Jacky's Photograpy

Sooner or later, most photography enthusiast give some thought to "how to start a photography business." Unfortunately, there are a 'few' challenges that "doom" us to failure. One of the biggest challenges that we bring is our failure to make the distinctions between our love of photography (re: our enjoyment and passion for photography) and the business of photography (understanding buying and spending habits of people that are photography customers).

For example, many of us think that because our photography work is "so good," that we shouldn't have that much trouble selling it. We, sometimes, mistakenly, think that great art and photography "sells itself." Big mistake! Great photography does not sell itself. In the business world, nothing sells itself - nothing! Knowing this is critical to start a photography business.

Our failure to make the distinction between our passion for photography and our desire to be in the photo business is also evident in how we try to tell people about what we do. For example, photography customers don't care what type of equipment we use. They don't care how many mega-pixels we have, nor how much our equipment cost us, nor what brand of camera we use. Photography customers (current and potential) want to know that we can, and will, produce the highest quality photography work for them.

Think about it, the mechanics that repair our cars don't tell us what tools that they use. The chefs in the restaurants that we patronize don't tell us what type of pots, pans or stoves that they use. In those businesses, it is already established what customers want and how best to give it to them. In other words, other businesses do a better job of understanding their 'niche.' In order to start a photography business that is consistently successful and growing, we must be clear on what niche we are offering and how to sell the benefits of our niche to the customers.

Another mistake that we budding photography business owners repeat is failing to "specialize" (know our photography niche) in what we do. As photography enthusiasts, we enjoy shooting any and everything. As photographers, that's just fine. However, when we start a photography business, we, mistakenly, try to be 'all things to all people' - we take every photography job offered us.

One of the obvious problems with this approach is our failure to recognize how it drastically cheapens the value of what we do as skilled photographers, in the eyes of the customers. Mistakenly, we want our customers (current and potential) to know that we can photograph anything - after all, we're very versatile photographers! What the customers actually see is that we're not "versatile photographers," we're just someone with a camera that's available to take pictures when they call us. Serious photography customers (re: those that can afford to spend regularly) want to do business with specialists - photographers that know their photography niche.

Successful wedding photographers are clear on this, as an example of my point. Their 'primary' customer (usually the bride) has dreamed about her wedding day for most of her life. She isn't looking for a vesatile photographer. She wants a "wedding photographer" that can make her 'look' as good, happy and beautiful as she has been in all of her lifelong dreams of 'her day' - her wedding day. There's a special skill to this type of photography service. In fact, this niche has more to do with well developed 'people skills,' in my opinion. Successful wedding photographers that are clear on these nuances are more successful in business.

Do your research.

• Inventory Your Photo Collection - Take a look at your photo collections. Determine what it is that you 1.) shoot the most; 2.) shoot consistently well; and 3.) enjoy shooting. Identify your and categorize the photos into various niches, i.e. portraits, sports, glamor, pets, children, landscape, etc.
• Research The Photography Markets - Do internet searches using the words "photography niche." Also, use the type of niche that you think your photos fit. For example, "event photography niche," "wedding photography niche," etc. Also, a good source to help identify some of the photo markets is "The Photographer's Market." This is a book that is published annually and claims to provide photo buying contacts and information. Online searches are the most useful, in my opinion. Books by author and photographer, Dan Heller are good places to get a better understanding of the vast world of photography, without all the 'artsy-hype,' in my opinion. He also has a very informative website - DanHeller.com
• Identify 'Real' Markets - Find out what type of photography (of your specialties) your customers currently are purchasing. What type of photography is selling? At some point, you'll have to 'balance' the realities of the different niches. There can be some factors that aren't consistent across all photography niches. For example, some niches require longer "workflow" (workflow is the post production process of taking photos) periods and tasks than others. Higher quality portraits normally require photo editing - which is time-consuming. Event photography requires the processing, packaging and delivering (presenting) of photos. True story: I went through my large photo collections and found that I had a very large number of outstandingly beautiful flowers. I can't begin to tell you my disappointment when I found out that there is 'virtually' no market of photos of flowers - it seems that everybody has them already, everybody! Lesson learned - identify 'real' markets.

Ten Tips To Assist You To Identify Your Niche

1. Identify specialties that fit your style:
2. Determine if you have the necessary equipment for the niche
3. Do you have identifiable and specific skills in this niche area - can you articulate them?
4. Who is your target audience
5. What type of photography do they purchase the most
6. Where are they taking their photography business currently - your competition
7. What will be different about your services
8. Does where you live support your preferable niche
9. Is your niche 'stock photography' or 'assignment photography' - do you know the difference
10. What is the future potential and tendencies of your niche

Fortunately, the internet makes this information just a few clicks away. The information isn't difficult to find and learn. Knowing your niche increases your confidence tremendously. Truly know your niche - and your photography business will follow!

Are you looking to find a way to profit from your experiences as revealed through photography? Photographs are depicted in every form of publication issued to the general public and those photos rely upon being in the right place at the right time. Maximize the opportunities presented to you to profit from the photographer's life by attending photography workshops.

There are a great deal of advantages related to becoming involved in photography workshops. The top advantage is that the student can learn new and simple procedures to improve their current photography style to generate photos that are desired by others. Knowledge is key in photography and can be the make or break it point for whether you photographs are to be pursued by seeking companies. Accompanying the intelligence you gain though attending photography workshops you also gain the opportunity to finding photographic networks with professionals and experienced photographers living the photographer's life. You can boost the distribution of your photographs by capitalizing the opportunities presented to you through the networking experience.

If you are looking to study within a specific field you can use photography workshops to achieve this along with obtaining the basic photographic knowledge taught. Photography workshops that focus specifically on landscape photography tips can appeal future photographers who have an interest in outdoor or scenic photos. These tips can help hone the specific skills you desire such as identifying ideal locations. Often photos of commonly taken images are desired by client who desire a new perspective of these images and can be learned through the study of landscape photography tips. New images of classic visuals are regularly in great demand by professional companies. This can be accomplished with a new feature on an old image or with a new perspective or angle on a classic image. To achieve the photographer's life it is important to utilize the opportunities found in photography workshops to assist in honing all the skills required to recognize the new perspective necessary to achieve in the photography world.

Another style of photograph that can be mastered by attending photography workshops is the portrait style photograph. Setting up photo shoots and paying actors to display a desired image can be costly for a company. The photographer's life often involves photographing various scenes of individuals in play, crisis or with everyday experiences. Most corporations would prefer to pay the individual photographer for these live action shots then pay for the expense of setting up a photo. Photography workshops can teach you the various techniques that affect portrait style photos. Capturing a natural image is a leading tip in relation to the art of portrait photography. Staged photos can appear fake or posed which can be achieved by a studio of photography in the local mall. Action in photos helps bring character into an image and boosts the interests of companies seeking that once in a lifetime shot.

If you desire the free nature related to the entrepreneurs life then photography can offer that freedom in living the photographer's life. Attending photography workshops will grow you skill level and assist you in achieving mastery of the photographic environment.

Many schools and colleges offer photography classes to students as an elective subject. However, there is no requirement to gain admission to an educational institution for a degree if you have studied photography for several years on your own or even taken some helpful classes on a non-formal basis.

Certainly you can learn the skills of a photographer even if you have not taken photography classes in school. But excellence in this field does require dedication, and more formal class training can be a great help.

Some institutions offer 'long distance education.' You can enroll in such institutions and - unlike typical college majors - do not need to reside on campus or sit in a classroom environment to learn photography. An example of such institution is New York Institute of Photography.

If you become part of a school like this, you will learn everything from camera lenses to a variety of photographic techniques. You can even study photography during journalism classes. While developing your skills, you also receive magazines and articles related to digital imaging, contests, and a number of other photography-related knowledge and events.

The photography program at the New York Institute is built around 30 lectures on wide array of topics. Initially you are given a brief introduction to the material to allow you to choose your specialized field of interest. A significant advantage of non-campus training is that you can perform your regular job and learn photography simultaneously. And there is no time limit for learning photography; whenever you are free, you can learn and practice.

During the training, you will not only sit under the tutelage of a professor, but will also be provided sample pictures allowing you to study great photography to compare and apply your knowledge on a practical level.

A common belief among those interested in this field is that to become a photographer, you must have your own dark room to develop photos. You will be happy to know that this isn't the case anymore. Some of the most well known photographers in this business don't do their own development anymore, paying others instead to do so for them. This affords more time to focus on learning to take great shots.

