Saturday, July 10, 2010

Looking Photo Shoots

For getting wide exposure in the modeling and fashion world you have to send some professional images and photographs to the modeling agencies. Your photos should be the best one which must show your potential as a model at a glance so you have to send five or six best images to the agency even though you had taken more images in a variety of looks. In today modern world it is very easy to do this successfully. If you are not interested in getting the assistance of professional photographers then you can seek the help of your friend, and a good digital camera by making proper planning. It is enough for some people to have single photo shoot to get the required pictures but the others will need more.

There are some photo shoot basics, which every model should keep in mind. You must plan to attend the shoot by changing at least three to five different wardrobe, make up, hair and shooting locations. At first, shoot in a low resolution format which should be approximately 70 dots per inch as a beginning. You should expose different looks, moods, attitudes and facial expression while shooting different segments. In each sequence you have to take twenty to thirty pictures. The importance should be given in taking a variety of pictures of different shots of the body, head and torso with different looks and attribute. If the surroundings are not well lit then the images will be dark and it will be of no use as dark images amounts to nothing, so be sure of it.

It is not necessary to have excess make up as this is a deal killer. Always make up should be wear in a moderate way in order to achieve the look which is expected. Make up which is worn during day time or while at office will have less intense than the evening make up. You should not wear weird and bizarre fashion accessories. Even though this weird and bizarre are having their place in the wardrobe most of the time it will only create depressed image. Dressing, makeup will decide your sense of fashion and if you are not appropriately dressed up then its sure, it will create a bad judgment about you and it will not be a favorable factor in the path of your career.

Hair style will also be very important aspect and problematic hair will not be acceptable. Problem in hair means that the hair could be of inappropriate length, texture and color or it may be damaged with split ends. If one becoming older the hair naturally becomes lighter and shorter and you should be very cautious in planning hair style changes. Your personality and style should be reflected as a unique one and also as who you are, by your pictures and images.

The Study of Light

The study of light is so important if you want to learn to take great landscape photographs. Without light there can be no photos so it only makes sense that we learn about its characteristics and how different light can affect the look of your landscape photos.

By studying light before you shoot a landscape you can determine what sort of mood your photo is going to capture. If the light is a beautiful golden colour then your photo will have a really warm summery feel to it. Similarly if the light is dark then the photo will probably have a cold and eerie look to it.

So if light is so important to the feel and look of our photographs why do people pay so little attention to it when they are first starting out? Studying the light and what its doing well before taking your photo is probably one of the most important landscape photography tips that you can learn when taking your first photos.

In fact its so important that you should probably head down to a favourite spot that you shoot over a few days and just watch what the light is doing. Where are the shadows falling and at what time? Is the spot that you want to shoot going to be better as a sunrise shot or a sunset shot?

What other factors should you be looking for when looking at the light? How do clouds affect the light in the area that you are trying to shot? Quite often light that makes it through the clouds is really soft and diffused and really enhances colours dramatically.

When taking your photos and when you edit them afterwards you should always be conscious of the fact that a persons eye will always be drawn to the brightest part of the image. Knowing just this one simple tip will help your photography out tenfold. Next time you're out taking your landscape shots think about where you want the brightest part of the image to be and see what a difference it makes.

After being drawn to bright spots your eye will next be drawn to warmer colours. Your eyes will be drawn to oranges and yellows before it will be drawn to blues and greens.

Lastly, remember when taking the photo you're trying to capture a moment, not just a photo. You want people to feel what you felt when you took the photo. You're trying to convey to them what inspired you to take that photo at that particular time. What I do now when I see a scene that I like is turn away, then look back and see what my eye falls on straight away, or think what attracts me about this scene. Once I have worked that out I start to use my knowledge of light to try and enhance the scene and produce a stunning shot.

So next time you're out shooting think of how the light is affecting your subject. It is vitally important, for light is everything in photography. The more you start to think about the light when taking photos the better you photos will be.

Natural Light

Back in the 80's and 90's window lighting was very avant-garde and fashionable. However, then the window was always part of the scene. The subject was facing directly into the window or at a 45 degree angle so the light would softly illuminate the side facing the window. Reflectors were sometimes used to fill in the shadow side. This produced a dramatic look.

Other than window lighting, most portrait photographers used studio lights inside a camera room or on location. Using natural light as the only light source meant they were just starting out, were too poor to afford lights and were not smart enough to figure out lighting. I know this because I was one of them.

Now fast forward to 2010. Natural light has made a comeback, not only for newbies but for pros as well. Natural light is the new look for portraits for newborns, infants, children and seniors. Now with minimal equipment almost anyone with a good camera and lens can take exceptional indoor images. It is definitely a sought after look, so how do you nail it?

First you need windows with a northern or southern exposure. This will provide a very soft, indirect light all day long. Next you will need a room with lots of window (floor to ceiling the best). You will need to raise the blinds or drapes for the entire room. Next, turn off all interior lights as they may cause a color balance shift or unnecessary shadows under the eyes.

