10 Ways to Find Your Perfect Wedding Photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer is most likely one of the most important decisions you will make planning your wedding. If you're anything like me, you want a wedding photographer that can somehow charm your in-laws and convince your flower girl to stand still - all while making you look like Angelina Jolie's sister. Finding the photographer that can do all this while also balancing budget constraints can be difficult at best.

Here we will walk through the process of determining who your perfect photographer is and how to find these potential photographers.

The following 3 factors were helpful in determining our ideal photographer:

1. Professionalism - You should trust your photographer to respond promptly, arrive when scheduled, have professional-quality equipment (and back-up equipment!), deliver your images post-wedding in a timely manner, and charge an amount commiserate with their experience. Don't be afraid of seeking out new talent - it's a great option when you're on a budget. Just be sure to vet them with the questions I have outlined below to ensure you're satisfied with the outcome.

2. Style - Your wedding photographer's portfolio should move you. Are you falling in love with the brides in their weddings? Do you find yourself hoping your photos turn out the same way? You should like most, if not all, of the photos you see. Take time to discover the aesthetic that you love.

3. Price - You will want to know what you are paying for. At a minimum ask about the hours of coverage, whether you receive the rights to the photographs, if you will be given a digital copy of all the images (usually on a disk), and anything extra offered such as albums, prints, engagement sessions, etc.
Of course, identifying what you are looking for in a wedding photographer is only half the battle - you now have to actually find the photographer! When I started my search I started a Google Spreadsheet to keep track of the different photographers. An Excel sheet would also work, the point is to ensure that you have a record keeping system.

My top ten techniques to find potential wedding photographers:

1. Your network. Ask coworkers, friends, and family, all of which will have opinions and want to help you find the perfect photographer. As a bonus, someone may offer a friend connection that will result in a discounted price!

2. Google. Your location, venue, state, and style - all of these can help you find photographers in Google searches.

3. Review sites. Weddingwire, Weddingbee, The Knot, Yelp and other review sites are invaluable in making decisions.

4. Other vendors. Ask your other vendors for recommended photographers. As an added bonus they will often know who is easy to work with - they aren't likely to recommend someone who will make their own job more difficult!

5. Craigslist. An excellent place to find new talent and budget-friendly options.

6. Other photographers. Ask other (unavailable or too expensive) photographers whom they would recommend.

7. Social Media. Twitter, Facebook, and blog communities are an excellent way to find potential photographers. Many blogs, such as One Wed and Style Me Pretty, offer recommended vendor lists.

8. Local Schools. Art Institutes and liberal arts colleges are full of enthusiastic photographers working to build a portfolio. With a little luck, you may find an amateur that is both professional and affordable.

9. Wedding Shows. Bridal expos and shows are a great way to meet a ton of photographers in one day. You will be able to get a grasp of their personality as well as view a sample of their work - and there will often be incentives for signing-up at the show!

10. Magazines. While not my first choice, bridal magazines can still be a good option to find vendors. This is especially true for the online version of the magazine.

While daunting at first, finding your wedding photographer is merely a matter of time. And, just like finding a groom, you only need to find that one perfect match.

Types of Photography

A good and interesting hobby to take up is photography. There are many types of photography. The right type of photo frames can vary depending on the kind of images you want to put in them.

Photography is one of the most interesting and expansive hobbies you can have. Contrary to what many people think, it goes beyond landscape, portraiture and glamour shots. The kind of photography to take up may vary depending on your interests and needs. You should understand what each type covers to figure out which one best suit your interests. Even if you want to explore everything, you will eventually realize you prefer one kind of photography over the other. The following sections give you a rundown of photography practices or techniques.

Photojournalism

Amateurs can venture into photojournalism from to time, but this field is more accommodating to professionals. It is best to get formal training if you want to practice photojournalism. The primary reason for stricter standards or regulations in photojournalism is the influence the photos can have. You have to be sure of your image or shot before publishing it. Both your integrity and the publication's reputation are at stake.

Your images should be factual. You cannot add details or alter the photo because it can jeopardize the truth. People can also misinterpret what you are trying to show if you add anything. You can be at risk of libel, defamation and other legal troubles. People can accuse you of attempting to influence or sway public opinion when people find out you altered the picture. Shooting scenes and people gives you a different kind of authority. How you capture their photos determine how people view the story. You need to capture the exact emotions and events.

Documentary Photography

Documentary photography records and narrates stories using images. Many people confuse this with photojournalism. The main difference between the two is documentary photography is more in-depth. It functions as a historical account of a social or political era. Photojournalism documents specific personalities or events, but not the entire period.

As a documentary photographer, you record accounts of international conflicts or shoot in remote areas where people deal with poverty under a certain regime. You can document any subject, but your topic can vary depending on what your work demands are or what you see as interesting. Whatever you want to put in those photo frames will do so long as you can document the story you prefer.

Action Photography

This is one of the most exciting kinds you will deal with. It can cover many subjects, but action photography primarily covers sports. You have to be on the lookout for good matches and remarkable athletic moves. You need to highlight what is special in that particular point in the match. Did the player make a good shot? Did someone just throw a record-breaking feat? You should learn how to anticipate exciting and historical moments because sports is very unpredictable. Subjects can include players taking off or falling down among others.

Macrophotography

Macrophotography is shooting at extremely close ranges. Previously limited to professional photographers, you can now try this because there are now advanced equipment readily available.

Top 10 Tips for Taking the Best Trick Photography Photos

The one consistent element that makes a photograph interesting are people. We just like to look at ourselves or other people. This applies to trick photography as well, whether it's levitation, forced perspective, light paintings, and more. Being able to extract the best out of people and put them in fantastical situations are what makes trick photography so mentally stimulating. So here are some great ideas for you to incorporate into your trick photography photos to take it from good to great.

1. Tell a personal story

When you photograph people, involve something that makes it more personal and individual. You could include their favorite people, objects, or pets. You could also go the other way and include things that they dislike on purpose. The idea is to have some sort of interaction that tells a personal story or capture a little bit of the true spirit of the person being photographed.

2. Have fun with your subjects

Most of my favorite trick photos are those that looks like a lot of fun to try. It invites the viewer to try it out for themselves. So the key to making sure your photographs look fun is to simply have fun! Get some close friends together and tell them what you're aiming for. Allow them to play around and experiment so you get that natural interaction and genuine smiles. Nothing kills the mood and fascination of a well-executed trick photo than a sour or gloomy face, unless you're aiming for that particular mood.

3. Don't get caught unprepared

If you're going to capture genuine smiles or anything else for that matter, remember to always be ready with the camera. Nothing is more frustrating than knowing a great photo opportunity passed right in front of you when you're not ready. Some of the best trick photographs I've seen are unscripted.

4. Nothing wrong with getting in close

The closer you are, the more personal a photograph is. Don't be afraid to get as close as possible and clip the people in the frame. After all, we're trying to create a mood, story, or a connection through our pictures, not recording everything in a scene for preservation.

5. Go outdoors

There are plenty of outstanding trick photography and special effect shots that are done in studios or indoors. Being indoors afford you more control over the environment and different variable, hence a great result. But I tend to pay more attention to those that are done outdoors if you present me with a gallery of indoor and outdoor trick photos. It's like watching a great magic trick and knowing that it is so much harder and therefore interesting when it is done outdoor.

6. Catch people off-guard

Among levitation photography enthusiasts, Natsumi Hayashi of yowayowa camera is one of the best self-portrait levitation photo-taker. Her beautiful photos of herself levitating in busy streets and ordinary locations makes her photos unique and almost surreal. The faces of people noticing her levitation efforts are where I derive the most joy from her pictures. I just can't help but imagine and wonder what goes through their head when they see a girl taking pictures of herself jumping in weird poses in the middle of the street.

7. Use a different angle

Most of us tend to see the world from the same perspective because we all stand upright. Take photos from a low angle and you will see how different the world looks from the point of view of a child or pet. If you're taking forced perspective photos, then changing the angle of your camera can sometimes dramatically alter the end results.

8. Capture natural reactions or not

For normal photography, you want to capture natural emotions and reactions. While this also works for trick photography, I do find that going completely the opposite tend to produce interesting results. Because trick photography is sometimes surprising, using a totally out-of-place emotion or reaction further reinforces that message.

9. Pay attention to your background

The background is as important as the subject you are photographing. It should complement and not distract the eye from the subject. One thing you should pay close attention to are the colors of the background. Certain colors such as red can trigger the eye to look at it immediately and drag attention away from the main subject.

10. Knowledge and practice

To improve your photos you need to keep yourself up to date with new ideas and techniques that other people have come up with and tried. Innovation comes when old ideas and new ideas get combined and assimilated to become something new. Get some guide and books so you don't waste time learning what other people already know. Most of what I know comes from reading and learning from other people, and the rest from experimenting and experience.

Think different

Your imagination is your biggest trick photography asset. Photograph things and people that interest you and add your own twist into it. There are plenty of trick photos online but people are always interested to see more because each photographer is unique, in terms of skill, experience, point of view, message, and style. So keep these top 10 tips in mind when you are trying to take the best trick photography photos you've ever taken!

