Saturday, February 1, 2014

Photography Schools: The 5 Best Photography Schools in the US


The United States has many great schools. With the new technologies most of them are focusing on digital photography. However, the training you will receive not only covers the current digital cameras, but also classic analogue cameras as well. To be successful you will need to have a good eye for great images. If you are lacking in technical skills, for now do not be too concerned because you will acquire them while you are taking photography lessons from world class instructors.

These schools will enable you to transition from being a novice to a professional in, what will seem like, no time at all. Here is a brief introduction to five top photography schools in the US where you can explore your desire and passion to becoming a photographer.

1. Boston University: Here you will not only take courses in digital photography, but business management as well. This will give you an edge when it comes time for the business side of the profession.

2. The New York Institute of Photography: This school is famous the world over for producing professional photographers. Students come here to study from all corners of the globe to become masters of the craft.

3. The American InterContinental University: Here you will not only get a deep understanding of the new technologies in digital cameras and digital imaging, but a sound general education foundation in analogue as well.

4. Harrington College of Design: They offer many different degrees, each with a focus on different aspects on the photo industry. You can center your pursuits on the business side of photography, photojournalism or digital photography.

5. The International Academy of Design & Technology: They present an excellent degree program for students looking for a comprehensive education. The program they offer is more in-depth for those interested in lighting and software.

Whatever your choice may be, you will learn how to manipulate your photos using different lenses, lights, studio equipment and software. You will also see how to, not only use a camera for creative purposes, but professional purposes as well. Along with all that experience, you will gain extensive technical knowledge of how camera lenses work and how to capture striking images in color as well as black and white. The top schools for photography will keep you up to date on the fast and ever changing photographic industry. Upon graduation you will be an expert in your field of choice. The education you obtain will put you in a prime position in the exciting and lucrative field of photography. The sky is the limit on how far you can go as a photographer!

Choose Your Online Photography School Wisely As a Function of Your Level


Online schools are becoming extremely popular today, because they are offering more flexibility and convenience. You can take online courses anywhere and anytime, even in the comforts of your home. The online photography school is no different and there are many options available. With many photography courses online right now, there are certain factors that you should consider to ensure that you are making the right choice.

Before going further, it's important to point out that you should choose a school that is offering easy access to the photography instructor and the learning community if you are beginner. On the other hand, advanced photographers would place more value on learning advanced concepts because they are more autonomous.

Read on to understand why you should choose your online photography school wisely as a function of your level.

The first to consider is the kind of photography training that you want. There are many online photography schools and they offer different certification levels, range of classes and course materials. Some provide exclusive training for digital photography and imaging, while some others will include traditional film photography training.

Moreover, some training programs are designed for a specific form of photography. As an example, courses for aspiring professional photographers include course materials which cover artistic lessons as well as the business component of the photography industry. These professional schools are ideal for photographers who want to offer freelance service or establish their own studios.

With efficiency combines with the latest resources and tools, online photography schools are comprehensive and interactive. Some persons will not consider online learning because they believe that they will have problems or get lost while taking the classes on their own. But, you should know that you can get one-on-one teaching and support while learning in an online classroom. Keep this mind when choosing an online school if this type of training is important to you.

Ensure that you choosing one of the online photography schools with courses which cover many features. These features should include things like film development, color and lighting; retouching; taking enhanced photographs; editing; camera technology; photography software and more. If you want to know how to find work after completing your course, you can also choose courses which cover this subject area.

Always remember that not all the photography courses are the same. When searching for an online photography school, you need to take some to do a bit of research. During your research, it's important to examine other things that the costs to ensure that you are choosing a course that is worthy of your money and time. Whether you are looking courses to improve your skills for the love of photography and personal development or simply to become a better photographer to earn more money, choosing the right online photography course can make a huge difference.

Fun Picture Ideas Such As Nude Photography


Have you ever seen a photo of your great-great grandparents? Great portrait photography is everlasting and becomes a family heirloom. When should you hire a professional and when should you do it yourself? It depends on the subject or if there is an occasion.

Wedding Pictures

You definitely hire professionals for a big event such as a wedding. Your photographer can take pre-wedding pictures, too! Negotiate a package that includes this service. Excellent venues are parks andthe beach. National parks are fantastic especially if they have ponds with boats and, if possible, a waterfall! Look out for man-made structures such as a gazebo. If you get lucky there may be great specialty items such as bed boats with a canopy.

Pre-wedding photos are great because you can include these in a wedding book. The wedding book will have these pictures and of the wedding itself. Make sure there are pictures with parents, bridesmaids, the entourage and friends. On the day of the wedding be sure to plan for a picture-taking time before, during and after the wedding.

An example of taking pictures before the wedding is if the venue is by a beach. The bridesmaids and entourage and the couple can wear their formal attires and head to the beach. Wedding venues such as hotels and resorts usually have areas that make great backgrounds. Try to take a picture of the couple and print it wallet sized. Then include this as part of the wedding favors, which can be a picture holder.

Family Picture

Portrait photography is usually done by an expert. You can do this more than once. The first, when the kids are still small and then when they are all grown up. It's up to you to decide on the attire but formal is a safe route. Decide on the venue - outdoors or indoors, but keep it simple. Remember that this may be passed down through generations so get it both in color and black and white.

Nude photography is becoming popular but have a professional handle this. It looks great colored and neutral. Do it with your partner and in singles. Bring a transparent shawl that reflects your favorite color. Red is popular. Make sure that when you hire a photographer that you also have your hair styled at the salon. Avoid too much makeup. Try to hit the gym and go on a diet a week before taking the shots.

Pregnancy shots are special so hire an expert. Take the picture when you are 6 months pregnant or when the stomach is obviously large enough to indicate pregnancy. Pictures can be done nude or semi-nude. Take pictures with and without your partner, and have black and white and colored versions.

DIY

Invest in a good camera such as a Nikon, Canon or other well-known brands. Choose an SLR but also have a small point-and-shoot. The small digital camera should be in your bag at all times for those unexpected occasions. They are especially useful when hiking in national parks. Make sure you have good lighting in your house and 1 or 2 reflectors. Also buy a camera stand.

The SLR is great for taking pictures of your baby each month. Make sure you have a baby toy that is in each month's picture. It's great watching how babies and children develop. Plus the pictures are cute! There will be days when the baby will cooperate and days when he/she won't. You can use themes such as costumes or even pots in the picture.

A Full-Frame View of Photography Degrees


The pop of the flash, the click of the shutter, an immortal moment in time. Photographers crystallize the landscapes and smiles of the world and let them stand as evidence of life being lived. A degree in photography can help you capture these moments in breathtaking fashion, taking your hobby to the next level or setting you on the path to turn your passion into a career.

What Skills Can I Learn with a Degree in Photography?

Photography degrees are offered by numerous universities, and no two programs are exactly alike, but they do all share common characteristics. Take a look at this short list of basic skills taught in photography courses:


  • Photographic principles such as lighting, aperture, and shutter speed

  • Adobe Photoshop and other professional image-editing software

  • Decoding and constructing the narrative of an image

  • Proper techniques for capturing images in a variety of settings

Some photography degree programs allow you to specialize in your particular field of interest, be it fashion photography, sports photography, portraiture, or any other specialty, and some degrees in photography provide a comprehensive general education in the art. Take some time to research schools that offer photography degrees and decide which one best fits your needs as a student.

Photography Degree Programs: the Big Picture

Many universities offer both two- and four-year degrees in photography. The two-year degrees include an associate of science in photography, which focuses mainly on the technical elements of the craft. A popular four-year photography degree is the bachelor of fine arts, which extends its photography courses to include general image design and the handling of commercial concerns.

If pursuing an associate's degree, you can look forward to some of the following photography courses:


  • Design Fundamentals

  • History of Photography

  • Location Lighting

  • Imaging Software I & II

The bachelor's degree track contains some courses more oriented toward building a career out of your skills:


  • Commercial Photography

  • Clients and Communications

  • Web Design for Photographers

  • Business Launch

Many entry-level positions that lead to a professional photography career require a photography degree, even those that start you out mixing chemicals in the lab. Wire service photography positions also usually recommend or require a degree in photography from an accredited institution.

The Working Life of a Photographer

There are several different styles of career available to those with photography degrees. Professional photographers may shoot only weddings, or only news stories, or only portraits in a private studio. What's more, professional photographers choose between salaried and freelance positions, with the former customarily bringing greater job stability and higher wages.

Earnings data for photographers in different locations around the country was compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009. Take a look at the mean yearly income of professional photographers in certain U.S. cities:


  • Los Angeles, CA: $64,110

  • Chicago, IL: $53,830

  • New York, NY: $50,470

  • Minneapolis, MN: $47,820

  • San Francisco, CA: $47,520

As you can see, salaries for professional photographers varies widely. This goes to show that you have the opportunity to make the most of your photography degree if you discover how to get as much out of it as the effort you put in. Degrees in photography may not be for everyone, but one just might be for you.

Business Ideas That Are Free of Investment


New business ideas are taking shape every minute, in some part of the world. And every business needs investments; some need big investments, while the others need smaller capital.

