Jacky's Photograpy

Got a digital camera? Now you can earn money selling your pictures on the Internet! If you have a good eye and if you are a creative person you can generate very nice monthly income by selling your pictures on stock photography web sites. Personally, I am receiving checks and PayPal transfers for few hundreds bucks every month. You can do it too. At least, it pays you back for all that nice and expensive photographic gear you have purchased last year .

I truly love online stock photography Internet phenomenon, since it is the first in the world and probably the only business model which allows amateur photographers like you and me to earn some money from they lovely hobby. In fact, if you are a talented photographer and you shoot hundreds of pictures every month you can earn a very significant part of your living shooting high quality pictures for stock photography agencies.

There are many stock photography sites that will be happy to sell your photos and share with you the received revenues. iStockPhoto, ShutterStock, Fotolia, BigStockPhoto and CanStockPhoto are just few stock sites to name. All stock sites allow you to register for free as their submitting photographer and start upload your work to their banks. However, be aware that many sites will ask you to provide detailed personal information such as a scan of you picture ID / passport and will ask you to sign and fax them a signed copy of their 'submitter agreement'. I completely understand them in their effort to limit the image fraud on the Internet and to protect both their buyers and their submitters image copyright owners from the fraudulent behavior.

In addition to proper submitters authentication, many stock photo sites will ask you to pass a professional online test, which should verify that you have all the required photographic skills and that you understand rules of the game on stock photography market. Do not be afraid of that test. If you know the difference between shutter speed and the aperture and can explain what is DOF you will pass it for sure. And the basic stock photography rules are quite simple:

1) Do not submit images that include any copyrighted material Avoid company logos, trademarks, third-party images and brands.

2) Provide a model release for any recognizable person in your image Each site has its own standard model release form that you have to fill in and send along with each image containing a recognizable person. I suggest you to download and print model releases for all the sites you have selected to submit your images and always keep these releases handle. When you shoot a person, do not forget signing her on one or more model releases! Note, that most sites will also ask you for the copy of model's ID and for the witness signature. Some sites will request to send them a copy witness ID too. Keep all this in your mind when you prepare a stock shooting session

3) Editorial content Some stock photo agencies, e.g. ShutterStock has a separate section / category for editorial images. Different rules set apply for editorial content. Editorial content can be used only in news and therefore these images do not require model releases and can include any copyrighted material. So, if you have shoot carnival in Brazil do not throw out all your pictures because you do not have model releases for all these people. You still can submit your images as editorial content at some stock photography sites. However, be aware that there are not too much buyers for this type of content and the submitters' competition is tight.

4) Use appropriate lighting and composition This is common sense, but I will mention it anyway. Your images compete for the buyers attention with images created by highly qualified talented professional photographers which shoot for years, own nice equipment and definitely know how and when use it. You must think creatively in terms of lighting and composition, otherwise your images will never sell.

For instance, if until now you have relied on your built-in flash as a proper source for indoor lighting it is a time to change your mind. Go to the stock sites and take a look how other photographers use light in their work. You will probably need to switch to some more professional sources of lighting for your indoor photography. Again - be creative and you will win the war for the buyers' attention!

5) Images format must be JPG, typically from 2 megapixels and with max file size of 8-10 MB

6) Properly prepare your images before uploading them to stock photo sites First of all it means digital editing. There are many software applications that can help you to edit your image, starting from the industry leading Adobe Photoshop tool, the newest and much cheaper than Photoshop Adobe Lightroom and ending up with Google's Picassa, which is available free of charge. However, making your image look gorgeous is yet not the final destination for a properly prepared stock photograph.

Think about buyers. Buyers still have to find your image among all the similar pictures in the web image database provided by a stock agency. It means you have to user proper descriptive keywords to index your imagery before uploading it to a stock photo site. All the stock photo agencies allow you to upload images and add keywords through their web sites. However, imagine yourself adding the same keyword to each one of your images at every stock site you have decided to work with. It easily multiples the amount of time you are going to spend preparing your images to be sold. Such multiplication of image preparation steps makes all the preparations process completely ineffective.

Fortunately, there is a nice alternative to re-inserting the keywords at each stock photo site - put them directly into your JPG file. Modern JPG implementations support so called IPTC protocol. This protocol is used by multiple applications to insert and edit image metadata, including keywords, captures (titles) and descriptions. Some heavy-duty expensive graphical applications, like Photoshop, support this format, allowing you to add keywords and titles to your images. However, since IPTC editing is not a core business for such graphical editing software, typically its IPTC modifications interface is quite limited and ugly.

Editing of IPTC data and selection of proper descriptive keywords can take significant amount of time, especially if English is not exactly your mother tongue or if you just prefer to shoot images rather than index them. Obviously, it would be nice to automate this process. I looked for some help on the Internet but did not find too much choice here. At the moment I can point out only one dedicated stock photography management tool that provides significant aid for a stock photographer, helping her with semi-automated images keywording, proper image preparation and simultaneous images upload to multiple leading stock photography agencies. The tool is called ProStockMaster and it is available for free download from the product web site: http://www.prostockmaster.com. The free version is limited to 5 image uploads daily which certainly could be enough for many beginning stock photo submitters. I am using this tool for a while and I found it to be a very useful stock photography workflow management application saving me many hours of dirty work on my computer.

7) Prices and payments - what income you can expect Most stock photography agencies implement pay-per-download business model, giving their submitters some payment each time their image is downloaded (purchased) by a buyer. This is a micro-payment model and the prices you get paid start as low as $0.20. However, if you were successful to create a highly demanded image you can easy hit few hundreds downloads a month, so your earning arithmetic can be $0.2 x 300 = $60 monthly, just for a single image.

Of course, the rule of the thumb says the more images you have online in each and every stock photography agency, the more images you sell monthly and the higher income you will get. Typically, stock agencies send you a check or a PayPal transfer at the end of every month. However, this is true only if you have earned more than a certain amount of cash, typically $50 - $100. If your earnings still did not reach this pre-defined amount you will be paid at the end of the month when your income reaches that payment barrier.

Well, that's all folks! Just take your digital camera and go for a shooting session. Oh, - wait, wait a second. First, open your web browser and look what other people submit to stock photography agencies. Note the most popular images and read related web articles where agencies suggest their submitters on what they would accept and what is highly demanded by their buyers. Let me also give you a few personal tips, my $0.02 for your stock photography success. Please no close-up flowers, no landscapes, no buildings and snapshots. It is hard to get this stuff accepted by a stock photography agency. Shoot for business, trying to materialize business terms, e.g. 'success', 'failure', 'funding' and 'partnership' and be always creative in your work.
Good luck and happy shooting!

Useful URLs:

Online stock agencies:

http://www.shutterstock.com

http://www.istockphoto.com

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

Free stock photography management tool:
http://www.prostockmaster.com

For sports enthusiasts, there's nothing more exciting than sports people playing their favourite game. The sight of the field, rink or golf course initiates the thrill and anticipation. This, combined with digital photography, can provide some amazing photographic opportunities. However it's not a matter of point the camera at the person diving for the ball or puck and snapping away. It's a lot more complicated than that.

In digital photography sports can be quite challenging. The sports people do not present an easy task of being photographed because of the amount of high movement. However, you can indeed achieve great sports digital photography. Most excellent sports digital photography requires good planning and execution.

Here are some exclusive tips for gaining fantastic sports shots in your digital photography.

First things first; know your digital camera. I recommend taking note and practicing first all the settings that sports photography needed. You may find yourself going for the faster shutter speed, increased ISO and burst mode. Let's take a look at all these things on your digital camera and see how they can be applied to give you sensational sports photos.

High shutter speeds:
As with all moving objects, in order to capture the "frozen in time" look in digital photography a fast shutter speed is required. The faster the movement the fast the shutter speed will need to be. In digital photography the general consensus is that the shutter speed needs to be faster than that of the subject. For example if you have a sliding puck across ice and there is a someone about to take a dive for it then its necessary to quickly mentally assess how fast that person might be traveling at. If they are traveling at approximately 50 kilometers (approx 32 miles) per hour then you may find a very fast shutter speed is needed for this digital photo.

A very fast shutter speed in digital photography may be anything from 500th of a second or higher. For high speed movement you may want to consider an even faster shutter speed of 1000th of a second or something in that range.

Keep in mind that in digital photography a fast shutter speed works to reduce some of the light which is why a higher ISO is often necessary. (I'll talk about that in a minute.) Usually a if a ball, such as a baseball going at around 145 kilometers an hour (90.09 miles per hour) a shutter speed of around 1/4000 will get you that "suspended ball in mid air" type of photo. For physical movement, such as someone leaping to catch a football, a shutter speed of 1/500 or over is a good place to start.

