Four Important Tips for Wedding Photographers

It is always great to have the cash to hire a well-known wedding photographer to capture the moments that you will want to remember forever but in this age of austerity, not all of us can afford it. Weddings these days cost an arm and a leg and a head for all the other elements that go with the event. You can always take a chance with an unknown photographer that can't provide proof of their work. Is it worth the risk? Some of us get friend or family member with a flair for photography to snap away and hope that they get some good shots. This means that the person can't really enjoy the event themselves as they will constantly be preoccupied with the job. Or even worse they may not be focused on the job at all. I remember one such wedding I attended as a guest; the photographer was a friend of the groom. He spent most of the wedding chatting to the other guests and the rest of the wedding at the bar. The bridal photo album has been a running joke ever since. Most couples wouldn't be so forgiving. For this very reason I have prepared a short list of four of my ultimate tips to focus on... whether you are a fledgling wedding photographer or someone taking some photos for the couple to save them on expenses.

Restoring Your Old Photos

Photography is a great hobby and a fantastic way to keep a record of family members and those precious moments. However, old photographs have the habit of being vulnerable, and lots of things can spoil a photograph after it has been developed. They can become faded, torn or destroyed, and that includes photos that have been stored away, that is why you need to digitize your photo collection.

Digitizing Your Old Photos

When you digitize your photo collection, you are giving yourself the chance to preserve and enhance them as well as being able to share them with many more people. It allows you to share those precious memories with friends and family who may well be living on the other side of the world, or you can share them via social networking sites.

Scanning Your Photos

In order to digitize your photos, you will need to purchase a scanner, or you may already have a scanner integrated with your printer. A scanner will allow you to scan all of your images where they will be stored on the hard drive of your computer. Once stored, you can then begin to enhance and edit them by using a simple photo editing tool.

Shockingly Easy Tips For Amazing Landscape Photos

Tip 1: Keep your camera facing upwards

What you want to do is to let the sky occupy about two-thirds of the image. This would make the image look open and free, which is the nature of landscape photography. Using the rule of thirds, the sky should cover about six of the top boxes.

Tip 2: Timing

For landscape photography, the best timing is the first two hours after the sun rises and the last two hours before the sun sets. At these timings, the light from the sun is soft and gentle. This type of light brings out the subtle textures in certain landscapes that would normally not be seen. Besides, with soft and gentle light, it is easier to take pictures and the weather would not be that hot during summer.

Tip 3: Use filters

It is an important equipment to have when shooting landscape photos. Sometimes the light from the sun would be too bright and it would ruin potential great shots. With filters, you can make the image darker and compensate the light until you get the brightness you want for that particular scene. Different filters would bring about results so it is important to experiment to see which filter fits you best.

Tip 4: Know the technical parts of photography

Knowing what aperture, shutter speed and ISO to use would save a lot of time instead of having to do many test shots just to get the right lighting. Normally, the aperture would be set to "small" or high "f-stop" coupled with high shutter speed. The smaller the aperture, the further it can focus. Having a small aperture would eliminate the blurry effect the image might get.

Things That Make a Wedding Truly Unique

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life because you commit yourself to the partner you have chosen to continue your life's journey with. Every couple wants their wedding day to be memorable, not just for them but also their friends and relatives.They spend an enormous amount of time and money in this endeavor. They want every aspect of the wedding to represent who they are as individuals and more importantly as a couple. They want their special day to be one of a kind, like the love they share for one another. However, there are only a few things that really make a wedding different from all others.

The Vows

A couple's wedding vows are the most important part of their ceremony. Most couples choose to write their own vows instead of using the generic ones. It is a solemn promise the bride and groom make in the presence of their guests to commit themselves to one another. They describe the love and adoration they have for each other and promise to be ideal partners till death itself breaks their union. Each couple's wedding vows are unique and it is more sincere than any decorative item used to embellish their ceremony.

7 Matchless Black and White Photography Tips

Notwithstanding the explosive growth which has been witnessed in color photography, till date we find that black and white photography clearly has a charm of its own which is unparalleled. It has held forth in spite of a variety of new trends and techniques which have come into the entire photography realm off late.

Accordingly, in this article, we focus on offering some really fruitful black and white photography tips which can help you in creating masterful renditions of your own, which will clearly stand out in a variety of ways.