Once you have the room set up, you need to place your subject in an ideal location. Best to have them face a window, with your back to the window. (you do not want to block the light). You can use your built in spot meter and meter on their face to obtain an optimal exposure for skin tones. I recommend using a wide aperture (2.8 or wider) for a selective focus look. You will most likely need to balance the wide aperture with a fast shutter speed, but that is okay, especially if you are photographing children. Be prepared to increase you ISO to 800 or even more.

What if you want to have the window as the background? That would be a very tricky lighting situation to have your subject back-lit. The back-lighting would result in an over-exposed background and underexposed skin tones. It is best to avoid this situation unless you want to take several exposures and apply a little HDR in Photoshop, or you want to use flash.

Not all interiors are suitable for natural lighting. If you want your scene to be 100% natural light (no cheating with fill flash) you will need to do test shots prior to the assignment. Also rooms that have windows facing east or west may offer too much direct lighting. You can still use them; however you will need to be more careful where you place your subject.

What you might save on lighting you will need to spend on equipment. Generally full frame DSLR's provide higher ISO settings with the least amount of noise. The Canon 5D Mark ii is an example. Also the lens will need to be a fast lens, one which opens up to 1.2 or 1.8. A very popular lens now is the Canon 50mm 1.2 lens. Also the Canon 85mm 1.8 lens is a good choice. Neither is a zoom lens, so you will need to be move instead of the lens zooming. They are very affordable and best of all, lightweight.

You may want to consider having a tripod with you in case you need to shoot a slow shutter speeds. I also recommend a white balance target so you can custom white balance your shots. Interiors with brightly colored walls can sometimes cause a color cast on the subject so a custom white balance is a must.

The qualities of a naturally lit portrait are many: the subject has a soft, flattering look, the eyes have catch-lights, the background is out of focus from the shallow depth of field and the subject looks relaxed in an un-staged environment. If you photograph infants or children your client will appreciate the at home service. A studio can also offer this service if there are ample windows.

Experiment at home before you go out on assignment. It will be easier than you think to achieve this highly desirable type of lighting. Go for it while the time is right; you never know what tomorrow is going to bring.

Important Tips

You should know how to preserve your photos properly, if you want to retain those precious memorable moments. Having your photos on canvas would preserve them admirably. But how you can preserve them before they are converted to canvas prints? Here are 6 important tips on photo preservation.

Avoid exposure to sunlight

Exposing your photos to constant sunlight will ruin and make them jaded. You can renew their vividness enhancing and printing them on canvas. It is still better to avoid exposure to sunlight though because you may want to keep most of them in their original forms.

Store in a cold but dry place

Store your photos at room temperature (20 to 24 degrees Celsius) and in dry places to avoid formation of moisture. Moisture will destroy the photo instantly.

Do not stack photos with each other

Stacking photos will make them adhere to one another. Once they stick to one another, then pulling them off will also damage the surface of the photos.

Avoid marking the photos
Marking the photos will later cause blotting of the prints due to the absorbance of the ink through the photos. This may be removed when you convert them to canvas prints, but why take chances?

Avoid using glues or pastes with your photos

Using glues or pastes will destroy the photos as their colors will come off with the glue or paste. The content of the paste can also ruin the picture.

Keep your negatives protected

You should keep your negatives, as you may need them when you want to recopy your photos in the future. Negatives are destroyed by exposure to sunlight and the natural elements.

Do not wrap your pictures in plastic bags
The plastic bag will only harbor, fomites, dust, dirt, and retain water, which will destroy the photos eventually. The plastic bag will also cause moisture to form. This condition would destroy everything.

Keep your pictures in specifically designed storage boxes

There are specifically designed containers for pictures. When you decide to convert them to canvas prints, then that would only be the time that you bring them out. You should display your photos through canvas to ascertain that you can preserve them well and maintain their color like the first time you took them.

When you decide to capture those happy memories through your photos and preserve them forever, then you can do that through canvas prints.

Those Momentous

Do you want to capture a momentous day in your life but do not know how? Photo on canvas is the answer to your dilemma. It can create an unbelievable work of art from your collected photos. All you have to do is to submit that photo for processing and you will have frozen time into eternity. But what scenes can you consider momentous? Here are some events you may consider.

Wedding Ceremony

You can immortalize your wedding ceremony pictures on canvas. A wedding will always be one of those momentous moments in your life that should have some photos captured and converted into canvas prints.

Birthday

You can take pictures of the first birthday party of your child or relative and select good shots to convert into incredible gifts.

Graduation

Graduation ceremonies are also momentous events for many. Reminisce the day that you received your well-earned diploma or degree through a photo on canvas, which expert workers did for you.

Grand Vacation

You can take picturesque photos during your grand vacation and bring them home to act as wall decor through this technique.

Christmas Party

Christmas is the moment for family and friends to spend quality time together. There are many happy moments during Christmas, which you can take a picture of. A picture of your family bonding together is a great choice.