However, there are a few businesses which do not require any investment. They are established innovations, which are forthcoming and in demand.

1. Freelancing

Freelancing comprises copywriting, photography, graphic designing, web designing and many more businesses that wield a creative edge. There is no investment required, other than your acumen. You may face rigid competition, but once you stand out of the clutter; you can make your mark.

2. Travel and Tourism

Wielding a small travel and tourism company from home can be a smart way to do business. Investments are not required and clients can be dealt with, over the phone or online. The emergence of travel and tourism has raised the scope of Tourism Careers, making educational institutions comprise certified courses on travel and tourism.

3. Consulting and Training

With sheer experience and zero investment, professionals can help other amateurs and organizations to train themselves or their employees. Consider taking up a profession as a trainer in business communications, Business IT or any other discipline in technical skill set development.

4. Organizational Service

Being a wedding planner, or a professional service provider such as housekeeping, babysitting, catering etc. require bare investments and sometimes no investment at all. These businesses do not tend to go down with dwindling economies.

5. Tutoring

A very lucrative way to make money is by providing tuition. Helping children learn, grasp and understand their subjects. Also, teaching online is an advanced and investment-free technique to innovative business stature.

6. Online Business

Selling goods online, Internet marketing, blogging, link building, freelancing for internet businesses are a few options which can be handled from home with bare investments. The advent of Internet has facilitated growth of business and captivated many people.

7. Brokerage Services

There are a number of brokerage services one can venture into and the main source of income comprises of a good amount of commission. One can efficiently convince buyers, on behalf of vendors. There are a number of services you can consider such as - Real estate brokerage, business brokerage and investment brokerages are a few to name.

8. Virtual Assistance (VA)

A great way to earn is to help other people get a job. Using public domains, classified sites and joining a VA network to offer your services is a safe and inexpensive way of tackling your business. You can tie up with a company and help them find potential personnel online.

9. Intermediary Services

Distribution and sourcing of products and contracting services are intermediary services. It is an old business which has diminished over the years, but these few services will remain and there is a need for such businesses.

There are many more businesses which comprise bare investments. Today, the world is at a juncture where globalization has raised the bar of professionalism and modes of business. And it is hard to find a business or job which encompasses a bare outlay, yet lucrative outcomes.

Using Publicity As A Creative Marketing Tool


Publicity is an important and often overlooked tool of creative selling; and a more cost-effective way of reaching your target audience than advertising. With the inherent third-party endorsement of the media implied in every editorial story, a news or feature article in a newspaper, magazine, or on television or radio, is an infinitely more credibly-perceived communications message than an ad or commercial. Publicists less frequently are favored with hard news stories. They are more often tasked with getting "softer" news and feature stories on-air or in print. Here are some techniques involving creative conceptualization and application - what I call CREATIVE FORMATTING - and they work very effectively when carefully thought-through and constructed.

1 - Use News to Make News.

When you prepare a press release or pitch letter, keep the following editorial criteria in mind:
* Relevance (how valid and appropriate is this story?)
* Impact (does this story affect a large number of people?)
* Timeliness (is the story current?)
* Novelty (does the story have an unusual or unique twist to it?)

Your topic should tie in with current news issues and/or subjects that concern the public. In my earlier p.r. days, I promoted one product by showing how it could be used to the advantage of a specific news item of the day. In this case, the issue was government waste. Revelations were surfacing that various federal agencies were buying products at absurd prices above retail: you may remember $500 toilet seats and $75 rulers. The American taxpayer was being seriously abused by bureaucratic waste.

Our client was a publishing house that had just come out with a directory for buyers at government agencies. The directory listed major manufacturers all over the country who were not in the business of ripping off Uncle Sam. The directory was distributed to the agencies free of charge. The publishing house made its money by selling ad pages to companies who wanted to attract the attention of these buying officials.

We attracted a significant amount of publicity by telling editors that the publishing company had come up with a partial solution to the problem of wasteful government spending. The story was picked up by the wire services and nationally syndicated TV newscasts.

2 - Seasonal Tie-ins

News editors are always looking for feature stories that tie in with holiday or seasonal happenings. I remember a very successful campaign for a manufacturer of postage meter equipment. Eight weeks before Christmas, we convinced the manufacturer to designate a Holiday Consumer Affairs Specialist who could talk about "everything you wanted to know about mailing gifts for the holidays."

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we arranged dozens of phone interviews with reporters at large radio stations in major markets. The company was plugged in every interview and the entire campaign tied-in with a major catalogue and in-store p.o.p. merchandising campaign. Sometimes, a creative p.r. idea can pave the way for a strategic marketing campaign.

Another successful campaign tied in with the advent of winter and escalating fuel prices due to an international oil crisis. One of our clients manufactured a draft sealer, a simple rubber plug that fit into electrical wall outlets. The sealer kept cold outside air from coming into the home and kept warm air inside from leaking out. Consumers could save money on their fuel bills. We convinced the Today Show to do a live five minute segment on a new energy-saving device for the home.

3 - Products Are Newsworthy When They Are Evolutionary or Revolutionary

On Sunday, May 29, 1994, we generated a story in the Business Section of the New York Times on a new kind of paper that changed color upon the touch of the hand. We knew the story had merit, because the product represents a revolutionary leap forward in paper goods.
Several years ago, a new product created by a camera manufacturer, an instant slide processor that develops slides in seconds, represented an evolutionary step up in instant photography. We offered Good Morning, America a first exclusive on the announcement, and we convinced the show's producers to have host Joan Lunden demonstrate the product live in a five minute segment. The product sold out nationally.

4 - Anniversaries

If the product is vital to the American way of life, the media might click with a suggestion for a story on a major anniversary of the product. This includes biggies like television, radio, refrigerators and cars all the way to such mundane indispensables as zippers and toothpaste.

Other kinds of anniversaries work too. During the centennial celebrations for the Statue of Liberty, we convinced Kelloggs to sponsor a campaign that publicized the closest living relative to the man who designed and built Lady Liberty. This included the scripting and shooting of a video news feature story for television newscasts around the country, and our pickup was enormous--including some very nice positive image reinforcement for Kelloggs.

5 - Controlled Messages

A controlled message is a message that you prepare in advance and place with various media as a finished product. When we promoted a book that turned into a major bestseller called Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive by Harvey Mackay, we employed a number of techniques that come under this category.

Three examples of this technique are the video news feature, matted columns for suburban newspapers, and by-lined articles for specialized trade publications.

A video news feature is simply a 90-second to two-minute news piece that gets scripted, shot and distributed to newscasts around the country. The local newscast incorporates the piece as part of its news coverage, and the average viewer has no idea these stories are supplied by outside sources.

A matted column is simply a one-column or two-column story that is sent to suburban news weeklies as camera-ready copy. They don't have to edit it or prepare it for print. The column usually offers some kind of consumer advice, with a discreet yet effective plug within the story.
Vertical trade publications are magazines that are published for a specific audience or industry. Hundreds of them are published each month. Years ago, we ghosted by-lined articles for the president of a company that analyzed utility rates for other companies, showing them how to save thousands of dollars every year. These articles were placed with dozens of magazines that catered to a variety of industries. This campaign was the company's sole marketing vehicle for many years.

6 - Trends

When one of our clients, a major photography magazine, needed to increase its exposure, we designed a segment on The Today Show in which one of the magazine's editors brought the very latest camera equipment to the program. For seven minutes, he demonstrated the most current camera technology to millions of viewers. He also achieved some substantial awareness for his magazine.

Another client, the Magazine Publishers Association, was interested in increasing recognition. They wanted to establish the fact that magazines are at the leading edge of creative advertising communication. We designed a segment on The Today Show that displayed the latest in pop-up ads in various magazines.

In another situation, a German beer company wanted to increase sales in the USA. The company turned to us, asking us to increase their name recognition with a publicity program instead of advertising. The built-in challenge was that very little can be done editorially for alcoholic beverages. The solution was to look for secondary uses which would nonetheless position the beer in a meaningful and positive way.

We convinced a well-known German restaurant to develop dishes prepared with beer as an ingredient. We invited the entire national food press to a Cooking With Beer Festival. The food writers for every major magazine and newspaper attended. Media coverage was staggering. Many products can be used in special publicity events. By promoting indirectly, sponsors can reap media coverage.

POSITIVE PUBLICITY SELLS. A creative publicity program can be a powerful tool for selling your product or service. Publicity efforts can be more cost-effective than traditional advertising. Plus, they pack more power because the publicity comes from recognized media sources instead of from your company. This increases consumer confidence and promotes a positive public image. The end result of creative publicity is an increased awareness that attracts potential customers.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Should You Open a Photography Studio?


Some photographers think all they need is a decent digital camera, a pro photo sharing or micro stock online gallery and some business cards to pass out. Yet others seem to think you need a degree in photography, $25,000 worth of photography equipment, a fancy photography studio, and a comfortable savings in the bank to make it work. My best advice is to work with what you have, and just do your personal best with it. Your talent, hard work and relentless determination, combined with people skills, and customer service are important keys to success. But you can't always do everything yourself, and if artists have a weak spot generally it's the business side of the studio. Therefore one of the most important talents you'll need is the ability to surround yourself with a good team of professionals. 

