Working With Event Photographers: 8 Tips For Event Planners
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009
Tom Bonner asked:
Your next business event is coming up and everything seems to be coming together nicely. You’ve got the catering, the sound system and the guest speaker all lined up. What about your photographer?
Corporate events should always be recorded in photographs. Its a time when you bring members of your staff together, often away from the usual workplace. It might be a celebration luncheon, a pep-talk, a training session, a welcome to new members of the leadership team — whatever. You will find numerous uses for photos from such events, especially if it is successful.
I’ve shot countless corporate and small business events over the years, and I’ve experienced great and not-so-great event planners. If you’re charged with planning your company’s next affair, consider these points when working with a photographer.
1: Don’t plan on briefing the photographer just before the event
Your photographer needs plenty of information to achieve the best results. Often, an event planner will contract me to shoot a corporate event or meeting and suggest we meet “a few minutes before hand to go over everything.” It sounds good in theory, as it saves time for both the planner and the photographer to eliminate an advance meeting. In practice, I’ve found that no matter how well planned, the hours leading up to the start of the event are extremely hectic. The planner always envisions plenty of time to go over things before the occasion starts. Then the caterer gets lost. Or the sound system goes on the frizz. The harried planner waves me off saying something like — “Sorry, cant meet now. just shoot whatever you think looks interesting…”
Trust me. always schedule an advance meeting before hand to go over specifics. Both you and the photographer will be glad you did.
2: Explain to the photographer what kind of photos you need
How do you intend to use photos from this occasion? Print? The web? How soon do you need them returned? Do you need digital (delivered on CD or DVD) or prints? Will the photographer provide you with an online gallery you can download from? These factors will impact the way the photographer shoots the event and what equipment he uses. Get all of this laid out in writing before the event. Don’t skimp on this step.
3: Don’t surprise your photographer
Event planners love to surprise their guests. Nothing wrong with that, but the cameraman should not be kept in the dark. Recently I was shooting a corporate event where the planner arranged to have a small, concealed cannon spew forth hundreds of streamers into the air. Acting quickly, I was able to catch some of the streamers in flight. Had I known what was going to happen before hand, I could have placed myself in position to capture a much stronger image.
4: Provide a safe place to stash camera gear
Expensive camera gear is a prime target for thieves. You want your photographer to be concentrating on getting great images, not worrying about someone walking off with his gear. If possible, have a safe, secure place where extra camera gear can be stored.
5: Arrange parking and unloading areas
Depending on the event, your cameraman might bring along a load of equipment. He or she will need to get all that gear to the event venue. If possible, provide the photo crew with close, accessible parking. If that can’t be managed, then make sure they can unload at a convenient spot and then move their vehicle elsewhere.
6: Always brief security before hand
In the post-9/11 world, security is often very tight at major corporate events. This is as it should be, but you don’t want your event photographer to be caught up in a security snafu. Provide some sort of written credentials and make sure security knows you have hired a photographer for the occasion. If you fail to do this, security might detain or otherwise prevent the photographer from doing his job. You will most likely be emersed in other aspects of the event and won’t be available to straighten everything out until afterwards. So much for photos from the event!
7: Find out if the photographer will be bringing an assistant
Assistants can be a great help to a photographer — running errands, holding up lights, taking notes, running interference or shooting additional images. If your photographer is bringing an assistant you will want to know before hand, so you can provide credentials, brief security and make whatever other arrangements necessary.
8: Inform the photographer about the dress code
There was a time when corporate or business events had a simple dress code: suit and tie for men, business suits for women. The only deviation from this would be a true black tie affair. Today, corporate events are all over the map. Some may still be formal or at least dressy. On the other hand, causal dress has invaded the workplace at many companies, especially for out of the office meetings and the like. You want your photographer’s clothing to match what everyone else is wearing. Some of the best event photos are candids, shot when the subject was unaware they were “on camera.” If your photographer is dressed to blend in with everyone else, they will have a much better chance of catching good candids. If their attire sets them apart, they will be easier to spot…and avoid.
Every event is different, and there may be other aspects you and your photographer need to address. By taking care of the above issues, however, you will have a much better chance of obtaining excellent photographs from the event.
Wedding Photographers in Las Vegas
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
layfieldzane asked:
One of the essential choices that require to be taken when arranging a marriage is which wedding ceremony photographer to sign up. Obviously every person desires for the costumes to be eye-catching, the flowers beautiful the foodstuff to be delicious and the welcome hall to be captivating. The marriage photographer, nevertheless, in fact should be one of the apex things on your list of vital items. If you pick a deprived class wedding photographer, it will be felt in each photograph that you gaze at.
When selecting a bridal photographer, make sure that the photographer has practice with significant events such as a wedding ceremony. Less significant photography studios are capable to get the work done, however it is essential to make convinced they are able to appropriately photographing your wedding ceremony. Confirm to be sure that they have adequate personnel and equipment accessible that they can imprison all the significant reminiscences of your exceptional day.
Moreover, check photos that the marriage photographer has done of prior weddings or similar events. Each photographer has their own inimitable fashion, so it is essential that your individual style meshes fit with theirs. Indicate if you want white and black photos, what poses that you want used and the figure of frank shots that are taken. Just be certain that the photographer you prefer is conscious of your desires and is capable to accommodate you.
After you settle on a marriage photographer, make sure that you talk about the cost tag prior to your wedding ceremony. A bigger cost tag does not all the time specify higher quality pictures. Account for stuff like whether there is a definite figure of photos that will be taken, the figure that you can order with your package, the price tag of any extra photos, and whether you will be permitted to carry on the proofs. Consider that a few marriage photographers be expecting dinner at the welcome hall for their aides and for themselves. An aspect that you will necessitate to think about when delivering your last number to the reception location!
Wedding ceremony is a once in a lifetime incident and Wedding Photographers in Las Vegas really makes the wedding ceremony a treasured day.
