Portrait Photography Tips and Tricks

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Improve your portrait photography by following these tips and tricks. To take breathtaking portraits you need more than just technical skills....

Would you like to improve your portrait photography? Knowing how to set up your camera and lighting to take quality pictures is just one of many steps. You also have to pose your subject while helping them feel relaxed and comfortable. Having great technical skills is a good start, but personal skills will also go a long way when photographing people. Let's look at some things you'll have to consider to take good portraits.

If you're taking your portraits in a studio be sure to set up everything before your subject arrives. Making your subject wait can make them feel anxious and even annoyed. These negative feelings will show up in the photographs. Get the lighting right. Have some props. Props can be used to make your subject feel more comfortable. Many people will relax more quickly if they're given something to do with their hands. If you're using a backdrop have it in place before the person arrives. If you're shooting outside of your studio, try to familiarize yourself with the location before the shoot. Walk around the area and get ideas for pictures.

You should plan a general look and feel for the portraits before the photo shoot. When your subject arrives discuss those ideas with them and get feedback. These original ideas often change, but they're good to set you in a direction for the photography session.

Don't be afraid to give your subject directions. Most people need to be posed for photographs. Many, if left to their own devices, will appear slouchy in pictures. Having your subject lean slightly forward will help stop them from slouching. While you're taking the pictures talk to our subject about their interests. Getting to know them better will help them feel more comfortable. Eventually, they may forget about the camera all together. If someone is uncomfortable having their portrait taken it really shows up in the picture. It's important that you go out of your way to help them relax.

Be creative. Creative portraits that break the rules can be very effective. Try different camera angels. Change the lighting. Use filters. See what works best for the mood your trying to capture. Some portraits may just include the person's hands. In some portraits the face fills the whole picture. Photography is a creative art. Once you know the rules don't be afraid to break them. As you make changes, be confident without being bossy. This will help your subject trust your decisions and be more willing to follow your instructions.

Combining these skills with the technical skills you already have will help make you the most popular portrait photographer in town.

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Lovelyn loves photography and want to share her knowledge with you. Check out her website for more portrait photography tips. You can find plenty of other free tutorials there too.

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Digital Photography Tips and Tricks Part 3 - Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist

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If you looking for digital photography tips and tricks, you have come to the right place. Here I will present some practical tips to you that will help get the most out of your digital camera. Go through the article below to learn more about how to use the digital camera and take the great shots.

Looking for some digital photography tips and tricks? In this series I present some practical tips to you that help get the most out of your digital camera.If you are using a digital SLR camera for your photography, you may know well that it is a highly sophisticated piece of equipment, capable of producing fantastic results. But you need to know how to handle it and you need to prepare well before using it. That's why I have created a Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist. Follow the checklist and it will help you get the best out of your digital SLR camera and you will also avoid having great shots ruined by incorrect settings or poor camera set-up!Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist.

#1: Check the Battery First of all, you should check if the battery of your camera is charged. Digital SLR cameras are fully battery power dependent. Suppose you have gone out with your camera and suddenly find that your battery is low or dead, you will find yourself heading home earlier than expected! So, charge your battery after each time you use your camera. Make it a habit and you will always find your battery ready. It is also great to have a spare battery in your camera bag. But be sure this one is also charged fully.Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist.

#2: Format Your Memory CardIf you do not have a memory card with a huge capacity, you should format your card every time before going out to shoot pictures. Formatting wipes clean a memory card. If you format, it will remove all old images and you will have as much storage space as possible. But be sure you have safely transferred or printed all the important images before formatting or you'll lose everything on the card. So, before you go out, make sure that your memory card has sufficient capacity.Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist.

#3: Check the ISO Setting The ISO speed, which plays a vital role in digital photography, will allow you to take pictures of moving subjects, or take pictures in low light conditions, by altering the sensitivity of the cameras sensor. However, it does have a bad effect, the higher the ISO, the more 'noise' is visible on the final image. This is a grainy effect seen on the picture. So, it is best to use as low as ISO setting as possible, although higher ISO's are needed to do some action type photography such as sports for example. Make sure you know where you will be going, what the weather will be like and consider what this means for your ISO setting.Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist.