Solutions For Small Businesses

Managing the day-to-day operations of a small business can be extremely challenging! Small business owners must meet with clients, communicate with suppliers, and tend to their daily business operations, all while maintaining excellent customer service and providing personal attention to each and every person they come into contact with.

Juggling all those tasks while keeping everyone happy can really be tough sometimes, and in some cases, small business owners may even miss out on a potential opportunity because they spread themselves too thin.

For instance, think of a small one-person photography firm. If the business owner goes to a morning photo shoot, meets with her landlord over lunch to discuss rent on a new office space, then has to spend the afternoon in the darkroom developing the morning's pictures, she has, by necessity, spent an entire day away from her office phone.

When she finally gets back to the desk at 6:00 p.m., she finds she has a message from a potential new client who was referred to her by an existing client. She is excited to hear from a new person, but that excitement quickly turns to dismay when she realizes the new client wanted to schedule a photo shoot for that weekend, and needed to confirm a time by 3:00 p.m. Our photographer has missed out on a golden opportunity to work with a client who was referred to her by another satisfied customer.

Now imagine this scenario - what if client could schedule appointments online rather than on the phone?

The new client calls the photographer who was referred to him. He listens to her voicemail, which directs him to go to her website and access her online appointment scheduler, since she is unavailable to take the call personally.

The new client goes to the photographer's company website and clicks on the "schedule appointment" button that is prominently featured on her website. An appointment software program allows the client to schedule a time to meet with the photographer, at his convenience. The online booking software shows available times for the weekend and the client picks one.

When the photographer checks her email at 6:00 that evening, she is thrilled to learn she has an appointment for Saturday afternoon, and that it's from a referral!

Having the ability for clients and business owners to schedule appointments online is a huge benefit. And you can do it today. So why wait?

The Secret To Photography

Pictures are imprints of a photographer's insights and views about life. That is perhaps the reason why, there's this compulsion in us to look closely at photographs in photo exhibits. The vitality that these photos hold can capture any hidden emotion from a human heart. A single photo can cause a downpour of tears and laughter.

The truth to the matter is that, photography which is an art, an expression, is also a rare talent but it can be learned. How many times do we aspire to perfect a shot, without reaching a point of disappointment and frustration? Either from one background to another or from a pose to that, our venture to the art of photography may be painstaking. But if you have the love for it, then I do not think there's a challenge you would rather turn down without giving it a fight.

There are so many ways to excel in photography. There are basics in photography that you need to learn and master before you actually become good at it. They always say that photography is all about light. Light is a one big variable that has a big impact on every shot that you take. Any difference in the light, depending on the angle it is directed to, its intensity, may yield different effects.

Now while most of you are not so acquainted and familiar with what goes and what doesn't, then I suggest you experiment. Knowing it is a lot more retainable than having to read them on photography journals or books. When it goes like "what happens if I do this?", then find out yourself. Take as many shots as you can, until you come terms with the elements that could affect your shots.

Know your tools. Your camera which is the primary tool is something you have to get friendly with. Know what happens if you change a setting.

There could be millions of advices and tips that professional photographers have to tell to rookies and beginners of this craft. But there's nothing about all these that could make you become just like them, if you don't practice and pursue perfection. Every action, every background, whatever time of day, any element, a keen photographer takes all these into deliberate consideration and planning to produce a one of a kind shot.

It make take some time before you actually take a grasp of photography, but one thing is for sure, a negative film has every chance to become an exceptional photo. You'll never stay a rookie for the rest of your life.

Find the Best Art Courses Online

The increasing number of skill full artists and demand for art courses increasing day by day. Students from all over the world are searching for best colleges and universities across the globe. Education institutes are offering art courses in different categories, art courses does not mean traditional courses like painting, sculptures. New courses like Photo imaging and diploma of Photo imaging with the use of latest photographic technology. These courses emphasize the elements of film and digital photography. There are monthly hundreds of searches on art courses online and most of the students' end up finding not the best courses in the industry. For instance, mostly people prefer to study in Australia and find the best education providers there. You can search for Gold Coast colleges and education institutes which are offering credible art courses and also accommodation for international students. Finding the best education offering for your need online is the best way to screen all the colleges.

While searching on Google for the best institutes and best education provider, do look for education, colleges and universities websites. If you search on Google for art courses online it might show several websites which offer at home education and learning. If you look for quality education the best colleges does not offer at home learning because there are training on fieldwork to deal with latest requirements. The best college environment offering with the chances of high learning and providing with the latest technology to deal with today industry demand, it is necessary to choose the credible offerings. Australian institutes are getting famous because they offer the graduates the best training and education which are required to enhance their skills. Several institutes have also offered different art courses, by which taking them you can become a professional in the field.

The best choice for students these days are studying in Australia, with the growing number of searches on Gold Coast art courses and photography courses; students looking for those institutes which are offering them accommodation as well. While searching on Google, do not stick to the first page of search results because there might be a possibility that good college website is indexed on second or third page. Mostly on first page there are several at home offering websites which cannot be credible as those which are offering college environment for learning and enhancing your skills. If you are looking for area specific education institutes that are offering different courses, then search for long keywords as they will bring up the best results. The best institute can lead to exciting jobs in the related industry. The complete career planning offering by the institutes will help you choose the right course for your skills. The most demanding course these days are Diploma of Visual Arts course. Make a list of these courses and see a course offering by the colleges, as the best institute will provide course guideline and duration of the course. Make sure you find the best art courses online because there are numbers of time wasting results in search results.

Should I Hire a Photo Booth Rental For My Wedding?

Every bride has asked the question, "Is photo booth rental a good idea for my wedding?" In most cases, the answer is a resounding YES! Now if you are talking about the old school or DIY photo booths where only two person can sit on the bench or the booth is simply hideous to look at then I can understand your concerns. I would not consider that type of photo booth for my wedding either. Not only will those booth ruin the theme or decor of your wedding, it might stand out like a sore thumb. And let's not get into the liability aspect of the DIYer's photo booth. Fortunately, time has changed and modern photo booths are phasing out the old and self-built ones.

Before you book any photo booth rental, make sure you check out the vendor's website. Take a look at the photo booth design. Asked the vendor a few questions. Is it made out of wood? Is it easily transportable? Some vendors will charge for idling fees (the amount of time the booth is sitting idle at the venue) and some will not. That all depends on the vendor, staffing and how difficult it is to transport the booth.

Now the following question that brides often ask is, "Why do I need a photo booth if I already have a photographer?". Well, that's a great question! The photographer's job is to capture all the precious moments that happens on your wedding day with the bride and groom being the subject. Occasionally, he/she might snap a few shots of the guests and that's it. The photo booth's job is to grab pictures of all the guests that attended your wedding. Not when they are talking or daydreaming but when they are willing, happy and engaging! One thing I've noticed during our photo booth rental was how everyone genuinely had so much fun taking their photos. The photos shows the raw emotions of happiness - people laughing, waiting anxiously by the printer for the photo to develop, or gathering in groups to judge their latest adventure into the photo booth. Photo booth rental is a huge hit on all of our rentals.

The greatest thing about the photo booth is the sense of spontaneity. There's no photographer telling you how to smile, how to stand, or that your smile needs to be more 'genuine'. From the time your wedding guest pushes the touchscreen monitor until the four photos have been taken, the most crazy, fun, and humourous things could be captured onto film.

We also get to see the purest feelings of love displayed in the photos: a group of friends, packing themselves into the photo booth to make the silliest faces possible. an elderly couple - perhaps the grandparents of the groom? - sneaking into the photo booth for their millionth kiss together. and the bride and groom themselves, bride in groom's arms, for one of their first kisses together as husband and wife.

Recently we attended a very classy event at Caesar's Windsor, we captured some of these emotions onto video.

Unleash the party and unleash the love with your very own wedding photobooth!

Gift Ideas For Senior Citizens Perplexing You? 5 Tips to Finding the Perfect Gift For Baby Boomers

Gift ideas for senior citizens can be perplexing. Not to worry, I have 5 tips to help you find the perfect gift for seniors citizens in your life. Many gift givers have the perception that as we age, we have accumulated everything we need in life. In some case that may be so, but, just because we are getting older, does not mean we don't enjoy or appreciate a meaningful and well thought out gift.

Tip #1 As we age, our needs change. Our thoughts focus on our past, what we accomplished, what we wanted to do, but postponed due to life's responsibilities that came our way. Many fondly recall the dreams, plans and hopes of their youth. There are many that have things in their life that they miss or wish they had a chance to do. Now, because of their age, they think that this is no longer a possibility. Trust me, there is a gift giving idea in those postponed dreams and plans. And all you have to do is discover what they are.

Tip # 2 Every aging senior has different personalities, lifestyles, interests, financial and health situations. This should be considered when exploring gift giving options.

Take time to consider the senior adult for whom you want to choose the perfect gift.

Are they an active senior, with lots of ability to get around independently?
Are they involved in church, community or group activities?
Do they live alone?
Do they have limited access to social functions or activities due to illness or inability to drive? What keeps them from getting out an about?
Do they have hobbies or outside interests?
Have they had a change in their physical or mental abilities that has affected their lifestyle?
Are they able to take care of their home environment, yard or pets?
Is their financial situation a problem or is money never a concern?
Are they an individual that is open to trying new things? Or are they an individual set in their ways?

