How to Become a Highly Desired Professional Photographer

Many professional photographers today came into this field by way of photography school, school of arts or any other skilled type school. They have in their possession a degree which qualifies them to be a photographer. Today however, we are going to look at the possibility of those who may have a natural feel for photography. As in any other field of work there are those who naturally have the ability to excel in it and then there are those who learn and in time become skilled in their field of work.

We will first discuss your starting career as a part time stock photographer. If you wish to change your job description and wish to wish to become a photographer then maybe we can help you. The field of photography is very wide and it can become difficult to find your place amongst them but with a little help and persistence then who knows.

Of course the outcome of your journey totally depends on your skill with a camera so it is best to firstly analyze your photography skill then see what the best direction for you to start is. It may be difficult for an amateur photographer to provide quality pictures to any photo agencies due to the lack of equipment of just the share hardship in finding an agency to take a look. Having firstly discovered which type of photographer is in your heart you are then in the right frame of mind to take pictures. Remember if you're going to be doing this for the love of it then take pictures of the scenery or individuals that you love.

As with musicians for example not all professional producers are professional musicians. Many producers just have the natural ability to hear something special and make it. So to do many people posses the ability to take perfect pictures just by a feeling they may have. Thankfully today if the possibility of getting an agency to view your work is impossible there are other options. Today we have the internet, an amazing portal to the world. Many amateur photographers who have a difficult time finding an agency to sign with post their photos on blogs or on a personal website. From these sites viewer from all corners of the world many come and admire their work. This is something that you can consider to do if you are having a hard time fulfilling your dream. Once the photos posted are good enough it will eventually catch the eye of an individual who may want to use it, maybe for an ad or a gallery whatever it may be this will help build a reputation for you and open endless doors of possibilities.

It is extremely important that you have all your photos copyrighted. This way no one would be able to steal it or use it unknown to you. These are your works and it must be protected even if you may find some better than others it is still your work. At the end all that is really needed form you is persistence. If you stay steadfast in your journey and display your natural talent in photography the appropriate job will come your way.

Family Portraits: 6 Essential Preparations You Have Never Heard

Of all the thousands and thousands of images that we are bound to take with our cameras in our lives, none has as much significance and importance as the creme de la creme of portraits; the family portrait. Unfortunately, the family portrait is one of the most difficult images to get right and also to prepare for. Here are 6 ways you can help prepare your family for their portrait with a professional photographer.

1) FINDING THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER. With the digital camera revolution over the last decade, new life has been breathed into the interest of photography as a whole. Suddenly it is "easy" to take a good picture. Many say that "anybody can do it!" or "there's nothing to it!" Oh, if only that was really true. The real fact of the matter is photography still takes great skill, practice and technique to achieve high quality results. While you are shopping around for a professional photographer, view their portfolios on their websites and compare their work to others. Ask yourself:

• Does each member in the family look good?


• Can I imagine my family portrait looking something like this?


• Does this work look similar or different compared to other photographers?

When you feel comfortable enough with the photographer's work, give them a call. Yes, I said a call! E-mail is always an option but a phone call will help you gauge how comfortable you are with the artist. A high quality photographer will ask you many questions and see if the two of you are a good fit style-wise and budget-wise. The phone call should be a comfortable experience in which you see if this photographer is a good fit for you and your family. Always remember that the more comfortable you are, the better you will look in your portrait.

2) HOW MUCH WILL YOU SPEND? Portrait photographers are easy to find but like anything else you buy there are different quality levels to consider. If you are wanting a very high quality portrait, be prepared to spend upwards of $1,000 or more. Of course you can get away with spending only a few hundred with many high end photographers but you will be limited by the size and finish of the final print. High end portrait photographers will take great care of you and your family from the first phone call to the delivery of the final images. These types of photographers stress having a high quality experience, service as well as a high quality product. Professionals like these are in no rush and want to take the necessary time to create portraiture that shows your personality as well as accentuating your best features. If it is within your budget, don't hesitate using a high end portrait photographer.

Not everyone can afford a high end portrait photographer so a "family member with a nice camera" is sometimes all that will suffice. Others will choose to hire a lower priced photographer. These photographers generally share a few commonalities. Some of which may include:

• Inexperienced


• College students still learning


• Still building their portfolios


• Lack of/limited knowledge in posing, lighting and expressions


• Style of photography is mostly a culmination of what they see other photographers doing so they're own work can tend to look very much like other photographers' work


• Limited products offered. IE: Print sizing, print finishing, print types, albums, etc. They might offer only a CD for a flat rate and leave the printing to you.

Choose a photographer that you are comfortable with that has a portfolio you enjoy and then see if they fit within your budget. Everyone wants a good deal and many higher priced photographers are willing to work with your budget or even offer referral incentives if you are unable to order more than a certain amount. Don't expect discounts on prints just because you ask but many photographers will be glad to offer discounts on frames or specialty items.

If your budget is smaller, the lower priced photographer will probably spend plenty of time with you and give you a CD full of images but remember that the quality of the work might be a little more inconsistent. The saying, "you get what you pay for" definitely rings true when choosing a portrait photographer.

3. LOCATION. Congratulations! You have found a great photographer and now all you need is a location and your session will be underway! So where the heck do you take this photo at anyway? Assuming that a studio portrait is not wanted, for many, a nice portrait at the park with grass and trees will suffice. Others choose to photograph their family in their own home and around their property. It might help you to consider what your family likes to do together. If your family loves to go boating, an image created with the boat at the lake might make for a very special portrait. Are you into rock climbing? Camping? Outdoors? Whatever your interests, having an image created at a location that is specifically important to your family will offer much more significance and originality to the portrait. Get your photographer's advice and don't be shy with your ideas!

4. CLOTHING. This is the big one! If you want your portrait to stand the test of time and always keep that "looks like it was taken yesterday" quality, you must carefully choose your clothing. Keep it as simple as you can. Remember that not everyone has to match but keeping the same general tonality is always a good idea. Earth tones work best with just about any background or skin tone. Avoid patterns and logos. What looks good in real life will not always look as good in a portrait because certain clothing patterns will distract from the faces of the family. The main goal in a portrait is to see the faces without difficulty. The foreground, background, posing, clothes, etc. should all compliment the image but never distract from the subjects' faces.

Imagine a family of five and they are all wearing black. Now imagine that one person is in a white shirt. The white shirt will now be the first thing you see because it is the point of greatest contrast in the image. The same goes with a family of five all wearing white. If one person in the group is in black, the black will be all you see.

Your family photographer should be able to instruct you on what to wear and offer suggestions.

5. THE PORTRAIT SESSION. "Oh no! My husband is mad that we have to take a photo and my kids are fighting and my daughter didn't wear what I told her to wear and I have bags under my eyes because I didn't sleep well last night....." Sound familiar? A lot can happen between planning your portrait and having it taken. There are so many variables to consider but remember that your photographer understands this perfectly! Take a few deep breaths, relax, and trust your photographer's expertise. Your photographer will work on putting you at ease during the session and make you comfortable with being photographed. He or she will be watching closely how the family is interacting during the session and will no doubt do whatever is possible to put you at ease. Focus your mind on how fun the session will be and how happy you are that the portrait you have worked so hard to organize is finally being created! Very soon you'll have a beautiful, custom piece of artwork for your home's decor, which brings me to #6...

6. DISPLAYING THE FINAL PRODUCT. Your session went great and the images looked amazing! You can't believe how good you all look and how happy you are with the images that were created. Now it's time to decide what you'd like to order!

Most professional photographers will sell your images to you ranging from wallet sized images up to large framed wall portraits that can be a beautiful sight to behold. It is best to plan ahead with your photographer where you intend on displaying the final print. Look around your home and find the right location. Take a picture of the location for the photographer and they will help you decide what will look best for your home. You might be surprised how small a "huge" print like an 11x14 can look above an entire couch or how a large image like a 30x40 can be far too big for your hallway. Measure the area you'd like to fill with portraits and your photographer will recommend what size of portrait would work best in that location and also recommendations for different sized images in a beautiful cluster of images. It depends on your current decor and your personal taste.

For smaller sizes, write down who in your family and extended family will want a smaller gift sized print (8x10 or smaller) and then plan on Christmas cards, albums, fun keepsakes, etc.

Have fun with your photographer and enjoy your family through the entire family portrait experience. We are all so lucky to have photography in our lives to look back on different moments of our lives and although it takes a lot of effort to create a family portrait, it is well worth the effort!

The Best Photography Locations in Lancashire

Whether you are looking to simply expand your portfolio or you require an outdoor shoot for the front cover of a magazine then it is important to have a dramatic and recognisable location for maximum impact. In Lancashire there are numerous stunning locations where you can take free photographs to your hearts content. If you are a keen photographer in Lancashire then it is highly likely you will be aware of some of these places we are going to look at already, however hopefully there will be a few surprises to wet your appetite.

1. Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill makes for an imposing and beautiful landscape photo. The size and unusual shape of this landmark means it is possible to get numerous amazing photos from different angles and the landscape shot lends itself excellently to HDR. Pendle Hill is located near Clitheroe in the centre of Lancashire.