Contrast

It is pivotal that you contrast the elements within the image well. Remember that when it comes to colour photography, you don't always have that leeway, but with black and white photography, you can (and should!) contrast as much as you can, playing with lights and shadows to make the elements within your images stand out in a variety of ways.

Use RAW

A key aspect of this type of photography is that when shot in RAW mode, you can then process images the way you like on your computer, say using software like Adobe Photoshop. Agreed that not all cameras have the RAW function available on them, we would strongly encourage that wherever such a functionality is available, do make the most of it.

Use Exposure Skilfully

It is imperative that you use exposure deftly to create stunning effects. For instance, often by under-exposing, you can actually create an impact within the photograph, which would be quite different to what would be the case were you to expose normally. This is especially true since under-exposure allows elements within your image to portray altogether varying shades of black and white, than would be the case had you chosen a normal exposure.

ISO

The ISO number plays a very important part, with ISO numbers by themselves indicative of the sensitivity of image sensors. When shooting monochrome pictures, it is ideal that you shoot at the lowest possible ISO numbers which will ensure that you minimize "noise" within your pictures while maximizing clarity.

Collecting Autograph Photos

Whenever you see a celebrity in public you're bound to see them signing autographs for adoring fans. This is part and parcel of being in the public eye. People love to get their picture or other piece of memorabilia signed by their favourite star. Of course there are people who collect autograph photos of celebrities as a hobby. If you're interested in doing this then you should find some of the tips in this article of great use. Building a collection of signed photos of your favourite stars can be a very rewarding hobby.

Getting Autograph Photos Yourself

Whilst buying signed memorabilia online can be a very quick and convenient way of building your collection, nothing beats getting the autograph yourself from the celebrity in person. The best way to get autographs from your favourite celebrities is to look out for public signings and premiers. Of course whereabouts in the country you live will make a big difference to how many chances you get to attend such events. If you live in central London then you're in a much better position to get autographs than someone who lives in the countryside. However it's possible for anyone to get the autographs they want, some will just have to put in more effort and travel more.

Photography Careers - Ways To Earn A Living With Photography

When we were young, we were captivated by seeing pictures. The excitement and joy seeing your favorite idol or super-hero documented filled you with enjoyment. As we get older we start to shy away from being in front of cameras, but being on the other side of the camera, the one taking the shots that's a different story. If you find that you're a great photographer and you have fun doing it at the same time, maybe a career in this field is right for you. There are plenty of demands for photographers, especially experienced professionals.

The money in photography careers are some of the best. Those entire magazine covers you see on the stand will pay a photographer big bucks off of just one photo. Here is a list of the top 5 careers for photography.

Advertising: One of the top paying jobs in the field of photography is advertising. It's estimated the salary for newspapers and other print media photographers is around $50,000+. The dream job of many aspiring photographers is to work for National Geographic, but there are many other companies that will pay top dollar for your images.

Choosing the Perfect Wedding Photographer for Your Big Day

Congratulations on your recent engagement! Before you're able to fully process the beautiful ring on your finger, everyone is going to be asking, "So when's the big day?" Once you choose a date and location, the next big thing to tackle is finding the perfect wedding photographer to capture your big day.

When it comes down to it, remember that wedding photographers come in all shapes and sizes. No two are the same. Your best friend may have had a "veteran" who just have to get that perfect pose for every picture. That doesn't mean you have to have the same! You're going to get a lot of opinions and unsolicited suggestions from family and friends, but first and foremost you need to remember that this is your big day. No one else's.

If you're a younger bride, you may find yourself frustrated that your mom has a strong preference for traditional photographers, rather than the hip, unconventional and modern trends that seem to be prevalent right now. Now, there's nothing wrong at all with a traditional approach, but thanks to this new age of digital photography, and resources like Pinterest, your options really are limitless. Let your mother know that just because you may have modern, or "unconventional" tastes, doesn't mean you're going to skip out on the traditional family shots and whatnot. Every good photographer is going to make sure you get these.

Choosing Your Photographer

So then, how do you go about finding the right photographer for your special day? What questions do you ask? Again, breathe and remember that this is your day, and your photographer is honored to play such an important role in it. Your photographer is there to cater to your needs. Consider the following four questions to help you figure out who will ultimately be capturing the magic of the day.

