Photography Blog
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Photography can be a hobby, an art form, or even a career, as well as of course a way of capturing the memories, people and events that matter for posterity. While everybody now has some form of camera on their mobile phone, their tablet, their computer or other multi purpose gadget, those who are serious about photography usually buy a device that is only intended to be used to take pictures. While the cameras on the average smartphone these days are better in terms of megapixels than a lot of digital cameras that were on the market a few years ago, these devices are not designed purely with photographers in mind, so there are lots of features and controls the keen photographer can only get from a true camera. Also, with a normal camera you can fit all the lenses, filters and other features you need, rather than trying to replicate their effects with post production photo editing.
Cameras and Theft
Whether you use your cameras and camera accessories for work or just for fun, chances are you have invested quite a lot of money in them. Good camera gear, even a simple small camera to carry around with you on holiday, is not cheap, and professional quality gear can cost thousands.
It is unlikely you always keep your cameras in one place either – even if you work out of a studio or mainly use your camera at home, there will be occasions when you will want to take camera gear out with you – whether to photograph some scenery, to film or capture an event like a wedding, or just in case you see something cool you'd like to get a better quality photo of than you could with your phone.
For these reasons, cameras are a high risk item when it comes to personal theft. Personal theft basically refers to crimes like mugging and pick pocketing, which happen when you are out and about and tend to relieve you of small personal items like your wallet, your phone, your computer and, of course, your camera. They are also items that are commonly taken in a burglary situation, because they are high value but easy to carry.
Other Things That Can Go Wrong
As well as being appealing targets for those less scrupulous members of society who like to steal and sell on valuable items, cameras are also quite fragile. With glass lenses and lots of moving parts, as well as (these days) touch screens and all kinds of other electronic tech, there is a lot on the average camera that can break, get scratched or go wrong. If you drop your camera, you may find that it is basically unusable afterwards, and equally, if it gets too wet, this can permanently break it. While some people invest in 'tough' cameras designed for use in extreme conditions, the average camera simply can't withstand a lot of shock or water damage.
If you rely on your camera for work or are simply very fond of it and wouldn't like to be in a position where you couldn't use it, it is therefore really wise to buy an insurance policy to protect it, and any expensive or hard to replace accessories you have for it.
How to Insure a Camera
You may believe that your camera and equipment are adequately covered by your home insurance. However, in many cases home insurance can be found lacking when it comes to portable gadgets. Home contents insurance policies are an old form of insurance based on risk models designed at a time when people took very few of their valuables out of the home (perhaps just some jewellery), and most of the expensive things they owned stayed in the house. They were created to help people insure the things they owned against floods, fires and burglaries, rather than common petty theft, which is a lot more common. These days, of course, we carry a lot of our most expensive items around with us, and they are therefore at greater risk of being stolen or broken. Insurers therefore have to limit the scenarios in which they will pay out for items like these, and how much they will pay, otherwise the risk for them would increase and they would have to put up the price of policies across the board.
For this reason, you are going to get far more peace of mind (which is of course what insurance is all about) if you buy a policy specifically for your camera equipment. These are surprisingly easy to find, with specialist insurers offering policies like ProtectYourBubble.com camera insurance that are made especially for photographers like you.
About the Author
Laura Ginn is a hobby photographer and even though her equipment is not top of the range, she makes sure it is insured against theft and accidental damage. This leaves her free to worry about more important things.
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As a mom, you want to capture every possible moment in your child’s life, which is why you always seem to be armed with a camera and ready to shoot at any minute. Pictures help you to capture memories, and they’re a great way to hold onto those precious moments in your child’s life as they grow.
If you want to take great pictures of your child, it’s important that you learn some basics about photography. Too many moms out there make the same mistakes when it comes to taking pictures. Their child is always posed the same way, the pictures are always blurry, or there’s always some random item in the background taking away from the cuteness of your child.
Taking pictures of babies is no different than taking pictures of older kids, and it still requires some practice to get them just right. If you want to take the best possible pictures of your baby, you need to use the following five tips.
1. Get down to their level.
Everyone has a tendency of standing far away and taking photos, but this isn’t the best way to take photographs of your baby. It’s very important that you get down low and shoot pictures that are close to your child. These close-ups are more personal and capture more detail than any picture taken from far away. Get up close and personal with your child to get some of the best possible shots.
2. Shoot from different angles.
Taking pictures of your baby from the same angle is going to get old. Get creative and take photos from different angles. Walk or crawl around your baby and take different pictures. Take some looking down on them, take some from behind, take some that are sideways, and even take some from the ground looking up. You’ll be amazed at how well your pictures will turn out if you stop taking photos from the same angle and start getting creative. Plus, you’ll be able to capture different moments from these angles, making them so much better.
3. Keep it simple.
The focus of these pictures is on your baby, so keep the details simple. Stick with a one-color background, such as black or white, to keep the simplicity of the photo intact. Try to avoid multiple colors or designs that are overwhelming, as these will take away from your child and become the unintended focus of the shot.
Another great option you have to keep pictures simple is to remove the color after the shot by turning the photo into black and white. There’s something about black and white photos that are timeless and simple, and you’ll be able to enjoy these photos for many years.