Here, we are looking at a typical home based business photo operation, with an emphasis on portrait and wedding photography, because that's the type of photography studio that most photographers are likely to start. Of course you may pick up other work along the way like product shots, publicity photos and team shots, however the bulk of your business will be high school seniors, children and family portraiture.

Do you have what it takes to become a professional photographer? Before you start a business, here are a few things to consider:


  1. Do you have the photography skills and talent necessary? Have you ever looked at a compelling image in a magazine or advertisement and thought to yourself? I could do that! The truth is, you could get lucky and pull off a great shot now and then, but you probably can't do it consistently time-after-time, day-in-day-out, day-after-day, year-upon-year, well not yet anyway. The bottom line is that most amateur photographers, and photographers fresh out of photography school are not ready to hop in and start a photography business. There are exceptions, and although you may be one of them, they are few and far between. It's just that, like most home based businesses you don't really know what's going on till you have been in the photography business for a while. Shooting friends, family or models in a classroom is very different than photographing a real paying customer. That being said, the good news is that it's something you can learn and get better at. How? Consider an apprenticeship with a pro-photographer with work you admire. Learn the ropes from the inside of a working photography studio for like a year before you go out on your own. If that's simply not an option, don't fret and don't give up - read, read, read!  Oh yeah, and shoot, shoot, shoot like crazy! Go out and start producing like a pro photographer. By that I mean knock out 500-1000 images per day, and if possible find a pro photographer with discriminating taste (and time) to act as a mentor, critiquing your work, and listen-up, nobody is perfect but we all can improve, it's for your own good. Also, talking to other pros is a good way to get a handle on what it's like out there. Use this experience to find the right niche for you and the local market in your area, whether it's children, team shots, weddings, commercial etc. Develop your particular artistic style, know what you want out of each and every shot and get to where your shooting a consistently high percentage of quality images.

  2. Do you have the necessary funds to pull this off? It's going to take some cash to do it properly from the start. Not only for photographic equipment, but to set up your home/mobile photography studio too. How Much? To get a good idea of what it's going to take you'll want to assemble your team of professionals and use their expertise to help determine the best course of action. First, seek an SBA qualified banker that actively caters to small business needs. Second, search for a good small business accountant, they are expensive, but they can save your rear. Third and lastly if it's a partnership or your planning on incorporating, secure a lawyer that specializes in small business to help you get your legal and financial ducks in a row, so to speak. Then, use your team evaluate your wants and needs to prepare a financially sound business plan and systematically carry it out. Take your time and use care to thoroughly interview perspective professionals for just the right ones for your particular needs.

  3. Do you have the business savy necessary to create, promote, market, price, and sell? This is perhaps the most important part of owning a small business. Now-a-days it's essential to build a nice photography website for showcasing your unique photographic style. Feature examples of your artwork, a bio about yourself and define your photographic specialty. Include session, print, enlargement pricing and contact information. Then, promote your photography website online in photographer directories, and with reciprocal linking. Promote your site in offline advertising too. This builds name recognition in your area. Keep in contact with clients and promote your services with the email list you build. You should also advertise in local magazines and newspapers that your perspective clients are likely to read. Be outgoing and don't be afraid to sell yourself.

This is an exciting time to venture out into the wonderful world of selling images for a profit and thanks to ongoing technological advancements in digital imaging technology, the field of digital photography is quickly evolving to the point where you can start a photography business relatively easily. If your going to compete with other local photography studios, your going to need these skills and more to succeed with your home based business. If your certain you have what it takes, your mind is made up, and your going to do this one way or another, then good luck navigating the obstacle course! Sure, there is always that chance you'll make some wrong turns along the winding road to success, but hopefully you'll learn from them, and bounce right back onto the right track again. If your extremely self-motivated, you may find a way to make it work. If you carefully plan and execute a professional photography business your time spent should be totally worth it. If it works, you'll be rewarded with a great deal of personal satisfaction, because you'll be living the creative artist lifestyle you have envisioned for so long!

How to Earn a Degree in Animation


If your passion is in the arts, you may find that a career as an animator can help you strike a happy balance between artistic expression and a practical career choice. Fine arts animation degree programs can prepare you for the creative and business tools you need to succeed in this lucrative field.

Before Earning Your Animation Degree
According to the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), animation degrees are offered as associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees in fine arts.

An associate's degree (AFA) program can last anywhere from one to three years. The prerequisite is a high school diploma.

A bachelor's degree (BFA) program typically lasts four years. Prerequisites are a high school diploma as well as a portfolio of work. You would want to practice your craft and compile your portfolio prior to applying to a program.

A master's degree (MFA) program typically lasts two years. Prerequisites are a bachelor's degree as well as a diverse portfolio of work. Work experience, either at a job or internship, is usually recommended.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), coursework in an AFA program concentrates heavily on studio work, both hand drawing and computer animation. BFA and MFA programs add general education classes to that as well as major courses in art history, advertising design, photography, and visual theory. All programs are geared towards building a working portfolio for entry into the work force. A portfolio in this industry is just as important as a resume or interview.

Entering the Work Force With an Animation Degree
An AFA or BFA can lead to an entry-level position as a computer animator. Advancement to more creative positions are more commonly attainable with a BFA. According to the BLS, animators are responsible for tasks such as creating two and three dimensional models, designing complex graphics and animation, developing multimedia campaigns and presentations, and planning animated narrative sequences and story lines. More mundane tasks such as creating simple illustrations and assembling proofs can also be part of your job description. An MFA can make advancement to an art director possible. Art directors are responsible for formulating the overall design concept and creative direction of a project or brand.

According to the BLS, the median salary for an animator is $58,250, significantly higher than other fields. Employment is also expected to grow 14 to 19 percent from 2008-2018, significantly faster than the national prospected growth. The states with the highest levels of employment are:


  • California

  • Washington

  • New York

  • Minnesota

  • Oregon

The industries with the highest levels of employment are:


  • Motion picture and video production

  • Advertising and public relations

  • Computer systems design

  • Software publishers

  • Specialized design services

Earning your computer animation degree can help you find a practical application for your artistic skills in a fast-growing field.

Make Up Artistry As A Career Choice


A make up artist's job is to apply make up to a person's body in an attempt to either enhance features or completely change them. The entertainment, photography, modelling and wedding fields are the most common arenas to work in.

Make up artistry is mostly an on the job training type of occupation, relying on natural talents and instincts, although specialized courses will enhance your prospects for employment. Training yourself is certainly possible but you will need to keep yourself informed of the latest make up trends, and products on the market. Practicing on family and friends is a great way to test your skills and build confidence. However generally speaking, as in most industries, having qualification or extensive experience will be preferred over those applicants without.. Many novice make up artist will seek employment in a cosmetic company, where they will be exposed to various products and their uses and will usually have the opportunity to apply these on customers.

The entertainment industry is probably the most prestigious area of the make up artist field, with the movie arena being top of the list. It is a highly competitive field with very few openings, but those with established careers in this industry can earn upwards of $85,000.00 per annum. Experience and demand for your work will ultimately set your salary.

Photography and modelling are other fields that are popular areas to work in. These fields are a little easier to get into, but still require a lot of hard work and determination to succeed. It will take time to build up a good relationship with agencies and photographers, and may require a time of unpaid "work experience" to establish your network and reputation. The rewards can be very beneficial however with the potential to earn upwards of $1500 a day for an experienced make up artist.

Formals and weddings are the most popular areas for a budding make up artist and probably the easiest arena to move into. An average cost per face for weddings is around $50 and upwards of $100 for an experienced artist.

This field of work is exciting and can be extremely profitable. Sadly, it is also difficult to prepare for it and often hard to find employment in it. Many artists have had to hold down 9-5 day jobs and take on casual evening or weekend work in related employment such as cosmetic companies to gain the exposure they will require to make their presence in the industry known.if make up is your passion and you are successful, you can expect to be more than amply compensated.

Creative Photo Coffee Mug Gift Ideas


A photo coffee mug makes a great gift, decoration, centerpiece, or guest favor for any occasion. Whether you are celebrating a wedding, hosting a shower, or honoring a milestone such as retirement or graduation, a photo gift is a wonderful keepsake that will help everyone remember the special day.

By simply adding a photo, an ordinary mug can become an interesting and creative gift. It can bring humor, stir sentiment, incite nostalgia, or express hope for the future. It can make people laugh, it can remind them of a life well lived, or it can share the joy of happy events.

We have all experienced the frustration of trying to purchase a creative gift for the person who has absolutely everything, or the stress of finding the perfect idea to impress those hard to please people on our list. Well, now you can relax because the search is over - a photo coffee mug is the ideal choice for family and friends of every age, and even if they don't use if for their morning brew, they will appreciate the unique thought and the memories it creates.

