Posted October 15th, 2008
by James Beck
by Dan Feildman
Weddings are the most special of occasions, and weddings and digital photography go together like wine and cheese. Why not market a digital photography service to the happy couple? One route is to contact wedding planners and negotiate a deal. Wedding planners are in a position to recommend a great many services to brides and wedding parties. A good relationship with one of these professionals can be your key to great success. However, professional wedding planners will work only with experienced, well established photographers. They won’t risk their reputation by recommending an unknown service could be less than stellar. You will need a wedding portfolio and possibly testimonials from satisfied wedding parties before you can make inroads with a wedding planner. If you are not yet at that point, there are other ways to establish your digital photography service for weddings.
First, if you have no wedding portfolio, offer your service to a bride in return for a testimonial. Be sure you keep the copyright on your pictures so you can use them to create a portfolio. You might locate a receptive bride within your circle of friends and family or through other networking activities. With at least one wedding under your belt and with a nice testimonial and portfolio, start looking for other weddings to photograph. Word of mouth is always ideal, but you might also check the wedding announcements in your local newspaper.
To build up a portfolio, offer your services in return for testimonials. Make sure you have the copyright for your photographs so that you can use these in your portfolio. Often your first client will be from your social circle, so get the word out about your service. Word of mouth is the best recommendation, but with your new portfolio and testimonial, you are prepared to search for wedding announcements in your local newspaper.
You can contact the bride by phone or mail. Offering to take pictures of the preparation for the wedding is a good way to make an impression as most studio photographers do not offer this service. Sending the bride free promotional material is another way to get business.
Offer to photograph events related to the wedding for example bridal showers, the rehearsal dinner or the gift opening. Another way to generate business is to contact people involved in weddings such as florists and bakeries, and inquire about leaving brochures or negotiating a referral fee.
Run a Google search for “scrap artist” or contact a local scrapbook store to locate a suitable scrap artist. You might find the store manager is interested in pairing with you for this project. Last but not least, if you’re pursuing a wedding digital photography business, always remember that it’s all about the bride. Make her happy and everything else will go well.
Tags: Cameras Posted in Cameras
Posted October 14th, 2008
by Dan Feildman
by Dan Feildman
Everyone knows the name Kodak and can identify it as the company that took cameras out of the hands of professionals and into the hands of everyday users. What you may not know is that Kodak is in financial trouble. Why? Because those everyday users are now turning to digital cameras, leaving film-based cameras gathering dust in the closet. As the largest producer of film-based cameras, and photographic film, Kodak finds itself losing great gobs of money.
However, if you don’t know how to use it a digital camera won’t save you any money. Below are some pointers on how to use your camera, and take advantage of your Mac in the process.
You need a computer
While some types of cameras allow you to view your photos on a TV, in reality a digital camera is quite worthless without a computer. The best computer to have for digital photo editing is a Macintosh with a USB port, which generally covers everything Apple has made since the iMac.
It will also help if the camera you purchased comes with Macintosh-compatible photo editing software. Mac OS X 10.1 automatically comes with software capable of downloading pictures directly from some cameras which means you may not need to load a thing.
Learn the basics
Yes, you will probably need to read the cameras manual. Please note that some cameras don’t come with a printed manual, you must read an Acrobat file from the CD-ROM that came with the camera. Take your time and find all the controls and learn how to use them. Make sure you understand how to load batteries, plug it into your computer, and turn it on and off.
Take particular note of buttons you don’t want to push. (I recently watched someone wonder aloud what one button did, so they pushed it — and watched their rechargeable battery fall into the Pacific Ocean.)
Typically speaking, the better the camera, the harder it will be to operate. Inexpensive digital cameras rarely support more than “point and shoot” technology. You point the camera, push the button, it takes a picture. The camera will try to auto-focus the image and adjust the exposure according to available light.
The more costly digital cameras allow you to manually adjust focus, focal length, lighting, and many other settings which will help you turn a good picture into a really bad picture — if you don’t read the manual first.
Tags: Photography Posted in Photography
Posted October 13th, 2008
by Diane kelly
by Diane kelly
Do you have a love for taking photos and want to move into making it more of a business? You can make money with photography to allow you to move into a new place in your life, whether you are going to work on your business part-time or full-time. By following the hints below, you can create a business that you will enjoy and love for a very long time.
