Digital Photography Tips

When it comes to your big day there is a huge amount to celebrate. The coming together of two people who love each other and your committing yourself to the person you love, the gathering of all your collective friends and family, the dresses and the cakes, the music and the dancing, and the generally great mood. All this contributes to this being perhaps the most memorable day of most of our lives.

However there are also some aspects to be nervous of if it's your big day - if you're preparing for it now then you are no doubt already aware of this fact. For many people this will mean mostly things like worrying whether everyone will get on together, spending huge amounts of money, public speaking and dancing in front of friends. For the camera shy though, it might be the wedding photographer that they worry about.

You see, there's no getting around it, if you are getting married then you need to get used to having your photo taken because it's going to be happening a lot. You need to have a wedding photographer at a wedding to help you to immortalize this perfect day, and if you don't then you won't be able to share the moment with your children or with those loved ones who couldn't make it. However in order to enjoy your wedding photographer you need to feel confident in your pictures and you need to make sure that you can look back on them proudly. So how do you ensure you look your best?

Find a Good Photographer

Tip one is to find a great wedding photographer. There is certainly an art to the best wedding photography and if you choose someone who is great at what they do then they will choose angles and lighting to make sure you look fantastic. Look at the work of the wedding photographer at other weddings, and make sure that you are happy with it and discuss with them how you want yourself to look in pictures.

Lose Weight

Losing weight on the build up to the big day is a great idea and if there was ever more of an incentive to look your best and feel healthy, then most people don't know what it is.

Get Your Makeup Right

Getting your makeup done just right is highly important for women and you need to think not only about what will look good in person, but also what will look good in the wedding photography. Make sure that your skin looks matte and smooth and use a good foundation to achieve this. Likewise make sure that you use a bold lipstick and some blusher so your face has color even at a distance.

Practice

Practice how you are going to smile in your wedding photography. It doesn't hurt to practice a great camera smile in front of the mirror and at the same time identifying which is your good side can actually make a huge difference. You also want to look into tilting your head right to give you that defined jaw.

Photo cards is one way of doing this, but if you want to be certain you've got it exactly right then the best route to take is that of using your images to design your own card.

The act of sending greeting cards is one which has managed to survive in this multi-media age despite the fact that, logically speaking it really should have been superseded many years ago. The truth, however, is that no matter how quick and easy it is to send a text message, Tweet or Facebook update, the very ubiquity of these media detracts from any feeling of specialness if you choose them to send greetings on special days of the year. That's why people still admit to feeling a definite thrill when they receive greeting cards, whether hand delivered or sent through the post. The fact that you've gone to the trouble of tracking down a card, writing it and sending it will underline whatever message it is that you're hoping to get across, but finding exactly the right card will multiply this impact a thousand times over.

This is especially true when it comes to sending Mother's day cards. The whole point of these cards is to let your Mum know that you don't take her for granted. That you realise just how much time, trouble and emotion she's expended on you since you were born and that, just because she's always there with unconditional love it doesn't mean that you're going to make the mistake of taking her for granted.

The fact that you've gone as far as making the effort of tracking down a card is one thing, but making sure you get exactly the right one is a step further, and is easier said than done. After all, you don't want it to look as though you just grabbed the first card you came across, and yet there's no getting away from the fact that many of those which are available in the shops are bland and boring at best. The way to get round this problem is to use your own digital images to create unique and individual photo cards. Whilst this would once have meant slaving away with photographs, cardboard and glue, the technology has now made it incredibly simple. All that you have to do is upload the image which you've decided is apt, and then utilise the user-friendly software to tweak and alter features such as the size and shape of the card until it's exactly what you want it to be.

When you're looking for Mothers day cards, and despairing of ever finding something which is just right for your Mum, then rest assured there is a way round this problem. Create your own photo cards using much-loved images and you'll be handing over a card which truly touches the heart.

Are you a photography lover? But your shaky hand is ruining your spirit? Why not try a camera tripod? Let us see how this camera tripod enhances your shots like an expert.

Owing to different forms of motion pictures and photography, different kinds of camera tripods are available in the market. It is highly useful for both newcomers as well as professional photographers. The major reason for its widespread use is that it facilitates the video stabilizer in addition to photography and keeps the camera stable from moving, imparting an awesome picture quality for you to keep your memories alive.

Key areas where it is used!

• Motion Picture Screening: In the making up of a motion picture, the video stabilizer is of utmost importance. A camera dolly is a camera on wheels which presents an excellent use of the camera tripods. For instance when a camera is mounted on it, it is equipped with camera tripod that helps avoiding the picture to get blurred when the camera moves around.