1. What's Your Style?

Traditionally, formal photographs were the go-to style. Nowadays, there is a strong preference for photojournalistic (or candid) photography. Do you lean more towards the romantic, posed shots popular on Pinterest? Or do you prefer something more candid, like your dad holding back his tears, your mom laughing with the wedding party, or the guests cutting a rug on the dancefloor? Once you determine the style of photography you want, you'll find that you can narrow your choices in photographers down significantly. You'll also find that many photographers are able and willing to tweak their style based on what you want.

What Is A Photo Composite?

What is a photo composite? The dictionary definition of a composite is

"com•pos•ite
[kuhm-poz-it] Show IPA adjective, noun, verb, com•pos•it•ed, com•pos•it•ing.
adjective

1.
made up of disparate or separate parts or elements; compound: a composite drawing; a composite philosophy."

In plain terms a photo composite is an image made up of more than one photo, the idea however is to make it look like it is one single photo and not a collection of images put together.

So why not just take a single photo then?

The reason for photographers creating photo composites is because it gives them such a broader range to work with. For instance a photographer could take a photograph of a model in a studio and then put her/him in any location in the world. Something which may not be possible if the photographer didn't have the budget to fly a whole creative team to another country. Another benefit of photographing a model separately to a location is, when photographing out on location it's impossible to get a broad range of tonality from detail in shadows and detail in highlights without taking multiple exposures. If you just took a single shot then something would have to be sacrificed, either your highlights would get blown out (no detail, just pure white), your shadows would be too dark almost black or you would have some details in both the shadow and highlights but it would look pretty flat overall.

So as I just mentioned you would have to take multiple exposures, now if you try to take a photograph 3 or more times with a model standing there, I guarantee that your model would have moved in each shot even if it's just millimeters. Therefore if you take your location shots first and then take photographs of your model you can composite them together later on during editing and have an image with an amazing range of tonality throughout. Just look at images by photographers such as Erik Almas, Joel Grimes or David Hill, all great photographers who create incredible photo composites. You may have seen their work before and just not realized their images were made up of composites. Creating photo composites can allow photographers to achieve results in their final image that may not otherwise be possible from just a single photo.

How To Improve The Quality Of Your Digital Photos

Camera Equipment can be pricey, especially if you are starting off in the photography business and trying to seriously get on your feet as a career. It's important to make sure you buy the right equipment. Be careful though, you can end up spending too much money on equipment that is no good for you and waste hundreds or thousands of dollars for no big difference in quality.

There is such a thing as being between good and bad. The important thing to remember is that blaming the equipment for bad photography can sometimes hold you back from advancing for a long time. There could be a countless amount of reasons why a shot turned out bad. It could be lighting, positioning of the camera or a setting on the equipment was off. A number of reasons why it could go wrong. It could be the equipment and if so hold off on buying new equipment until you figure out the reason why your camera is wrong for you. You must learn the difference between bad equipment and a bad photograph.

The best thing to do starting off in the industry is to make the best of what you have. Having a bad camera and learning to adapt to it and become the best you can be with it will really push your advancements in the future when you finally upgrade to new hardware. Be the best you can be.

Here are some tips on how to make the best quality photo with a good or bad camera.

Which Photo Style Is Best For Your Wedding?

Photography is currently a big business with regard to weddings. Many brides and grooms are even choosing to look for professional photographers and studios to work on their weddings. Gone are the days when you have your uncle or big brother take the shots with his camera. Wedding photographers have found a way of chipping themselves into every wedding budget. They may ask for a lot but for sure, they are worth it, if you want quality photos of the grandest day in your life. However, you need to make sure that you get someone who knows what he is doing. The best photographer is one who is able to fuse his skill with your demands. You may be wondering what type of photography you may want for your wedding. Here are a few great ideas:

1. Traditional wedding - Long ago, few couples opted to take photos. If photos were taken, posing was necessary and would mostly be done after the ceremony. This might be what you need. A photo session highly posed taken after the wedding, possibly in a studio or an outdoor venue, as the married couple. However, make sure that you know how to pose well and differently to avoid evidence of monotony in the photos produced. The photographer however should be able to help you with this.