More Gift Ideas for Senior Citizens Perplexing You? 5 Tips to Finding the Perfect Gift for Baby Boomers...

Tip #3 To accomplish the goal of finding the perfect gift for the aging senior in your life will take a little thought and exploration on your part. Take time in your everyday conversations to ask questions about the past and the present interests. Make this a part of your regular conversation. Gift ideas will present themselves.
Don't hesitate to ask "Is there any thing that you wished you had done?"
"Is there any thing that you miss doing or would like to do some day?"
"Have you ever considered ________(this may be dancing lessons, painting, doing wood working, trying a computer etc) ?"

Tip # 4 If you have done your exploration, you should have come up with some great gift ideas. Or maybe you still feel stuck on finding the perfect gift. Now it is time to be creative. If you have assessed the aging senior's situation, you can determine what is important to them. Would they benefit from some special one on one time with you?
Spending uninterrupted and unrushed time, to do something that your aging senior will enjoy, not only will be appreciated, but will have the benefit of creating a memory for you and your aging senior.
If they are an active senior, they may be open to trying something new and different. You may want to plan a trip or activity that would be fun. Don't forget that learning is a lifelong activity. Check out the local colleges, YMCA's and online courses that may be of interest to your aging senior. You may be able to introduce a new hobby or activity that will improve or maintain mind and physical fitness.

Tip #5 Do not discount home made gifts or projects. Plan a family project where the entire family can get involved. You may want to create a family tree, organize family pictures. Create a slide show with old family pictures and have your senior incorporate family stories behind those pictures. Or create a video of your aging senior talk about the family history. This could be an on going project with a planned family debut. Plan a party and 'red carpet' event for the entire family to view.

Finding gift ideas for seniors can give you an opportunity to learn and create a stronger bond between you. Finding a gift for baby boomers is giving something needed, something wanted or something they have longed for, but never expressed. Given with lots of love, will make it the "perfect" gift.

10 Unique Photo Gift Ideas For Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and there will be many unique gifts available for the season. Using a favorite photo in a gift is a great way to personalize Christmas gifts. Here are 10 photo gift ideas that would look great under anyone's Christmas tree and are sure to make everyone smile!

Photo Coffee Mug

Give the gift of a personalized coffee mug this season! With a variety of styles to choose from, mugs make a great gift for a cold winter night. Choose a stainless steel mug for a traveler. Select one photo or a collage of photos and finish off with a favorite sentiment. For an added bonus, make a gift set by filling the mug with a variety of favorite candy, tea or coffee.

Photo Puzzle

For an unusual idea, turn a favorite family photo into a puzzle for all to enjoy. Picture puzzles make a great gift for grandparents and can easily be mailed to the recipient.

Photo Skin for a Laptop or Cell Phone

Photo skins are a great gift for that tech-obsessed friend or family member. To ensure proper fit, know the make and model of the gadget before ordering the skin. To cover the space on a laptop, make a collage of favorite photos.

Personalized Photo Book

Give the gift of memories with a personalized photo book. Upload pictures from a major family event, such as a wedding or birth, and use an online program to create the book. This gift is sure to delight and be a favorite for years to come!

Photo Calendar

Give a gift that keeps on giving. A photo calendar is a great Christmas gift. There are many programs available that can assist in creating a personalized photo calendar. Use photos from the previous year to preserve those memories. Mail calendars to distant relatives along with annual Christmas cards.

Photo Ornament

Order photo ornaments from a company or hand make at home. Use children's school photos to create new ornaments each year. Display ornaments on the tree.

Digital Photo Frame

Digital photo frames are available in a variety of sizes. They can be as small as a key chain or as large as a frame on the wall. Choose from models with batteries or a wall plug. Upload with pictures prior to gifting for an added bonus.

Photo Playing Cards

For the card shark in the family, create photo playing cards online. Upload pictures of a vacation, kids or a favorite pet. These playing cards are sure to be a hit at the next family game night!

Photo Blanket

The recipient of this gift will love keeping warm this Christmas wrapped up in the arms of loved ones. Choose a wedding photo for newlyweds or a baby picture for the new parents. A favorite family photo makes a great addition to any couch.

Photo Stamps

Personalized photo stamps make a great gift for the aunt that loves to write letters! Or use the photo stamps to personalize annual family Christmas cards and letters. Either way, these stamps will definitely bring a smile!

Selecting a Camera For Landscape Photography

Chances are you already own the camera you'll be using to shoot landscapes, but do read this anyway, so you know what to look for when it's time to upgrade. Unlike the bygone days of film cameras, in which you might have used the same camera for several years, the rapid advances in digital technology and stunning improvements in image quality offered by the latest camera models encourage digital photographers to upgrade every two or three years.

NIKON AND CANON CAMERAS ARE SUPERB!

All digital cameras can produce fine landscape images, but some models are clearly better for landscapes than others. Just for the record, John has used Canon cameras for more than 30 years while Barbara shoots Nikon. You might be surprised to hear we shoot two different systems, but it makes perfect sense to us. We always know our Nikon gear is Barbara's and Canon items belong to John, so we never get mixed up. This makes things simple, keeps peace in the family, and we each shoot what we like. Effectively teaching over a thousand photo students each year is important to us, too. Thoroughly knowing both the Canon and Nikon systems helps us teach, because the vast majority of our photography students also shoot Canon or Nikon.

Both Canon and Nikon offer superb cameras and wide choices of lenses, including high-quality prime (non-zoom) lenses, tilt-shift lenses that control depth of field and convergence of vertical lines, zoom lenses with image-stabilization, and specialized macro lenses. Canon and Nikon each have cameras with a full-frame sensor that gives the full effect of wide-angle lenses.

OTHER EXCELLENT CAMERA SYSTEMS

Several other companies build digital camera systems and they make fine equipment. The major players include Sigma, Fujifilm, Pentax, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, and Olympus. Their cameras are perfectly capable of shooting superb landscape images, but their overall systems are considerably smaller than the Canon and Nikon systems, leaving nature photographers with far fewer choices of lenses and accessories.

So You Want To Take a Photography Class

Digital photography classes are popping up everywhere: community centers, on-line sites, Facebook, and continuing adult education programs, just to name a few. A digital photography class should not be too different from a traditional photography class. Other than the White Balance setting in digital cameras, a digital camera and a film camera work exactly the same when it comes to exposure and composition. Most of the settings and features are going to look and work the same way as well.

In any photography class, you should be taught the features, settings, how to change and use these settings, and when it's appropriate to use them. You should also discuss some standard accessories such as batteries, memory cards, filters, tripods, and various lenses.

While digital photography classes are often held indoors in classrooms, great classes will include some hands-on work with your camera with an instructor who demonstrate how the settings, features, and exposure settings work on YOUR camera and allow time for you to become comfortable with your camera in the classroom environment. Homework assignments are a great tool and allow you to work on what you learned in class while at home, and help reinforce technical skills.

The word PHOTOGRAPHY comes from the Greek language and literally means: light writing. Learning how to manage and control light is the main concept of any photography class. No photography class would be complete without a discussion on light sources, how light affects subjects, how to understand the way your camera sees light, and what accessories you can use to manipulate light. Exposure (auto, programmed, program, priority controls, and manual) are the tools of light control. A serious photography class will not only provide an overview of exposure, detail the components of exposure, and how to use the components of exposure, but will also involve discussion and hands-on use to ensure you know how each exposure setting works, the advantages of each, and when to use what type of exposure.

In addition to instruction on how to use your camera, a great photography class will include discussion around your creative eye and how you see the world. Composition techniques will evolve out of creativity discussions and assignments help strengthen and grow creativity. A solid foundation of photography vocabulary will help you define your own photographic style and help reinforce your creative eye.

Another advantage of taking a photography class also allows you to set aside a specific time period each week to focus on your photography. As the adage states: the more you shoot, the better you get and homework provides you with a topic for you to shoot to help you shoot more.

You don't learn how to drive a car by reading a manual. Don't expect to learn how to use your camera from your manual either. Whether you are a beginner, a hobbyist, an amateur, or someone looking to just understand how their camera works - a photography class will not only help you become a better photographer, you are sure to have plenty of fun!

Scuba Diving Jobs

Scuba diving is gaining rapid popularity, as the passion for water sports has shown a tremendous increase. There are numerous training schools that organize certified scuba diving programs. There are nearly 2000 professional scuba dive centers in the United States. Before enrolling for a scuba diving program, students must check the various schools and centers to find out which course suits their requirements. A lot of schools that train students for scuba diving are certified, and this certification is internationally recognized. Many scuba divers enroll with internationally recognized agencies like the Professional Association of Diving Instruction, also known as (PADI). The level of certification obtained by divers can determine the various types of scuba diving jobs.

The divers can also choose to work part-time or fulltime. Divers who are certified on as a professional can lead recreational diving excursions, own scuba equipment stores, or help researchers to acquire underwater data. They can also be instructors and teach the techniques of scuba diving. Others choose to do professional rescue jobs, deep-sea diving and underwater photography. One of the most popular scuba diving jobs is that of a diving instructor. These divers conduct courses for the general public, as well as for professionals. They also teach various safety measures needed while underwater. Dive instructors can navigate, check prevailing water conditions and also assist divers with ways to handling defective equipment. Apart from earning a steady salary, these scuba divers gather a considerable amount of experience that helps them in the future.

