Designing a Photo Wall

Begin by deciding to assemble a group of photos on a wall in such a way that it fits into, and enhances, it's surroundings and is pleasing to look at. Then, proceed:

1. Draw up a plan view of the room where a photo wall might be put together. On it show the placement of all furnishings, windows, doors, lamps, plants, etc so as to determine which walls, or portions of them, could be used to display a group of photos on.

2. Next, make an elevation view drawing of the wall(s) you select. Make the drawing(s) to scale (try 1"=1'. If that's too large, try 1/2"=1' or 1/4"=1'). Include on it the carefully-measured wall, door(s), window(s), chairs, sofas, lamps, plants, etc.

3. Choose photo subjects to suit the room: ask yourself what goes on in the room? Is it a restful or high activity room? Think of the room from the viewpoint of someone who spends a lot of time there. Give thought to what sort of photo subjects would fit in with such a room and it's use. For example: a room meant to be restful and relaxing as a remedy for stress could feature a photo wall with a group of photos having a 'nature' theme; perhaps some beautiful landscapes, evocative wildlife scenes or nature close-ups, etc. A son or daughter's bedroom could have a photo wall that features photos of their school events, personal interests/pursuits or milestones growing up, etc. If the photo wall is in a business office, then photos of staff and business activities, products, achievements, etc could be featured there. There are so many different kinds of subject-matter. Choose what will suit the room and its normal activities.

4. Now, figure out::

- the number of pictures to use, and their placement within the group of photos.

- the appropriate size to use for each picture (8" x 10", 11" x 14", etc) taking into account picture size and the area of the whole wall, or portion of it, being considered (if using many small photos, mass them together for a larger effect; if using just one picture, choose a size that puts it in balance with the surroundings; if a very large effect is needed, you may need a photo-mural).

- the picture alignment: generally, the top or bottom of pictures should align with others in the arrangement. Pictures over one another should be vertically aligned along a common edge. Alignment gives a sense of order to the whole arrangement, but shouldn't be overdone. A few pictures can align, then the regularity broken with a larger picture, and alignment picked up again on the other side. Avoid slight jags in an alignment by moving one of the pictures to make a new visual line.

- balance of the arrangement: make use of formal balance (pictures all the same size, in a straight line) and informal balance (pictures of different sizes, different number of them, on either side of an imaginary center line, but both sides roughly cover a similar size area) in your group of photos.

- good spatial relationships: take note of how the wall space and the arrangement of pictures goes together. You can hang pictures in one sweeping line in a hallway, and if they're all the same size, keep the distance apart constant. Small pictures can be closer together than large ones. Allow for some open space but don't trap a blank space with pictures all around it. Design your group of photos from the inside out. The overall picture arrangement can take many shapes, but it should always 'fit' well into the wall space.

5. To help you do the tasks in #4: cut out small cards representing different size pictures(to the same scale as the elevation drawing of the wall). Jot on them which pictures they represent, and try numerous arrangements of them on the elevation drawing of the wall, to find the ones you like most. Place a sheet of tracing paper over each arrangement that appeals to you and trace it. Then you can compare the various arrangements to find the one you like best of all. Note: if still unsure which sizes to use, cut out full-size pieces of paper, tape them to the wall according to your design, stand back and observe the effects. Determine if they are the right size, (or too big, too small) and if the arrangement suits your liking.

6. The Finishing Touches:

- Give consideration to mounting, matting, liners, and framing. Think about how you want the finished photos to look as part of the room's decor. Mounting, matting, liners and framing serve to both protect the photographs and set them apart from the surroundings. Further, they support the photos so that they can be properly installed wherever. One or all of these features can be used depending on photo content, where they're being used, and personal taste. The room's situation may suggest a certain approach or it's existing decor may be the determining factor for enhancing your group of photos. Consulting together with a professional interior decoration shop can provide you with helpful guidance in matters of photo enhancement.

- The final step in creating a photo wall involves the actual hanging of the finished photographs. There are many different methods and means for hanging a group of photos and you'll want to choose those that are the safest and most effective. Here, a professional frame shop can provide you with helpful guidance in such matters.

In conclusion: As you work with the above process, you'll become more adept with it. You'll find yourself working at the different facets of good design all at the same time and you'll be creating a composition with your group of photos. Remember, photography is a communications medium as well as a decorative art. You can emphasize one aspect or the other without sacrificing either. In a commercial area photographic decor can say a great deal with style and taste. In a home a group of photos featuring the family may provide just the right accent to a room and evoke treasured memories. I hope the above tips and guidelines prove helpful in putting together your own photo wall, making effective use of an exciting decorative medium.

Smart Photography: Bubble Levels to Keep Things Straight

Many digital photographers have a difficult time keeping their horizons straight while peering into their digicam's LCD monitor. Here's how to straighten things up.

For some reason, it's more difficult to compose a straight horizon line with a digital camera's LCD monitor than with a traditional SLR viewfinder. You could use the optical viewfinder that's included with most digital cameras, but the problem is that many of them show only about 85% of the actual area that's being photographed. Plus, quite honestly, they're not that accurate.

Regardless of how you frame your shots, LCD or optical, a bubble level attached to your camera can really help straighten things out. Bubble levels are helpful for composing architecture, landscapes, panoramas, and anything else that needs a straight horizontal line.

At various online retailers, you can buy bubble levels designed specifically for cameras. For example, the Hama Double-Bubble Level is a precision instrument that slides into the hot shoe atop your camera, enabling you to level it on two axes. The only downside is that these accessories are relatively expensive. The Hama level, for example, runs about US$30.

If you have more time than money, you can make your own bubble level. Hardware stores carry pocket bubble levels, often for US$3 or less. Find one that looks suitable for your camera. If your model has a hot shoe, all you have to do is find a spare shoe that will slide into it. This is one reason why I have a box of old equipment that includes broken cameras, dead flashes, and orphaned straps. If you have an old flash or any accessory that was designed to fit in your cameras hot shoe, you can detach the foot and attach it to your bubble level with a spot of glue. The trick here is to make sure the foot and the level are flush against each other when you glue them. Otherwise, your homemade device might not be accurate when you attach it to the camera.

If your camera doesn't have a hot shoe, just get a level with a flat bottom and set it on top of your camera. As long as the level rests flush against the camera's surface, you're in business.

To use the bubble level, simply mount your camera on a tripod and attach the level. Adjust the tripod until the bubble is centered and the resulting picture should be nice and square. This is particularly helpful when shooting multi-frame panoramas.

Regardless of whether you buy a professional photographer's bubble level or make your own, you'll find that it will help you overcome crooked horizons and leaning buildings. Just like the carpenter says: measure twice and shoot once.

Choosing the Best Size for Color Booklet Printing

Faced with a selection of different dimensions, you might find yourself struggling when it comes to deciding which size to go for in your color booklet printing project. Your decision will be based largely on the sort of job you're expecting your booklet to do for you, although your printing budget may also play a part in things.

The commonest size available for color booklet printing that's available from most commercial printers measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Smaller sizes are sometimes available but are not commonly used, and may cost more. The 5.5 x 8.5 size and its slightly larger companion the 6 x 9 are ideal for promoting specific product ranges or services that your company offers.

There's plenty of space for including pictures and charts, without needing to compromise on the amount of information you can give in the text. These two color booklet printing sizes suit a wide variety of purposes including event programs, children's books, educational books, smaller catalogs and instruction manuals.

Once you move up into the next size bracket of 8.5 x 11 inches, you're expanding the possibilities of what you're able to include. This size is roughly that of a piece of headed company paper, and allows a much more elaborate page layout and more ambitious design concepts.

Use the 8.5 x 11 size for your color booklet printing when it's important to create something of a stir. It will play a significant contribution to making a lasting, positive impression for your company or organization. Ideal uses include company reports, prospectuses for schools and colleges and brochures for up market hotels and destinations.

There are two large scale sizes available in color booklet printing, both of which are definitely in the attention drawing category! They measure 9 x 12 inches and 12 x 12 inches respectively and are certainly not for hiding away. These sizes are great when visual content is of paramount importance.

Their dimensions give the greatest scope for stunning photography and artwork. Either one could be used for an exhibition catalog or an informational booklet requiring a strong visual impact.

Additionally many children's books are printed using these sizes and this allows a wonderful, engaging story to be illustrated in a way that has maximum appeal to young readers.

Color booklet printing can be sourced at extremely competitive rates, and remember that unit price goes down dramatically as the quantity of booklets you order increases.

Photographers - 2 Recommended Orange County Public Parks

Orange County has a number of great locations for photographing a family, engaged couple or senior portraits. This article takes a look at two of the best. Both have their advantages and a few disadvantages.

1. Irvine Regional Park. Irvine Regional is located in Orange at the heart of Orange County. The advantage to this location is there are a number of activities from which to create a beautiful, diverse set of images. If you are shooting a family shoot, you can take pictures of the kids on horseback. There is a lake with trees which make for a beautiful setting to get a formal portrait. There are also some rustic old buildings which make for a beautiful vintage backdrop (images in front of these backdrops turn out beautiful when vintage or black and white actions are run against them).