2. Clitheroe Castle

The elevated position of Clitheroe Castle makes it an excellent location to take photographs from, but it is also a recognisable and impressive backdrop in itself. It is open to the public 24 hours a day which means if you are a photographer in Lancashire you are free to take photographs at any time day or night.

3. Blackpool

Blackpool is an excellent place to take pictures of people and animals. The iconic nature of the town provides an endless number of photo opportunities. Donkeys on the beach, Blackpool Tower, an old couple eating icecream on a bench... the possibilities are endless.

4. Stonyhurst College

The water around Stonyhurst College makes it the ideal place for dramatic reflection shots. The stunning architecture and surrounding countryside of this school will make the photographer's job easy. It is possible to get amazing shots from outside the grounds, however if you wish to go within the grounds then you will need to get permission as it is private.

5. Morecombe Bay

This is the best place for wildlife photographers in Lancashire due to the vast number of birds that inhabit the bay. The shots will look impressive regardless of the weather conditions.

These are just a couple of the countless locations for photographers in Lancashire to visit. The best thing about these places is that they get you out and about but they are completely free to visit. Whether you are an amateur just starting out or a seasoned professional visiting these locations will be a rewarding trip.

High School Yearbooks - Creative Photography Ideas

Here are several tips to increase the impact and effectiveness of images used in your yearbook.

1. Covers.  Encourage the submission or creation of custom cover photography.  Last year, our high school yearbook cover was an abstract image of CD's reflecting light in rainbow colors - taken by a student member of the staff.  A cover contest generates interest and personal stake in the yearbook, increasing the student body's participation.

2. Club and Team shots.  Chess club?  Try for an artsy shot of a chess table with the team behind and slightly out of focus.  Debate club?  How about a staged brawl?  Think creatively and do some planning to come up with original and entertaining images.

3. Baby Match.  Take candid baby shots and sprinkle them in the yearbook.  It will be fun for the students to match up to the right kids.

4. DVD Insert.  Consider putting a DVD slide show in a plastic jacket as an upsell.  Make sure you use legal music for the soundtrack.  Lots of programs can be used to take images and music and make a DVD.  Proshow is my favorite.

5. Pro Photos for Ad Space.  Consider sprinkling in photos taken by professionals, in exchange for ad space. 

6. Faculty Shots.  How about a hobby focus?  Instead of the same dry shots, have the faculty dress or bring items that they use in a hobby or interest and make a mini-bio for their images.

7. Contributor Web.  Consider a public website such as Winkflash where anyone can submit photos for consideration in the yearbook.  Make sure you get their name and credit them on the page where the images are used.

8. School Shots.  Take some creative shots of the architecture and features of the school, such as mascots or common areas.  Choose some times when they are busy and filled with kids, and contrast when they are empty.  This will create pride and good memories of the school buildings and property.

9. Town Images.  Some images from the local towns will also be appreciated.  Consider asking for ad sponsors and spice up their contribution by taking a photo of their business and including it in the book.  Think product placement.

10. Assemblies and Events.  Make sure someone from the yearbook staff has permission to shoot freely at assemblies, pep rallies, sports and art/music events.  Try to capture all scholastic, recreational and athletic/music activities as candids so you capture the depth of the high school experience.

Have fun with your High School Yearbook!

Flash Presentation: Ultimate Competition Killer

If you have finally stepped forward to make a bold move by advertising and marketing your business using unorthodox and unconventional ways then probably you think quite a bit about your business. It is always wiser to learn cheaper and out of the box methods of presenting business to the customers to lure more of them and prospective clients.

Though it is not always necessary that a maverick idea of marketing and promotion will work but considering the contemporary trends in mind Flash Presentation, these days is in vogue to spread the word most effectively.

Flash Presentations these days are in demand as they instantly strike the chord with the customers and visitors; it gives the power in the hand of the customers to visualize the business as these presentations are studded with stunning visuals, animation effects, sounds and videos.

Many businesses and organizations these days use Flash Presentations to present their ideas as most web development companies design presentations around a story to enable the message to reach their clients with more intensity and force. It is like captivating your audience and clients.

Apart from presentations, many web development companies these days design all kinds of stuff like flash banners, flash intro, mailers and etc. To illustrate an example; videos, visuals and audios are widely used in classrooms to teach effectively and convey the lessons with high degree of precision.

Corporate houses and big organizations have also understood the importance of flash presentations and they are leveraging the services of web design agencies to prepare product guides and interactive training modules for their employees to process effective communication across different verticals.

Some web companies offer services like flash CD presentations, sales presentation, animated presentation and learning modules as well. Professional web design agencies optimize their presentations for web and CD- ROM.

Market is full of companies offering their services but an experienced and professional flash presentation company can make a vital difference to the overall chances of any firm. Any leading company chooses the videos and images with precision and thus their work reflects the quality and commitment they keep towards their work.

Also any leading company initially makes itself aware of the business and its values before it prepares the presentation so that they are able to provide world class services. Web agencies can also integrate presentations with internet and other web resources so that the firm for which they are doing it gets more exposure and ultimately clients.

If you are looking for extra sales and plenty of clients go for Flash Presentations as they are ultimate key to the success of your venture.

Your Boudoir Photo Shoot - How to Prepare

As a newcomer to boudoir photography, it's important to know what to expect. You don't want to be under-prepared, without an outfit you want to wear or your favorite shade of mascara. But you also don't want to over-prepare by running out to a tanning salon and getting a brand new haircut. Each studio is specific, so it's important to confirm with them exactly what you should do. Here are some helpful tips to help you get ready for your big day.

Glamour photography is all about you and your unique beauty. That said, it's typically not recommended that you change a lot of things about yourself before the shoot. These pictures are for your significant other and he already loves you for who you are. You don't want a series of photographs of yourself that look nothing like you. New haircuts are a bad idea. There are typically professional hairstylists on hand at any boudoir studio, so keep the hair that your significant other knows and loves. However, if you do want to get a haircut, you'll want to have it done before the day of shooting. While your hairstylist at the photography studio will be a professional, she may not be permitted to cut or dye your hair as a part of the studio policy.

Tanning is also not recommended before the shoot, unless of course you tan regularly. Again, you want to look like you, so your skin should look how it would normally look. New tans are also a bad idea because they can leave you with multi-colored or red skin that you don't want in your final product.

Usually there will also be a professional make-up artist at the studio, so you don't want to overdo it before you leave the house. A modest amount of make-up, just some mascara, is probably all you'll need before arriving at the studio. The make-up artists will take it from there and make sure that you look exactly how you want before the shooting begins.

While professional cosmetologists are commonplace in boudoir studios, it's a good idea to get a manicure and pedicure before you arrive. Many studios do not offer this service, and you'll want to make sure that everything is just right before you begin.

Aside from these physical attributes, there is still one big issue left: clothing. Your clothing, other than you, is the most important thing to consider before your pictures are taken. You need to consider exactly how you want to look, how revealing or modest you want to be, and what kinds of photographs you want in exactly what outfit. Your ensemble will be sharing the spotlight with you, so make sure that you're happy with it.

Being prepared for your boudoir photographs will help your shoot go smoothly, and if things go smoothly you'll be more relaxed and able to focus on looking your very best. Just make sure that the style you've prepared is the style that you're most happy with, because in the end these photographs are all about you.

Photo Editing Service Gives Special Effects to Your Photographs

Mind memories may grow fainter but the stock up mass of photos lets us have down pat at our past. Photos are the magical mirror of what went before; a glance at it brings the smile even in the lament face. Everyone loves to treasure the gone moments by way of photographs, if in case your happy moments are destroyed or getting old and calls for retouching then the Picture Editing may lend a hand in preserving your prized flashes.

Let us exactly know what Photo Editing is. Unerringly, Editing is the art of bestowing vivacity to the tame images. The entire course involves enhancement of colors, substitution of photo backgrounds, photo clippings, harmonizing Contrast and Brightness, Mending of both minor and major scratches, Removal of tucks, petty dust and stains, reconstruction of missing parts. Even novelty factor can be availed by means of Red Eye Removal, Rid of Excess Flab, attenuation of eye bags, whitening of Teeth, special effects like Black and White, Sepia, addition or removal of a person or object in the photograph and many other modifications. Such correction of flaws lets you possess the new and innovated photos. If you are ignorant about Photo Edit then you can simply acquire it by indulging with Photo Editing Service Companies.

For carrying out, this entire tuning one needs to entail the element of creativity and dexterity to work with the Picture editing software. In fact if you are doing it by yourself then you may be rooting the grounds for further destruction so it is sensible to avail the Photo Editing Service. There are uncountable online Photo Retouching Service providers who are apt with proficiency of photo editing and best possibly serving. Such companies possess the adept picture editing designers who are versed with vital photo editing software. Editing Service grips all the upkeep, be it minor or major. On the whole they embark on the chores like;

Yes, it is a lot. Undeniably, everything will be done keeping in view the authenticity of your precious moments. One can get photo editing for many captured moments like wedding, birthdays, vacations, modeling or any special events and even real estate photographs, vehicles and any other image you wish for photo editing.

For availing the photo editing service you just have to make free accounts for uploading the images and in case you do not have digital pictures then you also get benefited with photo scanning services. And if you want to give your opinions and have some specific need then they will be there to listen you and will move according to the particulars furnished by you. Photo Editing is a low cost deal providing priceless gift of preserving the memories.

