Photography

Portrait Photography: A Beginners Guide

Whether you’re hoping to expand your knowledge of the photography field or if you’re looking for an entirely new career path, there’s a reason so many people have started getting into portrait photography. Whilst there is a need for creatives, there will always be a need for portraits. An invaluable tool for any budding actor or business person, portraits are used to put a face to a name or brand. This is where you can come in. With these tips, we’ll tell you everything you’ll need to know to break into the world of portrait photography.

Get the Right Equipment

The first step to being a great photographer is by finding the perfect equipment. While it may be daunting at first, with enough research you’ll definitely be able to find the best camera and accessories for you and the types of photography you’re hoping to do. Don’t be tricked into thinking that the most expensive equipment will automatically be the best. Whilst often with technology and therefore photography you get what you pay for, there often alternatives that better fit your budget. Don’t blow all your savings on a mega-expensive and complicated camera – especially if you’re only breaking into the photography scene.

Establish a Brand

If you’re hoping to make a career out of photography, it would be worth establishing a brand. By encompassing your company, you’ll be able to reach a wider audience and invite more potential clients. The best place to start is on social media. It’s a quick and easy place to base your company. It allows you to post examples of your work and advertise your services for free. When you’re looking to make more of a professional investment into your company it may be worth setting up a website. While it may seem daunting, companies like Wix make designing the perfect website for your company easy. Once you establish a brand, you’ll get more people discussing your work and will be able to grow.

Location Location Location

The next step is to decide where you’ll be doing your photoshoots. While it may add a nice flair to your shoots if you do some portrait shots on location, it’s always useful to have a backup. It may be worthwhile to set up a makeshift studio as a base for your photography. Shooting outside can lead to some gorgeous shots, but weather can be unpredictable and when you’re shooting on a schedule, you don’t want your entire shoot to be ruined by a touch of rain. Don’t worry about renting out space, if you have a shed in your backyard or a spare room in your house, it can easily and affordably be converted into a simple photography studio.

Engage With Your Subject

Before you start charging your potential clients, it may be worth building a portfolio so people can see examples of your work before deciding to hire you. Why not give your friends an opportunity to model for you. It’ll give you a chance to get some experience and you’ll also get to hang out with your friends. Once you start working with actual clients, the key to getting the best portraits is by making sure your subject is comfortable. If you’re wanting some ideas on how to get your client to loosen up, ponly has plenty of conversation starters and questions you can ask your client to make sure you get some awesome candids. Smiles and laughter look even better when they’re real.

Experiment

The best way to get started in portrait photography is just to do it. Like everything, with enough practice, you’ll be taking incredible portraits in no time at all. Experimenting with your photography will also help you discover your style and will help to set you apart from other photographers. Play around with filters and perspectives to find out what looks best. Adjust your camera settings to fit the shot you’re hoping to take. There are plenty of free resources online to show you how to get the most out of your camera and your photographs. If you’re planning a shoot with a client, make sure to communicate beforehand to find out what it is they’re wanting. Avoid experimenting with a paying client without asking their permission before the shoot.

The 4 Most Successful Photographers in Europe

So you’ve just won the cash prize in the xsmn lottery and you’re looking for a way to splash your cash? What could be a better way to spend your money than finally Investing in a camera and starting your photography journey.  Before you start your journey you should appreciate some of the most successful photographers to gain a little inspiration.

Marcello Bonfanti

Marcello Bonfanti is an Italian photographer who became really well known during the Ebola pandemic for his black and white portraits of those that were affected by the virus. He’s a really good example of how to utilise light sources and has produced some really astonishing work. So this is someone you should really look at if you want a good source of inspiration.

Dasha Matrosova

Dasha Matrosova is a Russian photographer that works heavily with nature. He forms versions of modern technology using vines and flowers as a commentary on global warming and environmental issues. He is a great example of how using props can make a picture really stand out. He is also a good example of how you can really spread some important messages through the use of media platforms.

Nenad Saljic

Nenad Saljic is a photographer from Croatia that is known for their landscape photography. He doesn’t just take simplistic landscape images, he plays with colour saturation and after-effects that can really transform a simplistic image into something really fantastic and modern.

Alva Bernadine

Alva Bernadine is a photographer from England who really made steps in the use of nature in photography by integrating dead butterflies with a human canvas. He is really the best example of taking photography to the extreme as the models voluntarily pierced their skin so that the butterflies looked as though they were floating.

