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Five Amazing Ways To Make Your Pre-Wedding Photography Shine

by Randolph Quan

He just proposed, and she’s as giddy as a schoolgirl. That happiness will radiate for weeks – or at least until the stress of planning a wedding takes hold! Capture those feelings with pre-wedding photography (also known as engagement photography).

In order to get a timeless, beautiful look for your pre-wedding photography, follow five tips that will ensure the focus is on you, the newly engaged couple, and not your clothes or the background.

1. Dress in classic styles that you’re comfortable in. If you’re normally a dressy gal, then go ahead and buy a special new dress or skirt for the occasion. If you’re a jeans and T-shirt person, though, don’t try to dress up just to dress up. The discomfort will show on your face, so stick to jeans (clean!) and a dressier top. A simple outfit in a solid color is your best bet, and make sure your significant other is wearing a color that complements yours.

2. Don’t dress in up-to-the minute trends. While you think it looks great now, in about 20 years, you’ll feel the same way as you do now when you view ’80s photos. In other words, it dates the photo and makes it more about the fashion than the couple. Along the same lines, take off your eyeglasses for the photos, if possible. They are one of the easiest ways to tell in what era a photograph was taken.

3. When posing for the camera, smile with your whole face. What that means is to let that smile radiate through your face into your eyes. Don’t be afraid to smile with your mouth open a bit or even laugh during the photo shoot. This brings a twinkle into your eyes and shows how truly happy you two are.

4. Push your face toward the camera when posing for a photo. To make this easier, pretend you’re a turtle and crane out neck out your shell toward the camera. This shouldn’t be forced, just a slight push forward to reduce double chins (not that we’re suggesting you have one!) and tighten facial skin. It might feel a little strange to you, but the camera won’t be able to capture your contortion – just the effect it has on your appearance.

5. Go for a fun and relaxed look. Posed photos are boring! You can hardly romp around in your wedding dress, so this is the time for you to get some shots of you and your fiancee having fun! Roll around on the ground, climb a few trees, play on the stairwell – the overall result of your pre-wedding photography will be much more charming.

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Tags: , , ,   Posted in Wedding Photography

Your Guide To Tropical Wedding Destinations

by Randolph Quan

A destination wedding calls to mind a blissful bride and groom strolling along a white, sandy beach with tropical foliage in the background and the sun’s rays streaming down upon them. If you can’t envision your wedding as anything other than this scenario, there are plenty of tropical wedding destinations to choose from across the globe.

Caribbean

There’s no doubt about it, the Caribbean is the number one for a tropical wedding destination. Blue skies and bright sun seem to occur year-round – with the exception of that pesky hurricane season. Plus the choice of hotels, resorts and cruise ships on which you can get married are bountiful, and nearly every resort now employs a wedding coordinator to make your life easier. Some islands to consider are Jamaica, St. Lucia, the British Virgin Islands (Check out Tortola) or the Dominican Republican (which can be cheaper than some of its Caribbean counterparts).

When to wed: The lowest rates can be found June to November, but that’s because hurricanes can threaten your big day. If you plan carefully and keep an eye on the sky, (and the sea), you can find great rates. January is typically the busiest month throughout the islands as travelers from the north flee the snowy weather

North America

While not part of the contiguous 48 states, Hawaii reigns as the U.S.’s tropical pride and joy. Lush jungles, perfect beaches and intriguing volcanoes are just some of what makes Hawaii a tropical paradise. Also consider a wedding in Key West, Florida.

When to wed: Hawaii’s “high season” (meaning more tourists and higher prices) runs from mid-December through March. The best time to visit, when the weather is beautiful and the tourists are at a minimum, is from mid-April to mid-June and September to December. Be wary of traveling to Florida during the late summer/early fall months, for the same reason as the Caribbean: hurricanes.

Mexico

Take a cue from Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd, and head to Mexico for your nuptials (they got married in Acapulco in the 1950s – she also reportedly fell in love with Richard burton in Puerto Vallarta, another great Mexican wedding destination). Choose Cabo San Lucas for breathtaking rock formations and Spanish archeology or Cancun for a more upbeat, fun atmosphere.

When to wed: Avoid spring break-worthy spots such as Cancun during March and April, unless you want your wedding to be crashed by drunken college students.

Asia

Now we’re talking about the true exotic locations. In countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Tahiti, the beaches are pristine and the atmosphere phenomenal. Yes, many of these locations are the ultimate splurge, but if you’re going to travel halfway around the world to take the plunge, why not do it right?

When to go: The South Pacific generally enjoys two seasons: Wet, which is from November to April, and dry, which is May through October. When they say wet season, they mean wet, as heavy rains and high humidity are prevalent.

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Tags: , , , ,   Posted in Wedding Photography

Which Digital Camera Should I Buy?

by Dan Feildman

Which digital camera is best for me is the first question that we all ask ourselves when we are first considering to invest in a digital camera. What are you looking for in a camera?

Once you have decided to move to the digital era you want to decide on which camera will suit your particular needs. There are a variety of types of cameras, not to mention manufacturers, on the market today for you to choose from.