Another great benefit of photography training is that there is no age limit. Knowledge is a path open to anyone of any age who possesses sufficient interest and motivation. And the rewards you gain from learning photography are incalculable. You have the opportunity to earn good pay through professional photography or simply engage in this activity as a hobby or "labor of love."

Photography educational institutions not only provide students an environment in which to learn, but also assign specific camera work activities to help their students assess just how much they have gained from the training. And it is all quite fun once you get started!

There is a wide world of photography. It touches each of us in our lives on a daily basis in some form or another. Photography is so much a part of our culture now that we hardly even notice all the places that it exists. When you watch television, look at a magazine or even view a billboard on the highway, this is all because of photography. There are so many ways that photography crosses our lives each day. There are a lot of opportunities for someone looking for photography jobs.

What Photography Jobs are Available?

If you enjoy photography and are thinking of it as a career, there are actually many different directions you can choose from. Obviously, there is professional photography but even in that choice there are many other smaller options that you have as well.

You can become a photographer in a special field such as wedding or family photographer. You can choose to make money taking pictures of things you love such as animals, nature or ships. If you enjoy scuba diving, you can become an underwater photographer. Pretty much anything you can think of, there is room to take and sell pictures of it.

If you love taking pictures and the idea of a career in photography sounds good to you, just how do you begin finding photography jobs?

How Do You Find Photography Jobs?

There are different ways of finding photography jobs, depending on the type of job you are looking for and your experience. You can begin by creating a resume and portfolio of your work. Then you can search on the internet at freelance photography job boards or photography websites and message boards. Get specific into types of photographing you have done and look on the internet for those.

You can go locally and look for internships or local firms or companies that may need photographers. You can get the word out by doing small events such as birthday parties and such. Get your name out as someone who will work these functions. Show friends and family samples of your work and ask them to spread the word. You may even want to participate in a charitable or non-profit event to boost your portfolio.

You can also begin submitting your work to contests and magazines to get yourself known and build your portfolio. Placing or winning in contests and getting published in magazines can help you build clips that you can use for getting bigger and better jobs.

Lastly, you can actually apply to jobs directly. It is best to do this only if you have the proper qualifications for the job. You don't want to set your goals so high that you get let down but there is nothing wrong with going for what you want. Most importantly, get as involved with what you love as possible. Learn as much as you can about photography and what makes good photography. Subscribe to magazines, read books, look at winners of photography contests.

Photography is an art of transforming images into a story, which speak and make an impact on the mind of viewers and audience. Photography is not about expensive cameras and high-tech gadgets but it is about imagination.

A good photographer is a good learner and he keeps on learning with every photograph he clicks. Making stories, sceneries and objects out of nothing is the pinnacle of professional photography and only hard workers and good learners can achieve that.

Most people think that photography must be done in free time. However, it is a very strange way of thinking because nothing can be done without passion in this world, let alone the art of photography.

However, the basic requirements of photography are a good camera and enough time to see things from different angles and compose photographs. A good camera does not merely mean megapixels only. It means many other things as well.

Photography can be divided into two categories namely amateur and professional. Professional cameras can be used for amateur photography but that would be a costly affair. However, amateur cameras cannot be used for professional photography. Amateur photography is commonly termed as leisure photography and it makes use of simple point and shoot cameras. Such cameras, as the name itself implies, are meant to click and record the picture. However, professional photography makes use of digital single lens reflex cameras (DSLR), which include manually setting and controlling the picture or scene environment to get the best possible results.

In professional photography lenses play more important role than camera body. The camera body becomes obsolete with time but lenses always remain new and they can be detached and attached in any number. Depending upon the style of photography, one has to choose the lenses as random selection will not give good results.

Professional photography can also be done in more specific ways such as aerial photography, underwater photography and wildlife photography. Recently, portrait photography has also become very popular. Professional photography takes time because it is not an easy task to get the best out of a scene. One might have to repeat shots at the same location at different intervals and periods to find the best shot. However, once a person starts learning with DSRLs and cameras, photography becomes a hobby. Every form of photography has its importance and its own style.

Going out of the way and trying innovative is always welcomes in photography because it is all about imagination and there is no bound on imagination of a human being.

Want to learn more about digital photography? Then you would do well to get the best digital photography books. These books have a few things in common. They teach you a great deal about photography and your digital camera. They are incredibly enjoyable to read. And the love for photography shines through in them. In this article I discuss some of the best books available in the market today which will help you hone your skills as a photographer.

Posing Secrets - The Photographer's Essential Guide

A great portrait is an image of beauty. When you want to become better at taking photos of people, then you should consider reading the book titled "Posing Secrets - The Photographer's Essential Guide". One of the toughest jobs to do well in the photography business is photographing people. Reading this book will guide you in what kinds of techniques you need to use to do different kinds of shots such as head shots, full length shots, three-quarter shots, or body shots. It will also teach you various techniques you need to utilize when people are in motion, seating, standing, or any kind of pose you will encounter as a photographer.

This book will take you to a new level of photography and will give you more confidence in taking pictures of people. Just apply the techniques that you will learn and practice them and you will see yourself constantly improving.

The Digital SLR Handbook

Another book you could consider reading is "The Digital SLR Handbook" especially if you have been used to taking pictures with traditional cameras that use film. The book helps you transition from film to digital. It will give you more basic information in the difference of using a traditional camera compared with modern digital equipment as well as information regarding digital image processing. Regardless of whether you need help transitioning, there is ample supply of digital photography tips and tricks in this book and you will benefit greatly from reading it.

40 Digital Photography Techniques

If you want to correct, enhance, or create digital images either for personal or business purposes, then you should read "40 Digital Photography Techniques". This book is loaded with information that is useful for everyone whether you are a beginner in the industry, someone who is switching from film to digital, or a professional who is simply looking for ways to improve his skills to gain more edge in the competition.

When you read the book you will be amazed on how technical concepts are made simple through this guide with its step by step instructions, coupled with clear explanations, tips, and shortcuts. Even if you are still an amateur, you can expect to shoot a professional looking image with the use of a digital camera with the use of this book... And a bit of practice of course!

These best digital photography books will surely help you enhance your skills in photography. Start reading and using these books, practice the techniques explained in them and your photos will be so much better. A picture lasts a life time, so you had better make sure that those pictures look like a million bucks!

A course of study in photography is essentially a study in the fine arts. You could prepare for this well paying career by attending one of the available good art schools. Photography has many areas to specialize in. You may be surprised to know that some photographers specialize in only one aspect of photography, and you can do the same. The following areas of study, though not an exhaustive list, will give sufficient insights to help you in choosing your course of study.

Advertising Photography
In advertising photography, pictures are taken of what is being marketed. The work can vary, so an advertising photographer may find themselves taking photos of cars one day and snapping pictures of electronics for the next job. Advertising photography is also known as commercial photography because the focus is selling a product.

Fashion Photography
Fashion photography may be what comes to mind when someone talks about professional photography. It involves photographers taking photographs of models and the clothing they are modeling. Fashion photography is in many ways commercial photography, but it is so specialized that is thought of as a separate field by many.

Photojournalism
Photojournalism uses photography to tell a story. Photojournalism is often associated with covering wars, but photojournalists cover many other events such as elections. Becoming a photojournalist requires solid training in photography as well as being a reporter. Often photojournalists encounter dangerous or challenging situations.

Fine Art Photography
Fine art photography shares similarities with other genres of photography. Unlike advertising or commercial photography though, the point of fine art photography is creative expression rather than selling something. Often, fine art photographers are trying to make a statement or capture a feeling or idea with their photographs.

Nature Photography
Nature photography may be considered fine art photography, but some often consider it in its own category. Some photographers capture mainly nature shots for prestigious magazines or other clients. These nature shots often include both wildlife and landscapes.

All of these areas of photography require a solid background in the basics. Once you make your choice regarding the area you want to study in your art school, you will get into specialized classes in one field. For example, fashion photographers learn how to make both their models and the clothes look good in their photographs. Nature photographers on the other hand are more concerned about dealing with outdoor lighting and capturing the perfect shot of wildlife. In addition to these fields of study, you could also consider portrait photography among other types of photography. Genres are also changing with more photographers using digital cameras and manipulating their photographs with software to create the kind of image they imagine.

One of the most groundbreaking technologies during the late 20th century would be the Digital Photography. It provides skilled and quality photographs. It only costs half of that price involved in traditional photography. With digital photography, you will waste nothing since you will not need film and you can print the photos that you want. Digital Photography is equally inexpensive and is eco-friendly. You can also share your photographs to anyone wherever you are whenever you have an internet connection and a computer.

