NOTE: If you have a bunch of photos on your computer right now you could be sitting on a gold mine. You could be earning money from each of your photos!

Now its your turn to make a ton of cash just
by using your digital camera!

Introducing..

The System...

With you will learn absolutely everything you need to know to make money just by using your digital camera. You are NOT going to need any expensive equipment because you will submit your photos straight to the internet. You don't even need an expensive digital camera! (A 3.2Megapixel is good enough)

This is the complete fool-proof, system to making money with your digital camera. NO other product comes close to what I reveal with .

This program has been designed to help ANYBODY make money with their camera. You do not need any photography experience at all because I am going to teach you step-by-step what you need to do!

Click the link below to discover what you are going to learn in the members only area and how you get get into this money makers club!

Click Here!

How To Sell Stock Photos

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:28:00 +0000

Learn How To Shoot, Upload and Sell Photos

From Your DSLR to Create a Monthly, Residual

Income That Keeps on Paying When

You Stop Working!

Have you ever wondered how to sell stock photos using just your current DSLR and lens?
Would you like to grow your own library of images to produce a steady, monthly, residual income?
Would you like to learn how simple it REALLY is?

By Nick Stubbs

If you answered yes to the above, then this new stock photography eBook covers everything you need to know about selling stock photography.

We have left no stone unturned and reveal all the secrets to producing a library of images that bring in a consistent, residual monthly income:

What to shoot
What NOT to shoot
How to shoot it
How to process it
Where to upload (agencies)
Where NOT to upload
How to upload
Traditional vs. Microstock
Effective keywording for more sales
Camera settings
Software
Equipment
Selection of sample images with real sales values from traditional and microstock...

(Recently sold for $352.19 at Alamy Images Competing with nearly 18 million other images! Could YOU take a simple shot like that?)

Samples of rejected images and why they were rejected
Learn how to get accepted first time at the agencies saving time and hassle!

I have been a photographer since 1980 (when I was just 13), I have been shooting stock photography for over 5 years and currently have some of the top selling images in the world in my online libraries taken with nothing more than a prosumer DSLR and lens.

I have seen them for sale:

On billboards in Spain

Within in-flight magazines
Russian travel magazines

American national press adverts

UK national press

...and even taking up the entire wall in the entrance of one of my local restaurants (that was a cool surprise)

An added benefit is that you can use these sales (when you see them) as part of your portfolio...what better way to show off your work to a potential client than in commercial print? I first learned how to sell stock photos long before microstock was born...in the days of the traditional photo libraries.

But the market is saturated...Wahhhh!!!

So is pretty much any market since the internet boom and to be honest, the more people that think that, the better for me! Keeps the competition away! Here's a little tip from my Business of Photography book for those of you with bigger ba**s (excuse the French but whingers annoy me)...

"Would you rather enter a dead market with nothing going on or would you rather learn how to sell stock photos and enter a market that is booming and growing rapidly with many people making money? Would you rather take a small piece of a huge pie or take the whole pie with no filling? It's common business sense 101".

The only people not making money from stock photography are those who don't do it or those who give up.

Sure, you may not make a fortune or full time living from stock alone...I don't, but I have made enough to pay our mortgage on a property in Spain and more every month since my initial batch of uploads 5-6 years ago, and there are quite a few who do make a healthy, full time living from this...including people who were new to photography just 5 years ago...

What would you do with a few hundred or maybe a few thousand extra Dollars a month...every month, that comes in whether you keep working or not?

The first batch of images that I uploaded more than 5 years ago are still bringing in a solid, residual monthly income and the sales and Dollars earned just keep growing even when up against 10 million other images!!!

Here is a snapshot of my actual sales at Alamy over a 12 week period last year:

Check out the images! Dumper trucks & building site, a flagpole and an umbrella on a beach that sold for $439!

Now take a look at the following snapshot from one day of one of the 6 microstock accounts that I upload to (this is only my 3rd highest earning account).I now earn more at microstock than previously at Alamy.

Look at the date each image was accepted and now look at the earnings from a single download...that amount would have been just .50c when I started and it is now on autopilot...

As I write this, one customer has just bought 47 of my images at high resolution in one go earning enough to buy a new lens! This industry never fails to excite me and I have now sold tens of thousands of images, plus the thousands of photographers I have introduced to microstock and stock photography in general have collectively sold close to half a million photos!!!

You see, the sooner you learn how to sell stock photos, the sooner your images start to mature. The more they mature, the easier they are to get found. The easier they get found, the more sales they make. The more sales they make, the more $$$'s they sell for as the agencies reward their popularity with a higher value.

How to Sell Stock Photos - What a great business!

It's like getting a pay rise every year as your images become more valuable and there has never been a better time to get into shooting and learning how to sell stock photos. Once you have a substantial library of good selling images at all the agencies we recommend, those images will still bring in an income long after you stop uploading...

In the beginning of microstock, photos sold for miniscule commissions as the industry founds its footing among the masses. Now it has time to mature and things have settled, the payout value is increasing and the industry is still growing at a phenomenal rate. I am currently seeing a real boom in sales despite the economic downturn with images selling for 10 times what they used to make.

In fact, it is probably DUE to the downturn that people are looking to turn to more affordable stock photography.