Photography Dynamics In A Wedding Event

Wedding photography is an important aspect to any wedding. It involves the taking of pictures before the wedding day e.g. for invitation cards and other displays as well as during the wedding event. It has come a long way, having evolved over the years. These days, wedding photos are a big deal, and are taken with utmost precision, hiring the best of the best to do it. In some events, they even have a whole segment in the wedding program for photo shooting.

Long ago, photo shooting was not that common. The couple would not have their photos taken in the wedding attire or on their wedding day. Only a few shots would be taken, days after the ceremony, in ordinary wear, usually after the honeymoon. There are four major types of photography in wedding. A modern wedding usually has some of all the categories mentioned below:

1. Indoor photography - This happens inside the church (or other religious building) or in certain indoor venue. The wedding ceremony and even reception may happen indoors and photos be taken as the ceremony goes on.

Which Photo Style Is Best For Your Wedding?

Photography is currently a big business with regard to weddings. Many brides and grooms are even choosing to look for professional photographers and studios to work on their weddings. Gone are the days when you have your uncle or big brother take the shots with his camera. Wedding photographers have found a way of chipping themselves into every wedding budget. They may ask for a lot but for sure, they are worth it, if you want quality photos of the grandest day in your life. However, you need to make sure that you get someone who knows what he is doing. The best photographer is one who is able to fuse his skill with your demands. You may be wondering what type of photography you may want for your wedding. Here are a few great ideas:

1. Traditional wedding - Long ago, few couples opted to take photos. If photos were taken, posing was necessary and would mostly be done after the ceremony. This might be what you need. A photo session highly posed taken after the wedding, possibly in a studio or an outdoor venue, as the married couple. However, make sure that you know how to pose well and differently to avoid evidence of monotony in the photos produced. The photographer however should be able to help you with this.

Making Memories That Will Last The Ages

A wedding is the grandest event in someone's lifetime. You cannot compare it to the annual birthdays celebrated, even if you add them all up. You cannot equate the joy that comes with it to that of the graduation party from high school or college. This is the biggest fete of someone's life. It is no doubt that it is a bigger deal to women than to men. Girls visualize their weddings from at least the age of six; making plans, drawing wedding dresses and picturing "the one". No day is bigger than the wedding day. How then can you capture these memories and move with them as the years go by? You need to get a wedding photographer, and a good one for that matter. Here are a few reasons why you need a professional doing the shots at our wedding:

· Once in a lifetime

It happens just once. There are no rehearsals and there are definitely no repeats. You would not want to mess up on any detail on your wedding - whether it is your dress or your cake. In addition, you definitely do not want to compromise on the photos of the day. You will live with these photos for the rest of your lives, and even relatives and friends will want to see them. Your lives may be evidence to your beautiful marriage but the photos are the only evidence of how brilliant your wedding was.

How to Choose a Portrait Photographer

Hiring a professional portrait photographer can be quite a costly investment. That's why you'll want to make sure that you're getting the best service for your money. That and the fact you'll want your photos to turn out fabulous. Whether you're looking for a photographer to take pictures of just you, you and your friends or you and your family, here are some helpful steps to help you choose the right person.

1. Choosing a location

You may never have given a thought to deciding on a location to have your photos taken. Like many, you may have just assumed they would be taken in a studio. Don't limit yourself to this option. Choose a photographer that is happy to take photos in a studio, in your home or wherever else you wish. The more flexible and willing the photographer, the more passionate they'll be about producing the best results for you.

2. Re-touching

Do you want your photos re-touched on Photoshop or would you like them completely natural? Whichever your choice, make sure you choose a photographer that is willing to work to it. You might want your photos re-touched just slightly or have other specific editing preferences. Again, make sure your photographer is happy to talk these things through with you and bend to your decisions.

Useful Photography Tips That Anyone Can Use

Photography can be a fun and fulfilling recreational activity. Although, it does require some education and effort on your part in order to properly take photos. Included in the article are several tips for taking great photos.

Stand close to your subjects to take better pictures. If you move close to your subject, you can frame it more effectively, while avoiding distractions around it. If you are taking a portrait, getting closer allows you to notice facial expressions and other details. Camera image sensors are only so good, so long-range shots sacrifice detail.