#4: Select the Correct File typeIn digital SLR cameras you will be able to select different file types for saving your images. JPEG is the most popular setting for many amateurs and professionals. Most digital cameras also give you a second setting option for the size of the image. This is normally small (S), medium (M), and large (L). This primarily affects the size at which the image can be printed at, whilst retaining its quality. Be aware that larger images take up more memory space on your card. Again, it's all about being conscious of these things so that you do not get nasty surprises afterwards due to incorrect settings.Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist.

#5: Choose the right White BalanceThe white balance and its artistic effects are a great issue and cause of much debate between photographing enthusiasts. A lot of this comes down to individual taste and artistic effect you want to get. For now just be sure to select a white balance that isn't completely inappropriate for your subject. It is a good idea (and often reliable) to let the camera select the white balance, using the Auto WB setting. Then use that as a base, take a few pictures at this setting, then start playing with the white balance. Then do not look at your photos again for a few days, come back to them and consider what you think has worked and what hasn't. That's it. Five simple digital photography tips and tricks that help you get to the right outcomes. Of course, you could make this list a bit more comprehensive and include additional checklist items like which bag, tripod and lenses to take. But I deliberately did not want to over complicate it. The tips above are all about becoming conscious about your photography. You will find, as with much in life, that when you do things with a purpose

, you will achieve better outcomes. So let this digital photography pre-shoot checklist be a start of your own checklist to which you can add as you wish!

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Dominique Vangheel is a devoted fan of digital photography. He works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Visit his digital photography tips and tricks and learn more about digital photography.

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20 Beginner Tips For Taking Digital Photography

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I hope the following 20 tips for taking digital photography will prove to be useful in your quest for taking better photographs...

Digital cameras are one of the greatest inventions of modern times. We are so fortunate to have this modern convenience called Digital Photography. To be able to capture a precious moment or beautiful scene at the click of a button, is something we should not take for granted.

Many beginners find digital photography rather challenging and rightly so. Today, more and more digital cameras are being created and it seems like the more digital cameras they make, the more difficult they become to use.

I own a Canon Powershot S3 IS. I purchased this digital camera about a year ago and I still haven't utilized all of the awesome little features this camera has to offer. Now you may not want or even need a camera with tons of features. It really depends on the type of pictures you plan on taking.

Regardless of the camera you own or are planning to own, you should have a well rounded knowledge of digital photography. I hope the following 20 tips for taking digital photography will prove to be useful in your quest for taking better photographs.

1. Know your camera. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not taking time to learn about the features of your camera. Don't be lazy. Read your instruction manual.

2 - When shooting sunny outdoor shots, try adjusting your white balance setting from auto to cloudy. The auto setting will make your shots appear too cold. When you change it to cloudy, it will increase the warmth of your pictures.

3 - If you are looking for superior image quality, the ability to use a variety of lenses and print large high quality photos, then considering a Digital SLR Camera.

4 - Use your flash outdoors. Sometimes, even on a sunny day outdoors, there is still a need for a flash. If the sun is directly over head or behind your subject, this can cause dark shadows to appear on the face. The flash will help lighten the subjects face.

5- Sometimes simply turning your camera and taking vertical shots can make a world of difference. Experiment more with vertical picture taking.

6 - Do not put your subjects directly in the center of your shot. Move your subject off center to inject more life into your photos.

7 - Learn how to hold your digital camera. One of the most common problems beginners face is the shaking of the camera because they are not holding it properly. Of course, the best way to avoid shaking the camera is to use a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, then you should be holding your camera with two hands. Put one hand on the right hand side of your camera where you actually snap the photo and the other hand will support the weight of your camera. Depending on the camera, your left hand will either be positioned on the bottom or around your lens.

8 - Learn about the "Rule of Thirds". This is a well known principle of photographic composition that every beginner should become familiar with. Do a search online and you will find many tutorials on this subject.

9 - Look at other photographers work. Just spending time studying the work of other photographers can provide loads of inspiration.

10 - Join online photography communities. Get active and ask questions.

11 - Do not compare your photography to anyone else.

12 - Do not copy the work of other photographers. Try and develop your own unique style.