The main disadvantage to this location is you need to pay to get in. The parking is modest - $6 or $7. However, in addition to the parking you need to pay for each activity you want to include in your session. Shots on horseback and trains will of course require payment -as will any shots you want to get in the zoo. It is of course free to shoot in front of the lack and on any of the grassy areas.

Overall, Irvine Regional Park is a terrific location for photographing families, engagements, pets, and High School Seniors.

2. Tewinkle Park. Tewinkle Park is a newly renovated park located in Costa Mesa. The first positive for this locations is that it is free. The second is the diversity of shots that can be taken in this location. This location consists of hills, ponds, trees, streams, ponds and play grounds. If your client wants to get some actions shots, there are horseback riding facilities next door. Or, of an equestrian theme is not your client's cup of tea, there is a skateboarding park and tennis courts (high school seniors often want shots of themselves participating in the activity they enjoy).

Orange County has a number of diverse locations for portrait photography. However, if the beach shots are not what your client is seeking, Irvine Regional Park and Tewinkle Park are good, relatively inexpensive options.

5 Things to Know to Make Money With Digital Photography

If you are like many people who have cameras, you have probably wondered if you could really make money with digital photography.  But there are some things you need to know before you try to quite your day job and make money with photography.  Here are 5 things that everyone should know before trying to do this.

1. 
   Make sure you know your camera.  Pretty much every person on the planet has a camera these days but I venture to say that only about 20% of them actually know how to use that camera.  With digital cameras selling cheaper and cheaper these days more people are getting them without ever learning the ropes or even reading the owners manual.  But knowing your camera will help you get the most out of it and help you become a better photographer so you can make the most money from your photos.


2. 
   Know how digital photography works.    This may seem obvious, but digital photography is slightly different than film photography and you need to know not only how to expose pictures properly and how the aperture affects the pictures but also how to edit the pictures with some computer software.  Having the right software is key because you can totally change the look of the picture and its usefulness as a selling picture by editing it creatively.


3. 
   Know your market.  Who do you want to sell pictures to?  What kind of pictures will your market want?  These are questions you will need to answer before you can become successful in not only creating pictures that will sell like crazy to your market but will also be able to charge top dollar for.


4. 
   Know how to get maximum exposure to your work.  If people cannot find your pictures you will not be able to sell them.  That's the simple truth of the matter.  If you are selling your pictures online you need to find the websites that are getting the most traffic and hit those really hard.  If you are prints to people in person you need to find the arts and crafts shows that get the most potential buyers.


5. 
   Know how to charge for your pictures.  Whether you are selling your pictures on a website or trying to figure out how to charge for events and for your time, this can be the biggest hang-up for new photographers trying to make money with their work.  It is a bigger mistake to under charge than to over charge, however.  When you sell yourself short it also says something about your work.  When you take pride in what you do you can charge a little more and people who love your work will be more than willing to pay you what you say you are worth.

Tool and Bite Mark Recovery at Crime Scenes

Recovering tool mark impression evidence can be a valuable contribution toward successful prosecutions-if it is done properly.

Tool marks are frequently apparent at points of entry occurring during a burglary, but this form of impression evidence covers other 3-dimensional impressions uncovered at crime scenes-most notably-bite marks.When forced entry into a structure is evident, tool marks may be present. Of course some types of forced entry rely on brute force, i.e. a shoulder or foot against a door, a rock through a window or a motor vehicle rammed into a storefront. We'll deal with tool marks and the impressions they leave. Bite-marks are recovered in the same manner as tool marks. Tool marks are recorded/recovered by three different means:

• Photography


• Casting


• Physically removing the entire tool mark from the structure by cutting it out or submitting the door or window to the crime lab.

Photography

Regardless of which of the other means of recovery are used, all such impression evidence must be photographed prior to any other recovery method.

Take a few overall photos of the impression from several feet away in order to show its relationship to other nearby 0bjects.

Place a photographic scale adjacent to the impression, but not obscuring any part of it.

Take several close-up shots using different angles of light. (A flash attachment with a remote cable is a must.)

Casting the Impression

Due to the very nature of tool and bite marks, any sort of plaster or dental stone is not the casting medium of choice. These impressions require a casting medium with a degree of flexibility. Silicone, in its many forms, has proven to be the best possible medium. Most of the commercially available silicone formulas use Polydimethylsiloxane as their basis. Silicone casting materials are available in liquid, paste and putty formulations. Each of these formulas require a catalyst to activate the hardening or set-up reaction. These three different silicone formulations are covered below.

1. Liquid Silicone Rubber: This casting compound is a mixture of quite a number of ingredients. This formulation is white in color and may be used on everything from toolmarks to footprints in soil or snow. The catalyst for liquid silicone is clear in color. This formulation should be mixed in a bowl or similar container. The liquid is best used on flat, horizontal surfaces.

2. Silicone Paste

a. Mikrosil is a product imported from Sweden. It is a paste and is therefore provided in toothpaste-like tubes. Its catalyst is blue in color. Mikrosil is available in white, brown, gray and black. Mikrosil is mixed on any flat surface. The distributor of this product supplies vinyl plastic strips as mixing surfaces.

b. Polyvinylsiloxane is also a paste, but it is applied using a device similar to a caulking gun. It uses a paste for the base compound and the catalyst is also in paste form. The extruder gun employs special tips that mix equal parts of catalyst and base as the material is applied to the area holding the impression.

This formulation is ideal for use on irregular or vertical surfaces

3. Silicone Putty: Durocast is offered in putty-form and thus, it is effective on virtually any surface. This compound is mixed in the palm of the hand. Even though it is a putty, it produces amazing detail. It has been used to lift the embossed printing from U.S. currency.

Note: Bite marks at crime scenes are not limited to teeth marks on a victim. In some cases the intruder may "raid" the refrigerator and take a bite out of an apple or similar item.

Finding a Punta Cana Wedding Photographer in Time

Punta Cana sits in the wildly popular Dominican Republic and offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. There are many couples that chose this destination for their wedding. The Dominican Republic is one of the top choices; it may be hard to find a Punta Cana wedding photographer for your big day.

Sharing beaches with Bávaro on the island of Hispaniola, Punta Cana makes your wedding a memorable experience, added on to your special day is a picturesque reception site, which will make the sparks of love between your sweethearts a lifetime to remember. From the tranquil romanticism for newlyweds to the remote fell of other resorts that cater to the lovers, there is much to see and do.

Many Punta Cana wedding photographers stay busy between the months of January and August. Therefore if you are planning a Punta Cana wedding, it is important to begin planning advance, the sooner you start planning, the greater chances of making your wedding date available and memorable.

Arranging with the local photographers ahead of time will make you avoid wedding day glitches, pressures and stress. There are some photographers that participate in weddings, but are not available during peak tourist times due to the increase in business. This can be a problem for those who wish to have their Punta Cana wedding photographer available for their wedding and not have to be rushed.

It would be wise to begin searching for your photographer as soon as you have set a date for the wedding. This will help you to secure more possibilities for the position, and gives you more professionals to choose from.

Ask for prices on packages or quotes from each photographer you contact, as this will also help you to whittle down the list of possibilities. Getting a shorter list means you are getting closer to choosing your photographer and then booking them for your special day. Destination weddings are very popular, and Punta Cana is ranked in the top 5 places for a destination wedding. This means that you will have many other couples vying for the attention of photographers, so it is best to get a head start.

Punta Cana is a hub of artistic photographers, planning ahead is an edge of getting the best among them. This will help you avoid contacting those who are not available during the time of year your wedding will take place. You can easily meet the photographer a few days before your wedding to fix some details.

It is great to tour around the place, and inform and ask your chosen photographer which sites you want to have your picture taken. Ask him for some samples and see what impresses you and your sweetheart. This gives the photographer time to prepare and clear the schedule so there are no other engagements during your wedding.

Signing an agreement for your photographer is in your best interest. It is best to finalize your negotiation with your chosen photographer with a contract. There are unfortunately people that will try to take advantage of those persons that are not locals. A contract between yourself and the photographer that ensures yours is the only wedding he or she will photograph during a specific time frame on your wedding date will help to guarantee their undivided attention.

Newborn Photography

Newborn photography can be a fun and rewarding business; however, working with newborns requires a different set of skills than does working with brides or high school seniors. The following are a list of suggestions which, if followed, will help make a newborn session successful.

1. Allow for more time when photographing a newborn. If your normal sessions are an hour and a half long, consider increasing the time of the session to two and one half hours. You may need to charge more for the session, but most clients understand paying more for more time.

2. Give your client instructions on dress and colors. To some degree the success of the session is determined before the client even arrives. If you have communicated to your client clear instructions on what to where what color to where the number of outfits to bring, etc, it is more likely that the client will be prepared for the session. A well prepared client will translate into better portraits and larger orders.

3. Consider purchasing a variety of different hats for your portraits. Currently hats are the rage. Babies look adorable in hats. Have a variety of styles and colors on hand. A favorite technique is to print an image where the baby is in black and white but the hat is in color. Or, give the baby a little color in cheeks and eyes and a lot of color with the hat.

