Artistic Photography-Photographers

One of the most rewarding aspects of a photographer s career can be capturing moments and memories from the weddings of loving and happy couples. In fact, making sure that each and every shot, whether candid or posed, is just right can be both amazingly difficult and uniquely rewarding at the same time. As a wedding photographer you carry an awesome responsibility. The events that you are recording on film will occur for these two particular people only once and the way that they remember their wedding will be directly affected by the job that you do. Because of this, the wedding photographer s task, while not as glamorous as that of a fashion, sports or news photographer, may be the most important in the craft of photography itself. Photographs like those of the flag raising at Iwo Jima, the unnamed sailor kissing his unnamed girlfriend after the end of World War II, and the New York firemen raising the US flag on 9/11 may have dramatic impact on the entire world, but the wedding photographer has the ability to impact the lives of individuals in a unique and profound way.

Wedding photographers must learn to be able to catch the smallest details of the wedding occasion in a way that will create lasting memories. The focus, of course, is always the bride and groom, but the wedding photographer is also charged with recording those moments that the busy couple may not even have been aware of. While the couple is sure to cherish the photographs of themselves at the altar, reciting their vows or stuffing that traditional first piece of wedding cake into each other s mouths, it is the photos of a happily drunken Uncle Jack trying to do The Chicken Dance or of a small child s reaction to the sheer enormity of the event that will be looked upon and remembered fondly by the couple and their family for years to come.

The key to being a successful wedding photographer lies in two concepts: ability and invisibility. The skilled wedding photographer will use her ability to set up poses that result in beautiful and memorable images, to use correct lighting and filter effects on the final product that create breathtaking images, and to make everyone she photographs look better than they do in life. She will use invisibility to be able to catch all those candid moments and get incredible shots of the ceremony in process while remaining unobtrusive and almost completely unnoticed by the wedding party and guests. Mastery of these skills takes time, training, and a certain amount of instinct, but the best wedding photographers have it down to an art.

If photography is your field of choice, you could certainly do worse than opting to work as a wedding photographer. You ll get to see people at their happiest moments; looking as beautiful and radiant as they can, the memories you help to create and maintain will last for their entire lifetimes, and they will always remember the incredible work of the photographer at their wedding.

About the Author
This article courtesy of http://www.wedding-album-guide.com

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Thinking of joining the ranks of the greatest photographers of all time? Well, it might be a good idea to check out a few of them and the works they’ve done so you know just what it is you’re up against.

Probably one of the most famous photographers of all time was Ansel Adams. Adams was born In San Francisco California in 1902. He lived in Carmel until he died in 1984. His most popular photo was titled “Moonrise Over Hernandez, 1944″. This is a breathtaking photo showing a beautiful night view and the small town below it. Other famous photos by Adams were “Clearing Winter Storm” and “Winter Sunrise”. Adams did a lot of outdoor photography with some breathtaking views. His most popular photo has about 1000 copies in print. The price range of these photos, depending on condition goes from $5,000 to $175,000 if you can find one.

Moving from outdoor photography of landscapes to nude women on beaches we have the works of Jock Sturges. Sturges was born in the big city of New York in the year 1947. He currently lives in Seattle, Washington. His most popular images, all of beach nudes, are “Misty Dawn 1991″ and “Northern California, 1991″. His prints range in price from $1,000 to $3,000. His most expensive print sold for $4,000.

Herman Leonard was known for taking great photographs of jazz legends. He was born in Allentown, PA in 1923. He currently lives and works in New Orleans. His most popular images are photos of great jazz legends Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. Herman Leonard was one of the more active photographers even when not working at his craft. He often traveled with great entertainers like Marlon Brando, who he hung out with in 1954. His photos range in price from $950 to $5,500.

Another great photographer was Irving Penn who was born in Plainfield, NJ in 1917. Penn was actually known for a number of different styles of photography including fashion photography and provocative life style portraits. His most famous work was “Cuzco Children” which sold for as much as $175,000 at the turn of the century. Penn worked for some of the most popular magazines of our time including Harper’s Bazaar, Saks Fifth Avenue and Vogue Magazine.