A romantic Valentine photo mug of a couple could be filled with a chocolate covered strawberry bouquet, specially printed conversation hearts, or personalized M&Ms. Create a memorable wedding gift with a photo mug of the happy bride and groom filled with balloons or flowers. Or give a matching set, filling one with candles and gourmet chocolates and the other with coffee products and chocolate covered spoons so the couple can enjoy their gift from the intimacy of their honeymoon suite.

Looking for an original idea for your child's teacher? A photo mug of the class filled with fresh cut flowers, annuals, or chocolates would be a touching surprise. If possible, you could even fill the mug with little notes and cards from the students.

Fill a new baby photo mug with a beautiful sock bouquet. These teensy weensy little foot coverings can be rolled to look like roses and will add a special touch to a practical gift.

Create a photo mug of the sports fan holding a trophy or wearing the jersey of their favorite team. Filled with a bouquet of cookies shaped like soccer balls, footballs, tennis racquets etc., this gift is sure to become a special keepsake.

Need to buy a gift for a child's birthday? How about a photo mug with the child's picture? This alone will thrill every little boy or girl, but when filled with sundae toppings and a gift card to an ice cream parlor, it becomes a tasty treat. Complete a princess party by giving each little guest a photo mug of the guest of honor filled with lip gloss, lotions, and pretty hair barrettes.

Do you have a pet lover in the family? Create a photo mug using a picture of the cherished pet - with or without the owner - and fill with paw print chocolates or cookies. Of course, you can add a special touch by including a little something for the pet such as a bejeweled collar or a toy.

A photo mug of a new high school graduate could be filled with a bouquet made of chocolate grad hats, gift cards, or rolled money. What a great way to embark on the expensive college journey!

Using a photo editing program, add a chefs hat to your favorite baker and create a photo mug filled with a cookie cutter bouquet.

Celebrate a 50th birthday with a photo mug made from a baby or childhood picture of the recipient. Include joke items, face creams, lotions, or fill with favorite childhood treats.

Honor an anniversary by putting the couple's wedding photo on a mug and then filling with a bouquet made from pictures of their life together, including a certificate for a romantic dinner or a weekend getaway.

Every father would love a photo mug of his children filled with shaving supplies, or thrill a mom with a photo mug of her child's first drawing filled with her favorite flower.

Photo coffee mugs are a unique and creative idea that make the perfect gift for every occasion and can be customized to please everyone on your list.

Resizing Pictures Taken With Your Digital Camera - Why?


If you simply store pictures obtained from a digital camera as a thumbnail, without using an online image resizer, and send them to friends, family members, or colleagues, the recipient may not be able to download and see your pictures at the other end. This is because these thumbnails take too much time to download. Even if the other person is able to download the picture, he or she may not be able to rotate these images and the quality of the images could be poor. Before sending images, they should be resized and sent in a compressed form. A free online image resizer can be used for online image resizing, in orderto sendthe photos. After saving the resized online image orphotos on a desktop or laptop, they can be sent to others via email.

The picture obtained from a camera is much larger than any computer monitor. Therefore, it is beneficial to use a preferred online image resizer. A camera produces pictures of 100kb to 250kb if the camera setting is kept at its lowest level. For sending images through email or displaying images on the web, the preferred image size is between 20kb to 40kb. It is therefore important to resize images online in such a way that the resized online image obtained through the resizer is proportional to the computer screen.

Photos obtained from a digital camera are excellent, especially if the camera is at least 5 MP. These photos can be manipulated in Corel Draw, to improve the color and also make the picture brighter. Other photo editors can also be used for cosmetic changes, and photos can look better by improving the skin effect. One finished with any cosmetic changes, an offline or online image resizing tool can be used for resizing the picture.

There are many free online picture resizer applications available for a wide variety of needs. The picture, once finished with all cosmetic editing, can be uploaded to any of these free domains to get the desired result. There are also many offline tools available. IfranView is a favorite tool, which can easily resize and crop images. Photoshop can also be used for resizing images, with many macros developed for resizing pictures and photos, requiring the user to only enter basic inputs.

In conclusion, it is necessary to use an offline or online image resizer to resize pictures obtained from a digital camera. It is necessary to resize images online and resize pictures online or offline so that another person can download and view these files on their monitors easily. The images obtained from digital cameras are very large in filesize, and so these need to be reduced in size significantly in order to be sent through email or posted to blogs. An online picture resizer is therefore one of the best options to convert these images into the desired output, and once the desired output is acquired, it can be saved to a desktop or laptop to be sent by email or posted to a blog.

Fun and Interesting Freelance Jobs


You are about to embark on your career path. You want a job that you can be happy with. But you also want to earn a livable income. You have gone through the regular lists of careers and are not drawn to any. Here are some fun and interesting jobs that you may not have thought about. Bear in mind that if you are not the commuting type, you can still learn more about freelance work as well.

When you look through a magazine or surf websites, have you ever noticed how much they differ in print, color, pictures, etc.? The person who chose how those things would fit together was likely a graphic designer. To become a graphic designer, start with a degree in graphic design. Then become a freelance web designer.

For some people, scrapbooking is a hobby. You can make money by selling scrapbooking supplies, teaching classes, or actually creating a scrapbook for someone. There is no education needed; all you need to do is be experienced and have some great examples of your work. Do you like touring buildings and looking at their aesthetics designs? Perhaps you should consider a job as an architect. They are responsible for designing what a building will look like as well as making sure that they meet all building codes. To become an architect, your best bet would be to find a school accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

A game designer is the person who designed your favorite video game. Game designers can do a wide range of things like design the artwork, develop the plot, make the levels, and write the codes that actually make the game playable. To get the proper education, consider an animation, art, or computer science degree and pick electives that will enhance communication, artistic ability, and technical skills. If you love looking at pictures of models on the runway and like anything to do with clothing, a fashion designer would be a terrific job for you. You do not really need a specific degree to become a fashion designer. What really counts is experience gained through doing internships, working in clothing stores, or making/altering clothes. Gain any knowledge you can about fabrics, garment construction, and accessories.

Walk into any building and take a look around. What you see around you - the furniture, carpeting, wallpaper, paint - are likely the fruits of the labor of an interior designer. To become one, pursue a degree in interior design. Gain experience by being an apprentice. Once you have some experience, join the American Society of Interior Designers or a similar organization. Museum curators are responsible for putting together the displays in museums - from authenticating the artifacts to arranging the displays. To become a curator, you should get an applicable (history, art, science) master's or doctorate degree.

For many, creativity has become closely tied to art. If you want to be an artist, choose the media that you like most. Next, find a school that offers a good art degree program. Lastly, participate in all contests and exhibitions you can to gain exposure. There are so many directions that you can go. It does not really matter what you do to earn money as long as it is satisfying to you and meaningful to others. Again, any of these jobs can be done in a freelance format, so expand your horizons.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

12 Photo Posing Tips You Need To Know


Picture taking is inevitable. Almost everybody takes pictures about anyone or anything especially when there are important events in their lives.

Most people are conscious about how they look in the photograph. Some will immediately ask the photographer to let them have a look at the photograph after the shot. Sounds funny but it's true. You see, the old saying is always true, that pictures can paint a thousand words. So, we have to look nice in the pictures for people to say good about us.

It would really help if we know the basics of photo posing even though we are not really professional models or photographers.

So here is the list I have gathered to help you and me pose like professionals:

繚 Act natural. This is the most basic and most important thing to do. Just act natural and everything will be fine.

繚 Turn slightly to the side when standing. This will help you to look thinner and slimmer especially when you are alone in the photo.

繚 Cross your arms to draw attention away from stomach. No offense to those who have gifted stomachs out there but this can greatly help you. It will appear that your stomach is flat.

繚 Don't cross your legs when standing. It will appear like you want to go to the bathroom. This is not a beauty pageant.

繚 Turn your body slightly to the side when sitting. This will help you look thinner and slimmer in the photo.

繚 Pull head forward slightly. This can help the body to appear smaller than the head. I mean it. In photos, this can look great.

繚 Hold arms slightly away from body. This will help your body to appear bigger.

繚 Chest forward and stomach in. This can imply your personality in the picture. Imagine if your chest is not leaned forward and your stomach is out, it can mean that you are lousy.

繚 Look away from the camera. You can try this technique to make a "stolen" shot effect. This can help you to be less conscious.

繚 What is closest looks biggest. Just inculcate this principle in your heads. You know what body parts you are proud of so you can use this technique.

繚 In group picture, avoid standing at the end, the person always looks bigger. I do not really know but for some reason, the last person in either left or right in the photo appears much bigger than the rest. Try to look at your old photos and see the difference.

繚 Cross your legs when sitting. This is especially true if its portrait or when you are alone in the photo. It can help you look professional and confident.

Those are just some of the many photo posing tips out there. I'm pretty sure that with a little practice applying those techniques or tips, you can look like a professional model in your photos. Enjoy posing!

Social-Constructivism - The Importance of Forums, Blogs and Wikis to E-Learning


There are many specific ways that online degrees and e-Learning courses facilitate the learning of students via computer technology. Traditionally, video tutorials have offered instruction in a similar manner that a lecture would, and online chats have allowed synchronous seminar-like discussions to take place. In recent years though, the rise of social web platforms have become included in distance learning (as well as traditional higher education courses) to aid peer assessment; and, arguably, to enhance adaptation into an increasingly electronic world.

