Photography Blog

Camera guides, technology tips

  • Camera
  • Photo
  • Wedding
  • Events
  • Tips
  • Technical Stuff
  • Contact

5 Essential Things to Remember When Shooting An Indoor Portrait

By Kate

Shooting indoor portraits is a tremendous opportunity to undoubtedly get creative and explore diverse techniques. You are in a smaller environment compared to working outdoors, but you have more control over the space. No need to worry about weather elements or bystanders in the photo when you are shooting indoors. In an indoor setting, it is easier to control your lighting source and make it perform to your exact needs. Also, by using backdrops indoors, you can secure it, move it, and not have to worry about it blowing away in the wind. With a few quick tips to get you started, you will be on your way to grasping the concepts used in shooting portraits indoors.

The lens you choose for your indoor shoot is especially important because you are usually working with a smaller space. It is not always possible to be as far away from your subject as you need to be. This is where the correct lens will come into play. A wide angle lens is paramount in portrait photos. With this particular lens, the focal length is considerably smaller than that of a normal lens. An 85mm lens makes for a great tool when it comes to portraiture. It allows almost the same short distance away from your subject while preserving the image quality. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Photo

Childhood Memories in a Photo

By Kate

For many parents, how quickly their children change, develop and grow can come as something of a surprise. But being desperate to hang on to every moment, make the most of everything and provide you and your kids with lasting memories can leave little time for anything else. Even though capturing children, friends and relatives on camera and even on film has become increasingly easy, these moments are often rushed. As a result, they can fail to create the desired lasting memory.

The Perils of Amateur Photography

But taking on the role of photographer yourself can present a couple of difficulties. Firstly, the onus falls on you as photographer/organiser/editor to produce the photos in the first place; secondly, you run the risk of failing to produce a final outcome capable of rendering such important moments in time. By using a professional photographer, you can eliminate these concerns and get truly pleasing results.

SONY DSC

How Professional Photography Has Changed For many, the words ‘professional photographer’ may bring back less than fond memories of excruciating school photos and images subsequently banished to the back of wardrobes and the bottom of drawers. But as with many things, professional photography has moved on. Gone are the staid, unnatural shoots of old to be replaced by pictures that celebrate the personalities of the subjects – this is never more important than when it comes to capturing little ones on camera. Working with your chosen professional photographer, you might consider the following ideas:

• Not just limiting yourself to one image of your child, but choosing a selection and turning them into a montage. This might be especially suitable for babies and toddlers as it can capture a truly experimental time in their life when they are learning how to communicate in a range of ways.

• If your child has a particular passion for sport, a talent for performance or maybe even a love of learning, this can be incorporated into a photo shoot. You might even opt for a series of action shots which truly represent your child’s passion for work or play.

• As soon as they are capable of independent movement, it is very rare that children will choose to stay still, so why not make the most of how they look on the move? Even a decidedly wobbly walk is a memory worth keeping.

• Many children have a much-loved toy, a favourite dressing-up outfit or even a treasured pet that they can’t bear to be away from. If this is the case, involving the item (or the animal) can make for a truly happy subject for the photographer to work with.

• Is your child often complimented on a particular feature? Maybe it’s their curly hair or their big brown eyes? Either way, capturing it on camera can be a great way to remember their formative years.

Of course, there will always be a place for everyday snaps capturing fleeting moments, but professional photos really can preserve a memory forever. Whether it’s a particular emotion, a favourite place or even something to embarrass your child with on their 18th birthday, taking the time to find the right photographer really is worth it.

Filed Under: Photo Tagged With: Childhood Memories

Advice and Tips to Sell Photography Online

By Kate

The web has made it possible to sell almost anything online; in fact you might say you can sell anything at all.

For photographers it opened a market to sell your photography online which is an awesome extra avenue to ensure your photos reach a buying audience.

To sell your photography online it requires a marketplace or contacts who will buy or help you sell your photos. That’s where my quick and nifty guide to selling your photos online comes in handy.

First off you’ll need to understand that even if you find a great marketplace there will be competition but don’t let that put you off because you will find a marketplace that works for you.

Basics General Requirements for Selling Online

When you want to sell a photo on the Internet there will be requirements set by the sites (marketplaces) you choose to sell on. Usually these are general requirements that are based on what people want to buy. Also requirements set by the sites you want to sell on.

High Quality Images

The most basic requirement is having a high quality image in the correct file format and at the correct dimensions. Generally, requirements for the photo will range from its size and quality to what it contains. Depending on the website’s requirements will depend on what you can and cannot sell.

The rule of thumb is to have the highest quality image possible available at around 12000X1200 pixels. You may need to resize but having high quality images at a large size is what’s most important.

In order to get all your photos sold you may need to use a range of different marketplaces. Each site has different requirements and some may not accept your photos to be sold on their site while another site will.

Understand Copyrights

Copyright protection is also important for selling stock photography so you should learn about copyrighting your photos before you choose a marketplace to sell on. This will ensure you are happy with the available copyright protection options offered to you.

Have Your Own Website

I don’t recommend having your own website for the sole purpose of selling online because it’s more difficult to get an immediate presence. Though, I do recommend having a base where people can find the real you. Where they can see you’re a real person with a real agenda, and that is to take great photos and get paid for doing so.

Your own website is also great for picking up local clients, such as people wanting wedding photos and event photos. So if you do create a website, make sure it has details of your services and your photos for sale.

Apart from your own website, you can sell on marketplaces known as microstock sites or stock photography sites. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Photo Tagged With: Sell Photography Online

Recent Posts

  • 5 Essential Things to Remember When Shooting An Indoor Portrait
  • Why Photography Blogging is Good for You
  • 4 top tips for Photography Beginners
  • A Walk Through Time – The Intersection of Photography, Art, Science
  • Sell Your Photography Offline/Locally