Begin building your business slowly and with just the basics to cut down on your initial investment. When starting a business, you do not want to be in debt first thing. By using just basic equipment, including a computer, printer, and camera, and renting other equipment as needed, you will be able to start your business on a very small budget.
Choose subjects that you love and enjoy taking pictures of. No matter what you enjoy taking pictures of, you are sure to find a market for your photographs. Whether you enjoy taking pictures of animals, nature, people, or anything else, you will find a market for it and a demand for it that will help you to make money and gain pride and satisfaction in your craft.
Start your photography business by creating a business plan that will dictate your purposes and services. This business plan will give you a base for how to start a photography business that will help to guide you in changing your life and future. In your business plan, you need to include what services you are going to offer, as well as future goals for you and your business.
You want to consider the other business in your area that offers photography services. You can then determine if there are gaps in the photography market and, if so, you can find a way to market yourself and your business to make you more successful. By learning more about other photography businesses, including what they charge, what services they offer, and other details, you can create your business around them to increase your success.
Practice taking photos and using your photo-editing software. By gaining more experience with your technology, you can create more professional photos that you will be proud of and your clients will love. Play with your camera and computer software until you become more comfortable with both of them will make you much more successful in your photography business.
You can make money with photography, but it is important to be realistic with your goals and dreams. You are not going to become rich overnight with your photography. By being realistic about your dreams and goals with your business, you can decrease the discouragement that often comes from unrealistic expectations and dreams.
Learning how to start a photography business is something that you should do step by step. By taking your time and putting in the effort needed, you can go from just enjoying photography as a hobby to creating a business that you will enjoy and be proud of. You can sell photos to help create a business that you will love and enjoy, start today!
Tags: Photography Posted in Photography
Posted October 12th, 2008
by Daniel Edstrom
by Donald K Aniston
The Sony Handycam DCR – SR85 offers one of the most advanced technologies available for those who are searching for a great digital camcorder.
The Sony Handycam DCR – SR85 is completely dependent on its internal hard drive to hold all of its memory.
Another great feature of the DCR-sr85 is that is uses hybrid recording technology.
The Sony Handycam DCR – SR85 is one of the most advanced machines on the market today for recording memories and special events.
Since this is a camcorder that does not use any external items to save memories, such as a Mini DV tape or a DVD, it has to offer people a huge amount of space to store items. Another great option that this camcorder offers is the zoom that can magnify images up to twenty five times.
This particular Sony product offers even the novice the chance to own and operate a very high tech piece of equipment at a fair price. Most pieces of equipment that are this technologically advanced come with a high price tag and a ton of directions. The DCR-sr85 does come with precise directions, but the price is reasonable and anyone can operate it with ease if they take the extra time.
Since it focuses specifically on its internal memory for storage, a person needs a way to share and record their special moments besides being dependent on the memory of the digital camcorder. Hybrid technology offers consumers the option to transfer data to a memory stick without the use of a computer. This is one of the new features that will be included in all digital camcorders in the near future.
Tags: Cameras Posted in Cameras
Posted October 11th, 2008
by James Beck
by Dan Feildman
Photography is a beautiful art… simple in all its complexities and breathtaking in the results it produces. From preserving those priceless moments with your loved ones to creating exquisite works of art, the applications of photography are many. Once confined to bulky, expensive cameras and yards of film, photography has seen a new dawn with the advent of digital cameras. Swifter, a lot easier to use, and growing ever more compact with every passing day, digital cameras have indeed opened several avenues to the casual photographer as well as the seasoned expert. And now that you’ve decided to take the plunge with the digital brigade, your very first concern is choosing the best camera to suit your needs.
With technology growing in leaps and bounds, digital cameras, too, have seen many changing faces and features. But to first understand which camera is best suited to your needs, you have to first isolate the purpose which your camera will serve. This is because every make and model of cameras has been developed to suit a certain blend of requirements. Thus, although a high speed camera may be the best bet for a professional sports photographer, it certainly won’t suit your needs if you’re buying it to take along on your family fishing trip. Also, if you’re very particular about the amount of dealing in your images, you would certainly de well to know that several of the sleeker, more compact versions are not equipped with many of the more advanced features as their primary purpose is to ensure portability.