Photographer Deacon Tyler is a recognized Las Vegas artist, whose timeless Bridal portraits. The Wedding Photography in Las Vegas and commercial studio work has earned DTyler Photography international recognition and acclaim.
One of the essential choices that require to be taken when arranging a marriage is which wedding ceremony photographer to sign up. Obviously every person desires for the costumes to be eye-catching, the flowers beautiful the foodstuff to be delicious and the welcome hall to be captivating. The marriage photographer, nevertheless, in fact should be one of the apex things on your list of vital items. If you pick a deprived class wedding photographer, it will be felt in each photograph that you gaze at.
When selecting a bridal photographer, make sure that the photographer has practice with significant events such as a wedding ceremony. Less significant photography studios are capable to get the work done, however it is essential to make convinced they are able to appropriately photographing your wedding ceremony. Confirm to be sure that they have adequate personnel and equipment accessible that they can imprison all the significant reminiscences of your exceptional day.
Moreover, check photos that the marriage photographer has done of prior weddings or similar events. Each photographer has their own inimitable fashion, so it is essential that your individual style meshes fit with theirs. Indicate if you want white and black photos, what poses that you want used and the figure of frank shots that are taken. Just be certain that the photographer you prefer is conscious of your desires and is capable to accommodate you.
After you settle on a marriage photographer, make sure that you talk about the cost tag prior to your wedding ceremony. A bigger cost tag does not all the time specify higher quality pictures. Account for stuff like whether there is a definite figure of photos that will be taken, the figure that you can order with your package, the price tag of any extra photos, and whether you will be permitted to carry on the proofs. Consider that a few marriage photographers be expecting dinner at the welcome hall for their aides and for themselves. An aspect that you will necessitate to think about when delivering your last number to the reception location!
Wedding ceremony is a once in a lifetime incident and Wedding Photographers in Las Vegas really makes the wedding ceremony a treasured day.
Photographer Deacon Tyler is a recognized Las Vegas artist, whose timeless Bridal portraits. The Wedding Photography in Las Vegas and commercial studio work has earned DTyler Photography international recognition and acclaim.
Indoor Portrait Lighting Basics
Sunday, July 12th, 2009
John Billington asked:
Lighting quality can make or break a photograph. Proper lighting not only provides the camera with the necessary visibility to capture a photograph, but can be strategically utilized to portray moods and effects representing a sentiment more profound than the image itself. Photography lighting is an inexact art, lending its eminence to the vision and experience of individual photographers. Here we will examine some common portrait lighting terminology and outline a basic lighting configuration for taking stunning indoor portraits.
A portrait is a visual portrayal of a person, such as a photograph, but also entailing drawings, engravings, paintings and other representations of a person. Most people have had a portrait taken at some point in their lives, whether it was for a school yearbook photo, employee ID or a driver’s license photo.
To start, you will need some type of surface to serve as a backdrop to your portraits. Portrait backgrounds are often comprised of paper or cloth that covers the background of the portrait area and continues onto the floor for continuity. Feel free to be imaginative in determining the type of background you will use for your portraits, bearing in mind that an outrageous or busy backdrop can detract from the person as the focal point of the image.
Once your backdrop is in place, have the person you intend to photograph sit or stand in the position that has been determined for the portrait. Proper lighting adjustment is unique to the sizes of different individuals, which is why your subject should be present before the lighting is put into place. Make sure your subject is comfortable and understands his or her role in the picture taking process, especially if you are photographing a child. The three main lighting sources for the shoot are outlined below:
-Key Lighting: The key light is the main light for the subject. The key light should be located three feet away from and 45 degrees to the camera’s right, and be positioned barely above the height of the subject’s head.
-Fill light: As its name implies, this light fills in shadows appearing on the subject’s face which are caused by the key lighting. For optimal performance, fill lighting typically incorporates a reflective disc or umbrella to soften reflections. The fill light should be positioned about three feet from the subject to the left of the camera and be square with the person’s shoulders.
-Hair Light: The hair light illuminates the subject from above, accentuating hair and visually distinguishing the subject from the backdrop. This light should be suspended approximately 8.5 feet from the floor, slightly behind the subject.
The three lighting techniques above may be combined with the use of a background light, which is a small light placed on the floor behind the subject and aimed at the background, eliminating shadows and adding dimension to the image. Photography lighting is commonly controlled and softened through the use of umbrellas, lighting boxes and domes, and may require a bit of trial and error to obtain images in the quality you prefer.
Lighting quality can make or break a photograph. Proper lighting not only provides the camera with the necessary visibility to capture a photograph, but can be strategically utilized to portray moods and effects representing a sentiment more profound than the image itself. Photography lighting is an inexact art, lending its eminence to the vision and experience of individual photographers. Here we will examine some common portrait lighting terminology and outline a basic lighting configuration for taking stunning indoor portraits.
A portrait is a visual portrayal of a person, such as a photograph, but also entailing drawings, engravings, paintings and other representations of a person. Most people have had a portrait taken at some point in their lives, whether it was for a school yearbook photo, employee ID or a driver’s license photo.
To start, you will need some type of surface to serve as a backdrop to your portraits. Portrait backgrounds are often comprised of paper or cloth that covers the background of the portrait area and continues onto the floor for continuity. Feel free to be imaginative in determining the type of background you will use for your portraits, bearing in mind that an outrageous or busy backdrop can detract from the person as the focal point of the image.
Once your backdrop is in place, have the person you intend to photograph sit or stand in the position that has been determined for the portrait. Proper lighting adjustment is unique to the sizes of different individuals, which is why your subject should be present before the lighting is put into place. Make sure your subject is comfortable and understands his or her role in the picture taking process, especially if you are photographing a child. The three main lighting sources for the shoot are outlined below:
-Key Lighting: The key light is the main light for the subject. The key light should be located three feet away from and 45 degrees to the camera’s right, and be positioned barely above the height of the subject’s head.
