Saturday, September 7, 2013

Required Skills For Professional Photographers


Photography is the great career option in today's world. Where there are so many career options photography alone stands as wonderful option for earning both name and fame. Photography is not confined to one particular topic but it includes wedding photography, one can become bridal photographer, baby photographer or commercial photographer. If any body who had creative ideas and zeal to work, hard photography is best option. All want to have some memories of their special events, so that they can preserve them as memories of life. For that knowledge of perfect photography is very essential and knowing the art of capturing things one needs to know following things:

· Where to find a free sample photography business plan

· Choosing a name for photography business

· Choosing the best location for portrait photography or wedding photography business

· Photography equipment and supplies

· Major manufacturers and typical costs

· Criteria and resources to help you compare and choose

· Determining your lighting requirements

· A checklist of supplies for wedding photographers

· A primer on studio equipment for portrait photographers (including the least you need to buy)

· Determining your start-up costs (and how to become a professional photographer and start a portrait photography or wedding photography business on a tight budget)

· A list of photography studio franchises for considering

· Insuring your photography business (including special advice about liability)

· Advice on copyrighting work

· Workflow strategies for scheduling portrait and wedding clients, managing time, and storing photographs

How professional photographers can make big sales at trade shows, including how to choose the right shows and design a booth that will help in getting attention from others. Photography is an art of creation if that art is in blood then it is easy to become a good photographer. Once they can start working with companies later one can also establish his own studio. Working with own venture is always beneficial as it provides more freedom, flexibility, and independence. One can experiment with his skills and ideas in private ventures whereas it's hardly possible when working under someone. However that is a matter of future.

Treasure Hunting in New Mexico


With its rocky crags and cavern-riddled mountains, it's no wonder that New Mexico is home to some of the most incredible stories of hidden treasure in North America. The "Wild West" was famous for the reckless bravery and lawlessness of criminals who would hold up stagecoaches, chase down trains, and gather up loads of treasure that were never found after their untimely demise. Other tales tell of prospectors who found immense caches of gold through the mountains, only to die before revealing the exact locations of their hoards. It is believed that many of these treasures remain hidden throughout the state, awaiting discovery by lucky adventurers.

One story from 1836 is of an old prospector named Adams. After suffering an attack by Indians, Adams stumbled into the town of Pinos Altos. Before dying of his injuries, Adams told tales of a wondrous red hill just north of the town where gold was scattered everywhere, ripe for the taking. In his knapsack was $7000 worth of gold nuggets which he claimed came from this hill. Prospectors raced to the site, trying to find the gold-rich hill, but none succeeded. Pinos Altos currently maintains many buildings and historic sites from the gold rush including the Buckhorn Saloon and Opera House and the Pinos Altos Historic Museum.

The Hembrillo Basin, just below Victorio Peak, is the site of one of the more baffling treasure mysteries in New Mexico. In 1937 Milton Earnest "Doc" Noss was traveling through Hembrillo Basin when he stumbled upon a large rock that turned out to be the cover-stone of an unbelievable treasure trove. There are numerous theories as to the source of this cavern filled with treasures beyond imagining, but none has been proven. By 1938 Doc Noss managed to gain legal claim to the treasure, and worked to remove as much of it as he could. In the fall of 1939, Doc decided that he needed to enlarge the opening to the hidden treasure, and arranged to blast the narrow tunnel with eight sticks of dynamite. This was a mistake, causing a cave-in that permanently blocked further entry to the cavern.

In 1955 the White Sands Missile Range decided to expand its territory into Hembrillo Basin. Doc's wife, Ova "Babe" Noss, fought to retain her rights to the sealed treasure trove, but the ownership of both the land and the treasure beneath it was highly disputed. Eventually military personnel apparently found another entrance to the hidden cavern, and the dispute became even more rabid. Finally in 1963 the state put together a mining expedition to uncover what treasure remained on the site. The venture was unsuccessful, for any remaining gold had either been removed, or the location of the cavern had again been lost. To this day, the mystery of the treasure of Hembrillo Basin has not been solved. Doc and Babe's descendants still fight to find out what happened to the treasure, and whether any remains beneath Victorio Peak.

The mountains are home to many other hidden treasure troves. A deep canyon in Caballo Mountain, near Las Cruces, is said to hide goods stolen by Indians from the Spanish. The Capitan Mountain supposedly hides a horde of Aztec gold and silver worth $25 million. Steins Peak is home to Doubtful Canyon, where the takings from a stagecoach robbery are reputedly hidden. More illicit treasure is said to be hidden at Devoy's Peak near Mount Dora. Other places with legends of lost treasure troves include Cimarron, Cooney, and Tijeras Canyon.

There are many fascinating tales to be told and places to see in New Mexico! Enjoy your own "hunt" as you search out the interesting stories and places you can see around the state.

Ten Tips to Teaching Middle School


I can not tell you how many teachers have began their career teaching Middle School and quickly started looking for a new occupation. Believe me when I tell you that if you are not prepared for the job they will eat you alive on the first week of school.

If teaching is your occupation, and you are teaching Middle School, I hope you are ready to teach teenagers and not beat yourself up about teaching Math, Science, English, Literature, or Social Studies. I get very up set when I ask a fellow teacher what they are going to teach and they tell me they are going to teach Math. This brings me to the first of the ten tips I plan to share with you as you begin a new year teaching Middle School Students.

Ten tips:

1. Never forget that you are teaching teens. If someone asks you what you teach, you tell them that you teach an awesome group of over achievers known as teens.

2. Do not try to be their friend. Many moms' and dads' have tried this. It did not work for them and it will not work for you.

3. Do not make over three class-room rules.

4. Find out what each of your students enjoys doing. Get to know what they are interested in. When you see them in the hall speak to them about things that they enjoy.

5. Seldom raise your voice. If they are out of control and you are yelling, then we really have a problem. The louder you get the louder they will get. Yelling is irrational behavior.

6. Start teaching immediately. It is a good idea to have a sponge on the board so that they will begin work as soon as they come in to class. Many problems are a result of not knowing what they are suppose to be doing.

7. It is a proven fact that students learn the most in the first ten minutes and last ten minutes of teaching. Do not waste that time. Teach the most important concepts of your lesson during this time.

8. If you find that a student has trouble behaving... do not put him or her in the front row. This enables every student to be entertained by them.

9. If you must reprimand a student do it in private. No one likes to be reprimanded in front of the whole class. I promise you it will cause you problems if you reprimand in front of everyone.

10. Do not sweat the small stuff and quit looking for what the student is doing wrong. You are not a policeman. It seems like some teachers think their only job is telling students what they can not do.

I could give you thousands of other tips and I will add to this list at a later date. I would like to close with one last thought that should make you think. What do we do when little Johnny can not read? We teach him to read. What do we do when he can not do math? We teach him how to do math. When he can not do science or social studies.... we teach. So the big question is: WHAT DO WE DO WHEN HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE? If you have told the truth, you said that you discipline him. I say we need to do what we do when he does not know how to read or write. When he does not know how to behave we need to teach him!

Hopefully these ten tips will help you as you prepare for the best year of teaching teens that you have ever had. Keep in mind, you are a teacher. You are not a policeman and you are not a friend. You must truly care about increasing their knowledge and enabling them to be the person they are meant to be.

The Best Filmmaking Schools


Choosing the best film schools is very important if you are interested in making a career in movies. These film schools can put you in touch with the best contacts in the movie industry in addition to giving you the best education to enable you to make the movies you want to make.

Film making schools allow you to learn how to bring your story to the world, whether it is fiction or non-fiction. And since making movies involves cross-discipline collaboration with others, there are several different areas of film making arts that you can choose to study: Production Direction Acting Writing Editing Sound Lighting

So, when you are trying to choose where to go from among the best film schools, you have several factors to consider.

First, consider the film majors that your different prospective schools offer--you could choose to go to a university which offers film as part of its total curriculum, or you could go to a "dedicated school" that is exclusively a film school, where you would be surrounded only by those who share your interest.

Then, if they have those that cover what you feel you are most interested in learning about film making, look at the reputations of the faculty members. Next, consider the course load and the tuition costs.

Now, keep in mind that the modern movie making industry relies heavily on computerized technology. This means that you may want to consider entering into this specialized part of the film business. If you are proficient with computers, this could be the job for you.

Finally, consider the location. If you place a high priority on rubbing elbows with or getting insider contacts for established film professionals such as actors or directors, you will probably want to look more closely at New York City or West Coast schools in the USA.

On the other hand, there are many top film schools that are located worldwide--and, in this day and age, you can attend film school from a distance via the Internet.

Attending film school remotely could save you much money and enable you to attain a distantly-located school of your choice. Some top film schools go above and beyond. They offer students such things as a personal mentor, specialized marketing classes for would-be film makers, and a free, custom-designed website to help them market themselves.

If you can afford these things, it is wise to enroll at a university that offers them. So, which film schools are on most people's lists of the best?