• Static Photography: If you are wondering that if you are not making a film then you need not buy a camera tripod, then you are mistaken as it is critically important in static photography as well. As far as professional photographers are concerned, a camera tripod is essential for them to click some conspicuous shots.

• Wildlife photography: Inspired by the movie 3 Idiots? Want to become a wildlife photographer? Then you should second your thoughts by purchasing a camera tripod. For wildlife photography, it is obvious that a lion or any other wild animal would not pose for you. You need to be swift in your job while at the same time be able to take some striking clicks. Well, the process is indeed facilitated by a camera tripod which keeps your photos stable.

• A camera tripod is even more essential for a fresher. There are numerous clicks which a novice photographer aims to take. For instance, recently in UK the Northern Lights were visible. Many amateur photographers swarmed in like bees and tried to capture this beauty of nature in their cameras. But all in vain, as later it was judged that it was only possible to capture this remarkable natural phenomenon with perfectly still cameras, that is, with the ones equipped with a tripod.

Technical Blueprint:

I firmly recommend that when you purchase your first camera tripod; get the best one that you can afford. Albeit, some tripods do not work with every available camera in the market, therefore be extremely careful.

    Huge Tripods: The gigantic tripods would be perfect for studios where you do not have to move the camera time and again. After all, it your model who needs to move and give raunchy poses and not the camera!

    Light-weighed tripods: An outdoor application might require something that is light-weighed. Obviously, you can not underestimate the difficulties which you might suffer with while carrying the heavy stand up a hill to capture a splendid sunset!

    Weight specifications: Make sure to read the weight specifications carefully prior to choosing the 3- legged critter. It is been in the air that most of the manufacturers rate their products over the high weight scale. Thus, it is of due importance to make sure that your beast is a little kilos below their recommendations. This will possibly shield your gadget from any sort of damage.

    A 3-leeged or a 4-legged tripod! There are even tripods available that possess four legs. But a three-legged camera tripod is preferable because it is lighter and easy to carry to. Moreover, you need to be assured that your device can be grounded in addition to touching the sky. The more your tripod gets grounded the less grainy your pictures will be.

    Zenith's height or dignity at ground! While setting up your tripod you need to find a leveled ground. So you can try taking a click of a sunrise from a slanting hill just by shortening the leg which is on the upward slope.

Hopefully now you understand all the complexities of a camera tripod and that itself ensures that your every click will be better than the previous. Good luck and happy working!

Many male photography enthusiasts prefer to take photos of action-packed sports events. Being the male that they are, their interest often lies in photographing people involved in various types of sports. For some, particularly those who were former athletes themselves, this endeavor has become a passion. For others, it becomes an income earning opportunity as they are able to contribute their photos to magazines, travel guides and websites.

But taking photos of athletes or people joining sports events takes patience and some techniques. What counts is you specialize in a certain area and learn your subject matter as best as you can. Gaining experience is the best teacher apart from constant reading from a wide variety of resources.

Professional sports photographer from England, Jordan Weeks, offers his tips on how to improve your skills. This man has been snapping since age 16 and has covered different sports including running, hiking, triathlon, cycling, swimming and surfing.

Get some inspiration. Isn't it that when one is inspired, he or she gets more creative? The same is true with photography. So find some inspiration before you start shooting or go somewhere else to shoot. This means browsing through magazines and websites and figuring out how photographers have taken their shots. Avoid copying their work because being original in what you do is always best. Aim for your own style and when you know what it is you want, you'll surely find it easy to snap on your preferred subjects.

Know your camera. Shooting subjects that move fast can be quite challenging. As such, it will be most helpful if you understand your camera very well. Knowing all the settings will make it easy for you to shoot away while the athletes or people are on the move. It will also allow you to do things quickly such as change lenses, shutter speed or aperture. Keep in mind that when you're taking action scenes, you need to act fast so you won't miss anything.

Learn the sport. Do learn about the sport as well because if you know what goes on, you can prepare well for taking the images. You will be able to predict what will happen next and know when to click the shutter. Jordan Weeks claims he even participates in the sports to get a first-hand experience on the action and the adrenalin. If you can, why not do the same when you have some free time.

Get closer. One of the best tips that photographers often give is to take photos up close. Even in sports photography, you can very well do this. Experiment with close up shots and eventually, you will find that your images are worth a second look. Snap on the leg part or the head part because they are the areas where drama can be seen.

Remember these simple steps and you'll be on your way to becoming a professional sports photographer in the near future. Practice makes perfect so take the time to experiment and learn more about the sports you're interested in.

