Photography Techniques That Will Help Anyone Take Great Pictures

There's nothing like a beautiful photograph to capture some of life's most beautiful moments. This is why cameras are always at hand during those special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, etc.

Unfortunately people behind these cameras are not exactly what you might call experts. They are more likely to be your friends, family, and next door neighbor. That is why some of the outcomes of these pictures taken leave something more to be desired. That is precisely why some people hire the services of a professional photographer. Not everyone has enough money to spare on a professional photographer and that is why they do with some  not so impressive pictures.

Here are some photography techniques that will make undesirable pictures a thing of the past!
 

1. For portraits it is important to have a fitting backdrop. Using a tripod helps to keep the shot from being blurred. It also helps to keep the photograph straight.
2. Avoid direct sunlight when shooting outdoors. If using the sun as a source of natural light, make sure it is behind the photographer.
3. Photographers have to develop a good rapport with their subjects. When taking portraits it is best if the subject's face is relaxed, and not fixed into a posed smile. Photographers can help their subjects feel at ease by engaging them in friendly conversation in between shots.
4. When taking group photos make sure that everyone gets included in the picture. Some directing on the photographer's part might be necessary. Position everyone so that they fit into the picture. The tallest persons should be in the back row, so nobody gets accidentally blocked from the shot.
5. Spontaneous shots are wonderful! They are a good break from the stiff, posed, smiles that people brandish at you once you point a camera at them. They are really great during parties, wedding pictorials, etc.  This doesn't mean that you should take one of those horrible candid celebrity shots that end up in tabloid magazines!

Photographers should try to catch their subjects when they are at their best and when they are at ease, being natural, and just plain having a good time. This way their personality, and true essence will be captured in the photographs.

Taking great photographs can be achieved by using some of these techniques. Remember that practice makes perfect. That is why individuals should take plenty of pictures until they become comfortable with being behind the camera. It won't take long until they start taking those award winning shots, and pretty soon develop some techniques of their own.

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Sneaking Up on the Wedding

Every wedding has a professional photographer who has been doing this for years.  What they are going to produce is pretty much a known entity before the wedding even gets started.  You know he is going to hold the wedding party over after the ceremony and do a bunch of staged shots.  You know he will “stage” the feeding of the cake between bride and groom, the throwing of the bouquet, the dance of father and bride, all that standard stuff.

But you may have the assignment as an amateur photographer to also take pictures of the wedding.  This is not unusual.  If the bride’s brother is good with a camera or the groom’s uncle knows a thing or two about photography, why not let them take pictures too.  So if that assignment has fallen to you, there may be a few tips for you to keep in mind as the big day approaches.
 

• You are the back up guy.  So let the professional do his stuff.  Remember, just because your sister or best friend has utmost confidence in what you can do to make the wedding album more interesting and fun, those traditional shots are important to the family and to the bride and groom.  They may be old fashioned and a bit boring but that paid photographer was hired to do a job.  So don’t get in the way of the professional and if you do interact with him, do so respectfully.  You don’t want that guy in a bad mood.  So give his space.
   
• Be ready.  You can bet that paid photographer came here having checked out his equipment and he knows what he needs and he knows it all works.  So you be just as “professional” as the next guy and do your prep work the night before.  That way when you step up to get that shot you know will make the wedding album sizzle, your equipment works perfectly too.  This also includes arriving ready to go with backup batteries, tape, light bulbs and anything else you will need for a full day of shooting.
   
• Use what he does.  That professional is going to stage the people to get those shots that are on his list of standard shots all wedding albums get.  But during that time when the wedding party is trying to be good but giddy with nervous excitement, there will be dozens of little moments that will make great photographs.  Maybe get that shot of sister fixing the flower girls dress.  Or that silly tickle session between bride and groom as they play with each other to get through the tension of the day.  Use what that photographer is giving to himself.  As long as you don’t get in the way, you can grab some great pictures that way.
   
• Those action shots during the ceremony.  You have come with a more mobile equipment set than the professional has because your goal is to get the informal shots.  So you have what you need pretty much on your back.  You can move around the hall and get those little photographs during the ceremony of things going on up on that stage that everybody else will miss.  The wedding party will love you for capturing moments that would have been lost to time if you had not come ready to work on your feet and get those little throw away pictures that are worth gold in the wedding album.
   
• The kids are “down there”.  Don’t overlook the children during the wedding or the reception.  They add a lot of fun and joy.  But remember, they are down there closer to the ground than you are.  To get their shots, you have to go down there with them.