Now this is all very well if your scene if well lit. But what if you are taking your digital photography shots indoors at night and the light is not quite enough to provide enough light? In most instances, an indoor stadium at night time will be well lit, but that doesn't always ensure good digital photos. In sports photography we need to understand that we can only control the artistic value and input of our digital photo and the control of the camera. We can't control the lighting on the scene being such a public event. In digital photography sports photos we must realize that it's going to be a challenge to begin with. So here are something's you can in your digital sports photography to increase the amount of light.

If you have a light tool on your digital camera such as a histogram you can get a good idea of what the light levels are like on your sensor. With this handy tool you can adjust the ISO at the time of your pictures taking.

Increase your ISO: A high ISO in digital photography simply means the sensitivity to light that your digital camera has. In a nutshell the more ISO you have increased the image to, the less light the sensor needs. In sports photography an ISO of 400 or higher can work really well. The downside to this is that it does increase noise. To combat this you can use noise reduction software in the post editing process such as Noise Ninja or increase the LAB mode in the post editing process. Don't be afraid to try a few shots at 400, 800 and even as high as 1600.

Burst mode:
In most sports digital photography this will be one of the settings you will turn to. Burst mode is also known as 'continuous shooting'. This 'continuous' shooting mode allows you to get a sequence of shoots in succession. You can increase your chances of getting that ideal "split second perfect shot" that you might not be able to get by pre-emption or in normal shooting. This also works so beautifully if your digital camera has a painfully long lag time. I've used this so many times to get around the high lag my Sony Cyber shot has got. Some cameras have 3 frames per second and some go up to 12 frames per second. You simply select this mode and hold your finger on the shutter button and it will fire off as many shots in 1 second as it can.

Okay so I've been talking about your digital camera and the setting's used for ideal sports digital photography, so what about any external equipment? If you have been thinking about this you're spot on. You can take as much time with your settings but there's not much point if you can't get close to the action. There's no point having a picture with perfect lighting and perfect action if the players are like dots on a sheet of paper. You need a good telephoto lens if you can't get close up. A telephoto lens brings you closer because of its long distance capability. It will get you closer to the action but will need a faster shutter speed.

Many fantastic sports digital photos are taken with an emphasis on a very fast shutter speed, an f stop of around the 2.8 mark to blur the background and focus in on the subject. You may find that if your sportsperson is visually separated from the background and you take the digital photograph with a telephoto lens you'll have a more shallow depth of field which can give you a more powerful feeling in your digital photo. You can get away with a good optical zoom lens, but you'll get far better digital sports shots with a proper telephoto.

So what about the artistic side of sports photography with your digital camera? Plenty!

Pre-emption and Emotion is the key to good art.
When taking sports photography you probably won't find a more public display of human emotion. The emotions of a sports person range from intense anticipation to extreme disappointment or extreme exhilaration. Pre-empting when these emotions take place is they key to getting artistic and impressive sports photos. This comes with practicing your digital photography.

SO much pressure is placed on our athletes, expecting them to perform so we can enjoy the show and the investors can enjoy their returns. This is another reason why I say to get a telephoto lens so you can capture the emotions on their faces and their body language. It makes for superb photography. For ideas on ice hockey, have a look at some ice hockey images that are great study tools.

Don't just look at these digital photos, you must study them. Take on the attitude that studying sports photography will improve your digital sports photos ten fold. You will have a style to emulate and copy to start with then eventually, when you become confident, you'll start to adopt your own style.

Happy shooting,
Amy Renfrey

To study digital sports photography check these sites out: http://www.espn.com and http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Traditional photography, also called classic photography involves posing for a photograph in a sit-still manner. It has been used in weddings for many years. To most people, traditional photography is an old-fashioned method of photography because the wedding pictures are not spontaneous. On the other hand, a modern photographer concentrates on producing artistic pictures where a person can freely relax. Traditional photography requires a person to set up the camera each time one wants to take a picture, which is quite tiresome and monotonous. A person should make wedding photos look artistic while covering the different wedding sessions. A traditional wedding photographer may produce pictures, which are organized photo shoots. Traditional photography bases its quality on sharpness and lighting. This makes it of poorer quality than the modern wedding photography. Modern cameras capture clearer pictures due to the improved screens. A wedding photographer who uses the traditional cameras has to focus on a still image before taking the picture.

If the image is moving, the wedding photos may produce blurred images because the cameras cannot capture moving images. Wedding pictures taken by the use of a modern camera are much clearer and the wedding camera operator does not have to wait for the couple to stand still. The modern wedding photography should appear candid because modern cameras can produce clear wedding pictures, even of a moving object. The styles expected with each type of wedding photography is quite different; traditional photography concentrates on portrait production while modern photography concentrates on producing candid images.

Mississauga wedding photographers tend to be creative based on their visual perceptions. The results usually are emotional and astounding pictures, which depict the essence of a wedding. When a person views the albums, one may feel as if they are reading a storybook as opposed to looking at pictures taken the traditional way. Graphic designs work well with modern photography due to their compatibility in terms of technological development. Mississauga wedding photographers take wedding pictures in unique venues such as beside a river or a lake to diversify the backgrounds.

A modern wedding photographer does not have any strict rules to follow because the photography solely depends on their ability to take outstanding pictorials during wedding ceremonies. The only things they have to observe include lighting, framing and the angle at which they take the pictures. Wedding photos taken in a traditional setting are suitable for instances where a person wants to pose with the bride of when a person wants the photographer to direct the entire wedding. A Mississauga wedding photographer may advise a person to have a traditional wedding photography done in cases where one intends to pose with family and friends.

One may also contact a Mississauga wedding photographer to take modern wedding pictures in cases where the bride and groom want to obtain candid pictures. Production of wedding photos, either way should portray a memorable event. Wedding pictures that are not clear may disappoint the bride and groom. Overall, the couple should decide whether they want traditional or modern photography. A good wedding photographer will be able to turn the event into a memorable occasion either way.

One of the things people ask me most about digital photography is how to take perfect "people pictures." Digital photography is great for people because you can simply delete the ones you don't like, and show them, on the spot, what the digital photo looks like.
In any digital photography session, whether it be portrait photography or photography at a birthday party it takes prior knowledge to getting "perfect people" digital photos.
So here are the digital photography secrets to this type of photography.
People Photography Secret number 1:

Horizontal vs. vertical

Most people who do digital photography of people hold the digital camera horizontal. Not sure why this is; most likely because the digital camera is built that way, but really you can do well with holding the camera vertical as well. Horizontal digital photos of people are ok, but work best when taking a group photo rather than a single photo of someone. A vertical angle for your digital people photo can give you a great composition for close up and it tells you a lot more about that person that a horizontal will. Horizontal angles in digital photography of single people tends to increase the amount of potential clutter and irrelevant objects in the frame.

People Photography Secret Number 2

Where to put your people in the frame

In digital photography, pictures of people work best by creating some interesting composition. Don't put your person in the center of the frame just because everyone else does their digital photography that way; be unique and creative and you'll get a much be result. And good digital photography is all about capturing that special moment of someone to last and reflect something positive about that person, right?

People Photography Secret Number 3

Go Candid. Personally, in my experience as someone who does digital photography for a living, I can tell you that candid digital photographs work so much better then staid photos. It's so much better to capture someone just as they laugh at a funny joke, or see their friend for the first time in a while, or even talking quietly to others, it so much more interesting and creates a positive photo of someone than a shot of them looking into the camera with a posed shot; hey anyone can do that. But do take that digital photo with them laughing and not knowing they're being photographed captures a side of them that not everyone sees. It'll show them in good spirits and create a positive image for all those who see that digital photo from now on. Get creative with people photography; try black and white and sepia. And even try taking the digital photo of them doing something they love, like playing an instrument for example.

Good luck!

With digital landscape photography, one of the most satisfying aspects is that you can evaluate your pictures right there in the field. With emotion playing such a big part of digital landscape photography, you can now get a good idea right there of how much of the moment you were able to capture...

However, making the transition from film to digital landscape photography it is important to get past the technological hurdles, in order to pursue your particular vision of the landscape around you.

The first step in digital landscape photography is to ensure that you have a good theoretical grip on the technology and functions of the camera you will be using. For that purpose you should take time - before packing your tent and setting of into the countryside! - to study all you can about your camera's specifications, as well as visiting a couple of the many excellent online guides and tutorials on digital photography.