Photography may be your pastime, hobby or perhaps a career. It has evolved in the past decades and has not diminished. In truth, it is much more popular, and it is slowly taking over taking pictures with film. You picture will differ on the type of digital camera you use. It is nothing like regular film camera you can reclaim the storage media any time you want. It does not matter about the price of a certain camera as long as you are happy with your purchase. Digital photography brings photography to new heights. It is no longer just photography. You can call it as digitally post-processed photos. The digital era has brought about the biggest revolution in photography ever since they invented photography.

These types of photography can be considered like flattering arts. Each of the traditional and digital photography has their own place in the lives of professional and amateur photographers. The expertise needed to traditional photography will undoubtedly be taken to the digital arena. We could simply see that the field of photography has space for both traditional and digital photography. We will just trust that both traditional and digital photographers can do the best they can in their respective field and continue to capture amazing photos. In the end, it is merely a new tool of renovation in an ever-changing globe.

Photography started as early as the 4th century B.C., when the very first image was formed on a wall, using a pinhole camera in a dark room. It wasn't until 1820, that modern photography was born. In 1839, the word photography, derived from Greek words 'fos' for 'light' and 'grafo' for 'writing', was finally universalized by John Herschel.

Today we have reached a stage, where modern photography is present everywhere. Life would have been colorless, but for the morning newspaper, colorful and glamorous magazines, the soap operas on television or a late night movie at an auditorium. Viewing 'Still' photographs in a family photo album or watching live images on a video or television is indeed fun. From an old black and white camera, with minimal options for speed and zoom, to a modern auto focus digital or an SLR camera, which has a supreme power to manage every possible option in photography, indeed we have come a long way.

Modern photography is an art, in fact, an expensive art which is probably more than just amateur photography of a family, friends or nature, to more complex portrait, glamour photography or photojournalism by a professional. Whatever may be the level, the results can be passionate. There have been occasions when photographers have won awards and accolades, for their photography, in areas like fashion, nature, war and combat, to name a few from a long list.

The credit for modern photography goes to both, machine and the man behind the machine. The special photographic effects seen in the movies have reached a zenith. The camera tricks and the photography in modern movies can leave you in shock and disbelief. If you plan to pursue photography as a career, then following items are a must for you. A good camera, compact digital or digital SLR (single lens reflex) type, accessories like special UV filters, different zoom lenses for a more professional touch can take you a long way, if you are an enthusiast for still photography; but if you are venturing into the video photography zone, then modern handy cams can be pretty handy.

Selection of a camera and accessories would also depend upon the place of photography you are planning, indoor or outdoors? In both situations, you will need a good camera, but if you love to shoot outdoors, then you cannot do without a handheld or body supported balance system and the tripods to avoid a blurred picture. The camera cranes, dollies and remote heads would further augment your efforts for photography, especially outdoors. Some of the most awesome pictures have been captured outdoors, on land, under the sea and in the sky.

Sony, Nikon, Canon, Minolta and Olympus manufacture very good digital or digital SLR type of cameras for modern photography. These cameras range from $50 to $2000. It would be inappropriate if we do not mention here the role of printing. You can transfer the images onto your computer or store them in USB drives. You can print your results with a wide range of color printers available, without wasting precious time for the processing lab results. So go ahead and nurture that artist in you and enjoy taking photographs of the beautiful land, the life under water or the different facets of the sky.

When asked by my students what I would rate as my top ten tips for someone starting out in photography, I didn't have to think. These are my all time top ten for anyone who is beginning their photography journey. Follow these simple steps and you won't look back.

For someone who has just got their first digital camera it can be daunting to think where does one start. What is the first step in going past just taking snapshots. I always ask the question, "What do you want to achieve with your photography?" Unless you have an idea where you are going you'll never reach your destination. So this leads on to my first tip.

1. Begin with the end in mind.

So many amateur photographers never consider the possibility that they can take photos like the ones they see in magazines. A good photo is taken by a good photographer and not a good camera. If you want to shoot those beautiful landscapes or stunning portraits then you will be able to if you set yourself simple goals to get there. Know what you want and it's only a matter of a few simple goals and you'll be there in no time. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

2. Take your time

Rome wasn't built in a day. Yes, you can take those great magazine shots but you won't be doing it today. Time together with effort are the vehicles to stunning photographs. Take time to learn your art and time to practise what you learn. So often, when getting a new toy, we want to master it in the same afternoon. Because digital is cheap and instant assume that becoming a good photographer is just as simple. On the other hand don't procrastinate and dream too much. You have to get out and create images no matter how good or bad they are.

3. Think before you shoot

Coupled with taking your time this tip is a vital foundational principle to photography. One of the biggest advantages film photography had over digital was the careful thought process. Why? Because film, developing and printing was expensive by today's standards. In a matter of minutes we can take a few hundred shots with digital. Back then, you had only thirty six shots and needed to think before shooting the image. Even if you are just a beginner and don't know how to compose a great shot, think about what you are going to include or exclude when taking the shot.

4. The subject is most important

This should be logical and straight forward, but, we are all guilty of neglecting the importance of the subject in a photo. The subject is your lead actor, the star attraction. When someone looks at an image of yours the subject should shout out, "I am the subject". It should not compete with any other element in the image. Give it the importance it deserves and you will have a great photo.

5. Use your feet

A zoom lens should always be your last resort. If you can't walk in closer to your subject, only then should you use your zoom. Use your feet to walk around and find a better viewpoint. Some photographers act as if their shoes were lined with lead and they remain static and shoot from one position, right in front of the scene or subject. Photography is a dynamic art. Move around and find the best and most creative shot.

6. Get in closer

This tip is tied in with the previous point. Use your feet and not your zoom but also get in really close. Fill the frame with your subject. Don't include elements that you don't want to remember in twenty years time. If your subject is a loved one and one day when they are gone, do you want to see more of them in the photo? Be proactive and create your memories now.

7. Exclude clutter

That image of a loved one who has passed on often shows the garbage can or the microwave, the neighbours dog or part of a car and the loved one is relegated to a small percentage of the image. Too much unnecessary clutter that has no need to be remembered. If it's not important cut it out! If it doesn't add to the image then subtract it. When looking through your viewfinder watch the edges and make sure there is nothing there that shouldn't be in the image.

8. Change your angles

As I have said, photography is dynamic so move around and look for new angles. Don't stand right in front of your subject. Get down lower, climb up higher and move to the left and right of the subject. Find a viewpoint that is not common. How many people do you see lying down in public and shooting from low down. Try it and you'll get a shot that is unique.

9. Practise and shoot often

Practise makes perfect, so the old adage goes. Gary Player, the master golfer and winner of many international titles, says that the harder he practises the luckier he gets. You create your own luck. The more you shoot the more likely you are to get that great shot because as you practise you become more familiar with your camera and techniques are learned.

10. Start a structured learning process

Buy a basic photography book and learn the fundamentals of photography. Enrol in a photography course or join a local photography club. Look for courses and books on the internet and focus on learning techniques and skills that you can apply to your photography journey. If you don't get the basic building blocks in place you won't be able to build on your knowledge.

Treat your photography like any profession or art. Stay focused and allocate the amount of time you need to be successful at it. Experiment and have fun at the same time and make sure that you practise, practise and practise. Happy shooting!

Digital photography technique offers both challenges and rewards. However, in essence, photography remains just that when you convert to digital cameras: you still have to know how to compose and shoot pictures to get the best results.

The way you see your subject, and visualize the resulting image doesn't change in any basic way with digital photography technique, but there are exciting new approaches and technologies to understand and to master!

Digital Photography Technique One - Pixel Parlance:

Bigger isn't always better. Having more pixels doesn't always translate into better images, as the size and quality of the pixels are also important. 6 Million pixels of a bigger size can actually give you a clearer image than 8 million of a smaller size.

Digital Photography Technique Two - Zoom Zones:

Optical zoom is more important for your image quality than digital zoom. Optical zoom delivers more detail to your camera sensor, whereas digital zoom is more of a cropping function applied to existing data (detail) captured by the sensor.

Digital Photography Technique Three - Making Sense Of Sensors:

Digital photography relies on sensors, which are often less discerning than film when it comes to rendering detail in shadows and highlights. You should therefore be careful not to "blow" your highlights. If they are not captured to start with, you can't adjust them afterwards in your software processing!