The idea of constructivism theory is accredited to Jean Piaget who noted the internalisation of knowledge in learners, and now his ideas inform much of the way education is taught. In basic terms Piaget theorises that experience stimulates knowledge, and today it is generally regarded that, for example, baking a cake would be a better way to learn the process than reading a book and being tested on it. Social-constructivism in e-Learning refers to participation with others to better the learning experience, and forums, blogs, and wikis are increasingly used to achieve this.

Internet forums have been a popular social web tool for many years. This has no doubt been due to the communal nature of their design, and their simple and informative layout. Consequently, forums are particularly important to online education because they are easy for new computer users to get used to and they offer an almost instant community feel. It is then very quick and convenient for students to post work, discussions, links to texts, or anything they deem necessary for their peers to see. There is also the added benefit of forums being asynchronous to allow students to post and respond at any time they like to.

Blogs, again, are simple to begin and maintain for a user who is relatively new to the internet. In an e-Learning environment blogs can give a student an opportunity to show work, document their time on the course, or to focus on a subject outside of the curriculum. Subsequently blogs are also a great introduction to getting used to the workings of the web and how to succeed online. Learning how web content travels and what subjects are popular on the internet is now as much of an important after-effect of e-Learning as the most basic IT skills - and becoming of increasing importance to potential employers.

Wikis are increasing in popularity among courses and learning establishments such as colleges and universities. Akin to the inherent community feel of forums, wikis allow all users to edit the content of a collection of web-pages. In the same way that Wikipedia allows everyone to edit and re-write a continually evolving encyclopaedia, educational wikis can be easily set up and run by teachers and course leaders to allow students to upload content that can range from, for example, niche subjects such as photography, or e-Learning in the establishment itself. Arguably unlike forums and blogs, there is more of an incentive for students to uphold the standard of informative quality when contributing to a wiki.

Obtaining a Fashion, Interior, or Graphic Design Degree


Preparing for the future is a concern for everyone. While a good majority goes the traditional route pursuing higher learning full-time at a four-year institution, not everyone chooses to do. With today's changing dynamics, some take a different path and choose a fashion, interior design, or graphic design degree instead. Intensive education through specialized courses can get you far in life, especially if you have an inclination for the arts. Coupled with the right knowledge and resources, your drive and ambition will lead to success. The following is a brief discussion about fashion and merchandising, interior, and graphic design, and choosing the right school.

Fashion and Merchandising

Many people have the mistaken notion that schools for fashion design are for ambitious designers only. The truth is the fashion industry composes of numerous sectors and those with relevant degrees can pursue more than one career. Degree holders can go into different fields like retail, art, print, and media. Many great opportunities await fashion school graduates, especially considering the competition for actual designing jobs is extreme.

Some examples of the possible career paths you can take include becoming a stylist for print, television, and film. Many people overlook the fact that stylists are behind the most iconic looks imitated by people worldwide. Magazine, TV, and the movies are major sources of inspiration for how people dress up. Your fondness for putting outfits together and knowledge about past and current trends can lead to a long-lasting and rewarding career.

The same is true if you decide to go into retail, media, or advertising. Your knowledge about the industry will get you far in these different fields. Apart from opportunities in the corporate world, you can also launch your own clothing line or similar business.

Interior Design

Homeowners across the country are starting to pay more attention to architecture and home design. This growing fascination is why more students choose to attend interior design colleges. Majoring in this prolific field puts you at the doorstep of numerous opportunities for success. Armed with passion and a degree, you can work in a wide variety of environments ranging from simple residential properties to commercial establishments and even the entertainment and hospitality industries. Another advantage of going to an interior design school is the employment opportunities that come after. You can join a firm or consultancy, or do freelance work.

Graphic Design

While you can pursue a graphic designing career without a degree, having one may give you an edge over other designers. The biggest advantage of going to school is you get the opportunity to build connections with like-minded people. It is a great opportunity to enhance your portfolio and work in collaboration with others. Moreover, establishing a network with other designers can lead to prospective business and freelance job opportunities down the road.

These are just some of the biggest benefits of attending a graphic, interior, or fashion design school. Research all your options and choose colleges recognized for excellent courses and programs. Specialized schools are always a good choice, as some of these institutions offer intensive courses to develop your skills. Choose a graphic or fashion design school committed to building a foundation for your future success.

What Does ISO Mean for Cameras?


People just getting started with digital photography might wonder what ISO means for cameras. ?While most people know how aperture and shutter speed will effect the light coming into their camera, few people understand the importance of ISO for cameras.

Generally defined, ISO is the camera's sensitivity to light. If the camera has a low ISO, the camera will be less sensitive to the light coming in. If the camera has a high ISO, it will be extremely sensitive to light. ISO settings are as follows: 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600. Although if you have a high-end DSLR camera, you might have ISO settings as high as 6400. As much as possible, you want to be able to get the lowest ISO setting on your camera, which in most cases is 100. This way, your pictures will always be of the highest quality.

However, in low light situations, this is not always possible. If you've already tried your best to adjust your shutter speed and aperture to let in most light possible, another solution to getting better light is to make your ISO higher. Although the picture will be grainier, the exposure will be better.

If you are in a bright location, where there is plenty of light (outside), you should always check and make sure that your ISO is at 100. Bumping up your ISO to 200 or 400 won't affect the quality of your pictures that much, but if you make your ISO 1600, you'll definitely notice a depreciation in quality.

I hope that you know understand the importance of ISO settings and incorporate it into your photographs. A change in the ISO setting can be a great way to get more light into your photographs when your shutter speed is already slow and your aperture is the lowest it can be.

Photography Equipment - Five Key Pieces You Can't Do Without!


In case you're thinking of taking your interest in photography from being a leisurely activity to a more serious venture, you may be speculating whether you have the correct photography equipment to make it as a full fledged professional photographer, without splashing a great deal of money on unnecessary equipment that you would never put to use. Therefore, before you take off to the nearest store or begin bidding on eBay, mull over the below information we've assembled for you.

Getting a Camera is basic!

Having a decent camera is mandatory. Lugging along your ancient Polaroid or 35mm camera with film possibly will not turn out the desired pictures, considering the latest models available. When looking for cameras at the photography equipment shop, you'll observe how everything is presented in megapixels. A pixel refers to a minute spot of color, and a thousand of such dots make a megapixel. The number of megapixels informs you how many minute dots are present horizontally and vertically; 6 megapixels indicates 6000 dots, 7 megapixels indicate 7000 dots, and so on. Although the majority of professional photographers tend to use a camera of about 6 - 7 megapixels, bear in mind that the human eye can just distinguish that many colors. Assuming that you should pick up the camera having the most megapixels currently available may turn out to be a sheer waste of money; instead save a little of that money for buying the other required pieces of photography equipment!

Lights

Considering you possess the top camera available in stores, your photography equipment must include some decent tri-lights or umbrella lights. You need to ensure your subjects are well illuminated in the studio. Normally a couple of these will do, and you can generally pick up used ones to cut back on costs. Go through eBay and bargain photography equipment supply shops in order that you get an excellent deal.

Reflectors

A reflector simply is a large sheet of what appears like a fine tin foil and occurs in many different shades. It most likely will be an essential photography equipment piece if you're operating in a studio. Now a reflector can direct your light more precisely, and if you employ them in various shades you'll observe various tints or hues in your photos.

People who don't wish to spend money on costly reflectors have discovered that big pieces of white poster board paper at times serve the purpose, but if you're keen on doing studio or portrait photography, take this to be an essential investment in photography gear.

Lenses

Even an extremely sophisticated camera, which focuses for you, may not be up to focusing well, particularly if you're thinking of some creative shots. You may wish to give a hazy impression of the backdrop or focus on something specific. In the absence of proper lenses, you may find it impossible to achieve that. Therefore, irrespective of the kind of camera you select, ensure you can pick up lenses as a part of photography equipment and understand how to operate them.

Computer Programs

You may not regard computer programs to be a part of photography equipment, but top photographers tend to invest in a fine program and learn everything about it. This will help you to rectify imperfections or faults in pictures, to soften flaws of your subject, obscure the backdrop, and do a lot more with your snapshots.

If you're extremely interested in becoming a professional photographer, keep in mind that customers will come back for further services to a photographer who produces the best images. This denotes being capable of correcting pictures after they've been clicked and being imaginative and innovative with them. People nowadays have extremely lofty expectations and demands for snapshots since they are aware that others who possess excellent computer programs as a part of their photography gear will be capable of producing those ingenious and artistic pictures.

Naturally, you may require some other photography equipment based on your specific area, but these are what any professional photographer possesses.

Top 10 Art Schools List


The top 10 art schools all have a few things in common. They all have a primary intent that is based around sculpture, photography, painting, illustration and other like-minded visual arts. Of course specific colleges will also focus on other art related subjects as well. This article will focus primarily on the top 10 art schools and any specific information respective to that school.