4. When you shoot a parent kissing a child, instruct the parent to not pucker when kissing. Frozen on film (or digital) for the entire world to see, a pucker looks unnatural. Just have the parent press their lips to the head of their newborn.

5. Keep plenty of diaper and wipes on hand. Photographing babies is definitely unique. It should be expected that the parent (who needs to stay during the session) will change any dirty diaper; however expect a surprise from time to time. Remember the baby is nude much of the time. There is not any other type of photography in which you are likely to be urinated on (thank goodness).

Photographing newborns is a fun and rewarding challenge. A photographer who follows the above suggestions is more likely to have a successful shoot.

Finding a Professional Hair and Make Up Artist for Photo Shoots

The easiest way to find a professional hair and/or make up artist is to do an internet search using the terms "find make up artist" or "find hair stylist." You will get tons of results for various online databases of such professionals. Most of which allow you to link out to the artist's personal webpage or online portfolio to see some of their work. Each database usually also lists how many years of experience each artist has had, what kind of training they have had, any specialties they offer and any noteworthy clients or contracts they have had. Some of the databases list each artist's pricing for services, while some do not. In this case you will have to check out the artist's website or contact them directly.

Another way you can find make up artists or hair stylists in your area that are available for photography work is by checking local classified ads online. You can check the "services offered" section or post your own add asking for professional make up or hairstyling services for your photo shoot. In many of these situations you can offer to barter with the artists. Some artists, specially those artists new to the profession, need professional photos of their work to add into their portfolio. If you offer to give them a few shots for their own use, they may be more likely to give you a great discount, and sometimes they might not even charge you at all.

One way you can continually have a great selection of make up artists and hair stylists is to network. Networking is a great way to build up a collection of various professionals that offer services you need. In these professional relationships each party helps each other in some way so that you save money and build relationships that will help you in the future. It is also a great way to get more photography jobs and get your work into the hands of more people. So to find make up artists and hairstylists through networking, first contact anyone you know personally or professionally that might know a professional make up artist or hair stylist.

If you cannot come up with anyone, try to visit a professional event hosted by and for those professional artists. Here you can introduce yourself as a photographer and hopefully work up at deal with a professional artist. There are also companies that manage a group of these artists, so conventions or other meetings are a great place to get connected with these companies as well. Another great place to expand your network is to attend fashion shows, model casting calls or other events where make up artists and hairstylists connect with models. You may be able to get a model and a make up artist and/or hair stylist all in the same place.

Your last option would be to forgo getting a professional make up artist all together and learn the skills yourself. Keep in mind that even if a model is wearing make up, about half of its appearance will be diminished when photographed. It is also important to use professional grade make up, made especially for photography and the lighting that goes with it. The materials needed can get quite pricey so if you won't be using a lot of people in your photographs, it might be more well worth it to hire a professional artist or invest your time in editing any blemishes in the photos after you take them.

Professional looking hairstyles for your models can also be done without hiring a professional. You could ask your model to visit a hairstylist at a local salon and cover the cost. Almost any stylist at a salon can create a beautiful hairstyle following any specifics you might have based on the theme of your photo shoot. There are a lot of stylists out there that will be happy to bargain with you to offer free hairstyling services in exchange for free photographs of their work.

How To Sell Art In An Online Gallery

What are some of the main differences between selling art in an online gallery and selling art through more traditional venues like a bricks and mortar art gallery? The type of work you will need to put into promoting and marketing your art will be different and the costs might vary, but at the end of the day the goal of both types of art sales is to share your art with the world and make a little money while you're at it. So what are some of the things you can do to sell art online through an online gallery?

The first thing you can do to sell art in an online gallery is write better descriptions of your art. It is not as hard to write keyword-dense descriptions as one might think; indeed it all comes down to how you describe your work in relation to things people looking at your art might already know about. You can mention the materials, method, and inspiration for your work. Tell them if it is part of a series and if it has any resemblance to any art styles or movements; if there are any similarities between your work and that of a famous artist, mention this as well.

Next you should turn to social media, and by social media we mean more than just Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. Though these are wonderful tools that help you sell art online, they are not the be all or end all of social media online. Explore the possibilities of running an art blog, posting videos of your work or your creative process on YouTube, and sharing pictures of your work on images hosting services like Flickr.

Another thing you can do is advertise in a different way such as in a classifieds add (online or in print) or via an email newsletter. Anything you can do to get the word out in a polite and non-intrusive way is worth exploring.

Lastly you can consider teaming up with other artists. They can have a similar style in common with you or be entirely different, it all depends on your strategy for promoting your art together. There is power in numbers because there will be more people working towards promoting the art of the group as a whole. Just make sure you are okay with advertising in a group before you go in on a joint venture like this.

In summary, there is more than just the standard social media and website functionality when it comes to how you can sell art online. The internet is a rich, diverse, and interactive environment that can do so many interesting and wonderful things so use it to the fullest to sell art online and beyond.

Photos on Canvas - How to Market Your Canvas Print Business

For any business professional, marketing can make or break your business - especially in the photography world. The competitiveness of the photography business expands each and every year, especially with more and more people getting into photography as a paying hobby. But, if you know how to use canvas prints right to market your business, you can easily reach a bigger target market and find a way to provide unique works and beautiful photos to your clients. Here are some tricks that you will want to employ in marketing with canvas prints and canvas transfers for your business:

Product placement - If you think about offering some of your best canvas prints for free to business that see hundreds or thousands of visitors, customers, and other business people on a daily basis you can actually open yourself up to a major area of marketing. Choose some of your best canvas transfers that will show off both your work and your skills with canvas prints, making sure that your company name or your personal name are on the piece as well. Hit some of the larger companies, malls, banks, hospitals, doctor's offices, gyms, and other highly frequented places and offer a free canvas print in exchange for them hanging it where people will see it when they visit the business. You'll find that many people don't have a problem with this, especially since it helps them save on their decorating costs, and you will instantly get your name and product in front of their customers as well.

Find your niche - Since canvas prints are a recent product to hit the mainstream for the photography world, there is plenty of room to experiment with the process of creating them, finding the types of pictures that work the best, and finding the right niche to market them to. When any photographer finds a new way that creates some extremely unique canvas prints, they are thrust into a spot that offers them a special niche to market to. Think about some of the most popular canvas prints out for sale right now - there are those wonderful pop art pieces that depict your favorite star (or yourself) in several different colors on one print, caricatures on canvas, and many other beautiful ways of transferring photos over to canvas that creates a great way to stand out from the crowd. This is a superb way to find out where you niche might lie - simply by creating a new or unique way to transfer your photos to canvas prints.

Become part of the "in-crowd" - No matter who you are, if you aren't networking yourself and your business, you are doomed. Networking can easily be the cornerstone of your photography business and can help you get into a specific market that you might not have had access to previously. Once you fit yourself and your business in with that great "in-crowd", you will open the door to so many great avenues of marketing to A list clients in your area. You will also find your way into some great photography gigs by attending networking events in your area, which in turn, will also allow you to rub elbows with some of the people that make up your dream market.

Demographics - Believe it or not, demographics make a huge difference. You want to make sure that you are focusing your canvas print marketing on the right group of people. For example, if you were a pet food company you would want to attend dog shows to allow people at the show to see your brand and provide them with samples and coupons that will help nudge them toward your product. The same goes with photography. You want to market your business to people that you know need your services, such as wedding shows, baby and family shows, art schools, and more. This gives you a way to get in front of people that need you and allow you to show off your canvas prints as well as provide them with coupons and special deals to help prompt them to buy from you.

Becoming an expert resource - Professional photographers are looked at as those that know what they are doing in the world of taking pictures. As corny as that sounds, think about all of those clients that have asked you what type of film you use, what type of camera you prefer, and so on. They wouldn't ask if the didn't think that you were an expert in your field. So, you want to make yourself an available expert resource in your field to those that might need you. This will also help open you up an avenue to talk about canvas prints and what you can do with them for your clients.

Bonuses and freebies - Of course, there are tons of great ways that you can offer freebies or bonus prints to those that order larger packages from your business. This is a great way to push your canvas prints, as you know that they will show everyone around what a great job you did. So, you want to offer your clients a free canvas print if they purchase a specific amount or package from you. This will help you show off your canvas prints and give your clients something special to show off at home or their office.

Overall, you want to make sure that you are doing enough marketing for your photography business and especially when it comes to canvas prints. While they are expensive, you can easily recoup the costs of the free canvases that you offer by marketing yourself correctly so that you bring in business that will purchase photos and canvases from you.

Photography Course - Study in International Institutes

These days the need for photographers and digital photography has been increasing. There are many institutes which are providing different photography courses and digital photography courses for international students. With the growing need of educational institutes, countries like Australia, New Zealand are attracted to international students. These institutes provide different courses and accommodation facilities for students. The quality of institutes can be determined by the qualified staff and the courses they are offering. For joining the international colleges and studies you can apply online from the websites. The digital photography course is getting very famous, many of the institutes providing online free registration to international students. The use of latest new technology to teach the students digital photography and the use latest equipment by these institutes are major attraction. The use of computer technology can customize and enhance the results of the images. Photography is an exciting industry that is why it is getting famous worldwide and many colleges and universities offering different photography courses. The digital age of photography has established a need for new institutes which offer quality photography course to international students. For learning the photographic skills you do not need to have expensive cameras, most standard SLR cameras are good enough for this purpose.