13 - Do not leave your batteries in your camera if you don't plan on using your camera for long periods of time. Some batteries run the risk of leaking and this can damage your camera.

14 - Subscribe to a good photography magazine. Read books on photography.

15 - Find experienced photographers to go out on shoots with.

16 - Post your photographs in online forums. Learn to accept criticism.

17 - Try taking your pictures in RAW format. RAW is a powerful option available in today's digital cameras where no in-camera processing takes place. This allows you to do all processing using your favorite image editing software.

18 - Don't buy the most expensive photography equipment right away. Practice and learn about photography using cheaper equipment first. After you have been taking pictures for a while, you will then know what kind of equipment you will need.

19 - Invest in a tripod. Some of us have very shaky hands. If you can't stop the shakes, then get a tripod. It will make a world of difference.

20 - If you are not able to carry your equipment with you everywhere, make sure you have a note pad handy. This way if you find a nice shot

, you can write it down and visit that location at a later date.

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Ralph Serpe is Webmaster for http://www.creativespotlite.com/, a free arts and photography community for beginners. Click here for more free beginner digital photography tips and tutorials from CreativeSpotlite.Com. Be sure to also check out our Squidoo Lens for more freeDigital Photography Tips & Tutorials.

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Digital Photography Tips and Tricks Part 2 - Digital Landscape Photography

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Since the camera was invented in 1888 photographers have shown great interest to capture landscapes. That is probably even more true today, in the age of digital photography, than it has ever been before. Both amateur and professional photographers show their interest in digital landscape photography. With the right technical knowledge and some imaginative power, you can create mind-blowing pictures as well. So, whether you are a professional who needs a refresher or an enthusiastic amateur photographer, you will find this article extremely helpful to you.

Since the camera was invented in 1888 photographers have shown great interest to capture landscapes. That is probably even more true today, in the age of digital photography, than it has ever been before. Both amateur and professional photographers show their interest in digital landscape photography.Digital photography technology has been in the process of constant development. Now it has reached a point where even amateur photographers are capable of capturing amazing scenery with wonderful photos. With the right technical knowledge and some imaginative power, you can create mind-blowing pictures.Whether you are a professional who needs a refresher or an enthusiastic amateur photographer, you will find the following information helpful to you.

The Importance of Location in Digital Landscape Photography The selection of the right location is key in digital landscape photography. Before you choose a location, you should consider the purpose of your photograph. If you want to capture photos to hang them in your bedroom, you should think of serenity, peace or calm and look for such locations as a mountain range, seascape or moor elands. If your purpose is an exhibition then you should consider anger or fury to bring out a striking impact. Thus, always keep in mind the emotional effect your photos will give and what you want to accomplish with your photo.

The Importance of Composition in Digital Landscape Photography Try to keep you image simple and uncluttered. You should remove any distractions from your photograph. This will help you bring more prominence to your focus subject as your viewers eye will not drift as much. Also try to include some form of foreground interest into the image. When you take a photo of only the main subject it will look only half as good as the same picture but with some foreground and background in it to give the whole piece perspective. A good rule is to follow the 'Rule Of Thirds'. So split your photo in three equal parts horizontally and also vertically, so that you have nine squares. The bottom row is for the foreground, the top row is for the background. Keep your main focus subject off-center, away from the middle of the frame. As a result, your photo will look more dynamic, and ultimately more interesting to view.

The Focal Point in Digital Landscape Photography An important part of the composition of your image is the focal point, which attracts the viewers eye, such as a lighthouse, a boat on the ocean etc. This will ensure that your photo has a dimension and sense of scale. If you apply this technique, it will help prevent the image from looking too bland or boring. You will not have to use something mainstream as your focal point; in fact, it is more eye-catching and interesting when you choose something completely out of the ordinary. But the main point is to pick one main subject for your photo.

Digital Landscape Photography and the Time of Day The quality and the effect of the light on your photos will depend on the part of the day you select for your photography. Suppose when the sun rises, shadows are weaker and pastel colors more apparent in your shots. Atmospheric haze is also at its lowest in the morning. But the light becomes more contrasting and harsh as the day progresses and is at its strongest during the middle of the day. If you want maximum color impact then you should shoot your picture with the sun behind you, or to one side. A favorite time to landscape photographers is the evening when the sun sets and you can get that warm, rich glow which works extremely well for landscape images. Thus, select the particular time of the day for the particular effect you want from your image.