For the USA:

Academy of Art University
AFI
American University
Brooks Institute
California Institute of the Arts
Collins College
Columbia University School of the Arts
Madison Media Institute
The North Carolina School of the Arts
NYU
San Francisco State University
UCLA
USC
The University of Texas at Austin

My favorite for commercial training center courses is New York Film Academy (A bit expensive but with courses all over the world).

Top Second Careers - How to Break Into 7 Fulfilling Professions From Nursing to Fashion Design


Unemployed workers aren't the only ones looking for new jobs. Those who feel stuck in their careers, or are looking for more meaning in their work, are also thinking about making a fresh start. But what are the best careers to pursue the second time around? Career surveys and employment experts have identified the following fields as some of the most fulfilling for people looking to make a change. You won't land one of these jobs overnight. But with education and preparation, you can well be on your way.

Nursing. If you like helping people, especially when they're sick, and you have a knack for science, nursing could be a good second career for you. There's a nursing shortage in the country, so opportunities are certainly there. To become a Registered Nurse, you'll first need to get a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, or a two to three year AA degree from a community college.

Fashion design. Besides being a fashion designer, careers in fashion range from marketing to merchandising, and apparel construction to buying. If you've dreamed of working in any of these capacities in fashion design, you'll learn the necessary skills by earning a degree at an accredited, career-focused fashion college. Internships while you're in school and networking with alumni in the industry will also give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Teaching. Some people just know they were meant to be teachers. And those who leave their old jobs to pursue teaching as a second career are frequently the most committed and satisfied educators. If you're interested in becoming a teacher, check online to find out the licensing requirements in your state. You may need to earn a graduate degree, or at least take additional classes, as well as pass a credentialing exam.

Counseling. Whether you're interested in working with children, families and couples, or patients experiencing substance abuse or mental health problems, therapy can be a particularly rewarding career. As with teaching, check the licensing requirements in your state. Besides earning a master's degree in a relevant discipline, you'll probably also be required to practice under the supervision of an established therapist for a certain amount of hours before being able to hang your own shingle.

Culinary arts. Thanks to the popularity of television cooking shows, a lot of people dream of turning their love of food into a career. But to be a successful chef, it takes more than being a good cook. It can take years of formal training and hands-on experience, starting at the lowest rung in the kitchen before you even get to cook a meal. And if you plan on opening your restaurant, take some business courses to help you survive in the competitive food industry.

Coaching. One of the fastest growing careers, especially for business executives escaping the rat race, is personal coaching. Life coaches help people navigate their careers, relationships, or any part of their lives that need guidance, giving their clients a solid game plan and motivating them in the process. Although some practitioners without any formal training call themselves coaches, most life coaches are certified after taking accredited classes.

Green opportunities. Many people looking for second careers want to make a difference in the world, so interest in environmental careers is booming. Thanks to the 2009 Federal Stimulus Act, billions of dollars have been allocated to green businesses, and as many as 4.2 million jobs are expected to be added in the years ahead. Many green jobs will not require learning new skills or changing professions, as green businesses will still need traditional office staff like accountants, engineers, and project managers. But enrolling in an environmental studies or sustainable design program will give you a better understanding, and appreciation, for the green work ahead.

Nonprofit work. Despite the recession, jobs in the nonprofit sector are expected to grow. In fact, senior-level job openings have actually increased in the past few years. Nonprofit work can be very rewarding, but before jumping in to just any job, think about what charitable organizations are most meaningful to you, and spend some time volunteering. You'll gain valuable insight into how nonprofits function, as well as the jobs within the industry.

Interior design. Designing the spaces in which people live and work can be both artistically and professionally rewarding. But interior designers do more than just choose colors, fabrics and furniture. They also have to be knowledgeable about construction codes, engineering, and safety. That's why many states require interior designers to be certified, only granting licenses after candidates have earned an Interior Design degree or advanced certificate from an accredited university, fashion college or interior design school.

It may take more education and training to pursue a second career, but when you're in a job that you absolutely love, you realize that all the hard work was worth it.

Landscape Design Schools


Landscape schools help students to experiment with the delicate balance between nature and culture. Both are found in abundance and can be used to the maximum, to improve the surroundings. Students are taught to apply their knowledge and skill to bring this balance alive. This skill helps in exploring the endurance of natural resources. The increasing awareness on horticulture has encouraged environmentalists to take the necessary measures to protect the surroundings.

There are various schools that offer degree and diploma courses to help landscape designers to understand and apply the concept. Students enroll for the courses that offer great career scope and also cater to their interests. Many landscape- designing schools are located in USA and Canada.

The training given is a planned study program that covers all aspects of landscape and garden designing. The study of the designs and the application enhances the skills of these students. The programs are easy to follow, as they involve more of practical knowledge and less of theory. The course on landscape designing, from a well-established school, helps the candidates to secure better jobs and creditability in the market. The teaching is direct and hence, is more effective.

Many of the landscape design schools offer a certificate and a degree course. The programs are designed in a way that the student can apply the knowledge to the area of research. The professional courses deal with the soil, plant health, and fertilizers involved in a particular project. It includes gardening and landscaping.

A clear mind and a direct approach in terms of expression assure success. A landscape designer must develop the art of designing and a technique, so that he can enhance the look of a space with the skill acquired. Landscaped gardens are a visual treat that involve extensive planning, vision and application.

Friday, September 6, 2013

What High School Students Can Do Over the Summer


There are so many options for summer activities, no wonder it can be
difficult to know where to begin. While reviewing how IvyWise students
have spent their summers, I noticed that their plans fell under six basic
categories. I included the a few examples in each category to help you
get started.

1. Make a Difference

Community service is always a valuable endeavor, and the summer is a
wonderful time to make a difference in your community. One IvyWise
student spent two summers in high school traveling to India, where she
worked to improve the environment of a local community where she had
family. Another IvyWise student worked full time with children with
disabilities.

2. Explore a Career

High school is a time to begin exploring possible careers for later in life.

This is especially true for juniors and seniors who may want practical
work experience before deciding what to study in college. One IvyWise
student knew she loved discussing movies with her friends, but had no
formal experience in the film business. Therefore, she used the summer
before her junior year of high school to intern with an independent film
company. Doing so gave her the practical experience that helped her
realize that she did, in fact, want to study film in college. As a visual artist
also interested in business, another IvyWise student decided to spend
the summer before his senior year in college working for an advertising
firm. Over the summer he realized that advertising was not the
profession for him. Eliminating a career possibility brought him a step
closer to discovering what he truly enjoys.

3. Follow a Passion

One IvyWise student just loved biology. He took every possible science
course available in his large high school, but it never seemed to be
enough. Therefore, he decided to spend his summer doing research
with a professor at a university well known for its strength in the
sciences. He was able to spend most of the summer doing cancer
research, and included a summary of his work in his college
applications. Another IvyWise student had a passion for all things
French. Therefore, she spent the summer before her junior year of high
school in France, studying the language, teaching English, and
exploring the culture.

4. Try Something New

Taking a risk and trying something new isn't always easy, but high
school is a great time to learn to take risks and by doing so, discover
new interests and talents. One IvyWise student had never picked up a
camera in her life, but decided that the summer before her sophomore
year of high school, she'd like to try. She enrolled in a photography
program, and developed her skills as a photographer. Another IvyWise
student spoke Spanish at home, but decided to use his Spanish
language skills in a new way. On a service trip to the Dominican
Republic, he became the translator for the group, and facilitated
connections between his peers and the people they encountered on
their trip. He learned how his language skills could help him connect
with people with whom he had previously thought he had little in
common.

5. Achieve a Goal

Getting away from the hectic schedule of high school can mean more
time to do those things you always wanted, but never had the time. A
politically inclined IvyWise student decided he would read all the non-
fiction political books he could find, as he was rarely assigned such a
book in high school. At the end of the summer he had an impressive
reading list (that he actually included in his college application), and
became more confident when discussing his ideas. Of course, goals
depend on the individual, and could include climbing a mountain,
learning to knit, becoming more outgoing, or writing a novel.

6. Do What You Want

In addition to the programs, the internships, the jobs, the college visits,
or whatever else might be part of your summer, there should also be
time for family, friends, and just for you. No matter how you spend your
summer, do not forget to do the things that make you feel happy and
energized--whether that means spending extra time with your younger
sibling before you leave for college, swimming in the ocean, making
time to see friends you haven't seen in awhile between tests and athletic
games, reflecting on the past year, going out for ice cream, or anything
else, you shouldn't forget to relax and have fun.

798 Art Zone - Beijing's Cutting Edge Art District


The 798 Art Zone is a thriving and vibrant art and fashion district in Beijing set up in an abandoned military factory complex. 798 hosts galleries, shows and exhibitions from China's leading artistic personalities and is China's cutting edge art movement. 798 is the Chinese equivalent of Greenwich Village and SoHo and has attracted visits from presidents, movie stars and royalty.