Remember, this event is not about you.  You are the proverbial fly on the wall to get those shots that the pro doesn’t have on his checklist.  But at the same time, don’t forget that you are important to this wedding to.  So put down that camera every so often and have that glass of wine and do the funky chicken during the reception with everyone else.  Let someone else get that picture.

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Most Important Tools in Photography

When the term photography is used, people tend to think first of pictures processed at the corner drugstore, school pictures, or perhaps a family portrait. This kind of photography is called “continuous-tone photography” and is an important part of the world. However, the applications of photography are much more far reaching than continuous-tone photography.

The basis of photography is a chemical change caused by the action of light on a light-sensitive material. It is generally agreed that visible light is electromagnetic radiation measured in wavelengths emitted from either a natural source (the sun) or an artificial source (an electric bulb). When radiation strikes an object, it is either absorbed or reflected. It is the reflected radiation that causes a chemical change on a piece of film.

In order to start shooting images in photography, one must first have a complete set of equipment. To know more about the available equipment, here is a list that you have to use in order to get that best shot:

1. Camera
It is a light-tight box that holds the film. It is a means to focus an image on the film. It is also the device that will control the amount of light that reaches the film.

Cameras come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but they all have the same characteristics and controls. It has lens, which is an opening through which to pass and aim the light.

2. Film
All photographic films use some type of light-sensitive material called an emulsion to record a visual image. The characteristics of the light-sensitive emulsion as well as the quantity and quality of light reaching that emulsion will determine the sort of visual image recorded on a piece of film.

Most film emulsions are formed from a silver halide suspended in a gelatin compound and silver chloride are less common and are almost always used in combination with silver bromide to produce different film characteristics.

Whatever their chemical differences, all films are structured in the same general manner.

3. Lens
Lens comes in all sizes, depending on the size of the camera. However, an f/stop number will always pass the same quantity of light on any size camera lens.

In photography, it is necessary to be able to move the lens so the reflected light from the object will be sharp and clear on the film — this is called focusing. If the image is not in focus, a blurred picture will be produced.

These are just some of the many types of equipment necessary in photography, but these three are the most important in order to produce a good shot.

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A Guide for Newbies in Photography

Let's Shoot Like a Pro!!!

Photography is one of the most popular hobbies today, and a lot of photographers progressed from being a photo hobbyist to a professional who gets paid to do what they love. Being a great photographer requires a lot of patience, an artistic eye, and technical know-hows. To help those who are interested in becoming a photographer, here are some tips that will surely help them in creating beautiful, interesting pictures.

1. Choose the right camera
A photographer eats with his camera and sleeps with his camera. The camera is his life. Therefore, it is but very important to choose the right camera to shoot those perfect photographs. There are many kinds of cameras that aspiring shutterbugs can choose from, catering to different kinds of budgets. It goes without saying that the best cameras are the priciest ones. A good camera is a large but justifiable investment.

These are the type of cameras available in the general market:

1. Disposable camera
2. Compact camera
3. Digital-single lens reflex camera or DSLR
4. Digital camera

Beginners are recommended to use the medium price range cameras such as Nikon, Sony, Canon, Minolta or Pentax, which can take great-looking pictures almost as good as the top-of-the-line ones.

2. Select suitable lenses
Beginners can start off with two lenses, the first one from 28mm to 80mm and the second one from 80mm to 270mm. There are different kinds of lenses, the normal the wide-angle, the zoom and the macro lenses.

3. Distinguishing film types
Obviously, film is very important since the images taken are stored here. The most general kinds are colors are black and white films.

4. Choosing the right film speed
The general rule is, the higher the ISO number, the faster the film. Faster ISOs are for fast actions like sports, or for shoots where there is less light. For shoots with an abundance of light, a 100 0r 200 ISO will do just fine.

5. Balancing of color
The film should always be matched to the source of the light in order to produce desirable pictures. Unlike the naked eye, film sees different light colors, and if the light and film don't match, the colors will come out all wrong.

Photography is a great hobby that is recommended for everyone, men and women or young and old alike. Studying the right techniques is essential if you want to become good at it. Just following these guidelines and anyone can create great-looking pictures in no time.

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Let's Learn Photography

Are you interested in taking up photography? If you are relatively new to photography, then here are some tips that will help you learn about photography and its many different qualities.