4. Keep shooting.
With today’s fancy DSLR cameras, you can shoot multiple photos in a short amount of time. Since babies are fidgety and don’t listen to your commands, you need to take as many pictures of your child as possible in order to get the best possible shot. Use your fancy camera to shoot, shoot, shoot pictures of your baby. You can always go through the pictures you took at a later time and determine which ones turned out and which ones did not. This way, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it comes time to printing the pictures or choosing the right one to send as an announcement.
5. Know the end result.
Different shots are better for different purposes, so it’s important to have an idea of what the pictures are going to be used for. For example, if you are taking pictures to place in a baby announcement, you’ll want to make sure to use a simple background and leave some extra space on the side for content and/or cropping. If you’re taking pictures that will be blown up to a canvas that sits over your mantel, you’ll want to use an intimate shot of your baby. Knowing the reason for your photo shoot will help you capture the right picture for your needs and give you plenty of different options to choose from.
Like anything as a mom, you’re going to get better over time. The more you practice taking pictures of your baby, the better you’ll become. Once you have a handle on different angles and shots, you’ll be able to start tackling other areas of photography, such as using different lighting or different filters to create unique and captivating photos.
About the Author
David Landers is a freelance writer and photographer for Rev.com. David donates his time to take photos of school sporting events and social functions.
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Your wedding photographs are one of the most important records of your wedding day. The right photographer can in fact ensure that your photographs look great, and help refresh your memory of that happy day years from today. However, a bad or mediocre photographer will not just ruin your photographs he or she will ensure that you’ll not show because you’re embarrassed with the results. So, it pays to invest some time and effort when it comes to hiring a true professional for the job.
Hiring a professional wedding photographer goes well beyond just hiring the most expensive one around. Expensive photographers are not necessarily the best, many photographers just price their services and base themselves in expensive areas of the city to come across as being “high class”. Below we look at some of the most common mistakes people make when hiring a photographer for their wedding.
Mistake no. 1: Not checking out the photographer’s portfolio
This is one of the most common mistakes made by the wedding couple. They rarely ask the wedding photographer to show recent photographs they have taken. Many times if they are searching online they’ll just view the online portfolio of the photographer and book their services directly from the website. The problem with this approach is that despite your friends and family members recommending a particular service you still never know what to expect. Many large services often have more than one professional photographer working for them so it’s important to ask who will be covering your wedding and to show his or her particular portfolio.
Mistake no. 2: No comparison shopping
Many couples just base their decision to hire a particular photographer on what their friends and family recommend. Even though the couple may take the time out to look at the photographer’s portfolio but they will not visit other competing photographers and get a competing quote. The end result is that they could have gotten a much better photographer and for a few dollars less had they done some comparison shopping. Make it a point to visit half a dozen professionals in your area prior to making your decision. The best price to quality service should get your business.
Mistake no. 3: Hiring a photographer that doubles as a wedding videographer
Most professional wedding photographers only specialize in still photography but they will never double as a videographer. There are some services that offer both videography and still photography services but the problem with them is that their quality on either of those services leaves a lot to be desired. If you are looking to save money and quality is not a big concern only then should you hire a service like this. Otherwise it is best to hire a videographer who specializes in wedding videography and the same goes for a photographer.
Mistake no. 4: Not asking the photographer probing questions
Many couples never ask a photographer important questions pertaining to the service. There are wedding photographers who are not flexible with the number of hours they work, the breaks they take and even if there is travel involved which you currently do not know of. So, you need to ask the photographer the following questions:
- What will you charge if you have to work two or three extra hours because of a delay?
- What will you charge to travel to another city?
- What will it cost me if I cancel?
- What happens if you become sick on my wedding day? Who will replace you?
- How many years have you been a photographer for?
- Do you only do weddings?
All the questions above will give you a fairly good idea as to what you can expect from the service. It is best to draft a questionnaire and take it along just so that you do not miss out on something important.
Mistake no. 5: Hiring a photographer that uses the newest camera
Many wedding photographers will advertise that they are using the latest $3000 camera that offers 24mp etc. However, even though the latest camera does mean that the photographers will be a touch better it does not make up for the experience of a photographer. Some professionals can end up getting excellent results from a four year old camera. So, the price of the camera has nothing to do with the results you get.
About the Author
Mark is one of the leading experts on wedding photography in Australia. He has over two decades of experience as a wedding photographer and still proudly uses his film camera. Today, he runs one of the most reputed photography services based in Sydney.
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Photos capture life concurrently, get shared immediately and have the capacity to go viral without much effort – if the originality is there. Many different photos have gone viral, mainly taken by freelancer photographers that need extra loot, or are spotting various crimes in action. Without these rogue photo snappers, many pictures you’re witnessing online today wouldn’t exist.
If you’re wondering where, why and how these photos are taken, you’ll waste your time racking your brainpan. Here, instead, are 4 great reasons freelance photos are rather high on media moguls’ and general business wish lists.