After you have seen Beijing's ancient attractions, a trip to 798 will provide an enjoyable and enlightening experience of modern Beijing. 798 has many very cool and chic restaurants and cafes that you can also enjoy during your visit there.

History

In the early 1950's the Chinese military was in urgent need of modern electronic equipment that Chinese manufacturing capacity at the time could not supply. To solve this shortage and to help speed up China's industrialization, Chinese government under Chairman Mao's leadership set up a joint venture with East Germany.

The joint venture was the 718 Joint Factory that began operation in 1957 on a 500,000 square meter site in the Dashanzi area of Beijing that was farmland at the time. The factory was one of the best in China and employed between 10,000 and 20,000 workers during its operation.

In 1967 the 718 factory was divided into smaller units or factories to improve management. Those factories were 706, 707, 751, 761, 797 and 798. Factory 798 was the largest of the smaller factories.

During Deng Xiao Ping's reforms during the 1980's, 718 was cut off from government support and forced to become competitive. Unable to survive, 718 declined in the 1990's and the smaller factories were gradually closed down and buildings left vacant.

At this time Beijing's contemporary and modern art community was loosely based in Tongzhou district which was over an hour's drive from the center of Beijing. Starting in 1995 various prominent artist left Tongzhou and set up work shops, studios and galleries in Factory 798 and 718's other abandoned factory buildings

Venues

There are many studios, shops, galleries, exhibitions, centers, works of art and places of interest in 798 and wandering around 798 visiting these venues is enjoyable, thought provoking and sometimes a little disturbing. There are too many venues too describe so I have included below descriptions and photos the ones I found most outstanding during my recent visit.

Baiyaxuan 798 Art Center

This is a gallery supported by the Baiyazuan Art & Cultural Institute and has many very impressive paintings on display. The building hosting the gallery was originally a dining hall and auditorium for the 718 Joint Factory.

Ullens Center for Contemporary Art UCCA

UCCA is a non profit art center founded by two Belgian art collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens. The center uses 8,000 square meters of space to provide an art experience that includes and combines exhibitions, programs and events, fine dining and shopping. Personally I found it impressive but felt the shopping and eating were out of place. It is extremely popular so you should enjoy it.

798 Photo Gallery

This gallery is the first in China dedicated to photography and the aim of the gallery to find and collect awesome photography and to act as a center of cultural and commercial exchange for photographers. The photographs on display at the time I was there were all black and whites and the minimalist black and white interior of the building was a great combination. The gallery also has a state of the art professional black and white dark room.

798 Space

798 Space is pretty much the heart of 798 and is located in the original 798 factory building with its unique curved roof and Mao slogans. The building has an area of 1000 square meters, can easily hold 1000 guests and is often used for contemporary art exhibitions, forums, dances, concerts fashion shows, product launches, press conferences and more. 798 Space also has a book shop and an area for showing films and videos.

Fascinating to see how 798 Space pays tribute to China's socialist past and present by combining art and politics. The remnants of factory machinery and red Mao slogans on the room together with art displays create a great effect.

China Space

This is a large gallery tucked away from the main area of 798 and normally used for solo exhibitions. When I visited, the gallery was exhibiting oil paintings by Zhu Jin, a well known artist from Chongqing. His paintings are not the type I'd hang around the house but they definitely have character.

Originality Square

Originality Square is a large square in the middle of 798 that holds outdoor exhibitions. Currently on display is the "Wolf is coming" sculpture collection and some very unusual individual sculptures.

Getting There

798 is very easy to get to by bus. Catch the 401 bus from the bus stop next to the H exit at the Dongzhimen subway station on line two. Get off at the 10th bus stop which will be the Dashanzi Lukou Nan stop. 798 will be just across the road can you can't miss the big red 798 sign.

Alternatively you can catch the subway to Sanyuanqiao station on line 10 then catch a taxi to 798. The taxi ride will take no more than 5 minutes and cost no more than 10rmb. Tell the taxi driver to go to 798 or Yishuqu. The area is famous and all the taxi drivers will know where it is.

Travel Tips

The area is open all the time but most of the galleries and studios will only be open between 11am to 6pm so try to avoid going out side these times. Many of these galleries and studios also close on Mondays.

To see most of the venues and fully take in the atmosphere of 798, plan to be there for at least three hours.

Have a Look at the Positive Impacts of Online Classes


The importance of online classes is increasing by leaps and bounds. Here are a few instances to show how virtual classrooms are becoming a hot favorite amongst both teachers and students.

"Stanford offers more free online classes for the world", a publication which talks about the introduction of 5 free online classes from March 2012 onwards. Stanford University has taken the decision after carrying out a successful pilot in the fall of 2011 that attracted nearly 350,000 participants from across the world. The online classes are part of the University's initiative to use new technology to improve education both on and off campus.

Both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have extended their support in favor of introducing online classes as a part of their off campus distance education initiative.

Ithaka S+R, a non-profit research organization, released a report in May 2012 to show how online courses are gaining in the importance value as opposed to their offline counterparts. The report was based on the study that compared face-to-face learning and online teaching conducted with only an hour of a week of face-to-face interactive time. Researchers found that students did equally well in both formats on every measure of learning. However, the online group appeared to learn faster than those without using technology whilst learning.

Online classes generally lead to higher engagement. Faculty have the option to teach students via a series of multimedia options such as using video clips, online slide shows, through the usage of social media, and more. Students can view the video clips and ask questions in order to understand the topic better. Many professors are also creating "flipped classrooms" where social media, wikis, etc. are being used within a "brick and mortar" classroom format. Many educational institutions are also encouraging students to engage in interactive activities such as problem solving, reviewing learning documents, and working in teams.

Many teachers and universities such as Stanford believes that video clips, social networking sites, etc. have paved the way for better learning and collaboration than what it used to be before. Students can enroll in an online class and start the learning process from basically anywhere that has internet connectivity and a web enabled device to support it. Many working professionals are considering the option to enroll in such online courses to continue with education while on the job. You can earn an online degree studying at home and at your own pace.

Online learning encourages group study. If you and your friends want to learn the same course then it's better to enroll in an online course since all of you can share and exchange materials and ideas while learning. You can even set up study sessions so that all of you can go at the same pace.

How to Take the Best Model Photos, Photography Tips and Tricks


Be punctual and prepared

It's important that you're well prepared for the photo shoot. This means being on time and making sure that you have all of your equipment with you and that it's set up and ready to go. It's a good idea to speak with the model s few days prior to the shoot to let them know the type of shots you're looking for. This will enable them to also come prepared by practicing certain poses and expressions.

Speaking to the model ahead of time will also help he or she to be aware of the type of clothing to wear and if any types of accessories or jewelry are needed. In addition, they will be able to adjust their makeup and hair to fit in with the theme of the shoot. If you meet with the model before the job the odds are that you'll both be more relaxed when working together.

Setting the scene

It's always a good idea to find out what type of environment or setting the model prefers to work in. You can ask what type of lighting and music they're comfortable with and make sure they are allowed their privacy. Little things such as the temperature of the studio can also be discussed since you want the model to feel as comfortable as possible. Of course, on some occasions the theme of the photo shoot will dictate these things, but by asking, the model will realize that you're trying to make them feel at ease.

Communication is key

Most models appreciate it if you're specific in your instructions. If you're vague they may not know what it is you're looking for. One of the best ways to let the model know what you're trying to capture on camera is to actually show them examples from various websites or magazines. This way they can visually see what it is you're trying to achieve. Asking a model's opinion at the photo shoot is also beneficial since they may have some helpful tips or experience to share.

Explore different angles

if you just stand still while taking your shots, you're basically going to see that all of the images will be taken from the same angle and height. You should get a little creative and try out various height levels and angles by moving around. Try as many different angles as you like, including from below and above and don't be afraid to try something unconventional.

Believe in yourself

When holding a photo shoot with a model you need to be confident in your abilities. Always be professional and know what it is you're trying to achieve. If you're not confident in yourself then there's a good chance your model won't be confident in you either. Stay calm and take your time.

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.

How To Sell Pictures For Profit


I Just cashed a check for $347.61 today. How did I do it? Read on and I'll explain...

When I first began photography, I was bound and determined to make it my living. It was my passion. I started off doing "work for hire" and portrait sessions, but soon yearned to get a little more out of my talent. I needed to figure out how to sell pictures in another way.

I was backed up with workload, which sounds great, but I had little time and wasn't making enough money. I set out to accomplish a new goal: To spend less time, making more money, in photography.

The task was daunting, and being new(er) to the industry of photography, I was unsure of how to accomplish such a task. I started looking into micro stock sites but after some reading realized that I would need far too many images to make even close to decent money.

That is not to say that stock photography isn't profitable. I signed up with another type of stock photography site that allowed me to charge what I deemed fair for my images. This meant that instead of making a measly $0.80 per photo, I could make as much as $5000.00 per photo!