Some of the cameras on the market today include the AF SLR Series, Digital Compacts, Film Compacts, Direct Vision, etc. Cameras include features such as built in camcorders as well as cameras inside phones. It is amazing what you can find on the market today when looking for a digital camera?

At a formal time we discussed film and digital compact cameras, as well as the AF SLR series, today we are going to discuss the Direct Vision Cams along with a few other models. If you are off to the amateur division photography scene then you may want to look at the line of direct vision cameras offered by Leica. Few of these direct vision action takers offer high quality pictures while its sounds are nearly noise pollution free.

The 35mm camera is commonly used by photographers and I want to look at the Range Finders. This model has a variety of features including a viewfinder, battery compartment, self-timer, rangefinder, rewind crank, rewind button, lens, PC socket, film speed dial, and so on.

The rangefinder works by restoring the viewfinders center image which overlays in the camera. If you want to include yourself in the photo self-timers are incredibly useful for delaying when a photo is taken. There are a few cameras that only allow a few seconds before a photo is taken.

Many of the direct vision cameras have hot-shoes, shutter speed dial, wind-on levers, frame counters, and shutter release buttons. Some cameras are more optional than others for the pros in the field of digital photography.

Other varieties of cameras include the Mega-Pixel Camcorders, Large Formatting Cams, Instant Cams, Imaging Phones, and Hasselblad XPans 2 and so on. Please recognize that cameras which come included with a mobile phone are not necessarily the best cameras for photography however in most cases you are able to transfer them to your computer. Camera phones are great when you are on the road taking photos and want to put them on your computer quickly. Bluetooth phones are one of the most popular phones on the market today.

Another option is mega-pixel phone camcorders which are great if you want to create web pages or home movies. Unfortunately these produce lower quality videos which takes them out of the running for creating high productions. It is still quite hand for making movies and playing them back. Most are the size of an Ipod which is incredible when you think of the built in features.

Today you will not find too many professional photographers using instant cameras. At one time most used the familiar Polaroid camera which was one of the most popular cameras on the market. Since there were no photo developing costs there were quite popular with professional as well as amateur photographers. This factor alone was my primary reason for using Polaroid. Enthusiasts of instant cameras can use Fuji?s Instax camera which has taken the place of Polaroid.

We can?t forget about Hasselblad which has a 35mm camera that is incredibly popular with professional photographers. This camera easily switches between standard and panorama modes. Hasselblad is one of those cameras that defies history as it puts you in mind of old technology with a modern flair. Hopefully you should have an indication of which cameras are out there and which might meet your needs.

What are your goals? What are your intentions? Do you need high-resolution or low-resolution? Are you in the spy business, or in amateur photography?

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Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in Digital Cameras

Five Great Tips when Taking That Portrait

by Dan Fieldman

Portrait photography is the most popular form of photography. Most people who know how to point and shoot a camera are all portrait photographers. However, there are of course, differences in its quality. Professional portrait photographers have certain characteristics that let them get the best out of their subjects. A portrait photo does not only mean a person’s image. In a way, it shows character and emotion. If you want to start shooting portraits and don’t know the essential elements, fear no more because these five tips can give you a head start.

Rapport: The first thing a successful photographer does is build rapport with the subject. Interest in your subjects is a bonus when it comes to this business. If you get to know your subject and they get to know you they will be more natural in front of the camera. The more natural they feel the better your photographs will be.

Personality: Always make sure that your photos will show the personality of your subject. You will only know this if you know the person. Make sure that their personality shows in their faces. Personality usually appears when the subject is not expecting a shot, so you have to be ready to take the picture when the opportunity comes.

Lighting: Natural lighting is the preferred source. However when you want to emphasize the person’s face and character, you will want to think about using artificial lighting. It is important that your light is evenly distributed and that it emphasizes the angles you are looking for. Lighting can have a great effect especially if you are looking for a serious photo.

Background: Most portraits use lighter backgrounds to emphasize the subject. However, it is also important to use the environment to add more character to your subject. Please be careful when using the environment that the color of your background and what your subject is wearing do not clash. Sometimes backgrounds become the flaw of a picture because the photographer didn’t properly plan.

Plan: Be sure that you are ready before you go to the photo shoot. Not only that you have all the equipment that you need, but be sure that you can handle the job properly. Prepare all the necessary materials and be sure to bring a good topic for conversation so that your subject can relax while you are shooting.

Portrait photography is one of the most satisfying hobbies that I have found. If you’re serious in making it your career, you can be sure that it can be lucrative as long as you perfect your craft. However, remember that you should have the heart for the job because portrait photography’s first requirement is interest.

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Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in Digital Cameras

Wedding Tips For Saving On The Photography Bill

by Albert Chua

Sometimes the cost of wedding photography can be high in price. Every bride wants that perfect picture that captures that special day, but can not afford to pay through the roof for it. Here are a few money saving tips when budgeting for wedding photography.

Advertising for the right person

An excellent place to advertise is at a local college or university They will have fresh skills and ideas when it comes to wedding photography, and they will cost a lot less.

