Graduation Portraits - San Antonio Senior Portraits - 2009 Senior Photography

The pursuit of a good San Antonio photographer

2009-03-28T14:59:00.002-05:00

The pursuit of a good San Antonio photography by Richard's Photography

San Antonio Photography, Choosing the right photographer for your portrait needs:

Is it all ready that time of year? Your high school senior year is just flying by like crazy. You never thought the day would come but it's here and it is time to start searching for the special photographer for your senior portraits that will show off the real you. You should trust a professional photographer that has affiliations with professional photography organizations such as PPA or Professional Photographers of America.

Finding a senior portrait photographer in San Antonio can be a grueling task considering you have to weed out the amateurs from the professional. Some of the "weekend warrior" photographers don't have a clue on how to pose or about proper lighting techniques. Texas has many good photographers but you have to scope out many photography websites mostly in the San Antonio area.

You'll know good work when you see it and the expressions that show on the faces of previous clients should tell you the whole story. That person had a great time with that photographer and that's where I want to go! I love those outdoor garden portraits! I love those colors in the flowers! That's what you want to see. The price that the photographer charges should be insignificant if they can produce the artistic quality of portrait you're looking for. You have to remember you're paying for that photographer's creative license, years of experience and personality. You don't want a boring, robotic photographer that can't bring out your true expressions.

We, at Richard's Photography in San Antonio feel we live up to your portraits needs. Give Richard or Patty a call today for a phone consultation and tell them what your needs are. What your dream portrait is for your child's high school memories, for your lifetime memories. 210-349-2922 or visit Richard's Photography or Senior Portrait Gallery for great online senior portrait samples.

Portrait Photography: Tips and Methods

2008-01-07T13:29:00.000-06:00

Portrait Photography: Tips and Methods By Richard Schneider
Portrait is defined as, “A likeness of a person, especially one showing the face, that is created by a painter or photographer, for example.” In the area of portrait photography there are some guidelines that you should consider when you go to take photos of people.
The different types of portraits are: close-ups, facial shots, upper body shots or environmental portraits. Environmental portraits are where you focus on the subject and on their surroundings that provide more character to the subject.

When people have a camera in their face it usually makes them nervous and they will try to put on a face that does not portray who they really are. The real skill to portrait photography is trying to capture photos when the subjects are comfortable and not worried about a camera.
Many professional photographers try to capture their subject’s true essence by using tricks. One example of this is counting to three so the subject prepares and then while they are relaxing after taking a planned photo the photographer will snap a few more unplanned photos. In most cases the subject won’t even know that more than one photo was taken but it’s usually the photos that the subject wasn’t expecting that capture their true essence.
Another more common strategy professionals use is to tell funny jokes that make their subjects genuinely laugh or smile. I’m sure that you have probably experienced something like this yourself.

CLOSE-UP PORTRAITS
These usually have the subject’s shoulders and head or less. They are framed around the face. These are the most common and best at capturing expressions and glamour shots. For these it is very important to have the light coming from a good angle. To accent wrinkles or small details you should have the light coming from the side or from the top. To create flattering pictures you should choose a cloudy day or try to create diffused light so there are hardly any shadows. Also make sure the subject is brighter than the background to reduce distraction.

For close-up portraits you should use a wide aperture (low f/stop) to make the background out of focus and therefore less of a distraction. Professionals commonly use a fixed telephoto lens that’s 90 mm or higher for portraits in order to de-emphasize the subject’s nose or any other unflattering feature. It works because at that distance the nose or any other feature does not seem closer to the camera than the rest of the face.

UPPER BODY OR MIDRANGE PORTRAITS
These are easier to capture because the subject is probably more relaxed because it’s less personal. These include a little more of the background than close-ups. These are commonly used for both single subjects and multiple subjects. This is the kind of portrait used to mark occasions such as graduation, yearbook, birthdays and other parties. The ideal lens would be about a 90 mm fixed telephoto or more wide angle depending on how many subjects there are.
ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS

These are the portraits that let you into the life of a subject. They might include the whole subject in a scenario or the subject participating in some hobby that they enjoy. These are best for telling a story to the viewer about the subject. They are almost always used by photojournalists to look into the lives of interesting people. They also make great Black and White pictures.

Use this information to develop what kind of portrait style you would like to take, and then practice it before dealing with any serious clients.

Richard Schneider is a digital photography enthusiast and founder of http://www.picturecorrect.com/ which offers tips and news about digital photography, digital camera reviews, photoshop tutorials and computer wallpaper.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Schneider

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-11-29T23:03:00.001-06:00

Photographing Babies - Getting Started

2007-10-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

Photographing Babies - Getting Started By Bobby Jonnes

This article will focus on photographing babies. The baby portraiture session gives you a good opportunity to get to know the family and sow the seeds of a long-term relationship with potential for repeat business.