Granted, the sales were less frequent, but that also meant less management. Exactly what I was looking for!

I still needed to figure out how to sell pictures in other ways though. Stock photography wouldn't be enough. So, I developed a business model based on the same theories as stock photography. Shoot an image once and sell prints for years to come. To learn more about how I make money with photography please visit:

When Miscommunication Resides In Marriage


Miscommunication techniques are essential in a good marital, friendship relationship: before the red light danger zone activates.

Wearing eyeglasses may contribute focus to a clear view during a situation. Marital misunderstanding, complications or a situation is misperceived seeking attention for a clear view, when one or both partners are misinterpreting or lacking listening skills.

Broken eyeglasses determine that one or both partners are not consciously aware of what is of pertinent importance, indicates that one's vision and perception is impaired. One or both partner may not be seeing the facts correct or constructive.

Reading the body and facial expressions represents any contradictions, dishonesty, disbelief, behavior, manners or doubts. It may also indicate concern, unease or disapproval.

Eye contact at all times during miscommunication may endure closeness, knowledge, enlightenment, understanding, comprehension and intellectual conscious awareness. Unconscious thoughts, patterns, habits and attitudes may rise to the surface symbolizing insight on something that you need to be aware of in order to understand each other. When one partner avoids looking into your eyes of the other, its factual evidence that he/she is not ready to intellectually converse.

Literally expression, words or actions may represent to stop and look within. Before you focus on your partner. Trust your intuition and instincts. If during a heated situation one partner becomes extremely negative toward you, simply learn to walk away by suggesting let's take five, five can refer to five minutes of cooling down and then reunited to resolve. It's surprising what five minutes of analyzing the complication can bring to your awareness. Most important when making a decision to follow communication rules - such as taking minutes, both partners have to agree, otherwise, one partner may feel neglected, resulting in rage to higher red light activation. Avoid this situation for strength and growth in your marriage and friendship.
Otherwise, this condition will represent an obstacle co-existent path. Avoid critical view and faults in others: alternatively focus choosing to demand self- awareness of the situation and importance.

Ignorance on eye contact indicates your refusal to accept your partner's point of view. This manner or attitude indicates you are one-sided in your ways of thinking. If one is angry with a partner it's safe to say its time for cool down, this time may provide time for understanding and reconnection, instead of playing the blame game, as in my personal experience blaming others, is not the proper answer, we must first work within ourselves to understand faults or pain in others. When we allow blame or blame others we are simply masking our own agenda of our own fears to accept our past painful experiences. Once you provide an avenue to self -awareness and consciousness of your own inner-child experience of pain, you will begin to determine, immersing and co- exist with your partner to work on understanding each other.

Verbal fights are detrimental as physical fighting - if not worse, due to the fact, that there's an emotional abuse taking place, which becomes mental abuse. Physical abuse is just intolerable period, if one partner wants to draw blood, is a fair sign to say, you're not in a safe place of comfort. Love does not require any tolerance for violence, simply unacceptable.
At times one partner may neglect to realize that they are delivering painful messages to the other partner to relieve the pain within them selves, causing more distress to other partner, subconsciously, saying unnecessary hurtful things in order to protect one's own ego, the ego is the majority of the complication, from the beginning, as if one has pertinent information to prove who's right or wrong, yet one partner may continue to weigh down the relationship by becoming controlling while hanging things over your head. That at one point you may have shared when there was a friendship and that partner took your strength of sharing such information as weakness. When friendship begins to deteriorate so then everything else follows, such as sexual complications. One partner begins to feel unsatisfied. Then things tend to worsen, yelling begins and both partners become frustrated, seeking outside of the relationship for friendship and more.

Why because respect is now lost, in other to re-activate the green light you must first stop at the red light and proceed with caution.

Somehow, both partners need to stop and think before proceeding into a danger zone. To gain communication, the first step, stop and listen to each other. No matter how painful. No one is to say it's easy. However, it provides a chance for challenge and reconnection.

If you have a difficult time speaking without yelling, I suggest you begin to write back and forth without speech, attentive to each other sitting across from one another. Never in your temple of love, (Bedroom) the place where you share intimate love it's important that sacred place holds only positive energy.

This teaches patients, connection, reassurance, understanding, friendship and most of all communication. In regards to the inner -child, do not fear what comes up, begin to share things that may have come up from the past that contributed or triggered your feelings to show up in a certain way at that moment. Subconsciously we tend to carry old habits that reside deeply wounded within. Furthermore, we tend to disrupt our new treasure, to compensate for old wounds.

The top three complications for marital affairs are communication, finance and sex. Communication symbolizing inner vision and insight from within may bring light to the relationship. You need to start looking within yourself to understand your partner, many times affairs occur when one partner is not 110% focused and/or committed on exchanging their complete love energy with their partner, one must realize when a partner has an affair, that partner is to take and accept complete responsibility, for their own lack of communication and dissatisfaction. By communicating you may save your marriage from any mishaps. That is where friendship really has value and respect for one another.

If you close your eyes to truth or refusal: In regards to something or avoidance of intimacy. You may be expressing feelings of hurt, pain or sympathy. Your partner may want to retract from negative ventures in order to spark things up in favor of the commitment. Romance is present when everything else is smooth sailing.

If your partner's interest is not in the wealth of the relationship it denotes that you are not seeing straight with regards to some situation. You may be getting your facts mixed up, you're partner may have lost interest long ago, in order to re- spark into romance, there has to be a commitment of pure love and desire.

Conflict is part of life regardless, that is what provides a crutch for growth and when both partners are aware they are conscious of action and reaction toward each other and in turn this provides growth within the relationship. However it's important to have structure for a potential long lasting growth in the same direction.

Communication and friendship is the key to a happy long lasting marriage.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Job Opportunities After Completing a Physics Degree Online Program


Aside from political science, English and the like, there are also physics degree online programs offered by various universities and colleges. If you want to know how exciting this program is and the amazing career opportunities it can spawn - please read on.

These days, various industries are seeking physics graduates for industrial physics, telecommunications, computing, quality control testing, electronics, hospital physics and even for the armed forces. This is due to the fact that students can choose to specialize in various areas of physics. Examples of these areas are geophysics; nuclear physics; astronomy; atomic, molecular & optical physics; space physics; engineering physics; computer science and more.

If you are interested in physics and communication, you will most probably land in a job in television, telecommunications, photography, video recording, laser technology and telecommunications. Physics majors can also apply for a career in atmospheric sciences, space technology, ocean sciences, energy and resources.

The thing is, before you go ahead and enroll for a physics degree online, you should know that this subject area is not for anyone or everyone. Though it is a rewarding profession, it is also very demanding.

This means, you need to first ask yourself if you are really interested in learning physics and if you have the ability to excel in it. As a physicist, you need to have a strong commitment; you need time and effort. Yes, you can reap great rewards but the preparation process can be a tedious one.

To build up your career as a physicist, there are certain academic requirements you need to prioritize. You need to pay attention to your grades, particularly in science and math subjects. You also need to score high on GRE (Graduate Record Exam) in order to prepare for graduate school.

During the course of your study, you also need to secure recommendation letters from your teachers. You may also need to build up your communication skills in literature, writing and speech communication. There is no need to secure licensing to become a physicist but if you wan to teach at a public high school or elementary school, you would need a teaching certificate.

Physics is noted as the science that attempts to understand the laws of nature as well as its relationship with energy and matter. There are also those who mention it as "a way of thinking".

After successfully completing a physics degree online program, you become well-trained on a more logical, problem solving type of approach for whatever situation that occurs. You also become more knowledgeable about the methods and concepts of science which you can apply in various professional areas as well as in research topics.

Generally speaking, you will deal with everything that exists, ranging from subatomic particles and black holes to the overall structure of the universe. You will learn how to use mathematical formulas in explaining theories and in making predictions. It is for these reasons and more that has confounded as well attracted the most brilliant minds in history; including, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and Sir Isaac Newton among others.

The job market these days provide a wide range of options for physicists. Though it is expected to slow down in the coming years, the demand remains especially in areas like semiconductor technology and information technology.

Many bachelor's graduates will choose to find a job while there are those who ill pursue graduate school. For the ones who go to graduate school, the most popular majors are physics and astronomy. There are also those who decide to double-major. In this case, math seems to be the most common focus.

Whether it's a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree you are eying, accredited schools that offer physics degree online programs can help you develop the essential skills for your chosen career advancement while benefiting from a flexible schedule and convenient payment terms.

Tic-Toc This Den is Locked - Picking Blueberries in Cape Breton


The 60s were a magical time. Magical and unique in so many social aspects. and changin' time all over the world. Life on the Island of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia had a particularly unique social climate for children and teenagers of that decade on that island oasis.