Different shutter speeds work well in different settings so make sure you have a play around with your camera and determine what works for you. You can get some awesome photos at the drop of a hat and this will allow you to blur some time periods together. Lighting quick shutter speeds are great for sports shots with lots of action, while slow shutter speeds are nice for landscapes without a lot of movement.

In photography, what you have inside of the frame sets off the overall composition of the image. In order to eliminate any objects which distract from the subject matter, you should zoom in on a main focal point. You will reduce clutter in your photos and prevent unwanted focal points.

When going on a trip, begin taking pictures the moment you leave. Of course, you will have tons of great photo opportunities on the trip, but you can make a photo essay that starts right when you leave your home to chronicle the entire trip. Use your entire journey as a way to document your trip through pictures.

Do not allow your camera batteries to run low because you never know when a photo opportunity will occur. You should always load your digital camera with fully-charged batteries, because it can be a real energy hog, especially when you use the LCD screen. Another great idea would be carry an extra set of batteries for the camera so you don't miss your shot.

Why You Should Be Photographing With Film in 2013

The old digital versus film debate is dead. Or, at least it should be. Digital has won. There is no doubt that as we move forward digital photography will be the dominant game in town. However, this does not mean that film is dead. Just because we've acquiesced to the dominance of digital photography does not automatically mean that there is no place for film. There is, very much so. Here are just a couple of reasons why you should go out and buy a roll of 35mm Tri-X today, right now!

You should shoot film because you can. This will not always be the case. Although I believe film stock will be widely available for many years yet, it is increasingly becoming more and more difficult to find a lab. Photo labs are evaporating before our very eyes. In Montreal, Canada, the "New York" of the north, there is but one actual commercial lab still processing true black and white film. That's worrisome. So, shoot it while you can. Get that "analogue" experience so that you can reminisce to your grandchildren about film photography.

A Photographer's View

Composition is one of the most important aspects of good photography, it cannot be set automatically by the camera this is down purely to the photographer. I believe that it is essential to learn the basic rules of composition, before you can begin to break the rules of composition. Yes I know what you are thinking that is a contradiction, well yes it is, but you will begin to understand why it is important to master the rules first before we can bend them, distort them and even break them.

Simple things can make a big difference to the composition of your photographs. You don't need to get too technical, something as simple as changing the angle of your view by kneeling instead of standing upright or just by taking a step to one side you will be amazed at the difference it makes to the image. Just try it take a shot of an image and then change your position by sitting kneeling or standing on something, anything you can think of, just remember to stay safe and not to take any risks.

Rule Of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is one of the oldest and one of the most taught rules of composition. Put simply it you divide your image into a grid of 9 equal sections by using 2 lines running vertically and 2 line running horizontally.

The idea is quite simple you place your point of interest where the lines intersect rather than directly in the centre of your photograph. This gives your image a more balanced appearance, when we look at any photograph we tend to look at these points rather than the middle of the image.

All DSLR's and many compact cameras these days come with a feature that allows you to place a grid over your view finder, this makes the process so much easier. As time goes on and you become more attuned to doing this you will find that you don't even need the grid it will become second nature.

When photographing landscapes divide your image into three sky, horizon and foreground, then place your point of interest on one of the intersecting line this will give your image a much more powerful and dramatic effect. It does not need to be exact remember this is a guide so don't become too bogged down with getting it perfect. Practice taking lots of different shots and see which looks the best, you will be amazed at how much your photographs improve and how your confidence grows each time.

Baby Portrait Photography Tips

If you've not ever had children and wonder why your mom-friends hold showing images of their offspring to you every chance they get or why they are so obsessed with taking baby portrait photographs, the response is easy. Baby Portrait Photography is a very fascinating and delightful leisure!

Mothers and fathers have taken the art of baby portrait taking photos into their own hands. In fact, if you're a new parent, I bet you have a camera tucked in your bag all the time. To arrest the seen unexpected 'firsts' or easily, capturing the right moment that candidly presents itself, are certain the supreme delights of a parent.

impersonates at Specific Ages

although, there is furthermore a dispute in taking baby photographs; and that is, offspring do not know how to pose. The subject is still too ignorant of its surroundings or at certain ages, unpredictably hardworking. So it would be helpful if we could be smallest anticipating of their abilities to hit a pose. We know babies can barely hold up their heads or retain a specific place at 0-3 months that's why we would need to hold them to pose.