While studying abroad in accredited universities and colleges which offer photography course is a good way to explore new opportunities in the field of photography. The exposure of traveling to different attractive areas and taking photographs of natural environment makes this career more exciting. The famous Australian desert is very attractive to photographers, the natural scenery and different species are best for enhancing there photographic skills. These institutes offer accredited courses for photography which enhance your skills and teach how to become professional in the field of photography. The photography course is the attractive field for many of the people, with more and more learning opportunities. The qualified and professional teaching staff at these institutes offer all the knowledge required to learn the photography and photo imaging course. Many students from all over the world prefer to study in Australia for affordable and quality education, and the complete professional environment. Students from all over the world prefer Australian education over other countries. There are hundreds and probably more than hundred photography courses are available online, but the professional university education in Australia is preferred by many students and photographer which have keen interest in photography. These institutes also allow you to submit your photographs and images to professional teachers for review.

Most of the professional institutes have the highly qualified teachers which will provide you constructive criticism of your work. The fee for joining the photography course with accommodation is nominal in the Australian institutes. The classrooms are well equipped with latest technology and computers. Before joining the courses, you need to read all the requirements and rules by the institutes.

Family Portrait Ideas - The Large Group Shot

It is often easy to come up with or find family portrait ideas when it only involves the immediate family: parents and children. It gets a little bit more difficult to come up with a good idea for a large group family portrait such as those taken at the family reunion.

With larger groups, photographers spend quite a bit of time setting up the scene, letting everyone know where the boundaries of the shot are, and trying to get everyone to have a flattering expression at the same time. With a little planning, these shots can be relatively easy to prepare for.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Background - Luckily most large family events are held outdoors. Since there are no backdrops large enough for these kinds of pictures, the outdoor location should offer a nice natural background. Scout the area ahead of time to find an area to take the portrait that is large enough to accommodate the size of the family. Be sure that the area is clear of objects that may appear as a distraction in the frame.

Perspective - Too many photographers still use the straight on staircase perspective. Unless bleachers are set up, this will soon become physically uncomfortable for those that have to squat or kneel. Instead of doing that, try changing the perspective of the photographer. Have the photographer take the shot from a raised platform or tall stable ladder. This way everyone can stand comfortably and it is more likely that everyone's faces will be seen.

Theme - Traditional family portraits are usually pretty boring: everyone dressed nice, smiling and saying 'cheese' to the camera. This has been done to death. One of my favorite family portrait ideas is to have a theme that reflects the general character of the family.

One way to pull this off with a large family is to have a theme based costume contest as one of the event's activities. Pick something that the majority of the family will participate in and have fun with. Last year my family did pirates and it turned out great. Bring some extra costume accessories for those family members that tend to forget.

I hope this article has shown that doing large family portraits does not have to be a dreaded event. Get creative, expand on these concepts, have fun and develop some of your own family portrait ideas.

The Inspirational Story of the Miracle League

For many kids in America, playing baseball and playing in the Major Leagues someday is all they dream about in their lives. For most kids with disability, just being able to swing a bat and circle the bases is a dream come true. These dreams are now a reality thanks to the inspirational story of the Miracle League.

Lauren Gunder loves baseball, but her dream for her own inspirational story is hinder by a bone disorder she has been born with. This condition made her bones fracture easily and frequently. Consequently, playing sports was out. But that did not stop her from wanting to play. Since the age of 3, she had consistently brought home baseball flyers from schools encouraging children to play. Her parents, weighing on her disability, always discouraged her for her own good. For Lauren, her attitude was that she does not have a disability. When the Miracle League was formed, Lauren's dream came true.

The Miracle League was formed by a group of well meaning people who wanted children with disabilities to live their dreams and inspirational story. The league accepts children of all ability and has a policy of saying no to no children. Heart is the only thing that matter for this league, and all those disadvantaged children in the league have the heart of champions.

The rules of the game at the Miracle League are also different. Every child gets to bat. No one strikes out. All games end in a tie, and each player is accompanied by a volunteer buddy who will assist the player to bat, run, circle the bases, and field the ball and all. They often perform these tasks with players on wheel chairs and both player and buddy get a lot of fun and inspiration out of this. Their inspirational stories are not often told. It did not matter to a group of people though - the player's parents.

For these parents of these inspirational kids, it is a dream comes true. Every parent wants to see their child play. Having to deal with their disability is already a tough challenge, but when they see their children fulfilling their dreams of playing, everything that happened becomes worth it. Thanks to the Miracle league as well, their children are in safe hands.

When the league first started on dirt pitches, it was a cause for concern as players running and circling bases often get caught in the uneven pitch. But thanks to Dean Offer and the Rotary Club in Georgia, the Miracle League was able to raise funds and build a safe artificial pitch for these children. The first was built in 2000. Since then 14 more had been added across the country and 62 more pitches are in the process of been built. The inspirational story and success of these children is spreading.

Inspirational stories and lives are born of a desire to succeed no matter the circumstances. The kids of the Miracle League are truly in a league of their own when it comes to having the heart that matters most.

How to Become Powerful With Your Weakness

Do you want to become powerful? Everybody has weaknesses. That's the normal part of being human. A lot of us are intimidated by our weaknesses.

The degree we feel conflict about a weakness, depends, I suppose, on our level of self-acceptance. A big majority of us go through life without a clue about personal weaknesses. The slant of this article is that one way to handle "weakness" is to accept it, make a friend out of it, and manage it. In another words, make your weakness work for you, not against you. This is how you become powerful.

Maybe you are quite reserved and shy. That's ok. Live and enjoy this weakness or reality. Don't beat yourself up over this. Compensate for this weakness in social graces by becoming very thoughtful and analytical. As you mature with these traits, you very well may become a very sought after employer or employee. You will become powerful in your own right.

A person known for thoughtfulness and carefulness. The kind of person who doesn't shoot from the hip. A very valued individual when things go wrong. You know, a good clutch player. This is the way you become powerful.

I will give you a personal example of weakness. I have or had an inordinate desire to please authority figures, starting with my parents and teachers. As I matured and aged, this desire for approval expanded to the meeting and maintaining my own, very high, principles and ideals.

The up side of this was I got promotions and made some good income. I was a professional salesman. Needless to say, my idealism and working in a very pragmatic occupation, caused me some conflict. I learned to control and manage my conflict. Just like most of us learn to adjust and integrate ourselves into the realities of life. You become powerful.

This strong desire to obtain approval from authority figures actually had its ups and downs. While playing football in high school, I became a fierce tackler. My coach gave his team a lecture one practice about the techniques of good tackling. He said it was like the laws of physics. The fastest object in a collision received the least amount of damage or harm.

So, I took this as a clue to be sure my tackles were very fierce. It didn't make any difference how big a ball carrier was, if you hit him hard enough, he would go down and I would be less war torn for it.

My biggest thrill in football was when I knocked out the opposition's all star hero. My school did the kick off to the opposing team. Mr. "All Star" caught the ball and was heading toward my side of the field. I was playing defensive end at the time. My couch yelled at me, that "All Star" was headed my way.

Sure enough, he was coming right at me. I felt like the entire stadium was watching me. I am running as fast as I could straight at him, and he wasn't giving an inch.

He looked like a huge steam engine, huffing and puffing, twice my size. My first thought, was of fear. I shoved that thought aside and girded myself for a gigantic explosion. And sure enough, it happened.

We collided at mid field and we both flew up into the air. You could have heard the collision five miles away from the stadium. When I hit the ground, I was momentarily stunned and dizzy. A few seconds latter, I regained by senses and composure. I looked up to see what happened to "All Star".

I saw two guys in white clothing running towards him, with a cot. Yeah, they carried him off the field in a stretcher.

Moving along here, as I was explaining about making your weaknesses work for you. During my boot camp training in the Marines, I had two interesting episodes where my need to meet my "ideals" were of paramount importance to me.

One incident was, during guard duty. When ever I pulled guard duty, I literally walked and soldiered my territory without stopping or failing. A buddy of mine commented to me one day, "Everybody else goofs off when they pull duty, like stops for a smoke or rests. You don't. You are like a "machine". And believe me, I was.

My sense of honor and high ideals led me to an interesting week-end liberty while I was in Advanced Combat training. This same buddy and I went to Oceanside, California for a short night on the town. It was our first liberty since our training began. We got a bottle of whiskey and got smashed. He did more then me. If fact he got so sick, I thought he was going to die.

I stayed with him the entire night, at a local motel. I helped him go to the toilet and throw up. Sometimes he made it and sometimes he didn't. Yeah, I cleaned up after him. Don't get me wrong. This is not my nature. I am not a "nurse" kind of guy. But, I felt it was my duty, like it or not, to watch over him. That's what Marines do right? Semper Fi. This is how you become powerful with other people.