August was the time when blueberries were ripe for the picking and moms all over the island would send their children out to pick this miracle blueberry. One of nature's most healthy foods. In the fields and on the hills of Cape Breton blueberries flourished. This little miracle of nature grew in low brush areas; especially, areas that had sustained a brush fire in the previous 2 years.

The blueberry picking venture could bring you to the hill near the Sydney Radar Base, the secret-to-this-day location called 'Blueberry Hill' in Whitney Pier, or the woods near communities like New Waterford. Blueberry picking was almost always a group outing. Ages 5 to 25 ventured out together in the early morning, with lunches in hand and dressed to protect against the heat of the noonday sun.

Each person in the picking troupe was assigned their own container into which their blueberries went. The youngest would likely have a plastic margarine container. The older ones would pick right into a 4 quart basket. I remember other people whose berries went into those old glass 1 quart milk bottles. The basket was open to the air and stopped the berries from sweating and getting mushy, a problem people had with the glass milk bottle.

Tall tales of weird nature sightings or stories of pranks-pulled were lively dinner table talk after a day of picking. There always seemed to be a practical joker in every crowd! Like when my older sister, Marie, went on a blueberry picking outing. Our cousin, Karl, was in the same berry-picking group. He brought Marie to a rich ripe blueberry patch and let her pick a full container of berries before telling her that he had 'peed' on that berry patch! Was he telling the truth? He hasn't said a word to this day!

There was one rule of blueberry picking etiquette that remained the cornerstone of social order. A simple phrase that was respected by all berry pickers, no matter their age. Simply, when a picker found a berry-ladened bush, he or she was able to claim is as their own. In an authoritative, but polite voice, the picker would call out, "TIC-TOC, THIS DEN IS LOCKED!"

Once spoken, it was clear that the blueberry patch was singularly owned by the picker who called out "Tic Toc this den is locked". For the most part, this real-time land claim to a blueberry patch was respected. Others in the group might move nearer to the newly claimed patch. But, unless invited to pick, other pickers stayed away from that 'Tic-Toc'd' area. They would go off a find their own private blueberry bush. Soon you would hear that cry repeated throughout the day "Tic-Toc this den is locked!"

Now this cry of the wild blueberry picker was common in Cape Breton. Its origin is unknown. Was it unique to blueberry picking in Cape Breton? Did it filter out into mainland Nova Scotia and on to the continent of North America?

Respect for rules. Respect for others. Growing up in Cape Breton Island was full of these tidbits of social order. Nice memories! Blueberry picking memories are still being made today on the 'Island of Islands', Cape Breton.

3 Inexpensive Ways to Advertise Your Portrait Business


Advertising your new portrait business does not have to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to get the word out with very little money, and in some cases, free!

Portrait Parties

One way to advertise your services (and begin to make some income!) is to offer portrait parties. Basically, you'll get a friend to invite their friends over, you'll photograph each child/family, then your friend gets a percentage of total sales toward purchasing her own portraits. This is an excellent way for a new photographer to get into the business and find new clients quickly. For more detailed information on getting started with portrait parties, see my article, "How to Advertise Your Photography Business With Portrait Parties."

Auctions

Another way to advertise cheaply is to donate to auctions. Find out what private schools and other organizations are in your area that have a yearly silent auction to raise money. By donating a session and portrait to the auction, not only will you be getting to do a session with the chance of selling them additional portraits in addition to the one they won in the auction, but you'll also get exposure at the auction itself. You'll likely set up a display for the auction and may be able to get permission to display your business cards as well. The only costs you'll have for this is the cost of the portrait and business cards for the display. Also ask if you can set up a contest box in your display. Prospects can fill out a form and put it in the box for a chance to win a free, no obligation portrait session and free small portrait. You'll pick one winner, then everyone else is a runner-up, receiving just the free, no obligation session.

Blogging

You can set up your own blog for free through http://www.blogger.com and will be able to get people who are interested in your services, but just not ready to book yet, to read your blog. On your blog, you can give parents sneak peeks at images from their sessions, do portrait contests, and advertise upcoming portrait specials. This will keep everyone informed and also help them remember you over other photographers when the time comes to book a session.

Portrait parties, auctions and blogging are 3 easy ways to get your name out there inexpensively. When you put these three ideas into action, you'll soon see new business coming your way!

Fundamental Lessons in Photography - Understanding F-Stop Like a Professional


F-Stop is a measure of the size of aperture (opening) in a lens. Some photographers refer to F-Stop as the F-Number or simply as the aperture setting on the camera. It all amounts to the same concept. As a professional you should know that the origin of the letter F in the term F-Stop is frequently attributed to Ansel Adams, who dedicated much time, one-third of the way into the 20th century, to developing optimum aperture settings and therefore is widely recognized for his contribution to photography and developing the acknowledged Aperture Zone System.

History aside, you're possibly wondering what the F-Stop numbers represent. I'll tell you that they represent a geometric progression starting at 1 where each subsequent F-Stop number greater than 1 is multiplied by a factor of approximately 1.414, (which is the power of the square root of two). Grab a calculator, enter 1, multiply it by 1.414 and you'll obviously get 1.414 as an answer. Now multiply your answer by 1.414 again and you'll get 2 as your answer. Do it one more time and your answer will be approximately 2.8. If you continued to do the math, you would swiftly determine the entire F-Stop range of values, I.E. 1, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32 and so on until F-Stop 45 or even F-Stop 64.

Great, now that you know what the word F-Stop means and what the numbers associated with it are, you're probably still asking yourself what these numbers actually mean! To explain I will use an analogy of a cat's eyes. (If you have a cat, you've probably noticed this several times). When your cat is outside and it's a bright and sunny day, you'll observe its pupils are long and thin and resemble tight vertical slits, but as your kitty walks into a darker indoors, its pupils widen up to become large round discs very quickly. Now this happens so that your cat can see equally well in the different environments where the intensities of light may vary.

If we relate the above analogy to the school of photography, please imagine that the cat's pupils are akin to that of the shutter in your camera -- being able to open each time you take a photo to a lesser or to a greater extent. Hence to allow plenty light to reach the image sensor in your camera you would select a set an F-Stop setting (pupil size) which would not restrict the amount of light entering your camera. On the other hand if you wanted to limit the quantity of light entering your camera, a high F-Stop setting would be the setting to choose.

Each time you move between F-Stops, you either halve or double the light intensity. To give an example, if you selected an F-Stop of 4.0, and then adjusted it to 5.6, you would then have halved the amount of light entering your camera. Should you have set your F-Stop to 2.8, you would've doubled the light intensity. It's important to remember that a higher F-Stop number means a smaller aperture or opening allowing light into your camera. Conversely a lower F-Stop number means more light entering your camera. To compensate for a one stop lower F-Stop number you would have to double your shutter speed to attain the same exposure. Should you increase your F-Stop by one stop, you would need to halve your shutter speed to keep the playing fields equal.

How Vision Problems Can Affect Elderly Drivers


Thanks to advances in modern medicine, the average person is living longer than ever before, which means there are more older drivers on the road. But if you are over 60, your eyesight probably is not as good as it once was. Age-related vision changes that commonly affect senior drivers include: decreased ability to clearly see road signs and/or objects up close, like the instrument panel or road maps; changes in color perception; difficulty judging distances and speed; slower reaction times; loss of peripheral vision; problems seeing in low light or nighttime conditions; and difficulty adjusting to glare from oncoming headlights or the sun.

While these changes don't mean you have to turn in your car keys and give up your freedom, there are some simple things you can do to stay as safe as possible on the road.


  • Almost half of all collisions involving older drivers occur at intersections, and are commonly due to a failure to yield, especially when making a left turn. Peripheral vision decreases as we age, so turning your head and looking both ways before proceeding into an intersection will increase your vision range.

  • Reduce your speed, particularly when driving at night. As we age, our pupils don't dilate as quickly in the dark, which means you may have more trouble seeing at night, or you will be temporarily blinded by the glare of oncoming headlights. Whenever possible, limit your driving to daylight hours, and avoid driving on unfamiliar roads.

  • It's a good idea for seniors to take a driving course designed specifically for older drivers. These courses describe the physical changes that may affect driving ability as we age, and how to compensate for them. They are typically offered by the American Association of Retired Persons, driving schools, or adult education programs.

  • Anyone over the age of 60 should have a regular eye exam at least every two years (more often if you have certain eye conditions or other health issues which may affect eyesight). Annual exams will ensure your prescription is up to date, as well as provide early detection of developing eye problems that could affect your driving.

  • Avoid wearing glasses with wide frames or temples, which may restrict side vision. Ask your eye doctor about special eyeglasses, such as those with anti-reflective coatings, which can cut down on glare, or lenses developed with wavefront technology, which may reduce halos, starbursts, and glare.

  • Finally, as a senior driver, it's important to know your limitations. Consider limiting your driving to shorter trips during daylight hours, and leave the late-night driving duties to someone else. Leave more distance between yourself and other drivers to compensate for the decrease in reaction time.