trial on how the baby could be held but make sure that the focus of the photo would be on the baby and not on any one else. You should find a way to arrest only the baby's profile while being held by another individual. There are still restricted positions you can capture when you are taking photographs of babies between the ages of 3-6 months. The good news is that offspring can now contain their heads up so it'll be much easier to get the face into profile. Costumes and props that are safe for these ages may furthermore be utilized to liven up the photographs.

offspring begin to sit around 6-9 months and this is when you can capture very strange impersonates from the offspring. Since the babies start to become very active, this is the time when you need to master the shutter speed characteristic of your camera. And from ages 10 months onward, some offspring may be able to recognize that their photographs are being taken and might even contain their poses a little longer. Candid photographs may do very well during these ages.

The Secret To Great Digital Photographs

People often wonder what they can do to improve the overall quality of their digital photos and will spend hours looking at photography textbooks and websites. The techniques and tricks taught by these resources will certainly improve your abilities as a photographer, but even the best camera operators still find that they fall victim to common problems like someone walking into shot, the dreaded 'red-eye' and things like power lines or rubbish spoiling your shots. Thankfully, there are plenty of great apps on the market which will allow you to edit out these common mistakes!

Removing Unwanted Background Items

Sometimes unsightly things can spoil a scenic view. Perhaps you want to remove those power lines cutting across your scenic view or maybe that stunning gothic church has a trash bag at the gate, or graffiti on the wall. With some clever editing you can remove these eyesores and get your image looking perfect again.

Say Goodbye To Photo-Bombers!

We have all been there - you set up a great picture and just as you press the shutter someone walks into shot! It is possible to just redo the shot, but sometimes it may not be possible, for example taking a photo of a passing parade. At other times we might just fail to notice until we review the images later!

Appreciation of Art Photography Through Music

Online gallery presentations, including photographic displays, occasionally incorporate music to enhance the experience and appreciation of the visual work. In presentations of music with art photography, the success of the audiovisual pairing is driven by establishing meaningful relationships between musical and visual content. But this is true in couplings of music with other visual art forms as well. Is there any potentially unique aspect to the pairing of audio with an art photograph?

The art photograph, like every photograph, starts with a camera and a physical subject. By definition then, even the most abstracted snapshot is firmly connected to a physical subject. Further, the artistic snapshot reflects the manipulation of physical matter, i.e., light, subject, and camera. In order to create a unique bond with the photograph, the music can be similarly constrained to elements and edits which are rooted in physicality.

There are more and less subtle applications of this notion. The most general implication for the music is a preference for acoustic sounds, or at least samples of acoustic sounds, over purely synthesized tones. Let the sound originate from a violin, or an oboe, or a sitar, as opposed to a dub-step sample box. Choices with respect to note and chord organization are another opportunity for physical grounding of the music. A systematic approach to note and chord choices, as opposed to a random one, will on some level incorporate the ancient relationships identified between musical modes and nature.

Reasons to Hire a Professional Photographer Rather Than Relying on Amateurs

Planning a celebration takes time and lots of effort to make sure that it will be carried off without a problem. However, what about the moments after the celebration? You want to remember all of your hard work and the special moments that went with it. You could take the pictures yourself or have a friend to it for you, but there are several reasons why you should rely on a professional to do it for you.

A professional knows how to capture the atmosphere of the celebration. If your occasion is more romantic than fun, a professional will know how to use certain angles, lighting, and other factors to bring out those feelings in the photos. He or she will look for those romantic moments between people and capture those, rather than goofy expressions or otherwise. An amateur might miss these critical moments.

Professionals know how to accurately retouch photos to make them at their best. Once the pictures are taken, an expert can look over the photos and make them even better. The changes will not be noticeable and you will have pictures that focus on the entire moment rather than on any flaws. Amateurs may use software to do this, but it can turn out looking worse than the original.

You want someone who can make the entire experience smooth and worry-free. If you do not want the photos retouched, then you want someone who will capture the moments as best as possible. You have less risk of having a series of bad photos taken with an expert than you do with someone who just points, clicks, and shoots.

Photo Editing Made Easy For Mac Users

Experts in computing have often argued for and against the benefits of owning a Mac computer instead of one that runs on the Windows operating system. However, if you are serious about your photography or even a professional photographer, then you may well have opted for a Mac computer over its more ubiquitous rival, due to the superior color quality and sharpness of the images.