One of the best ideas would then be to go on a field workshop. Many expert and experienced digital landscape photographers offer such field tutorial trips where you will be able to learn the ropes right from the horse's mouth. These digital landscape photography workshops are popular. To be sure that you can be accommodated, you have to plan ahead and make your booking in good time.

One such opportunity is presented by digital landscape photography pioneer Stephen Johnson. You can spend a week with him exploring the Maine coast, where you can take part in digital image capture, exposure, and composition. You will also get the benefit of critiques and lab work in image processing, printing, and presentation.

Another way to improve your skills in digital landscape photography, is to join a seminar or workshop by landscape photographers such as Michael Reichmann, Alain Briot, Craig Samuel, Daniel Bergmann, and others. These events are usually booked up far in advance!

With digital photography now being pursued in many speciality spheres, it is even possible to attend specialized workshops on, for instance, digital landscape photography in black and white.

These events will offer you a better opportunity to get to grips with what you want to achieve in digital landscape photography. To use Michael Reichmann's distinction, you will learn how to shoot an image that is different from a mere snapshot or just another pretty postcard picture...

A few digital landscape photography tips:

1. Point your digital camera lens upwards, and capture more of the sky. This can signify openness, freedom, and wide expanses - the effect you are striving to achieve in digital landscape photography.

2. The best time to shoot landscape pictures is during the first 2 hours and last 2 hours of daylight.

3. For panoramas: Meter all scenes beforehand and use the one with the least exposure. Then take all scenes with that constant setting.

4. Shooting in below zero degrees? You should keep your batteries warm by alternating sets between the camera and your inner pocket. Below zero temperatures shorten battery life.

5. Setting White Balance: For nature photography set WB to daylight.

More tips and advice can be found in 'Digital Landscape Photography Step By Step', by Michelle Perkins. This book may be compact, but it is packed with good advice about composition, the technique behind photographing sunsets, night work, and creating black and white images. This book will give any beginner a good start.

Another renowned photographer, Tim Gartside, gives detailed information about this subject in his book, 'Digital Landscape Photography'. This volume includes topics such as software manipulation of images, but also guides the novice through composition and the basic techniques of digital landscape photography.

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

Digital photography may be one of the late 20th century's most innovative technologies. It is about half the cost of traditional photography, with the results being of equal or better quality. You waste nothing; there's no film required, and since you only print the pictures you need, digital photography is both cost effective and environmentally friendly. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of digital photography is the idea of showing pictures to people wherever they are, as long as they have a computer and an internet connection.

Photography

Photography is a popular hobby, pastime, or even a career for many people. Photography has come a long way since its early days and its popularity has not waned. In fact, digital photography is becoming even more popular and it is slowly replacing film photography, especially in professional environments. Even for experienced photographers, the move to digital capture brings with it a significant learning curve.

The Digital Camera

A digital camera is, in effect, a little computer. Picture quality varies from camera to camera. The quality of digital cameras has increased over the years, yet many people feel it isn't quite as good as a regular camera yet. When you're shopping for a digital camera keep in mind that it doesn't matter how much your camera costs, or how big it is. You're looking for the camera you're happy with, and that is what's most important. One of the things I like about digital cameras is that, unlike film, you can reuse the storage media over and over again with no extra cost. If you've ever used a film camera, you will remember how annoying it was that you could only store a few pictures on the film, without the ability to delete them once they were made.

The Digital Age

In a sense, digital photography adds a whole new step to photography. It is no longer just photography, it is digitally post-processed photography. The digital age has brought about the greatest transformation in photography since photography was invented.

Conclusion

Digital and traditional photography are complimentary arts. They each have their respective places in the lives of amateur and professional photographers. The skills acquired in traditional photography will definitely be passed on to the digital world. We can easily see that the world of photography has room for both digital photography and traditional photography. Let's just hope that digital and traditional photographers can make the best of both worlds and continue to produce great work. After all, digital photography is just another tool of modernization in an ever-changing world.

Online schools are becoming extremely popular today, because they are offering more flexibility and convenience. You can take online courses anywhere and anytime, even in the comforts of your home. The online photography school is no different and there are many options available. With many photography courses online right now, there are certain factors that you should consider to ensure that you are making the right choice.

Before going further, it's important to point out that you should choose a school that is offering easy access to the photography instructor and the learning community if you are beginner. On the other hand, advanced photographers would place more value on learning advanced concepts because they are more autonomous.

Read on to understand why you should choose your online photography school wisely as a function of your level.

The first to consider is the kind of photography training that you want. There are many online photography schools and they offer different certification levels, range of classes and course materials. Some provide exclusive training for digital photography and imaging, while some others will include traditional film photography training.

Moreover, some training programs are designed for a specific form of photography. As an example, courses for aspiring professional photographers include course materials which cover artistic lessons as well as the business component of the photography industry. These professional schools are ideal for photographers who want to offer freelance service or establish their own studios.

With efficiency combines with the latest resources and tools, online photography schools are comprehensive and interactive. Some persons will not consider online learning because they believe that they will have problems or get lost while taking the classes on their own. But, you should know that you can get one-on-one teaching and support while learning in an online classroom. Keep this mind when choosing an online school if this type of training is important to you.

Ensure that you choosing one of the online photography schools with courses which cover many features. These features should include things like film development, color and lighting; retouching; taking enhanced photographs; editing; camera technology; photography software and more. If you want to know how to find work after completing your course, you can also choose courses which cover this subject area.

Always remember that not all the photography courses are the same. When searching for an online photography school, you need to take some to do a bit of research. During your research, it's important to examine other things that the costs to ensure that you are choosing a course that is worthy of your money and time. Whether you are looking courses to improve your skills for the love of photography and personal development or simply to become a better photographer to earn more money, choosing the right online photography course can make a huge difference.

Everyone should take digital photography lessons. And I'll give you ten great reasons why.

1. Taking digital photography lessons is not just about learning digital photography, it's also learning about PHOTOGRAPHY and how to take great photos.

2. You'll be able to take gorgeous photos of your family, friends and pets, as well as taking poster quality photos of your vacations and trips. And those beautiful professional images will be cherished and handed down to future generations.

3. Learning photography will save you lots of money. Why hire a professional photographer when you can take beautiful photographs yourself.

4. Own the rights to your family portraits and wedding photos. When you hire a professional photographer guess who owns the negatives and the rights to those images? It isn't you!

5. Many people make a career in photographer and there are so many different fields of photography to choose from. Some specialized photography careers include: wedding, portraiture, pet portraiture, industrial, stock, photojournalism, travel, fashion, sports, and food photography, among others.

6. There are lots of opportunities to earn money part-time with photography; like entering into photography competitions, selling photos to newspapers and magazines, making money online with stock photography websites, teaching photography classes, and more.

7. Digital photography lessons will unleash your creative side (even if you think you don't have one). You'll begin to look at the world through a trained eye. You'll notice and understand shading, lighting, composition, form, and colors in a way you probably had not before.

8. It's much less expensive to be a photographer now. No more spending tons of money on film, negative development, and prints. The digital camera has taken all those high costs away.

9. Everyone has a digital camera now and yet, many people don't know how to use them. Digital photography lessons will make you the expert at gatherings when others are stumped on how to operate a camera.

10. Get into places others can't go, like backstage at concerts, sidelines during sports events, and special events for celebrities.

I don't think that it's any secret that the female form or body has been attractive to men for many, many moons. Sexual attraction may be the first thing to come to mind, however the female form is something of a wonder and to many an artist and beholder in general. There are many different forms of artwork paying homage to women including Whistlers Mother, Mona Lisa etc. Today of course we can also achieve greatness in art from the still camera.

Female form photography explained -

Female form photography is almost as it suggests. It is the capturing of the female form image while she poses for photographic purposes. There are many competent photographers today with established photography businesses specializing in different modes of female form photography. These modes include both commercial and artistic strands, often both in one.

Why female form photography?

As indicated earlier, female photography is an evergreen topic of interest for men mostly. But just why is it so popular even after so many centuries?? By now, it seems almost all poses and art expressions of a woman have been captured by the camera. However, it is still in vogue! These are the probable reasons for the sustenance of the female form photography:

- A woman's body has been a symbol of reverence for men. A woman has always stood for beauty, truth and purity beyond the reach of men. Capturing those delicate moments in a single expression creates ripples in the photography market.

- The next obvious reason for the added interest is the physical attraction that men have for women. Female anatomy photography is a definite yes for them.

- Last but not least is money. Female photography fetches lots of money. Photographers have been known to become wealthy quickly in this arena. As a result, female nude photographs are always in demand.