Thanksgiving Party

This is also a momentous time with your family. Take your best shots and create wonderful canvas prints of your valuable moments together. You may have that picture of a rebellious family member finally coming home for thanksgiving and spending time with the rest of the family.

Independence Day

You can capture many colorful photos during Independence Day with the grandest celebration of the country. Fireworks displays are good on canvas and will be excellent pictures for your office. The parade is also a great source of wonderful photos, which you can preserve for life.

Halloween

As one of the most celebrated events, Halloween can provide you with unlimited number of photos that you can cherish for a life time. Wearing those costume dresses and helmets would be a blast and having those photos immortalized in photo on canvas is the ultimate price.

Capturing outstanding photos and converting them makes it the best remedy to preserve your photos on quality material. You will not only do this for posterity's sake but also as a desire to enhance pictures and let them last longer. You can easily do this through canvas prints.

Amazing Truth

A photo on canvas has an underlying story that may amaze you if you come to know about it. A photo undergoes several stages before it becomes that beautiful photo on canvas. This state of the art technology is fast gaining popularity as a means to preserve precious photos. Once you have selected your favorite pictures, you can now submit them for processing. These are the amazing truth about how the process occurs.

Selection of Photos

Buying a photo from the gallery is a great option but selecting photos from your own collection and having them converted is best choice. To have your favorite photos converted to incredibly clear and vibrant canvas prints would preserve them in an incredible work of art. You can vary your choice of photos to include in your collection.

Printing of the Selected Photo

The photo or photos you have selected will then undergo laser printing of the image into a durable, photo canvas by an ink jet printer or by a more advance equipment. Most providers would help you select the best photo for the conversion process.

Delamination with Emulsion

Delamination and emulsion occur at this stage. The photo undergoes preservation and revival. You can revive even jaded photographs so that they can look as if they were recently shot. It would be a lasting work of art that can stay for years and years.

Laminated Photo Emulsion

After the previous procedure, the photo is now mounted on a canvas, which usually leaves a blank space measuring 2 inches from all sides. They can also be on one and ¼ stretcher bars depending on how you want the photos appear once the process is done. You can specify what width and length you want the photos resized. However large sizes are good for this purpose.

A lacquered product

The canvas is then lacquered properly to bring out the best in the photo. Your favorite photo will maintain the clarity and vibrancy of the colors for a life time. According to your preferences, you can frame your prints or just have it without one. This will depend upon your personal preference.

This simple but amazing truth about photo on canvas explains how your photographs are preserved and revived to look as new as the first time you took the picture. These canvas prints of your memorable photos can be wrapped and given as a marvelous gifts to people you care about.

Excellent Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography captures the cherished moments of one of the most significant events in a couple's lives. It's no wonder why many brides and wedding planners are highly selective of the professional photographer they choose to snap photos of that special day. It is the job of the wedding photographer to capture and record every meaningful moment of the bride and groom's day and do it in a manner that is artistic, fun and professional.

When you are choosing a wedding photographer, it is important to browse through a portfolio of previous work. Looking at a professional photographer's portfolio will give you sense of his or her individual shooting style. Photographers shoot many occasions other than weddings, but look pay particular attention to the examples of wedding photography. If you're having an outdoor marriage, look at examples of his or her photographs taken in outside settings.

Also keep in mind the type of wedding ceremony and reception you are having. The wedding photographer should be capable of taking pictures in a formal setting as well as an informal, more casual setting. Many brides and grooms prefer to have a more formal wedding with traditional wedding portraits and photographs. On the other hand, modern wedding photography tends to consist of candid, photo-journalistic style photographs. Whichever style of photography you choose, make sure the wedding photographer has enough experience to provide you with the type of pictures you desire.

Nowadays, wedding photographers almost exclusively shoot with digital cameras. Digital wedding photography is far more easy and cost effective than photography with traditional film. Digital photos can be reviewed and printed immediately, as well as retouched and cropped with ease. Photo manipulation software allows professional photographers to enhance color and add visual effects to prints. Find out what type of photo editing capabilities a wedding photographer has and which digital enhancement services are included in his or her cost.

Since the photos are digital, you may be able to purchase a CD or DVD of all of your wedding photographs. This is a great archival tool and will allow you to print out photos yourself whenever you need them. Find out if the wedding photographer can provide you with a digital copy of your photographs.

Finally, make sure you and your spouse-to-be have a friendly relationship with the photographer. You should feel at ease with the photographer because he or she will be giving you direction and moving you into position for portraits. A wedding photographer with years of professional experience should be able to carry on a friendly conversation while taking high quality pictures. Allow the photographer time to become familiar with the wedding location so he or she is able to choose proper lighting and the most scenic shooting locations.

When you find the right wedding photographer, you'll have a physical copy of the moments that made your wedding day memorable and special. An excellent wedding photographer will provide you with a high level of service and professionalism, as well as gorgeous photographs.