The List

This list of art schools is not given in any specific order and should be used as a broad measuring stick. The list could be used to assist you in your decision to apply to or attend a specific art school. This list includes:

School #1

Name: Royal Swedish Academy of Arts (Akademien för de fria konsterna)
Focus: Offers a variety of visual arts including building, sculpting and painting.
Location: Sweden

School #2

Name: Royal Academy of Arts
Focus: Offers a college level art education. An alternative to the Society of Artists.
Location: Piccadilly, London

School #3

Name: Iceland Academy of the Arts (Icelandic: Listaháskóli Íslands)
Focus: Offers a university level education in the arts.
Location: Iceland

School #4

Name: China Academy of Art
Focus: Offers Ph.D., master's and bachelor's degree programs. These are offered in film, multi-media, architecture, design and fine-arts. design, architecture, multi-media and film.
Location: China

School #5

Name: New School of Classical Art (NSCA)
Focus: Utilizes the Atelier Method of art instruction.
Location: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA

School #6

Name: New York Academy of Art (Graduate School of Figurative Art)
Focus: At this writing the only accredited school of it's kind in the world. Primary studies focus on the human figure. This is carried out with studies in drawing, painting, sculpture, art history and studying anatomy.
Location: NY,USA

School #7

Name: Cranbrook Academy of Art
Focus: Graduate school of design,art and architecture. Also included with the Cranbrook ducational Community
Location: Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

School #8

Name: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
Focus: Self paced academic and research programs related to objects and issues surrounding an adaptable style of art.
Location: MA,USA

School #9

Name: Art Institute of Phoenix
Focus: Web design, interior design, graphic design and design advertising.
Location: Phoenix,AZ,USA

School #10

Name: California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture
Focus: Ceramic and Earth Art technologies
Location: CA,USA

In Summary

This article has presented a list of what many consider to be the top 10 art schools. For more information on any specific school we recommend you consult the school in question. Of course you can always seek the online route to getting an art education.

Create Your Own High School Senior Portrait Cash Cow


Does the idea of doing something you love - AND getting paid for it - sound appealing? How about working three to five months a year for a couple hours a day and putting an extra $30,000 to $50,000 in your pocket - cash profit.

In 2010 there were an estimated 3.2 million graduating high school seniors in the United States. That trend is predicted to continue rising and is estimated to be in excess of 3.4 million graduating seniors per year by 2022.

The market for high school senior portraits is, year after year one of the most predictable and lucrative, and based on the above numbers, has ever-increasing potential.

A Market with a Built-in Sense of Urgency

One of the most challenging aspects of owning a portrait photography business - or any business for that matter - is getting paying customers in the door. Let's face it; professional portraits in this economy are a luxury for many families.

Everyone wants a nice family portrait but there's no sense of urgency - no reason to get it done now instead of next week, next month, or next year. What parent wouldn't like beautiful artistic images of their young children? But life is hectic, setting up a portrait session at a professional studio is such a hassle; let's just go to the chain store studio. Simple, easy, cheap.

Portraits on a Deadline

Not so with high school senior portraits. With senior portraits there's a deadline involved. Students need to turn their senior portrait in to their school office by a specific date - or risk being left out of the yearbook.

While more and more people log on to Facebook every day the average high school senior still orders between 50 and 300 wallet photos to exchange with friends and family. Yes they want to post their portraits on Facebook but they still want those wallet photos as well.

And professional quality senior portraits are simply a right-of-passage. For many teenagers their senior portrait session marks the end of one life and the beginning of another; childhood to adulthood in the space of an afternoon. These are the last portraits they'll have created while living under Mom and Dad's roof. Likewise, these are the last portraits Mom and Dad will have of their "little boy or girl". It can be an emotional time in the life of both the senior and the parents.

It's Easy and it's Not

Yes, there's a definite market for high school senior portraits, but that doesn't mean money falls from the sky.

You need the skill to create beautiful images that an often times fickle market (teenagers), will like and buy. Gone are the days of the black drape and a string of pearls for a girl's formal portrait.

Today's high school senior is all about the here and now. What's new and cool today are the grungy alleyways, cool portrait effects, and an eclectic mix of portrait products. These ain't yours or your Momma's senior portraits.

Today's high school seniors are more mature and more market savvy. They know what they want and if you can't, as a photographer, give it to them - you're yesterday's news. In a heartbeat.

The Time is Now

The entrance fee into the world of professional portraiture has dropped exponentially over the last few years. Just as the black drape and pearls have gone the way of non-reality based television, so too has the medium format camera and expensive studio equipment disappeared from the scene.

No longer is it necessary to rent expensive studio space or mortgage the house to buy lighting equipment, props and backgrounds. The trend today is towards natural and real - in everything from backgrounds to lighting and posing.

A pro-sumer digital camera with a 10 megapixel sensor can be had for under a thousand dollars. Combine that with your home computer and a copy of Photoshop and you're ready to rock.

Take the First Steps Today

If your passion is photography and you've always wanted to start a photography business of your own then it's time to take those tentative first steps.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

NYC Design Schools


New York City is known for its rich and diverse culture. People from all walks and strata of life flock there everyday in search of a home and career and, in the process, become an integral part of New York's uniqueness. Numerous design schools form an essential part to continue in adding to the city's glory and reputation. Students willing to take up designing as their career can choose from any of these schools to enhance their knowledge and build their careers.

Designing is a vast field of study and offers various streams of designing to specialize in. The different streams of designing may include visual arts, graphic designing, fashion and textile designing, interior designing and jewelry designing to name a few. The design schools located all over New York City offer various designing courses including all this and many more. Interested students can opt for any of the designing streams according to their area of interest and personal preferences. Most of the design schools offer state of the art infrastructure with well-equipped studios and individual workstations for the students. The duration of the courses may vary between one to two years, depending on the subjects and the course curriculum.

Special events and seminars are arranged to provide better exposure, hands-on projects, and assignments to help students in learning the intricacies of the various types of designing. Researches and thesis writing in specific courses also allows in depth knowledge on the topic of research. Highly qualified and experienced faculties, attached with these design schools, contribute to the continuous learning and growth of the students. Classroom lectures, conferences, student meetings, and seminars keep the students updated and well informed about the latest trends and conventional theories of designing. Libraries, galleries, and relaxation lounges are also part of the schools' infrastructure.

Detailed information regarding application procedures and course selection including fee structures are available online. Brief virtual tours of the schools also provide an idea of the schools' features and operating procedures. However, it is important to carefully check and compare the various schools, each promising the best outcome, to ensure proper value of the money spent and reap the benefits of the training acquired, before taking admission.

A Brief Overview Of Fashion Industry Magazines


Here is the list of all familiar fashion industry magazines around the world. This list comprises several types of business journals, magazines and periodicals. The information below also comprises brief overview, name of magazine etc.

The apparel strategist

This is the leading Canadian monthly magazine related to textile and fashion business. For the last eighteen yrs this journal is serving up the requirements of investors and professionals engaged in textile and apparel industry. This publication gives news reports about the latest trends, predictions on the subsequent development of industry, important statistics and graphical representations of textile and apparel industry trade cycles.

Images business of fashion

This popular business publication has all over million subscribers in mid east and Indian subcontinent. This publication emphasizes on retailing, marketing, branding and trading in apparel industry. Other vital topics covered in this publication are lifestyle, apparel, garments and awards related to beauty and fashion industry. This publication is printed every month. The publication is making a rule in United States and European markets.

Impressions

This publication is the web-based magazine issued thirteen times every yr. This publication is the most extraordinary source of info for technical and business information related to cosmetic business. This publication as well gives instructions about the package and some other things needed for operating the market digitally for adorned apparel such as screen-printing, embroidery, fancywork, digital adorning and heat-applied graphics.

Sportswear International

This magazine is the German publication, which is released six times a year, both in German and English language. This publication was launched in the yr 1975 and provides clear and effective info about sportswear, denims wear, outerwear, active wear, casual wear, latest menswear, modern dresses, footwear, young fashion designers, and fabric market. This publication reports on the latest brands, new trends and issues related to apparel industry. The extraordinary feature of their publication is their award-winning photography section and fashion shoot.

Fashion Market

This publication is the United States monthly magazine and one of the best-selling fashion industry magazines in US, which gives all the vital report about the fashion business. This publication generally provides the needs of corporate executives and women involved in fashion industry. It provides updated and latest news about fashion, style and businessmen.

Wearable business publication

This is the US based publication issued eleven times a year. This publication provides the needs of marketing agencies and promotional clothing products distributors. This publication caters the readers' new trends, latest news, commercializing and sales basics and tips about latest growths in accessories and apparel industry.

Glamour Magazine

This is a UK based magazine and top selling women's publication in Britain. It gives detailed info on beauty, style, and health. This publication as well features special section on horoscopes and contents on celebrities.

Pursuit

This is the most best-selling magazine in South Africa's fashion industry network. This publication is released onetime in every 2 months and is dedicated to textiles, apparel and some other related industries. This publication provides their readers with marketing techniques, new trends, interviews with a famous persons and reports.