As scuba divers are trained and certified from reputed institutes, they possess adequate skills and knowledge about the various aspects of scuba diving.

Wedding Photography Contract And Checklist Considerations

Setting up solid business processes and practices is just as important for your wedding photography business as taking good shots. This article will look at two key issues that need to be addressed before the day of the wedding. One relates to agreeing and signing off with your client a wedding photography contract. The other is discussing and agreeing a wedding photography checklist, so a list of must have photographs that are required on the day.

Wedding Photography Contract Issues

1. A signed contract holds far more legal weight than sending your clients a set of your terms and conditions, let alone agreeing something verbally but not in writing. It also backs up any discussion you've had with your client or potential client and reduces the chance of miscommunication or misunderstandings which might otherwise damage your relationship with them.

2. Details not only the price of the wedding service you are going to provide, but also the nature of the service e.g. which wedding package has been chosen, what it includes, start and finish times, locations, whether an engagement shoot is included and so on.

3. Detail what would happen if you cannot attend, the total liability of each party - normally no greater than the total price of the package - and importantly what will happen if the client cancels or postpones the wedding.

4. Specifics around transport costs may also be useful to put down in writing here, either for the wedding or the engagement shoot. If the latter only take place on certain days of the week, say so. Even if you mention if verbally on booking, often the couple will have forgotten 6 months or a year down the line when your ring to sort out a date and time. Again, having the contract in place takes away any doubt.

5. Finally, make sure you hold on to the copyright for your images, and state this in the contract. It is also important to include a clause that states that you have the right to use any of the images to promote or otherwise market your work. That way, you don't have to get permission to use the photographs for advertising your services further down the line.

Wedding Photography Checklist Issues

1. Always get a list of the key group photographs your clients would like, and make sure you have this at least a few weeks before the wedding so you can discuss it with the bride and groom and understand exactly who is who. Suggest no more than 10-12 groups normally as this ensures this session will not last overlong. That way, family and guests enjoy it which is reflected in great photos.

2. Order the list yourself in a way that will make pulling the groups together as quick as possible. For example, if you shoot the bride and groom with the extended family, then with the immediate family, then with parents only, it is very easy to take people away and get all 3 shots done very quickly.

3. Ask beforehand for one or two people who can help you to get the groups together. It gives the wedding a nicer more personal feel if the groomsmen are calling the groups rather than the photographer, but if this doesn't seem to be working well on the day, quickly step in and do it yourself.

4. It is also useful to request a list of 'informal' group shots which you can get throughout the day, so adding variety to the overall set of images you give your client, but also as a means of keeping the number of formal groups down. These shots may or may not include the bride and groom and some example would be the bride with her best friend, the mum or dad with their siblings, all the young children together, or a favourite aunt and uncle.

Being prepared for the wedding day reduces much of the stress for the photographer, but also makes the clients that much more confident in your abilities and happy with your service. And the happier the bride and groom, the more likely they will respond to you on the day and help make the photographs a success.

The Must-Have Lenses For Photography Enthusiasts

While most budding photographers obsess with cameras and their features, it is easy to forget the most important part of the photographic system - the lens. Its importance is two-fold. It renders the light passing through it and has a significant influence on your photos' resolution, sharpness and definition. Any drop in quality is most pronounced around the edges of the image and this is the first place to look when comparing lenses. Poor quality optics also suffer from various aberrations such as chromatic aberration or colour fringing around ages of objects, and various "barrel" or "pincushion" distortions. A good lens should suffer from none of those.

But your optics are important in another entirely different way too. The lens really influences the way you shoot - how you move around the subject, how close you go, what kind of perspectives you're getting. Have a look at some reportage photography and it's really interesting to see the difference between wide-angle photography and telephoto zooms, each having their own virtues and applications.

So what are the basic lenses that a serious enthusiast should have? To start with, do not throw away your standard kit lens that your digital SLR probably came with. They tend to be cheap but decent and versatile lenses that you can use in conditions when you don't want to risk any knocks on your more expensive optics. Next, get yourself a nice wide angle lens. Possibly a 12-24mm or a fixed 20mm. This makes a perfect landscape lens as well as a good option for street photography.

If you're keen on portraits then get yourself a small telephoto lens - say, an 85mm or 105mm. These are the optimum lengths for providing some flattening of perspective, while still being wide enough to give good depth. Do try to get as wide lens as possible - ideally f/2.8 - to give you the ability to blur your backgrounds.

Longer lenses have plenty of uses - for action, sport and wildlife photography. There are some stunning lenses, for example Nikon's and Canon's 300m f/2.8, however these do cost an arm and a leg and weigh just as much. A good option is a slightly shorter and smaller 200mm f/4 that is compact to carry, yet it provides decent magnification, especially on a digital camera with a crop factor.

Which ever way you go, do stop to consider lenses before deciding on what camera to buy. They are the single tool that will open the most new possibilities with your photography and are definitely worth investing in.

The Seven Cataracts Adventure Hike: A Mountain Sliding, Canyoneering Exploration Into Willow Canyon

Arizona is an incredibly gorgeous, wildly diverse state with topography ranging from low level desert landscapes, to high mountain peaks and alpine forest ranges. More than any other geologic feature though, Arizona is widely renowned for its many beautiful and remote rock canyons, deep slot gorges, water falls and pools which are scattered throughout the state. However, what I find even more amazing, is that many of these backcountry wilderness canyons can be accessed through "non-technical" canyon hiking routes which don't require ropes and are literally within a single day's trip from either Phoenix or Tucson. For an excellent late summer to early fall day trip and hike, if you're up for more of an exciting challenge and an extraordinary and scenic day trip, then take a mountain sliding, canyoneering hiking adventure to Seven Cataracts, and explore Willow Canyon, Tucson, Arizona.

It was the Labor Day holiday and early on Sunday morning that I left Phoenix, about 6am, heading out of town on I-10 East and arrived in Tucson by 7:30am. At the Ina Road exit, I swung off the freeway and took a left, heading east 8 miles, and met up with the TLC Hiking Group, led and organized by Eric Kinneman, at the Westin La Paloma Resort and arrived by 8am. Because the parking was said to be limited at the trailhead for this hike, we carpooled it together and set out for the day's hike and journey heading east on Sunrise Blvd. by 8:25am.

The beautiful drive on Sunrise Blvd across the northern stretches of Tuscon and through the rolling foothills of the gorgeous Santa Catalina mountains has always been a favorite of mine. The Santa Catalina Mountains are Tucson's highest mountain range reaching all the way up to 9157 feet in elevation at its very top, Mount Lemmon. To get there and to reach the trailhead for our hike, we zig zagged it across Tucson, driving east on Sunrise Blvd to Swan Road, turned right (south), to River Road, turned left (east), then a right onto Sabino Canyon Road, left onto Tanque Verde Road and headed east on Tanque Verde Road till we reached the Catalina Highway, aka the "Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway", and then turned left again.

It was about 4 miles or so after making the left turn onto the Catalina Highway that you enter the Coronado National Forest and start the winding ascent up into the rugged Santa Catalina mountains. Although it's been a long time since I was last there, I was still amazed at just how beautiful and gorgeous this drive really is. Immediately as you head on up in elevation beginning at 3000 feet, the views are absolutely breathtaking with each switchback and hairpin curve offering a new and amazing rock formation or gorgeous canyon vista off to the distance. If you like to stop and take a lot of pictures, as I always like to do, you have plenty of opportunity to do so because this drive offers a number of vista points to enjoy along the way. However, at about mile marker 5, just past the Molino Canyon Overlook, there is a pay station where you must purchase a $5 Coronado National Forest day use recreation pass if you're planning on stopping anywhere further along the drive. We purchased the day use passes, one each per vehicle and journeyed on for three more miles until we reached the Seven Cataracts Vista Point, just past Thimble Peak Vista and roughly at about mile marker 8 and about 1/3 of the way up to Mount Lemmon.

We pulled into the Seven Cataracts Vista point, and our trailhead, parked and started out on our day's hiking and canyoneering adventure by 9am. The view looking down into Willow Canyon below was absolutely beautiful, but also incredibly steep too! Immediately, right from the beginning, the drop off into Willow Canyon on this "day use" trail was intense, to say the very least. Estimated to be roughly about a 1000-1300 feet descent straight down with a 60% grade on all loose dirt, gravel and rocks, each one of us had to literally drop down to the ground on our "butts" and from section to section, slide it on down for about a total of a 翹 of a mile until we had made down to the bottom. What a site it was to see too, really exciting and a lot of fun! However, this "non-official" trail, mainly used by experienced canyoneers, is rated very difficult, some even say treacherous or dangerous, so I would not recommend doing this hike on your own unless you are an experienced canyon hiker or have an experienced canyon hiking guide with you.