What are you doing to preserve your ability to drive through your golden years? If you had to stop driving because of poor vision or other reasons, how would you get around without a car?

Photography Courses - Learning More Than Just The Basics!


It simply isn't true that you will have to go to years of bachelor school to become a photographer. You could simply choose photography as an ancillary subject to whatever it is that you may already be studying. You may be wondering if you could learn the subject without attending the classes at all, and the answer to this one is YES. If you have the dedication to try out new ideas and the equipment to see them through you can definitely train your own self to be a photographer.

And then there is the option of distance education that most photographers love simply because it gives them the freedom to experiment on their own while still getting a recognized degree at the end of the day. The NY Institute of photography is a fine example of a college offering such an option.

You will need to get educated on elements of photography such as lighting, exposure, composition and lenses. Of course you can take this course even while you are working at a job, since it is a distance education thing. Any photography course should also include a good amount of practical shooting exposure. Generally about half the emphasis goes on the portfolio that you can make by the end of every assignment.

You don't need chemicals any more!
Gone are the days when a photographer had to learn dark room techniques to develop and correct his or her own work. Today with digital photography all you need is a personal computer to edit your images. Keep in mind though that learning a software to edit your images is not as easy as it sounds. While it is a matter of minutes before you learn how to handle brightness, contrast and exposure level on a computer it is much more challenging to make major changes to a photograph, and that is something that will probably not be a part of your photography course. Adobe Photoshop is a favorite photo editing software among photographers.

Of course, getting into photography school full time could be the best option if you have the time. But there have been many successful photographers who never went to school at all. All that counts when you meet a client is the quality of your sample photo album, what photographers call their portfolio. Get this right and you have a chance. Luckily photography is not yet a field where employers have begun asking for degrees. Still, if you wish to get into something as complex and as challenging as medical photography, neither can you learn it on your own and nor can you hope to get a job without a qualification.

There are many ways to become a photographer, and getting a degree in photography is one of the ways. Don't let the lack of college education ever stop you from chasing your dreams.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Starting a Wedding Photography Business - The Details


So You've Got Talent

So you are a photographer and not just any type of photographer you are a wedding photographer. You've chosen a profession that will require many different skill sets, not the least of which is your ability to take a great picture. But there is a lot more to running a successful business than just having a service to offer. Many people have had a great idea or a special talent but have not been able to capitalize on that talent. This series of articles is intended to help you achieve your dream of working on your own, providing a unique service to deserving clients, and doing it all successfully.

The Real Cost of Wedding Photography Business

First and foremost let's get the necessities out of the way. If you're going into business as a wedding photographer there are certain things you are going to have to have at a minimum. Some photographers have done without some of the following items but to be honest I wouldn't suggest it. These are just the basics to get you started. You can build up your equipment later on. Each of the following items is listed within its own article:

• website (with a secure gallery for customers) and email

• marketing plan

• photography equipment and home office

• a second photographer

• insurance, taxes, business license and bank accounts

What's Not Listed

You'll notice that I didn't list photographic skill. When it comes to your skill as a wedding photographer I'm assuming you've already looked at your ability from an objective standpoint and determined that you do have something unique that others will want to pay for. If you have done this you'll also want to make sure you can handle the responsibility associated with wedding photography. This is an extremely special day in a couple's life so you have to be sure you are able to take on the immense responsibility of capturing every moment of that day. If you have both of those items then it's on to looking at the other aspects that make up a business owner's skill set, such as attention to detail, customer centric thinking, and patience.

The Devil's in the Details

Details can make or break a wedding photography business. This is important to realize up front. If you don't pay attention to those details you can easily falter. As a photographer you'll need to pay attention to the details of the wedding. Equally important you'll need to focus on the details of the business. These details include the wording on your wedding contract, the promises you make to your clients, your ability to keep track of the different weddings you might have at any given time. This leads us to the next important part, being customer centric.

The Customer's Always Right

There is a reason that corporations spend so much money on figuring out ways to make customers happy, because it's easier and cheaper to keep a customer than to get a new one. The same goes with the wedding photography biz. If you learn how to make your customers happy you'll get repeat business, referrals, and a better reputation within your community. There is no secret to making your customers happy. Here are some simple things to remember:

• Always deliver what you promise - if you say it will take 2 months to edit their photos it shouldn't take 2 and a half months

• Be quick about your replies - Wedding Photographers are notorious about not replying to emails and calls, set yourself apart by replying to all inquiries within 24 hours at the max

• Be courteous, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful before, during, and after the wedding.

• Always keep in your thoughts that this is someone's special day - When you have edited your 30th wedding and you are looking at your 600th picture in that wedding remember that while this is a job to you, its someone's wedding day

• Don't be on time, be early - Being early to meetings, weddings, and events will allow you to prepare yourself for those events. It also has the added benefit of making you look more professional

• Dress appropriately - Black or natural colors are always a good choice for photographers. Dressing business casual for most weddings will be sufficient but always check with the couple if in doubt. ***Remember, while you should look professional, you should also be comfortable***

Patience is a Virtue

Remember that your photographic skill didn't happen spontaneously so don't expect that your business will boom over night. It takes work to make a business successful and even given all of the right ingredients it still might fail. Even if it fails, learn from your mistakes, try again, and try and try and try. Never give up on something as important to you as pursuing your dream. If you have to work a day job during the week while getting your business of the ground then so be it. If you have to learn how to design websites just to put up your own website, so be it. If you have to shoot weddings for free to build up a portfolio then so be it. Just don't give up.

How do I know all of this?

I'm the owner of a Pensacola wedding photography business. I have built my business from the ground up with no help from anyone else. I started by shooting weddings for free for friends and family members. My first cameras were consumer grade digital Rebels. I've upgraded everything along the way as I could afford it. I trained with a local wedding photographer and have always been into photography, web design and marketing. With these talents I created a solid business that exceeds my customers' expectations, stays profitable, and allows me to live comfortably based only my own skills. I've had failures along the way but have learned from them and have become one of the top Pensacola wedding photographers.

Read On

Please make sure to read the other articles in this series. They cover everything from websites to insurance but by no means are they the end all be all. Take what you can from what I have to offer and learn what you can from other sources. Be a sponge, soak it all in. It is my hopes that it will help you in your effort to run a successful wedding photography business.

How To Create The Most Stunning Panoramic Photography


Understanding the way to learning how to do panoramic photography is one of the most exciting and fun things in photography. You can create thousands of photos that look beautiful on your wall or home office. It's not only a great way to practice the way you look at photography in general, but a great way to master your landscape photography skills as well.

Let's start with why panoramas were "invented". Software businesses knew that the scene was bigger than what our cameras could record. So they created a process called "stitching". Stitching is a term used to describe taking a series of photos side by side and merging them together to create one single, long and wide photo.

For panorama photography you don't need anything too expensive when it comes to cameras. You just need a tripod, clear lighting and some software. My favourite software to stitch my panoramas is called "Panorama Maker Pro". Nowadays they have version 6 available. You can even trial it for a short period of time to decide whether or not it is suitable for you.

I have created a lot of panoramas with the software. Once complete you can clearly see how it beautifully elongates a photo. This works fabulously for landscape photography. When you want to photograph your scene and do not have a wide or ultra wide angle lens, creating a panorama is good fun.

How To Take Panoramic Photos- Here is how you position the digital camera

There's one thing to make panoramas, and another thing to actually take them. There is a particular way to shoot panoramic shots and it's less difficult than you are probably thinking. Okay, so let's start.

Let's start with photographing a landscape shot. Choose the scene you want to photograph. Make sure your landscape has nice lighting and there are no strong shadows across your scene, it will make it a lot easier to stitch if you have a clear and open scene.

Set your digital camera up on a tripod. Keep the digital camera securely fastened and able to move about from left to right or right to left only. It's crucial that you allow the tripod to move horizontally. If your tripod slips downwards as you are taking the picture you make risk having your photo blurry and the software will be unable to stitch correctly.

Don't shoot into the sun. Have the sun behind you. It is better to shoot at the end of the day, or the start of the day. The light is nicer, softer and so much more gentle at the start and end of the day. The colours are deeper too.

Creating Panoramic Photos

Choose manual setting and place the camera in the direction of the part of the scene you want to expose properly. Now keep the digital camera on those modes the whole time. Let's say you have the camera at 1/250th of a second and F20, 100 ISO. You've decided that you want a certain part of the picture to be well exposed and these settings will do it. That's good, keep them that way and don't change the settings at all.

Once you have chosen your settings, now take a succession of photos, one after the other. Turn the camera from left to right, for example. Make sure you leave a section of the scene as overlap. Your stitching software needs to overlap something.

What Kinds Of Things Can You Make a Panorama From?

Fast moving subjects may not work- depending on the light. Begin with motionless subjects. Landscapes with a nothing but blue sky and a mountain range are good subjects to begin with. Nothing is fast moving so the software should not have any concern stitching your scene together. Let me explain.

