Pet Photography Tips

The most difficult subject out there to photograph is most defiantly your pets. They run around, fidget, get distracted, chase after things and will most likely not sit still long enough for you to get a good photograph. Just like babies or young children, we cannot expect them to sit still even when we have asked them repeatedly to do so.

If the photo session is really long, your pets and even small children will become fatigued. Even though taking photos of your pets is really hard, they are still included in some wedding photos and family portraits. You have to remember that he is your furry friend and that he is part of your family so it should be in your photos to be shared for all the years ahead. Whenever you are planning to have a photo shoot with your pet, the big secret to it being successful is being prepared.

Another thing you need to have a successful photo shoot is dog treats. If your dog is cooperating, then give him a treat. The treats can get your pet into the pose you want, make him happy and also eliminate fatigue. Whenever you are taking photos of your pet, you should always use natural light. Using natural light will not wash out the colors, and will not scare your pet like a flash would.

Also, natural light brings out amazing detail in your photos. Remember just like humans, pets have personalities to. If your pet is not comfortable doing things, it will show in the photos. So have your pet do things he loves to do, so the session will be enjoyable for you and your pet. The last tip I have for you is to always be patient. Pets are like babies and small children; they have a lot of energy and most likely will not sit still.

They also probably do not care what they look like in the photo, so don’t get mad if you don’t get a perfect picture every single time. If your pet has dirt in his paws or has fur out of place, remember that it is simply just who they are. And remember; you should never force your pet to do something they don’t want to do. Make your memories with your pet worth lasting forever so make sure you hire the correct photographer, it will defiantly make a difference.

Flower Photography Tips

Since spring time is here, it is time to start thinking about spring time photography. Whether you are at a public park, in your garden, or on the side of the road, there is hundreds of amazing photographs you can take of flowers.

 If you are using a digital camera, you should shoot in RAW so that you will have the maximum amount of picture information stored for you to use later. If you are new to photography, you may not know what RAW means. RAW is another setting on your camera to shoot in like JPEG, and RAW is another format for your pictures.

 

When you want to upload an image with the RAW format, you will need to convert it with a retouching program so it will be readable on your computer. Whenever the RAW file is converted, it will change to a TIFF file format. A TIFF file does not compress the image like a JPEG does, so the photo will have a higher quality.

Also, you should set your camera to the lowest ISO setting to get the maximum image quality. You should use single shot mode, and set the balance to day light balance so it is easier to edit your photos later. You should use a wide aperture to get a sharp image and use a small aperture to maximize the detail in your image.

If you want to do close up flower photography, you should use a Macro Lens. Using a Macro Lens will let you focus up close on the image and you will be able to completely fill up the frame with the subject. If you cannot afford a macro lens and you still want to take close up photos, extension tubes are the best way to go.

An extension tube is three tubes of different depths, which is between the lens and the camera body. When photographing flowers, using a heavy tripod is the best way to get amazing images. You can focus on exactly what you want and will get great composition.

You can take your flower photography to the next level by buying a reflector. If you position the reflector close to the plant, you can angle it so it directed the light into the shadow areas to reveal the detail. When taking photographs of flowers, wind can be your worst enemy.

Even if there is a gentle breeze, it can cause blurry photos and those are not useful to anyone. If you really want to bring your flower photos to life, just add a few drops of water. When you add a couple drops of water to the flower it will completely recreate the look of your photo.

The Basics of Photography

Photography is a Greek Word that means light, and drawing. In 1839, photography had become known to the world by Sir John Herschel in London. Photography is now very popular, and is something that everyone has seen. Almost every family has photos in their house, and many more take them every day to preserve memories for all of the years to come.  

Photography is the science and art of creating photos by recording light and electromagnetic radiation either chemically or electronically. Most people never knew this because they just take their photos to the lab and get them printed. Also, there was the Polaroid camera that instantly developed the photos whenever the paper sits after being exposed to light.  A lot of people really liked this because they could see their photo almost instantly after they took it.

The quality of cameras has improved over the years, and other types of film and cameras were created. Photography is more than just for family’s memories; it is now a major thing in art. Some different types of photography are photo journalism, portrait, documentary, artistic, event, nature, family, and underwater.