Once we had all safely slid our way down and reached the bottom and after a quick group photo, Eric began leading our group on our canyoneering exploration further down into Willow Canyon, scrambling, boulder hopping and class 3 climbing through partially running water falls. Really gorgeous and spectacular scenery all the way down too! We continued on for about a 翹 mile where we had reached a really nice running falls and enjoyed the opportunity to cool off, rest and enjoy the peaceful tranquility and beauty of this remote and lesser known wilderness canyon. Meanwhile, Eric, along with several other adventurous members, journeyed on for another 1/3 to 翹 mile, and after more scrambling, boulder hopping and class 3-4 climbing, reached a gorgeous 100 foot water fall and a larger swimming hole deep enough he said that even with a jump off a 10 foot cliff, they could not hit bottom! Amazing!

After about an hour or so break, we decided it was time to start making our way back. Now it was time for the most challenging part of our canyoneering adventure, making it back! So we began our trek back through Willow Canyon the same way we came, scrambling, boulder hopping, wading through the pools, then climbing it back up through the water fall. It only took a short time though and within minutes we had all made it safely back up and to the base of the side of the hill we had originally "slid" down on earlier. It was here that we met back up with Eric then broke up into two groups. You could decide to either make the ascent in the same place you came down with the 60% grade on all loose dirt and gravel, where Eric said it was for every 3 steps up, a slide of one or two back. Or my friend Dan decided it looked like if you took it up a little further down to the left, you could more easily climb it straight up the rocks and cliff and up to the top. So myself, along with several other members followed Dan's lead and hand over foot, we slowly and carefully climbed it, section by section until we safely reached it back up to the top. Wow, for me and someone who's scared of heights, and not experienced at rock climbing, it was challenging but a lot of fun and incredible workout too!

Once back at the top and at the Seven Cataracts Vista parking lot, we waited for the final members to safely return, then by 12:15pm we got back into our cars to drive the rest of the way up to Mount Lemmon for lunch at the Iron Door Restaurant. The views along the way were again, spectacular as you make your way from elevation 5000 feet on up to the Mount Lemmon Sky Valley, elevation roughly about 8200 feet. Although the signs of the devastating 2003 Aspen fire were noticeable, it was still very beautiful and the temperatures by this time of day, low to mid 80's and very cool and refreshing.

However, with the 2.5 hour wait at the restaurant, due to it being a weekend and also a holiday, we decided it was best to turn around and head back instead.

We arrived back in Tucson at about 2pm and after an excellent lunch at a little restaurant called Renee's Organic Oven on Tanque Verde Road, we arrived back at the Westin La Paloma Resort by 4pm, where those of us who had just came down for the day, headed back to Phoenix from there to return home again by about 6pm.

In all, it was really an extraordinary canyoneering exploration and waterfall hiking adventure with the TLC Hiking Group, carefully researched, well planned and thought through to the last detail by Eric Kinneman himself. Really had it all, amazingly beautiful, exciting, yet also very challenging. I think that this hike is best summed up though in Eric Kinneman's own words in which he quotes, "The Seven Cataracts Waterfall Adventure Hike is an amazing hike that I highly recommend people taking. It will test your fears, give you an incredible workout and take you through some magnificent canyons, and a 100 foot waterfall and swimming hole, seldom seen by anyone. What more could anyone ask for!"

Becoming a Wedding Photography Professional - Why You Need Passion

People who are considering making careers in wedding photography are often told that they need to be people with great passion for photography. The business of wedding photography, as the name suggests, involves taking photographs during wedding ceremonies - and whole load of other events that precede and follow the wedding ceremony.

Originally developed to cater for the tastes of rich couples (at a time when photography was still an expensive venture), wedding photography soon evolved into an integral part of every wedding. This way, in many people's estimation, a wedding without a photographer is viewed as incomplete. Even couples planning on very low budget weddings tend to go to great lengths, to ensure that they still have the photography well handled. In short, wedding photography has come to be considered an essential expenditure during any wedding, much like the expenditure on the minister who officiates the ceremony.

With the evolution of marriage photography into an integral part of the wedding ceremony has come the birth of an industry revolving around the provision of wedding photography services. This is an industry in every sense of the word; complete with its own professionals.

Now people considering becoming marriage photography professionals are usually advised that they need to be have a strong passion for photography. Ideally, they are required to be people whose passion for the art of photography is so strong that they would do it for free, if it came to that. But why is that so, you ask?

Well, the main reason why passion is an important attribute in any one aspiring to a career in wedding photography is because wedding photography can often turn out to be a very involving and challenging undertaking. Thus, one often finds themselves in a situation where they need more motivation that just the money, to keep going: which is where a passion for the art comes in.

To an external observer, of course, marriage photography seems to be an exciting and glamorous undertaking. The fact that through it one gets to work in ever-cheerful occasions (weddings always are) makes one - observing from outside - wonder where the pressure comes in. But the truth of the matter is that the wedding photography professional is usually under pressure from every possible direction.

For starters, the wedding photography professional is likely to be from pressure for himself or herself, to ensure that he or she gets everything right. He or she knows that failing to get things right would be failing the wedding couple in a big way, an unforgivable way. If he or she is employed, there is pressure from the employer to get everything right; otherwise he could get fired - for this is a business where reputation matters a great deal. If he or she is in business, there is even more pressure to get things right: otherwise risk losing business reputation. There is of course, subtle pressure from the wedding couple: who typically come to the photographer personally, and ask him or her not to let them down.

With these types of pressure, it takes real passion for the art to keep going on.

Career Opportunities in Advertising Photography

One of the key components of advertising is the importance of visual marketing. Without this, advertisements would just be words written across a page, thus not creating a well rounded advertisement. Photos have a major influence on advertisements regardless of the nature of the advertisements, and regardless of the product being advertised for. This is why photography is so important in the world of marketing, media, and advertising. The photos influence the consumer strongly, if projected the right way. Skills such as this are taught in school while obtaining your photography degree.

One of the beauties of photography is the fact that photos and images can be very multi facetted. If you have an interest in photography, here are various careers and avenues in which you can take your passion for shooting photos. While there are various photography genres, such as photojournalism or portraiting, one of the most exciting and rewarding careers is advertising photography. In this type of photography, your main goal is to capture the consumer with your work. Your photos and designs should influence the consumer in a positive manner with each advertising campaign.

Advertising photographers, like many types of photographers can work as a freelancer or for a company. As a freelance your jobs, job length, and job difficulty may vary as you pick up a different job as needed. Within a company, you are a stable part of their team and you will be placed on the job based on advertising campaign or advertising project. Both are excellent ways to excel in a career in photo advertising upon finishing your photography degree.

The photographer is perhaps one of the most important parts of the advertising team. Capturing photographs to attract consumers can be a challenging job, but if executed correctly will result in a successful and exhilarating career.

His Most Famous Photograph (The Two Ways of Life) - Oscar Rejlander

The father of 'Victorian Art Photography' Oscar Gustav Rejlander or Oscar Rejlander (1817-1875) was born in Sweden. He started his career as an artist and a portrait painter in Italy. Inspired by one of the assistants of Fox Talbot however, Oscar abandoned his profession to pursue photography. He took training in photography in 1850, and discarded the concept of photography as a technical or scientific medium. He lifted the standard of photography to 'Fine Art,' by imitating paintings, or creating painting like scene and then clicking it, instead of going for typical real life photographic captures. His most famous photograph "The Two Ways of Life" is a 'Symbolic' allegory, and a masterpiece of Oscar's 'Art Photography.'

Approximately 32 negatives were put together to create the 'Combination Print' "The Two Ways of Life" (1857). Here, with his unique style, Oscar captures the moral choice between good and evil. Measuring 41 cm x 79 cm, this Gelatin Silver Print work depicts a patriarch guiding two young men to manhood. One of the men is attracted towards sinful pleasures, while the other one is drawn to virtuous pleasures. In the middle of the scene, appears a veiled, partly clothed figure, Symbolizing regret. It is shown turning towards good.

"The Two Ways of Life" was based on the background of Raphael's 'School of Athens' (1509-1511). The same year, Rejlander's photograph was shown in the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition, Manchester, England, UK. The work created controversy among many of the great artists and photographer. Eventually however, the artist was appreciated for his great work, especially after Queen Victoria purchased a copy of it. His membership of the Royal Photographic Society of London was extended, which also gave him a lot of respect in the high society of London.

In 1858, Rejlander addressed a seminar on his most famous photograph "The Two Ways of Life." He stated that it took him around six weeks to finish his work, accomplished through an old, patched, broken camera, fitted with a Ross lens. A pressure-printing frame, half the size of the final print, was used to create the prints of his photograph. Initiated with foreground figures, Rejlander's "The Two Ways of Life" was completed with those in the background. He decided the size of the foreground and used a pair of compasses to determine the size of background figure on the focusing glass. Due to its large size, the final print of the photograph was printed in two sheets of paper.

As per the records, only five prints of "The Two Ways of Life" were produced. One Queen Victoria gifted to Prince Albert. The second one was displayed at the Birmingham Photographic Society's meeting. A Scottish physicist, Sir David Brewster, bought the third one, while Oscar Rejlander sold the fourth one, which was later presented to the Royal Photographic Society, in 1925. The print with Royal Photographic Society is supposed to be the only copy still in existence. A fifth print was sold to a man at Streatham.

Online Photography Courses - Why Online Classes Are Worthwhile?