This is a really great business to be in as you can:

Take it at your own pace and learn as you go
You can upload as little or as many images as you like with no penalty
You are under no obligation to shoot a certain amount of images
It is a great way to learn and improve your photography
...and it is fun!

So why am I showing you how to do this? Won't that put you directly in competition with me?

Well, yes and no.

You see, in all honesty, some people who read this book will foolishly give up at the first hurdle, some will slowly build a great library of images and start to earn some very welcome extra cash each month and others will simply fly at this.

I am already seeing great results from pupils who have attended our two day workshop on how to sell stock photos and are receiving regular sales. More than that, even if everyone that read this book went out and excelled at this, there is still enough to go around for everybody...this industry is huge!

Index of Chapters:

Introduction
Equipment
Traditional vs. Microstock
Agencies
Exclusive or Non Exclusive?
Go it alone?
Licensed, Royalty Free or Rights Managed
Standards
The Images
- Concepts/Subjects/What sells?
- Still life/food/objects
- Nature/animals/pets
- Landscapes
- Travel
- People
- Business
- Family
- Pollution/Environment, Urban Decay
- Current Affairs
- Property
- Lifestyle
- Trends and Technology
- Sports
- Composites, Vectors and Digital Artwork
Rejections
Lighting
Colours
Composition, macro, wide, cropped etc
Camera Settings
RAW/Jpeg Processing
Photoshop, Finishing touches and attention to detail
Noise/Grain
Keywording and adding info
Upload only your best
Consistency
Competition and inspiration
Setting up your own studio
Copyright, Trademarks and the Law
Getting seen/Marketing your work
Staying ahead of the game/Moving on/Future Proofing
Earnings
Close

So what are you waiting for? You don't have to be a professional photographer to make money with stock photography and you could start today!

BONUS - Free eBOOK!

For a limited time I am offering a 150 page bonus eBook valued at $47 for all purchasers of "How to Sell Stock Photos".

This book is entitled "The Business of Photography" and covers all aspects of running a photography business from getting clients, earning money with your camera, accounting, marketing, websites and even your health! As I said, this is a time sensitive offer so grab it while you can!

Get hold of a copy of "How to Sell Stock Photos", learn how to sell your stock photos and get cracking. I am so confident you will love what you read, if after 60 DAYS you are not motivated into selling your own stock photography online, I will give you your money back.

So how much are we charging for "How to Sell Stock Photos" and "The Business of Photography"?

Normal Price ~~$94~~ Today Just $47

	Please note: This eBook is a downloadable product in PDF format. You will be sent an email with a link to the download page once payment is complete.

The sale of just ONE image on an Extended License could earn that amount at microstock or the cheapest royalty free sale at Alamy would earn twice that. Good value?

Good luck and here's to your success!

"How to Sell Stock Photos" is a quick and simple download. Paypal is used as a secure, authorized billing agent for your security. Your credit card is validated through Paypal's ordering system and once payment is made, you will be sent an email with a link to a download page where you can retrieve the book and start learning straight away. The eBook is in PDF format (free PDF reader available online) with a file size of approximately 4.31MB. Download times vary according to your internet connection (less than 2 minutes with ADSL/Broadband).

We use a secure server to process your order "ClickBank will, at its option, replace or repair any defective product within six weeks from the date of purchase."

Internet Security Note: The secure order form on the next page will look like this:

How to Sell Stock Photos

Great Discount on Photography e-books

noreply@blogger.com (krister) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:49:00 +0000

Dear readers

I've managed to arrange a special offer on products that I believe you will find very useful in learning photography - it's 30% off the entire library of eBooks from Craft and Vision (plus two other great deals if you don't want the full set).

Craft and Vision ebooks are amazing - partly because they're so inspirational but also because they are so cheap - even without a discount.

At less than $5 per eBook to get in the minds of pro photographers like world-renowned author David DuChemin it'd be crazy to not to check them out. Notice that these are also available as iPad apps!

Here are the offers from David and his team for the next 48 hours:

Offer 1: GET THE WHOLE LIBRARY - 30% Off

If you love photography then you'll want to have the Craft & Vision PDF eBook collection. These amazing eBooks are a great way to be inspired, learn new methods and techniques, and gain new insights into your own unique vision.

Featuring 9 authors, including world-renowned author and photographer David duChemin, the Craft & Vision titles are sure to make your digital stocking overflow with gear-less wonder.

Interested?: Check out the titles that you get in this bundle here .

For the first time ever Craft & Vision is releasing their 21 eBook collection for just $73USD (that's 30% off). That's $3.47 per eBook - an amazing deal.

To get this great deal simply click this shopping cart link which will take you straight to the shopping cart with the discount already applied.

Note - for this full library deal you don't need a coupon code - the discount is already applied.

Offer 2: 5 or More eBooks get you 20% Off

Want to get your hands on some Craft & Vision eBooks but don't want to buy the whole library? Add at least 5 eBooks to your shopping cart and then use the coupon code of LAND20 before hitting the 'update cart' button and you'll have 20% taken off your total.

Start adding your eBooks to the cart here

Offer 3: Buy the latest release "Light and Land, Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom" for $1 off

Just after the latest eBook from Craft and Vision - In the last week they've just released "Light & Land, Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom" by Michael Frye. Use the code LAND4 to get $1 off Light & Land.

Whether you're grabbing just one of these eBook or the full collection - I'm confident you'll be happy with them. David and his team deliver in terms of value every time.