To my total surprise, word got around my platoon, what I did for this guy. Some guys, which I thought were a bunch of smart asses from New York, suddenly were very courteous and friendly with me. One guy in particular, which I was having a problem with, questioned about my buddy drunk helper experience. I confirmed it. He immediately began showing me respect.

I guess they figured a guy that looks out for others can't be that bad. You become powerful.

The need to make money and the desire to excel and please, gave me a pretty good career in sales. I set a lot of sales records, both for volume and duration. I wasn't looking to become powerful, I just wanted to make money.

I must give you a word of caution, regarding turning your weaknesses into strengths.
Most things in life, involve trade offs. You give to get. There is no getting around the "giving". In another words, you will pay the bloody price for the things you want and value. I have and I am sure everyone else has also.

In summary, strive for self acceptance. Love both your strengths and weaknesses. You will become powerful.

Don't be intimidated by what "you should be". Don't let other people scare you off from being your own man or woman..

Just for the record, I am older now. And, I am much better adjusted. I am not the nut case I once was.

At lease in terms of the extreme journeys I used to venture to.

I guess life has a way of balancing things out. In all honesty, I am much closer to the kind of person I always envisioned I had the potential of becoming. Cheers. Here's to "weakness". God help me, I love it.

Do you still want to become powerful?

Do I Need to Be a Trained Photographer to Earn Money?

Many people want to pursue a career in photography, some start it as a hobby and some as professionals. But some always have a question dwelling in their mind i.e. do I need to undergo training as a photographer or have a qualification to break into the photography world? And the answer is simply NO.

There are thousands of photographers out there without any qualification in photography, who started it as a hobby but still earn lot more than a qualified or trained photographer. Photographers these days are earning lot more than a software engineer, a doctor, a lawyer or a businessman. Well what quality do you think they have? What makes them a better photographer without any qualification in photography? Its the focus and ability to work-hard in what they want. There are few people I know who have accidentally taken up photography and went on to quit their full time job and are still earning more than what they used to.

To be a photographer you need to be passionate, creative and patient. Nothing comes without a price.

If you really aspire to be a photographer than you will anyways dedicate your time to learn it. Study the basic features of photography, buy a camera, learn its features and operations, test your skills, and practice. Remember the 10,000 hour rule that I have discussed in my previous post, its very useful. Photography is an art of capturing emotions and feelings than is not noticed otherwise.

There are schools out there to train you on photography and make your task easier, but remember you also have to spend money to get trained which I think is not necessary as there other ways to learn it. There are some photography related jobs which require proper photography qualification (Photojournalism). A qualification in photography will make you eligible for such kind of jobs. Others who are not willing to get trained, the journey doesn't end.

You can earn lots of money from Microstock photography. It doesn't require an special training. I don't want to discuss more on this as i have already explained in my previous posts. If you're a new visitor, I would suggest you to read my other posts as its there to help you. Microstock Photography is the best and the easiest way to make money for amateurs. People out there earn more than $30,000/month from Microstock photography, amateurs earn over $10,000/month without undergoing any special training. You only need a camera and the passion for photography.

Professional Land Surveying Company - How to Choose Your Provider

Getting a good professional land surveying company is vital in order to get the proper service. This will help save you time and resources, which in turn can save your business a lot of money. There are a lot of things to consider in assessing a company, and the key is to actually know them.

Initially, I would suggest checking on the history of the company. Those that have been in the field of aerial surveying for a long time have developed expertise and have learned from the most basic surveys to the most complex. The next step is to check on its former clients and completed projects. If big firms have entrusted the job in the company, it is safe to say that you can also expect good service. It would also help to know the background of its leader or owner, as well as how he spearheaded its growth, and how he dealt with his clients. Client testimonials and references can also help you in deciding on the best provider.

Aerial surveying, a task that calls for extreme precision, requires the most modern equipment available in the market today. Therefore, it is imperative to make sure that the company is equipped with most advanced surveying technologies, such as:

LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Technology

LIDAR or Light Detection and Ranging Technology measures the properties of scattered light to get the information and data of a distant target. It uses laser pulses to determine the distance to an object or surface. To determine the range to an object, it measures the time delay between the transmission of a pulse and detection of the reflected signal. If combined with Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment, LIDAR collects information on location and elevation that can also be a topographical map. This is used in geology, meteorology, physics, biology, astronomy, conservation, the military, and law enforcement.

Digital Terrain Modeling (which is also known as Digital Elevation Modeling)

Digital Terrain Modeling or Digital Elevation Modeling can be done side by side with other technologies like LIDAR, stereo photogrammetry, Doppler radar, real time GPS, inertial surveys, and topographic maps. Digital terrain modeling is applicable in precision farming, base mapping, precision forestry, engineering, infrastructure design, creating relief maps and geographic and geomorphic terrain analyses.

LAMP (Low Altitude Mapping Photography)

Low Altitude Mapping Photography or LAMP uses digital cameras to capture images of structures and terrains from a low altitude. It is usually done at around 300 feet above ground level. This technology is being used for road planning, power line patrolling, pipeline patrolling, aerial mapping, natural conservation and park planning. It is also used in the real estate industry to show and assess property.

Being aware of the background of the company aids you in making an informed decision when choosing a good provider. Also check its satisfied clients, successful projects and the technology it uses to help you gauge the quality of service it will render. This will help you in choosing a professional land surveying company that will suit your needs.

Western Painting Style - Hyperrealism - Photorealism, the Edged Way

Hyperrealism - The Concept
Hyperrealism is a full-fledged school of Western Painting that involves the creation of paintings and sculptures, resembling high-resolution photographs. It is an independent art style and a movement that progressed in Europe and the United States, since the beginning of the new millennium.

The Intricacies
Under the style of Hyperrealism, artists use modern mechanical equipment to transfer images on the canvas or into the mold. They employ appliances, such as photographic slide projectors and multimedia devices to complete their work. All these technically advanced tools are important, as Hyperrealism pertains to the simulation of a false reality. In other words, Hyperrealist painters create a two dimensional version of a three dimensional real image, through persuasive photography imagery.

Hyperrealism - The Correlation
Hyperrealism is a relatively new style of art, often recognized as the offshoot of the school of 'Photorealism.' The sculptures and paintings belonging to this genre of art are in no manner similar to the literal illustrations of particular scenes or objects, nor can they be called the strict interpretations of photographic images. However, they make use of subtle pictorial elements to affect the illusion of a reality that neither exists, nor can be deciphered by the human eyes. As opposed to Photorealism, where the artists focused on imitating photographs and worked meticulously to deliberately omit various details, Hyperrealism tends to be more literal. Instead of avoiding photographic anomalies, such as image degradation, digital fractalization, and subtractive versus additive color creation, Hyperrealism incorporates and even capitalizes upon all the kinds of photographic limitations. Photorealism on the other hand, lives on a method of execution that is not only tight and precise, but also covers the mundane, everyday imagery in the most mechanical manner.

Hyperrealism - The Additionals
While sticking to extreme details, Hyperrealism also pertains with the addition of ethereal lighting and shading effects to the final work, in order to enhance the extent of reality depicted in the picture. The shapes and forms closest to the image's forefront visually appear far beyond the front view plane of the canvas. Surprisingly, the sculptures developed under this style offer clearer details than nature itself.
Most of the Hyperrealist painters and artists have been known to digress from the more common style of Photorealism by incorporating profound political social and cultural themes in their work. Instead of reproducing photographic images, they venture into the production of a lively replica of a certain real situation or scene by capturing its image in time.

Hyperrealists
Some of the most popular Hyperrealist painters include Chuck Close, Alicia St. Rose, Jacques Bodin, Denis Peterson, Bert Monroy, Steven Mills, and Mariano Morakis.

Know the Weird Terms Before Buying Your First Digital SLR Camera (DSLR)

When you shop for a digital SLR camera, you'll find a bewildering array of options. Sales people will hand you data sheets that describe in sometimes painful detail what the camera can do. I think that's the way they try to look so great in front of us. In this section, I explain the major areas to look for when you go for shopping for that first digital SLR camera.

Recording Medium
The recording medium is the type of memory card used by the camera, such as CF (Compact Flash) memory cards. The most common card is Type I (3.3mm thick), whereas some, such as the MicroDrive, are Type II (5mm thick). Devices equipped with Type II slots can also accept Type I cards, but not vice-versa. Other common types of memory cards used in digital SLR cameras are SD (Secure Digital) and xD Picture Cards (see "Memory Cards" sidebar earlier in this chapter).

Aspect Ratio
The 3:2 aspect (width to height) ratio is the most common for digital photographs and is the same ratio that a traditional 35mm film camera uses. Other available ratios you'll find are 4:3 and 16:9.

Color Filter System
Most digital SLR camera image sensors use an RGB filter to record a single color on each photosensor to produce an accurate image. The exception is the Foveon X3 sensor which uses a color-separation beam-splitter prism assembly and utilizes all the light and records all colors at all locations on the sensor. This technology is currently featured in the Sigma line of digital SLR camera cameras.