-Fill light: As its name implies, this light fills in shadows appearing on the subject’s face which are caused by the key lighting. For optimal performance, fill lighting typically incorporates a reflective disc or umbrella to soften reflections. The fill light should be positioned about three feet from the subject to the left of the camera and be square with the person’s shoulders.
-Hair Light: The hair light illuminates the subject from above, accentuating hair and visually distinguishing the subject from the backdrop. This light should be suspended approximately 8.5 feet from the floor, slightly behind the subject.
The three lighting techniques above may be combined with the use of a background light, which is a small light placed on the floor behind the subject and aimed at the background, eliminating shadows and adding dimension to the image. Photography lighting is commonly controlled and softened through the use of umbrellas, lighting boxes and domes, and may require a bit of trial and error to obtain images in the quality you prefer.
Buying a Digital Slr Camera? Follow These Tips!
Friday, July 10th, 2009
Jayda Kaycee asked:
Many of the features that are available on a digital SLR camera are amazing, but it can be overwhelming if you don’t understand the technical details that are written about in the reviews. It can be very confusing to determine what the specifications mean and which camera you should choose. But don’t worry, if you take some time to learn what you should be looking for you will quickly know what you want.
Many people ask: What does megapixel mean? What exactly is a digital SLR camera? Why should I choose an SLR camera over a basic digital camera? How do the different digital SLR models compare?
Before you purchase a digital SLR camera, you should understand the definition of megapixel and what it means to you. The megapixel of a digital camera is the resolution of the camera, or more specifically it is the number of pixels of light within a given space. If a digital camera has higher megapixels that means that the image will be clearer and sharper.
Although higher megapixels mean sharper images, you need to be cautious and not overdo the pixel count. Too many pixels may cause your photos to appear unnatural. As you read camera reviews and select that camera that you are going to purchase, look at the options that you have and find a good balance of price and pixel amounts.
One of the biggest questions new photographers have is “What does SLR mean?” SLR stands for “single lens reflex” which means that it is a camera that uses a mirror between the film and the lens. That mirror projects the image through the lens onto a focusing screen. All of the highest end cameras today are digital SLR cameras.
So, what is the advantage of purchasing a digital SLR camera instead of a more basic camera? Digital SLR cameras have many new features including: the ability to change the lenses, higher megapixels, ISO settings, and many more.
Now that you can see the advantages of purchasing a digital SLR camera, how do you decide on which model you should choose? Decide which features you would like to have on your new camera, then read reviews and compare camera models that include the features you are looking for. If you follow these easy guidelines you will soon have your dream camera in your hands!
Many of the features that are available on a digital SLR camera are amazing, but it can be overwhelming if you don’t understand the technical details that are written about in the reviews. It can be very confusing to determine what the specifications mean and which camera you should choose. But don’t worry, if you take some time to learn what you should be looking for you will quickly know what you want.
Many people ask: What does megapixel mean? What exactly is a digital SLR camera? Why should I choose an SLR camera over a basic digital camera? How do the different digital SLR models compare?
Before you purchase a digital SLR camera, you should understand the definition of megapixel and what it means to you. The megapixel of a digital camera is the resolution of the camera, or more specifically it is the number of pixels of light within a given space. If a digital camera has higher megapixels that means that the image will be clearer and sharper.
Although higher megapixels mean sharper images, you need to be cautious and not overdo the pixel count. Too many pixels may cause your photos to appear unnatural. As you read camera reviews and select that camera that you are going to purchase, look at the options that you have and find a good balance of price and pixel amounts.
One of the biggest questions new photographers have is “What does SLR mean?” SLR stands for “single lens reflex” which means that it is a camera that uses a mirror between the film and the lens. That mirror projects the image through the lens onto a focusing screen. All of the highest end cameras today are digital SLR cameras.
So, what is the advantage of purchasing a digital SLR camera instead of a more basic camera? Digital SLR cameras have many new features including: the ability to change the lenses, higher megapixels, ISO settings, and many more.
Now that you can see the advantages of purchasing a digital SLR camera, how do you decide on which model you should choose? Decide which features you would like to have on your new camera, then read reviews and compare camera models that include the features you are looking for. If you follow these easy guidelines you will soon have your dream camera in your hands!
Finding a Wedding Photographer
Monday, July 6th, 2009
Paul Leach asked:
Finding a Wedding Photographer
It might seem tempting to let your uncle photograph your wedding — after all, he’s family and he’s willing to do it for free. The only problem is, Uncle Rick has never photographed a wedding before … but does that really matter?
The answer is a resounding YES. In 20 years, the wedding flowers will have wilted, the cake will have been eaten and the only items you’ll have to remember your wedding by is the photographs. Because of this, you don’t want the pictures to be anything other than spectacular.
But spectacular photos come at a price, which is why it’s tempting to let your amateur photographer cousin get the entire day on film for half the cost. Take it from us, the savings aren’t worth it. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a professional wedding photographer as a friend or family member, do the research and find a quality, professional wedding photographer.
So where to start? The Internet really is your best friend when it comes to finding wedding vendors — what did brides do before its invention, for goodness sake? — so hop online and start Googling.
Start by determining what style of photography you’re interested in. Categories include photojournalism, which means the photographer will do less posing and more of capturing the moments as they happen, or traditional, which leans toward classic, formal poses of everyone at the wedding. To see samples of each type of photography, Google “wedding photojournalism” or “traditional wedding photography.” You might also be interested in viewing samples of artistic wedding photography, which includes using digital manipulation after the photos have been taken to enhance them.
Once you have a handle on the different styles, start searching for a photographer. You can do this one of two ways — if you’re interested in photojournalists, the Wedding Photojournalist Association (www.wpja.com) will offer contact information for the top photojournalists in your area. You can also find specific photographers in your area by searching “wedding photojournalists” (or “traditional wedding photographers”) AND “your location.”