However, no matter what the reasons are for the photographer, it is the ultimate affect the photograph captures that is important.

Some female form photography tips

Clothes on or no clothes, females have always been a favorite subject of photography. However, it takes talent and perseverance to get the exact expression that would make your photos world famous. If you need some tips about female form photography, then given below are few start ups that would hopefully help you along.

- Find the right model for your photograph!

Getting a subject for your photograph is a tough job for any photographer - especially if your aim is to take intimate photographs. However, if it is simply facial expressions that matter, then even your mother, daughter, wife or sister would do. It is the expression you want right? I'm sure it would be apparent, that if it involves some degree of nudity, then it is better you hire a professional model who would be more comfortable posing.

- Background for stills

The background needs special attention when it comes to photographing female forms. Viewers usually relate better to a serene setting that matches her delicate lines. Usually, the studio is the best place to do the shoot as you can adjust your settings and be in control of lighting. If outdoor shooting is your interest, then you'll need to be prepared with equipment for highlighting contrasts etc. Hint: A darker background gives better clarity to the female form.

- Lights, Camera, and click....

The lighting is of paramount vitality if you want your images to be perfect. It is always better to have the lighting focused on the female either from behind or the sides. Directly on the face would have two disadvantages; the light on the face would not capture the perfect expression which angled lighting or background lighting would provide. Moreover, light on the face would make any one uncomfortable and promote squinting!

- Keep your distance!

When you are shooting your model, make sure you are away from her!! Use a variety of lenses. Avoid moving in too close when you are capturing the most detailed moments of her face, keeping some distance will help immensely. It would make her feel comfortable and result in better and more diversified expressions.

Female photography gives you immense scope to show off the talent that you have as a photographer. Well, they say "There is a woman behind every man's success". This cliché can't be more appropriate than in this sector of photography!!

If you want to start your own photography business, it is a good idea to check what competitors you have in your area or the competition in your style or subject of photography. Have you ever noticed that people's photography skills shine when they take photo's of things they really love and are interested in? A clever way to go about building for yourself a photography business is to start by taking photographs of things you really love, and create your own niche market and perspective in that area, that way you will stand out in the crowd.

All good artists, whatever format they use, project through their art, things that interest them, things that have impacted on them in some way, and they aim to share that same feeling with others viewing their work. It is the differences in art styles, the attention to different details that makes one artist appeal to you more than others. It is these differences that created fame for the artists Monet and Picasso, who painted as they themselves viewed the world, and not as someone else views it.

The most interesting photographs are those that reveal to the onlooker something that they have not seen, felt or heard of before. People are interested in learning how others see the world and that can be achieved through photography. An experienced and talented photographer is able to communicate the feelings that certain landscapes, architecture and events conjure up inside of them through their photos. Many famous photographers have gained popularity from photographs they originally thought wouldn't be that interesting to other people, and have ended up with a photography business from enjoying their hobby rather than from something they had planned. It is both the unusual and the common, that makes an interesting subject for photography, and it is up to the artist to place a particular perspective, or make a statement on that subject through their work.

Many great artists, who are or have been famous, were not born famous; they achieved their position through hard work, by following their inspiration, through perseverance and expressing their passion. People who want to break into the photography business must believe in themselves and their work, they have to think of themselves as an artist, and although they might not be as well known as other artists it does not mean that their work or their talent is of any less worth, it simply means that they are not well known yet.

There are many helpful websites that give tips on photography, and how to start your own photography business. There are even websites that give you ideas on how to sell your photos on different products to people or businesses around the world. If you want to start your own photography business, it is a good idea to begin by researching online on how other people just like you managed to create their business, what they have learnt from their mistakes, and their tips and advice for beginners. Placing your photography on a website will also give you a much greater advantage in being recognised either as an artist or as a business compared to other options that are available.

Passion is contagious, if you are passionate about certain people, music, animals, or foods in life, capture this with your camera, try and express your feelings through your photos, doing this is bound to stir up an interest in and draw people to your work. Maintaining your passion for photography must be sustained throughout your business endeavours because passion is visible, and your work will reflect your attitude. It is wise to seek the help from business coaches, or by following set business plans when you are starting out in a photography business, as this will enable you to concentrate on maintaining your passion and artistic flair for photography throughout the initial challenges

So you took a lot of pictures and a lot of your friends are saying that you are good at it. However, you're tired of just receiving a lot of praise because what you really wanted is to make money out of your talent. You then keep on thinking on how to start a photography business.

Well I'm glad you think that way my friend. Unless you're really have a high paying job that gives you a lot of extra time, making photography for just a hobby is not practical at all. Think of how expensive the camera is and its equipment. Companies are also upgrading brand new models every now and then so you need also to catch up or else you'll be left behind. Therefore, you really need to know how to start a photography business for you to have some resources for buying your gears and sooner, it might be your bread and butter.

Here are things that you need to know on how to start a photography business:

1. Choose an area that generates money in your situation

There are various areas in photography and it's really up to you to choose where you can fit yourself in. However, since you wanted to know how to start a photography business, you must also place yourself in an area that gives you income. You might love taking abstract pictures but you might not be able to generate money from it. Well, I'm not saying that there's no money in abstract photography. What I'm saying is that choose an area in photography that you not only like but will also be a good source of income in your situation for a long run.

One good example here is wedding photography. I have friends who are really good in capturing artistic shots. They post those photos in Facebook and they receive a lot of good comments. However, with that kind of photography, it's only good for sharing in social networks but does not give them any dime from it. Because of that, they do wedding photography. Every now and then, many couples are getting married so they always have bookings for a shoot. This area in photography might not be their first option in this field. But since they wanted photography for business, they still do it.

2. Starting from a sideline first

At first, you might not have a lot of resources and you really don't know how to start a photography business. If you have a job now that is not related to photography, it's not yet a good idea to just drop that job immediately and do photography full-time. That might be possible if you really got lucky but I tell you what, it's very risky for now. Building up a business is not an overnight matter. Therefore I suggest taking it slow and making it a sideline for now. How about offering a photo shoot to your friends and colleagues first. You can start by offering them a big discount. This will save them some money from hiring a professional photographer. It will also give you an opportunity to learn and earn income bit by bit. Almost every successful businessmen started from being small. How to start a photography business is not different.

4. Use the power of the internet

Create your blog or even a website and upload your photo samples there. Create a fan page also in Facebook and even Twitter. Almost everybody now is using the internet so who knows, you might be discovered! It's also good to join photography forums online. You can ask questions to your fellow photographers about skills in photography and even how to run the business. Many professionals are always willing to give some help and even tell you how to start a photography business.

5. Make a goal to do photography business full-time

If photography is what you really like to do in life, you must dream to make it your full-time job. But before that happens, you really need to invest in skills and equipment in photography. It is also good to work as an assistant of a professional photographers at first. By that you can learn how your boss do the business and make your own soon. If there's an opportunity, join a photo shoot and see how they do it. One day, you'll be able to stand in your own feet and do your own business.

These are some of the ways on how to start a photography business. Try them and be a success photographer some day!

You have three options when you decide to learn digital photography. The first is to find a formal, college or training institution and pay a lot of money. The second is to find a mentor or tutor and pay reasonable amounts for one on one, and the last is create your own self-study programme.

The decision here is to be able to make the decision as to what kind of study you will do. What is your financial budget and how does it constrain you and how disciplined are you with self-study? Two important questions you need to answer before you can do anything in order to learn digital photography. I would suggest a simple approach that is far more cost effective.

1. Investigate self-study and see if it works for you

With the internet there is just so much you can find in order to learn digital photography through self-study. The only problem you'd have here is finding a way to filter what you discover in order to choose a route that will work for you. Of course your knowledge of photography is going to limit you when trying to ascertain what is good and what isn't. I have accumulated a large amount of internet sourced material. There is lots of it and of great quality. I would suggest two ways to get around the problem of deciding what is good. The first, become a member on photography forums and ask a lot of questions and secondly, search for photography blogs that provide information to beginners. One I would suggest is called Digital Photography School. Do a Google search and it comes out on the first page. Great material! Don't forget paper. Books and magazines are great resources but they are a bit pricey. Libraries are a great source of photography books and magazines so check them out first before buying.

2. Find a mentor

This is one of the most effective ways you can find to learn digital photography. It's number two on my list because it is a step up from self-study. If you can find someone who is a friend all the better for you. You will either get the info for free or you'll be able to get it a low price. What is important here is that you'll be able to ask questions about issues that aren't clear in books and articles. Sometimes a few words of clarification can save hours of working through something alone. With a mentor you can set up a structured learning process that will allow you to work through key principles and practical exercises. Many photographers who teach photography teach one on one, so ask around.

