Wedding Photography Tips - Only the Very Brave Will Attempt It

Hire a professional. No? Don't want to do that? You think Uncle George can do it fine on the cheap? Save a few bucks and spread the joy around? Then read on, reckless fool...
Be prepared. Emotionally, spiritually, intellectually and photographically. You will need more than just a strong heart and nerves of steel. You'll need extra memory sticks, extra batteries, a flash outfit, a tripod and a zoom/wide-angle lens. You'll also need a decent photo editing program to produce the finished product in an acceptable form.
Have an assistant or a helper. You should have lots of stuff to carry around, and you need someone who will watch your gear when you're busy. Get someone to help you out. It's also good to have someone relatively sane to talk to.
ALWAYS shoot for the bride. Men don't really care about photos of themselves. Well, that's a generality. 99.9% of men don't care. Usually the only time a man looks at a wedding picture under his own volition is just after the divorce with a drink in the other hand.
Get a list of wanted shots. Don't go into this blind. Find out what shots the happy couple expect and try to oblige. Weddings have about 4 phases: getting dressed, the ceremony, after the ceremony (relaxed shots with the new couple), the reception including the cake and groups of guests. Take your lead from the bride not the juiced up guests at the reception.
Shoot a lot. This is good advice for any photography. At a wedding you're dealing with human nature at its most confused. Who can really tell what shots will be the big sellers? Just cover everything (even the speeches) and shoot everything three times and be safe.
Get the groups. Groups are important but watch out here because semi-inebriated guests will want to be photographed with pot-plants, the foxy waitress, each other, maybe the bride and groom, and towards the end of the evening fascinating cloud formations. Get the bride to tell you who should be in the groups. Stay with her.
Get the proofs to the bride as fast as possible. This is not just good service, it's also good business. Happiness and the vows of matrimony can be fleeting. Get your bill in before the first fight if possible. Definitely before the divorce.
Be a professional. Weddings can be scary things. They're all about love, sex, eating and drinking. Passions and confusions can be rampant. Get your shots first and party later if anyone is left to party with. If you find yourself at the end alone with your camera, at least you can console yourself that you completed your mission.
Do your own quality control before you submit the proofs. Your reputation can be destroyed by a handful of misaimed shots of the bride or her friends. People often remember that one shot where the matron of honor looked as if she was zonked when it was just an untimely blink. If it sucks delete it. Better safe than sorry.
Lance is not very good at writing about himself in the third person. He is an ex-patriot Australian living in Taiwan running a business consulting company. His grasp of the Chinese language ranges from poor to laughable and in most circumstances his actual use of the Chinese language results in laughter.

Portrait Photography Tips - Get the Most Out of Your Portraits

Portraiture can be very rewarding. It's a chance to show the best side (literally) of someone, and create a photo that communicates something unique.
The first rule of good portraiture is LOOK at your subject. This sounds obvious but take a browse through all the shots you have of your family and friends and see if they don't have a sameness about them. Head and shoulders, passport photos, awkward poses, uncomfortable expressions, blank looks, embarrassed smiles...?
Each person has some unique quality that deserves photographing. It doesn't have to be perfect skin, a remodeled nose, pouting mouth, stunning eyes. But it should be some quality that best communicates the person's individuality.
Sound daunting? It isn't if you follow some basic tips.
Don't use direct flash. Flash is light at its most boring. On rare occasions it can really lift a shot into dazzling life, but most of the time using available light is better. Flash tends to give a bland look and the fact of the flash going off takes away any intimate atmosphere you may have created.
Use a telephoto lens. 105-135mm is best. Wide angle is a big no-no.
Compose vertically. Turn the camera on its side. A portrait usually includes the head and upper torso and sometimes the hands. These work best in a vertical format. Horizontal framing leaves you with wide open spaces either side of the subject that can detract from the feel of the shot.
Dress your subject up if possible. If this is a semi-formal portrait you can have some say in the clothes. Solid, dark or light colors work best. Stripes checks, swirls, and patterns confuse the viewer's eye. Bold colors can overwhelm the skin tones. A vee or scoop neck is better than a round neck. For a man or older woman, cover the shoulders, for a young woman leave them bare.
Try to use the available light to good effect. Position the person where the light is soft and coming mainly from one direction. This can give a moody feel and usually gets the eyes more attention. You can use a reflector on the shadowed side to 'bounce the light' if the contrast between highlight and shadow is too strong. You can make a simple reflector using aluminum foil on a sheet of cardboard.
Pick the person's 'best side'. People really do have one. Get one shoulder turned towards the camera so one side is favored a little. Try the pose the other way and figure out which is best.
Let the person sit down. This helps them to relax and helps you to be able to direct them more easily.
Direct the person. In portraiture, you're dealing with minor movements and shifts of position and angle. Try to shoot slightly above the person to make the eyes open more. Lower the shoulder closest to the camera, get the head straight or at an engaging angle. Lower the chin a little.
Some people look best when they smile and some don't. You can get more interesting expressions and nuances without a smile. Tell the person to think of something they like doing. This will bring up subtle lights in the eyes and shifts in the mouth lines.
If the hands are in the shot, take a good look at them. Hands can look ugly or awkward. A lightly closed fist is usually neutral. Let the hands rest on a knee or in the lap and see what you have. Crop them out later if they don't work.
If you're shooting candid portraits the same tips apply but in these shots you have to move around to get the best angle.
Lance is not very good at writing about himself in the third person. He is an ex-patriot Australian living in Taiwan running a business consulting company. His grasp of the Chinese language ranges from poor to laughable and in most circumstances his actual use of the Chinese language results in laughter. Complete Portrait Photography Tips