Let's face it, photographing newborns is often challenging if it's the initial session or maybe you're relatively new to newborn posing.
Finding out the best way to photograph babies can be a skill that takes time and lots of practice to learn. Patience is definitely a necessity. Even experienced newborn photographers have babies reach the studio merely to scream and cry the entire time. Regretably, it has happened to the best of us. Take it on the chin and keep trying.
Let the following tips become your newborn posing guidebook in excel in capturing wonderful baby pictures.
Newborn Posing Tip #1 - Be All Set
Set up your room ahead of time. I typically use 3 blankets/fabrics and three floor setups. I pull all the hats, scarves, hairpieces, etc., from my stash and compare them up to the fabrics I chose. I carry out the same process for any floor setup. I fit containers, crates, and bowls in a line against the wall. Once I have things set up, I like to visualize the session and jot down my newborn picture according to the flow of how I want the session to go. Working through the newborn photos inside my mind assists in staying focused and centered.
Newborn Posing Tip #2 - Happy Baby
The vital ingredient towards an exceptional newborn photography session is truly a satisfied, warm, well fed, young newborn. The space temperature should be set between 80 and 85 degrees. Keep a space heater beside the prop for heat and a hair dryer blowing in the background for white noise and comfort of the newborn. For my own tranquility, I love to have gentle relaxation music strumming in the background.
Ensure that the baby is well fed and burped prior to trying any newborn baby poses. Gas can certainly lead to distress and produce a very miserable baby. Newborn babies photograph best around the first two weeks of life. My choice is between 5 to 7 days shortly after birth. Mom's milk sets in and the newborn is ready to falls into a milk coma!
Newborn Posing Tip #3 - Newborn Poses
Fabric/Blanket Poses
I start with the fabric/blanket poses. Babies like tummy time so it's easy to get those precious curled up poses (it reminds them of being balled up tight in mommy's tummy). Quick tip: learn to master one pose at a time. It's particularly alluring to do every pose you observe other photographers doing; even so, become skilled at methods to photograph newborns in your most loved pose initially and start building your posing around it. With each pose I obtain, I photograph the baby nude, next put on a hat, eliminate the hat and include a scarf or wrap. Take full advantage of the poses you can get so that you can deliver to your client a variety of images to select. By simply shooting 3 photos with different components in the exact same pose, I have just created a number of newborn poses that my client can narrow down.
Flooring Poses
As soon as I feel that I have captured all my newborn photography ideas for the blanket/fabric poses, I transfer the baby to the floor poses. Floor poses create another level of challenges. Not only do you need a slumbering baby, but you have to work him within bins, crates and other props. Frequently, baby will wake up and get restless as soon as you place him in the prop. Hold your hands and fingers on top of the baby and use soothing techniques to help baby fall back asleep
Mom/Dad
One of the much loved newborn photography poses to capture are with the mom and dad. They purchase these images every time. Pose baby with mom first, incorporate dad for a shot of the three of them together, then hand baby over to dad for the final newborn pictures of the day.

Do you love taking photographs of special occasions so that you can create a lasting record of happy times involving your near and dear ones? Your friends and family will love seeing these photos from time to time in order to revisit the past. However, you'll find that it is quite difficult to take good picture especially if there are lots of people milling all over the place. There is a skill to taking excellent photographs, even if you do not have a fancy camera, and if you have these skills you will revel in the role of the family photography expert.

It does help to have a good camera and you should start by getting a reasonably good one. It will have accessories that will enable you to take excellent photos. Irrespective of what type of camera you have you ought to practice using it long before the event so that you know exactly what it is capable of and what its drawbacks are.

You should also scout out the location in advance so that you can get used to the lighting it offers. Light is very important for good photography and your holiday shots should ideally be done in natural light. Make sure that the room is arranged in such a manner that it gets as much natural light as possible. Try to avoid using flash as much as possible because it makes the shot look very harsh and forced. In addition, it gives rise to problems such as red eye. If the photography session is at night then you ought to ensure that the room is lit very brightly.

Family gatherings are great places to capture candid shots of people. In fact, it is these pictures that get appreciated the most. You just have to be alert for opportunities and should know how to stay in the background. You should try to make interesting compositions so that every photo does not have the subject front and centre. However, make sure that the subject situated to the side of the frame is balanced by something interesting in the background.

There comes a time when everyone gets together for a group photo. This is generally a very difficult one to take since people tend to lose patience while posing for the camera. Do not wait to take this photo at the very end of the evening when people are already tired. Also, take quite a few photos one after the other so that you will have quite a few options to select from. There will invariably be a few people blinking or moving and if you have plenty of photos you can choose the one in which the maximum people look good!

You will develop your skills in photography as long as you keep practicing taking all sorts of shots. Since most people use digital cameras these days it is possible to take any number of photos and just delete the ones that do not pass muster. Don't be surprised if you are then called on to take all family photos.