WEDDING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The Effect of Digital Photography on Wedding Photography

By: Benjamin Caprio

Digital photography, a fairly recent invention, has had major ramifications in all aspects of photography, not least wedding photography. The term wedding photography, by the way, refers to the photographic activity that takes place before, during and right after wedding ceremonies. Such photography is considered an integral part of the wedding ceremony; very much like the white gown, the procession and the wedding cake. A modern wedding ceremony without photography would be considered incomplete, just as a modern (western-style) wedding would be considered incomplete without a cake for the groom and his bride to 'cut.'

Now one effect that digital photography has had on wedding photography is that there is no longer much panic when the hired photographer does not show up. The Y generation may not really understand this, but just a few decades ago (before the advent of the digital camera), photography was a very specialized art/science: like medicine or engineering. Only the specialists could do it. Not everyone could be a photographer. So if on a wedding day the hired photographer failed to show up, panic was sure to set in. It was not unheard of weddings even being postponed on that account only; for how could the couple say they were wedded when there was no photographic evidence for the fact?

Thanks to digital photography, everybody is now a photographer. Even many modern phones come with digital cameras. So if the hired photographer fails to show up, that is his loss. Someone will take their digital camera (or their phone), and start recording the event for posterity. No need for panic whatsoever.

Indeed, cash-constrained couples are opting not to hire a photographer for their weddings. Rather, one of the friends in attendance, who has the sense to use a digital camera well is assigned the task of clicking at the most crucial moments. Better still, two different friends are assigned the task, so that in case one doesn't get it right the other one surely will.

Talking of 'getting it right,' the second effect of digital photography on wedding photography is that it has reduced the incidences where wedding photographs got 'burned' (overexposed) or otherwise messed up. The precursor to digital photography, which was film-based photography used to be open to so many complications. In other words, so many things could go wrong. Not so with digital photography. But should something go wrong still, there is always a chance that someone else clicked away at the event in question (seeing that everyone is a photographer now), so that the damage is minimal anyway.

The third effect of digital photography on wedding photography is that it has made it less expensive. The photographer using the digital photograph really only has to care about running out of charge on his camera. Nothing else gets 'consumed' and the whole thing is extremely cheap. Now compare this with traditional photography - where there was always the cost of the film to contend with (or at least the risk of running out of film where the cost was not an issue) - and you see just how much of an improvement digital photography is.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com -  The Effect of Digital Photography on Wedding Photography 

MAKE YOUR CAREER IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Make Your Career in Photography

By Nunu Ram

Are you interested in photography as I am and virtually all of us are? Then you can turn your passion for picture taking into a Full-Time Money-Maker! You only have to get over the initial hesitation and inertia. "Will I be any good in this field?"  "Would my photographs appeal to others?"  "Will anybody pay for my photographs or even like to see them?" These questions may keep coming to your mind and this is natural also. Such questions occur in the minds of all of us whenever we try something new. And even the most successful professional photographers of today must have faced this situation when they started their careers. So get over those butterflies in your stomach and think positive.

A career in the business of photography is great. You are doing something which is interesting to you. And at the same time you are earning a livelihood out of your hobby. Your interest in the field will make it more entertaining for you to learn new things, experiment with them and come out with fabulous results.

Broadly speaking, there are three areas of photography viz. general, commercial, and advertising. Most people go into the area that best interests them and sometimes it is just in general photography. Whatever may be your experience, it is always advisable to get some formal training in photography. This will give you a lot of success when it comes to commercial or advertising photography.  When you take the classes or training program you are bound to learn something new about the art of photography.  Training will also enable you to find your niche in the photography market.

General photographers shoot  general things like weddings, portraits, and family pictures. General photography will help you to do some freelance work for mostly commercial businesses.

Commercial photographers do work for companies. This includes doing work for newspapers, catalogues, architectural businesses, and other corporations that need photographs to be taken. They may be part of the company staff or they may just be freelance photographer working on contract. Most commercial photographers specialize in a particular area.

Advertising photographers help companies in advertising. It is  difficult to be successful here. But once they get through they get high rates. They will have their name in magazines, TV shows, etc.

You have to decide where you belong based on your knowledge, capability, capital, and the effort you can put in. Now let me give some tips on taking quality photographs. As a photographer, the weather can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Since it is impossible to control the weather and have ideal conditions all the time for your shootings,  you have to make the most of what you get. Whether it is a sunny, rainy, or cloudy day, you can always use the landscape to create beautiful shots.