Another great photographer, who most people have actually heard of, was the one and only Helmut Newton, who just recently passed away in 2004. He was most known for photos involving fashion and nudes illustrating themes of mass media, glamour, sex and theater. Newton’s work was often categorized as bizarre. He was once quoted as saying “My job as a portrait photographer is to seduce, amuse and entertain”. He most certainly did that better than just about anyone else. His most popular image is “Sie Kommen I, II”. His photographs are in such demand that some go for as much as $400,000 each.

The list of famous photographers goes on, literally forever. So if you are thinking of joining the ranks of these greats and many others, then you’re going to have to work hard at your craft.

Very, very hard.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Photography

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Underwater Photography: The Wonders Under the Sea
by Colin Hartness
http://www.asaphotography.com

The world of photography is an amazing one. It s been with us for quite a while now but it is constantly changing. Cameras are changing and improving. Methods of developing are changing and improving as well. We have digital cameras that allow people to take a view of their pictures immediately without traditional developing. Another change in the world of photography is underwater photography.

What do you think brings us those great shots of saltwater fish and movies that film in the ocean and under the sea? What about shots taken in swimming pools? You see those in the movies a lot but may not have thought about how they take those pictures and videos.

You probably never thought about it because for a long time underwater photography was not really an option for everyday people. But now it is not just an option, it s really easy to achieve.

What is Underwater Photography?

Underwater photography is as the name implies photos that are taken under water. This is pretty interesting since early cameras could not function if wet. But as people started discovering the wonders under the sea, they wanted to be able to share that with others or even just to prove what they actually saw. So we began creating cameras that could work under water.

It is no surprise that underwater photography is a favorite pastime for scuba divers. The idea could have come from those few people that were able to experience the joys and beauty of underwater life and a desire to share that beauty with others.

There are many different occasions where people use underwater photography. As we mentioned earlier, underwater photography is used in Hollywood for movies. You have probably also seen it used on documentaries and national geographic type programs about underwater life.

But it is still most commonly used by divers. There are many websites dedicated to all the ins and outs of underwater photography; which cameras and lenses are best, which film to use, and much more can be found on these sites.

How to Take Underwater Photography

Equipment is an important factor in taking great underwater photography. Of course you will need an underwater camera but there is more than just that.

You can take some amazing pictures using underwater photography. There are now even disposable use underwater cameras and you can take them on vacation with you and get that great underwater look. Even an amateur can do it. Disposable underwater cameras can typically be developed at your local Wal-Mart or other film developing center. You can also purchase underwater cameras for more of a price but they last whenever you need one. Some people find this more economical than disposables, especially if they want to take these pictures often.

Just like other venues of photography, you will probably start off with a cheaper and less advanced camera and work your way up if you continue underwater photography for a long time. There are two basics kinds of cameras; the underwater or waterproof camera and the encased camera which is inside a housing that protects it.

When taking pictures, you are going to need to be familiar with:

Your camera
Your lens
Your film
Your flash
There are different things in your environment that will affect the quality of your underwater photography. Such as:

- Depth of water and transparency of water
- Light
- The angle of the sunlight on the top of the water
- The backscatter
- Water has a magnifying effect

These are some things to help you get started in the world of underwater photography. If you are lucky enough to be swimming in the sea, you should get some proof to share with others.

About the Author
Looking for information about Photography?
Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com
‘ASA Photography’ is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Photography!
Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Have you got down with the latest craze sweeping the Internet? Blogging. Everyone s doing it, everywhere you look. Such a simple concept but with amazing capabilities. The power to spread news, gossip, and of course images.

Getting more to the point, lets talk about photography blogs. What a great opportunity to share your images with the rest of the world. You can post your images daily if your keen enough, people can write comments about your images, and at the same time you build up an online journal of your photography. All that is needed is a bit of time and dedication.

Blogs are useful in a number of ways. Not only will they be useful in showing off your images, they will have a positive effect on traffic to your website. Search engines love them, there easy to pick up and before long you will have people coming onto your blog directed from search engines.