Does It Make A Difference To Choose A Female Photographer?

Whatever kind of photoshoot you are having (from wedding photography to boudoir photography), it is crucial that you get on with your photographer. You will not only be spending an hour or more in their company, you are also trusting them to work hard to show your best side and to capture the mood that you are hoping for. So does it make a difference whether your photographer is male or female?

The answer to that question is an incredibly vague 'it depends'! It depends what type of photoshoot you have booked. It depends whether you yourself are male or female. And it depends on the photographer's personality.

There are many different types of photoshoot you can choose from:

• wedding photography - it may not seem like a photoshoot as it can last all day, but it is simply a unique type of shoot.


• maternity photography - time for you to show off that bump and be proud of your growing family, whether it is your first or baby number 4!


• portrait photography - this can be split into sub-categories as it covers family photoshoots, lifestyle photoshoots (on location rather than in a studio), newborn photoshoots and even pet photography.


• Boudoir photography - a special photoshoot for yourself or that special person in your life. Not something you will be showing everyone.

It is probably immediately obvious that as a female, there are a couple of types of shoot that would naturally mean you would prefer a female photographer. Both boudoir photography and maternity photography can involve very personal photoshoots with you revealing parts of your body that are only generally revealed in the public on the beach! There is also an argument that another woman will be better placed to understand what you are hoping for, and how best to pose you to produce some beautiful images. However, as with any purchasing decision, you should shop around, and keep your mind open to the possibility that you will find a male photographer who you feel comfortable with. Of course, some women would never feel comfortable with a man taking photos of them in their underwear... and that is entirely understandable!

I have known wedding photographers and portrait photographers both male and female who excel in their field, so ultimately it does come down to choosing someone you feel most comfortable with. There is an argument to say that another woman who has been through the trials and tribulations of her own 'Big Day' will really know how to make you look and feel like a princess, but you will probably be able to judge that from the portfolios you look at!

Cash From Your Camera - Turn Your Photography Into a Business

The era of digital photography has made it easier than any time in the history of photography to make cash from your camera. As with any business it is not a cash machine as many unscrupulous eBook sellers proclaim. If you are prepared to work hard it can be very profitable. Here's how.

When I studied with the New York Institute of photography one of the students turned one fantastic photo into a business that made $250 000 through this one photo. I was amazed. He had taken a photo of the Dallas skyline at night that appeared to be on a waterfront. From the skyline on the horizon down to the foreground was a mirror image of the skyline. Experts called it a fake. What he had done was wait until a car park on his side of the city had been flooded with water and taken the image with skyline reflected in the water.

He didn't just sell the photo to a stock agency or over the internet but worked hard selling prints, framed photos and other items. He worked hard and created a very profitable photo business from one image. The key was a great idea with a great product that made great money. So what do you need to do to turn your photography into a profitable business.

1. Define your business

Decide what type of photography business you are going to start. Are you going to sell your services, sell your photos, sell a product or sell an ebook. You have to clearly define it for yourself and get it clear in your mind. Create a mindmap and write down all of the things you can do as a photographer. Then focus on the one or two that you feel you can make money from.

2. Define your customer

Who can you sell your services or photos to? If you are focusing on sports photography, are there magazines or newspapers that might buy them. Are there websites that might buy these types of photo? If you have a great portfolio of images could you sell them on stock photo websites. This is a numbers game so you have to have a quantity of good quality photos. Perhaps you're good at portraits and would like to focus on child and maybe pet photography. The key fundamental is that you need to know what you are good at or potentially good at and who your potential market is.

3. Define your pricing model

This has to be very clear in your mind. Are you going to sell a lot of images at a small profit or are you going to sell a select a small number of images at a large profit. You have to be clear because if stock photography is your route, you make at most a few dollars per image. As a portrait photographer you'll make a lot more. Out of this pricing model you'll know exactly how much you need sell to make the monthly budget you've set for yourself. If you don't get this right you won't have a photography business.

4. Define your transition strategy

This is absolutely essential if you are to transition from your current job to your own photography business. Many a photographer has made the move too soon without considering point number three. Build your business on a part time basis until you reach a transition point. You need to decide what percentage of your income it needs to be at before you make the transition. Too early and you will fail and too late you may not want to because you are too comfortable with the additional part-time income.

I was speaking to a professional photographer the other day and he was saying that forty percent of his time is now taken up in marketing his business, forty percent on admin and debt collection and only twenty percent on his passion which is photography. You need to understand that you are creating a business and not just extending your hobby.

Go into your new venture with your eyes open. Know all the answers to these four points and have a very clear plan of action to execute your strategy. Nothing is certain in life and there is no guarantee that your business will be successful. But, if you are thorough in your planning you will have the greatest chance of success.

6 Absolutely Free Stock Photo Websites

There are loads of free stock photo websites and image galleries all over the web. Some are generic submit-your-own sites such as giant Flickr, whereas others cater for specialised niche markets such as travel photos, landscapes, people and macro photography. Stock image providers such as Istockphoto charge per image download; at the other end, others such as Rgbstock offer stock photography free of charge in return for the publicity generated. Other stock photography websites fit somewhere in between.

Working through the terms and conditions of each site to work out which offer free commercial and non-commercial stock photography can be a headache at the best of times. That's why we have put together a list of the best free stock photo websites on the web for you. Images free for personal and commercial use.

6 image archives free for personal and commercial use

1. RGBStock

A fresh, clean website that is easy to use. All images are free for personal and commercial use including websites, blogs, brochures and marketing.

2. High Resolution Stock

This is technically a texture share website, but should be included it here as it is a great designer image resource and involves photos. The website design here is probably the most tasteful on this list. Create your own, upload, download and share your textures. This is a bloggers must have, and also a great tool for webmasters, presentations or school projects.

3. The morgue file. Don't let the name put you off - this is one of the web's biggest and most popular free image archives. The self-proclaimed image archive by creatives for creatives. The purpose of this free image website is to provide image reference material for illustrators, comic book artist, designers, teachers and all creative pursuits. Some free stock photos do carry conditions such as link back or author credit.

4. Photogen

Free stock photos for almost all use (you cannot resell the images, sell on printed tshirts, sell as part of a website template, or use in a logo).

5. Jeyjoo Gallery

A niche image archive concentrating on high quality free images of a travel and macro photography genre. They are actually a Sheffield web design company offering absolutely free stock photo downloads for commercial and private use in return for the publicity generated. Linkbacks and/or author attribution are requested.

6. Free Digital Photos

Similar to Jeyjoo, Free Digital Photos offer free image downloads for commercial and private use on small photos, with the option to purchase larger photos. Linkbacks requested. A nicely presented website, and images are easy to find.

The giants of image archivery I feel this talk on stock photography wouldn't be complete without quick look at the giants of digital stock photography. Getty Images, Istockphoto, Fotolia, Big Stock Photo, Jupiter Images and are all in this category. Most of these sites charge per image download. Because anyone can upload their pictures, the same photos can appear on different sites and it can be difficult to find really great pictures as images are not given a quality check.

Save time - If you don't have time, Every Stock Photo is a free image search engine, that saves you time by scrapping a range of websites for you. Membership required.

Tamron 28-75 Review - Professional Performance on an Amateur Budget

What lens is on the front of your Canon Digital SLR?

Since my 30D usually has a third party lens on it, and the images are top notch, I thought I would do a Tamron 28-75 Review.

At the time that I decided to move from a point and shoot camera to a digital SLR, I determined that I would not get the kit lens that came with the Canon Rebel 300D. At the time, the kit lens was not highly regarded at all by most photography websites.

After doing a ton of research and fretting over which lens would be the best one that I could buy for my budget, I landed on the Tamron 28-75. I have upgraded my camera body a couple of times, but my trusty 28-75 lens has remained my prime all purpose lens.

Since it is not a Canon L lens, it does not get the respect that those highly revered lenses get in all the reviews, however, this little Tamron lens is really excellent.

There are two things I have come to appreciate about my main walk-about lens.

First is the wide aperture of f/2.8. It is stable across the whole focal range, meaning that no matter what focal length you choose, you will be getting the fastest shutter speed. This is really important when you are shooting in less than optimum light situations.

Second is the quick focus. I have used some Canon L lenses, and my Tamron performs just as good as those high priced models. The bokeh is really nice too. If you are not familiar with the term "bokeh", it is the nicely blurred background of a photo. This happens when you shoot your picture at a fairly wide aperture (like 2.8). The plane of focus is quite shallow, rendering the background and foreground as blurry.

Recently, I was talking with a photographer friend of mine who was doing some work at my school. He knows that I am also a photographer. As he was moving around and shooting his images, he mentioned that he had just purchased this "awesome little lens" for his Canon 5D. He said that I should really think about getting one because of how light and versatile it was.

It turns out that he was referring to a Tamron 28-75 Canon lens. I was quite surprised that a professional photographer would even think to attach a third party lens to such an amazing camera as the 5D.

But, I guess I should not have been surprised. After all, I have been proclaiming the virtues of this great lens for years. But I had always thought of the Tamron 28-75 lens as a beginner Canon digital slr lens.