Another third option to find a wedding photographer is to visit your local wedding message board (most areas have their own space on www.theknot.com), and ask for recommendations. Most brides are happy to offer advice on why and how they chose their specific photographer. (These boards are also helpful once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a couple photographers and need help making a decision).
In the age of the Internet, most photographers have a gallery online of wedding images. (In fact, be leery of any photographer that doesn’t have a professional-looking website with a sample gallery). Take some time to browse through them to get a feel for which photographer’s work you like. Once you’ve narrowed it down a little, send each photographer an e-mail or give them a call to start a dialogue between you and him/her. Some important questions to ask:
What type of packages do you offer?
How many hours of coverage does a bride typically order?
Will you be the photographer the day of my wedding?
Is an assistant included?
Who owns the rights to the photos?
How long will the images be available for viewing online?
Do you have any specialties such as black and white photos or hand-coloring?
You can also just set up a time for a meeting and save these questions for that time. You should meet your photographer face to face before signing a contract because you want to make sure you click with the photographer. He or she will around for some very important, emotional times, therefore you want to be comfortable with their presence. Someone who rubs you the wrong way will just detract from your happiness.
At that same meeting, ask to a proof book from a wedding. These books show all the shots taken at one wedding, rather than the photographer’s favorites. This can be a telling sign and ensure you’ve chosen the right photographer.
When signing the contract, make sure everything is spelled out (this is a good tip for all vendors, not just photographers). Having everything in writing — from price to delivery time — makes sure that the photographer can skip out or change something you’ve agreed to.
A final word on price: First, it’s naturally going to a factor in your final decision — most brides these days are trying to cut corners — but don’t let it be the only factor. Choose a price point you’re comfortable with, then do research within those parameters to find the highest-quality photographer possible. Second, don’t select a photographer way out of your budget and expect to haggle them down. While you might be able to negotiate a small dollar amount or ask for an extra service for the same price, don’t expect them to knock $1,000 off the price just because you “really, really want them.” Photographers have expenses to pay, and the good ones are charging for the quality of their work, the price of their equipment and, often, an extra photographer the day of the wedding.
Finding a Wedding Photographer
It might seem tempting to let your uncle photograph your wedding — after all, he’s family and he’s willing to do it for free. The only problem is, Uncle Rick has never photographed a wedding before … but does that really matter?
The answer is a resounding YES. In 20 years, the wedding flowers will have wilted, the cake will have been eaten and the only items you’ll have to remember your wedding by is the photographs. Because of this, you don’t want the pictures to be anything other than spectacular.
But spectacular photos come at a price, which is why it’s tempting to let your amateur photographer cousin get the entire day on film for half the cost. Take it from us, the savings aren’t worth it. Unless you’re lucky enough to have a professional wedding photographer as a friend or family member, do the research and find a quality, professional wedding photographer.
So where to start? The Internet really is your best friend when it comes to finding wedding vendors — what did brides do before its invention, for goodness sake? — so hop online and start Googling.
Start by determining what style of photography you’re interested in. Categories include photojournalism, which means the photographer will do less posing and more of capturing the moments as they happen, or traditional, which leans toward classic, formal poses of everyone at the wedding. To see samples of each type of photography, Google “wedding photojournalism” or “traditional wedding photography.” You might also be interested in viewing samples of artistic wedding photography, which includes using digital manipulation after the photos have been taken to enhance them.
Once you have a handle on the different styles, start searching for a photographer. You can do this one of two ways — if you’re interested in photojournalists, the Wedding Photojournalist Association (www.wpja.com) will offer contact information for the top photojournalists in your area. You can also find specific photographers in your area by searching “wedding photojournalists” (or “traditional wedding photographers”) AND “your location.”
Another third option to find a wedding photographer is to visit your local wedding message board (most areas have their own space on www.theknot.com), and ask for recommendations. Most brides are happy to offer advice on why and how they chose their specific photographer. (These boards are also helpful once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a couple photographers and need help making a decision).
In the age of the Internet, most photographers have a gallery online of wedding images. (In fact, be leery of any photographer that doesn’t have a professional-looking website with a sample gallery). Take some time to browse through them to get a feel for which photographer’s work you like. Once you’ve narrowed it down a little, send each photographer an e-mail or give them a call to start a dialogue between you and him/her. Some important questions to ask:
What type of packages do you offer?
How many hours of coverage does a bride typically order?
Will you be the photographer the day of my wedding?
Is an assistant included?
Who owns the rights to the photos?
How long will the images be available for viewing online?
Do you have any specialties such as black and white photos or hand-coloring?
You can also just set up a time for a meeting and save these questions for that time. You should meet your photographer face to face before signing a contract because you want to make sure you click with the photographer. He or she will around for some very important, emotional times, therefore you want to be comfortable with their presence. Someone who rubs you the wrong way will just detract from your happiness.
At that same meeting, ask to a proof book from a wedding. These books show all the shots taken at one wedding, rather than the photographer’s favorites. This can be a telling sign and ensure you’ve chosen the right photographer.
When signing the contract, make sure everything is spelled out (this is a good tip for all vendors, not just photographers). Having everything in writing — from price to delivery time — makes sure that the photographer can skip out or change something you’ve agreed to.
A final word on price: First, it’s naturally going to a factor in your final decision — most brides these days are trying to cut corners — but don’t let it be the only factor. Choose a price point you’re comfortable with, then do research within those parameters to find the highest-quality photographer possible. Second, don’t select a photographer way out of your budget and expect to haggle them down. While you might be able to negotiate a small dollar amount or ask for an extra service for the same price, don’t expect them to knock $1,000 off the price just because you “really, really want them.” Photographers have expenses to pay, and the good ones are charging for the quality of their work, the price of their equipment and, often, an extra photographer the day of the wedding.
Proud Photography – Should I Enroll For Online Digital Photography School?