Digital Photography Technique Four - Grading The Grain:

While there is a general acceptance of the grain sometimes visible in film prints, the human eye is particularly good at seeing regular patterns, such as row-and-column "noise" in some digital prints. When you purchase your digital camera, it is a good idea to check the reviews regarding noise levels for particular models!

Digital Photography Technique Five - Color Coding:

What about black and white shots? Digital cameras take pictures in color. The most basic element of the digital darkroom, such as Photoshop, you will need to master, is how and when to turn your digital color images into exactly the black and white image you want.

Digital Photography Technique Six - Setting Selections:

In digital photography you the freedom to choose on a per-shot basis many settings you were locked into or restricted to, when using film, such as film speed and white balancing.

Digital Photography Technique Seven - RAW Rewards:

When purchasing a digital camera, you will have the option of models which produce only JPEG files (which are processed on board by your camera), or some which give the option of RAW files, which are unprocessed.

The assumption is that RAW files can then be processed on your computer with more powerful software to achieve the desired results. RAW converters are improved all the time. Over time you will get better results from your existing RAW format picture files by applying the latest converters when they become available.

RAW is like wine: it improves over time, just let it lie until the right converter comes along...

Digital Photography Technique Eight - LCD Leeching:

The LCD screen drains battery power. Use the viewfinder to compose your photographs. Most digital cameras will let you switch between the two.

Digital Photography Technique Nine - Histogram Hits:

You will need to figure out how to use the histogram function - once mastered it is an indispensable tool to get balanced pictures. Some cameras show the histogram in real time for easy correction of your exposure.

Digital Photography Technique Ten - Software Solutions:

Digital cameras are susceptible to artifacts and aberrations that film cameras are not, such as those resulting from JPEG file compression, oversharpening, etc. However, most of these problems can be dealt with by applying the correct software solutions before printing.

There is no mystery behind the images your camera produces. It is only a question of mastering digital photography technique.

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

My firsts words to you as you consider the world of wedding photography is, "Are you stark staring crazy?". Why would anyone want to enter this world? There are just so many things that can go wrong and this is one area of photography that cannot be reshot without redoing the whole event which is impossible. You need nerves of steel and the patience of Job. 

Now if you have considered all the pitfalls and weighed the pros and cons and have decided that you are one of the chosen few and can stand the pressure, here are some pointers that will get you to the top of your game.

1. Learn digital photography

This may sound simple and quite broad. If you aren't an accomplished photographer then learn photography and acquire the skills that you need to shoot great photos. If you are an accomplished film photographer learn all you can about digital photography. You need to function as a digital photographer knowing each of the skills necessary to make you successful. For example, know the limitations and benefits of shooting with digital and what can be improved or rescued in the digital darkroom. You will make mistakes and there will be unforseen problems and you need to know what can be done before you have a heart attack and call the bride with bad news. At my own wedding half the photos were lost because of film problems. A fair amount would've been rescued if it had been digital.

2. Learn the basics of wedding photogrpahy

There are two routes to go with this point. Firstly, the self taught route. Buy wedding magazines and books on wedding photography and study them religiously. Get to know the types of shot people like and the scenes they prefer. Great ideas come from wedding magazines. If you want to cheat a little go to a wedding photographer and ask to see their work or look at it on the walls of their studio or shop. The second route is more difficult. Offer your services to a wedding photographer as an assistant. Once you are a wedding photographer you'll realise how invaluable and assistant can be. Here you'll learn many tricks and techniques and will pick up tips that you won't read about in books. The key here again is to learn wedding photography on the job.

3. Plan and practise

More preparation than any other area of photography needs to go into a wedding shoot and planning is essential. Your biggest hurdle is the transition from other genres of photography to wedding photography. When you actually do the shoot you should know every scene, lighting condition, location and sequence of shots. Some photographers go as far as preparing a shot sheet, a sketch of every shot at every location, so that they know one shot after the other and what is coming up next. Each camera setting is noted next to the shot. Maybe a bit overkill to some but the risk of failure is greatly reduced.

4. Dive into the deep end

Offer your services free to friends and family for all kinds of occasions as an unofficial photographer. If you're brave enough offer to do a wedding or ask permission to take photos in addition to the photographer they have engaged. Get the main photographer's permission and don't get in the way. What the experience will do is allow you to learn the best exposures, lighting conditions and using a flash on a regular basis. Nothing helps better than experience and this helps you with the transition to bigger things.

Wedding photography can be a really profitable business if your nerves can take the pressure. It is a very competitive form of photography and many offer cut throat prices. Don't aim at just average but rather work at acquiring unique skills that will set you apart from the others. The final product should be the deciding factor and not the person's wallet.

The bottom line with any type of photography is learning the skills and developing your abilities as a photographer. Learn more about photography and continue adding to your skills basket in becoming an accomplished wedding photographer.

Tired of your old film camera and craving for something new? Digital photography is a relatively new genre of photography, gradually overshadowing its older version, film photography, into obscurity. There are marked advantages digital cameras have over film cameras. Well, an lcd monitor is one, post processing adds up to image quality in a drastic way, there's the extensive resolution, and a whole lot more!

So, by now you should be impressed. But what digital camera would be most suitable for you? And how would you prepare yourself? Well, one good thing is purchasing a digital photography magazine!

Photography magazines are fairly affordable, considering their quality and its content, which would really prompt one to purchase a digital camera in no time. Some of its essential content includes:

Tips for just about anything about photography.

May it be about an accessory, way of shooting, setting tricks, and the like, photography magazines really gives its readers an edge, coming from actual photography experts. You would discover how to use your camera better and how to utilize its features with digital photography magazine's step by step guide. Aside from the in-camera tips, digital photography magazines also teaches its readers some post processing techniques, which is totally sweet because as you all know, post processing is what makes photography distinct from film photography.

Digital camera reviews and ratings

Digital Photography Magazine, unlike camera companies, provides for an unbiased review on each digital camera release. The result then is a more objective judgment for you to assess on which digital camera you should purchase. A digital camera review usually comes with overall rating and sample images, so you would be a hundred percent sure once you decide on which camera to buy. As they always say, quality first before brand name.

Photo gallery

Given that you already have a digital camera; a Digital Photography Magazinewould still be of use because digital camera magazines are also sources of inspiration to budding photographers with its gallery. Each gallery is sorted according to genre or category, took by some talent and put into that magazine, not for you to steal ideas, but to have at least a point of reference on what to shoot in your own creative way. The good thing also is that almost all digital photography magazines places the camera setting used in shooting the pictures in the gallery.

Articles about digital photography

What use is it to engage into digital photography when you are not abreast of its developments? Do you what camera brand NASA used in their recent space mission? Well, got you! In order to be good at what you enter in, you must know at least some things about it. A digital photography magazine gives new development and some rumours regarding photography, so you would have an idea on what to expect.

Photo contests!

Some digital photography magazines hold a contest for its patrons. Think of each contest as a gallery exhibit and a photo is chosen with its owner given a price. Do not be afraid of entering one because almost every reader submits their own entry because unlike painting, photography can be entered by anyone. The prize, if you are lucky, would really be worth it!

The points mentioned are some of the things that digital photography magazines offer. There are still millions of features that are waiting for you, every month is a special month for most of these magazines, as a matter of fact.

So what are you waiting for?

If you are interested in pursing a career in digital photography, you have come to the right place. With interest in photography increasing, the field of photography is becoming increasingly competitive. It is therefore imperative that anyone who is interested in a photography career, obtain the right training. There are many fine arts schools and professional photography schools that offer photography courses to help you learn about the history of photography and learn the techniques of photographing. With an interest in photography and some technical training, you can turn your passion for photography into a lifelong profession.

If you are interested in photography, there is a wide variety of career paths to select from. These include, but are not limited to, wedding photography, portrait photography, fashion photography, photojournalism, fine art photography, and landscape photography. If you are looking to pursue a career in any area of photography, you will need to attend a fine art or photography school that can provide you with the technical instruction that you need to succeed. Without proper training, you may get left behind in a field that is full of competition.

What will you learn during a photography course? During this course you will learn everything that you need to know to become a successful photographer. Most courses will start from the basics and give you a firm foundation in which you can start gaining experience. Lessons in photography courses include everything from the history of photography to the actual techniques used by professional photographers. These schools will also help you in creating a portfolio that will be attractive to potential customers and employers.