The camera
When choosing a camera, you should keep in mind that whatever kind of camera you buy, it won't necessairily affect the final image. There are certain factors that will affect your final product regardless of camera brand. They are:

- the quality of the expected final image.
- will the image be magnified before being viewed?
- will the subject carry the whole focus of the shot?
- the time alloted to take the picture

It is also important to keep in mind that cameras work at varying speeds. This will prove to be crucial depending on the subject that you will be shooting. When taking a picture of your son or daughter while they are playing, you may opt to use an automatic camera to avoid all the fuss of making adjustments with regards to aperture, focus, lighting, etc. But if you are going to take a picture of a mountain view, then you have all the time to use a manual camera. 

Lighting conditions
Taking portraits under the sun may present some problems. Because of the sunlight's hardness, dark shadows will may appear in the shot. To solve this problem, you can move the subject to a position under the shade to be able to use skylight instead of sunlight. Skylight is less concentrated than sunlight. Another thing that can be done is for you to take the picture during the last few minutes during sunrise or sunset. Sunlight is mouch more mellow during these times. If you have the equipment such as diffusers as well as reflectors, they will do a good job to make the shot more vibrant. The use of artificial lighting or a flash is also ideal if you know the proper way and time to use them. Avoid using the flash during sunrise and sunset since the resulting picture will look rather clammy or cold.

Exposure
There are no such things as correct exposure. It is really up to you and your artistic preferences how your picture will turn out. The environment contains many tones which can't be fully represented using film. Some of the details might get lost depending on the picture as well as the film used.   

These are some of the things that you should remember while taking pictures. As you take more and more pictures, your skills will become sharper and you will be able to use more of your creativity.

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Wedding Photography - How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer

Hiring a wedding photographer may seem like a simple task, but choosing someone to capture all the moments and details of that special day can be much more difficult than most couples realize. The professional you select will create a photographic record that will be treasured by your family for generations, and making this decision is a critical step in the wedding-planning process. In some instances, hiring the wrong person might not only result in poor wedding photos, but could also have a negative effect on your entire wedding day (for example, imagine a sloppy-looking photographer running around, blocking the guests' view and constantly distracting you from enjoying your day).

One of the most common and unfortunate mistakes couples make is hiring a family friend or an enthusiastic relative to photograph the day. Some may even ask guests to take as many photos as possible with the hope of piecing together an album composed of candid shots, most of which are unusable. Keep in mind that even with the proper equipment, photographing a wedding properly is a daunting task requiring significant experience, the finesse' to be virtually invisible, and most importantly the talent and artistic vision to capture the memorable details and emotions of your wedding day. It is certainly not a job for the faint of heart.

How, then, does one choose an accomplished, professional wedding photographer? The key items to consider are your personal preferences in photography, your budget for the event, and the professional relationship and chemistry you have (or don't have) with the photographer.

Wedding photography is usually classified as traditional, photojournalistic (candid), and artistic. There is a wealth of information online regarding these categories, if you would like more explanation of each. Although some photographers may declare that they are "hardcore photojournalists" (the current buzz-word in the wedding photo industry), I believe that a good wedding photographer must be able to do all the styles equally well. It is important to review a good selection of the photographer's work, and you should love most (if not everything) you see. You should insist on viewing complete wedding albums to see how your final album could look. If you don't feel an emotional connection with the photos, you need to iHiring a wedding photographer may seem like a simple task, but choosing someone to capture all the moments and details of that special day can be much more difficult than most couples realize. The professional you select will create a photographic record that will be treasured by your family for generations, and making this decision is a critical step in the wedding-planning process. In some instances, hiring the wrong person might not only result in poor wedding photos, but could also have a negative effect on your entire wedding day (for example, imagine a sloppy-looking photographer running around, blocking the guests' view and constantly distracting you from enjoying your day).

One of the most common and unfortunate mistakes couples make is hiring a family friend or an enthusiastic relative to photograph the day. Some may even ask guests to take as many photos as possible with the hope of piecing together an album composed of candid shots, most of which are unusable. Keep in mind that even with the proper equipment, photographing a wedding properly is a daunting task requiring significant experience, the finesse' to be virtually invisible, and most importantly the talent and artistic vision to capture the memorable details and emotions of your wedding day. It is certainly not a job for the faint of heart.

How, then, does one choose an accomplished, professional wedding photographer? The key items to consider are your personal preferences in photography, your budget for the event, and the professional relationship and chemistry you have (or don't have) with the photographer.

Wedding photography is usually classified as traditional, photojournalistic (candid), and artistic. There is a wealth of information online regarding these categories, if you would like more explanation of each. Although some photographers may declare that they are "hardcore photojournalists" (the current buzz-word in the wedding photo industry), I believe that a good wedding photographer must be able to do all the styles equally well. It is important to review a good selection of the photographer's work, and you should love most (if not everything) you see. You should insist on viewing complete wedding albums to see how your final album could look. If you don't feel an emotional connection with the photos, you need to interview another photographer.