Monday, July 6th, 2009
Alex W.K. asked:
In this article, I will be talking about the best photography school. It is interesting to mention about photography school because the best thing you can do for your photography education comes down to actually to go out and do it. This is same with any situation that way. But if you are really looking to get an in depth education in photography, there are quite a few top schools that are worth mentioning. But since I wrote about online photography school, I will focus on the course of an online digital photography school.
So the photography school that I would like to mention here is an online digital photography school. The class is available online so that’s mean if the course is offer for anyone living in any country with no boundary. The course is written by many real professional photographers. Compared to a real school, an online photography school is relatively inexpensive and you can begin learning instantly after enrollment. Learn photography with a conventional school can be quite interesting but the cost will be high which included document, travel, materials and other unnecessary expenses. Attending an online class can help to save more time and money.
The online course is interactive. No matter where you live you can communicate with your personal tutor and other student interactively. It is more interesting to study online at home at your own pace than a real school. Because there are no deadlines for your assignment, you can learn any time you want.
There is a discussion forum and picture storage space available for sharing your work with other student. The online school teaches cool tips and tricks on how to take your photography to the next level and let people admire in your work.
In this article, I will be talking about the best photography school. It is interesting to mention about photography school because the best thing you can do for your photography education comes down to actually to go out and do it. This is same with any situation that way. But if you are really looking to get an in depth education in photography, there are quite a few top schools that are worth mentioning. But since I wrote about online photography school, I will focus on the course of an online digital photography school.
So the photography school that I would like to mention here is an online digital photography school. The class is available online so that’s mean if the course is offer for anyone living in any country with no boundary. The course is written by many real professional photographers. Compared to a real school, an online photography school is relatively inexpensive and you can begin learning instantly after enrollment. Learn photography with a conventional school can be quite interesting but the cost will be high which included document, travel, materials and other unnecessary expenses. Attending an online class can help to save more time and money.
The online course is interactive. No matter where you live you can communicate with your personal tutor and other student interactively. It is more interesting to study online at home at your own pace than a real school. Because there are no deadlines for your assignment, you can learn any time you want.
There is a discussion forum and picture storage space available for sharing your work with other student. The online school teaches cool tips and tricks on how to take your photography to the next level and let people admire in your work.
Key Points for Professional Looking Real Estate Photography
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
Todd Levinson asked:
The power of the image is of paramount importance in this internet driven real estate market. Before curb appeal and the inviting set-up of your front entrance way, viewers will see your property advertised on-line. Truly the images you present are the first impression that will either guide potential buyers to set up an appointment to view your home, or on the flip side deter them from looking any further into your property. If you’re taking your own photos for the sale of your home then pay particular attention to the following guidelines. And remember, a good picture, can mean a thousand potential buyers!
Use the Optimal Number of Images
There is a balance between not enough images and too many. You’ll certainly want to have more than one, high quality, high resolution photograph to represent your listing effectively, but studies show than between five to nine images is all the brain can absorb in 30-60 seconds. Remember that the way users use the internet is different than how they might use, say a brochure. There’s a lot of fast browsing going on- so you’ll want to present something that has great immediate impact, but that doesn’t overwhelm.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Take note that photos of the ceiling are of no interest to viewers. Really, have you ever heard of a ceiling that sold a house? Many inexperienced photographers end up taking in a large amount of ceiling in their photographs while cutting out much of the important elements and features that’ll sell a room. Don’t make this mistake and focus your sights on the room at eye level.
Don’t Only Describe the View… Picture It!
If your home has an incredible view, don’t think you can sell it just by mentioning it in words. Find a way to get at least one great shot of that view for your on-line listing.
Light it Right
A universally important selling feature of a home is how light and bright it is. With many amateur photographers, photos end up coming up looking dark and dreary- and often are not the best representation of an otherwise bright space. This can be due to a few things. Often the problem is the result of the photographer relying on their camera flash to provide proper lighting for the photograph. Make sure you invite in as much light into the space as possible before taking the photograph. Open up blinds and curtains and let all the natural light flood in. Also, use the help of the lights in the room and make sure they’re turned on while you’re shooting. Take a few shots from different points in the room and test the lighting.
Once you have the image, you can use the simple wonders of digital photo tools such as Photo Shop to help lighten and brighten your images. Adjust them by playing with the brightness and contrast elements on your photo editing software.
The Winning Outdoor Shot
A great shot of your home from the outside is important. With regards to outdoor lighting, remember that a slightly overcast day will provide the best lighting for your image, and you can always add in a blue sky with photo editing after the fact. In terms of the perspective of the image, most folks opt to just stand across the street, aim and shoot. If you want to look professional and capture more depth in your shot, then try standing just to the side of your home and take the photo at an angle.
Have Plenty of Stock to Choose From
Take more than one image of the spaces you are shooting, and from different angles and perspectives. You’ll want to be able to choose the best shots for each room and area, so make sure you give yourself some options. It’s not always easy with digital cameras to know what is a “great shot” until it is uploaded to your computer and blown up to actual size. For this reason it is always better to err on the side of having too many images to choose from.
The power of the image is of paramount importance in this internet driven real estate market. Before curb appeal and the inviting set-up of your front entrance way, viewers will see your property advertised on-line. Truly the images you present are the first impression that will either guide potential buyers to set up an appointment to view your home, or on the flip side deter them from looking any further into your property. If you’re taking your own photos for the sale of your home then pay particular attention to the following guidelines. And remember, a good picture, can mean a thousand potential buyers!
Use the Optimal Number of Images
There is a balance between not enough images and too many. You’ll certainly want to have more than one, high quality, high resolution photograph to represent your listing effectively, but studies show than between five to nine images is all the brain can absorb in 30-60 seconds. Remember that the way users use the internet is different than how they might use, say a brochure. There’s a lot of fast browsing going on- so you’ll want to present something that has great immediate impact, but that doesn’t overwhelm.