How do you know if this kind of school is the right choice for you? If you have an eye for detail, if you are extremely creative, and if you love shooting with the camera, school may be the right choice for you. If you have all of these qualities, you have everything an employer is looking for - except training. Attending a reputable photography school for training will make you one step closer to your success story! There are several schools across North America that offer a wide variety of training programs, degrees, and certificates in the field of psychology.

If you are interested in a photography career, attending a fine art or reputable school is definitely the way to go. Obtaining a photography degree will not only make you look more appealing to potential employers, but will also help you gain a solid foundation in which to build your business. Courses will provide you with everything from the basic information you need to understand photography to the specific skills and techniques you need to apply it. Enrol in a photography course today and become one step closer to obtaining your dream photography career.

There are many different areas of photography based on its subjects. Here are a few of the different types of photography:

Nature photography
Nature photography captures pictures of the blessedness and beauty of nature. It encompasses landscape photography that exhibits the beauty of a place and its forms such as deserts, mountains and even waterfalls. Also it involves wildlife photography that takes pictures of animals and their habitats. This type of photography would require adaptivity to nature and knowledge of animals. This can be dangerous if you don't know how to react or treat animals and go about in the wilderness of the forest and mountains.

Underwater photography
Underwater photography may be a separate type but it is still related to nature photography. It focuses on the attractiveness and splendour of the marine life and the marvels of the underwater. Interesting underwater subjects are fishes, corals as well as other frightening creatures such as sharks.

Travel photography
It is a type that showcases pictures about of places, beautiful sights and even people. It captures the culture of a place and its customs and traditions. This is mostly seen in brochures and its ultimate goal is to promote the location to tourists.

Action photography
It takes pictures of activities that involve action such as sports, adventure activities and daring feats. It is important in this type of photography that the photographer can anticipate when is it best to take pictures, must be willing to venture on this risk-taking pursuit and should be quick at reacting for taking pictures.

Documentary photography
This type of photography is about taking pictures that would be part of history. It captures a relevant period of time and its political or social status and events. This can also include photojournalism, where journalists are not allowed to make any adjustments to the pictures so as not to alter the real image of an event or scene and thus presenting nothing but facts.

Fashion photography
Fashion photography deals with taking pictures of models while putting emphasis on clothing and accessories. It can also be linked into celebrity photography because celebrities are the optimum fashion setters.

Glamour photography
Glamour photography is concerned in turning the model or subject into it's most appealing and glamorous appearance. It can also be connected with portrait photography whose goal is to capture the ultimate image and personality of the subject.

Candid photography
A type where the subjects are spontaneous and sometimes unaware.

Photography is the art of capturing the original scene that you see in front of your eyes through an electronic device called Camera. The art not only illustrates the originality of the images but also give large scope for changing or manipulating the very nature of them.

The required changes or illustrations can be done effectively through amazing software known as "Photoshop". You need not rely on Photoshop for every alteration that you prefer instead your camera settings and some of its functions can help you in bringing out the feel.

Photography might bore you down when you come around same venues and do the same type of shooting every time you pick up the camera. To maintain the professionalism in photography one has to stay inspired and stay in line with the latest technology.

When you do not have that inspiration, your work will definitely show your disinterest. Today people who want your service can very well estimate your inspiration towards photography. You must know the tactic of pleasing the clients with your exponential photography skills. You have to prove them that you offer unique services and excite them with captivating images.

To stay inspired with Photography, here are the few suggested methods that will sculpt you to be an eminent photographer.

View Movies - By watching movies that are skilfully cinematographed you can enhance your technical skills. Here you are observing the movements with your own eyes and the visual interpretations are always well registered in the human minds. You have to look for the lighting and ideas that the cinematographers used to make the movie appreciable.

Visit cities - Visit the nearest cities and capture the monuments, architects, lifestyle and nightlife of people living there.

Visit zoos - Taking pictures in a zoo is not an easy task, as you have to hide all the barricades that obstruct your views. This is the place where you can capture the close movements of animals that are comparatively difficult in an open forest. Try to show that you have shot the animals from a close distance.

Time of shooting - Do not stick always to the daytime shooting. Show some variations by shooting images somewhere in the dusk or early morning. This will give you enough knowledge about the light variations and the filters that you can conveniently use to capture a good image.

Surfing sites - To stay connected with the current market need you have to go through few stock sites that offer competitive images. You can collect some ideas as well as know the commercial needs.

Go to racing sports - This gives you the opportunity of capturing the speed. Capturing images of objects that are in motion requires specific talent. It is highly regarded as a photography skill as you bring out the clarity in motion. Your interest in the sports also brings out your real skill.

Get into the crowd - Clicking images in the crowd is a special talent. This only develops when you start clicking images from your living street and extend further. Street photography offers you many good things to capture and is popular in the photography world.

Go under water - You are getting into a different world. You need not be a diver for this purpose and it is enough that you protect the camera with proper waterproof materials. More captivating images can be got on the surface of the water where you get ample light.

View packaging materials - An example for this is a CD packaging material, which always try to bear an eye catchy image. The photography skill involved in this also highly contributes to the sales volume.

Try with different lenses - Try shooting images with different lenses. Best landscape photographs are derived through using various lenses.

Participate in competitions - It is not enough that you concentrate only on accumulating skills. Your skills have to be examined to stay in the market. The only way to identify where you stand in the photography lies in participating in various photography competitions.

Use different cameras - When you generally work with digital camera try using analogue and vice versa.

Help society - Your photography skill will provide you more solace when you help the society with it. You can teach others or contribute to society by offering free services.

Work with Photoshop - You can give new touches to your images using Photoshop. Photoshop offer wonderful tools that can bring colours in your images. As a photographer, an excellent knowledge in Photoshop is a must and greatly required in profession.

Model Photography - This will give you a special place in the Fashion World. Taking photographs of models requires high skills and is an ever-rewarding job as the fashion is ever changing.

Membership in Photography Organization - Always aspire to become a member in Photography organization and participate in discussions. This will yield you more photography friends and support for your profession.

Blogging - This gives you an opportunity to write your experiences in the field of photography. This might help other struggling photographers to develop their skills and also provide you some fresh inputs.

Read Blogs - Reading blogs created by other photographers will inspire you in many ways. This is where you get new ideas for developing your photography skills in various dimensions. You will also get some tips for selling your work.

Read Books - This is something like a dictionary that you will refer at the time of need. Owning excellent books on photography is also one way of developing your skill. You can come across lots of techniques that great people have adopted.

Bye new cameras - This is one great way of staying inspired with photography. New equipments will generally carry new features, which everybody like to try. You also tend to get new ideas when you start working with new equipments.

Generally all images come with a spark of inspiration. Inspiration differs in each photographer. It is often difficult to stay with the same inspiration throughout the career. By adopting the above-suggested tips, a photographer can positively stay inspired throughout his/her career.

When discussing types of pictures that can be taken by a professional photographer, there are two main types. Candid photography lends a more personal feel to each photo, and captures life as it is happening. Professional photographic portraits on the other hand, are more about chronicling an event, and preserving it on film in a staged manner. Each method has its own place and time in which it is most appropriate, and the information below will provide you with the main differences between the two styles.

Positioning and Appearance

One of the main differences between candid photography and photographic portraits is in the way they are positioned, and in the way that they appear. Candid photographs are taken on the go when life is happening, and present pictures of an event as it was. Professional photographic portraits however, are staged using sets, props, and a predetermined position. These photographs capture an image and preserve it in the way that it was positioned to look.

The appearance of these two types of photography are quite different, in fact, candid photography can often look like it was not done by a professional at all. It can sweep you away, and remind you of a past event with it easy appearance and candid positioning.

Photographic portraits preserve things in their perfect condition. They allow you to look your best, or capture something or someone in an ideal way. Often, when somebody goes to a professional photography studio or hires a professional photographer, they will opt to have both forms of photography used. That is because while different, these two styles both have their own merits and value.

Equipment That is Used

Another major difference between candid and photographic photography is the equipment that is used for each. Candid photography is usually done with much lighter weight equipment. There is often no need for a tripod, lights, and certainly not backgrounds or props. It is often done outside with natural backdrops, and usually on the go.

Professional photographic photography is quite different on the other hand. It requires the use of heavy equipment, large tripods, elaborate lighting, props and backgrounds, and often other items as well. The idea behind photographic photography is to make an object or person look their very best, and a variety of measures and tools are used to achieve this.