If you are shooting with a shutter speed of /125th of a second and the subjects is fast moving, like water for example, then you may not have a fast enough shutter speed for the motion of the camera and the water. In one photo the water will be at the top of the rock and the next photo the water will be half way down the rock.

When the software tries to stitch two irregularities together it will not be able to form a complete picture. You must always keep the shot without movement so the software can stitch the image in exactly the same spot. It will then make photo 1 the same as photo 2. There will be no difficulties and the two photos will come together nicely.

However, on saying that, if you have loads of light and a fast shutter speed you must to move the camera sooner than the water is moving. In other words, you need to move super fast to make sure you position your digital camera in a way that the stitching will match up.

If the water is moving at 1/250th of a second, then you need to move at 1/500th of a second. You need to move the camera from left to right, faster than the water. But for now, start with a single picture without movement of any kind. Keep your mind on a stationary subject. It's simpler in the beginning that way.

What Other Scenes Make Great Panoramas- There are heaps of ways to make your photos wide and big.

Mountain ranges are not the only types of things that look good as panoramas. Once you have mastered the shutter speed and speed of motion for photographing a series of pictures, why not attempt a waterfall. Once you have mastered this method of panorama taking, you can work to produce panoramas in any direction. Not only do horizontal panoramas work but so do squares (tiles- two at the upper section of the photo and two at the bottom of your image, and so do vertical scenes.

I took a sequence of shots at Katoomba National Park in New South Wales, just a couple of hours drive out of Sydney, Australia. I did what was referred to as a "tile." The shot comprised of 6 photos; 3 bottom ones of the scene and 3 top ones of the scene. I was very careful not to overlap any sections of the water because I was unable to shift the digital camera quickly and have a fast shutter speed. My overlap points were rock instead of water.

Why did I chose this? This was due to the sunlight dipping behind the mountain. I used a very high ISO to compensate for the light decrease. I knew it would be okay to do this as my camera wouldn't overexpose anything in shadowy lighting like this. I was fortunate, the shot turned out well.

Creating Your Panorama as a Final Picture- Placing your panorama together

Once you have taken a series of shots from left to right, say 5, simply upload the photographs to your computer. Open up the Panorama software program. Then, once you are in, select the photos you want to work on. You will be able to follow the instructions pretty well when you are in the program itself. If your panorama works well, you should see a big scene. It is astonishing to see, for the very first time, that your photos have now become one and you are looking at a big photo- exactly the way you saw it with your own eyes. It's a stunning thing to experience.

Making panoramas is a superb way to not only become skilled at the art of photography but helps you look at scenes in a different way. You will have a fresh appreciation and excitement for landscapes especially.Don't just stick with landscapes. Once you grow more familiar with the progression, try creating photos of trees, water, oceans (remember your light and shutter), roads, and even pathways. Everything I have pointed out seems like a landscape scene, but if you do additional shooting you will find you can create a panorama out of just about anything. It's so much fun to do!

Understanding Modeling Poses For Photographers Has Saved a Few Careers


Everyone thinks that modeling is easy. You get in front of a camera and strike a pose. However, modeling is so much more than that.

The key to becoming a supermodel is to understand how to pose like a professional. From the moment, you get your first job you need to understand the different modeling poses for photographers. Keep in mind that different photographers will require that you be able to strike a different pose on command. This is a process that takes time to learn. 

If you want to be a success in the modeling industry, you need to learn modeling poses for photographers. The key to understanding how to turn your head and body for the camera is learning your angles. You need to understand what will happen when the light hits you in a certain way.

Whether it will create shadows, or produce the money shot that the client is looking for. Most models do not think of how modeling for photographers can further their career. In some cases posing has either made or broken a few careers.

Taking a posing 101 class may seem a little strange, but it is the best way to breakdown your angles, lighting and figure out how poses on command. Since you are in a class, you will have the benefit of having an instructor watch what you are doing, and help you make modifications right then and there. 

Commercial modeling is different from high fashion modeling. In commercial modeling, you need to learn how to look natural or normal while posing to get the shot. You will also need to learn how to pull off your best look while taking action shots.

Just because you are in constant movement, does not mean you cannot strike a pose, or show your best angle. Taking a modeling class will help you with hand placement, even versus uneven weight placement, how to smile with your eyes, and how to naturally position your head in any situation.

You are only as good as your last photo shoot 

The modeling industry is smaller than you might think. Your modeling reputation can travel faster than you can book your next job. You might book your first job on your looks, but if your modeling poses for photographers are not up to a professional level, your modeling reputation could take a hit.

Being in this situation has ruined more than one modeling career for males and females.

Model Posing Tips from a Professional Photographer


Whether you are searching for a career in fashion
modeling or glamour modeling, it is very important for you to realize that there is more to becoming a model than just standing there looking beautiful.

One very important factor in becoming a good model is posing, and in order for you to learn the different poses needed for the type of modeling career you are seeking it will take practice, practice, practice.

Make Your Posing Look Natural

When preparing for your photo shoot, there are
numerous steps you can take to ensure you are
comfortable while posing and your photos will look more natural.

Get Posing Ideas

Before you head to your photo shoot, pick at least ten poses you really like from fashion or glamour
magazines, or poses you've learned from previous
photo shoots. Take time to practice each pose in front of a mirror until you feel comfortable and have the confidence of knowing you look great doing these
poses.

Hands and Facial Expression

Also, focus on what to do with your hands and pay
attention to facial expressions. A pose is virtually dead and unimaginative without a "look". You should be able to close your eyes, imagine a thought, open your eyes and sell that thought. Practice this technique and your photos will come alive.

Become an Idea Factory

Unless you are shooting for an advertising agency or some other type of special interest session many
photographers recommend that you bring some of your own posing ideas to the shoot. In addition to your
ideas, the photographer may have his or her own idea of how the session should go.

Rapport with Your Photographer

Always work with a photographer you feel you can trust. This will make communication between the two of you easier and give you the confidence to express your own ideas.

Always listen to what the photographer tells you. If you are really uncomfortable with the pose, let your
photographer know how you feel, in a nice way.
Remember, he is looking through the camera lens and might see something you don't.

If the photographer says she wants something different in the pose, try looking away from the camera or giving a unique facial expression. This is where your practice in front of the mirror really pays.

Posture

When posing you should always keep good posture unless the photographer instructs you to do otherwise.
Hold your stomach in to give your abdomen a more toned appearance. If you have gained a few pounds stick out your chin a little to avoid the appearance of a double chin in your photos.

Keep your fingers slightly apart and pointed away from the lens. Let your hands fall naturally into position
whenever possible. Remember, you want to be
yourself - on purpose.

Now that you have learned what to do, consider these things you should try to avoid while posing.

Things to Avoid when Posing for a Photographer

Misplaced Body Language

Body language and expressions come naturally but the language you are projecting might not be what your photographer wants in a particular pose. You need to consciously focus on ways to prevent these habits while posing.

Don't hold your breath during a pose. Stay relaxed and your photos will look as if you just happened to be
sitting this way when the photographer walked up.

In most pose situations you want your arms, legs,
wrists, etc. slightly bent unless you are directed to do otherwise Most people don't stand or sit with their
arms and legs completely stiff. A good point to
remember is, if it will bend, bend it.

Mona Lisa Smile?

Another posing tip to remember is that you don't
always have to smile. You should have a good variety of smiling and serious looks. But, sometimes you will want to give a large, open-mouthed laugh. If you are susposed to be happy, look the part!

Your Eyes are the Windows to Your Soul

Don't always look straight into the camera. When you cut your eyes to the left or right, you create an air of mystery. When you look up and away, you are
annoyed. Tilt your chin slightly down and look straight ahead for a sexy look.

About Blinking

Beware of the Blink! If you have to blink, try to blink between exposures. This is not always easy,
especially if you are working in a photography studio.
Some models get into a habit of anticipating the
strobes and start to close their eyes when the picture is about to be snapped.

Get into the habit of not paying attention to the flash and concentrate wholy on the pose, your body
language, hand position, etc. and your images will
come out as you expect.

Be Bold!!

Never be afraid to try out some of your own poses in front of your photographer. Most photographers are glad to hear suggestions from you.

How do You See Yourself?

When you look at your final images don't be critical of yourself. Find positive ways to improve your posing.
Discover your strengths and weaknesses and shoot for the stars.

I am certain that Tyra Banks still works on her
appearance and her posing artistry even though she
has achieved a degree of stardom. Shouldn't you?

Caring For Your Canon Digital Camera - How to Prevent Moisture


Your Canon Digital Camera is one of the most precious investments you will ever make. Regardless of if you are an amateur, semi-professional or full-time pro photographer, your canon camera will serve you well for a very long time if you care for it well.