Recording and Image Format
A digital SLR camera should take and store photos in both JPEG and raw formats. This means that images are written to the memory card in a way that can be understood by image-editing programs. Although JPEG is a widely accepted format in virtually every software application, raw files are proprietary to each individual manufacturer and require their software, or a licensed third-party application, to convert to an editable file.

File Size
Most cameras support saving JPEG files in various sizes up to a limit, normally given as maximum file size. This is the recommended manner for capture to ensure the best quality enlargements. Shooting smaller files is quicker, allows more images to be stored on a card, and is ideal for Web use.

Image-processing Parameters
Some cameras enable you to create preset custom settings that can be quickly recalled for shooting specific situations, eliminating the need to select each individual setting from the menus every time you want to use them.

Interface
The interface is how the camera is connected to your computer. You'll find either USB 2.0 or FireWire (IEEE 1394) as options. Be sure your computer has a FireWire port if you choose a camera with a FireWire interface.

White Balance
With most digital SLR cameras, the white balance, measured in degrees Kelvin, can be set for the appropriate light source. Presets for daylight, shade, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, and flash are common options. All digital cameras also provide an Auto preset where the camera can more accurately determine the proper white balance based on the current light source. Finally, most cameras also let you create a custom setting for a mixed light source or specific lighting situation, such as in a studio.

There are many other weird terms. Such are, Noise Reduction for Long Exposure, Exposure Compensation, ISO Speed Range, Depth-of-field Preview etc. However, due to the limitations of writing on this website. I continue with the rest in terms of digital SLR cameras in my websites. Having understood these terms, I hope you can make it easier to make decisions when buying a digital SLR camera. Happy Shopping

Portrait Photography Tips: How To Set The Mood And Get The Best Candid Shots

Are you looking for portrait photography tips so that you can improve your picture taking skills?

At first thought, portrait photography would seem easy, yet the results are often disappointing.

Many of our pictures often include people, and whether you are photographing a model, taking a family photo, or capturing some candid shots while on vacation, you have probably discovered that great photography is a little more than just pointing a camera and pushing a button.

In fact, a really good photo should convey the subject's character and personality, and communicate something distinct or identifiable about who they are as a person. Following a few key tips will help you learn how to take great portraits so you will never be disappointed again.

1. Choose the appropriate setting.

The first step in taking portraits is to find out what the subject or family wants.

What is the model's personality or the attitude of the family? Are they outgoing, serious, or funny? What are they trying to create with the photo? What mood are they wanting to convey? Or, what are the reasons for having the photos taken?

When you answer these questions, you will be able to choose an appropriate setting accordingly. Settings can vary from a formal indoor environment, to a more casual outdoor location, a family home, a studio, or even a subject's workplace.

Also, when considering backgrounds, remember that the focus should always be on the subject, so choose a setting that is passive or complements and enhances the theme and mood of the photograph.

2. Consider lighting.

Lighting can change the mood and effect of any photograph, and when taking portraits, natural lighting is best, so whenever possible, take these pictures outdoors or by a window.

It is important to be aware of lighting and shadows as you want to flatter your subjects, not draw attention to wrinkles or imperfections. Also, keep in mind that flash lighting can cause red eye and may also produce boring, clinical photographs.

Rather than looking like the typical, uninteresting school pictures, you want your photos to be creative and intriguing so they capture people's attention and express the subject's personality. Experiment with lighting by trying some silhouetting, use soft lighting for a more romantic mood, or schedule a sunrise photo shoot.

3. Pose subjects well.

When taking portraits, it is important to give your models clear instructions. Sometimes the best positioning may feel a little awkward or unnatural, so if you need your subject to tilt their head to the left or drop their shoulder down a little, you must communicate exactly what you want.

Positioning the head and body at different angles will give you some variety in your shots and make your photos more interesting. It is important that you make the subjects feel comfortable, so take a few minutes to get to know them and put them at ease.

If you can understand a little of their personality, you may get a better idea on how to pose them. Pay attention to expressions, body language, and other traits and try to pose the models so you can capture some of these identifiable features. Also, you should ask your clients what type of pictures they are hoping for because this may help you determine different poses that will add to the creativity and mood of the photos.

4. Use the right camera settings and lenses.

For portraits, it is best to use an optical zoom and the widest possible aperture. By changing the shutter speeds and aperture values you can vary the images by having the entire frame in focus, making subjects appear sharper, or blurring backgrounds. Use a tele lens to soften backgrounds, create distortions, or take pictures from a distance. Making the right equipment choices will help improve the quality and variety of your portraits.

5. Vary viewpoint or perspective.

As a photographer you must learn how to think outside the box. With the resources available today, boring, posed photos will not make much of an impression. Creativity it the key! Most pictures are taken at eye level, but by changing the angle you can make your images much more powerful.

Take photos from above or below, have the subject lay on the floor, or climb a tree or ladder. If you are taking a group photo, vary the level or positions of the individuals, and experiment with framing by having subjects off to the side or on an angle rather than centered. Play with eye contact by having models look away from the camera or asking subjects to look at each other or objects within the photo. If the situation allows, have fun! You may just discover something both beautiful and unique that captures personality and displays quality.

6. Be prepared.

One of the best tips to taking great portraits is to be prepared. Being professional, organized, and confident puts people at ease and will make the photo sessions run smoothly and efficiently.

Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur just wanting to capture some memories of family vacations and special events, many of your photos will likely include people. By following these few portrait photography tips, you can learn to take great pictures that will be beautiful, natural, and studio quality.

The Ugly Duckling: Defining Your Photography Style

I spend a lot of my free time on the web exploring the work of professional and amateur photographers for ideas and inspiration. What I have discovered is that there is a lot of mediocrity out there and most of this is due to what I call a "lack of style." Now, before you get your knickers in a knot (you other photographers) I place myself firmly and squarely in that category of having a lot of mediocrity circulating out there for public consumption. This got me thinking, how can I improve on my photos? My conclusion - image style!

Surf the web today and you will find a plethora of photographers at all levels whose portfolios are nothing but a schizophrenic journey through colour, B&W, HDR, IR and God knows what else. Most of which is pure rubbish simply due to a lack of style. At this point you are probably thinking, "What is this style thingy this nut bag is talking about?" Think of it as your signature. there are many great photographers out there who possess what are easily recognizable signatures to their photos. Adams, Beckerman, Gruen are a few for whom I can easily identify their work by looking at their photos simply because they possess a certain look uniquely their own - their signature, their style.

So why is this important? In my constant search to define myself and my photography I have laboured long and hard to figure out who, and more importantly, what is my focus in photography. You hear photographers talk about their genre with terms such as "Landscape Photographer", "Wildlife Photographer", "Street Photographer", etc. I think it is important to specialize, to focus on a particular field of photography. Nevertheless, many photographers, such as myself, take a wide variety of photographs many of which are outside their chosen specialty either for fun or for necessity (such as here on Ecuador Unplugged). In the end though, I firmly believe if you specialize then at least 90 to 95% of your photography time should be focused on that area.

Specialization is important but it does not go far enough, most photographers stop at this point in terms of defining their work and leave out the most important aspect - creating a distinctive image style all their own. Sure, the images are cleaned up, the colour adjusted, and over Photoshopped etc. In the end each photo is completely different from the next leaving the viewers with little to no sense of a present or emerging style from the photographer.

Your Style Defines Your Images

Creating an individualistic style for your work is an evolutionary process in photography. You must experiment and dabble for some time before you can truly determine how your images will look. Rarely will you be fortunate enough to stumble upon your own unique signature immediately. There are many aspects to defining your own style for your work and I have narrowed this down to three key components to help you along the way.

Medium

What is your medium of choice? Is it colour, black and white, HDR, etc? Find a medium and stick to it, let it define you. There is nothing more distracting than looking at a portfolio that is all over the map, some B&W, some HDR, some IR, some colour. It tells me that the photographer does not know what he/she likes and really is either appealing to the masses or has not settled on, or cares about, their style. Similar to my specialization rule at least 95% of my focused work will be in the medium of choice, in my case B&W. Yes there are always exceptions, but do not let those exceptions overshadow the rule.

Look & Feel - aka Signature

Probably the most difficult and time-consuming component of determining your individual style of photography and the most fun. Trial and error and countless processing experiments in what ever photo processing tool you use will help you refine the look and feel of your style. Keep in mind the mood, and subject of your genre and through a lot of fine tuning you will eventually create the processing tools necessary to give your images that unique style that will tell the viewer this is YOUR photograph. Establishing presets, and formulas will help you to pump out your styled photos faster once you have established the correct tuning of your images. Don't be afraid to use the programs at your disposal and don't be discouraged when most of your images do not turn out the way you envision. After all this is a marathon not a sprint, but when you get the right formula you can move on to the third element.

Consistency

Ok, so you have your genera, you have your primary medium and you have refined your look and feel to the point you now have a signature style that you will apply to your images. Now the most important and perhaps the most difficult component to implement, consistency. It is tempting for anyone to continually tweak and change things, but in this case you need to let go of this. Minor adjustments and tweaks will always be part of the process as long as it does not radically alter your look and feel - otherwise you will have a completely different signature. Consistently apply your signature to your images. Think of this as "branding" from a marketing perspective - if you are continually changing your brand, brand message and brand image you will confuse and lose your customer base (whether paying customers or simply fans). This is why consistent application of your signature style is important to not only your images but your brand.