When They Are Used

When looking for differences between candid and photographic photography is important to explore the difference between when they are both used. For instance, photographic photography is better suited for taking still photos that you wish to look professional and staged. These might be wedding photos, children's photos, family photos, or even pictures for cards or invitations.

Candid photography however, is generally used to capture the action of an event. That is why candid photography is often used to capture wildlife, sporting events, wedding receptions, or even news events.

While each of these photography styles has various times and places that they can be used. It is also possible for them to be used in the same situation at roughly the same time. In the example of a wedding, before hand you may wish to have photographic pictures of the wedding party taken. However, during and after the wedding you may wish for a photographer to use candid photography to capture the action in every moment of the day.

Both candid and professional photographic photography have their benefits and appropriate times to be used. While there are differences in these two styles of photography, they both require the skill of a professional photographer in order to present a beautiful finished product. When you know the differences between these two styles of photography, you can make the choice of which one is best for you.

It would have been nice, had I recognized my interest in photography when I was a lot younger. Who knows what might have been different. One difference, however, might have been how I went about learning both the craft and its art.

I can only imagine what it would have been like to study photography at any one of the many great schools with a photography curriculum. We read about many of them or see their advertisements in popular photo magazines. I've always found the ads for schools like the Rocky Mountain School of Photography or the New York Institute of Photography inviting but have never found the time (or the money) to take advantage of them.

I've had the pleasure of working with photographers who studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for example, and I've always been impressed by their knowledge.

However, I've taken a different route and it's one I think is quite common. I was first attracted to photography more than 30 years into my career as a custom publisher. While I'd been around photography all my working life, even taking a few photos myself over the years, it wasn't until I received a subscription to Outdoor Photographer magazine that I caught the bug for nature photography.

By this time I had a career, a business, and a family so the photography education had to be acquired in a less formal manner. I opted for workshops, The Nikon School, a George Lepp workshop at Union College in Schenectady NY, and others along the way... most recently The Barefoot Contessa's Photo Adventures' Fall Workshop in New Hampshire re-ignited my interest and I hope my creativity.

Perhaps another opportunity, available to just about everyone, has provided the bulk of my education though - books. Every good bookstore has a large variety of books on photography. I gravitated to those by noted nature photographers and I have a small and growing library of books on nature photography now. I've read many repeatedly. Some, like George Lepp's Beyond the Basics (1 &2) or Michael Busselle's Better Picture Guide to Landscape Photography, introduced me to the basics such controlling exposure and the importance of depth of field. Others, such as the Center for Nature Photography Series by Allen Rokach and Anne Millman, delved into subjects like zone exposure, the different perspectives provided by lenses of different focal lengths or the use of fill flash, and of course composition.

As my "education" progressed I found myself gravitating toward books with more focus (pun intended) on the art of photography than its craft. I discovered that I really enjoyed books by Freeman Patterson, Tony Sweet, and David Ward to mention a few. Each expanded my horizons and whet my appetite for more.

If you've ever been curious about commercial photography and what it consists of, look no further. Plainly explained, commercial photography frequently means advertising, or photography that's taken with the express purpose of making money, as opposed to essentially being good art. I would say the end goal is to look for the best design which will sell a specific thing or service, including cosmetic makeup products, cold drinks, foods and even trucks plus more. With commercial photography, truth be told there really are no limits, and this is really a career path that is certainly frequently changing as well as developing.

With pictures, the most important end goal isn't merely to take an attractive image. The aim of commercial photography goes past the whole picture, and looks within the viewer's responses. Commercial photography aims to capture the feeling from the target audience, to show genuine emotion and trust in not only intellect. This kind of advertising photography traditionally will go for an emotional effect, and photographers that can capture this are rare-and remarkable.

Shoppers in our world are usually continuously hounded by illustrations or photos and movies clamoring for their attention. Whether it is via the radio, television or magazines, the responsibility of commercial photography should be to quickly catch their attention with a picture and ideally turn their focus into income for the customer.

Photographers continuously have to adapt to the changing marketing environment. Consumers have learned to tune out many, if not many, marketing campaigns, so commercial photographers must find new methods for getting their content across to potential customers.

Commercial photography is the chance to have an image make an individual want to buy a particular product, and in today's marketplace, photography is in all kinds of unconventional places. As opposed to just in a magazine, advertising photography sometimes appears on the walls of buildings, in Web pop-ups and brochures. Organizations of almost any size can usually benefit from commercial photography, and there's no better time like now.

One type of commercial photography that is becoming more popular is large format photography. Large format photography makes use of special equipment which allows individuals to enlarge the image to almost any dimension. Generally, this kind of advertising is used in retail store windows and on the side of structures to capture attention from a distance.

A marketing and advertising strategy that numerous businesses make use of while using photographs is to capture bright and vibrant colors. Whether it's the cheerfulness of the photographs or just the vibrant color that draws in attention, this plan is usually fairly successful at getting products off the shelves.

If perhaps you might be in charge of promotion for your organization or you are interested in learning to be a photographer, commercial photography is incredibly effective. Regardless of how much advertising changes, photography is able to maintain and present amazing images that can sell your products. When you have a photo that resonates with your buyers, you have instantly developed a correlation that's hard to crack.

Are you intrigued by the idea of using photography to make time stand still, and creating keepsakes that will be treasured for generations? Maybe you love being a part of the excitement that comes with the glorious moments in human life: weddings, comings of age, and celebrations. You want to be there to record it forever.

Professional photography has been around for decades, yet it continues to be one of the most innovative and creative art forms in the world today. Being your own boss and determining your own schedule are just a few of the perks. Earning a living creating unique and creative images of people's cherished moments makes the decision to start a photography business a great one.

The family and wedding photography industry is booming right now in the United States. The real emphasis placed on the importance of family has seen a surge in portrait photography, and couples in love are spending thousands of dollars on their wedding photography. Add in the fact that professionals of all types need headshots for business use, and there is no shortage of work for the aspiring professional photographer.

It's not difficult to start a photography business - all you really need are a good camera with the necessary lenses and equipment, and an eye for composition. But in order to attract clients and create a thriving business that you can call a true career, there are a few other things you'll want to do.

1. Plan and prepare

Before setting up studio space, buying equipment, or looking for clients, you'll need to plan what type of photography business you'll be running. Will it be wedding photography, portrait photography, pictures of young children or high school graduates, or some combination of these? Think about the type of photography you're most passionate about, the services you'll offer and the type of image you want to present.

To build your photo-taking skills, you can take photography classes at a local art school or community college, buy some good how-to books, and most importantly, practice by taking pictures of friends and family. Getting feedback on your work from other professionals will also go a long way to helping your build your skills to the professional level.

2. The right tools for the job

As mentioned, professional quality digital photography equipment is a must. This includes at least one digital camera with a few interchangeable lenses, and digital memory for file storage. Additional lighting and backdrops are a great addition if you plan to shoot portrait work inside. If you need to shoot onsite (at weddings, for example), a durable-but-lightweight camera bag will help you protect and transport photography equipment.

Many photographers find it difficult to work without the help of a computer editing program, and a website to attract customers is important too. A good training book and some business planning will help you start a photography business knowing exactly what tools and equipment you'll need for the services you have in mind.

3. Setting up your studio or office

Starting a photography business requires a studio or an office where you will be able to greet prospective customers, review prints, fill out forms, and conduct other in-person business. When you set up your space to start a photography business, keep in mind the services you're planning on offering. The reception area of someone who plans to work primarily with weddings will be very different for someone doing headshots for aspiring models and actors, for example.

When deciding whether or not to invest in things like studio space, consider the advice of Mike Copeland, an official photographer for the Salt Lake City Olympics: "If you have the space, it's great to run this kind of business from home. We have our living room set up to meet with wedding clients, and a workspace in the basement." If you don't have the funds to equip a studio, you can still shoot outside or on location.

4. Finding customers

When you are ready to start your photography business, you'll want to let the public know you are available for their photography needs. You can pay to advertise your services, although display ads may be too expensive when you first start a photography business. Instead, consider press releases and other low-cost marketing strategies such as referrals.

When your market your photography business, show how your work is unique, without moving too far away from the traditional expectations of your target market. Online directories and a website for your photography business will also help generate and increase sales.

Photography is an hobby, a profession and can be both. Making money in photography can be difficult and the field is very competitive.

Almost anyone with a good camera, a business-savvy attitude, and marketing know-how can take & sell photos. What distinguishes those who sell some photos from those who make photography their living is dedication,perseverance,technical expertise,patience,a good "artistic eye", the ability to network, lots of effort and some luck.