The Best Digital Photo Frames in 2020

Digital Photo Frames have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the new accessibility of having everything online. They are particularly useful if you want to share images with an elderly relative or something who does not have a lot of technical knowledge or a computer. Due to this, a lot of people are looking into which types of digital photo frames are the best, something that this list may help you with.

Nixplay Seed Wave

This digital photo frame has been rated one of the best due to its high-resolution display screen with built-in Bluetooth speakers and large storage space to hold many photos. Whilst it is not touchscreen as many people may be looking for, the large 13.3-inch display screen and additional remote control should be enough to persuade you to purchase.

Eooke Large Digital Picture Frame

These digital picture frames are especially good if you are looking for a larger display for your image. They come in many different sizes, ranging from 24 inches to 55 inches, all with high-resolution digital displays that for viewing your photos with clarity and ease. Furthermore, as these frames are large, they come with desk style and VESA mounting holes to set up around your house with ease. For more information on these frames, visit DigitalFrame0 to access further information and customer reviews of the product.

Pix-Star 15-inch digital photo frame

This frame is slightly larger than the first option on the list and provides high-resolution images. Whilst there is less built-in storage, this frame allows the user to play videos as well as images. What makes this frame extra special is the ability to set up an email address to send pictures very easily through email, which is perfect if it is for elderly relatives or friends.

7 Tips for Better Watch Photography

Nowadays, technology can pretty much do anything. Much like the film Spy Kids predicted all those years ago, even our watches have now become inconceivably high-tech. Watches can now detect your heart rate, receive texts and even take photos. If you’re wanting to get the most out of your watches camera, here are 7 tips to improve your watch photography.

Perspective

An important aspect of any type of photography, it’s important to play around with perspectives when trying to capture the perfect image.

Positioning

If you’re taking photos on your watch, it’s important you get familiar with where the camera is located so you’re not accidentally taking a photo of your wrist.

The Right Watch Camera

Your photos will only be as good as the camera on your watch allows them to be. If you’re looking for an idea of some of the best watches in the photography game, check out these vietnamese watches for some great examples. You can find plenty of great looking watches for affordable prices.

Brightness

It’s important to make sure your photos aren’t over or underexposed otherwise your photos could end up looking far more amateurish than you were intending.

Filters

Popular with Instagram, filters are a great way to improve a lot of photos, whether black and white or whether you prefer more colorized filters, there are an endless amount for you to choose from to create the perfect photo.

Know Your Subject

A useful way to improve your photography is by deciding on what you’re wanting to capture, different types of photography require different settings and perspectives. What you need for a portrait shot may be different for a shot of nature.

Practice

The final and probably most important tip you can receive for improving your watch photography, like any other skill, is practice. You’ll find yourself improving after every picture and you may even end up developing your own recognisable style.

Which Phones Are Best for Photography 2020

If you’re ready for a phone upgrade but don’t know which the best option is to go for, there are a lot of amazing new models that are bound to have a feature you’re interested in. For example, most phone companies have tried in their recent model releases to produce a phone that has an amazing camera. Some examples of phone models that have succeeded in this and are the best for photography in 2020 are:

Huawei P40 Pro

This recently released phone has, it seems, followed the theme of Huawei phones in having unbeatable, high-quality cameras. Having been best known for being able to achieve a 50x zoom, whilst also maintaining a super high resolution, it was important for Huawei to keep this feature in the new model, which they have been able to do.

iPhone 11 Pro

Apple’s most recent phone release in 2019 has certainly impressed users with its rear triple-camera system. One of these three lenses has a 120-degree field of view, making it perfect for picturing landscapes and city scenes, whilst another lens has the ability to let in 40% more light, making images taken in the evening or night-time far better and more detailed. Due to all the new features, this phone has, especially for the camera, it comes in at quite a steep price. However, if it is this model that you’re interested in there are sites where you can find a refurbished iPhone with a 12-month warranty.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

This new 2020 release, is quickly becoming known for its advanced camera features. One of the most notable of these features is its ability to zoom up to 100x, doubling that of the Huawei. This phone similarly to the iPhone also can let in more light, allowing you to take much higher quality night-time pictures.

The Top 4 Tips for Getting Started in Photography

Whether you’re wanting to start a new business or even just wanting to pick up a new hobby. There are any number of reasons why so many people have decided to take up photography. The creative possibilities are endless and there will always be something out there for you to capture. Whether you want to specialize in portraits, landscapes, nature or artistic photography, the beautiful thing is that it’s all up to you. The most wonderful thing about photography is that you don’t need overly expensive equipment to take great photos, you just need to develop an eye for beauty and have a passion for capturing the world and you’re well on your way. If this all sounds like something you’d be interested in, then here are the top 4 tips for getting started in photography.