Online courses have significant advantages over conventional photography classes. You have the flexibility of attending these classes from the convenience of your home or office and can take lessons at any point of time. Online photography courses are ideal for both experienced and fresher students because the large range of courses and topics cover almost every sort of subjects related to photography. You can choose from a large array of courses which leave you with very specific choices.

Online courses do not have the interactive experience that you can get in a regular classroom and lack of 'classmates' leave the sole responsibility to you. However, online photography courses have many benefits that attract thousands of students to online colleges every year.

Learning Experience- Compared to regular classroom courses, online courses cover a wider range of topics. There are hundreds of specialized courses for photography students to choose from. For students who are looking for very specific topics, online courses are the best. Online courses are usually updated frequently and an insight to the latest technology and tools in photography industry is provided.

Techniques- There will be more than a few techniques to capture a single subject. The capturing techniques vary and for different techniques, you will get different results. A good course can provide you proper insights to different photography techniques that can be used on a single subject. Based on each technique you follow, your results will vary.

Dealing With Your Subject- For still life photography and fashion photography, the way you handle your subject vary a lot. Mood swings of your model are not a concern when it comes to still life but you need to give proper commands to your model. This takes a lot of practice and patience. Similarly, it is easier to command your model based on various lighting conditions but for still life, you need to follow complex setups to rearrange a lighting setting.

Photo Editing- Photo editing is a complex process these days, especially when you click pictures in RAW format. Photographers click pictures in RAW format so that they can make certain corrections without losing the quality. Contrary to the popular belief, it is not necessary to click pictures in RAW to restore quality. High quality JPEG formats are also very efficient these days. There is a limit for corrections allowed in photographs and you should always be within the limits. Right editing techniques can help you to enhance the visual appeal of each image, thus learning editing techniques are essential.

Know The Good and Bad- As an amateur, there will be thousands of pictures that are appealing to us but when we look at these pictures in an expert's point of view, only a couple of them will be of good quality. Factors such as blur, composition, lighting, exposure and objects in a frame have a role in determining whether a picture is good or bad. With a good course, you will learn how to distinguish between a good and bad picture.

There is no doubt that learning photography online can improve your photo taking and editing skills, thus transform you as a professional photographer.

Film School Secrets - Do You Really Need Film School to Be Successful?

It's a question that has been surfacing more and more over the years, and the answer might surprise you. Sure people like George Lucas and Martin Scorsese went to film school and became outrageously successful, but these are two of the reasons why we wanted to share some film school secrets with you today. Filmmaking school does not guarantee you success as a Hollywood producer.

In fact, people like Steven Spielberg are more touted in the industry because they take a different approach. Instead of going to filmmaking school they opt to work from the ground up and build a reputation in the business. Spielberg was initially turned down by the USC school, but after a grueling internship at Universal Studios he was able to move up the ranks with hard work. Eventually he was accepted by USC and earned a degree, which is far more common. Here are three more film school secrets that you ought to know:

Secret #1- When it comes to filming school you're not going to make any vital contacts there. The majority of your interactions will come from film sets, festivals, and on-hand areas of the business. If you do find someone through schooling there might only be one or two that are used later on down the road.

Secret #2- If you want to learn how to make a film it doesn't require you to go to filmmaking school. It's one of the biggest film school secrets that most people don't realize. You can actually learn everything faster by being on a set as opposed to in a classroom. If you want to study hard and learn technical terms then go to school to be a lawyer or doctor instead.

Just look at all the people who work in the construction industry. The majority of the people who learn their skills take an on-hand approach to their work. This is the same concept you find in film colleges. It's the easiest ways for a newcomer to learn the ropes and pay his or her dues before seeing true success.

Plus, in today's world you can buy your film equipment for a few thousand bucks. Years ago people like Lucas and Scorsese had to figure out ways to access it.

It's also important to understand that filming school isn't taught by successful filmmakers. Instead these are professors who know everything by book-smarts and not the true essence of making a film. The people you should be learning from are never in a classroom teaching students. You also don't want to be paying tens of thousands of dollars to be taught by an amateur anyways.

Secret #3- There isn't really a need to get a filmmaking school degree. It's a great help in the medical or business world, but here the situation is reversed. Take the time to find a set you can work on and move up through the ranks. It's the best way to get noticed and alleviate all the issues that come with these film school secrets. In the end you will earn more respect in the industry.

Interesting Photography Workshops

Photography workshops are some of the most interesting in the training sessions and all students long for the time they will finally get into the field to use the skills they have learned from the courses. The workshops are suitable for all including photography beginners, amateur photographers who are serious in improving their skills and even the experienced fine arts photographers.

Most of the workshops are made possible by the training school that you have enrolled in but there are some which are externally organized to offer all interested photographers the chance to learn much more from the professionals attending the workshops. This means therefore that the workshops come in different packaging but are all important and quite helpful in sharpening photography skills.

The photography workshops are very interesting and take the students to selected areas thereby giving them the chance to take photos of different subjects whether selected or those they find most interesting in the setting. It is during the workshops that the students get to put to use the different techniques they have learnt in class hence the reason as to why the workshops are the best treats in any photography course.

These workshops can come complete with an instructor to help through the session and they help in exploring the word of photography. They cover wide range of subjects in photography and digital photography thereby leaving the trainees in better positions to handle any kind of camera assignment of need that they could come face to face with in the future. The workshops therefore are of great importance to any photography training.

Photography is an extensive field which requires passions and attention to details. The different training course now made available is a sure way of taking you as far as you would want to go with your photography and will sharpen you from all angles. Whether you only have the need to familiarize with your camera or have the need to be a professional, you will find all courses available as long as you choose a good photography school. Those who do not have the time to attend to the classes might find the home based training courses quite convenient.

During or after the training course, workshops are very important and should be attended since they end up exposing you to important aspects of photography thereby sharpening you the more and taking you to the level of photography you have the need to be in.

Online Dating Success Secrets For Men

Why do most men fail when it comes to online dating? Or feel that the service has failed them? It's not their fault. They just don't understand online dating. When you understand how it all works, you'll be 95% ahead of most men.

Online dating is the perfect solution for individuals and couples looking to develop a friendship or relationship of one kind. It's become even more popular with new sites establishing themselves all the time.

Becoming a member of an online dating service gives you more options but you can also enjoy the free services first to see if it's a site that you'd like to join.

The more dating sites you sign up for, the better chance you have of meeting the woman of your dreams. Studies have shown that when you sign up at multiple sites, the success rate increases by 210%.

What Are You Looking For In A Date?

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make is to jump into online dating with no idea on what to write in the profile or preference section and end up feeling frustrated when they don't find that ideal person. Out of desperation, they end up accepting anything that the site offers. Don't make that same mistake. Ask yourself what it is that you want and write it down.

You'll need to set up a Screen Name and Password. A screen name can be anything that represents you as long as you don't use your real name. Make sure that you set up a separate email account for your online dating sites.

Once you log it's time to set up a Profile.

Setting Up A Profile

Knowing how to properly set up your profile can make the difference of being successful in meeting the right kind of women. For instance, if you're an 18-year-old man, chances are you aren't looking for women 55 years old, so set your preferences age appropriately. If you have any particular interests or hobbies such as sports, computers, photography, include this on your profile. It will make it easier for those that share your interests to find you.

As amazing as it may be, many people on online dating sites fail to complete their profile. They may put in a photo and location and that's it. If by chance, someone shows an interest, they're not going to learn very much about you and will continue searching other profiles.

A great picture of yourself may draw in many interested parties, but they may not be the type you want. You want to put information that makes you unique and stand out in the crowd without being dishonest.

Most people may say that looks don't matter, in all honesty they still want to see what you look like so always post a photo along with your profile and make sure that it's pretty current. If you post a photo taken ten years ago and when you were a few pounds lighter that's not being honest. Post a current, attractive and appropriate picture. As the old saying goes: "a picture can be worth 1000 words".

Finally, check your spelling and grammar. Misspelled words or improper use of the English language can easily discourage someone from taking an interest in you. You don't want to give the opinion that you are uneducated.

Keep your profile updated. The more you log in to the site, the more you'll show you're active, resulting in staying on top and getting more views.After you've completed your profile, don't forget about it. Come back from time to time to check on it so it stays current and others can see you're active.

Initiate Contact

For the first week or so, many people sit around waiting for interested people to contact them. When that doesn't happen, they move on to other things. Besides lessening your chances of meeting someone, your profile is pushed to the bottom of the pile because of inactivity.

Keep in mind that gone are the days where only men are allowed to take the initiative. If a woman sees someone interesting, you can be sure that she'll make a first move.

Once you've determined that you've met someone you really like, you're probably going to want to meet him or her in person. This is usually the next step. Hopefully by this time, you've known the individual for a while and are confident they're trustworthy and whom they say they are.

Always make sure your first meeting takes place in public, preferably during daylight hours. After you've known each other longer, you can make other arrangements, but always be safe first.

Copyright 2012 Max Curtis

Free Online Schools - Is There Such a Thing?

Many people are searching these days for free online schools. Do they exist? To some extent, yes. For different groups, definitely. Where are these secret places located? With some internet searching and digging within the materials, you can be able to find free online classes.