3. Formal photography courses

This is divided into two methods, online and offline. Off line is more expensive due to the logistics and usually is made up of several people to a class meeting at specific times. You get a manual, have regular classes and get to do assignments and go on field trips. The different types are too many to discuss here. Online courses have taken the world of photography by storm and can be really profitable as well as exciting. With this type of learning you are sent your notes and are given assignments which are then critiqued by your lecturer or teacher. What's interesting about this type of online course is that you are able to work at your own pace and there is no pressure. There are usually deadlines for assignments but all classes are given through online material and course notes. Some courses have classes where all students participate through private class forums and you are able to interact with each other. Two sites I would recommend are Better Photo and Perfect Picture School of Photography.

If you are serious and really want to learn digital photography then start with something that you can try out before spending a lot of money. Check whether you are suited to your own self-study and if not, try a mentor before doing anything formal. If budgets are not an issue and you like a class situation try either an online or offline course. Whatever you do, make sure that as you learn digital photography you do so in a structured way so as to maximise you photographic journey. Happy shooting!

There are plenty of photography courses offered by various institutes. You can choose some of the finest courses in portrait photography online and these courses are also quite informative. However, weeding out the unwanted courses and choosing the best option for you is a difficult task. If you are looking for an extra income from photography, a photography course that teaches you to click good pictures are more than enough but for those who are looking for a regular income, photography classes must cover the business aspect of photography as well.

Photography As A Business

These days, good digital cameras and lenses come very cheap and so many people can afford these. However, only a few of them can click good pictures and among this few, a very small percentage can make a good income from selling their photographs! This is because most photographers ignore the commercial side of photography and focuses only on the creative side of it. When you plan to become a portrait photographer, you need to know your customers. You need to know what your customers want and how to sell your pictures more than often so that you can enjoy a regular income.

There are different types of portrait images but not all of them generate the same amount of money. The customer demand varies based on location, customer's usage and cultural differences. By conducting a little bit of research, you can find more details about your customers. They may be purchasing your pictures for personal or professional use, their age group may vary and the print size/ number of copies that they order also can be different.

What You Should Learn?

From a portrait photography course, you should learn how to promote your brand. It involves market research, finding the right niche, budget research and marketing strategies. Constant email communication is common for portrait photographers so a good course will teach you how to communicate with your clients, answering their queries and working within budget. Portfolios are a part of your marketing strategy but creating an impressive portfolio require some skills. The way you place photographs, the portfolio format, design and size are important factors. With professional help from your teachers, you will learn to build great portfolios.

Portrait Trainings - An Overview

Once the business aspect of portrait photography is covered, it is the scientific and creative aspects that you need to learn. Executive portraits as well as pet portraits have lucrative markets and if you learn a lot about these two segments, you have high chances of penetrating into the market and making your own place. Portrait photography also includes shooting the pictures of pets.

A good course will help you to learn how to handle pets and human models in a studio setting without exposing them to stress. Arguably, portrait photographs have a constant customer demand even though the compensations are not very high. But the lower compensations are often not a concern as the volume of work can be quite a lot.

Wedding photography has been around since a very long time now. This is concerned as one of the best options for the various independent and photography studious to gain a niche for themselves. The technique of wedding photography has developed after the discovery of the art form in 1826. In the early days of wedding photography most if the young couples did not hire any special photographer to shoot the whole event. It was later in the 19th century when this tradition gained a lot of popularity and developed into something called thrash dress photography in the modern times. In the beginning of the 20th century when the industry witnessed the arrival of the color photographs, the wedding photography gained a lot more popularity. With the advent of improved lighting facility along with improved film roles the tradition of wedding photography gained even more popularity.

The growing competition among the photographers forced them to adopt it as their profession and start providing this service visiting various locations. Development witnessed more and more sophisticated technology making the load of the photographers less but expectations of the couples were always on a rise. Today there are mostly two types of wedding photography which is recognized. The first one is the traditional one and the second one is the photo journalistic. Traditional photography provides the couple with more classic posed images as the photographer has to supervise the whole event on the eve of wedding. While photo journalistic is that form in which the photographer does very little or no supervision of the event and takes photographs which are unposed.

There is a third form of wedding photography which is coming up and is known as the fashion based approach of wedding photography. This kind of wedding photography can be called as a mixture of the traditional and the photo journalistic form of wedding photography. The main aim of contemporary photography is to capture the whole story and the atmospheres of the happenings of the day. This form provides the couple with many excellent photos which are not predetermined or posed. The advent of the new technology and devices of photography like digital cameras have widened the scope of wedding photography. This form also involves the use of lighting, composition and the timing to capture the photograph which creates a strong visual effect.

For most of the people it has always been a tuff question to answer. What is thrash dress photography? For some it may seem a meaningless word or concept but for others it is simply what it stands for. The main concept of thrash the dress photography is to take amazing as well as funny pictures in the various wedding dresses. The main aim of thrash photography is to provide the couple with the photographs which they would have liked to be taken on their wedding day but, were not able to do so as there was no time or were afraid to get the dress dirty. Thrash photography is something very different than what the name actually suggests. It is not about ruining the dress as one would think according to the name. Thrash photography sessions can be attended by the whole family along with the kids as well as the pets.

Most of the thrash photography sessions conducted by the studios do not ruin the dress and if any problem arises the couple can always avail the dry cleaning services provided instantly. The couples are also provided with adequate guidance to complete the photography session by the experts. Thrash photography is mainly aimed to provide the marriage of the couple a completely different look. After the completion of the blessed event the bride and the groom once again strap their gorgeous dresses for a last photo shoot a weird place like a mossy lake or at the back alley irrespective of some predictable place like a studio. Thrash photography is gaining a lot of popularity amidst the young couples as more and more couple is coming up with ideas of giving their marriage a different look. There are many studios which are engaged in thrash photography and providing excellent service to the couple.

Most of the brides the wedding dress would be of no use after the wedding ceremony get over. It's of not use to suffocate the dress into the plastic cover and keep it safely into the cupboard. Thus, the best thing to be done is to go for a detailed thrash dress session which will not only give the wedding a unique and splendid look but, also convey your love to the groom. This will also provide you with some magnificent and fun filled pictures that will last for lifetime. Most of the thrash dress photography is carried on in session when the couple is taken out in an unexpected place to carry out the shoot. The couple is also provided with choices of the various locations where the shoot will be carried out.

Most of the studies that are providing this service nowadays have employed various expert photographers for shoot. There are some experts out there in the market having a lot of demand and always full of projects. These experts mostly demand a lot of money but the end result is always awesome with some great photographs that will last for centuries and remind of the special occasion. The concept of thrash photographs is something that has been developed very recently and hence is not popular among the people so much. As the days go by and the couples gain knowledge about this type of photography there is a lot of expectation that it will be liked by many. Some of the studies like Hawaii photographers at LotuStar.com have been working in this field for quite a long time now and are the pioneers in thrash the dress photography. Studies like these are known for producing photographs that tell the whole story of the wedding and the style of the couples as well. They will surely fulfill every demand of the couple with the excellent services and facilities provided by them.

Photography school can offer anyone from any background the opportunity to learn a new craft and start a business out of the knowledge gained. One of the oldest schools is the New York Institute of Photography.

Since 1910, this school has been helping photographers all over the world through their correspondence courses. With the main three classes they offer, anyone no matter whether a novice or experienced photographer can gain the knowledge needed to get started in this upscale business.

The beginning class that is offered teaches the fundamentals of digital photography. Even someone who just purchased a new digital camera can take this class and learn exactly how to use this new piece of equipment that seem foreign even after reading the many manuals that come with the camera.

The school gives the student a professional advisor that can be contacted anytime, DVDs, and online access to their system in order to ensure that the student succeeds. With this kind of help, anyone would do well and learn from the institute.

Another course that this particular photography school offers is the digital photography complete course. With this course, Adobe PhotoShop will be completely taught. The instruction will include how to "to retouch photos, post pictures on the web and how to take better digital photographs."

Also taught in this course will be how to restore old black and white photography pictures that may have suffered damage with age. This instruction is always helpful to photographers because many people have old photographs that need restoring, and they are not sure who to take them to or what to do to restore them.

By having this instruction at this photography school, the future photographer will enhance anyone's budding photography business.

The last course that this particular school offers is more than likely the most important. The NYI complete course in professional photography is the last correspondence course that this school offers.