Equipment

One of the most important things you’ll need to consider when getting started in the world of photography is the equipment you’ll be using. Many phones nowadays take pretty decent photos, so it’s a great opportunity to get a feel for photography. Once you feel you’ve gotten the hang of things, it may be worth looking into some decent equipment. Sites like Camerakool offer some great deals and information on all kinds of cameras and accessories. Just be sure to do your research before buying to be sure you get the right equipment for the type of photography you’re wanting to do.

Find Your Subject

Probably the most fun part of getting started in photography is finding the subject that makes you tick. While you’re not limited to one branch of photography, many people choose to specialize in one or two aspects of photography if they’re trying to build up a business. This allows you the most freedom as you can explore every sort of photography to see if there are any forms you enjoy capturing more than others.

Practice

One of the most important aspects of developing any skill is by practicing and you’ll be glad to know that photography is no different. Practicing will help you to develop your own individual style. Everybody is different. With so many things to experiment with, there will always be more to learn. It’s worth getting in contact with other established photographers for tips and advice on things they’ve found to help and hinder their photography. The best photos are the ones that stand apart from the rest and practice will help you achieve this.

Set Up Your Brand

The final step for getting started in photography comes from if you’re considering developing it into a profession. It may be worth setting up some social media accounts to get your photography into the public eye. If people see your style and personal flair, they might be interested in collaborating for creative projects, helping to build your brand. If people see examples of your photography online and like what they see, they’re far more likely to want to reach out and hire you for photography jobs. All of this will be improved if you have followed the earlier steps and found your niche market.

9 Tips for Taking Great Photographs of Trees

So, you’ve decided to take up photography, or maybe you just thought you’d spruce up the old Instagram feed. No matter what your reason, here are some tips on how to spice up your portfolio with some nature shots – more specifically the beautiful trees that surround us.

Angles

One of the most important things in photography making sure you get the right angle and perspective on your photos. Play around with your perspective and take photos from a range of different angles to see which ones work best. Try crouching down and looking up at a tree or look down from a window.

Brightness

Exposure (or brightness) is something you’ll need to be careful of when taking the perfect tree photo. If your photo is over-exposed then you’ll risk losing out on some key details as the camera will have let in too much light and it will be too bright to see the clarity of the photo. The same is true if it’s underexposed. Try to make sure your photograph is as close to the natural lighting is possible.

Color Wheel

When you’re setting out your photo, pay attention to the color wheel and find colors that work well with the colors of the trunk and the leaves for a gorgeous contrast – like red and green!

Depth of Field

The distance between the closest and farthest objects in a photo is also known as depth of field. Experimenting with this can make sure your photos won’t blend in with the rest.

Focus

By playing around with focus, you can decide what the viewer will pay the most attention to. You can blur the background to make the tree the focus or you can blur the tree in the forefront as a nice frame for something else.

Negative space

An effective photography technique is the use of negative space.  When you’re taking a photo of a tree, play around with how much sky you see in the background.

Rule of Thirds

Something very common in the photography world is the rule of thirds. The frame should be broken up into – you guessed it – thirds. There’s something indescribably satisfying about the symmetry of a cleverly composed shot and this is an easy hack to achieve it.

Simplicity

Whilst you can play around with all sorts of different photography techniques, it’s important not to forget the power of simplicity. Trees are beautiful, there’s no reason they can’t be the centerpiece of the photograph.

Symmetry

Something Wes Anderson is famous for is symmetry.  Try to put the tree perfectly into the center of the frame or even try to get two trees on either side of the photograph for the perfect balance.

No matter what, if you’re taking a photograph of any of the trees in your backyard, don’t forget to make sure they look well-kept. If you’re thinking your trees could do with a sprucing up then you should check out this company for tree trimming in Greensboro to make sure your tree photos look their best!

The Beauty of Combining Photography with Interior Design

Photography is one of the most rewarding hobbies. The ability to capture the beauty of the world and frame it in such a way that it can evoke strong, compelling feelings within someone is priceless. And as photography technology only gets more advance each year, there is endless possibilities on what can be captured.

That is why photography is the perfect thing to compliment interior design. At their core they both represent the idea of capturing a mood or feeling and showing it off to the world. So below is a list of a few ways you can integrate interior design with photography to really add some flare to your home,

Paint to Picture

Photography is an amazing way to capture, not only moments, but the outstanding color that is on display in the natural world. Crashing waves of deep blue. Verdant fields of green. The orange, burning hues of autumn. And these colors translate well to your home color scheme as well. When you sit down to slap on a new lick of paint perhaps plan a photography trip and come up with some complimentary images to go with your new color scheme.