When you think of it your camera is constantly being exposed to the rough elements of our environment, wind, dust, salt water in the air, moisture, humidity, extreme heat, and extreme cold. All of these elements are not your camera's friend, so the most important thing you can do is to reduce your camera's extended exposure to these things.

Let's face it we do not live in a perfect world, so you will encounter these elements sooner or later, but there are things you can do to protect your camera.

For starters you must invest in a good well insulated, waterproof, secure camera bag, that will protect your equipment from the harsh elements. It is also a good idea to attach a good lens filter, like a skylight filter, to protect your lens. If you do a lot of outdoor activities in rugged terrain, then you want to make sure that you have a hard, metal case for maximum protection.

If you are experiencing wet or very damp weather, while you are taking pictures, then you should use a plastic bag around the camera and tie it off to prevent moisture from getting into the camera. It is kinda like making a weather proofing for your camera, you can even put a rubber band around the lens where the opening of the bag is, while the rest of the camera is inside the bag, and still take pictures.

If you have foreknowledge of any extreme weather condition, then the best thing is not to venture out with your camera at all. Prevention is always better than repair.

If you are going to be taking pictures near the beach, you can be sure that there will be a high concentration of salt in the air. This is one of your camera's mortal enemies. But do not despair, you can still have fun with your camera, just take a few precautions. Once your photo shoot is over you should clean your camera as soon as possible.

But for your prevention of damage to your camera by the corrosive salt air you should pack a few things with you to take on your trip. Invest in a good skylight or UV filter as they will provide extra protection from the harsh environment for the lens and the barrel.

Pack a clean, soft absorbent microfiber cloth and some lens tissue and seal them in a zip locker bag so they don't become contaminated themselves. Put a few packets of silicon gel in all the sections of your camera bag as this will absorb any moisture present and reduce condensation.

Follow these tips to protect your canon camera investment and make sure your store your camera in a cool, dry, padded case and area once you have cleaned it and its nice and dry. Never put liquids directly on your camera.

Digital Photography: A Brief History


As far as photography is concerned, the role played by technology and the eye of the photographer goes hand in hand. The history of digital photography is punctuated by several revolutionary changes and what seems most interesting is, the history of advances is still being written.

The process of taking a snap, recording it and transferring it onto a tangible, visible surface has remained the same from the very beginning of the era of photography when there was the gradual transition from glass plates to dry plates (using gelatin), followed by black and white film, and then color film.

The process in which a photograph is recorded has always been to allow focused light to fall onto a light sensitive surface. The light sensitive surface could then be processed using chemicals in order to produce a positive or negative image. The basic principle remains the same even after a century when the first photograph was developed on film. What has changed over the years is the means and methods employed to get a photograph.

BOX BROWNIE:

The history of photography cannot be written without special mention to the Box Brownie.

George Eastman (of Kodak fame) played a big part in the development of film, first produced in 1884. Four years later, in 1888, he launched the famous Box Brownie camera with the slogan: and you press the button, we do the rest! The name was derived from the popular cartoons created by Palmer Cox.

This slogan largely described what a revolution the Box Brownie had brought in the world of photography. The Box Brownie was first of its kind using which even an amateur photographer could take a picture. Using the Box Brownie anyone could take a snap and not worry about the chemicals in order to process the film. The photographer could take the photographs in a fraction of a second and it would get stored on the film which can be developed at a later stage. The camera could be given to the chemist who would develop the photographs for you. Can anything be simpler than this to cause a commercial boom!!

The first Brownie, introduced in February, 1900, was a very basic cardboard box camera with a simple meniscus lens that took 2翹-inch square pictures on 117 rollfilm. One of the most popular Brownie models was the Brownie 127, millions of which were sold between 1952 and 1967. The Brownie 127 was a simple Bakelite camera for 127 films which featured a simple meniscus lens and a curved film plane to compensate for the deficiencies of the lens. Another simple camera was the Brownie Cresta which was sold between 1955 and 1958. It used 120 films and had a fixed focus lens.

KODAK:

George Eastman, the man who is credited with the most major breakthrough in the picture of photography was from Kodak. Thus, it is but obvious that the name of Kodak is bound to be associated with many major developments.

Kodak has invented an array of products which are indispensable for photography even now. All the way back in 1936 the first color film was made by Kodak and called Kodachrome.

Later the world witnessed a series of inventions by Kodak. Starting from the mid-1970s when Kodak invented several solid-state image sensors that "converted light to digital pictures" for professional and home consumer use. In 1986, Kodak scientists gave the world the first megapixel sensor, capable of recording 1.4 million pixels that could produce a 5x7-inch digital photo-quality print. Immediately in the following year, Kodak released seven products for recording, storing, manipulating, transmitting and printing electronic still video images. Three years later in 1990, Kodak developed the Photo CD system and proposed "the first worldwide standard for defining color in the digital environment of computers and computer peripherals." In 1991, Kodak released the first professional digital camera system (DCS), for photojournalists and professionals.

It can be said that Kodak single handedly enabled the digital cameras to reach the eager hands of the common masses. Several companies joined hands with Kodak to make its effort a success. Some companies helped its campaign to manufacture cheaper cameras and make digital photography affordable to the public like IBM collaborated with Kodak in making an internet-based network image exchange.

Some other companies manufactured the accessories useful for printing of digital photographs like Hewlett-Packard was the first company to make color inkjet printers that complemented the new digital camera images.

Kinko's and Microsoft both collaborated with Kodak to create digital image-making software workstations and kiosks which allowed customers to produce Photo CD Discs and photographs, and add digital images to documents.

SPEED and QUALITY:

Ask any photographer about digital cameras and films, the sole two topics of concern would be speed and picture quality.

Film speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system. As evident from the name itself, image quality refers to how clear and natural the image is.

In all kinds of photography, film or digital, the reduction of exposure corresponding to use of higher sensitivities generally leads to reduced image quality (via coarser film grain or higher image noise of other types). In short, the higher the sensitivity, the grainier the image will be.

Photographs which were taken on glass plates required a huge time of exposure. It meant a person may have to sit motionless for minutes when a portrait photograph was taken. Even after that the image quality was poor and grainy. Such photographs were priced as high as a weeks wage!

From that stage, photography has changed a lot for the betterment. With the advent of digital photography, neither film speed nor the image quality is compromised. Cameras nowadays can automatically determine the correct film speed for the best image quality at a particular light intensity. Also, the cost per photograph as decreased drastically so much that several people have gained a hobby due to the ease with which the pictures can now be taken, and every family has at least one camera. Also the simplicity by which any person can take good quality pictures is outstanding!

LIGHT, GOOD, CHEAP CAMERA:

With digital photography at its very youth, there was steep competition to manufacture cameras with more megapixels which costs lesser than the competitors camera. The world witnessed yet another major development in the area of photography with the introduction of the digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras.

Before the August of 2003, Digital SLRs (DSLR) was strictly for the professionals. The costly and heavy apparatus were too much for the common public to afford or use.

Canon developed a DSLR in August 2003 which was actually the first affordable digital SLRs. With canon giving keen amateur photographers what they have been desperate to get in their hands on, the stage of photography changed completely. One could just take their lenses from their old film cameras and attach them to the new Canon. The camera also offered fast response times unlike the compact cameras up until this point.

IMAGE MANIPULATION SOFTWARES:

With millions of photographs being taken worldwide, the need to edit and manipulate those images was the order of the day. Something that started as a program to display grayscale images on a monochrome display in 1987 by Thomas Knoll, a PhD student at the University of Michigan, ended up as a program for image editing purposes. Brothers Thomas and John worked on it to build ImagePro. When it was distributed as a short term venture, it was an immediate success. Eventually the Photoshop license was purchased for distribution by Adobe in 1988. In 1990, Photoshop 1.0 was released for Macintosh.

Never before even professional photographers knew so much could be done to a photograph that has already been clicked. The world of photography was revolutionized once more. What Photoshop did was it made image manipulation so easy that both amateur as well as professional artists could spend less time editing and getting better results. A simple computer was all that they needed to make ordinary photograph turn into something completely different and extraordinary.

As the image editing market keeps growing, more companies have joined the business of making image editing tools. While giants like Corel and Adobe launch heavy licensed tools for wondrous versatile image editing, few other companies have launched cheaper, less powerful image manipulating tools too.

Picasa needs a special mention with this regard. Being a very useful tool which allows users to upload and manage their photos from the computer in personal online albums. It also provides scope to edit the images to a considerable level. What more? One gets all this for FREE!!

CONCLUSION:

The improvements in film photography led to smaller and better cameras; the improvements made throughout the history of digital photography have led to more pixels, smaller cameras, lower costs and greater memory capacity.

Today, the cost and quality of cameras range from something that a common man can afford very easily to something that even professionals dream of getting their hands on. It may seem the world of digital photography as experienced all the revolutions that it was bound to. But few would have predicted the stunning growth of digital photography.

Technology is changing even as I'm writing this history of digital photography. So we have wait and watch what surprises are still in store for us!