To Spot New Fashion
We all know one of those breathtaking mademoiselle types who wear homemade jewelry, wear the coolest make-up combinations and hottest shoes – all at once – and look knock-out gorgeous regardless where they bought their $3.00 halter tops. You can probably also think of someone who does the same thing all wrong and achieves serious fashion victim status on a regular basis! Fashion shopping is never as much fun for women fashionistas without sharing the amazing finds with their best girlfriends – once pictures are taken, they’ll go viral or get sold to rogue fashion designers looking for some method to mimic ‘mainstream’.
For Viral Content
In the past decade, photo sharing on the Internet has become a staple feature that denizens of savvy photographers love to take advantage of. Gone are the days where you have to personally hand or deliver printed photographs to your friends, families, or colleagues. Now, with just few clicks, you are already sharing your photos not only too few people but to the whole World Wide Web. With freelance photography, one can literally snap interesting scenes and share them real-time, allowing whatever cause their promoting to explode in mass hysteria.
To Deter Fraudulence
Every time there is a major economic crisis, the survival instinct of many of us comes into play and statistics about different kinds of irregularities go through the roof. Several recent articles signal the increase in insurance frauds, card fraud rise and a wide range of illegal activities simply because families are seeking reprieve from our current economic holocaust, of sorts.
Rookie photographers are making huge media splashes, especially on widespread television shows, because they’re snapping photos which show these criminals showcasing their blatant disregard for employment, retail and vehicular laws.
For Improving Property Sales
New waves of technology have emerged which aim to make cameras, communication and data storage even simpler than your old cameras. Many businesses are already taking advantage of the benefits that mobile web devices, cloud storage and fibre-optic internet connections can bring. Yet, others, including many in the property industry, are more hesitant to adopt these solutions. Realtors, however, are all over it.
Since properties need photos to sell themselves online, it’s become nearly mandatory for freelance photos to be taken when realtors have little time for outside picture taking.
Conclusion
Photos today are relevant, regardless where they’re derived from. Magazines, newspapers, online media and businesses rely upon the high quality photographic depictions which freelancers are able to capture on film, sometimes paying inexorably just to have the distinction of being the only entity holding unique photography. Literally anyone with high-resolution camera phones, some free time and alertness can capture the next big thing on Pinterest, Facebook or Mad TV. And, even if you're not immediately discovered, your snapshot could earn you a quick prize.
About the Author
Roger Kowalewski is a freelance writer and photography buff from Indiana.
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One of the best ways to remembering your special day is to have a stunning photo album, full of perfect shots. Needless to say, a lot of this comes down to choosing the right photographer, which is why we’ve put together this list of tips on getting this key decision right:
Make it an immediate priority
The best professionals in almost any trade tend to have schedules booked up months in advance. Therefore, anyone seeking the genuine masters of their craft needs to start their research as early as possible, especially if their wedding day isn't too far away, or if it's in what is deemed the 'peak season' for photographers: Saturdays during the spring! The earlier you start searching for your photographer, the more likely you are to get the one you really want.
Consider searching everywhere
There are a lot of different options to take in terms of where to look. The first (and often most effective) method is to simply ask around and look for word-of-mouth recommendations. Whether they’re friends, family or work colleagues, anyone who's already been married will usually be happy to offer feedback. If that option is exhausted, you can then move on to other areas: wedding fairs are often useful, and there's always the option of hunting around the web: most modern photographers will have a website that displays some of their best work, as well as contact details that will allow you to get in touch with them.
Always look at the portfolio
In the end, results matter. It's all very well finding a photographer that you really get on with, but if they can't produce great shots then they're not going to be the best choice; long after you’ve stopped talking to them, you’ll still have to look at the album. Fortunately, it's easy to judge a photographer, as their portfolio is all you need. Ask any photographer you're considering to provide sample shots from a range of different weddings, preferably ones from different situations (i.e. some outdoors, some indoors, some sunny, some rainy) to make sure that they're capable of adapting to things like a lack of light or the weather.
Gauge their style
Professional photography is a genuine craft, and as with all other styles of craft (music, drawing, baking, etc) the photographer is likely to have their own unique style. It's therefore important to ensure that their style suits the sort of photographs you'd like to have. If the photographer has a tendency to create romantic, intimate photos then that would be ideal for those that want their album to be in that vein. However, those that want shots of everyone laughing and joking might think otherwise. When glancing through a portfolio, you'll usually be able to tell what style the photographer will adopt, and whether or not it'll mix well with the end result you’re after.
Remember to trust them
This is more a point for on the day, rather than when choosing your photographer, but it's still worth remembering: trust your photographer. When you make that final choice, the chances are that you absolutely love the work that they've produced previously, so it's important to trust them to do the same for you.
(Of course, it is still important to let them know if there's anything in particular that you think is extremely important. If you desperately want a shot of the first clinch in the first dance, then it's important to let them know, as is the case if there are particular people you'd like shots of. Trust your photographer, but do keep them informed!)
In Conclusion
In the end, a lot of these tips come down to one thing: preparation. All professional booking for a wedding should be researched and made well in advance, leaving a little bit of wiggle room available in case of any emergencies!
About the Author
Simon Carr is the founder of his very own wedding photography business based in Essex. He works closely with couples to bring them modern, original images that perfectly capture their wedding day.