Photographing the Horse

Few creatures on this planet evoke such powerful sentiments of admiration, awe and absolute beauty, as does the horse. His longtime relationship with humans is often that of a working associate, from carefully and selectively logging an ecologically sensitive area, to plowing his way through a crowd as a riot police officer. Sometimes he and his rider are partners engaged in the equine ballet that is dressage. And at other times he is running free, with hooves merely brushing the soil, ears pressed back holding the wind at bay, mane and tail flowing just as surely as a river. Perhaps the phrase, Poetry in Motion, was coined to illustrate the horse.
As photographers, both professional and amateur, we recognize Nature at its finest and reach for our cameras, anxious to capture the essence of the equine. But all too often, the images lack the spark that allows the horse its universal appeal. And the photographer is left wondering what he could have done that would have improved them.
In order to shoot a credible, artistic endeavor at a horse show, for commercial shots, or for editorial content, the photographer needs to be well accomplished with his/her camera equipment. But beyond that, s/he must also be an experienced horseperson.
One can love from afar, but it is necessary to have a thorough affinity in order to truly appreciate the horse with a baseline of respect and knowledge. Only then will one have the ability to photograph him with integrity, realism and with nature's masterpiece still intact.
However, perhaps you have been asked to photograph a child's first pony ride, are designing a portrait that includes the family horse, or are grabbing a shot of a friend during a show. In all cases, there are formulas and simple tricks that will offer the best chance of creating a hard copy of the image that, until now, has been only too elusive.
Safety:
Horses have evolved for millenniums as prey animals. They use their speed and quick reactions to avoid being eaten by predators. When a situation is even slightly suspect, be aware that the horse's instinct has trained him to bolt, and when more than half a ton of horse meets 150 pounds of human, the horse will always win.
Unless you are yourself a horseperson, always bow to the experience of the handler, even if what he or she is suggesting goes against your creative grain. Opening a folded reflector with a snap, or using a flash at the wrong moment could see the animal run right over you and/or your equipment.
The Effect:
Horsepeople, those who have worked and played with horses for some time, understand the nuances of equine behavior and language. When perusing a photograph that showcases their horse, they will pick out and pick at subtleties such as the horse looking inattentive, resting on 3 legs, or having a nose badly in need of wiping. As with any portraiture, attention to detail is imperative.
Research:
Before the shoot, educate yourself. Study horse magazines, books, and web sites. As you do so, a commonality will soon become apparent. Owners want to record that glistening coat, the muscles rippling, or the side with the immaculately combed or braided mane. When in motion, they want the horse to look balanced.
Ears:
Equine photographers usually have an assistant be the "ear-getter", an important aspect of the shoot. The horse sees separately from each eye. When he is paying attention, both eyes and ears are pointing towards the same spot. Delegate someone, preferably a horseperson, to "get" the ears to prick forward, both in the same direction. The helper will rattle a bucket of grain, grab a handful of grass, jangle and toss a set of keys, or purse their lips and cluck. Horses learn quickly that the treat will not come their way, or that the spooky noise is in actuality not a threat. So make certain that your assistant waits until you are set. Be prepared and focused, with the shutter at the ready; often the animal's attention lasts only a second or two. The noise is made, the ears go up, and you shoot!
If you find yourself photographing a stallion, you may discover that they are often difficult to get attentive. Things that work for a mare, gelding or foal, could well go right over a stallion's head. They have, what they consider, more important things on their minds.... Often a mirror will help, as he will be extremely interested in what that horse is doing in his territory. Just use caution that it does not become an unwanted reflector.
Mood:
However, not every equine image should have the ears forward. The horse is not always at attention any more than a child is always smiling. A mood shot, such as showing the horse nuzzling his person, or a mare with her foal, will usually present with one ear forward, one back. Having said that, the rule of thumb for portraits with or without people is for the horse to be squarely on all four legs with ears forward in the same direction that the people are looking.
The Eyes:
I have often seen beautifully executed family photos with every human properly lit and sporting a good expression. Yet, over to the side, the family horse stands at ease with one leg up on its toe, wearing a bored expression with black eyes. This pose can make the most well-bred animal look like an old nag. A horse's eyes are large and expressive. Just as with humans, the eye is the window to the soul, and it is up to the photographer to present that to the viewer. Have an assistant hold a reflector (a space blanket will do) off to the side, aiming the diffused sun directly into the horse's eyes. This will give a wonderful catch-light that will bring him to life without washing out the people. If a reflector or assistant is not available, an on-camera flash will do. Keep one of your own eyes peeled to make certain that he is standing on all four legs and that the "ear-getter" has done his or her job.
Respect and Ethics:
The very best of photographers cannot produce a truly good photo of a horse unless they have an honest respect for their model. A condescending attitude will show up in the image and a horse lover will spot it immediately. Ethics play a vital role in any enterprise involving sentient beings, and horse photography is no exception. Since photographers bring the industry into the home, it is up to the individual shooter to research and arrive at his or her own moral and ethical decisions as to what he or she will and will not photograph.
Professional equine photographers need to have detailed understanding of the conformation of each breed and the way in which individual disciplines want their mounts to stand or move. As well, they must have an inherent sense of when and how the animal will move and look within a split second. They automatically count out the cadence of dressage or jumping and know when a special moment is happening between equine and human. Perhaps most importantly, with scientific detailing, they have absolute understanding of the quick reflexes and timing of the horse.
But anyone with a basic appreciation of horses and familiarity with his or her camera, by using these tips, can produce an image worthy of hanging. And there is no nobler endeavor than bringing the beauty and power of one of nature's most amazing creations, into one's home.
Diane C. Nicholson (http://www.twinheartphoto.com/) is a freelance writer and photo-artist specializing in families of all species. As a bereaved parent herself, she has worked extensively with other grieving parents and now creates "memorial art" in which she uses their own snapshots (how many of us have wished we'd gotten that portrait, too late - including stillborn infants) and turns them into art. These can be used as cards to give out at funerals and memorial services (all accomplished online) or printed onto a stretched canvas, ready to hang.
She also has quality, Earth-friendly posters (one, First Born, is her most famous. It is the once-in-a-lifetime photo of a mare and foal lying down and cuddling together. These 18 x 24 posters have been bought for walls of maternity offices and birthing centers, new baby gifts, and so on, along with the regular Holiday gift-giving.
Other than her own art, Diane specializes her photography sessions on "Bellies, Births and Babies". She loves the whole birthing process and used to teach prenatal classes as well as attend births as support. Now she leaves that to midwives and doulas and records the memories in stunning photographs of the working, birthing couple and the new family.
Because of the economy, Diane is trying to help a little with Holiday expenses by temporarily lowering the prices of her wall-art: http://www.twinheartphoto.com/Wall%20Art.htm

