The camera only records what is in front of it, but the photograph begins before that. It begins when something makes me stop. Sometimes it is a certain kind of light. Sometimes it is a face in a crowd. Sometimes it is a shadow falling across a wall, making an ordinary place look different for […]

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I have always loved old photographs. There is something about them that pulls me in. A faded print. A family face. A place that no longer looks the same. A street corner that has changed. A house that is gone. A person who was young then and old now, or maybe no longer here at […]

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When I photograph weddings or events for friends, I generally do not charge a fixed amount. I usually tell them they are welcome to give a donation or gift afterward if they want to. I do not approach it as a major business transaction. That does not mean I take it lightly. I give them […]

The post Why Wedding Photography Costs So Much appeared first on Will Moneymaker Photography.

I’ve always asked questions. That’s how I’ve learned most of what I know. I’ve asked other photographers. I’ve read. I’ve tried things. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve gone back and looked again. I’ve taken a photograph, wondered why it worked, then taken another one and wondered why it didn’t. That’s always been part of photography for […]

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By the time we reached this part of the semester in my Media Law class, the room felt different. Copyright had been structured. Privacy had been layered. But now we were talking about public confrontation. Cameras on sidewalks. Musicians are being recorded without permission. Journalists challenged by police. Business owners are angry about being filmed. […]

The post Photography Law Through the Lens of Media Law, Part 3: Public Recording, Monetization, Police Encounters, and the Limits of Lawful Conduct appeared first on Will Moneymaker Photography.

When I was studying videography and photography in college, I expected to spend most of my time thinking about lenses, lighting ratios, audio capture, and editing timelines. Then I walked into a Media Law class that changed the way I looked at everything I was creating. The professor was not just an academic. He was […]

The post Photography Law Through the Lens of Media Law, Part 2: Privacy, Releases, and the History Behind Them appeared first on Will Moneymaker Photography.

When I was in college studying videography and photography, I expected most of my coursework to stay in the creative lane. Camera operation, lighting, editing, storytelling, and the technical side of building something visual that communicates. Then I took a class that was often called Media Law, sometimes labeled Mass Media Law or Communications Law, […]

The post Photography Law Through the Lens of Media Law, Part 1: From the Constitution to the Camera — How Copyright Made Photographers Owners appeared first on Will Moneymaker Photography.

Digital photography as we know it has only been around for about two decades.

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The use of color is about more than creating true to life images. When used carefully, color can make photos more emotional and more compelling.

The post 3 Essential Principles of Color Photography appeared first on Will Moneymaker Photography.

Have you ever wondered why so many photographers still recommend film photography? Here are a few reasons why digital photographers should try film.

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Why is it that photographs are almost always rectangular, or at the very least, square? Let's explore this convention and see other shapes can be used.

The post Must Photos Always Be Rectangular? appeared first on Will Moneymaker Photography.

These photography eBooks are a collection of my thoughts from years behind the camera. Some are lessons I learned the hard way, some are small reminders that keep me on track, and some are just ideas I’ve picked up from paying attention while I shoot. This is not a complete course or a list of […]

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What differentiates amateur images from fine art photography? This post will show you many places you can find fine art!

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What form will the next revolution in photography take? I don’t think it will be the tools. I think it will be the art itself. Here are my thoughts.

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Photography seems to go through revolutions every few decades as new things emerge to shake up the way we do things. When is that next revolution coming?

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