Apparently, I was wrong. It is a fantastic choice for amateurs and pros alike.

So, just to recap, you will be pleasantly surprised after shooting a few frames at how well the lens handles, the crisp, clear images that it produces, the fast focus, and the pleasing bokeh. Oh, and the price. You will save a bundle of cash if you buy this lens instead of an L lens of the same focal length and aperture.

When to Use Matte Photo Paper

When I first started to do printing I did not know whether to use matte photo paper or another style. It seems like there used to be easy choice with only a couple different paper choices to pick from. These days there is a wide range of photo paper but let us take a moment to look at Matte photo paper and see how it can be.

If the goal of your printing is to take the photos from your digital camera and print them out in a high quality manner, then you do not want to use matte paper. Matte is good for a lot of different things but printing for photos is not one of them. Typically you are going to want to use a glossy or high gloss photo paper to print photography pictures.

Matte paper is more suitable for printing that is text related. This means if you are printing off a short story or essay for school, that matte photo paper would be ideal. The reason it is so good for tax is that matte paper is less shiny and produces much less glare then glossy paper. This means it is much easier to read text and graphics, but is not very suitable printing pictures.

There is an in between style of paper called semi matte which is also referred to often as silk photo paper. This can be a great choice if your goal is to buy one style of paper in bulk and try to get a better value for your money. Silk paper has the ability to be used for printing photos as well as looking good for text. It will never produce as high quality of a photo image as the glossy paper would, but you will still be able to create a good look with your photos. Similarly, silk photo paper does have a little gloss to it which means there is a little bit more glare in shininess and text will be not quite as easy to read as it would be with full matte paper.

Overall it really depends on your printing needs and your budget for photo paper. It is always a good idea to use the sample paper that came with your printer to understand how the different styles of paper affect the final product. This way you can get a great idea of how glossy paper and matte paper differ in their look, and be able to make a better decision as to what kind of paper fits your personal needs.

One interesting tidbit to keep in mind is that am glossy prints while looking and feeling different will display a similar result if they are placed under glass. This means you can use either style of paper to get the same result, so it is worthwhile to find out what is the least expensive style of paper if you know that the end result is going to be placed under glass.

As you can see matte photo paper has an important use when it comes to your printing needs. Make sure to print a few different examples on the various styles of paper to find out what works best for you.

Advanced Career Training

Advanced career training is the kind of training with specializations in hospitality, retail, business, and other kinds which an unemployed person can have better benefits and advantages of. A person can have this kind of training whether he is in school or is already employed. This is advanced training which can improve the person's skills, and thus give him good chances of getting a higher position, if he is already employed, or chances of getting good employment, if he still hasn't got employment of any kind. This is a kind which can provide a complete training plan required in some companies.

Finding Employment After Completing Advanced Career Training

Students, after completing advanced training courses, will have good opportunities of finding employment. Many course providers have good contacts with employers and their recommendations are what are just needed. Employers also prefer graduates of advanced training courses because these people do not just have the skills but likewise the discipline needed in handling various important skilled positions in the company. Many employers find that graduates of these advanced courses can be assets in their various companies because of the training and preparation they got from the training courses.

Can Getting Employment Be Possible Even Without a Diploma?

The qualifications you get with advanced career training courses are already this source of qualification that you need. It will be the kind of certification that is what is needed by your future employer. If you have already lots of work experiences, this will be an added qualification and will enhance further your chances of getting a higher position due to the skills you got through the advanced training. The kind of training you get from advanced training will be from people of the highest skills and experiences in the course that you have.

Advanced Career Training Costs and Other Important Things

A question often posed when people talk about advanced training is how much the course will cost. The subject of requirement or eligibility requirement will determine how much the course will cost. However, it is also interesting to note that many of these courses are government funded, and will therefore be at no cost to a student. An improvement in skills will be acquired and at no cost to the student, when he gets this government funding. On top of this, he will get assistance in getting employment in the related skills, once he gets the qualification. Thus, a course in advanced training should be what a student should have, whether he is already employed or still at school.

There are several courses that a student can choose when he wants to get advanced training, and these courses have the skills and trainings that many potential employers want to have for people they want to hire. Some of the important courses that you can have are arts and design training, computer technology training, culinary arts training, dental and medical career training, trade schools career training, and other highly skilled training program you can get.

How to Bring Variety in Maternity Photography

Variety is important in our life. We expect something new to happen. New developments have attraction. When we see the maternity photography albums, we see the copybook styles in most of the cases. The reason is that most couples get the knowledge from online sources and just follow the mentioned tips. Maternity photography needs creative thoughts, which have no limit. To make the maternity photographs more attractive, you need to apply innovative approach.

To bring the variety in maternity photographs, divide the whole photography in small sessions scheduled periodically. Many couples get confuse about the indoor and outdoor locations. You have to decide numbers of photographs in each location. More of the earlier sessions should be outdoor, while more of later phase sessions should be indoor. Don't take too many photographs at one location and in one session. If you want to reduce the number of sessions, change your outfits, hair style, location, background and lighting effects etc. Some photographs of one session may be solo in nature, while some may involve family members.

The maternity photographs should be conveying. These should be capable to depict the facial expressions that temporarily emerge at your face during pregnancy period. Though the prime focus of maternity photography is your developing belly but other developments of your body are also important to be covered. If photographer covers just the belly in each and every photograph of one session, photographs will lose their attraction. You need to think about different poses but do not compromise with comfort. Try to get some action poses like yoga, watering, cooking, kissing or hugging and drinking etc. Standstill poses induce boredom because this style has become too common. Just a wrist band or tattoo can create the difference. Generally, we come across color maternity photographs. To bring more change, get some black and white photographs also. Black and white photography has its own charm. It creates the ageing effect, which is necessary for maternity photography.

Most write ups stress upon simplicity of model mothers but many mothers take it wrong way. Simplicity doesn't mean that you don't need any preparation.

Presentation and arrangement of maternity photographs in the album also matter a lot. Many people just paste the photographs without any remark or just put out the date. Give a unique and meaningful title with brief note to each and every photograph. While showing the photographs, tell about the occasion, experience and particular feelings of that period. Mark out the specific development in the photographs, which was absent in previous stage maternity photographs. Do not put the maternity photographs in family album; it may make the pregnancy photographs less significant.

Therefore, think your own way to induce variety in the maternity photography. It is not a tough task even for the first timer; just think differently in innovative manner.

How to Set Up Your Studio With Strobe Equipment

In photography there are hot lights and cold lights. Hot lights are always on, and in turn, get incredibly hot. Cold lights are also known as strobe equipment, and are only on when the flash is executed. Strobe lights are often sought out for portrait work because they're more comfortable for the subject, and easier for the photographer to set up. If you'd like to incorporate strobe equipment into your next photography project here are a few tips to do it successfully:

1) The first thing you should do is set up your subject in a light box that blocks off all ambient light you don't want in the photograph. Think of those curtain stands that school portrait photographers use. Any unwanted light that is in the background or on either side of the subject, can alter the results of your photo. So when setting up your light box make sure it's adequately blocking light from behind and beside the image.

2) Once your light box is officially set up and your subject is in the right place, you should then set up the camera and compose the subject in your viewfinder.

3) Next up is strobe equipment set up. When positioning the equipment, you want to place them in a manner that adds definition and produces shadows in the right places. To add that definition, you should choose a hard angle with the strobe facing towards the texture of the subject. Another popular technique is to light just one side of the subject. This creates a starkly contrasting shot, as one side of the subject is brightly lit and the other is shadowy and mysterious.

4) After your strobe equipment is positioned where you'd like it you're ready to attach your camera sync cord to the flash and execute the metering. Your camera should automatically adjust to the power output of the strobe equipment. If you're placing the strobe light very close to the subject, you may want to slightly adjust the exposure accordingly as it may wash out their features.

5) Next, you're ready to shoot the photos. Make sure to check your result on your computer and make adjustments as you see fit. It's generally a good idea to have the computer close at hand so you can review your shots immediately and then reshoot right them without having to wait until after the shoot is over.

All in all, strobes produce a decent amount of light but unlike hot lights, they require a keen eye and good photo judgment to get the correct exposure. Strobes are known to create beautiful shadow patterns on your subjects, but you will have to take a series of shots to get the perfect one, since the strobe equipment fires quickly. Another noteworthy bit of information: you will probably need a camera with fast shutter speeds, as strobe equipment fires light as quickly as 1/1500th of a second.

If you're planning to buy strobe equipment, you should find some that is compatible with several types of professional cameras. If you're interested in experimenting with strobe equipment before you buy it, you can always look into photo equipment rental.

Becoming A Professional Photographer

Being a professional photographer takes practice, diligence and time. If you're looking to make this in to a career, you're going to need to hone your skills and get ready to practice, practice, and practice! From portraits to stock photography, you'll become a specialist in your field by studying photos, reading books on photography, taking classes a libraries or local colleges and taking advice from photographers whom you admire. Many photography blogs and websites are readily available online for your reading pleasure. Make sure to keep reading them after you're set as a professional photographer to keep up with industry standards and keep competition at bay!