So how do you go about setting up a blog? There are plenty of places you can go to set up a blog, I personally use Movable Type. Once set up you can start talking to the world. There are a few things to remember to make your blog more effective. First off, update regularly. This will keep a fresh supply of information on your blog and show it is used and updated regularly. Make your submitted information / images appropriate to the type of blog you have. In doing these simple steps your blog is more likely to attract repeat visits.

A good idea for photography blogs is to try and match the images you show to the time of year. For example, in December show images containing snow and ice. Around Halloween show eerie looking images. The point I am trying to make is, be imaginative but at the same time relate your images to the context of time. This makes the blog more appealing, interesting and appropriate.

I have jumped on the bandwagon of blogging myself. I have been trying to put the above into practice. I use the blog to show my photography. The image is displayed followed by a short insight into the image, the location and my personal insight into the photograph. Rather than just having my photography website, I wanted something a bit more personal which could reach people on a different level. Blogging was the perfect solution.

Try it yourself and join the blogging craze!

John Threlfall is a self-taught photographer with a deep passion for nature photography. With an upbringing in the countryside, John strives to capture his feelings and emotions within his images. John has a Masters Degree in ‘Creative Imaging’. His work can be viewed at http://www.capturednature.com The images capture the pure simplistic, yet breathtaking beauty that is hidden away in rural Britain.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Whether you’re a professional or an amateur photographers having the correct photography equipment to accomplish the job is a must. Whether it’s vacation shots or weddings on weekends you always want your photos to come out looking their best. Of course a pro will need more photography equipment then someone who just considers photography a hobby, how ever the more you want to accomplish with your camera the more equipment you’ll need.

We all need a camera that supplies clear, crisp photos, but not every camera suits every type of photo you might find yourself taking. A regular camera often needs some assistance when taking a close up or far away shot. It’s situations like these that the wide variety of photography equipment available can help. If you’re serious about photography then purchasing an SLR camera with a detachable lens is probably your best bet. This will allow you to purchase the lenses you need for different scenarios. The cameras will vary in price, and depending on how many features you want available in the camera body will dictate how much you spend.

Of course it’s not just accessories that attach directly to the camera that you might need. Other photography equipment such as a tripod, or steady cam are important for still shots. Also additional sources of light are a common piece of equipment as you become more advanced. Depending on what type of photographs you specialize in i.e. Landscapes or portraits there are pieces of equipment that go along with it. A good camera bag to hold all of your equipment, cleaning supplies and accessories is also a worth while purchase.

There is a photography equipment store in most cities, you may be able to find all you’ll need in a single trip. How ever if you’re a bargain hunter like so many comparison shopping on the Internet might be a better choice. Because there are so many amateur and pro photographers upgrading equipment so often, ebay is often a good place to start looking for deals. Especially if you’re only new to the world of cameras and equipment, you can acquire some wonderful startup gear for great prices. If you’re more looking for the newest available take the time to review some product review websites, and then get down to the nitty gritty of searching out the best price at a store online.

About the Author :

To discover more about the world of photography, and read articles about differet photo styles and equipment visit our website at All Photography Tips

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Do you like to take photos? Are you always standing by with your camera waiting for that moment that is meant to be captured on camera? You may even be taking photography classes or maybe you have already completed a photography course and you want to share your photos with others. You may want to get into photography as a career and winning a photography contest will help you get recognized. Maybe you are just an amateur that has a favorite photo that people keep telling you to enter.

Whatever your reasons, a photography contest can be a fun and rewarding experience for you. To find out all you need to know about entering a photography contest, read on.

How to Enter a Photography Contest

There are some excellent photography contests out there, some even offer large cash prizes, scholarships to photography schools and really nice cameras and camera supplies. Aside from the prizes, winning a contest may be your opportunity to showcase your photography skills in a national magazine. It s easy to see why someone would want to enter a contest.

First you are going to want to choose a contest. In fact, there are so many out there you should make a list of ones you are interested in competing in. There are contests in almost every category you can think of; wildlife, underwater, boats, boat docks, people, children, self portraits, birds, tress, flowers, and much more. Some contests are not category-specific but leave you freedom to use your creativity.