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Take note that photos of the ceiling are of no interest to viewers. Really, have you ever heard of a ceiling that sold a house? Many inexperienced photographers end up taking in a large amount of ceiling in their photographs while cutting out much of the important elements and features that’ll sell a room. Don’t make this mistake and focus your sights on the room at eye level.
Don’t Only Describe the View… Picture It!
If your home has an incredible view, don’t think you can sell it just by mentioning it in words. Find a way to get at least one great shot of that view for your on-line listing.
Light it Right
A universally important selling feature of a home is how light and bright it is. With many amateur photographers, photos end up coming up looking dark and dreary- and often are not the best representation of an otherwise bright space. This can be due to a few things. Often the problem is the result of the photographer relying on their camera flash to provide proper lighting for the photograph. Make sure you invite in as much light into the space as possible before taking the photograph. Open up blinds and curtains and let all the natural light flood in. Also, use the help of the lights in the room and make sure they’re turned on while you’re shooting. Take a few shots from different points in the room and test the lighting.
Once you have the image, you can use the simple wonders of digital photo tools such as Photo Shop to help lighten and brighten your images. Adjust them by playing with the brightness and contrast elements on your photo editing software.
The Winning Outdoor Shot
A great shot of your home from the outside is important. With regards to outdoor lighting, remember that a slightly overcast day will provide the best lighting for your image, and you can always add in a blue sky with photo editing after the fact. In terms of the perspective of the image, most folks opt to just stand across the street, aim and shoot. If you want to look professional and capture more depth in your shot, then try standing just to the side of your home and take the photo at an angle.
Have Plenty of Stock to Choose From
Take more than one image of the spaces you are shooting, and from different angles and perspectives. You’ll want to be able to choose the best shots for each room and area, so make sure you give yourself some options. It’s not always easy with digital cameras to know what is a “great shot” until it is uploaded to your computer and blown up to actual size. For this reason it is always better to err on the side of having too many images to choose from.
Photo Recovery – Digital Photo Recovery for Deleted Photos
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
Teresa Nichala asked:
What is important to mention is that although the photos are still inside your digital memory’s memory card, they are in danger of total erasure. If you take more pictures you could very well overwrite the complete set of photos.
So the first step you have to take is download this digital photo recovery tool and connect your camera to your PC. Once you run the software you will see that it needs no special training or skills. Follow the onscreen instructions and in a couple of minutes you will have your photos in your screen, seen through the tool’s viewer.
In order to save the photos you will need to buy the full version of the program. this will let you save the photo files to your computer. I recommend you buy the photo recovery software outright. this will save you a step and get you photos back immediately.
The deleteFIX photo recovery software is in my opinion the best tool out there for several reasons. It is not expensive, it recovers your photo files with full quality (other applications reduce the quality of the photos being recovered), it can perform digital photo recovery on any camera and restore from any type of format.
This tool also works for photo recovery from memory sticks, digital cards, flash-cards,MMC Cards, SD Cards and mini-disks.
Lastly DeleteFIX Photo comes with a money back guarantee. The people at Cimaware (the software maker) will refund your purchase if you cannot get your pictures back.
So what happened to my pictures? I got them back in only a few minutes. I did suffer a lot of anxiety until they were safely in my PC, but at least I didn’t lose them.
What is important to mention is that although the photos are still inside your digital memory’s memory card, they are in danger of total erasure. If you take more pictures you could very well overwrite the complete set of photos.
So the first step you have to take is download this digital photo recovery tool and connect your camera to your PC. Once you run the software you will see that it needs no special training or skills. Follow the onscreen instructions and in a couple of minutes you will have your photos in your screen, seen through the tool’s viewer.
In order to save the photos you will need to buy the full version of the program. this will let you save the photo files to your computer. I recommend you buy the photo recovery software outright. this will save you a step and get you photos back immediately.
The deleteFIX photo recovery software is in my opinion the best tool out there for several reasons. It is not expensive, it recovers your photo files with full quality (other applications reduce the quality of the photos being recovered), it can perform digital photo recovery on any camera and restore from any type of format.
This tool also works for photo recovery from memory sticks, digital cards, flash-cards,MMC Cards, SD Cards and mini-disks.
Lastly DeleteFIX Photo comes with a money back guarantee. The people at Cimaware (the software maker) will refund your purchase if you cannot get your pictures back.
So what happened to my pictures? I got them back in only a few minutes. I did suffer a lot of anxiety until they were safely in my PC, but at least I didn’t lose them.
Photography – In-Camera Flash
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
Daniel Kreimer asked:
Have you reached the stage where you find your in-camera flash has become more of a hindrance than a help? Too many hard shadows and ghastly highlights can affect all your images when you use the built in flash in the wrong situation, or sometimes in the right situation it can really affect the aesthetics of an otherwise nicely composed image. In the first of this two-part series, I will cover camera mounted flashes and some of the accessories you can use to get the most out of your flash. In the forthcoming October issue, we’ll take a look at setting up a home studio with off camera flash units and accessories.The benefits of a mounted flash unit over a built in flash is like comparing chalk to cheese.
The advantages you gain when you start using a mounted flash are well worth the cost you incur when you decide to purchase one. All DSLR’s, apart from the top of the range professional models, come provided with a built in flash. So initially when you start using your DSLR for the first time you may not even be considering a separate flash unit at that point.
As your photography skills improve, you will begin to notice discrepancies and small details, which you may not have seen at an earlier stage of your creative development. In many cases, these flaws are down to how you are able to use the available light and the built in flash.
The built in (pop-up) flash can only do so much; in most cases it can only have one output intensity (the brightness of the flash) so it is limited in range. Additionally, the flash will always be forward facing which will cause hard background shadows in many situations. Situations where you may require photographing reflective subjects (such as chrome), the flash will appear as a ghastly white spot in the image.