Almost any photography genre can be used as a way to make a living. Is it easy?, no. Photography is quite popular and there is a large abundance of professionals trying to sell their art. Unless you happen to be the one who takes the first and only shot of "the first alien visitors to planet Earth", making it big will require effort. Making photography into a business takes planing, market research, and lots of marketing.

None of today's top professional photographers made it in one year, in fact it took them an average of ten years, lots of submissions and side jobs. But they all had one thing in common: they had a love for photography that never waned.

The basic steps that one should undertake in no specific order are first to research the market; Is there a demand for the genre that you want to pursue; i.e photos of flowers. Who will be your main buyers, how will you market yourself, do you have the technical skills needed to repeatedly make 100% technically sound photos, do you have the gear or can you afford the gear, can you sustain yourself for up to a year with some other income besides photography.

Once you have mulled over these questions, the next thing to do is decide which photography genre will make up your mainstay. The main money makers are: portraits, business/commercial, fashion, nature,photojournalism,and scientific. Other genres are restate photography, astronomical photography, and photojournalism. Each of these break further into subdivisions.

For example, when I first started I found it easy and profitable to take photographs which were meant to be used in wall calendars, with nudes being the most in demand at the time. Soon I found myself gravitating towards nature and shortly afterward decided to focus on nature photography. I had a very good paying (other than photography) job at the time so money was not an issue and nature photography was and is very well represented, I therefore knew that it would take time for me to become recognized and start selling my wares.

The next step is to shoot enough quality shots to be used in submission to various publications or used to display your talent. After a period of four years my photos and work slowly began to be recognized and used and by that time I had accumulate about 2300 quality photos.

Next was to set up business cards, office supplies, contracts, models releases, a business address(my home), a business phone and email, a storage system, work space, and marketing materials which included a sample portfolio, a computer, scanners, light box, and applicable office equipment. Photography as a business is not only going out and taking the best shots that you can. Like any other business it takes many aspects coming together to make it a success.

The best advice that can be offered is to first accumulate as many quality shots as you can (usually in the range of 500 to 1,000), and then start contacting publications to obtain their submissions guidelines and then start your submission. Note: never- ever submit unsolicited material, more than likely it will be returned unopened or worst, discarded. If publishing is not on your mind, you should at least have enough quality photos which you can use as your advertisement format in your shop or by portfolio. They will be your "business cards".

Some definitions of the various photographic genres are: Portrait: people, babies, couples,school, weddings,birthdays etc. Fashion: models, fashion shows, accessories Nature: fauna, flora,landscapes,natural events(not disasters although this is a gray area) Scientific: microscopic organisms, crystal formations,bacteria, virus etc Product/commercial: specific products, store fronts, services, business concepts, people at work(not to be confused with portraits), industry shows, car shows,food. Photojournalism: news, events at local, national and international level, disasters; natural or man made.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Making-Money-in-Photography

A wedding photography business is one way to earn extra cash from your photography and you may even develop it as a full time career.

Here are tips to help you start a successful wedding photography business.

Business Name

A good business name is a requirement to make your business become a reality. Come up with a good name that will best describe the kind of photography that you do. Remember that this name will become your brand name and the same name you will use to advertise your wedding photography business. Make it sound and look professional. Research the name thoroughly to make sure it is not being used by another business already.

Portfolio

You may think you are a very good photographer but it does not mean people know about it. In order for your wedding photography business to grow you need a portfolio of your work. The best advertisement for your business is the quality of your work. You need to print photos that will describe the kind of photography you do. Make sure that your portfolio is a complete description of your wedding photography and make sure you to add your recent work.Couples who are looking to hire a wedding photographer always want to see good quality. You can also make a mock up album of a full wedding that way a couple would know what to expect in their wedding album and give them ideas on what photos will be taken. To start your wedding photography business you will need to do your first wedding. That's where your friends or family come in handy, ask around if someone you know is going to get married and offer your services as the wedding photographer. That will build up your reputation as a wedding photographer and build yourself a portfolio at the same time doing good favor for a family or a friend. If this is your first wedding assignment treat it as such you would plan to charge a regular client. You may still charge for supplies such as printing and framing. But do not charge for your professional fee as their wedding photographer. It is a way of thanking them for letting you take their wedding photos.

Price List

Oftentimes photographers undervalue their work. The best way to find out is research on what is available in the market. Know the prices and wedding packages by photographers who are into wedding photography business. The Internet is the best place to do a market research. Check the websites of wedding photographers. It will give you an idea what to charge your clients at the same time be able to size up the competition. Like any other business, reputation is very important. A would-be wedding couple if to choose between someone who had done more weddings at the same price you are asking would think twice about getting your wedding photography services. As you become more established, you can start charging more for your professional service. Keep competitive by giving the would-be wedding couple their money's worth.

Website

It is important for any business to have an online presence much more for a wedding photography business. The cost of getting a domain name is minimal and there are sorts of deals you can get from website hosting services that will make it very easy to make your website even without the help of a professional web developer. It is a good place to display your work and couples will have the chance to view your portfolio without the need to set up an appointment.

Business cards

Create a good business card which clearly defines your wedding photography business. Make yourself an uber business card, something that looks professional and shows some of your best photos as a wedding photographer. Include all important information such as your contact information, website and social network credentials such as your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. Make it easy for clients to find you.

Advertise

Always remember to advertise your wedding photography services. If no one knows about you regardless how good you are, your business will suffer. To get known, you'll have to do some advertising. For a wedding photographer the best way is to attend local bridal fairs or bridal shows. It usually cost some money to pay for a booth but you will have the exposure to a potential market looking for wedding photographers. Be prepared with your portfolio; bring a calendar to know your yearlong schedule and availability. Depends how serious you are about your wedding photography business, you may advertise in bridal magazines too. The more people see and hear about your work as a wedding photographer the better for your wedding photography business.

If your wedding photography business becomes successful it can earn your extra money to help bring your photography skills to a higher level. You can use the extra cash to buy more sophisticated photography equipment.

Photography is an art form that encompasses many forms. Portrait photography and landscape photography are perhaps, the most popular types of photography, but there are many different forms as well. Both amateurs and professionals will enjoy particular types more than any other. Most professional photographers will choose one type of photography to specialize in. Some types of photography encompass two or more other types of photography, so it's not hard to pick a specialty based on the photographer's personality.

Photojournalism

This type of photography is for shooting photos of facts as they happened. These photographs are used to attract readers for news stories. This style of photography requires the knowledge to capture human emotion in a single photograph and can take years of practice to perfect.

Macrophotography

Macrophotography refers to photos that are taken at a very close range. In order to become a macro photographer, the proper professional film equipment (pfe) is essential. Lenses and other needed equipment are expensive and require advanced knowledge to learn.

Documentary

This is very similar to photojournalism, but in documentary photography the photographs are meant for historical evidence of an era. In photojournalism, the photo will depict just one scene or event. Documentary photographers also need experiences and training to capture human emotion.

Glamour

So many consider glamour photography to be pornographic, but is an art form that shows the beauty of the human body. These photos may be sexy, but they are done tastefully and respectfully. They focus on light and shadows to show the human body at its best.

Action

Although there are different types of action photography, sports photography is the most popular. The photographer must study the subject and anticipate the next move in order to get a good shot. This holds true for sports photographers as well as those photographing animals in nature.

Portrait

This might be the most popular type of photography and certainly one of the oldest. Subjects can be people or animals. Portrait photography serves to capture the unique personality of the subject in a photograph.

Art

Art photography can include photographs on many different subjects. Some photographers use animals or nature as subjects, others may use objects posed, or even an interesting view of everyday objects. No matter what the subject is, art photography must be aesthetic.

Wedding

This is a unique blend of portrait photography and documentary photography. Many photographs of this style are post processed for creative effects. Many photographs are given a vintage or timeless look in post processing.

Advertising

This is yet another type of photography that encompasses different forms. It can include macrophotography, glamour photography, and portraiture. The photographs need to be interesting and catch the eye of consumers in print. This is a popular form of photography that many people devote their careers to.

Travel

This spans several types of photography as well. It can include portraiture, documentary, advertising, and glamour photography. Photographs should depict life or events of a particular place in the world. This can be achieved through portraits or by landscape photography.

There are many various kinds of photography in our lives. Generally speaking, four main types have some relationship with our lives. They are portrait photography, family photography, fine art photography, and wildlife photography. Each one has their own characteristics.