It's the Subject that Matters

Friends and family alike won't mind if you use them to practice shooting. You truly need to shoot everything you can-from the autumn tree, to the newborn baby and everything in between! You'll want to have a wide variety of shots to be able to showcase for interviews or to show future clients. From outdoor events, to indoor casual holiday photos, your portfolio needs to be packed with picture perfect examples of your best work.

A Picture Perfect Brand
By marketing yourself, you're more likely to land the job or gain more clients. You'll need to have business cards printed, start a website. You could trade your photography services for a great website to showcase your work, and gain more clients. You can offer word-of-mouth specials and monthly marketing campaigns like winning a free sitting or free 8x10 for referrals. Make sure you are networking, as it is a detrimental part of marketing. You may want to offer your services for free at a local event and post them to the website to get your name out in the community. Network, network, and network-you'll do this just as much as you take photos!

That Was Easy!

So now you have all of the key components for becoming a professional photographer. By guiding yourself, and continuously schooling yourself, you'll continue to grow as a photographer with a beautiful portfolio of diverse clients.

Rising Anime Popularity in The Western World

The word Anime is an abbreviation of animation. In English, the dictionary defines it as a style developed in Japan. Since, anime describes all types of animation; Japanimation is applied to differentiate the Japanese work from the rest of the world. In the past few years, anime was recognized as manga in European countries. In Japan manga is considered both comics and animation (though use manga as animation is usually restricted to non- fans).

Anime usually takes influence from light novels, manga and other traditions and culture. Anime can be transmit on TV and is usually distributed through any type of media presentations such as video, DVD and internet. Anime is sometimes considered as Japanimation, but this term is not used now. When it comes to the countries except Japan, this word is referred to the animation that began in Japan.

Anime attract everyone from children to adults and deals with various themes in sports, science fiction, horror and romance. Unlike animation, anime also include few elements of realism like emotions, suffering and death which raises both its pedagogical and content value. Anime popularity is increasing both in terms of range and audience. The children's craze for the Pokémon movies including Pokémon products like different video games shows its wide appeal. One old argument in anime fandom was watching anime movies being redubbed in English.

Today, with the increase in popularity of CDs, most DVD disks include both subtitled and redub track. The rapidly increasing popularity of anime resulted in a large number of clubs, colleges, public libraries and high schools. Different meetings and convention are taking place in many western countries. Anime is taking great fans and sales than ever observed before.

Walt Disney production of Japanese movie "Spirited Away" which even beat "Titanic" in Japan was a great success in the western world. Director of this anime movie Hayao Miyazaki is being praised by the movie fans, for providing attention to the details of minutes relating crafts and arts in the film. Anime programs and movies in the western countries like Fox TV network and Walt Disney added a $2 billion annual profit in the anime film industry. Few years back, there were only few anime series and TV shows, but now every child is associated with Japanese movies and cartoons and is increasing in popularity among teenagers.

A Japanese anime and toy company, Bandai entertainment said that they released 75 different anime movies and TV shows last year in the US, which shows a great increase in demand of anime films as compared to the movies released during the previous years.

Nowadays, anime is the fastest growing industry in DVD and video marketing. A D Vision was the first company developed in US in 1992, now there are more than 20 similar industries. Anime films or movies are comparatively cheap and low cost budget movies. If you think the overall cost of making movie in today's high risk industry then anime is affordable and cheap for example Titanic cost $100 million. Animation success in the west countries is gradual. The first turning point was the facility of internet during 1980's.

Taking a Photography Online Course - 5 Things to Look For in a Photography Online Course

If you're thinking of taking a photography online course, there are 5 things you should make sure the photography course offers. These tips are for the beginner photographer but some of them will apply to advanced photographers as well.

1. Make sure the photography online course deals with SLR (single lens reflex) or DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras and not just your average point and shoot. Why? Because SLR/DSLR cameras are the standard in professional photography and allow you extreme versatility in taking photos. (Those little point and shoot cameras are just not made for professional photography.)

2. The course should teach both the technical and artistic aspects of photography. The technical part of the camera includes apertures, shutter speeds, lens types, flash, etc. The artistic side includes composition, lighting, color, and depth of field. This will give you a well rounded understanding of not just how to use a D/SLR camera, but how to take beautiful and professional looking photographs.

3. The photography online course should have someone available to give you constructive critiques of your work. This could be the teacher or other students in the photography course. It really helps to have trained eyes giving you critiques and suggestions for getting better photographs.

4. The photography classes should give you both reading and shooting assignments. Reading assignments usually involve learning the technical aspects of the camera. Shooting assignments will let you put your knew knowledge into play. The assignments should also let you work at your own pace and allow you some artistic freedom.

5. The photography online course should have one set price for everything. There should be no hidden fees (like for critiques, or posting images online). Once you pay your money and start your classes you should not have to pay anymore money, except of course, if you're using a standard camera instead of a digital one. Then there will be costs for film, developing, and prints. Online photography classes vary in price from about $100 with all the above topics included, to over $1,000. I highly suggest finding an online course in the $100-$200 range if you're just starting out. That's a good value for your money.

History Of Digital Photography - A Snapshot Over Time

Where does the history of digital photography really start? Looking at various historical overviews, it quickly becomes clear that the starting point depends quite a bit on your point of view...

Digital cameras use image sensors instead of film to sample light. They do this thanks to the photoelectric effect in which some metals release electrons when exposed to light.

You could probably argue that Albert Einstein - who won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the photoelectric effect - got the ball rolling in the history of digital photography!

Often incorporated into the history of digital photography, is the camera designed by Texas Instruments Inc. in 1972. However, this camera was not digital, but an analog-based, film-less device.

The next step in the history of digital photography came in 1972, when Steven Sasson of Kodak was instructed by his supervisor to try and find a way to build a camera using solid-state image sensors. These chips use photosensitive diodes called photosites to record light.

An important marker in the history of digital photography was when Sasson snapped the first digital picture in December 1975. According to Sasson the image took 23 seconds to record onto the cassette, and then another 23 seconds to read off a playback unit onto a television.

However, no consumer camera was released at that stage by the company. Later, in 1986, Kodak invented the world's first megapixel sensor, capable of recording 1.4 million pixels that could produce a 5x7-inch digital photo-quality print.

You can probably safely say that the history of digital photography indicates that the first prototype digital camera was the Mavica (Magnetic Video Camera), released by Sony Corporation in the early 1980's. This was essentially an electronic video camera that produced still images which were recorded on two-inch floppy disks.

The Mavica used a charge-coupled device (CCD), and the origins of the CCD can be traced back to October 1969. This was when George Smith and Willard Boyle, two of the role-players in the history of digital photography, invented the charge-coupled device at Bell Labs, where they were at the time attempting to create a new kind of semiconductor memory for computers.

The history of digital photography demonstrates that the CCD played quite a central role in the development of the digital camera. This technology is today also used in broadcasting, and in video applications that range from security monitoring to high-definition television. Facsimile machines, copying machines, image scanners, and bar code readers also make use of CCDs to turn light into useful information.

After the Mavica, it was only in 1994 that Apple introduced the first digital camera for consumers, another milestone in the history of digital photography.

The QuickTake 100 (this camera was co-developed with Kodak) worked with a home computer via a serial cable and featured a 640 x 480 pixel CCD. It could produce eight images stored in internal memory, and also featured a built-in flash.

Because of constraints around the size of the processor the QuickTake 100 looked more like a set of binoculars, but this soon changed. As the history of digital photography will show, modern digital cameras soon took on the familiar shape of film cameras.

All this technology was developed in little more than thirty years. Just imagine how the next few decades will shape subsequent installments of the history of digital photography!

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

Continuing Education In Photography

One of the hallmarks of professional photographers is that you'll find them constantly going back to school. They'll also be involved in a local guild or professional association. In fact, they'll be involved in just about any activity that gets them involved with other photographers and out shooting pictures for assignments or group projects. Besides that, you'll find them participating in and leading photo walks on their day off.

The reasons behind that are complex, but the main reason is that photography tends to be kind of a lone wolf profession. Very few shops can support paid help, other than on a contract basis, so it tends to be an isolated profession.

If you stay isolated long enough in photography your work can become stale and routine. Working by yourself there's no one to challenge you, to inspire you, or show you some new lighting technique, or new way of shooting a particular shot.

Taking a photography class is something you'll find even pros do once in a while, even though they may sit through a class or online course that lasts for days in order to glean one or two new tricks. Professionals also understand the value of reviewing the basics of framing, like the Rule of Thirds, exposure and other photography fundamentals.

The more you grow in the profession, the more you know, the more time you have to put in to gain knowledge. Doesn't seem fair, does it? But that's really true in any profession. The higher you go up the ladder, the more time you have to put into education to move up. Photography is no different in that regard.

Beyond the purely educational aspects, photography is still much like a trade in many ways. Older photographers help those coming along in their careers and most people getting into the business do so by building up their portfolio as an apprentice or second shooter for someone more experienced. In situations where a photographer can't afford an apprentice or assistant, then classes, photo walks and arranged group shoots are the only way you'll get to network with other photographers to build your portfolio.

Photography is one of those trades that takes days to learn but a lifetime to master. The only way to really master the craft is to be constantly learning. Studying the technical aspects, learning the rules, then learning to write your own rule book.