In addition, the range is much less than that of a mounted flash(range is how far the flash light travels before it loses strength).
When you get more into your photography, naturally you will want to be able to take better pictures. Where better to start than going out and treating yourself to a mountable flash unit! Once you use one for the first time, you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
The immediate benefit of a flash unit is that you can move the flash head around and point it in whatever direction you wish. Another benefit is that the flash range can be considerably more than a built in flash and you have the ability to adjust the flash output as well as use it in manual or automatic mode. To find out more about actually using the flash, please read the Photography 101 article that I have written in conjunction with this series (after you read this one of course!).
Once you have decided to buy a flash unit you should put into consideration how much money you wish to spend.
Flash units can be quite expensive, and in some cases, they can be half the price or more of what you originally spent on your camera. Do not go out and buy a flash unit with too much haste because for each make of DSLR, there may be two or three different models to choose from. They usually begin at with a small basic model, which has a few functions such as ETTL (through the lens flash metering) and manual settings. Then there are the more advanced models with greater range and a multitude of functions to suit the professionals and experienced amateur photographers alike.
Have you reached the stage where you find your in-camera flash has become more of a hindrance than a help? Too many hard shadows and ghastly highlights can affect all your images when you use the built in flash in the wrong situation, or sometimes in the right situation it can really affect the aesthetics of an otherwise nicely composed image. In the first of this two-part series, I will cover camera mounted flashes and some of the accessories you can use to get the most out of your flash. In the forthcoming October issue, we’ll take a look at setting up a home studio with off camera flash units and accessories.The benefits of a mounted flash unit over a built in flash is like comparing chalk to cheese.
The advantages you gain when you start using a mounted flash are well worth the cost you incur when you decide to purchase one. All DSLR’s, apart from the top of the range professional models, come provided with a built in flash. So initially when you start using your DSLR for the first time you may not even be considering a separate flash unit at that point.
As your photography skills improve, you will begin to notice discrepancies and small details, which you may not have seen at an earlier stage of your creative development. In many cases, these flaws are down to how you are able to use the available light and the built in flash.
The built in (pop-up) flash can only do so much; in most cases it can only have one output intensity (the brightness of the flash) so it is limited in range. Additionally, the flash will always be forward facing which will cause hard background shadows in many situations. Situations where you may require photographing reflective subjects (such as chrome), the flash will appear as a ghastly white spot in the image.
In addition, the range is much less than that of a mounted flash(range is how far the flash light travels before it loses strength).
When you get more into your photography, naturally you will want to be able to take better pictures. Where better to start than going out and treating yourself to a mountable flash unit! Once you use one for the first time, you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
The immediate benefit of a flash unit is that you can move the flash head around and point it in whatever direction you wish. Another benefit is that the flash range can be considerably more than a built in flash and you have the ability to adjust the flash output as well as use it in manual or automatic mode. To find out more about actually using the flash, please read the Photography 101 article that I have written in conjunction with this series (after you read this one of course!).
Once you have decided to buy a flash unit you should put into consideration how much money you wish to spend.
Flash units can be quite expensive, and in some cases, they can be half the price or more of what you originally spent on your camera. Do not go out and buy a flash unit with too much haste because for each make of DSLR, there may be two or three different models to choose from. They usually begin at with a small basic model, which has a few functions such as ETTL (through the lens flash metering) and manual settings. Then there are the more advanced models with greater range and a multitude of functions to suit the professionals and experienced amateur photographers alike.
Photo Recovery Software Review: Adroit Photo Recovery Performed Best!
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
shweta sharma asked:
Did you ever accidently delete an important digital photograph on a memory card or computer and then empty the recycle bin? Perhaps your computer got infected by a virus which then corrupted the hard disk with your photographs? Then again, maybe you have had the case where your camera card will not even show up as a readable disk when inserted into the card reader! Enter the world of photo recovery software – software designed specifically to recover deleted photos.
We looked at four different photo recovery software packages: Digital Photo Recovery, Hetman Photo Recovery, Photo Rescue and Adroit Photo Recovery. Adroit Photo Recovery software came out on top due to ease of use, quality of recovery, efficiency of recovery and it recovers 15-20% more photos than the other software packages. The price for the various software packages was less of a consideration as all software packages were within the $30-$50 range with Digital Photo Recovery at $29.00, Photo Rescue at $29.00, Adroit Photo Recovery at $39.99, and Hetman Photo Recovery at $49.95.
We selected the four photo recovery software packages for the following reasons: Adroit Photo Recovery has been developed after years of research conducted at NYU-Poly and has been getting good press coverage by reputable publications such as The New York Times. Photo Rescue has been getting good reviews by PC Magazine. Hetman Photo Recovery got the highest CNET user rating (however comparable user ratings on all the photo recovery software packages are not available). Digital Photo Recovery has one of the highest CNET downloads.
What We Tested?
In order to compare the photo recovery applications, we used a 1GB USB card containing images from a camera. The card originally had 130 images of which we deleted 121, and left 9 of them as is. We then ran the application on all 4 applications.
Note: We only tested JPEG recovery as that is still by far the most popular camera format. Adroit, Digital Photo Recovery and Photo Rescue all support a limited number of Camera RAW formats (very high definition camera files). Hetman doesn’t seem to support RAW but supports a number of other photo formats that the others do not. However, since we are interested in the most common type of photos we only used the JPEG format.
Here are our findings:
Ease of Use:
The user interface in all software packages was simple and not confusing. Typically it took at least three steps in almost all the software packages to recover files. In Photo Rescue, however, it took four steps for quick recovery and more than four steps for advanced recovery.
Adroit Photo Recovery provides for automatic detection of devices even if you plug in a removable drive after the software has started. Digital Photo Recovery and Photo Rescue have refresh buttons that can be clicked and for Hetman you have to restart the application for the drive to be detected.