A huge provider of free courses is the MIT Consortium. This great resource allows you to take online courses free from one of the most prominent names in education. Keep in mind that the content is free, but you will not receive college credit or certifications from taking these classes. They are simply to be taken for your knowledge and learning. There are also many variants of the MIT model that you could also check into for more information.

If you have a child who is still K-12 educated, there are various options also available for them to complete K-12 training online for free. Check your state department of education website for any details related to your state. Many states will provide free computers, as well as online teachers for your child to conference with as they are completing their studies. Typically, you will be required to provide the internet access and a place for your child to make sure they are completing work in an adequate and timely manner.

Many community colleges are also beginning to offer online choices for people wishing to take a class just for the pleasure. The majority of these online courses are geared toward to the senior set. They may include computer classes, art history, or photography.

One last place to look for free online coursework includes checking with your employee training choices. A lot of employers offer continuing education opportunities within the company or specialized fields free of charge for the current members. Professional organizations in specific fields may also have webinars or self-study courses to increase your career education.

Check into one or all of these ideas to find the perfect online learning opportunity for you!

What to Expect From Online High School Classes

If your student is getting ready to enroll in an online high school, you may have quite a few questions. What are the classes like? What kinds of electives are offered? Do these classes prepare my student for college?

The first important thing to understand is that online high school classes offer today's students a wide range of educational opportunities. These are not cookie cutter boxes of curriculum. They are part of dynamic, engaging, high-quality programs that meet students' unique needs, while offering an equal dose of challenge and support.

Now it's time to dive into the details. What exactly is so great about these classes? Outlined below are a few of the major benefits that make this educational option so beneficial for many of today's learners:

• Dynamic, personalized learning options. Online high school classes feature innovative instructional tools, plenty of hands-on learning opportunities, and curriculum that's based off of trusted print and online resources. Teachers work with students and parents to design learning plans that meet their unique needs. This flexible structure and variance in learning options is designed to engage every kind of student, no matter how they learn best.


• College preparatory classes. Many of these classes are designed to help students prepare for the next step in their education. In addition to course material that's structured around college prep, students may also find specific SAT preparation courses, college-credit classes and NCAA-approved courses. Additionally, students who need to be constantly challenged can enroll in any number of Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes. (There are also counselors who offer college/career guidance and assistance with college applications, and trips to college campuses can be arranged.)


• Socialization opportunities. Teenagers typically enjoy spending time with their peers, and taking online high school classes can help support this interest. In addition to real-time classroom sessions, students stay in touch through email, telephone conversations and various other online venues. They can also get involved in all kinds of clubs and activities and attend field trips and parties.


• Lots of electives. Online high school students have lots of different interests. To help cater to these, schools offer all kinds of electives to peak their passions and get them excited about learning. Depending on the school, students may be able to find classes in journalism, digital photography, foreign languages, web design, programming, computer technology, game design, drivers education and more.

Online high school classes offer students the perfect combination of flexibility, support, advancement opportunities, social engagement and college preparation. Find out if this educational option is right for your student by starting the conversation today.

Did David Fincher Graduate From a Filmmaking School?

David Fincher is at it again. Two years after his success with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which landed him his first nomination for Best Director at the 81st Academy Awards, Fincher is once again poised to claim an Oscar, this time for the critically-acclaimed film, The Social Network, which tells a fictionalized story of Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook. It's worth noting that Fincher was awarded Best Director at the Golden Globes, so he's in a very good position to win his first ever Oscar.

The director of films like Seven, Fight Club, Panic Room, and Zodiac has always had a talent for creating brilliant films. Just by looking at his work, you would think that he came from a highly prestigious filmmaking school. However, this isn't quite the case.

Fincher actually decided to skip filmmaking school when he was younger. Instead, he took a job loading cameras and other hands-on duties for Korty Films, the production company owned by Oscar-winning filmmaker John Korty. He later found work with Industrial Light & Magic in the 80s, working on films such as Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

David Fincher is the perfect example of someone who still managed to achieve success without attending a filmmaking school. Many filmmakers have also taken the same path that he has, so don't limit your plans to going to school and finding a job afterwards. Remember that filmmaking is an art-take the path that brings out the creativity in you.

Black and White Photography Techniques

Some people want grain-less, sharp black and white photography with long tonal range. I love all!! HDR images look great when they're converted to black and white. From black & white photos I can get more when converting it into HDR.

The most important thing to know about converting your color digital files to black and white photos is you must adjust the contrast and exposure settings until you have a true black and a bright white. If there are vibrant colors to be reveals, it's best left in color! the best is black & white food photography on film!

Black and White Conversions:

1. Convert to Grey scale
2. Use the Hue/Saturation Tool
3. Gradient Map
4. Channel Mixer

Or make a duplicate layer, convert that layer to mono in which ever way you prefer, probably best to use Channel Mixer as you can't change the mode of the image to gray scale (that would turn the other layer to mono too), and then to erase through to the colored areas you want to keep. You can of course do the same thing by selecting the area you want colored and then hitting backspace to remove the selected area.

I found it useful to create one new layer per color as this gives you the ability to fine tune with layer opacity, different blending modes and masking out areas of over-spill, part masking areas where two colors blend etc. Examples of landscape photography. The other way is shoot in black and white in your camera.

Black and white photography techniques can produce some really nice results. There are several different ways of producing a black & white conversion, some better than others obviously, and some that require a little bit more effort. For the record I usually use the channel mixer as it allows you to tweak the conversion but it's not as complicated as LAB mode!

The Best DSLR Camera For a Beginner Photographer

If you're looking to trade up from your point and shoot camera or even if you maybe studying photography in college or school this year chances are you will need to get yourself a DSLR camera, however there are so many to choose from which can make the choice a bit daunting, for this reason I have written this guide. Below is a list of the top three entry level DSLR cameras perfect for learning the art of photography.

Sony Alpha 290 (a290)

When I first started off in photography I was like you and didn't know what camera to get, but after doing hours and hours of research I narrowed it down to either the Sony Alpha 290, or the two cameras below. The Sony is an excellent camera for anyone starting off in the dslr world. It has a 14.2 megapixel sensor and has something called steady shot inside. This steady shot allows you to take photos at slower shutter speeds and minimises camera shake, which can help in low light situations.

The A290 can also shoot up to ISO 3200 which is higher than the other two cameras, however at this setting the image quality isn't the best and does look pretty noisy. However as I always say a noisy image is better than a blurry one.

If you have never owned a DSLR before, this could be the perfect place to start.

Nikon D3000

The next camera up in this line up is the Nikon D3000, and I absolutely love this camera. If it wasn't for this camera then I probably wouldn't have gotten involved in photography, having said that I didn't choose this camera to start off with which may seem weird to you.

The D3000 has an excellent guide mode, which explains what settings to use in different situations, this is an excellent idea and it helped me out a lot.

The D3000 has a smaller megapixel count than the Sony, and comes in at 10.2 megapixels, but to be honest unless your shooting images that are going to be resized and put on the side of a bus then having a 14 megapixel camera or having a 6 megapixel camera won't make much of a difference.

The Nikon doesn't have vibration reduction technology built into the camera; however you can purchase this technology with Nikons lenses; however it does cost slightly more. Overall the Nikon is an excellent entry level camera for the beginner photographer.

Canon 1000D (Rebel XS)

The canon 1000d or Rebel as I believe it is called in the states is the lightest canon DSLR camera built to date, you may not think this is much of an advantage but when coming from simply using a point and shoot camera to a DSLR there is quite a difference and having a lighter camera helps. The 1000D has 7 auto focus points with a reasonably sized 2.5 inch LCD on the back.

Out of the 3 cameras this 1000D has the smallest megapixel count and comes in at 10.1 megapixels but really there is no way you will see a difference between.1 of a megapixel and I highly doubt there is truly that much difference between any of these three cameras.

The canon 1000D was the camera that I initially started out with, and I absolutely loved it. The reason why I chose the canon over the above cameras was because of the build quality, it simply felt more rugged and well built where as the Sony felt like cheap plastic and so did the Nikon to a degree.
If you're looking for a perfect DSLR to start off in photography look no further than the Canon 1000D.

How to Make Hardcover Photo Books From Snapfish

Snapfish.com is a well known online retailer of photo based gifts and other products and services. Despite offering a plethora of photo printed products, like calendars, traditional prints, and even drink coasters, Snapfish seems to be best well known for their exquisite photo books. Photo books are created by the user, who uploads a set of their own digital photographs from their hard drive to the Snapfish website, and uses their robust editing software to assemble them into a bound hardcover book with text, backgrounds, borders, and other fun and appealing features. Photo book prices start at a low $19.99 for an 8x11 hardcover photo book with a linen cover, and 20 full color pages.

Before you can start designing a photo book with Snapfish you must first register on the website. To create a photobook, navigate to that section of the website and select the size you want to go with. For hardcover options they offer 8x8, 8x11, and 12x12. There are two different options for the 8x11 available - Leather or Linen covers with a "window" (showing a portion of the image on your first page), or a printed cover or jacket. You make these selections before entering the designing software, but you can change it later if you desire.

