Posts Tagged ‘photographer’

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Things to do in becoming a better photographer

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

One of the most popular hobbies around is photography.  People all over the world love to take photos.For a few people they will be able to use it to generate another income.For those that end up being real good, they could very well turn it into a good business.  But the only way to do that is to know how to take better pictures. So here are some good ways to learn to become a better photographer.

One thing you should always do is practice.This is something that is pretty plain, but you should do it anyways.Thankfully the people who will be reading this will be people who have a love for photography.So by doing these things I call practice, will really be allowing you to do something you love.  In my San Diego wedding photographer business when I am not on the job but just practicing, I love it.  That is what is great about photography.It could be just a hobby at first for you, but if you end up making money it can get real fun.

Another idea is taking photographs of any weddings you attend.You just may have someone you know getting married.  If you do see if you can take shots of their wedding.They won’t be upset if someone else is also going to take more photos.  As a San Diego photographer that is how I started.  They may or may not want to pay you as a photographer.  Either way it will gain you valuable experience.Since the best and biggest jobs will be weddings.

Finally you can go to events.Another job that is pretty big within photography is event photography.  I do San Diego event photography and it is a lot of fun. And doing it to make some extra money will make it extra fun.It is going to allow you to gain some great experience by taking photos of huge events.You are going to gain a lot of valuable experience by taking photos of all those great moments.

So there you have it.If your goal is to make some money in photography, those are ways that you can do it in photography.It is a way for you to begin and also to help you become better.

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Wedding Day Photographer Planning

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

When most couples plan their wedding day they take a lot of things into consideration. They coordinate the date according to vacation times from work. Or they coordinate the wedding day for the family to be able to make it into town. Or they make plans according to the availability of the church or restaurant.

But one of the biggest things couples fail to plan for is the photographer. Don’t think this is something small.  And I am not just saying it because I am a wedding photographer. 

No planning the wedding day with the wedding photographer in mind could mean all the difference in the world. Especially when you realize that the photos are what are going to last a lifetime.

So what are the key factors to consider when planning with the photographer in mind. The date and time.

First let’s start thinking about the time.  How many people want their photographer to rush through the photos? I am pretty certain that most people, couples especially, will not raise their hand to that thought. 

Well without even thinking about your photographer, a lot of times couples will do just that. The couple will end up rushing the photographer to get all the shots in. 

How so you ask? Well let’s say, the couple makes the ceremony between 1-2 pm.  With the reception starting at 2:30.  How many shots do you think the photographer can realistically get in with only half an hour to work with?  Not many.

Even worse, let’s say he does take all the shots?  Do you think they will be of the best quality when the shots are rushed? No way.

So plan the wedding times and the receptions accordingly making sure there is ample time to take photos.

Second thing to consider when planning with the photographer in mind is your photographer’s availability.

Most probably don’t realize this, but most good photographers will be booked months in advance.  And if you are dealing with let’s say a large photography company, they may have several photographers.

Well planning your wedding without considering your photographer’s availability could turn into a nightmare. Because when you reserve that special day, without making sure your photographer is available, come wedding day you might get a shock when you find somebody totally different.

This scenario happens when you are dealing with a big company.  You might not realize they have plenty of photographers on staff, and if the photographer you fell in love with is booked, unless you specifically ask, the company might not tell you. When the wedding day comes, a second rate photographer or worse yet, they might outsource the work and somebody else will show up.

So be prepared and don’t let this happen.Making plans for your wedding day is special. Make sure that your plan has the wedding photographer in mind as well.

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Lighting Tips to Help You Take Better Pictures

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

In this age of digital cameras, you have probably thought that you can just point and shoot and out will appear a great shot.  Not so fast.  The truth is you can have the top of the line digital camera, but if you don’t know what you are doing, you will take lousy shots.

Well, I would like to share with you some great tips on improving your digital photography skills.  These tips are coming from years of experience as a San Diego wedding photographer.These tips are about using lighting and they will be some of the best advice and keys to your success in taking great photos.

First tip in lighting.Now if the shots you are taking are outdoors during the day, some of the best lighting possible will be the natural sunlight.  Now you are probably thinking, “that’s easy, when you are a San Diego photographer since it is always shiny there”, when in actuality really bright sunlight can cast harsh shadows.  Or it can wash out the details in faces if the sun is overhead.

Overall, you are going to want to take most of the shots with the sun behind you.This stops any harsh shadows in your photo caused by the sun.There will be some times when you want to take shots from different angles when you do try to get some shadows into the shots.

Now that we know what to do during the day shots, what if you have to take some night shots? 

The key to taking photos at night is turning off your flash.Now if it is pictch black, of course you will need it, but if there are some lighting, use it, but make sure the shutter speeds are slower to let the light in.  Also you want to stay steady when taking the shot or you will blur the photos.Applying these couple of techniques will make a dramatic difference for those nights shots you take. 

The third and final tip with using lighting to capture great photos is the golden hour.There is this time that photographers like to call the golden hour or magic hour, and that is sunrise and sunset.

These times of day you wll be able to capture great shots because you will get the more warmer and inviting colors.You’ll be able to get that golden lighting that isn’t available during any other time of day.

There you have it.Probably the biggest secret in taking great photographs is taking advantage of the natural lighting.  Knowing what techniques to use for different parts of the day, or just scheduling a photo shoots to capture those times of day will help you become an excellent photographer.

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