Here the photography student will learn all of the in's and outs of the photography business including: wedding photographers. nature photography, art photography, and many more.

If someone is serious about becoming a professional photographer, this is the course that is for them. After completing the other two courses, this one is the icing on the cake for the budding photographer.

The photography school called the New York Institute of Photography is a great place for a newbie photographer to get started on the right track. Instead of having to attend classes on campus, classes are all correspondence, and a person can still continue with their daily lives while they attend photography school.

So, if someone is looking for an affordable and fun way to get started in the business, a suggestion is to check out the New York Institute of Photography.

There has always been a lot of debate about photography - that is, how exactly it should be classified. Depending on who you ask, people will either tell you photography is an art or a science.

Why Photography is 'Art'

Many people believe photography, including digital photography, is a beautiful and unique art form as it allows for emotion to be exquisitely expressed. They see digital photography as a natural evolution of the arts of drawing or painting.

In reality, digital photography is very similar to a painting. Although the original image is an accurate picture of reality, that picture is generally modified using digital tools to reflect the photographer's thoughts and emotions.

Even digital photos that haven't been digitally altered are often considered art, simply due to the artistic eye required to find the appropriate subjects for memorable photos.

Those who believe digital photography is an art generally support their stance by saying that the conveyance of emotions through aesthetics makes photography an art form.

Case for 'Science'

On the other end of the spectrum, a number of camera experts believe photography is a science since it is merely a documentation of something that already exists - not a product of a painter's mind. This can be a very hard stance to argue, as photographs aren't made but taken.

Another integral argument for digital photography being science is that any editing or photo taking done by photographers can be traced to a series of scientific steps. In a nutshell, there seems to be a certain consistency surrounding photography that renders it a science.

Photography's True Nature

It seems as though photography, now as much as ever, remains somewhat a paradox. Not quite a true art, far more artistic than an actual science, it seems as though people will never come to a real consensus concerning its nature.

Perhaps, like most forms of aesthetic expression, digital photography as an art may be simply in the eye of the beholder. Because no one can argue that photography has the ability to convey emotion or take your breath away.

That being said, regardless of the beauty of a photograph, the process of getting to that end point remains virtually the same - the product of a fixed set of processes that must be recognized as scientific rather than inherently artistic.

Pictures of the ground taken from high altitudes belong to what is often called as aerial photography. All kinds of platforms may be employed here; from kites, poles and parachutes to helicopters, dirigibles, balloons and planes. The history of this type of photography business started in the mid-19th century France with the balloonist Gaspard Felix Tournachon. In time, all kinds of motion picture cameras were mounted on aircraft, especially for the army and security purposes.

This kind of photography serves for a variety of purposes and applications. Since digicams are generally available for the average consumer, a lot of people take such photography. Yet, the systematic approach is more extended. This photography is quite practical for cartography. Topographic maps would be really tough to create without such photographs. These applications aren't new, but the novelty now consists in the processing softwares like GIS.

The geographic information systems (thus the abbreviation "GIS") are now employed by all mapping agencies, and aerial photography makes it quite possible to align the photographs with the real-world coordinates so they can be registered and deployed widely. Google Maps highly relies upon this kind of photography, and with such model we aren't far from the operational model of Google Earth that depends on satellite images to form a simulation of three dimensional landscapes.

Artistic projects, commercial advertising, surveillance and environmental studies are only a few of the other domains in which such photography plays a vital role. Another issue here is the chance to document events and features on non-public properties. This type of photography is needed for many legal actions since anything that may be observed from public space doesn't in any way infringe the legal right to privacy, as stated by the US law system.

Aerial video is turning into the alternative option to this kind of photography, since meta data can be inserted in the video using the GPS (or the Global Positioning System). This would only indicate that technology and science may be moving beyond the field of this type of photography into something more sophisticated. The complexity of the applications is quite fantastic, and thanks to the progress made in the design and appearance of the cameras.

As for the private applications, people who go for this kind of photography business to identify the boundaries of land properties or to simply get nice photos without a specific objective in mind. Aerial photography needs the use of an excellent digital camera, with a motion stabilizer and great optics. Otherwise, you will not get a lot of the photographs!

One of the best digital photography books for you would be the book that answers the specific questions YOU have about digital photography!

The incredible explosion over the last couple of years in the field of digital photography, combined with the affordability of excellent digital cameras, has resulted in the publication of some of the best digital photography books seen yet.

The best digital photography books include books giving a detailed overview of the field, as well as the more specialized ones. This category is coming to the fore as digital photography is applied to an increasing number of the traditional fields of photography.

Among the best digital photography books, you will therefore encounter a bewildering array of titles.

The specialized topics covered in the best digital photography books include digital night photography, digital black and white photography, digital portrait photography, digital infra-red photography, digital photography lighting, and even setting up digital photography studios.

If you're just starting out on the digital photography road, one of the best digital photography books to read is probably Ben Long's revised and highly acclaimed 'Complete Digital Photography'.

For someone who wants to buy a first digital camera, or upgrade to a better model, this book includes some very useful information on what to take into consideration when shopping around.

Judged one of the best digital photography books available, it is neither too basic, nor too specialized, and is excellent at bridging the gap between the film and digital worlds. It explains the technical aspects of digital photography with clarity, and can serve as a thorough guide for shooting, and editing your photos in Photoshop.

The best digital photography books give a novice a good grasp of the subject. Ben Long's book certainly does this, by explaining everything from how the image is captured on the sensor, right through to printing and presenting the final image.

He spends a good part on digital 'darkroom' techniques, and introduces his readers to a variety of useful concepts for achieving the desired effects.

Ben Long, who is highly regarded as author of some of the best digital photography books, divides 'Complete Digital Photography' into four sections. The first part provides basic technical information to assist you when reading the rest of the book.

Most of the best digital photography books devote a section to giving you the necessary information upon which to make a buying decision. Even though many new cameras have appeared on the shelves since publication, the second part of this volume gives you an insight into which features you should be aware of when buying your digital camera.

In the third part of 'Complete Digital Photography', Ben Long gets down to actual shooting and shows you how to choose exposure, how to use a histogram, when and how to use a flash, and much more. All the techniques the best digital photography books usually illustrate, are detailed here.

Lastly, the book deals with digital editing and correction techniques, and also shows you how to go about printing your images. The CD that comes with the book, has what you need to complete the tutorials in the book, as well as many full-color images from the book.

As one of the best digital photography books, 'Complete Digital Photography' offers a truly comprehensive course that will bring out the best in you and your camera.

Another book by Ben Long, 'Getting Started with Camera Raw: How to Make Better Pictures Using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements', also deserves a place among the best digital photography books. This is one of the more specialized titles. Everything about RAW is detailed, from explaining what RAW is, why and how it is used, the image editing processes involved, to useful tips.

Apart from being the author of more than one of the best digital photography books, Long is also known for excellent series of articles. In 'Framed and Exposed' he explores how to give your prints an edge, how to shoot at night, how to buy photo printers, how to control digital camera image noise, and how to use Adobe Photoshop.

With his wealth of experience and knowledge, it is no wonder that he has written what is considered to be some of the best digital photography books!

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

If you looked forward to start a career in photography schools in America, here are multiple opportunities to get top photography schools in America. The fundamental training in digital photography are all the same either using modern digital cameras or traditional analogue cameras.

Digital photography is all about having eye for compelling images or strong desire to keep old memories in prints. Even if you lack certain skills in photography never worry since we have more than enough top photography schools in America where you can take photography lessons from the best the world can offer.

Many people are enrolling in a photography school in America in order to get hired as soon as they graduated. Some of these schools are found in cosmopolitan areas all around the world such as in London, Paris with best hands to take you through the photography course.

You would be exposed extensively to flash photography, how to use different lenses, studio equipments and photography software. You will also learn handling of camera both technical and creative aspects of it. You will also learn about camera lens filter such as polarizer, UV,GND, and ND, how to use a camera tripod, how to reduce camera lens flare for proper functioning, imaging and image types such as JPEG and TIFF, image sharpness, digital image interpolation and posterization, image noise, white balance etc.

In addition to the aforementioned, you will in depth knowledge camera lenses such as aperture and focal length, camera exposure such as shutter speed and ISO. You would know how to capture and develop stunning images both colored and black and white alike.

Top photography schools tend to give you historical background of photography which will enable you to have a sense of appreciation in the changes that the industry has gone through over the years. By the time you graduate from top schools you would have become an expert in handling different kinds of cameras and different photography equipments that are available to you.