Your second step would be to understand the world of digital photography. This would include familiarizing yourself with the most commonly used photography terms. For instance, you would need to know that an LCD is a screen attached to most cameras in addition to the viewfinder. This screen allows you to view your image before and immediately after you capture it, allowing to fine tune your focus and even re-capture the image if need be. However, several cameras are equipped only with the viewfinder, thus compelling you to hold the camera at an arm’s length while capturing the photograph. As one of the key requirements to a clear photograph is a steady and sure hand, without your face to rest the camera on, your image is at a higher risk of being distorted.
You must also learn to distinguish between an optical zoom and a digital zoom. An optical zoom functions like traditional cameras, magnifying the image you are shooting. A digital zoom enlarges the final image by doubling the size of the pixels, which may also lead to fuzzier images. Digital images are comprised of mega pixels which in turn determine the quality of the image. The higher the number of mega pixels, the clearer the image. You may also want to check if your camera comes along with a stand which is invaluable in ensuring a steady and clear picture.
You can then move on to looking around at all the options that are available to you. Make a shortlist from where you can disregard those models that do not meet your budget or requirements. Once you have narrowed down your list, you can also refer to photography journals and magazines to learn what the established experts have to say about your selection. This will also update your list with the latest technology available, which can further open up several alternatives for you.
If you aren’t too comfortable with the notion of parting with your reliable old bulky camera, expense of film notwithstanding, but would still like the clarity that digital images offer, you can scan digital versions of your existing photographs and have them retouched with editing software or opt for an online photo service which will convert your film into digital reality. You can even use photo services to edit your photographs for minor glitches like red eye removal and adjusting the brightness and color.
The best of all the advantages that digital photography grants you is to be able to practice your skills to your heart’s content without having to think about the enormous film bills you are raking in. instead of printing them out, you can directly transfer them onto your computer from where you can print them out, email them or even design a unique photo-card. The opportunities are endless and awaiting at your doorstep. So take that first step to choosing your ideal digital camera today and explore your creativity to its ultimate!
Tags: Photography Posted in Photography
Posted October 10th, 2008
by Dan Feildman
by Dan Feildman
When purchasing your next camera you should look at a real digital SLR if you need any or all of the following features:
reliability; the bodies of a SLR almost never fail; point and shoot cameras, by comparison, are built for light weight and low cost and easily break large, bright, accurate optical viewfinder decent quality photos in low natural light, e.g., indoors without blinding everything with flash the ability to attach specialty lenses, e.g., very wide angle lenses for interiors, scenery, and architecture, or long telephoto lenses for sports photography
Accessories You may want to purchase a lens cleaning kit.
A must have is at least one additional memory card. Most of the compact digital cameras take SD cards. If you are taking JPEG photos rather than RAW, you’ll be able to fit between 250 and 500 images in a 1 GB card.
1 GB SD cards: SanDisk 2 GB SD cards: SanDisk 4 GB SD cards: SanDisk (good for a long trip into a remote area where you can’t copy images to a computer) It is much more convenient to use a single memory card for an entire project or trip rather than using multiple cards.
If you want to keep the camera on your belt, consider a small padded case. Lowe and Tamrac are generally the highest quality brands. The manufacturers’ own brand cases are generally the lowest quality.
Tamrac publishes a useful fit chart. Lowepro’s is a huge PDF.
Tamrac Ultra Compact Tamrac T17 Tamrac Digital 1 (slimmer digital cameras, plus extra pocket) Tamrac Digital 2 (compact cameras) Tamrac Digital 3 (SLR-like) If you have time and a good local shop, it is best to buy the case in person so that you can make sure you like the fit.
Tags: Photography Posted in Photography
Posted October 9th, 2008
by Dan Feildman
by Dan Feildman
Digital Cameras are fast taking over the market of commercial photographers as well the recreational enthusiast on account of the affordability, the convenience and the wide array of alternatives they offer. Digital Photography uses electronic devices to capture images in binary data, thereby enabling the photographer to directly transfer images onto his computer, negating the arduous scanning process that was mandatory with film photography. Also, modern day digital cameras, allow the photographer to view his images, before he prints them, thus letting him ensure that the photographs taken, are to his satisfaction. Besides these unique features, digital cameras also open up several new vistas in terms of image and light settings, enabling the user to experiment endlessly with his picture to produce scintillating results.