Go digital

Go digital instead of getting prints. This keeps your hard earned money in your pocket. You can now choose this as an option because most photographers will offer you the idea. Get a CD rather then prints and proofs of all your pictures. After you receive your CD look at online photo developers to print to photos for you.

Create your own wedding album

A great way to personalize all your pages in your album is to try scrap booking. No one will know your wedding and guests like you do. This way you can go through all of your photos and reflect on the memories. You will enjoy creating your album and not only that but you will also save hundreds of dollars opposed to having your photographer design an album, and they may not include pictures that your friends sent you as well.

You can choose how long you need the photographer for

How long do you really need your photographer around you? Instead of having them come with you when you re getting your hair done, make up done, and dress sized just get them to come for the ceremony and a bit of the celebration afterwards. Your bridesmaids will be able to take the pictures of the preparation for you and you will be surprised how many other people will send you their copies as well.

21st Century – use disposables!

Having disposable cameras at the reception is also an excellent idea. After everything is said and done all you have to do is drop them off at a photo development outlet, then go through the ones you really like and make larger prints for frames around your house. You will probably end up getting a few funny photos but a lot of wonderful ones as well. This will also give you a wide variety of pictures because your guests will be taking pictures of each other and not just at the bride and groom. Get each table of guest to write on the camera who was taking the photos so you can add the detail into your album.

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Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in Wedding Photography

Portrait Photography Tips

by Jessy Roberts

For many, portrait photography might be a hard job. Here are a few tips for those who would like to take up this amazing area of photography.

Before we start, you need to understand what portraits are. Any photographs that you click of your family, friends, relations or teachers can be called portraits. Yes of course, starting off, portrait photography might seem to be rather difficult when compared to standard photography, but as you get more involved in it, it comes more and more easy to you.

What do you call winning portrait photography? It is actually something which builds up a kind of special impression on the spectators. Now, what makes a portrait photograph stand out? It might be due to several components like the physical aspects of the snap, the subject, or it can even be the some other noted characteristics like the background, the light arrangement and so on. A portrait always leaves some kind of impression on the mind about the person in it, otherwise it cannot be termed as a portrait photograph. Anything can come out to be attractive in the person being photographed like the mannerism, the attitude, the mood or even a casual look.

It is true that good photography is always about inner skill. Yet good photography can also be learned. The trick is letting yourself go and experiment.

In portrait photography, the photographer is thought to be the leader for that time, and he should be able to bring up a striking difference in his subjects energy. For this, you need to start with a small discourse with the person on any current topics or something which might give rise to a strong impact so as to create the opportunity to take a ideal portrait photograph. If you can trigger off a change in thinking and mood of a person in a good way quickly then this will allow you to capture some amazing photos. This is just one way to move your subject into a different feeling space. Of course you do now want to make them angry but you do want to arise within them different feelings so that their expressions become more acute and distinct creating great pics.

Everything depends on you as the photographer to set the scene so an amazing result can be captured. As well as conversation, controlling the natural surroundings can be utilized to create the special effect in the portraits. To come up with the best photograph, it is very important to cooperate with the person and the environment. You should have good interest in people so that the natural expressions of the person come out.

At the end of the day the trick is to be able to trigger a change in emotionality with your photographic subject so that new and amazing expressions can be seen on their face.

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Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in Photography

Online Photograph Shops Help You Sell Digital Photos

by Danny Haberg

Are you mad about taking digital photos? You are, then you will know that this hobby is also able to make you money online when you sell digital photos. All you have to do is Google “sell digital photo’s” and you will see that there are a number of listed sites which are able to help you do just this. To name a few, Shutterstock, Fotolia and Dreamstime!

All digital photos that you want to sell as stock photos online should be of a very high resolution. They are made us of by people from all professions including marketing professionals, graphic designers, art directors, advertising agency personnel and website designers. For those of you who don’t know what stock photos are, they are specially licensed images, displayed online and when they are downloaded for use, the photographer earns a commission.

There is a great deal of information regarding stock photography available online and in books. The most basic of requirements for stock photo’s is there should be no digital noise present, they should not be touristy or snap-shot like. You cannot make use of copy righted material or logos, and your model must sign a release for you to sell your photos. You are able to find a model release form online, so you just send this in when you send your photos, and you will also find some very useful model shooting tips online.

It is vital to use the correct agency to sell your digital images, so look at a number of sites before you make you decision which one to use. You should also look at the kind of traffic a stock photo site uses and this will be relevant to the amount of commissions you will earn. Look at the photographs available and judge if your photography will fit in well with the site and the kinds of image people are selecting from there. If they are similar to the kind of work you do, you are probably onto a good thing.

Checking out site statistics is the way in which you will be able to assess your ability to market your images. Finding out more information by joining the forum and chatting to other digital photographers will also help. You have to ask them relevant questions regarding the type of interest customer’s show regarding their images, and from this assess whether you think your images will do well at the site.

When you do decide on a site and are ready to upload your photographs, remember that keywords count. This is the reason why images are categorized on the sites as potential customers browse to buy by category. Ensure you upload your images to various categories in order to market them better.

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Tags: , ,   Posted in Photography