Since the profession is highly lucrative and selling fast in an entertainment world, you are going to move from grass to grace with the knowledge of digital photography and become an international world class photographer.

The following are top photography schools in United State of America where you can explore your passion and desire for digital photography and move from hobbyist to world class photographer.

· Boston University offers courses in digital imaging arts and other business management.

· The New York Institute of Photography, New York City: It is one of the world famous photography schools with students from all over the world.

· The American Intercontinental University: It offers courses in traditional analogue and digital camera courses. You are thought different topics ranging from imaging arts, advertising, professional photography etc.

· Brooks Institute of Photography

· Harrington College of Design: Is a degree awarding college offering courses in digital photography, photojournalism, and photography business.

· The International Academy of Design & Technology is also a degree awarding institute. They will prepare you on digital photography software and lighting.

· The Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology offer courses in wedding portraits and professional photography.

Other top photography schools are found in London and Paris with seasoned lecturers that are capable of exposing your potentials in photography profession. Most of these offer online courses to learn photography regardless of your location. Their brochures and other necessary materials can be accessed online for preparation rather than travelling from your base to attend lectures.

These top photography schools select their students based on merit and usually look for a dedicated and committed student to enrol for their programmes due to the professionalism involved in the course.

Marketing in any business is tough, and when it comes to a photography business it can also be tough. This is sometimes because of the non-commercial interest that comes in to picture when we talk of photographs adorning walls. However, despair not. You can still make your photography business a highly marketable product or indeed, service. Follow some simple rules and get off on the right track!

Decide what your photography business is going to be like

There are two kinds of photography businesses that you can set up. It can be either Assignment photography or Stock photography. In both cases, the name explains it all. Assignment photography is the kind of business where you are assigned or hired to take photographs of something. It can be any event or just someone. The event can be someone's wedding. And that someone of course could be anyone.

Stock photography, on the other hand, is a business where you already have photographs in stock and you are selling them to interested parties. The stock photographs can be anything from flowers to nude women.

Therefore, you have two options to decide on. Basically, people start with the assignment photography thinking that it would give them a meagre but steady income. That is true to some extent but it will give you a very small audience.

Whereas stock photography business will help you reach a wider target market audience. Stock photography is recommended because that is where the potential of the photographer has better chances to be recognized.

Target your audience

When you are dealing with stock photography, you have a great chance of spending lot of resources without any returns. This is especially the case when you don't know who your audience is. When you are out to click those beautiful moments, make sure you know who you are going to show them to. This streamlines your clients and would also help you take photos that are relevant to your market. Try sending postcards or samples of your photos to your targeted clients and see their response. This way you can make a mark among the circles you want to feel your presence.

Give them what they want

When you do present your customer's photographs, make sure you're giving them what they asked for. So many photographers don't! This is important. They have chosen you because they believed that you were going to supply them with what they wanted. If you make a volte face and give them photos they don't need, you are sure to lose them. Therefore, be very attentive to the details and give your customers what they ask for. Take notes when they tell you what they want. People rarely remember more than 7% of what they've been told in a conversation 24 hours later - so take notes. A happy customer means more business!

Be present at places that matter

- When I say be present, I am not speaking about the physical presence of the photographer. I am talking about exposure of your work. Advertise them wherever possible and that's relevant. Keep the costs in line, advertising can get out of hand. Make sure your advertising in the right places. Publish your work on the net through some of the photography sites or stock houses. This would greatly increase your client base as your photographs are showcased along with the others. The sites may take a percentage of your earnings but it is worth it as you are just building your base while you are being paid. You can always start on your own once you have a considerable presence in the right circles.

- Think about organizing an internet site and drive traffic to it.

- Advertise on AdWords at Google.com and Yahoo.com (you can now target local areas through Google)

Look for local markets too

- Join your local library that may publish your photographs in their weekly or monthly journal, ezine or newsletter. Making sure that your contact details are always available. This way you can get a foothold in your own locality.

- Go to your local florist and leave some business cards with the promise of a tip if work successfully comes your way from their referral.

- Visit your local church, mosque etc. and leave your particulars. You never know when questions are asked in these circles. Reciprocate with some free services from time to time.

- There are many venues you can work with like this, just put your thinking hat on.

Accept help from your peer photographers

Knowing some other photographers can also be immensely helpful. If they are good enough, they can show some of your collections to their clients who have some specific requirements. Even if they don't showcase your photographs, they may help you with some valuable tips to market yourself and networking ideas.

No replacement for quality

No matter how much you market yourself, if the quality of your photographs is not up to the mark, you are definitely poised to face doom. The quality of your photographs should be the best you can possibly present and keep in mind that there's always room for improvement. Quality most often results in recommendation and referral. Once you have a customer, never, ever skimp on quality because it's more costly to find a new customer than it is to keep an existing one.

Photography business marketing is often a case where your photographs have to be in the right place at the right time. Do not think that it is all by chance. The truth is, it is you who will make them available at the right place at the right time just by following a few commonsense marketing rules. All the best and happy marketing!

Yes, digital photography is dead in the water IF 'photography' is taken out of digital photography. As Kodak's brownie box camera and their Instamatic brought photography to the masses in the 20th century, so the digital camera has done the same in the 21st. But, once the 'ability to take photos novelty' wears off, the lack of skills will relegate the digital camera to the hobby drawer.

There is a principle in management science that says in business a person is promoted to the level of their own incompetence and no further. It's called the 'Peter Principle' formulated by Dr. Laurence J. Peter in his book of the same name. After that they stagnate and can only move sideways. This is true for photography also. Once you reach your level of incompetence or maximum ability, there you sit. It's at this point the interest wanes and your camera outings become more and more infrequent. In other words, another death of digital photography.

There will always be the hardliners in any field who will continue to practise to the level of their incompetence, but, the average Joe who was once excited by digital photography is no more. The enthusiast has lost his enthusiasm.

So what's the answer to the problem? The focus, as in any hobby or pastime, is a continual learning process. In the business world we call it upskilling. Adding competency and qualifications to your existing tool bag will keep you moving up the ladder of promotion. It is the same with photography. Learning is imperative.

Most of us are at some stage dissatisfied with our photos. They don't quite look like those in the glossy magazines and daily newspapers. What is it that they have that rest don't? They've learnt the techniques and disciplines of photography and have applied them on a continual learning journey to great photos.

A hobby, as with any plant or animal, has to be nurtured if it is to show any signs of growth. Buying a digital camera with the sole purpose of just snapping away without the high costs of film, will on most occasions result in the death of digital photography. If your digital photography is going to flourish it will need three key ingredients:

1. Time

As with anything of value in life time is a key ingredient to its success. Unless you take the time to invest in any venture you will probably reap an equivalent reward. Garbage in garbage out. No pain no gain as the old adage goes.  There is no instant photography.

2. Passion

Unless you are enthusiastic about a hobby or pastime it is inevitable that it will gradually diminish with time and eventually fizzle out. I speak from experience. Developing your passion is essential to growth. Passion is the fuel that fires your hobby.

3. Ability

Some are born with natural ability but for most of us we have to work at it. Practise makes perfect. If you don't have ability then acquire it in whatever way you legally can. Acquiring ability is a process and for many of us a journey of discovery. Something we have to work at.

Take any of these three points out of digital photography and its demise is well on the way. But, the key point is photography. Learning photography and acquiring creative photography skills will nurture digital photography and keep it alive.

Photography is not governed by the medium it uses, digital, film, pinhole or Polaroid. Photography stands alone and independent of the tools or media. As with beauty it's in the eye of the beholder. It is not contained in a box, a camera or digital sensor. Its results can be seen on a computer, t-shirt or magazine.

Digital photography is the answer to photography because of its ease of use, methods of distribution and costs. But take photography out of digital and it will result in the death of digital photography.

I am a research writer by profession. A few years back, as part of a regular exercise to enhance my skill portfolio, I decided to learn photography. I felt that it could be an added feather to my cap of existing achievements. I did set out on a mission to find an apt photography school. A photography school that will not wipe me off my years of savings as well as deliver the goods as promised. Did I find one? That is part of another story. 

However, there are a few key findings which I thought I need to share with people around so that you don't end up committing the same set of mistakes that I did. For instance,

1) I highly recommend photography as a career path only for those with an artistic sense and see the beauty beyond what your eyes can see.

2) If you have been looking out for free courses on photography, let me explain what these actually are. Most of these so-called photography schools try offering an inexpensive and less valued courses for free to generate leads. The moment you are into the school they try up-selling some of their most expensive courses which people eventually end up buying. This is purely a marketing gimmick.