1. Portrait photography is the form of recording people's faces in many different situations and capturing various emotions under different condition. This kind of photography doesn't have to be limited to the studio. In fact, many people hope their own portraits to be shot on live or in their homes. So the key point lies in the subject themselves rather than the background. But that definitely not mean that we can totally ignore the innovation of the composition of each shot. The creative portrait photography can catch many of a person's personalities. Of course, must under some important elements. The lighting is a good one case. Which is crucial to the quality of photography, so you never should mean at this problem, should you?

2. Family photography, as the name implies, is photography which pay attention to the family members who lives together with love and care. Many different techniques are used by family photography to present the best picture which is showing a family in single frame. The great part of the family photography is that he can solve many problems, such as tension atmosphere, the shy people to reach the best condition. Family photography can help people to recall their missing relationships due to the far distance, or some personal biases.

3. Wildlife photography is to record the views of the whole nature world including the animal, plant, even the mountains and rivers. Unlike the traditional photography which can be used for many purpose, wildlife photography need some special cameras. Everything has life. The wildlife photographer's job is to discover and record these lives around us. Yes, the plant, the animal and the mountain, the river are our friends in this planet. They also are the masters of the world. So we should know the changes and developments of them. Today, the wildlife photography is becoming more and more popular for many people.

4. Fine art photography originates from Europe. The fine art photographer find that through the different of angles, light, expression, clothes, cosmetics, background and so on techniques, he can fully show the connotation and characteristics. At the same time conceal the shortcomings, to achieve a certain effect of beautification. Everyone has the same heart to pursue the beauty. We can unfold our good side by means of the fine art photography.

Of course, many other kinds are not covered above. Here are just four main types of the photography. If you really like the art of the photography, you can do some research by yourselves.

What is Wedding Photography?

For most couples, this may sound an odd question to ask, most would answer that wedding photography is the kind of photography done during weddings. That is partly correct. But that over simplifies the meaning of wedding photography. The art of wedding photography has change tremendously in the past twenty years. Today it may even have a different meaning for each couple.

In the past, wedding photographers are technicians behind a black box almost mystical that very few would even try to operate it. Back then, wedding couples are hiring wedding photographers to produce wedding pictures of their big day. It is to simply record the event. And the one they chose might be doing six weddings a day.

In 2010, almost all wedding guests have their own digital camera that could produce well-exposed pictures at very minimal cost. What it means is that the professional wedding photographers must have something more to offer to their wedding couples. At the same time, the digital revolution also allowed wedding photographers the new technologies to offer something different. This is one of the reasons why wedding photography has improved compared to what it was years ago. It also attracted people who would never venture into wedding photography if not for the new technology of digital photography. Wedding photographers who at their prime offer beautiful and stunning photos that record the wedding in an artistic and narrative, sometimes evocative and most of the time in a flattering manner.

But it also means that being a wedding photographer today; one has to be able to offer something not seen before. True to the complexities of wedding photography today, it would not be true anymore that all wedding photographers are the same and that all wedding couples desire the same kind of photography.

Here is a Guide to Photographic Methods

The good thing about the Internet is it makes it easy to research the work of a big number of wedding photographers. Check some photographers' website and you will be amazed by the different photographic styles.

Reportage photography is also known as documentary or photojournalism photography; it is best described to have an approach which simply covers and document the event without directing the wedding couple or its guests. Instead it tries to capture the event as it happens in the most natural and creative way possible.

Traditional wedding photography is use to describe the old fashioned way of lining up the wedding couple, their guests and family for traditional photos.

Contemporary wedding photography can be described as glossy which can be trendier than traditional wedding photography.

My humble advice is to look beyond the labels of wedding photography. It can be more confusing than being helpful in deciding which kind of wedding photography suites you as a wedding couple. Another reason is that the style often times is a combination of several photography styles anyway. Third, it implies that wedding photographers offer just one style of photography during their wedding coverage.

In reality, weddings offer a chance for wedding photographers to show different photography styles. Wedding photographers sometimes just can't ask the couple to move to a spot where there is a better light during the wedding ceremony. Also, it is quite often that couples expect to have formal photographs which show them at their best. Even the most modern weddings will require having traditional and formal family shots.

Many photographers excel in one style of wedding photography and emphasize their skill and it may even be part of their marketing strategy. Some would describe their kind of wedding photography as a mix of classical and modern. It may be a mix of reportage and contemporary. It is quite necessary to have a time with the wedding couple wherein they will be directed to be at their best. It will give them the kind of photographs that can be described as fine art. The limited time of weddings make it important for wedding photographer to be a good director.

Choosing Your Photographer

For couples, the best way would be to decide which wedding photographer is right for you is to decide together what kind of wedding pictures you expect You may want something traditional which means you like a professional account of the wedding day without having too much interruptions.

You may be a photography enthusiast as well, and desire to have a creative set of wedding pictures. You may be looking at high end and contemporary photography style.

Once you both as a couple decide on what type of wedding photographs you desire, you can start examining different galleries of photography for quality. Be warned that galleries represent the best work of photographers, so it is quite important to see a sample of a whole wedding to be sure of consistency.

Awards of excellence can help you decide which photographer could be best suited for your wedding. A membership to well know professional body is also something to consider.

It is of utmost importance that you as a wedding couple can communicate with the photographer and have the rapport to be able to share your wedding photography goals. As much as photography style is an important factor, you and your wedding guests would expect to have a high level of professionalism, organization and experience on your wedding day. Finally you need to consider the wedding packages being offered by the photographer.

Budgeting For Photography

There is no such thing as an appropriate budget for weddings. What can be more helpful is the percentage in terms of value to the total wedding cost.

Professional wedding photography will be what will define the memories of your wedding day. You are going to entrust a photographer to use his skills to document your wedding as if it was taken through your eyes. Discuss with your wedding planner what you think is the best budget for your wedding photography. A good wedding planner would be able to help you with the right budget and if you need to allocate more to get the kind of photography you desire.

The price of a good wedding photographer sometimes comes as a surprise to wedding couples. But quality wedding photography comes at a price. The better skilled a photographer is the higher the fees he can command. One should note that it is not a one day event for wedding photographers but it takes days to plan, shoot the wedding, and spend time on post processing the images and designing the wedding album Ultimately you as a couple must have to make the final decision on how important having a high quality of wedding photographer and if it the price is worth paying for.

The photography business offers a wide choice as well as a competitive environment for challenging amateurs. Photography entrepreneurs could vary from full time freelancers to part time freelancers. This is a lucrative business for many as you could easily make up to ten thousand dollars in an assignment through local weekly newsprint issues.

In the home photography business, one works on a wide variety of photography aspects according to the time available. Fashion shoots, portrait shots, wedding stills, product shoots to journalism - the list is endless for a home based photographer to work on. They could also choose to do stock photography, with just involves uploading photos online.

The home photography business is an ideal choice for people who would like to take up projects as their own leisure. Most amateur professionals who choose to work from home take up a home photography business as a full time profession. In order to establish a photography business from home, you would have to take into consideration the following points;-

You will need a considerable amount of space allocated as a working area. It is ideal to plan the room layout and design it according to the photography business requirements. Designing your work area based on the total space available for your operation is the ideal option.

In this business, the workspace needs to be segregated off as office area, a studio, a waiting room, a darkroom, as well as equipment and chemical storage units. Convert a corner of a room into office space when your production unit is a small-scale unit. However, if you consider taking up shooting projects inside workspace then you need more than an eight foot wide portrait space and a ten foot wide space to set up the background lighting units, cameras and other photography equipment.

Running a home photography business is handy in one way though, as you are able to convert your washroom area into a darkroom and use the dining table as a workstation. Planning and taking into account the amount of photography equipment that you might require for your home business will help in deciding or designing the physical structure of you work area.

The next big area that needs attention is on marketing your business. When you have completed setting up your photography business shop then a marketing plan that you drafted along with the business plan will come in handy. Marketing helps in promoting yourself as a professional in the field of photography, creating a market space for your product, gather clients, as well as creating a brand and a good reputation. Word of mouth promotion through your loyal customers gives best results in this kind of niche business area.

An essential aspect of your marketing plan is your pricing strategy. Set too high a price and you might price yourself out of the market. Check out professional organizations for your specific branch of photography. On the other hand, take a look at Dan Feildman's free report that reveals how easy it is to start up a Home Photography Business on your own, and exactly how to make money by just selling your photo collection online.