Perhaps you aren’t a dab hand with a paint brush, but not to worry there are many professionals around that will be able to work with you to achieve your vision. And if you need your office painted don’t be afraid to have a look around at what options are available to you.

Furnishing to Finish

Photos, much like your interior decoration, can say a lot about you and the mood you are trying to achieve with a room. To that end, what furniture you decide to furnish your rooms with will matter a lot when also deciding what photographs to hang on your walls. Looking at color on both and making sure they don’t clash will help achieve a softer, more welcoming mood.

The furniture you use and how you lay it out can also provide a lot of great opportunities for new photography work. Lots of modern photography utilities modern furniture and interior decoration to great effect. Not to mention it provides a great way of showing off your home to the outside world without inviting the outside world in.

Nature Shots

Nature has always provided ample opportunity for budding photographers. The colors, the natural element, the shifting seasons. But making the trek to the wilds isn’t always possible. To that end a home decorated to the brim with house plants is ample for photography opportunities. When you are decorating your house take that into consideration. Perhaps you select some plants with vibrant, luscious colors to spruce up your art. Or maybe something greener and calmer to really go back to basics when it comes to your photos. What ever you decide, not only will house plants improve your photos, but will bring life and freshness to your home.

What ever you do, at the end of the day the most important part of any hobby is to enjoy your self and let your creative juices flow.

A Guide to Photography in Paris: The City of Love

The city of love has been a popular tourist destination for some time now and thanks to this popularity there has been a large increase in tourism over the recent years. This popularity stems from the fact that Paris is such a beautiful and romantic place to visit, there’s so much to do and see which makes it not only a great place to see as a tourist but as a budding photographer also. The photo opportunities are endless with iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre being the obvious choices to get some great photographs. Obviously all of the iconic landmarks are a must see, but in terms of photography you can get some great shots just on the idyllic streets alone so you can finally match the aesthetic of all the that are constantly popping up on our social media.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel tower is a compulsory visit when you are in Paris, it’s not only one of the most impressive construction feats in the world but it presents the opportunity to get some great photographs, the landmark itself is exceptionally photogenic but should you get the chance to go up to the top you are able to get some of the most breathtaking images showing a unique aerial view of this amazing city. The Eiffel Tower is a must see when it comes to Paris, you can’t visit Paris and not see it and in terms of photography it provides you with the opportunity to get some amazing photos whether it be of the architecture itself or of the views, you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world.

The Arc de Triomphe

Another classic tourist hot-spot would have to be the arc de Triomphe, set in the centre of Paris’ iconic roundabout the sheer amount of traffic from cars and bikes can really make for a unique photoshoot that represents the tourism and hustle and bustle of Parisian life. Much like the Eiffel Tower this is another you can’t afford to miss out on, with a lovely sunny day and a clear blue sky there is an opportunity to get some really beautiful photos here or if you prefer a night time shot you can get something a little classier to represent just how amazing the city of love is. The intricate detailing and sheer talent that has gone into creating this long standing sculpture is a crucial part of history and just shows Paris in a way that does justice to how aesthetically pleasing the city as a whole really is.

Patisseries/Bakeries

For those of you that are budding bakers and foodies here’s one for you, the sheer amount of bakeries and patisseries that are in Paris may come as a shock, with endless glass windows showcasing the most amazing pastries and desserts in a wide array of colors, decoration, flavours and constructions there is a photo opportunity that you really cannot miss. Photos like these would be great on food and travel blogs and these picturesque creations reflect how unique and versatile Parisian food culture can be.

The streets of Paris

The streets alone are cause for celebration, miles and miles of classical architecture combined with some of the more modern graffiti and street art. This combination of the old and the modern is  a great cause for photography and it really is something you won’t find anywhere else. Imagine the shots you could get just from being in such a picturesque environment, the juxtaposition of the classical structure and build quality of the buildings is something that as a photographer you have to see.

Markets

Parisian markets are very unique, in such a classically beautiful city you wouldn’t expect to see markets like these, and that’s what makes them a must see. The hustle and bustle and the wide variety of things in sale make for excellent shots that you would rarely find anywhere else. All the unique little pieces that are available to purchase are not only great buys but a great opportunity to get a lovely photo to add to your repertoire.