For some people photography is a career, but for others it is a pastime or a hobby. Digital photography has become very popular because you can just load the photo onto your computer and view it instantly, and then you don’t have to deal with film and developing. Digital photography can be saved on CD’s, shared through email and on the web, and most cameras have a screen where you can view the photo right on the camera.

New technology is being released on each new digital camera because they are advancing in technology every day. You can get a low quality camera at a retail store now for about $15, but it most likely does not have very good quality and no flash. There are other cameras out there that can cost you around $30 to $1500. Most normal people will get a high-teach digital camera for around $200.

This amount of money may seem like a lot, but it is way cheaper than the cost of film and developing. You can defiantly save a lot of money by using digital, and can make as many copies of the photo as you need. Since the early days of photography it has come a long way, and it will be here for millions of years to come.

Easter Photography

Easter is the first holiday of spring time, and it is very enjoyable for children. This time of the year is when spring is coming, and this gives you a lot of chances to take amazing photographs. The most common thing to look for when taking Easter photographs is patterns. You can take amazing photos with Easter Bunnies or eggs, if you put the patterns and colors together.

Also, you should adjust the settings on your camera, so you can get the best color in your photos. If you want a more saturated color, you should over-expose the photos by 1 to 1 ½ stops. Easter is a holiday that children decorate Easter Eggs, so be sure you capture the memorable moments as the dye is being added to the eggs.

You should shoot with a long lens, select a low ISO, select a wide aperture, and set the mode dial to AV mode. An external flash should be used to fill in any of the dark spots, and let the camera automatically pick the shutter speed. Also, don’t forget to take photos during and before the Easter egg hunt begins. Another fun thing to take photos of is your child’s expressions while they are decorating Easter Eggs.

The best lens to use is an 80 – 200mm, and use the meter and spot metering mode on your child’s face. Sometime’s expressions can ruin a photo, so make sure you take many photos to be safe. If your child doesn’t like having their picture, be sure to have the aperture at f/4 or f/5.6 for the correct depth of field. As a photographer, you need to get the subjects eyes looking at the correct part of the camera. If you want a shallow depth of field, a telephoto lens will need to be used.

Always make sure your subject has on very nice clothes because it will increase the design of your photos. If you don’t have your camera set on full automatic, make sure to keep the aperture at f/11 or f/16. The sun gains strength is the spring time, and this will keep the clothing looking sharp, and make the colors pop. After the Easter egg hunt, be sure to take group photos.

Easter is a very fun holiday and you will want to capture those moments in your photographs. Remember keep the f-stop low, the shutter fast, and the ISO low for the best results. And remember, not every day you can take photos of your entire family in really nice clothes, so this is your chance to capture beautiful Easter photos in the springtime sun.  

 

 

 

 

 

How to Create the Best Greeting Card with Your Own Photos

Whenever you want to show someone that you care about them, giving them a card is the perfect way to go. The numbers of cards in the recent years have doubled because of all the new occasions that cards are being given for. Cards used to only be sent out on birthdays and holidays, but now are being given when you move into a new house or whenever you get sick.

Even though cards are given for different reasons, they all send out the same message. When you send a card it means that you are care about them, so picking the right card is very important. Whenever you’re looking for a card at the store, it is pretty much impossible to find one that will really make an impact. Each card you look at will seem uninspired and dull, which will leave you to pick the same old and boring card.

Whenever you send the old and boring card, it won’t seem very special to the person getting it. With all of the new technology out, greeting cards have gone to the next level. If you are creative, then homemade card making is for you. Homemade greeting cards are the most touching because they require the time and effort to be made. Some people think that they don’t have the skills to make a professional looking greeting card that is inspiring to look at and unique.

With digital technology, it is now possible to take your own photos and create your own unique greeting cards. If you’re going to send your sweetheart a Valentine’s Day card, then you could use a photo of your favorite romantic spots. If you want to create a birthday card, you could use a photo of the birthday girl or boy. When you have found the right photo for you greeting card, making it is very simple. Just upload the photo to any greeting card software, and the software will allow you to create the perfect card.