Mac Editing Software

In order to get top-quality photographs from your camera or smartphone, then you are going to need to buy some good quality photo editing software. The good thing about photo editing software is that it gives you the opportunity to add special effects and other items to improve or even completely change the appearance of the photo. Using image filters is one way in which you can adjust the appearance of your photos, as these give you the chance to sharpen soft images, soften sharp focused images, add tint, turn a color photo to black and white, as well as creating photos with a vintage look with sepia tinting.

Photography - Is It Art?

With the advent of digital photography and computerised post-processing, there is much discussion nowadays about the "validity" of photography as an art form. Artists who paint using traditional methods such as oil and watercolour might regard digital art or digitally enhanced photographs as being somehow inferior, as they conceive that digital methods are less time-consuming and require less skill than physically applying paint to canvas or paper.

As an occasional painter myself I would agree that a meticulous rendering in oil on canvas of a landscape, for example, would take far longer than it took me to post-process a photograph of a similar scene. In the hands of a very talented artist an original painting might well be more attractive than a photograph of the same subject. It's a matter of personal taste and judgement.

However, several things need to be borne in mind here. Firstly, the photographer needs to be physically in the right place at the right time, with the right camera and the right lens, the right settings, etc., and the list continues. A good sense of composition, framing, perspective and many other factors also come into play. During the post-processing phase, the photographer has to select and understand the software, and apply the desired effects skilfully and artistically. Whereas the painter can legitimately use any photograph as a reference for his work, the photographer must only use his own work to produce the final image.

Tips to Buy a Point-And-Shoot Camera

Point-and-shoot cameras are specially designed for amateur and holiday photographers who want to capture incredible pictures, but don't want to get into the technical details. With a compact size, easy-to-use interface and incredible performance, these digital cameras perfectly fit the bill.

Point-and-shoot cameras are available in both basic and advanced modes. The basic ones are almost completely automated, so all you have to do is just point and shoot. On the other hand, advanced ones have a few controls such as shutter speed, ISO and aperture that you can easily adjust.

The 5 important features you should check out for before buying a digital camera are:

1. Size
Point and shoots are small and compactly designed and neatly fit into the palm of your hand. If you want to choose a lighter one, then you may have to give up on some features. So, cross check the features available with the size as well as your comfort level before you choose a particular model.

2. Battery Backup
If you're going to be doing most of your photographing when you're on a trip or on a holiday, then you definitely have to check out how much backup the batteries will provide. Digital cameras may come with either AA lithium-ion batteries or the rechargeable ones.

Essential Tips to Excel in Photography

Whether you practice photography as a profession or as a hobby, you would be able to get the maximum out of photography only if you understand how photography works. You should have thorough knowledge of aperture, sensitivity, shutter speed, and focal length to take great looking shots. The following tips should help all amateur and professional photographers equally.

• The first element that a photographer should know is aperture. The aperture is the opening of the lens to allow adequate light to the sensor or the film in the camera. If the aperture is wider, more light passes through the lens. The aperture size gets regulated by the fins that encroach from the edges of the barrel of the lens. If large amounts of fins encroach into the barrel, you obtain a narrow opening like f/16, f/18, etc. Smaller numbers like f/3.2, f/2.8, etc. means a wide opening, with only smaller amounts of the fins obscuring the light.

• When you change the aperture, it has a dramatic impact on the quantity of the light that enters the camera. You should not use aperture as a method to compensate poor lighting. When you shoot landscapes with narrower apertures like f/22, you have to increase the exposure time. You should use a tripod for such shots to avoid any blur in motion due to shaking of your hand.

Four Important Tips for Wedding Photographers

It is always great to have the cash to hire a well-known wedding photographer to capture the moments that you will want to remember forever but in this age of austerity, not all of us can afford it. Weddings these days cost an arm and a leg and a head for all the other elements that go with the event. You can always take a chance with an unknown photographer that can't provide proof of their work. Is it worth the risk? Some of us get friend or family member with a flair for photography to snap away and hope that they get some good shots. This means that the person can't really enjoy the event themselves as they will constantly be preoccupied with the job. Or even worse they may not be focused on the job at all. I remember one such wedding I attended as a guest; the photographer was a friend of the groom. He spent most of the wedding chatting to the other guests and the rest of the wedding at the bar. The bridal photo album has been a running joke ever since. Most couples wouldn't be so forgiving. For this very reason I have prepared a short list of four of my ultimate tips to focus on... whether you are a fledgling wedding photographer or someone taking some photos for the couple to save them on expenses.