Next, you will double check the dates for entries to make sure you are not wasting your time sending to one that has already reached its deadline. You will also want to check any and all requirements to the contest and make sure you qualify. You will then want to check for any fine print and be sure you agree with the terms. For example, some contests have rules about copyright and you give up copyright by submitting, others ask for print to publish even if you don t win, and without notifying you. If you do not agree to the terms of the contest, you should not enter. By entering, you are agreeing to the terms. There may also be entry fees required for the contests.

Tips for Better Photos

You may be amateur but if you are entering a photography contest, you are competing with the best of the best. You are going to need your photos to be excellent if you expect to win. There are different things that make up a good photo. If your photography contest is based on a topic, then that topic is going to be counted as part of the score. You will want to be original and if possible, catch a scene that has not been done before. You really want to impress the judges with something you do not normally see.

Next to consider, are your technical aspects of your photograph. You are going to want to have excellent composition, lighting, focus, contrast, exposure, perspective and more. There are many factors involved in taking the picture that will win the photography contest. You may not win every time but you should learn something about photography and how to make yours better each time you enter.

by Colin Hartness

http://www.asaphotography.com

Looking for information about Photography?

Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com

‘ASA Photography’ is published by Colin Hartness -

An excellent resource for Photography!

Check out more cruise articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

Your wedding photography is arguably one of the most important wedding planning decisions you will make as a bride after all, once the plates are cleared and the flowers die all you ll have left of your wedding day is the photographs. Bottom line - scrimp on photography, and you’ll regret it forever.

You should plan to allocate a significant portion of your wedding budget to ensure photographs are perfect. Expect to spend at least $1000 on a professional wedding photographer to document your event. Albums and prints are usually extra. Other extras that may increase your bottom line include additional hours, additional photographers, custom albums etc. etc. Add on too many extras and your photography budget could quickly creep to $5000 and beyond!

Before you panic, remember that just like every other element in your wedding day, there are ways to save on wedding photography without sacrificing on quality. Save on wedding photography with these photography budget tips:

Cut the Extras
Purchase a basic wedding photography package from a skilled photographer. By paying for the photographer s expertise only, you will ensure great images and you ll buy yourself some time to save up for the custom album and prints after the wedding.

Get the Proofs
To that end, try to find a photographer who will let you keep the proofs. Many photographers consider themselves to be photographers only - artists not in the business of selling photographs. After the big day, they ll hand over your proofs and be on their way. They re yours to keep you can print them in any manner you please or save them for printing after you ve saved up some cash.

Enter the Digital Age
Digital photography is less costly than film, and with technological advances in equipment digital images are no longer a sacrifice in quality. Many photographers have taken the digital plunge which results in savings for you!

Cut the Timeline
The longer your event, the more it will cost to document it. Since photographers often charge based on the number of hours they will spend at your wedding, a shorter/smaller wedding celebration will yield big savings in your photography budget.

Do Your Research
This sounds like a given, but you will find that a number of photographers in your area offer similar skill levels and packages yet varying prices. We re not saying to go on price alone, but definitely take your time to shop around and REALLY compare what you are getting. Determine the skill level, photography style and products that suit your needs, and then shop for the wedding photographer who meets your requirements and budget.

For a complete guide to keeping your sanity while creating an elegant and memorable wedding celebration, visit http://www.elegala.com, your ultimate wedding planning resource.

Cori Locklin is editor-in-chief for http://www.elegala.com and Elegala Magazine. Elegala is a new wedding planning resource offering the most comprehensive portfolio of superior wedding reception sites and wedding vendors, with the planning tips to keep brides in the know on today’s planning trends and styles.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

What is Landscape Photography?

Landscape photography is, technically speaking, photography of wide vistas. Typically we think of landscape photography as purely mother nature, but it can also include urban landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, and more, depending on your definition.

When you see a landscape scene that makes you stop and take a photo, try to figure out what made you want to capture that shot. What is the essence of the scene, and how would you describe it? Is it a lush forest, or a barren dessert? The words you use to describe it should be the mood you try to capture on film.