Photography Portfolio Tips


SIZE DOES MATTER
This isn't the time to pinch pennies. We know that you've dug deep into your pockets to put yourself through photography school, but your portfolio is a worthwhile investment. Don't be scared off by the price of a glossy, 8" by 12" print on quality paper-if you choose carefully, it will last through the years and end up paying for itself when you nab a job. Of course, you need to be practical, and a full-size print isn't necessary for absolutely every photograph in your portfolio. Just make sure that your best work looks its best for this important occasion

QUALITY VS QUANTITY
If you're a perfectionist, then this is a decision you'll agonize over. What if, at this particular instant of artistic pique, you only truly love three of your shots? Should you include a 50-photograph entourage of mediocre ones to pad out your portfolio? When trying to walk that fine line between quality and quantity, erring on the side of quality is probably a safer bet. After all, the more photographs your employer has to rifle through, the lesser the impact of each one. And there's nothing like a poor photograph to counteract the strong impression left by one of your best ones. Being overly picky can also lead to your downfall, however. If you show up with a scant offering of past photographs, your employer will question the reasons behind the slim selection. Are you so sloppy and bad at meeting deadlines that you failed to order your prints on time? Or do you simply not have that many good shots? Attain a good balance in your portfolio by not going to either extreme.

DIVERSIFICATION
Don't show up with 100 shots of the sky taken on a single, perfect afternoon. Building your photography portfolio isn't a simple matter of finding all your best photos and leaving out your worst; you also need to consider what types of photos are included. You want to prove that you can diversify, that you'll be able to handle all manner of assignments given to you at your future job. If you have a particular strength, then represent it by all means, but don't let the other facets of your work fade into the background.

ALL IN THE DETAILS
Be an expert about your own work. While going through your portfolio, your employer will likely have questions about the camera, lens, exposure, and editing behind your photographs. Brush up on your own portfolio's history so you aren't left looking ignorant and forgetful when the inquisition comes. Better yet, note these relevant details in your portfolio, either on a separate sheet or in the margins or the back of each photograph.

A SECOND OPINION
In the end, when you've assembled your winning portfolio and you can't imagine adding or removing a single shot...get a second opinion. Seek advice from someone you trust: a teacher, a mentor, a fellow student who admires the same photographers that you do. You don't have to abide by their personal preferences, but it's a good thing to be aware that differing opinions on a photograph do exist. And if reactions are extremely strong or you see a pattern emerging among various people polled, they might be indicative of a truth that you overlooked. It's often hard for a photographer to gain some perspective because of all the hard work you've put into getting that special shot, so give other people a chance to open your eyes a bit.

Of course, in the end, the photos will speak for themselves. Don't wait until the last minute to compile your portfolio; it should be a constant work-in-progress as you assess the changing caliber of your photography and update older shots with better examples using more refined techniques. Strengthen it here and there, weed out the weaker sections, and your portfolio will always showcase you at your best.

Start a Photography Business - Got a Digital Camera?


Got a good camera and a PC? You could have your own business as a photographer and enjoy working from home. There are so many opportunities for different types and styles of photography from advertising to portraits to pets. Beware the wedding photography market - it is fraught with danger such as lawsuits for mishaps and many think of it as being far too much effort and stress to be worthwhile. You can choose to specialize but don't make the mistake of allowing yourself to get so specialized as to miss out on other rewarding areas of photography.

Many new businesses start with stock photography sold through the online stock libraries. While they usually don't pay much they are useful for a little cash on the side while you practice your art and start making a name for yourself. You will get a good feel for what types of photos are in demand and can turn that to your advantage in other ways.

These days you'll need to be familiar with digital graphics techniques including the use of photoshop and other software. This will allow you to enhance your offerings and even get into the graphic art market. You will need to stay on top of developments in technology which you should view as part of the fun and find further opportunity with.

Of course you'll have to market your business. You need to get noticed and it is not necessarily plain sailing but you will have to keep at it! Does your advertising material give a good impression about you and your business? Is it eye-catching and appealing? Is it likely to be remembered by prospective clients? Have you taken the time to get friends to look it over and give their opinions? Make sure you have a great website, one that can do your pictures proud, you can use it as a portfolio of your work to attract more business.

The best part about this business? Probably the fact you can choose your workload and hours, its actually possible to earn some good money as a part-time venture too. Either way get yourself a copy of "Income from Photography" by Roy Barker, a veritable bible for photographers starting out in business, you'll be glad of the truckloads of advice, tips and bonuses.

You Can't Experience Real Success Without Knowing Failure


Yes I know; it's a pretty bold statement to declare that you can't experience success without knowing failure, but it is definitely something that I personally know to be true. I say that with conviction because it is one of those lessons that will at some point, come into your life. What you do with that failure experience, can contribute to your success or Heaven forbid, totally deplete you of confidence and create a life with a never-ending progression of disappointments, if you allow that to happen.

Failure is something that everyone I know has faced in some way, and at some time. It may be in a relationship gone wrong, a job or business that went bust, or simply not reaching a goal such as losing weight or finishing a course. No one gets away in this life without going through, and feeling the anguish of failing. But if you truly believe in yourself, failure is not a shameful badge to wear; it is just a stepping stone to success, and a very powerful stepping stone.

I have certainly had failures in my life, maybe more so than many people because I am a big risk taker. I am the kind of person who thinks and believes that I can do anything. That is a bit of a double-edged sword. It is good thing because I am open to experiment a variety of experiences and jobs and relationships, and that means gaining experience and learning lessons. It is troublesome because it means I can't do everything that I think I can, so I spend a lot of time spinning my wheels on things that aren't important, and yes, failing sometimes. To add to that, I don't give up easily, but I consider that to be strength as opposed to a weakness. I have learned to take failure into stride, but it wasn't always easy.

When you are undergoing some kind of failure in your life, you may feel incredulous that this could ever happen to you. I look at that reaction as not being aware of who you are, and where your capabilities lie, and recognizing that even you have some limits. If you have taken on a job that is way beyond your experience and you think you can handle it that is where trouble and lessons in life come into play. Failures can teach you and provide invaluable insight if you take the time to assess "the why and the where" you went wrong. Although it is good to reach for the stars when you have a goal, you better have the right medium to get you there. Failures mean gaining experience and alerting you to the fact that something important was missed along the way. So you need to understand what that is and why, and take that knowledge to create a better experience. When you apply what you learn from your mistakes and failures, that is what creates your foundation as a human being. It builds strength, character and infinite awareness. Those are the gifts of failure.

When I first entered the world of internet marketing many years ago, I assumed it would be a piece of cake for me because I had so many years of experience in high tech business and marketing. I literally exhausted almost two years with no success, and wasted a huge amount of money trying to prove to myself that I could easily make a success of it with a few tools, and without the benefit of learning and gaining an understanding that this kind of business is on a whole different level. I laugh at myself now when I think back to how naive I was about managing a business online. After all, I was a success in many high tech companies and held powerful positions, so really, how difficult could it be to move into the online world of business and marketing? Because of my mild arrogance, my first two online businesses failed miserably. I was unsuccessful and I had to face that unpleasant fact. It was one of the bitter failure pills that I had to learn to swallow. But with each failure pill I swallowed, I became aware that failing really isn't that bad. Failures and lessons were slowly but surely building me up for success. In fact, when I look back on my failures, I can clearly see why I was unsuccessful at certain things.

For me, any kind of failure just wasn't an option. I guess I believed that I would magically adapt to new things through osmosis. I was under the illusion that somehow without taking the time to learn new techniques and methods, everything that I needed to know would just seep in. I know that sounds ridiculous and it is, but that was what I believed. Success in one area does not guarantee success in another. That was another huge revelation that registered with me from one of my early failures. Some people call that an epiphany. It was an epiphany to me and it is something that I convey when coaching my clients. It has been an eye opener to many.

So my failures have led me to where I am today, and that is in a good place. I learned a lot of things about myself with each failure. Every failure brought a gift wrapped lesson to me and when I looked inside and applied the knowledge from those lessons to my next venture, my success began to rise. I became more aware and focused. Failures built up my character and perseverance and strengthened my will and resolve to always do better. It made me clearly aware of some of my flaws, but more importantly it highlighted my strengths.

We are human. We are fallible and we make mistakes and undergo some failures. That doesn't mean that you personally are a failure, it simply means that you haven't navigated through all the stepping stones to the specific success victory that is intended exclusively for you. So don't fear failure, because it can lead you straight to your success.

How to Start Learning Digital Photography


How Hard is it to Take Good Pictures?

While very easy to operate, even the simplest digital camera is capable of far more than most people use it for. Some features of a camera defy common knowledge and relying on what is intuitive will sometimes stand in your way of taking a good picture.

For example, unskilled photographers often use the on-camera flash indoors or where there is not much light in the belief that it will create the light necessary for a good picture. What it actually does is cause objects near to the camera to be washed out, while the background will be nearly pitch black. If the flash was not used, the lens would stay open until enough ambient light was collected to take a quality picture.