Digital Landscape Photography and Capturing the Perfect Moment A good photographer should try to get sufficient control over the situation and him/herself to take the perfect shot, not just any shot. So, do not remain satisfied with second rate shots just because factors seem to turn against you. If, for example, you cannot get the shot you want because it starts to rain, that's too bad, come back another time for that shot. However, do not consider it as a set back. Rather let your imagination work freely and then try to capture shots only possible when it is raining! As a last suggestion, pay some attention to the right equipment. The most expensive kit does not guarantee that you will take superb shots. But you can take some simple items that make it easier for you to create great digital landscape photography. These items are a camera bag, a tripod and a lens cleaning cloth. A camera bag, which is both protective and sturdy, is essential if you are walking over rugged areas. A tripod can be very handy to have with you to keep your camera stable and to help you take the right image. A simple lens cleaning cloth may prove an important tool when the whether is rough.These are some of the most important tips to great digital landscape photography. In the end, a lot of it comes down to practice and being conscious about what you want to create. Armed with these tips you should be able to put a real sense of purpose in your next digital landscape photography session. And I bet you that the results will then speak for themselves!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Want more digital photography tips and tricks? Then check out the Digital Photography Tips 'n Tricks eZineDominique Vangheel is a devoted fan of digital photography. He works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Visit Your Digital Photography for more information on digital photography.

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Learn Digital Photography - Should You Go To Any Digital Photography Course?

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You can only read this article because you went to school and learn the alphabet. It goes the same to digital photography. When you want to take good picture, you are advice to go for a digital photography course and learn all the techniques about digital photography. This article shares with you why you should consider attending a digital photography course.

Unless you have started digital photography at a very young age and know how exactly what equipment to use for the shot, you are advised to take the course especially when you are going to develop your career as a professional photographer. Imagine your client hires you as the wedding photographer and your pictures look like the work of a normal photographer who uses a compact digital camera. How will your client feel? Imagine you are the client and what will you say?

Remember that as a professional photographer, your income depends on the work you show. When you display only 50% of your potential, your clients are going to pay you the same.

Please know that the digital photography courses nowadays are widely available and flexible. You can always get an online course if you have a busy schedule. You just need to talk to your tutor and see how both of you can work out the best schedule.

By the way, photography can be branched into a few categories. And to name a few, there are wedding photography, underwater photography, fashion photography and more. Although it might sound confusing to decide on which stream to flow for your photography career, you can relax because you will see your direction as you go along the course.

So, leverage on the assignments during the course and find out which branch of photography you are interested in. One key to remember here is you should keep an open mind when you receive your assignments. You might not be a nature person but maybe once you feel the fresh air and capture your own landscape picture, you will see that there are more wonders in this world that are worth your attention.

Lastly, you need to look into your budget when you are going for a digital photography course. Fortunately, these courses usually come with different level and price range. Let's say you are tight on your budget, go for the beginner course and see whether you can make any money with digital photography. Then

, you will have the money to attend the higher course.

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Do you enjoy taking photos? Do you want more digital photography tips and techniques? Just look at

=> www.learn-digitalphotography.blogspot.com/

Michael Wong is happy to share his knowledge about digital photography with you and hope you enjoy them.

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Learn Digital Photography - How To Be Good In Portrait Photography

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People are such a good subject in photography and many have shared their interest in this field. Although portrait photography is a fun subject, some are still struggling to fully enjoy this. So, this article is going to show you how talking, looking, practice, using the equipments and having a different perspective can help you to be good in portrait photography...

Portrait photography can be fun and yet difficult to master. It is normal to see photographers struggling with the subject's pose and sometime things can get ugly when the photographer and subject can't agree on the pose.

That is when you need to talk to your models and make them understand all you want to do is to get the best out of them. You are aiming for that special glow that only your model can show. Of course then you have to listen to their feedback and see what they want in their picture. It is their pictures after all.