To get started with your digital camera, it is vital that you learn about what goes into its functioning. A majority of the cameras which are available today, are equipped with a Liquid Crystal Display, which is essentially similar in it’s working to the conventional viewfinder. Only, it offers the user even more benefits like viewing the picture, both before and after it is shot to fine tune the details or even shoot another one, if the final result is unsatisfactory. The photographs that you take with digital cameras are made up of thousands of mega pixels, which in turn are comprised of a million pixels or picture elements each. This allows for a lot more clarity and finer detailing than conventional photography. Also, when you work with a digital camera, it is important that you learn how to operate the shutter-release mechanism, which needs to be pressed twice, once in order to lock the exposure and focus adjustments and the second time to capture the image. Digital Cameras are also particularly prone to the ‘Camera Shake’, which may result in a blurred or distorted image.
Your camera will be preset to an automatic ISO mode, where the ISO will automatically be adjusted in tune with the light conditions. For a more customized effect, you can even choose to manually adjust the ISO, which will also let you cut down on the noise in the image. As the rule of the thumb, the more the brightness in the surroundings, the lower you need to keep the ISO. A higher ISO is applicable when the luminosity is lower than you would like it to be. If your image is distorted by what is known as noise, which means, your image is flecked with random pixels which detract from its clarity, you can choose to work on the image with the noise reduction tool. But doing this will mean that your picture detailing will not be as minute as it would have been otherwise.
If you prefer, your camera can self-adjust the flash settings to accommodate the light conditions. If you aren’t too comfortable with the use of flash, you avoid it altogether and enhance the lighting in the room. You can even toggle between the external flash unit which you fix on your camera, and the in-built flash mechanism. A trick many seasoned photographers use is to tilt the flash device upwards so that the light is reflected off the walls and the ceiling on the subject of your image. This creates a more subdued effect while also ensuring adequate exposure. Backlighting is recommended only when you want to specifically create a silhouette. More a more dramatic effect, you can use the flash to first light up the background and then apply an additional fill-in flash to bring out the subject in the foreground.
If you are looking to capture a rapidly moving object, you can activate the ‘Burst Mode’ on your camera. This will let you take multiple pictures in a rapid sequence, while you simply press down on the Shutter Release button. You can also increase the intensity of the color while capturing your images, to produce more vivid hues. You may also want to activate the Macro mode if you want to click a close up of a small object. Closing in, without making this adjustment may bring your subject out of focus. Digital cameras are also enhanced with Optical Zoom, where the focal length of the lens extends and retracts to let the image be magnified by the lens itself, while keeping the resolution intact, to produce images of the finest quality.
For best results, you need to learn how to hold your camera in the correct manner. If your camera offers you only an LCD screen without a viewfinder, then you will be forced to hold the camera at an arm’s length instead of near your face as you would have with a conventional viewfinder. This increases the chances of an unsteady hand and hence, an unclear image. So, the next time you decide to buy yourself a digital camera, this is one of the vital criteria you need to make a note of.
As they say, Practice makes perfect. This phrase is specifically relevant when it comes to learning how to handle your digital camera. Also, the manual which comes along with the camera proves to be of invaluable assistance when it comes to grappling with the ropes. However, you need to plough through the complete, extensive manual instead of simply skimming through the basics from the Quick Start Guide, if you want to develop beyond a novice. You may also want to keep referring back to the manual for any hitches along the way, while experimenting with all that your camera has to offer. A digital camera spares you the expense of having to worry about how much you’re spending on film. You can also reserve the photographs which display the techniques you want to work on, in the memory card of the camera itself or even your computer. The convenient size also means that you don’t have to burden yourself with heavy bags every time you set out on a photography excursion. And if all this isn’t enticement enough, simply grab your camera and snap a few pictures for yourself. You’ll soon find that breathtaking works of art, which were once considered the hallmark of legendary studio artists, is now your very own niche!
Tags: Photography Posted in Photography