Secrets of Buying Digital Camera Equipment

Digital cameras are the chic and sophisticated gadgets with the ability to review photos on the spot after taking it, deleting the unwanted images and making photography a real fun. The main reason why people chose digital camera equipment is the convenience of use and remarkable performance. But when it comes to purchasing digital camera equipment, it can be a daunting task to get into the right track.
Whether it is a professional or personal use, digital cameras are long term investments. Any hasty decision may lead to frustrating result with its performance and your satisfaction. Here are some valuable tips that can guide you while purchasing digital camera equipment.
Set a basic budget:
First of all you need to make a trade-off between the digital camera equipment that you need and their prices. It is better to think practically about the purchase as you will not be able to get the best in every aspect of its features. So, before visiting any store, on-line or off-line, to buy digital camera equipment, you need to consider about the budget on how much money you want to spend. Spending a large amount does not necessarily assure you of quality product.
Count on your experience:
Your experience is something that can guide you properly in the field of selecting the right digital camera equipment. Basically, stay away of ending up in buying unnecessary equipment. If you are a novice user of digital camera, opt for the equipments that are automated. For instance, the digital zoom is an important part of your digital camera, so, while purchasing it, ensure that the camera produces the correct picture and gives the center view of the image.
If you are an expert and professional photographer, you will want to purchase the digital camera equipments that give more manual control over the features. Therefore, it is essential to decide the purpose of buying them. The bottom-line is that buy digital camera equipment that you can actually use.
Do not compromise with the features:
When you are buying digital camera equipment, you must have some particular uses in you mind. So purchase the ones that satisfy maximum features you require for your digital camera. Saving budget does not mean you should compromise with some essential features. Again, do not get tempted with that trendy look. Look carefully into the features and then select the right one for you. It is not true that expensive digital camera equipment always have all those necessary features you need.
Decide your requirements:
If you are not sure of what you want from your digital camera equipment you can not purchase the right ones for you. For instance, in case of outdoor photography, a fast shutter sped is essential for moving objects. For taking multiple pictures in quick succession, you should buy digital camera equipment with special features.
Gather prior knowledge:
Whenever you are purchasing any digital camera equipment remember that you have to purchase a list of extras such as memory cards and batteries. Hence, you need to educate yourself about different types of equipment and there usages. There can not be any better way of gathering information than browsing through the World Wide Web. You can find reviews of same product and price comparison to help you take your decision.
The most important thing is, you need to compare the price-performance ratio. Make a balance between both of them as none of the two can be ignored while purchasing high-end gadgets. The digital camera equipment that you can get the best result with are the right ones for you. The best products are the ones that have the best overall package for your requirements. Enjoy the freedom in photography with your digital camera equipment.