3) If you are totally new to photography and have never handled a camera in your lifetime, I recommend that you get started with any school that offers you these basic courses. This step will primarily help you kick start your career.

4) As a next step, I recommend specialization in a photography career. When you say that you are a photographer, you might not gain much credibility. This is like saying that you are a scientist. What people might be interested is to know if you are a nuclear scientist, space scientist or say a biologist. If you are not sure of the specializations available within photography, here are some: Portrait Photography, Wedding Photography, Motion photography, fashion photography, landscape photography, sports photography, underwater photography and even doll photography. The list goes on.

5) While learning a new skill, classrooms do certainly have an edge over their online counterparts. This is not to undermine the effectiveness of online schools. However, a live classroom based session, is more effective in terms of doubt clarification and sharing of ideas. Regular classes come in real handy while studying concepts of lighting, composition, and other basics. If time is a constraint at your end, you can always opt for these online versions.

On a final note, I would like to re-iterate on the fact that photography can be the most rewarding career that you might ever choose. When you learn the basics, ensure that you get it done from the best in the business. Any course that can provide you hands on training with real situations should be your first choice of selection. I wish you all the best for a bright and illustrious career.

The pop of the flash, the click of the shutter, an immortal moment in time. Photographers crystallize the landscapes and smiles of the world and let them stand as evidence of life being lived. A degree in photography can help you capture these moments in breathtaking fashion, taking your hobby to the next level or setting you on the path to turn your passion into a career.

What Skills Can I Learn with a Degree in Photography?

Photography degrees are offered by numerous universities, and no two programs are exactly alike, but they do all share common characteristics. Take a look at this short list of basic skills taught in photography courses:

• Photographic principles such as lighting, aperture, and shutter speed
• Adobe Photoshop and other professional image-editing software
• Decoding and constructing the narrative of an image
• Proper techniques for capturing images in a variety of settings

Some photography degree programs allow you to specialize in your particular field of interest, be it fashion photography, sports photography, portraiture, or any other specialty, and some degrees in photography provide a comprehensive general education in the art. Take some time to research schools that offer photography degrees and decide which one best fits your needs as a student.

Photography Degree Programs: the Big Picture

Many universities offer both two- and four-year degrees in photography. The two-year degrees include an associate of science in photography, which focuses mainly on the technical elements of the craft. A popular four-year photography degree is the bachelor of fine arts, which extends its photography courses to include general image design and the handling of commercial concerns.

If pursuing an associate's degree, you can look forward to some of the following photography courses:

• Design Fundamentals
• History of Photography
• Location Lighting
• Imaging Software I & II

The bachelor's degree track contains some courses more oriented toward building a career out of your skills:

• Commercial Photography
• Clients and Communications
• Web Design for Photographers
• Business Launch

Many entry-level positions that lead to a professional photography career require a photography degree, even those that start you out mixing chemicals in the lab. Wire service photography positions also usually recommend or require a degree in photography from an accredited institution.

The Working Life of a Photographer

There are several different styles of career available to those with photography degrees. Professional photographers may shoot only weddings, or only news stories, or only portraits in a private studio. What's more, professional photographers choose between salaried and freelance positions, with the former customarily bringing greater job stability and higher wages.

Earnings data for photographers in different locations around the country was compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009. Take a look at the mean yearly income of professional photographers in certain U.S. cities:

• Los Angeles, CA: $64,110
• Chicago, IL: $53,830
• New York, NY: $50,470
• Minneapolis, MN: $47,820
• San Francisco, CA: $47,520

As you can see, salaries for professional photographers varies widely. This goes to show that you have the opportunity to make the most of your photography degree if you discover how to get as much out of it as the effort you put in. Degrees in photography may not be for everyone, but one just might be for you.

Learning More About Photography

Photography is the art and process of creating still life pictures by recording radiation on a sensitive medium. This is photographic film, or electronic imaging sensors that can capture the picture. Light is usually used instead of radiation in most cases of photography. When the light is reflected from the objects that are being captured, the objects form a real image on a light sensitive film or plate inside the camera using a timed exposure. This image can then be developed into a visual image for many purposes.

History of Photography

Photography was initially invented in the 19th century. It created a whole new way to capture images instead of using paintings and sculptures. The usable process of photography dates back to the 1820's however when chemical photography was thought of. The first photoetching was produced in 1822 by Nicephore Niepce. He and Louis Daguerre invented a new way to take pictures quicker using silver and chalk. The first ever photo taken of a person was taken in 1839 with the new invention. Negative images were created in 1840 by a man named Talbot; his print is the oldest known negative in existence to this day. The blueprint was developed by John Herschel in 1819 by the use of silver halides. His discovery allowed pictures to be permanent, and made the first glass negative in 1839.

The wet plate collodion process of photography was used widely between 1852 and the late 1860's before the dry plate was introduced. It involved a positive image on glass, positive image on metal, and then the negative that was printed on salt paper. Advancements in photography continued to expand throughout the 19th century. The plates were replaced with film which is used today in 1884. Colors were introduced in 1908 by Gabriel Lippmann who won the Nobel Laureate in Physics for this creation.

Uses of Photography

A lot of people gained interest in photography for many reasons since it has been introduced. One of the biggest uses was for scientists to record and study movements in space, animals, and humans. Artists also gained interest in photography because they like to capture reality, and also turn reality into fantasy by distorting the images that they take creating art from these images for display. The military also uses photography for surveillance and date storage. Everyday people use photography to capture special moments in life, and to preserve those times in the pictures as well as a source for entertainment.

Production of Photography

Amateur production of photography is when photography is done in a not for profit way, and as a hobby. A person who is an amateur might have the skills of a professional, but do not want to turn their photographs into a professional type of work. Commercial production of photography is when the photographer is paid for their photography and used for a number of different things. Some of these things include advertising, fashion, crime scene photography, still life, museums, food, editorial, photojournalism, wedding photography and other professional portraits, landscape, paparazzi, and also wildlife photography. They are then produced in different outlets such as magazines and newspapers. The photographers are usually paid for their work.

Photography has since been a long time hobby and fun activity for people all over the world. There is a deep history involved with photography, many purposes for photography, and a general love of photography all over the world. Photography might not be for everyone, but it is a hobby or job for some. Whether the photographer wants to use their images for themselves or for a profit, photography is something that helps the world go around to this day.

Online institutions for photography are great options for professional and amateur photographers who want to improve their photography skills. Compared to the conventional photography institutions, online schools have various benefits from lower fee structure to efficient time utilization. Our busy schedule today, does not allow everyone to regularly attend a regular classroom program but it is easy for anyone to regularly attend an online photography course. Since the materials can be downloaded and learnt at your own convenience, you can learn during your spare time and weekends.

7 best online institutions that you should consider are:

1. AS in Digital Photography, International Academy of Design and Technology- For photography beginners, this is probably the best online course because it covers a large range of topics from composition to lighting techniques at a beginner level.

2. Photojournalism Program, Boston University- Boston University is a renowned university in United States. When the university officials realized the potential of internet as a great resource for educating students, they came up with a number of fascinating online courses and their department of photography is one among them. The faculty includes professional photographers who have won several prestigious awards and worked with prestigious institutions.

3. BFA in Visual Communication, American Intercontinental University- BFA program from AIU is dealing with the artistic side of photography. However, this program also provides very good insight to various photography equipment, photography techniques and the scientific aspects of photography.

4. BFA in Photography, Pratt Institute- The photography program from Pratt Institute covers various aspects of photography including the history, color and studio lighting. The program has eight semesters.

5. BFA in Photography, Savannah College of Arts and Design- If you are photographer with a strong passion for art, this program works best for you. The introductory classes include drawing and painting sessions to provide you a better insight to colors. MFA in Photography, Savannah College of Arts and Design is one of the best courses for professional photographers and students who want to learn the commercial aspects of photography. The MFA program covers marketing and sales as well as digital photography.

6. BFA in Photography, Academy of Art- The San Francisco based institute is well known for their cutting edge art courses and this course is no exception. You will learn about working with clients, organizing portfolios, studio tools and lighting. They also offer an MFA program.

7. Visual Journalism, Brooks Institute- The Visual Journalism program from Brooks is the best option for those who are looking for a specialized photography degree. Be it fashion, advertising or industrial photography, the institute has tailor made courses that suits you the best. This course can be the best choice for amateur photographers who want to learn about a particular niche and for professionals who are planning to expand their career to one more niche.

There is no doubt that these schools have at least one course to offer that will be quite appropriate for you.