Before you start designing your photobook, you should first select and upload all of the images you want to use in that photo book. Once all of your images are uploaded, Snapfish offers to automatically design and fill in the photobook for you. While this makes your job super simple, it may not do things exactly as you would. Images are filled in in the order they're uploaded, and page layouts are somewhat random. The design system will lay out your images in plenty of different ways. Sometimes it will put two images on a page with a text area, or one full page image with no text, or sometimes three images on one page and a page of text on the next. This is a great option for people who don't want to spend a ton of time working on the book, but takes some of the personal touch out.

If you really want to dive in and make the best photo book you can, then you're in luck - Snapfish's design system is extremely robust. If you try to insert an image that is low resolution and won't print well, you will be warned. You can also do photo adjustments from the design area, like resizing and cropping, flipping, rotating, red eye removal, color enhancement, brightness and contrast, and even color conversion (black and white, sepia, colorize).

You can also select page backgrounds and designs. You choose a "theme" before entering the designing area, but you can change every page individually if you prefer it that way. Just select the "Backgrounds" tab and drag and drop what you want onto the page. The "Layouts" tab is where you can choose how many images you want per page, if (and where) you want to place text, and the size and placement of images. There are a total of 78 different layouts to choose from, as well as "magic" layouts that allow you a much more customized layout experience. You can even add borders to your images here, but that option isn't necessarily compatible with all layouts.

The hardest part of designing photo books is keeping track of which images you have and haven't used, so that you don't end up with duplicates, or leave some out. Snapfish makes your image management easy, however, by placing green checks next to images you've used. The full list of your images (and these checks) is found on the right hand side of the design area. If you decide you want to remove an image from use, or from your list, you can do that in this area as well.

Once you've completed your photobook, you can view a 3D rendering of what it should look like by clicking "Preview" at the bottom of the design area page. This is a navigable preview that lets you view pages in order, like you would if you were looking at the real book.

Snapfish.com makes some of the best photo books on the web, and hopefully with this article you are now better prepared to navigate their website, and design the best photobook possible.

Posing For Senior Portraits

A teenager's last year in high school is an important time. It is a time for making memories before everyone splits off to different colleges. It is a time for applying to universities and deciding on the next path of your life. It is a time for taking your senior portraits so that you can always remember your senior year in high school.

While many high schools offer photography sessions especially for their seniors, many teens and their families decide to seek other photographers for a wider variety of pictures. High schools may require certain poses and clothing for displaying in the yearbook, but there are several other reasons why a person would want other senior pictures.

First, some colleges require applicants to send in a photograph of themselves with their application. In this way, the admissions committee can put a name with a face as well as recognize a person's individuality. Secondly, many young men and women have to submit formal pictures of themselves when they decide to participate in fraternity and sorority rushes. Lastly, many high school seniors decide to enclose their favorite shot of themselves in their high school graduation announcements or invitations.

Once a senior decides on the photographer, whether professional or amateur, he or she can take some steps to make sure that the pictures turn out exactly how they want. You should make sure that you sit down with your photographer and tell the person what you are looking for. Sometimes, photographers will work with you if you want to take pictures indoors or outdoors, or with specific props.

Taking pictures with props is a great way to personalize a formal portrait. It can help you show off your interests as well as add a personal touch to your photo. Many seniors choose to take some pictures in a sports uniform as a way to remember their time spent perfecting a sport. For example, an avid baseball player may want to take a picture holding a baseball bat and ball. This does not have to be sports, though. Other interests can be represented as well. For instance, someone who loves to paint may be photographed with an easel while he or she is holding a paintbrush.

A photographer will probably ask a person to take pictures in several different poses to find the shot that works for you. A senior should consider pictures standing, sitting, or even laying down on her stomach. Also, a senior may want to take pictures both smiling and looking serious to get a variety of different shots. The more pictures you take, the more chances you have of finding the perfect picture.

A large portrait of your high school senior can be a wonderful addition to your home. Also, grandparents and other relatives may really appreciate a formal portrait of the grandchild for their domiciles as well. For more information on turning your senior's picture into a canvas display piece, check out YourCanvasPhotos today.

Zoom Photography - There Is A Right Way And A Wrong Way!

Here is a quick photo tip about zooming... A zoom lens can be a valuable addition to your photo arsenal.

There is an old saying that says, "If your photography isn't good enough, get closer!"

But, there are dozens - or more likely hundreds of reasons why you may not be able to get closer! Enter the zoom lens.

It allows you to get closer to your subject, without changing position. In many situations, this is vital.

We all know that. But, now with digital cameras, you now have two ways to zoom! The bad news is, they are not both of equal value.

The way you zoom can dramatically alter your photos! With most digital cameras you have two choices.

First, you can zoom optically. By that I mean actually put a zoom lens on the camera.

Zooming optically actually lengthens and shortens the distance between the lens elements and the sensor. This in turn will magnify or decrease the size of the image as it enters the camera - before it gets to the sensor.

The downside is that we need a zoom lens and they can be expensive. Particularly if you want to get a quality zoom lens. And you should, cheap zoom lenses have aberrations that can ruin an otherwise good photo.

If we don't have a zoom lens, we go for the second option which is the digital zoom.

Many digital cameras will allow you the choice to zoom optically with your lens... or zoom digitally with a function built into the camera.

While zooming digitally is a function available on some digital cameras, in reality it doesn't zoom at all. It shoots the photo in normal size, then crops it and magnifies the smaller image. This creates an artificial close-up.

All of this is done in the camera, so it appears that it zoomed in on the subject. But it didn't.

While the final image may be larger, and possibly even look OK in the viewfinder; it is a VERY substandard image and should be avoided. If you try to blow it up to put on the wall, it completely falls apart.

There is a better option and surprisingly, it uses a very similar tactic.

The best option is to have a zoom lens, (actually, the ultimate best option would be to have a fixed lens designed for that distance) but if you don't have one, you would be better off taking the photo normally and later cropping it with photo editing software such as Photoshop or Gimp.

While the technique is similar to digital zooming, the quality is much higher.

So the bottom line would be, when zooming, use a zoom lens, not a digital function. Or, take the shot normally and them crop and enlarge in your photo editing program. This photo tip will make you zoomed images much better, try it! For more information, check out the resource box!

Some Tips for Photographers Looking to Buy USB Memory Sticks

Lots of professional photographers are now looking to use printed or engraved USB memory sticks to promote their business or to use them as a convenient and attractive way of distributing their client portfolios. Even relatively small capacity USB sticks (4GB) allow photographers to make hundreds of photographs available to their clients without the hassle of printing them. This of course also gives the client the flexibility of printing their favourite shots and/or sharing them with their friends and family on social networking sites like Facebook and Google+

There are lots of "standard" USB memory sticks available from companies like Kingston and Lexar and whilst they'll do the job they won't exactly make anyone's heart miss a beat when if they are given their wedding or family portfolios on one of them! Great photographs work on an emotional level so if you are going to use USB sticks it's best to use one that looks as though some care and thought has gone into its choice, use one that reflects your own style and approach and works in harmony with your photographs and your typical clients.

Lots of wedding and "people" photographers seem to choose wooden USB sticks because they look great engraved or printed, they're tactile and because they're made from a natural material they just seem to work really well. Other popular choices include top end metal or leather USB sticks - the reality is if you're handing out a portfolio that you've taken great care to shoot and edit then you want to hand it out on a classy looking USB stick that helps underpin what you stand for as a photographer - "bog standard" USB drives you pick up at Tesco's or PC World just won't cut it in a highly competitive market where reputations are hard fought for but easily lost.

When shopping for printed or engraved USB memory sticks here are some basic tips to help you:

1. Buy a product that is fit for purpose - the vast majority of USB memory sticks suppliers are mainly selling them to companies that give will them away at trade shows and exhibitions or they might be handed out by their sales team.

The typical read/write speeds of these "promotional USB sticks" is usually little more than 2MB per second (write) and 4MB per second (read). This is fine if they are just being data loaded with a couple of PDF sales brochures but, if you're a professional photographer you may need to get USB sticks with better (upgraded) flash memory and better controller chips. If you don't then be prepared to spend several hours copying your photographs onto each USB stick.

2. Find a supplier that is well established, understands the market and works with professional photographers already - any supplier you work with should not only be able to offer higher a range of photographer specific solutions but they should be able to talk you through the best way to package your USB sticks.

3. Consider using USB 3.0 sticks. These have read write speed of around 50MB - 100MB per second so they are very, very fast! They will cost more than equivalent USB 2.0 sticks and to take advantage of the speeds they offer you'll need a PC or Mac that is equipped with USB 3.0 USB ports. Even if your clients only have USB 2.0 PC's or Macs the sticks will still work, they'll just work at USB 2.0 speeds. The real benefit is the time you'll save loading the images onto the sticks.

4. Get Mock Ups - Get your supplier to work up various mock-ups and examples for you. Again, a good supplier will have an in-house design team and they should be able to suggest and illustrate a number of options that will work with your brand or logo. Don't pay for this. Mock-ups should be free and will not (should not) bind you to placing an order.

5. Don't forget the packaging - the style and type of box you choose can help lift the overall impact your USB sticks make when you hand them over to your client. Printed or engraved boxes are relatively inexpensive providing they are purchased with your USB sticks so make sure to ask about the available options.