When both of you are relax, look seriously at your subject. Look at their face and see what is so special about your subject. A good portrait photographer can see the character of a person from his or her face and know how to put the lighting to properly illuminate your model. Some said that you can even tell a person's story with portrait photography when you look hard enough.

Now, impressing your models with their portrait is easy when you can capture their pictures in a different perspective. Everyone is unique in their own way and looking at that, shouldn't everyone have their own special portrait? You can ask your model to look away from the camera and focus on his face. Or you can get your model to rest her head on her palm so that you can focus on her gaze. What you need to do here is to be creative and shoot out of the box.

Besides that, good portrait photographers can make do with the equipments they already have. It is true that you can get better picture when you have better equipments. But looking at the speed of the digital cameras being release to the market today, do you know how much money you need to invest to get all the equipments in your hand?

So, what you need to do is to zoom in to your model when you are practicing portrait photography because wide lens might make your model look "wide" and you will hard time explaining that to them.

Lastly, practice does make digital photography better. Seriously, have you ever fail to be better in things that you do over and over again? You might have spent a lot of time thinking of how you need to pose your model when you started this but once you have build the experience

, you will know how to prep your model for the camera with just a single glance.

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Do you enjoy taking photos? Do you want more digital photography tips and techniques? Michael Wong is happy to share his knowledge about digital photography with you and hope you enjoy them. Just look at

=>http://www.learn-digitalphotography.blogspot.com/

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Digital Photography Tips and Tricks Part 1 -- Vacation Photography

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Flower photography is not as simple as one may think. Flowers are objects with intense colors that need extra attention when photographing. This article gives you some tips on how to take great pictures of flowers

Flowers are a passionate subject to shoot. Whether you’re shooting below, above, on the side, far or up close, flowers will always remain to be an interesting subject with many possibilities. If you’re using a DSLR for shooting roses or any type of flora and fauna, it is important to remember the color rule - that red is the most powerful color in photography. Even so subtle, the color red if placed in any photograph will tell your eyes to move towards it. Thus, red attracts the human eye.

If you have styling experience and want to go the extra mile, experimenting with dew drops can create very pleasant effects to your photos. Have you ever seen those photos where a plant leaf has a single dew drop hanging by its tail, waiting to fall to the ground? This very dramatic shot can be achieved in many ways but the formula for creating the dew can be made at home. There are two ways to recreate the image that your flowers are “fresh from the rain.” Simply put dewdrops can be sprayed onto flowers with water to create that artificial effect.

For a more “solid” dew you can hop over to your local drugstore and purchase a bottle of glycerin (Mercury Drugstore in the Philippines carries these) which in turn you have to mix with a little water. A 50-50 solution of glycerin and water and poured into a small spray can can create a more consistent dew effect for your flowers.

Of course, there is nothing better than the real thing. Studio shots are great but don’t you think something out natural should be taken out in the wild? The best way to photograph flowers out in its natural habitat would be to do so early in the morning or sometime in the afternoon but never with the noon sun because your subject will appear saturated.

Besides, the reward for waking up early is it allows you to photograph flowers fresh from the evening dew. If you want warmer and more vibrant photos, you can wait till the afternoon to shoot. You’ll be surprised to see different results of shooting the same subject at different angles during different parts of the day.

The end all of shooting a subject as beautiful as flowers is that it should also inspire you, as a photographer to enjoy what you’re doing. It is such a big irony to go out into the wild to shoot beauty when you’re in a bad disposition. Flower photography, or any photography for that matter should have a therapeutic effect – and for this purpose

, you’d be hard pressed to find a subject as relaxing as flowers.

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This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through island Rose, you can sendFlowers to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

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Portrait Photography Tips and Tricks

Digital Photography Tips and Tricks Part 3 - Digital Photography Pre-Shoot Checklist

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20 Beginner Tips For Taking Digital Photography

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Digital Photography Tips and Tricks Part 2 - Digital Landscape Photography

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Learn Digital Photography - Should You Go To Any Digital Photography Course?

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Learn Digital Photography - How To Be Good In Portrait Photography

Digital Photography Tips and Tricks Part 1 -- Vacation Photography

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