So when is using the flash appropriate? Instead of using it to light up a dark room, the flash should be used outdoors when it is bright out, and there are both sunlit and shaded objects in the same area. The reason for this is that some picture formats (such as JPEG) can't capture the full range of light that our eyes can. If shaded and sunlit subjects are in the same frame, the shaded objects will appear too dark and the lit subjects will appear too bright when seen together. Using the flash gets rid of the shaded areas and gives the picture consistency.

How I Became a Skilled Photographer

Some time ago I was given an expensive digital camera as a gift, but I never really got too much use out of it. I would take pictures without any real thought put into what I was doing, simply pointing the camera at what I wanted to take a picture of and pressing the button. While this worked alright for taking pictures of a night out or family event, I never felt like I was really making the most out of the expensive camera I was given. I decided that I wanted to take a digital photography class and learn how to use it better, but all the classes I saw available were prohibitively expensive.

Classes at the nearby community college cost almost $500 and the online courses I came across online weren't much cheaper. I found some free tutorials online, but they weren't very high quality. It was then that a friend recommended LearnDigitalPhotographyNow.com. They offered a cheap eBook with a bunch of extras. While I was a bit skeptical at first, they provided a money-back guarantee so I gave it a try.

Needless to say I was very impressed. Their eBook laid out step by step what I needed to do to become a good photographer, and after following their guide I was able to take much better pictures in only a few weeks. Recently I have even begun making money by submitting some of my pictures to various website as stock photos.

I am very glad I decided to try LearnDigitalPhotographyNow's ebook, as it has not only given me a rewarding hobby, but some extra spending money as well, If you are looking to improve your photography skills and don't want to spend a fortune to do so, I highly recommend checking them out. There is a link in my signature that you can take if you want to learn more.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

7 Ways To Become A Better Photographer


Simply owning a good Canon mid-range DSLR camera does not make one a good photographer. It could be said that it is not the camera but the one who holds the camera that makes a good picture. So, if your goal is to become a better photographer, there are quite a few paths that one might take to reach that goal. You must first learn the mechanics of taking pictures, and then you must learn the art of good photography. This article is about some of the paths to reach the end point of becoming a better photographer.

1. Get a good camera. Yes, an artist can make a good picture with a pinhole camera or a cell phone, but you will want to make your pictures the best they can be by mastering the mechanics as well as the art. Many teachers recommend getting a nice Canon mid-range DSLR camera. With this kind camera, you can learn all the techniques of professional picture making should that be your ultimate goal. However, if you just want to be better at the craft of creating images, it will still serve you well.

2. Find photographers you like. Study the photos that you have a personal interest in. There will be websites and galleries for you to explore. But don't just look at them, study them. Look at the composition and the lighting, trying to figure out what it is about the picture that makes it special for you. You then try to emulate the qualities that make it special in your own photography. Be patient with yourself, since this may not happen right away. Practice and patience will pay off.

3. Join photography websites. There are many websites that have memberships. You become part of a community where you can share your images by uploading them and having others comment and critique them. You will get lots of valuable feedback. But you will also forge some extremely valuable friendships that will help you along your way toward improvement.

4. Join a photo club or society. This is similar to the method described above, except you will be physically communicating with your new friends. Don't be bashful about asking for help with your craft. There is nothing most photographers like more than explaining how they got that great shot. There will be monthly meetings and the chance for going on outings with the club. Again, these experiences are where you can learn very quickly as you work together with your peers and compare your images.

5. Go on photography field trips/workshops. If you subscribe to photo magazines, you can find lots of ads for workshops and trips with a teaching photographer. These trips are usually a day to several days in length and have a limited number of participants so that each one can get personal attention from the professional. This is an excellent opportunity to learn new skills and hone some existing ones.

6. Take a class. There are a couple of options for taking classes. One is to take a class at the camera store where you buy your digital SLR camera. Many quality shops offer these classes as part of the purchase price. Another place to find a class is at your local continuing education school. Check with your local board of education to get in touch with the right office. This kind of class can be for beginners or intermediate photographers, but the best part is that it is extremely cheap.

7. Go to photography school. If you are serious about becoming a professional photographer, going to an accredited school of photography is your best bet. You will learn all the aspects of the art, and when you graduate, you will already be an accomplished expert. It is by far the best way to reach your goal.

Improving your photography skills can come in many different "colors." Your first step should be to determine what your goal is. If you just want to get better at photography as a hobby, you can spend some time at the camera forums and practicing around the home. If, on the other hand, your goal is to become a professional, an art school will get you there much faster than any of the other suggestions. Most folks fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

The Truth About Fashion Education


Fashion design is one of the easiest specialties and all designers should use their creative ideas to create marketable products and pay attention to the quality of the workmanship.As a concept fashion design is an art form but in reality it is a craft. It can be compared to jewellery making.

The designer comes up with a concept, an idea, which usually follows a fashion brief. Either a full range is designed, where all garments must be united or a once off dress is created. Even when the students are designing a garment for themselves, there already is a certain context. Example: when designing trousers, is it for summer or for winter? Is it day or evening pants? Is it simple and contemporary or posh and fancy or is it classic?

The purpose of CRE Fashion design school programs is for students to develop their own signature style, which is a reflection of one's individuality and is also an extension of the learner's interests and talents.

Designers find inspiration in fields seemingly out of the fashion field, such as music, cinema, art, photography or even one's daily life. Reading fashion magazines and knowing the current trends is good, but should not be overdone as our minds will inevitably copy design ideas.

Each design will follow a specific brief from a client or for a particular fashion brand, usually considering the seasonal trends. The designer comes up with a certain concept, a visual of the cut and the shape. Then decisions are required on the main colours, fabrics and features. Example: style lines, pockets etc. Further on the supporting colours, fabrics and features must be highlighted, Example: decoration, gathering, slits etc. The visual in a person's mind is moving with endless variations and the best ones must be identified, however it is not possible that the image is held still and turned front, back and imagined completed, this is why we draw. The student starts with a Fashion illustration, which is the creative interpretation of the design idea.

Then the design circle follows with a Technical drawing, where the particular fabrics are chosen. Then Pattern making and Garment construction (Cutting & Sewing) follow.

Photography Colleges in India


Photography is a hobby of millions, but passion of a handful. Photography is not a profession or means of livelihood. It is not learning how to operate the best camera ever manufactured. It is not being taught the science of photography. It is an aesthetic experience that has to be self motivated and inspirational. The Photography Colleges in India aim at students' learning theories that have a practical usage. They build up the skills required to be a good photographer without compromising the beauty of the art form. Photography has to be spontaneous and not just clicking; not setting backgrounds and searching for subjects. An eye for detail in combination with a creative mind are the requisites that photography colleges nurture and develop in those driven by it.

The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), in Pune, offers a specialized course in photography - still as well as video. This institute is highly practical oriented and has the best faculty in the country. There is no strict admission criteria, but you have to clear the test and be focused and keen on the course to be a part of FTII. Thus anyone who has passed the 12th standard is eligible to apply for the full time diploma and certificate course in photography.

St. Xavier's Institute of Photography, a component of the St. Xavier's College in Mumbai, is another very good option for students interested in taking up photography as a profession. This college concentrates on intensive training and field work. Any school pass out can apply.

National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmadabad is a premier government institute in India. It is highly professional and competitive. This college lives by the survival of the fittest mantra. Getting through is difficult. It is not meant for those who mug and sit for exams. It tests your aptitude, skill and creativity, how good you are at experimenting and how fearless. The entire course is designed in a fashion that makes you a true professional. NID strives to make every student unique and not just follow the trend. The amateur photographer in you will find real world knowledge here.

Bhopal Vishwavidyalaya comprises of various courses and levels of study. The course on photography forms an integral and important part of it. It is one of the sought after colleges of photography. There is no specific eligibility criteria, and any Class XII pass out can apply for the degree.

In Delhi is a recognized specific photography institute, the India International Photographic Council. The academic requirements for admission is negligible, but the course highly professional and intensive. Jamia Milia Islamia in New Delhi offers a subsidiary course in photography. It is well known for its programs and the training.

A course in photography in Andhra Pradesh is offered by the Sri Venkatesvara University in Chitoor and Tirupati, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad, and Jawaharlal Technological University in Hyderabad.

In Orissa, a degree in photography is granted by the Utkal University, BJB College and the Bhubaneshwar College.

Uttar Pradesh has a number of good photography colleges, the Allahabad University being a pioneer. Also are the Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi, University of Gorakhpur, Deendayal Upadhyay College, National Institute of Design in Allahabad, and Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth.

Kerala houses a couple of institutions for photography learning which are the Maharaja Technological Institute in Thissur and the B.C.L. Institute of Color Photography and Video-graphy in Changanacherry.

Madhya Pradesh photography training institutions are the Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya of Bhopal, Ravi Shankar University in Raipur, and Jiwaji University in Gwalior.

The Academy of Photography in West Bengal is another choice of college available for photography training in India.

Photography does not require learning or formal education. The photography colleges in India do not tutor you, but train you so that the talent in you can be utilized effectively. It polishes the skill that will make you a good photographer. The basics if learnt well will not only give you an edge over others, but also make you more creative, experimental and observational that is the essence of this profession.