Whatever your description, try to focus on one thing that evokes that mood, and compose your image to emphasize that thing - consider using different lenses, different lighting (sunset vs harsh mid-day sun vs moonlight), and different compositions to accentuate your chosen mood. For example, to highlight a barren desert, consider shooting mid-day with a polarizing filter where the shadows are the most dramatic. If you capture a lone camel trotting along into a seemingly infinite desert, that might accomplish hopelessness.

Once you’ve chosen your scene and your emotion, you must figure out how to create a sense of depth in your image (foreground, midground, and background) while giving the eye something to focus on - perhaps a waterfall or lake, or even a splash of colour in an otherwise dreary landscape.

Depth within a photo requires that the foreground, midground, and background all be in sharp focus at the same time, and that each zone has something worth your eye’s focus. This large depth of field requires you use a small aperture (large f/number) and corresponding shutter speed for a proper exposure. Most typically you will see landscape photographers using aperture-priority mode to set the scene.

For more tips on landscape photography, or to read other photography articles, please visit Jennifer Clarkson’s website at http://www.jclarksonphotography.com. To learn more about the books in her eSeries on Digital Photography, or to promote sales, please visit the following sites:

Choosing your camera and accessories
Getting the Most out of your Camera’s Basic Settings

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

When it comes time to pick your professional wedding photographer you will want to make sure you do your homework. Your photographer will be the person you deal with more than anyone else involved in your wedding. They will be the one you want to feel the most comfortable with because they are with you the whole day. An experienced photographer can direct everything about your day from beginning to end.

If you like their work and feel comfortable with them, they can be your calming force during the fast, hectic pace of the wedding day. They will be a personal assistant to help you as well as take great photographs. They will also make sure that everything moves along so you do not miss the experience of the day.

After the wedding they are one of the few people that you continue to work with as you create your wedding album.I think you should also hire someone who is doing digital photography and handles most of their digital enhancements of their work. A photographer who is proficient with photoshop and digital enhancement is a major plus, as they can do anything imaginable to your images.

So try and hire someone who you like and get along with, someone whose photographic style you like, and someone who does most of their image enhancement after the event. If you can find a photographer who is all of these things then you will be assured of a successful day, as well as wonderful images, and a friend who will record all the important events in you life.

http://thebestweddingdayplanner.comhttp://thebestweddingdayplanner.com

About the Author
Ed has been a professional wedding photographer for almost 30 years. Ed and his wife Susan have been featured in The Professional Photographer and had their pictures published in many other magazines.

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]

When deciding on a place to run your successful photography business, there are a few options:

Home Based Photography Studio

Many photographers are deciding to run their photo businesses out of their homes. This has several advantages:

Low overhead no rent
No commuting time
Your work space is tax deductible
Great if you have kids at home
Family oriented and relaxed

Disadvantages of a home studio include:

Lack of sufficient space
You have to keep a clean house at all times!
Having strangers in your home
Some people may view a home studio as not being a real business

Buying / Renting a Photography Studio

If your business increases and you can no longer operate out of your home, then it is time to look into purchasing or renting a space for your photography business. Advantages of renting or buying a studio space include:

More exposure for your business (window displays, foot traffic, drive by traffic)
More adequate space for your equipment and props
More adequate space for parking
Some may view you as having a real photography business
Your work life and home life can be kept separate

Disadvantages include:

Higher overhead (rent or mortgage) eats your profits
Commute time
High prices may keep you out of more desirable neighborhoods or shopping centers
A less desirable location may mean that you have to lower your prices

Other options

Many photographers choose to shoot on location only. This means that they either go to the client s home or shoot mainly at outdoor locations. This can work nicely because it allows you to avoid renting a space and keeps clients out of your home.

Other photographers may choose to temporarily rent a studio space for a day or more. Some photo studios rent out their space on an hourly basis, but if this isn t available in your town, consider renting a small conference room at a local hotel (this would be good for a portrait event where you will be photographing numerous families).

Cindy Bracken is the founder of http://www.shuttermom.com, an online community for photographers of all levels of experience. Stop by to create a free blog, enter the photo contest, join in the discussion forum and more!

Start your photography business today

[techtags: Family Photography, Senior Photographers, Studio Portraits, Portrait Photography]