Couples also either under-budget for their wedding photography, or they try to shop around for the cheapest package, forsaking quality. As with any creative service, with most photographers you normally "get what you pay for." If you see an all-inclusive package with albums under $2000.00, the quality of all the products and services is usually poor. If the package is above $5000.00, you should expect 2 photographers present, at least 8 hours of coverage, and high-end wedding albums (along with some extra items, such as proofs or parent copies). Make sure you compare apples to apples when reviewing various wedding packages, since they can be confusing. In most cases a typical wedding photography budget would be in the $3000.00 - $6000.00 range. Don't treat your wedding photography as an afterthought - photographs are the most enduring and viewed remembrance of your wedding day (more so, even, than a video recording).

Make sure you feel a personal connection with your photographer. Some of the best photos of the day are usually taken "behind the scenes" as the wedding party prepares for the day, when you will be interacting with your family and friends. You should feel comfortable inviting the photographer "backstage." As a wedding photographer, I regularly get invited to see the most intimate parts of the wedding day that are normally not visible to most guests or even family. Your photographer should be calm and assertive and have a positive energy about them. Make sure he or she shows a genuine interest in you and your family. Do not hire a photographer that makes you feel that your wedding day is just another job for them. Your photos would certainly reflect that.

Michael Graham Photography - About the Author:

Michael Graham is a Los Angeles and Palm Springs based wedding photographer known for his ability to capture moments and details of the wedding day. You may visit his website at: www.mgpweddings.com and www.michaelgrahamphoto.com

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Getting that Baby on Film

In the many types of photography you may have to do as a photographer, baby shots may be the most difficult. Even if you are not a professional photographer but you are trying to get a great looking portrait of your own child, getting them to cooperate is a major undertaking.

The first rule to live by with baby photography is that, as a matter of face, they ARE the boss of this shoot. The entire process has to be built around that fragile mood of this child. But there are a couple of tricks of the trade you can use, professional or amateur to get the best shot of that sweet baby.



Baby’s respond well when they are fed and rested, with people they know and trust and when they get all the attention. So right off the bat, you as mom and dad can see to it that the shoot happens when requirement number one has been met. Now, that is not always easy. If you have an appointment to take the baby to the get his or her portrait made at the local photography studio, that mood may not be the way you want it to be.



That is why, if at all possible we would discourage taking the shots in a studio. If you can set up a shoot at the baby’s home, where there is a comfortable setting and much that is familiar around, you have many more opportunities to get that smile that will make the portrait of a lifetime there. Now that calls for a “house call” by the photographer but if he or she is a photographer that wants only the best shot of the child, they will work with what you want.



Another advantage of scheduling the shoot at home is that you know when the baby usually is at his or her best so you can schedule it when that time of day is just right. In fact if the photographer can show up during nap time, there is plenty of time to stage the shot before the angel awakens. And by eliminating the car ride to the studio, you take away a huge risk of that fragile mood going south en route.



A second tip comes from the fact that babies like people they know. So if the photographer has time to meet the child, play with him or her and get a rapport started, then they will be more receptive to playful direction to get the shot you want. You will have to be clever how you introduce the camera as it can either be an object of fear or looked upon as a toy and the baby will want to play with it.



As far as the camera goes, think about the kind of equipment you will utilize to get that perfect baby portrait. You want it to be portable, so you can do those on location shots that work so much better. It should be small, both for portability and to not alarm the child. Digital is best because you can shoot lots of shots and never have to reload. But make sure it’s a good quality piece of equipment that will shoot at a high resolution so when you get that prefect shot, it will transfer to a portrait printing nicely.



By setting up the room with the kind of backdrops that will create a good portrait, you can then have the baby begin to play with her or her toys and interact with parents, siblings or the photographer in a happy way. Before long that sound of the camera clicking and even the flash will become familiar and the baby won’t pay it any mind.



The best shots are of the baby laughing. Try to get on the same level with the child as he or she plays. Mom and dad know the notices or games that always get a giggle so exploit their inside information extensively. The baby will enjoy getting to know you and hearing those familiar games coming from you should do well at getting that sweet laugh or smile you want.



By learning the baby’s personality and how to get in sync with the child, you can coax pictures from the shoot that might other wise be impossible to get. And that is what you want if a portrait of a baby that you want to last a lifetime.

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