Conclusion

Some observations to consider in developing your signature style and a lasting portfolio. Processing software is a great boon and a horrible curse to photography. Avoid at all cost "gimmicky" tricks to your photography, while fun to play with things like selective colouring, horses jumping out of colour frames into B&W back grounds and over Photoshopped images, these really do not stand the test of time. Read what most of the great photographers of our era, and bygone eras, say regarding processing photos - if it can't be done in less than five minutes don't do it. Then look at their work and you will see that most are simple, without bells and whistles and flashing lights but they have a unique signature all their own.

Whether you agree or not, defining your style is an important feature of your work. I look forward to taking this journey with you, and I have lots of work ahead in refining and defining my own signature style but I know it will be an exciting adventure.

How to Start Your Own Photography Business - Sell Your Stock Photos Online From Home

Starting your own photography business these days is easier than ever thanks to the internet. All you really need to get started is a digital camera, and an internet connection. By uploading your images on popular stock photo websites you can earn a commission each time your image is downloaded.

The process of selling stock photos from home works like this. You sign up for an account at one of the stock photo websites. Edit the images you wish to sell and upload them to the stock photo website. Once your images are approved they are available to be purchased by people who need them for their website content or advertising creative's. The great thing is you retain ownership and are licensing the images out. In a nutshell this means you can sell the same image over and over making you long-term residual income. There are many making their owners thousands of dollars a month, from a single photo.

Some stock photo website like to pay per download, while others will pay you per photo upfront for your images. I've even found a couple photo websites that pay you every time someone views one of your images which is called pay per view. Each site has its own terms and conditions for payment. The most common method is pay per download and as a general rule of thumb, you can earn anywhere from 20% to 65% commission rate for each image download. Since many of these sites offer multiple image sizes you can expect to earn more money when someone downloads a larger image size. If you're someone who likes to take pictures for fun, or an aspiring pro, you really should consider selling your stock photos for extra money.

What Is an Advertising Photographer?

You've seen Sunday advertisements, the advertisements in your magazines, and pictures that tell a story. An advertising photographer is responsible for providing photos for numerous publications as well as magazines. They usually produce photos that tell a story while selling a product or service. They can also be responsible for a wide array of advertorial photos, you'll see these beside advertisements and pictures of products. They'll typically be wrapped by an informative article.

A day in the life of one of an advertising photographer consists of taking pictures on location or possibly in the studio. They'll receive images that need to be converted into campaigns, and have the ability to take an image and make it speak-many times without any text! Advertising photographers work with ad agencies and corporate design teams to make their images come to life. Most advertising photographers started their career in another focus area of commercial photography such as wedding photography or portrait photography.

After building a large enough portfolio, these photographers typically seek larger high paying projects. Product shots and fashion are an easy conversion if the experience is there. On the "high end," the usual bridge to the advertising realm is fashion due to the heavy relationship between fashion magazines and the advertisement needed to sell clothing. As for the low end, some photographers have simply graduated from photography school and have entered the workforce working directly or "in house" for the marketing department of an organization.

In the last ten years, the advent of digital cameras and large stock photography bases found online has certainly placed a dent on the pay scale. Yet, advertising photographer's salaries range from $80k a year to well in the millions due to the limitless amount of work a talented photographer is sought for. If you have the desire and a love for photography, this may be the career for you.

A Brief Introduction To Muslin Backdrops

Muslin is a type of fabric which is commonly used for clothing, upholstery, curtains, and even backdrops. This material is made of cotton and originated in India and the Middle East. During the 17th century, people across Europe started wearing clothing made of this material. At the end of 18th century, muslin became a very popular fabric in France and was used for many purposes. Since the fabric is very light and airy, clothing made of this material is perfect for hot, dry climates. It can also be used in cooking as well, such as for home-scale cheese-making. If you are a member of a theater community or if you love to watch various theater productions, you are probably already familiar with muslin backdrops. In a theater production, each scene is normally characterized by the change of the backdrops.

The backdrops function as mood setters. Typically, a play usually features more than one backdrop throughout the whole show. Imagine if a play only uses a flowery backdrop even though it has several sad scenes. Surely this would not work. Thus, different backdrops are needed for different moods or settings. Now the question is, why are backdrops usually made of muslin rather than other fabrics? What is so good about this material? First and foremost, muslin takes dyes very well. Although it tends to shrink a bit after it is colored, the material is perfect for backdrops as artists can paint on the surface of the fabric with ease. It is also relatively cheaper than other types of fabrics such as canvas or vinyl. To paint muslin backdrops, the person who will do it needs to have a good sense of art, especially if the backdrops will be used for a theater production, a movie, or studio photography. However, this rule does not apply to people who want to practice painting on the fabric first to improve their skills. Additionally, a wide space such as a large room or studio is also essential so that the paint will not make other things in the room dirty. If you do not have a large enough space inside your house, you can simply use your garage or backyard. To be able to paint the muslin backdrops well, you might want to turn on some soft music to help you concentrate on your painting. As mentioned previously, muslin backdrops as are used in movie production as well.

They are commonly used as greenscreen or bluescreen to create special or visual effects. The screen is either pre-dyed or painted with latex paint. Muslin can also be used in studio photography, especially for formal portrait backgrounds. The backdrops can be solid colors, abstract patterns, or even painted scenes. Different backgrounds are needed for different photo purposes. For instance, a vintage style muslin backdrop is perfect for a high school reunion photo or a family photo. On the other hand, passport photographs are usually required to have neutral solid color like off-white, white, or gray. There are also specific styles of backdrops that suit different needs and preferences, such as solid colors that come with textures, multi color mottled, and scenic backgrounds. Each style provides different moods or emotions as well as the appropriate shade or light reflection behind the object. In order to determine which style suits you best, you can consult with your photographer, or simply learn photography techniques such by reading photography books and articles or by attending special courses. In conclusion, muslin is indeed the ideal material for theatre backdrops, movie backdrops, as well as photography backdrops. It offers versatility at a very affordable price.

Online Photography Course

It doesn't matter if you are new to photography or have been doing it for years, online photography courses have a lot to offer for everyone. There are so many different kinds of photography courses online that you are really spoiled for choice. The main draw towards learning photography is to get better as time goes on and what better pastime could you ask for. Photography is all about learning as even the most advanced photographer will tell you, there is always something new you can learn everyday related to photography and its techniques.

An ideal place to start looking for online photography courses in the Photography course website. Here they have courses for beginners, intermediate as well as advanced photographers. The courses are taught using both film as well as digital cameras. Some of the general topics that they cover in the online photography courses are choosing cameras, basics of exposure and the composition. There are also specialized online photography courses that deal with nature, sports and portrait photography. And lastly they also have a section on editing the photos.

The Kodak Learning Center is more of digital photography, but people who work with film also gain to benefit. The tips and tutorials on these online photography courses are divided into camera basics, photo tips and techniques, enhancing as well as restoring photos, printing, organizing, and sorting out digital pictures.

Good Tutorials has user supplied content on it. Though the quality may not be excellent, the content definitely is vast. All content on this site is varied so you know that the quality of it will be excellent. They even have a whole section on Photoshop. This is a great site for free photography tips and techniques as there is always something new and interesting on it to look through and learn.

One of the best beginner sites online is Basic-Digital-Photography.com. This is aimed mostly as the beginner crowd, but that's not to say that advanced photographers won't benefit from it. They have a lot of tips and techniques that all photographers can learn from. This websites Tips and Tricks section is the biggest strength of the site overall.

The Art of Family Portrait Photography

When such a photograph is taken it is always best to let a professional photographer take the picture. After all it is not everyday that you can get all of the family members at one time to stand for a picture. So when the time comes you need to take advantage of it in the best way possible. The following is some ideas regarding getting a good picture taken with all of the family members present.

Fist thing that should be done is look for a photographer that can do professional quality pictures. This may sound like an expensive venture, but remember you are looking to do a great quality picture that will last a long time. Prices do vary according to the level of experience of the photographer, but it should not be too difficult to find somebody who is not too expensive to hire. Most photo sessions will last for about an hour. As a general rule the better the studio the better the photographer will be and you will more likely get the picture quality you have in mind.

Once a photographer has been decided, the next step is to discuss with family members as to what type of pictures should be taken. High key photos will involve using white as a background and low key pictures are taken with moody type lighting and soft demure colors. Other types of pictures include out door family portrait photography or pictures of family involved in outdoor activity such as eating, playing croquet etc. If you would like more ideas on photographic settings then the photographer will have ideas to give. They will usually let you look at their portfolio of previous photo sessions to give a good idea.

After all of the pictures are taken the next thing to do is decide how you would like to keep the pictures. Some people like to put pictures in a wooden frame and others like to keep the photos as a series of pictures in an album. Deciding on how to display the photos is also an activity in itself and family members can get together and decide on what would be the best idea.

