Archive for November, 2010

Organize and Display Photographs

Photographs can be organized, displayed, and stored in many ways.  Few homes have room for every picture or photograph to be displayed at one time.  We really don’t even want every photo to be seen!

Alternative to hanging each photo must be explored.  Some of course will be framed and hung, scrapbooks are a great way to use and store photos.  File boxes made especially for photos are an excellent option.  Digital photos may be displayed in a digital frame, which means that many photos can occupy a small area of wall space at one time.  Photo storage options are available on your computer.

DVD’s may be made of favorite photos and watched from either the computer or the TV.  Another great option is online storage of photos.  Online storage may be either free or paid for.  Read carefully the terms of use for any photo storage option you chose.  If the photos are very important to you, the sites with fees and unlimited storage space as well as unlimited time, while the fee is paid are a great option.  One thing to consider, if you choose a paid storage option, include the information: log in, passwords, and fees due as well as expiration dates in the final documents for your family, so that the photos do not get lost, because your loved ones were unaware of an ongoing fee.

If home storage and organization is your choice the following tips are for you:

  • Use only acid-free labels and envelopes to store negatives
  • Use only acid-free labels, and pens to write on the back of your photos.
  • Use archival quality plastic page protectors
  • Use only archival photo corners, tapes, and strips to attach you photos
  • Use only acid-free papers in your albums
  • Include important data about your photos: who, when, where, events surrounding the photos, other people who may have been present but not in the photo itself.  This memorabilia will be vitally important to future generations looking at your photos.
  • There is a tremendous variety of styles, shapes, and sizes of photo albums available.  Always choose archival quality

 

One other option for the stacks of photos you have lying around the house is to scan them yourself and digitize them for storage to your computer.  This task my be outsourced for a fee, and you will receive your photos nicely preserved on a CD or DVD.

There is no one, right way to store your photos.  The important thing is that they be organized and preserved for your own enjoyment and the enjoyment of future generation.  Experiment with different organizational methods.  Use what is right for you.

 

Article Source: EzineArticles.com – Patricia_M_Hines

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Admin on November 9th 2010 in Displaying Photographs

How to Become a Successful Wedding Photographer

Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for advise on how to become successful in the wedding field. My first question is always what their motivation is to become a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like to make some money on the side etc.


While it is true that wedding photography can be a very profitable business achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a matter of getting a camera and start shooting. Wedding photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the wedding couple.

Here I have summarized some points that I believe will guide beginner wedding photographers:

1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You will be in charge of capturing people’s most precious life moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn photography.

2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras.

3. Master the digital workflow, including color management, digital image processing, file management and image correction and enhancement.

4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don’t come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of making money. It is true that there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However according to the Professional Photographers of America the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.

5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek with all your heart to capture unique photographs.

6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don’t try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique photographers, with a unique vision.

7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is a great way to be remembered.

8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the camera become an extension of you.

9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with other wedding photographers.

10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions. It will give you the opportunity to have your work evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work quality.

11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of professional photography organizations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and techniques.

12. Don’t neglect the business aspect of wedding photography. Learn to manage your business effectively. Take business courses and seminars.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com – Juan_Carlos_Torres

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Admin on November 9th 2010 in Wedding Photographer

The Right Wedding Photography

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and that makes the wedding photography just as important. Your pictures are one of the ways you will remember your special day. Picking out the right photographer can be a little tricky and nerve-wracking. What should you be looking for?

Price

Of course you are going to want wedding photography to fit into your budget. Some prices can be just outrageous. Make sure you look around and see what you are getting for your money. You might have to pay a little more, but are getting a better deal in pictures in some places. Some photographers will also allow you pay a little bit at a time until the wedding so it’s not such a huge lump sum. Also see if they are charging by the hour or for the day. Will they charge extra for a different setting (taking bridal pictures by the lake after the wedding ceremony)? Is there additional prices for a certain number of pictures? Do they charge extra for giving you the negatives or a disk of all the pictures taken? How many pictures are they printing out for you for which price? Do they charge you for the number of poses you want or they number of group pictures you might need to have taken. Make sure you look at all the packages in wedding photography and are getting what you want for the price they are asking. If they don’t have something listed in their packages; take the time to ask them about doing it and what the charge would be for it.

Quality

You are going to want to see samples of the work they have already done for other weddings. This will give you an idea as to the style of their work and how flexible they are with it. If you are planning a contemporary wedding you are going to want someone that can think outside the traditional wedding poses and have fun add in some other pictures as well. The same is true in reverse, but the post important is the quality of the pictures. Are they clear and sharp? Are they printed on good quality paper? Does it look like they took the time to get the shot or just clicked off a bunch of pictures? Sometimes in wedding photography they will charge you additional for a certain number of pictures.

Are they printing out the pictures that you want and allowing you to pick them out beforehand? What are they saving the pictures on? Are you getting high resolution pictures on a disk that you can possibly make additional copies of? Is the camera setting off and many of the pictures you wanted turned out dark?

Personality

When considering wedding photography you should take into consideration of the photographer. The do not have to be the nicest person, but you should be able to converse with them without causing issues. There is nothing worse than a grumpy photographer bemoaning every picture they have to take at your wedding. It’s enough to make any bride or groom mad just dealing with them.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com – Curt_Lanzer

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Admin on November 9th 2010 in Wedding Photography