Homemade card making can benefit your health because it is a stress reliever and in some cases it is used for therapy. Also, homemade card making will benefit your wallet. In a year a family purchases about 30 greeting cards per year, which is around $60-$120. Making handmade cards doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all. Making cards can help you express your feelings and make you happy. If you’re like me and like showing your creativity, then making your own greeting cards is the best way to show it.

How to Make the Best Photo Book

As the years go by, many families have at least one traditional photo album in their home. Numerous people have tons of photos stored on their computer, and most likely will not be touched. Photo books were created to share your favorite memories, and are the best way to get the most out of your photos for all the years to come. Photo books are not just for crafty people, they can be made by anyone because they are very simple. They are the best way to share your important occasions or days that you don’t want to ever forget.

There is online photo book services that can create the book for you that have premade templates for you to use, or you can create your own. One thing to look for when deciding on an online book services is the features that they offer. You should see if they allow you to upload photos with high resolutions, and if they organize your photos for you. Also, you should look at the book options. There should be a variety of sizing options, which will give you more of an opportunity to create a photo book that looks professional.

Look at their examples of photo books, and see how good their quality is. The photos should be sharp and clear, and if here is any printing defects or pages that are missing, make sure they fix it at no charge. Another thing to look at is how easy there services is to use because making photo books are really easy, and shouldn’t be difficult. The last thing to find out is if they have friendly help and support service either by phone or email. If they don’t, then you should look into another online photo book service. Photo books are much lighter than traditional photo albums, and they don’t take up as much space. These books are also easily copied, so you can give them as gifts for your whole family.

If you want to make your own photo book, here are some tips to help you out. Limit the number of photos you use, so your page doesn’t get over crowded. If you are making a photo book with twenty pages, you should have about one to five photos on each page. So overall, around eighty to one hundred photos would be a good number for this size of book. You should edit your photos using any software you like, and then save all photos in a special folder to make it easier to upload. To completely design the book, you can use your own design software, and design it any way you like. This may take more effort than using an online book service, but is more rewarding in the end.

Winter Photography

When you are working out in the cold weather, problems can occur for the photographers and their camera eqipment. Most photographers think that 32 degrees is freezing because they are used to more warmer climates. But many people don’t know that most cameras that are built today can handle freezing temperatures, but when the temperatures drop below freezing, you should start worrying about your equipment.

Many manufacturers specify to not use their cameras under 0 degrees, but most cameras will work well in even lower temperatures. Cameras are not tested at temperatures below 0 because problems can occur, but most of these problems can be stopped . There is really not a problem with electronic circuitry because electronics often work better at lower temperatures. The problems that arise in cold weather are related to battery issues and problems with the LCD displays. Most cameras are fine to at least 20 degrees below zero, but what temperatures cause problems all depends on the design of the equipment.

If you have older cameras, you need to winterize them before you use it at extremely low temperatures. You will have to take the camera apart and remove the heavy lubricants on their mechanical parts. It should be replaced with a low lubricant or no lubricant at all. When you want to use your camera at normal temperatures again, you need to replace the lubricant. This is not very convenient and is not necessary on cameras that are made today. The best things to use at low temperatures is memory cards, not compact flash micro drives because they are mechanical devices and are more likely to have problems.

There are a few problems you should know about before using film at low temperatures. At very low temperatures, film can become brittle and can snap very easily. Also, when there is very low humidity of cold air, it allows static electricity to build up and this can cause a problem during rewind. Sometimes static discharge will leave marks on the film, which will ruin your photos.

 Another good thing to know is batteries lose a lot of their power at low temperatures. All batteries will lose power at low temperatures, but some are better than others. The best batteries to use in cold temperatures are non-rechargeable Li Cell batteries, NiCd, NiMH and Li-ion batteries. There are some cameras out there that use an external battery pack that connects to the camera with a cord, so you can keep the battery warm under your jacket.

Whenever you come inside into the warm after you are shooting in cold temperatures, there are more problems that can occur. The cold air outside is really dry, but the warm air inside contains moisture. The problem with the moisture is not on the outside parts of the camera, but more of a concern on the internal parts of the camera. The moisture will eventually evaporate, but it will take a long time. This problem can be avoided if you seal the camera gear in an airtight plastic bag before you come inside. There may be some condensation on the outside of the bag, but the camera and the lens will slowly warm up and will stay dry.