The day you stop progressing in photography, pushing forward with learning, is the day you start sliding back into mediocrity. There are very few people who can keep their edge if they're not constantly out shooting. If you lose interest in going out every weekend for a shoot and getting together with other photographers, then you may want to consider whether photography is really your best option for a career field.

FAT (Field Analysis Test)

Students are the future leaders who, after their matriculation needs proper supervision about the field to embark upon. Field opting is quiet difficult nut for students to crack. Amateur selection without having curiosity in that field leads towards dreary future.

The main psychological problem which most of the students faces is an inappropriate knowledge about the fields to select from.
In this article, you will not only discover yourself as your own mentor to select the best Intermediate group, but would also know your capabilities and skills, with the help of FAT (Field Assessment Test).
Remember that you will have to spend two years to achieve HSC (Higher School Certificate).

Let us first review the groups you can jump in after your matriculation.

Pre-Medical: One of the best and highly prestigious fields for all those, who want to serve humanity in their future.

Biology, Chemistry, Physics are the major subjects, which will be taught to you during your Pre-Medical.

This Higher certificate would lead you towards the following major fields in the future:

Bachelors in Dental Surgery (BDS)

Bachelors in Medicine, Bachelors and Surgery (MBBS)

Bachelors in Science (Bio-Technology, Nursing, Zoology, Botany, Genetic Engineering, etc.)

Bachelors in Pharmacy and Doctorate in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)

Pre- Engineering

For all those, who want to be a Computer Scientist, Pilot or an Engineer, they should select Engineering group for their bright future.

Instead of Biology, you'll have to study Mathematics. The other subjects are same.

This course would lead you towards the following major courses

Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

Bachelors in Electronics (B.E)

Bachelors in Computer Science (BCS/BS)

Bachelors of Engineering in Tele Communication

Bachelors in Architecture, Aeronautical Engineer, Mathematics, etc.

Computer Science

If you love spending most of your time on computer, not just for chatting, but also for learning new ideas about Artificial Intelligence, Robots, Web Designing, Computer Languages, etc., then your Computer Science is waiting for you.

Instead of Biology, you'll have to study Computer. The other main subjects are same.

After pursuing your Intermediate, you could move on to either of the following:

Bachelors in Information Technology (BIT)

Bachelors in Computer Science (BCS/BS)

Bachelors in Digital Media

Commerce (I.Com)

If you like to manage your home account, or are interested in stock exchange news and reviews, then enter Commerce.

If You Choose Commerce you will have to study Economics, Accountancy, Business Mathematics, Commercial Geography and Principles of Commerce during two years of time.

After pursuing your Intermediate, you could move on to either of the following:

Bachelors in Commerce (B.Com)

Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA)

Bachelors in Public Administration (BPA)

Bachelors in Management Mathematics & Statistics
LLB

Chartered Accountant (CA)

Associate of the Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Humanities

Are you artistic? Do you like criticizing things around you? Do you have an imaginary skill? If yes, then you should opt for Humanities group.

You will have to select any 4 subjects out of a wide range of options, including, psychology, education, Islamic studies, history, sociology, economics, etc.

After pursuing Intermediate, you can move towards either field:

Bachelor in Mass Communication

Bachelor of Arts (General Group)

Bachelor of Library and Information Sciences

Bachelors in Journalism

Bachelors in Fashion Designing (BFD)

Bachelors in Education (B.Ed)

Bachelors in Hotel Management

Bachelors in Arts (could select any subjects of your interest)

Home Economics

This group is famous among girls in our society, who likes home decoration, cooking food, sewing, etc.

You will have to study Food and Nutrition and other elective subjects.

After Intermediate, you can move towards any field as of Humanities with an inclusion of fields like food and beverages degree, hair cutting or beautician degree, etc.

DBA (Diploma in Business Administration)

This diploma is equivalent to intermediate and offers wide range of courses of Commerce. After this course, you can move towards any field as of Commerce.

DAE (Diploma in Associate Engineering)

This Diploma is also famous for those, who are technically interested, rather than studying course books. You can move on to any field of Engineering afterwards.

There are many more unlimited liberal fields with unlimited opportunities for all of you after Intermediate, like Movie Directing, Photography, Politics, Freelance Writing, E-commerce, Operators, Administrators, etc. You should concentrate on it after completion of your Higher Secondary Certification.

Centralised Admission Policy, (CAP) form will be made available soon in all the banks. Under the CAP rules, the prospective students of first year classes at the government colleges and higher secondary schools will be required to produce his/her matriculation mark sheets for obtaining the admission booklet and placement form.

Students have to fill out their relevant information about their matriculation. They have to select five best colleges of their choices and would have to write their names in respective columns.
You can also choose any of the private colleges offering Higher School Certificate, whose admission has already been started.

If you are still confuse what to do and where to go; just consult some Student Counsellor in your area. I am presenting FAT (Field Analysis Test), which has been designed after an extensive research conducted by me. This short-term test would readily help you greatly to know your interest, so that you could select the best field without being hesitant.

Answer the following questions:

1. Which one of the following would best describe your interest?

Movie and Music

Cooking

Surfing Net

Web Designing

Playing Games

Experimenting Things

Outing

Playing Mind Games

Making Creative Things
None

2. Which one is your Favorite subject?

Mathematic

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Computers

Economics

Commercial Geography

English

Urdu

Islamiat

Pakistan Studies

Home Economics

Art and Craft

None

3. Which Subject you hate the most in your school life.

Mathematic

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Computers

Economics

Commercial Geography

English

Urdu

Islamiat

Pakistan Studies

Home Economics

Art and Craft

All

4. What were your results in your Secondary school classes

Outstanding

Very Good

Good

Average

Poor

5. Select the trait that applies you the most.

Conventional

Reasonable and Reliable

Responsible, Organized and Calm

Productive

Practical

Sincere

Reserved

Hospitable

Warmhearted

Innovative

Open Minded

Short Tempered

6. Whom do you inspire the most?

Athletic coach

Hair stylist

Physical therapist

Astronomer

Banker

Politician

Doctor

Pilot

Web Designer

Counselor

Librarian

Social worker

Teacher

Engineer

Movie Director

Minister

Nurse

Food service manager

Carpenter

None

7.How many hours could you spend on studies?

Less than 1 hour

1-3 hours

3-6 hours

6-9 hours

You do not need a psychologist or a counsellor to evaluate your questionnaire.
Just fill out the questionnaire and give it to your siblings or your parents to vividly know your interest, which could be revealed, if most of the answers to the questions are similar in nature.
Copy down your answers separately on a sheet and evaluate the similarities.

Here is an example to evaluate your interest:

If most of the answers are related to artistic things and creativity, with open mindedness, then Humanities or Home Economic is good for you.
In the same manner, do for the rest.
Best of luck for your future endeavors to embark upon!

5 Tips For a Successful Street Photography

Street photography is just one place where you can use your Canon Rebel digital SLR camera as a imaginative tool. However the camera is just half of the equation. Additionally you have to have a good Canon Rebel lens, and one of the 50mm versions will measure up with regard to that element. There are three possibilities, those being the f/1.2, f/1/4, and f/1.8.

Your choice of which one of these lenses just isn't as critical as it might seem, considering the difference in cost. The f/1.8 will be the cheapest bargain at about $100. Plus the costs rise to around $350 for the f/1.4 and over $1000 for the f/1.2. Granted, the quality of build is definitely different, but the high quality of photography can be extremely close with all three.

There is one more hurdle along with obtaining proper gear. If you're not comfortable talking with strangers, this could be a struggle for you to talk to a complete stranger in order to request permission to get their picture, nevertheless, after you have done it more than once, it is easier. This will be very true when you realize the wonderful results. Street pictures are much more interesting than your standard family portrait. That is, unless of course your Granddad Lamont or Auntie Louise is as fascinating as a lot of the street residents you will come across in the downtown areas and shopping malls.

There are five things that you can use to make it easier to be able to acquire those great shots after you manage the problem of shyness.

1. Never ever venture out without having your camera. We all do it, but it is a better plan to keep on telling oneself that you should never set off without it. After several weeks of bringing the digital camera each time you leave house or office, and it's going to become second nature. Absolutely nothing (well, almost nothing) worse than arriving upon a fantastic photo op on the street when you do not have the photography equipment on hand. And this does not necessarily mean that you have to tote the whole camera bag along with you. You simply need your Rebel and dependable Canon Rebel lens.

2. You want to keep Canon 50mm lens on the dslr camera. There are a couple of advantages of making use of this lens rather than one of many other choices. First, the 50mm is a practically perfect portrait lens because of the great quality and great aperture. And next, it is small and light. It does not wear you out carrying it for a number of hours. Plus, many people will probably be put off by a giant, showy piece of glass.

3. Avoid the use of your flash. You will get natural photos without a flash, and also on the street, this is especially true. You can make use of the large aperture of the 50mm lens to obtain a nice quick shutter speed, and if the brightness is very low, just boost the ISO of the Canon Rebel to speed up the shutter.

4. Be ready before you ask permission. Ensure all of your dslr camera settings are correct previous to walking towards your subject. It could possibly mess up your possibilities when you have to stop and set mess with the camera whilst the individual is awkwardly waiting.