The golden hours  for photographers are two hours in a day. These two hours occur right after sunrise and right before sunset. During the early morning and late afternoon, the sun is in a perfect position for dramatic lighting, but at the same time it does not create harsh shadows or blazes of light, especially when shooting with persons. You may have noticed that if you take a subject outside to shoot a little bit before noon one of the three possibilities may occur. First, your subject in trying not to squint into the sun could ruin your picture. Second, your subjects look  too dark because they are standing with the sun behind them, creating a silhouette effect. Lastly, your subject's face and features look distorted because standing with the sun at one side creates awkward shadows. None of the options can give a good photograph. Sunrise and sunset provide exactly the right kind of lighting and shadows, and a beautiful photographic opportunity  since the colors are so beautiful in the sky.

When it comes to a cloudy day or overcast conditions, do not lose hope ; you can still get great pictures. The clouds in the sky diffuse the light so that the subject is illuminated with natural evenly distributed light with the harsh shadows eliminated. You may still need to use a flash if the pictures appear too flat, but you may also like to shoot in black and white, instead of color. Black and white photography works very well on overcast days.

On rainy days you get apprehensive and worried, but you can still get some great shots. Rain will add an interesting element to the image and you will still be able get to a good picture. Use the rain to make a great and stunning effect on the pictures.

In landscape shooting, you may be disappointed when the prints do not look as professional as pictures taken by other photographers. Landscape photography is as much an art as portrait or still life photography. However, you have to learn to use what you got when it comes to making a landscape work for you and take the pictures that you desire. Remember the basics and always think with the mind of a photographer. You do not have the power to move the scenery, but you can move to get the perfect position. And learn from experience and common sense how to pick a good scenery to work with.

You also need to think about color and tones. Most people look for spectacular colors of nature to make their photograph beautiful. You also want to use color to give the pictures added sparkle; however you also have to learn to use the colors to enhance and not distract you from the lines of the pictures. In fact, if they are too intense, try simplifying things by cutting out color completely--shoot in black and white.

Nature is one of the best snapshots that you can capture. You will find that the sun light is perfect and the animals and birds might even give you an added surprise. Always be ready for a surprise shot and capture the beauty of the moment. You will be able to get mystifying shots when you keep in mind the basic rules of photography.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com -  MakeYour Career in Photography

MAKING STUNNING IMAGES

How to Turn Average Photos Into Stunning Images

By: Holger Link

With the rapid technical development and wide affordability of advanced digital cameras a huge amount of people is meanwhile able to enjoy the pleasure of digital photography. However, most photographers are still tempted to use the comfortable fully automated setting of their cameras without knowing how easy and rewarding it is to switch to advanced camera settings for stunning results. The step from just a "Snapshot" to a stunning image is smaller than you may think...

Ideally use your camera in Aperture priority mode. This gives you control over depth of field. The camera will set all other parameters accordingly. Small values result in a smaller depth of field higher values increase the depth of field. If you take landscape images, make sure you use an Aperture at around f11.0 to f14.0. It is also recommended to use a tripod for best results in landscape photography. For portraits a shallow depth of field (f1.4-f5.6) often gives you a nicer results as "disturbing" elements are blurred away and the spectator's focus is on the person.

The secret to success is how to compose your images. You can have the best camera and might have chosen the perfect settings for your image. If your composition is boring your picture will not make it. It is the composition that will determine if your picture is poor or stunning. With some easy rules you can turn your pictures into stunning images:

Rule of Thirds

Do not place your subject in the centre. It is much more appealing to place your subject(s) according to the rule of thirds. Some cameras even have the function to divide your viewfinder with two horizontal and two vertical lines into nine segments. Place your subjects on the spots were two lines cross.

Lead in Lines

After applying the Rule of Thirds in Landscape Photography you should find lines that lead to your main subject like a path or a fence.

Dutch Angel

It can also add another exciting element to an image when you hold your camera at an angle other than 90 degrees. Try it and play around with this. You'll love the difference. This is one of my personal favorites as it changes the perspective out of the "normal".

Starting following these few simple rules there will be no more rainy days - you are already on your way to becoming a great photographer that takes stunning images. I wish you loads of fun and hope you enjoy your transformation...

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Article Source: How to Turn Average Photos Into Stunning Images