Adroit and Photo Rescue accepted disk images while others did not. Adroit also provided the best source information data while the other software packages provided limited information for screening and finding the right data. Recovery tips and help manuals were readily available in most software packages except in Digital Photo Recovery which had limited help features and no help manual. Adroit Photo Recovery has no help manual.
Note: While all the applications recovery from most removable media like USB sticks, camera cards, and external hard drives, Digital Photo Recovery can recover from most CD/DVD formats. We did not test this functionality.
Quality of Photo Recovery: Adroit Photo Recovery was the only software that could recover fragmented photograph files and distinguish valid and invalid photo files. As a result, Adroit was able to recover more photo files than other software. All software packages were able to recover photo files from corrupted drives though in some the error messages needed to be ignored.
Trying to recover the deleted photos we got the following results:
1. Adroit Photo Recovery: Fully Recovered (120), Partially Recovered (1)
2. Digital Photo Recovery: Fully Recovered (113), Partially Recovered (8)
3. Hetman Photo Recovery: Fully Recovered (109), Partially Recovered (11)
4. Photo Rescue: Fully Recovered (109), Partially Recovered (13)
Efficiency of Recovery: Most software packages showed the thumbnail pictures of recovered photo files though Hetman had other options for viewing files. Adroit also provided useful information about the photo files such as date-time information, height, width, size of file and other information useful for recovery. Hetman also provided some of this useful information.
In summary, at $39.99, Adroit Photo Recovery is a steal to help recover those priceless photographs. More information on Adroit Photo Recovery can be found at the Digital Assembly site http://digital-assembly.com/products/adroit-photo-recovery/. Note: All of the software can be used for free to see if they recover your photos. You will be able to see a preview of the images recovered, and if you are satisfied with the recovery then you will have to pay to save the recovered photos. Check out for yourself as to what makes sense for you.
Did you ever accidently delete an important digital photograph on a memory card or computer and then empty the recycle bin? Perhaps your computer got infected by a virus which then corrupted the hard disk with your photographs? Then again, maybe you have had the case where your camera card will not even show up as a readable disk when inserted into the card reader! Enter the world of photo recovery software – software designed specifically to recover deleted photos.
We looked at four different photo recovery software packages: Digital Photo Recovery, Hetman Photo Recovery, Photo Rescue and Adroit Photo Recovery. Adroit Photo Recovery software came out on top due to ease of use, quality of recovery, efficiency of recovery and it recovers 15-20% more photos than the other software packages. The price for the various software packages was less of a consideration as all software packages were within the $30-$50 range with Digital Photo Recovery at $29.00, Photo Rescue at $29.00, Adroit Photo Recovery at $39.99, and Hetman Photo Recovery at $49.95.
We selected the four photo recovery software packages for the following reasons: Adroit Photo Recovery has been developed after years of research conducted at NYU-Poly and has been getting good press coverage by reputable publications such as The New York Times. Photo Rescue has been getting good reviews by PC Magazine. Hetman Photo Recovery got the highest CNET user rating (however comparable user ratings on all the photo recovery software packages are not available). Digital Photo Recovery has one of the highest CNET downloads.
What We Tested?
In order to compare the photo recovery applications, we used a 1GB USB card containing images from a camera. The card originally had 130 images of which we deleted 121, and left 9 of them as is. We then ran the application on all 4 applications.
Note: We only tested JPEG recovery as that is still by far the most popular camera format. Adroit, Digital Photo Recovery and Photo Rescue all support a limited number of Camera RAW formats (very high definition camera files). Hetman doesn’t seem to support RAW but supports a number of other photo formats that the others do not. However, since we are interested in the most common type of photos we only used the JPEG format.
Here are our findings:
Ease of Use:
The user interface in all software packages was simple and not confusing. Typically it took at least three steps in almost all the software packages to recover files. In Photo Rescue, however, it took four steps for quick recovery and more than four steps for advanced recovery.
Adroit Photo Recovery provides for automatic detection of devices even if you plug in a removable drive after the software has started. Digital Photo Recovery and Photo Rescue have refresh buttons that can be clicked and for Hetman you have to restart the application for the drive to be detected.
Adroit and Photo Rescue accepted disk images while others did not. Adroit also provided the best source information data while the other software packages provided limited information for screening and finding the right data. Recovery tips and help manuals were readily available in most software packages except in Digital Photo Recovery which had limited help features and no help manual. Adroit Photo Recovery has no help manual.
Note: While all the applications recovery from most removable media like USB sticks, camera cards, and external hard drives, Digital Photo Recovery can recover from most CD/DVD formats. We did not test this functionality.
Quality of Photo Recovery: Adroit Photo Recovery was the only software that could recover fragmented photograph files and distinguish valid and invalid photo files. As a result, Adroit was able to recover more photo files than other software. All software packages were able to recover photo files from corrupted drives though in some the error messages needed to be ignored.
Trying to recover the deleted photos we got the following results:
1. Adroit Photo Recovery: Fully Recovered (120), Partially Recovered (1)
2. Digital Photo Recovery: Fully Recovered (113), Partially Recovered (8)
3. Hetman Photo Recovery: Fully Recovered (109), Partially Recovered (11)
4. Photo Rescue: Fully Recovered (109), Partially Recovered (13)
Efficiency of Recovery: Most software packages showed the thumbnail pictures of recovered photo files though Hetman had other options for viewing files. Adroit also provided useful information about the photo files such as date-time information, height, width, size of file and other information useful for recovery. Hetman also provided some of this useful information.
In summary, at $39.99, Adroit Photo Recovery is a steal to help recover those priceless photographs. More information on Adroit Photo Recovery can be found at the Digital Assembly site http://digital-assembly.com/products/adroit-photo-recovery/. Note: All of the software can be used for free to see if they recover your photos. You will be able to see a preview of the images recovered, and if you are satisfied with the recovery then you will have to pay to save the recovered photos. Check out for yourself as to what makes sense for you.