Preparation

The first and one of the most important tips for an amateur wedding photographer is PREPARATION. Some of the worse photos ever taken have been when the "photographer" readily accepts the task with all the confidence in the world. Like a soldier running into battle having never taken a day of target practice, he goes in gun locked and loaded. Without surveying the area and not knowing his weapon, the enemy quickly shoots him down! This is why it is important to approach the wedding shoot with humility, respect and most of all preparation. Prepare for the shots that you are going to get, not only in your mind but on paper too. Check out some professional wedding photographer website galleries and run through each shot with your mind. Try to imagine how each shot was angled and where the photographer was at the time. Do some research into various camera settings and try match up your camera settings with those of the pros. Practice your shots in different lighting conditions and from different angles. Try your shots with different lenses. You will then see that experience is everything! Create a shot list of all the shots that are needed and if you have the time visit the locations beforehand so that you will know where to shoot these shots from. The seasoned wedding photographers have their own shot lists imprinted in their heads. They do not falter in unforeseen shooting conditions and they manage to get a perfect shot for each scenario. They can quickly and easily prepare their cameras, frame up the shots that they need and never miss a moment. This all comes with familiarity with the equipment and familiarity with each possible situation. So in order for you to come close you need to familiarize yourself with the equipment and shooting conditions. Don't be the rookie that goes into photography battle confident as ever, as you will come running out of battle with a set of pretty abstract images.

Equipment

Not all of us have the funds to invest in top of the range cameras, lenses, lighting and equipment for photo shoots. So what can be done... You say? Well it is true that the type of camera can make or break a photo shoot... so you could try and borrow or hire one. If this is not an option for you then you will find that having a low end camera will make your task of getting good shots more difficult. You should then at least try to find a camera with a focus and zoom ring. This will allow you to quickly frame up and focus you shots. You will also be able to create depth of field which is that blurred background look that gives photos a professional look in itself. If you have a camera that can control the aperture manually it will also enable you to control the amounts of light that enters the lens. This will give you more creative freedom over your shots because the domestic cameras that automatically control these settings for you will always assume that your exposure should be at one level or another. Funnily enough most of these automatic exposure settings have a really bland and unprofessional look to them. If you can't get a hold of a camera that has any of the above and all you have is a point and click then... hehehe! The next bit of advice would be to get as creative as possible and most importantly shoot in a very well lit area. If you can find an area where the light looks absolutely amazing to your own eyes, chances are they will look pretty OK on even with a cheap camera. Only then some of your images may turn out semi-pro. You will also have to get up close and be a bit pushy to get the better shots. The reason for this is that you don't have the luxury of a telephoto lens and domestic cameras loose quality when zoomed in. You will want to get the widest angle possible and that means getting nice and cosy with your subject.

5 Steps to Perfect Portraits With Photography Editing Software

To get a really great portrait photograph, here are 5 things you can do to help:

Step one - Find your emotion and tell a story

Your models, whether they are professionals or conscripted friends, are important. You know the look you want to achieve. If your pictures are going to be good, then they must build a rapport with each other if there is more than one person in the shot.

Most importantly you as the photographer must develop a rapport with your models. This will shine through your images, and engage your audience. It is emotion that tells the story. Experiment with various props and scenes, and see what best works for you and your models.

Step Two - Compose a great image

Make sure you make a good composition in camera. Avoid distractions in the background, and zoom in to your subject. Fill the frame with the face, and the person. You will get a much better image overall if you have done a good job composing your image. Although it is easy to crop an image with photo editing software, it's much more professional to do as well as you can in camera. If you do need to correct any thing slightly, there is a range of photo editing software available to help.

Step Three - Go for it!

Take the photograph. It sounds obvious, but sometimes you can experiment for too long, and forget what image you were trying to achieve. Don't worry too much about what you might do in your post processing; you have to take the pictures first. The more images you collect, the more you have to experiment with if you want to carry out portrait editing with photography software.