5. Have your model release forms accessible. If you intend to use your pictures in some public location, you will need to obtain a release from your individual. The good news is that there's currently an app for your iPad and the iPhone just for this. It is possible to go digital!

That's it. You, too, can be quite a street photographer. Get out there and shoot!

Picking the Perfect Photo Collage Frames

With the use of digital photography steadily on the rise, and the technology to print pictures easily accessible, many people find themselves in a dilemma of too many pictures and not enough space to put them in. Or worse yet, they have different pictures of different sizes all over the wall, creating a cluttered and chaotic environment. A great solution to this problem would be getting some collage frames for your photos.

A collage frame is a frame that, instead of just having one opening or space for a single picture, has several openings to display multiple pictures. These frames provide a tidy display for all your personal photos.

When you are choosing your collage frame, you have many styles and finishes to choose from. You can have a more traditional look with simple wood finish, or a more modern look with a metal finish. You can also choose the number of openings you want, as well as the placement and shapes of the openings. You can also choose to display more than one photo collage frame, you could display two with five openings with one with three openings in between them. There are endless possibilities to display all your personal photos.

The first thing you will decide is what kind of atmosphere you want to create. A more traditional environment would work well with a simple wood finish, think of a country setting with wood in the furniture, a cozy family room. You will have to make sure that you choose frames in the tones that reflect the furnishings in the room. If you are working with a more modern atmosphere a sleek metal or shiny chrome finish would complement nicely. These frames would work well in an office environment as well.

The next step is to choose which photos you want to display. You will want to keep the colour of the photos uniform, do not mix black and white with colour photos in one photo collage frame. If you have some old black and white family photos that you want to incorporate with your newer colour family photos, many cameras and printers will allow you to print in black and white, or even sepia, which can give an old time appearance to photos. You want to maintain a uniform appearance with each group of photos. It is a good idea to keep colour photos on a separate wall from black and white photos. You could also create photo collage frames of different subjects, a family vacation, first day of school, family photo day, whatever moment in time is special to you.

Probably the most popular of all photo collage frames are the baby collage frames. New parents love to take pictures of their babies, and these frames are an excellent way to display them. These frames can also come in the standard wood and metal styles, but a lot of them are acrylic or resin with baby designs, in pink or blue pastel colours. Another popular collage frame style have word inscriptions that the pictures fit into. The one that is seen most is the "family" frame. Other frames include weddings, sports, vacation and birthday themes, and can also make great gifts for any of these events as well.

The definition of the word collage is "An artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and colour." so it seems natural that you will want to get creative with your photo collage frames. Some frames offer openings for pictures of different sizes, whether it is a large photo surrounded by smaller photos, or different sizes all displayed in the one frame. A quick and easy way to fit the photos into the openings properly is to lay them against the space and simply crop them using a tool to fit the space. If you are feeling particularly creative, you can add some extra touches to the frame itself with some craft paint, or let the kids add their own design to a collage frame for their room. The most effective way to be creative with a photo collage frame is with the photos you put in them. With more traditional frames, family photos look best in colour, the more spontaneous the shot, the better. With a modern frame, black and white feels a little more in place, you could try to find dramatic shots to put in the frame.

Collage photo frames are a lot more artistic than traditional frames, they allow you to present all of your favourite photos in one area, easier to access and look at than if they were displayed in several frames. These frames can help define a focal point for one particular area of the wall or the room itself, allowing everyone to enjoy a moment in time or a lifetime of memories.

Great Gift Ideas For Photographers

Here are a thirty gift ideas for photographers. The suggested price range is also listed. Happy shopping!

1. Portable Reflectors. A photographer can't have too many light modifiers. Reflectors come in so many sizes and configurations. Snoop around to see what they have and choose a model they don't have. Many of these fold up into tiny cases. Or think of buying a reflector holder for one they already own. ($30-$150)

2. Chips and more chips. Not the potato kind - the memory card kind. Find out what format their cameras take - Compact Flash, Smart Media, whatever, and buy a couple more. They are very inexpensive to buy in large capacities. Pop out one from their camera or chip carrier and note the maker and model, and try to buy the same or larger memory capacity. ($20-$100)

3. Portable Hard Drive / Image Tank. These battery-operated devices are pocket-sized and will copy the pictures from a camera chip and save a duplicate on the hard drive. Some of them also have a nice preview screen and TV output so you can enjoy the photos as a slide show. They act as a hard drive when plugged into a laptop. They are perfect for on-location shots or long vacations where you don't have your computer with you. ($100-$300)

4. Another Lens! If your photographer has a Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, then pick their brain about lenses they have and want. This is one area where photographers are very picky, so may want to go as far as having them describe the specific make and model. If you want to go "all out", get them to tell you about their dream lens - it's the one that they really want, (but probably don't need), and won't buy for themselves. ($100-$5000)

5. Filters for lenses. There are a variety of filters or modifiers that can be put on lenses. You'll want to know what size lens (measured in millimeters), and what they have or want. A couple ideas are: a circular polarizer (which reduces glare and deepens sky colors), close-up lenses (to magnify and get close to small stuff), and neutral-density filters (which reduce light in some or all of the image). ($30-$150)

6. Monopod and swivel. A monopod is like a walking stick with a thread on the top. It's a great stand-in for a tripod when you can't use it. Better even, get a swivel head for the top of the monopod and your photographer can rotate the camera from horizontal to vertical and still get the benefits of the stability of a monopod. (Monopod: $30-$100; Swivel: $30-$100)

7. Inexpensive waterproof point and shoot digital camera. Regardless of their main brand, having a small pocket-sized waterproof digital camera is great for everyday use, scouting locations, and the spontaneous shoot opportunities. These cameras have great resolution and make nice images; some even shoot video. Waterproof means you can swim with it, shoot in the rain, and leave it in your sweaty pants pocket all day. ($200-$400)

8. Subscription to online photography forum or training. There are some great pay sites on the net. DIgital Wedding Forum is tailored to new professionals as well as seasoned wedding and portrait photographers. Web Photo School is great for learning the fundamentals of photography and editing. Find one that matches their interests and they will have hours of online learning and enjoyment. ($100-$200/yr)

9. Subscription to photography magazine. There are many good magazines out there. You may want to consider going to a good book store and picking up one copy of several different magazines with a note attached that you'll buy a subscription to their favorite one. That way they get to check out many publications and you'll be sure that they will really enjoy the subscription. ($30-$80)

10. Destination Vacation. OK, this one may cost you some time and money, but as long as you're patient and let your photographer stop and shoot the flowers, you'll both have a great time and they will really appreciate the opportunity to travel and shoot. ($cheap-$not cheap)

11. Photo Sharing Gift Certificate. If they already use a favorite online site or local lab, get them a gift card or certificate. Otherwise, check out the best stores and sites and choose one to load up a starter account or gift card. ($you pick)

12. Make a product from their work. My wife once made me a calendar from some of my images and I loved it. Think about how you could highlight their work. Check out some of my other articles on creative ways to display or use photographs. ($10-$100)

13. Hook them up with a mentor. Find out who they admire in the photographic world, and arrange for them to meet them. Or, try to get a book or video of theirs signed or personalized. Best case, see of their mentor would bring them in for training or some coaching session. ($large range)

14. Gift certificate to a framing shop. You can never have too many framed prints. ($50-$500)

15. Gift card to major photo store. Whether it's your local store or one of the large ones like Adorama or Beach Camera, your photographer will find some great stuff to buy. ($50-$500)

16. Gaffer's Tape. Black tape that won't leave a residue like duct tape. It's pricey but it's great stuff. ($35/roll)

17. Camera case or backpack. As they get more stuff, they will need more or larger camera bags. Or roller cases or bags for lights and other stuff. ($30-100)

18. Flash bracket for camera. These are also a bit personal to fit their needs, but if they shoot with external flash, a bracket may be great for their needs. If they don't have an external flash, that may also be a good idea. Make sure you get their camera specifics for the flash and bracket. (Bracket: $100-300; Flash: $200-$400)

19. High-end printer. There are some truly amazing printers for amateurs and professionals. Some will print on large size paper and create output rivaling the large labs. Variations on this theme are paper samplers, note card stock, and combination printer-scanners. (Printer: $300-$2000)

20. Slide Show software. Who doesn't want to watch slick slide presentations with music? Does your photographer make or sell slide shows yet? ProShow Gold is a great start, and Proshow Producer is even better. ($50-$300)

21. Color Calibration. Every monitor is different. It is essential to be able to see true colors on your monitors. These devices will calibrate screens and sometimes even printers and other devices to known settings so the color seen on the screen is accurate. ($150-$500)

22. Photographer's Vest. Yes, very nerdy, but also very functional. ($50-$150)

23. Camera clothing. Weather protective covers for cameras will help in a drizzle or other inclement weather. Waterproof housings allow the camera to be used underwater. Blimps will reduce the shutter sound to allow use in very quiet situations. These are custom fit to camera and sometimes lenses so be careful to choose the right products. ($50-$200)

24. Find them a gig. Use your network and influence to get them a photographic opportunity that they would love to do. This is better for starter photographers - professionals may have different ideas. For more ideas, check out my article on 10 Great Ways to Grow as a Professional Photographer.