Kangaroo Mother Care: KMC Cuddles for You and Your Baby

Kangaroo Mother Care and co-sleeping with you baby is a time to relax, share and continue to develop your bond with your newborn baby. There is nothing peaceful than lying next to your baby as you both drift off to sleep. By practicing this you avoid the normal battles of our culture by not sharing our sleeping time with our baby. Once this was normal; then what was socially beneficial for us and our newborn babies became lost with industrialization.

It's perfectly natural for you to allow your baby to fall asleep while they are breastfeeding. What could be more satisfying or pleasant than having you and your baby fall asleep together whilst doing Kangaroo Mother Care and he/she is being given warmth, food and love. Your baby was born wanting to be given Kangaroo Mother Care: being held and nursed to sleep by you because it is pleasurable, biologically adaptive and as we know it works.

Providing KMC and co-sleeping is what we as humans were designed to do with our baby's, and it is what our babies need and want. By offering KMC to your newborn baby, you will find that you and your baby find a more loving, gentle and nurturing relationship.

Your baby will outgrow their dependency on you overtime, they will explore and venture further knowing that you are nearby and they are safe. It is though the giving of KMC to your baby that this sense of safety to explore will be developed over time. As a Mom or Dad your job is to provide the love, nurturing and closeness that will make them feel secure and safe.

Don't ignore your baby's cry, they are only just that; a baby that is born needing your loving protection and Kangaroo Mothering Care. As a Mom or Dad pick him/her up and give them KMC cuddles. Babies weren't designed to cry alone and we weren't designed to let our baby's cry. Give and treat your baby to loving KMC cuddles when they need them, day or night. It will work wonders for you too!!

Setting Up A Commercial Digital Photography Studio

Setting up a commercial digital photography studio is more than just purchasing or acquiring a space on hire and calling it a studio. When things get commercial it's quite obvious that you will be asking for money for you creative work.

While setting up a commercial digital photography studio it is good idea to first define you scope of work. By scope of work I mean the areas of digital photography where you can best serve your customers.

Some of the potential areas to go for are as follows.

1) Industrial photography

2) Still life photography

3) Architectural and Interior design

4) Fashion photography

5) Sports actions

6) Nudes and human body art

7) Cityscapes, transportation, vehicles etc.

8) Natural scenes, landscapes, wildlife, etc.

As a professional photographer you can or should be able to do all these. But it is a good idea to focus on one or two to start with and later expand your commercial business in other niches. Take an inventory of your skills; write down what you can do best to start
with.

Another factor that will decide where to start is budget. Some of the area mentioned above will obviously require expensive digital photography equipment. For example if you are starting with natural and wildlife photography, you will have o spend most of your time in natural environment. It is also a possibility that you will spend your nights in tents in some jungle. In such cases the only time you will use your office is for editing the photos on your computer.

So where you choose to start will finally create your profile as a photographer. Just any other business, a photography business is all about creative work and extraordinary customer services. So selecting the proper photography niche can go a long way to build your credibility as a reputable commercial digital photography studio.

Copyright S. Vaidya

Are You an Unhappy Stay at Home Mom? In Less Than 30 Minutes You Can Boost Your Self Esteem!

Are you an unhappy stay at home mom? That's only natural. Don't feel sad or guilty about it. You work so hard and do so much for so many for so little (well...it seems that way sometimes). That's not the real truth though. Let's take a look at this in actuality.

People don't realize how exhausted you are (physically and mentally). They don't understand that the task you have taken on is more demanding of your time and energy than any office job where you'd be working 9-5. You need the strength and physical constitution to endure disease (Aren't you the resident nurse?), fatigue (How many sleepless nights have you survived through?), and deprivation (Aren't you denied a lot?).

You don't even want to get me started on deprivation. (Oh well, now I have to rant about that for a minute!) Sleep deprivation (I already mentioned that, didn't I?), sensory deprivation (Who really wants to cuddle with you when you smell like baby throw-up?), and social deprivation (Ever wish you had an adult to talk to?). Not to mention nutrient deprivation (I can't even venture a guess about how many days I have existed only on bread crusts and table scraps). Okay, okay...I'll get off my soapbox now.

No matter how you look at it, being a stay at home mom is not for the fainthearted.

Do you spend a lot of time wondering to yourself how you got in a position where you feel totally taken for granted and unappreciated? Let's face it...most of society thinks that you are worthless (as in having little value, profitless, trivial)

Well, I'm here to tell you that this assumption is NOT TRUE! Three cheers for YOU!

You are faithful, reliable, devoted, loyal, trustworthy, decisive, genuine, dutiful, caring, loving, steadfast, affectionate, considerate, understanding, giving, selfless, helpful, hardworking and organized.

Should I go on? After all, I am talking about me too!

Being a stay at home mom has its own benefits which most people never seem to recognize. Being a stay at home mom is an awesome responsibility...a God-given commission which you should be proud of. You are being entrusted with the most valuable occupation of them all. Anyone who doesn't realize that is a jerk with a capital J.

So...the next time that you think that you are an unhappy stay at home mom change your attitude by remembering that in many ways you are the motivation and inspiration in your children's life. Smile because they need you!

Five Reasons to Choose a Local Wedding Photographer for Your Wedding

Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event, a day that you will always remember as a special moment in time. In order to savor these special memories, you want a photographer present to capture these special moments in photos. There are many places in Michigan where a wedding ceremony may be held, and that alone has a large impact on who you choose to be your Michigan wedding photographer. Here are 5 reasons why you should choose a photographer that's local to you and knows the area where your wedding will be held:

1) A Local Michigan Wedding Photographer Knows the Landscape

It makes sense to hire a local photographer if for no other reason than the fact that they are extremely familiar with the state. This may not initially seem relevant but when it comes time to shoot some classy photos with unique backdrops you don't want to just do another "in front of the church" picture. If you hire a photographer to come into the Detroit area or Grand Rapids from Chicago or the Toledo area - how likely are they to know the best places to shoot a photo. On the other hand - hiring a photographer from an area in Southeast Michigan such as Roseville means that your photographer is going to be intimately familiar with the best places for unique photoshoots.

In Detroit for example they can take you around the city into specific areas for the perfect photos:

• In the empty seats of the Fox Theater

• Posing together with the massive Lion statues of Comerica Park in downtown Detroit

• On that tire swing near the barn by M-59 outside of Sterling Heights... you know. No? Well the photographer does.

• In the glass-floored restaurant atop the Renaissance Center

Their knowledge of the best photoshoot locations - whether they're in downtown Detroit - or one of the secluded suburbs (such as the Downriver Area) gives countless opportunities for the perfect wedding photos before you head to the reception.

2) Get A Hold of Your Photographer with Ease

Let's be honest and just admit that planning a wedding tends to very stressful on the bride, the groom and anyone else involved. This is why it is important to be able to contact all of the people who are providing the services for your wedding event, and of course this includes your local Michigan wedding photographer. Working with a local Michigan photographer will make it much simpler for you to address last minute changes, such as a last minute change in locations or other such details.

You might be able to get an expensive photographer to travel to the Detroit area from Chicago but do you really want to deal with a last minute snow storm or some other travel issue that makes the photographer late? Having a wedding photographer that's local to the wedding you're holding - even if it's clear across the state in Traverse City - makes it easier to handle any last minute delays.

3) Make Selection Easy & Get Your Photos Fast with a Michigan Wedding Photographer

The internet has made it so much easier to do business, but sometimes situations arise where we like to deal with someone we have hired face to face. Speaking with a photographer from another area over the phone is a good tactic for interviewing but there's a lot of benefit in putting a real face and handshake to the beautiful photos we find online. Not to mention when they're local you can go right over and pick up your prints - there's no shipping involved.

4) Michigan Wedding Photographer's are Connected

An experienced Michigan wedding photographer more than likely attends regular trade and bridal shows to stay on top of their industry. Over the years they develop a close network of other professionals that they know and trust - enough to give a referral. If you're stuck with a particular aspect of planning your wedding it's quite possible that a local photographer will also know an excellent tailor or seamstress, invitation coordinator, caterer, florist, etc.

It's not uncommon to see large-scale bridal shows being held in Southeast Michigan. When vendors come together from all over the state they network and provide referrals to one another. Over time, the wedding photographer will have a good idea of the more highly-skilled and worth while vendors in Michigan. Having a wide network of vendors on hand is a good sign of a connected and experienced local photographer - another bonus.

5) Give Local Support with a Michigan Wedding Photographer

Michigan has taken a beating over the years and no one knows it more than small business owners. When you hire a local experienced Michigan wedding photographer you're supporting the local businesses and putting your money into the local economy. As mentioned above, many photographers have a great referral network which allows you to continue to support the people making a living in the major cities around Michigan. If you live in a small town in southeast Michigan like Newport or Flatrock it's even more important to take care of those local trusted vendors - they're a part of your own community.

The best part of this is that many small business owners and local shops don't market their services - which means you could have the perfect caterer or photographer right around the corner and you've never know it because they may work out of their home.

Taking the time to search and hire locally offers the most benefit for you and your wedding - especially when you're considering who to hire as your Michigan wedding photographer.