25. A New Body. Camera body that is. If they have an SLR, consider buying a duplicate body or one model up, if they take the same lenses. Having the flexibility of a backup camera or two lenses available immediately will make your photographer smile. ($1000-$8000).

26. Photography Books. There are great "how-to" books about every type of photography. Or consider getting them books on business or technology such as Photoshop or web design. Or pick up some coffee-table books with great photography that they can use for inspiration. ($10-$50)

27. Blank DVDs. Many photographers back up work on DVDs, and use them for slide shows. They'll appreciate having extras. Don't forget jewel cases if they use them. ($20-$50)

28. DVD/CD label printer. These are pretty specialized devices. They will allow the user to print any image on a special DVD or CD. If they present DVDs to anyone, this may be a great item for them. Note that some newer printers will also print directly on these same DVD or CDs. ($150-$300).

29. Proof Books or albums. If they print lots of proofs, don't hide them away in a box. Get them several albums so they can display them and use them to show others. There are some neat "self-stick" albums that let you press the print on an adhesive background and create a very professional album. ($10-$200)

30. More Power! This can be lithium AA batteries for those flashes and point and shoots, extra batteries for their camera model, portable batteries to run their lighting, and extension cords and power strips for all of their electronic toys. You can never have too many cords! ($10-$100)

How do you pick the right gift? You can print this and leave it out where your photographer will see it and get the hint and maybe circle a few things. You can ask them to build a "wish list" on one of the popular online merchants such as Amazon. Or, you can have one of their associates pick their brain on your behalf and report back.

To save some money, check out sites like eBay, Craigslist and other areas where people may be selling items. Also check out local camera stores for consigned or used equipment.

In any case, enjoy choosing and presenting one of these gifts to your photographer. They will appreciate the time and effort you spent!

Discover How to Make $300 a Week With Your Digital Camera

Selling your photos online is great and untapped way to make an extra income. The special thing about selling your photos online is that it is very easy! It's as simple as....well, taking a picture!

I know your thinking, "Well, how does it work?"

It's very simple, you make money by uploading your photos on to a stock photography website. You would be shocked at how many forms of entertainment pay for photos uploaded by people such as yourself. Magazines, newspapers, publications, websites, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets, these all have one thing in common, PHOTOS. And the people supplying these photos are making loads of money in the process.

There are many stock photography sites that are willing to hold your pictures for the world to see. Once your photos get accepted, they become stock photos and every time someone downloads your picture, you receive money for that photo. One picture could be worth thousands of dollars during its lifetime! Stock photography is a booming business because of the simple rules of economics - SUPPLY and DEMAND. To put it simply, there is a MAJOR demand for stock photos. All you have to do is supply them.

You do not have to be an expert photographer, all you need to do is point, shoot and upload your photos to your computer. It could be as simple as a blade of grass or a picture of your dog. All you have to do is upload your pictures and wait for the cash to start flowing in.

If you need some extra spending money or you can't stand your desk job at the office, then making a living by selling your beautifully shot photos online is for you! Can you take a picture of a keyboard? A pumpkin patch? A piece of food? Of course you can! You can earn a regular monthly income by taking simple and clear photographs that would normally be taking up space in your hard drive.

Learning the process of how to be successful in this business is the most important step. What photos sell? How much do they sell for? How do I get my photos off of my camera and on to my computer? When will I start making cash? These are all very important questions that need to be researched and answered before you can start thriving in this business. What will allow you to stand out from all of the others selling their photos is knowing the tips and tricks, but also the fundamentals.

Start Making Money With Photography

I have been taking pictures for most of my life, and over the years I have been trying to figure out the best ways to make some money at it. Recently, I decided to convert my passion into a business. Where to start:

First you and I need good equipment. Get the best digital camera you can afford. Why digital? You get instant pictures that you don't have to process in a lab. With all the new software and computer speed available today, any child can edit, color correct, crop and re size your images however you want. Consider it as your home digital darkroom.

Next, create a photography website and/or blog. This is the best way to promote your photographic works to the public. There are many free blogs and website hosts, just do some research and find the best one to fit your needs and abilities.

Then Put together a list of all the ways you could make money as a photographer. Here is a list of 10 possible ways to make money with your photography. There are many, many more ways to make money photographing.

1. Photograph senior portraits
2. Wedding photographer
3. Prom and graduation photos
4. Shoot Sporting and other school events
5. Public relation photos for business
6. Family portraits
7. Pet photography
8. Real estate photography
9. Produce illustrated promotional brochures for business firms, hotels, etc.
10. Create Custom calendars, note cards and Christmas cards

I'm sure you can think of many more.

Beginners Photography - How to Start Using Creative Auto Mode on Your Digital SLR!

In previous Beginners Photography articles I talked about the Automatic Modes available on your Digital SLR. In truth there will be times when the Automatic Modes are useful, but you want more control over your image. This is where Creative Auto mode comes into the equation. Creative Auto doesn't give you total control, but enough to be able to adjust elements such as brightness, flash, background sharpness and drive modes.

The setting can be found on your Shooting Mode dial as the letters 'CA'. Changes are made via settings on the LCD display. These, in turn, are adjusted by using the camera's Multi-Controller (to highlight the function to be changed) and the Quick Control/Main dial (to scan through the options). Below are the options available from the LCD screen.

Flash - You can set flash to Auto, On or Off. In Auto, flash will fire whenever the camera determines there is insufficient light for the exposure. To fire the flash for every shot (e.g. when filling in shadows) choose the On option. The Off setting will prevent flash from firing.

Background Sharpness - This allows the camera to select a larger or smaller aperture to influence the depth of field. A small aperture (such as f/22) results in greater background sharpness. Moving the index point to the right gives you a sharper background, and to the left produces more blur.

Exposure - If pictures are lighter or darker than you want, select exposure setting. Moving the point to the right increases exposure, producing a lighter image. To the left exposure is reduced with a resultant darker image.

Picture Style - Choosing this setting allows you to affect the sharpness, contrast and colour saturation levels. Four Picture Styles are available. Standard is most commonly used to achieve a sharp, vivid picture. Portrait produces smoother skin tones. Landscape produces vivid blues and greens. Monochrome can be chosen to shoot in black and white.

Quality - This setting allows you to adjust the quality of the JPEG image, or to choose RAW format for ultimate quality. RAW produces larger files, but allows for intense levels of adjustments in post-production. You can refer to my previous Beginners Photography articles related to Photoshop post-production techniques.

Drive Mode - This allows for three options. With Single-shooting, the camera takes one single shot when the shutter has been fully depressed. In Low-speed continuous shooting (sports or action shots) the camera continually takes photos until you release the button. The rate of photographs taken will vary from camera to camera (a Canon50D, for example, takes around three frames per second in this mode). In Self-Timer the shot fires around ten seconds after the shutter is depressed. This allows you to get in the picture yourself, but is also useful for Landscape or Macro work, in conjunction with a tripod, to prevent camera shake.

So hopefully you can see that, once you are using Creative Mode, you are beginning to assert some influence on the resulting image - rather than using full Automatic Mode and allowing the camera to dictate. For beginners, photography can be about trial and error, and the beauty of digital is that it doesn't matter how many attempts you need to get it right - any images that are not up to standard can be deleted later.

Great Gifts For The Adventurous Man

Christmas is the time for giving; but more importantly it's also the time for receiving presents too. The last thing you want on Christmas morning is a whole load of boring soapy gifts, that will probably sit at the back of the cupboard until the next Christmas comes along. So why would you do that to anybody else? Shake things up this Christmas with some exciting gifts that will provide entertainment all year round.

Inside every guy is an adventurous manly alpha waiting to burst out... at least that's what we're told; feed their passion with gifts that will get them up and out of the house on quests and explorations this year, with adventure themes gifts at Christmas. Gifts don't even need to be big and substantial to satisfy the adventurous type, something that will help them on their travels like passport covers, travel wallets and travel or kit bags, could be exactly what he needs to kick-start a new venture.

For the outdoorsy type, there's nothing like sleeping under the stars to capture the true beauty of Mother Nature; however with Britain's constant rain and bad weather, this isn't always the best idea. Luckily for us though, the tent was invented to keep the weather conditions out and provide shelter. Themed tents bring a bit more fun and excitement into the camping experience, especially for all those big kids; why not try a Volkswagen Camper tent or a quirky dog house tent to amuse his humorous side, or go back to basics with an adventure den kit; just you and a canopy above the nights sky.

It's fair to say that the outdoors might not be everyone's cup of tea though. For those looking to explore warmer climates, there's nothing like a bit of inspiration from travel guides and planners this year. Sometimes a bit of encouragement is all somebody needs; flicking through the most beautiful places in the world, or the best city breaks in Europe might be all the motivation needed to get up and go!

Of course the modern man, however adventurous, is nowhere without his gadgets and technology in the wide world. Taking care of these items has never been easier; gel pouches for laptops and tablets are the perfect gift for anyone wanting to look after their things, pockets and mobile holders also come in handy when adventuring. Where ever they are in the world, cover them this Christmas with handy and cool accessories which will protect them!