Baby portraiture, is unlike other forms of portraiture, yes it is still about capturing light and complementary images, however you don’t have the same opportunity to communicate what you are looking for from the subject! This requires a different approach to posing as well as lighting your subject.

There are some basic rules to follow to achieve your goal. Some methods and techniques work best with newborn babies, while others are most used for older babies (by older my definition is up to approximately 2 to 3 years old). No technique is restricted to a specific gender or age group, however.

It is up to you as photographer to determine the wants and needs of the parents, then adjust your lighting and posing to meet those wants and needs. You should also keep in mind that when photographing babies all of your best laid plans can be turned on their head, and you can end up with no saleable shots.

This is one of the reasons that some photographers refuse to photograph babies. I have found that it is best to have some standard lighting setups and ‘poses’ to use as a starting point. I use the word poses loosely, because it’s more a case of you positioning the baby in a pre-determined way to leverage your chance of a good shot. These can be varied to better suit the individual subject.

Using more than one setup is something you should do to keep all of your baby portraits from looking the same. You will get many and varied bookings as a long-term result of customers being satisfied with the portrait of their beloved baby. I have had many customers who have started their relationship with me through having their baby photographed. This has led to birthdays, anniversaries, graduation and even wedding shoots for the same family, so never underestimate the earnings potential of that first baby portrait session.

Do I Need a Studio?
Before I had my studio I started doing baby portraiture in the homes of my customers. You can do this too. Some of the best shots I have taken of babies were taken in customer’s homes, with minimal equipment.

For example a hand held single brolly can give excellent results when photographing babies.
There is obviously a limit to the amount of equipment that you can easily transport around, assemble and disassemble, without the exercise becoming counterproductive. If you have the luxury of a large enough spare room at home you can elaborate on the portable setup.

One advantage that I find in the studio is the immediate availability of a large number of props. This coupled with the consistency of semi permanent lighting set-ups and backgrounds will give you the added confidence of predictability of results, compared with the range of different environments and potential enforced variations in lighting encountered when visiting the customer’s home.

However, having mentioned the advantages of having a permanent studio, I am not suggesting that being portable does not have its own advantages. Parents often feel more comfortable in the surroundings of their own home; this is often reflected in the mood of the baby, relaxed parents give more chance of relaxed baby! Also, if the baby is wearing something which you know will look dreadful it is easier for the parents to change them quickly into something else.
I hope you have found this article helpful.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have written a comprehensive guide on baby photography.

Find our more from here Photographing Babies
Bobby is a photographer and author. He has been commissioned to shoot thousands of events, including weddings and portraits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bobby_Jonnes

Photography - Where To Place The Subject In The Photo?

2007-06-09T22:36:00.000-05:00

Photography - Where To Place The Subject In The Photo? By John Peace

Where to place your subject in the photo? Do you place it at the center? This is usually what we will tend to do. When we are confronted with an awesome view, it is our naturally instinct to point our camera right at the face of our subject and capture it. We care less about the overall composition of the photo. We just want to capture that awesome view.
This usually happens when we are on a tour where we need to rush from places to places. This is especially so when you are traveling with a tour group where you are only given a limited time to view the place. Given this fact, you almost always just want to capture as many shots as possible leaving you no time for a proper composition.

However, if you have sufficient time to capture your shot, you should take time to compose it. So, where should you place your subject in the composition? As a rule, you should avoid placing your subject at the center. Sound strange, isn’t it? After all, the subject should be at the center of attention. However, you will be surprise with the effect it you start to shift your subject away from the center.

So, how do you do it? You can use the rule-of-thirds. Basically, what you need to do is to divide your view finder into nine squares or rectangles. You draw two imaginary horizontal lines and two vertical lines in your view finder to form a grid. Using this simple technique can dramatically improve your composition. When you have done that, focus your subject at one of the intersection point. Focus it and shot. For a better understand of this techniques, please see here.
One of the points to take note when putting your subject off center is your focus point. The default center focus point can be a bit tricky. What you need to do is to focus at the subject, lock the focus and then reframe the whole composition before you shot. This needs some practice.
However, if you digital SLR comes with various focus points, then your job will be easier. You can select from the various focus points present in the camera. If you have one of these cameras, read the instruction manual on how to make use of them.

Place the subject of interest is an important element of photography. You can use the rule-of-thirds to improve the overall composition of your work. Test it out and see the difference. For more information, please visit Freelance Photography.

John Peace enjoys photography and maintained a website providing information on photography. He invites you to visit his website, Freelance Photography to learn more about this exciting hobby. You can even make a living out of it at home! Believe it or not. Or visit the llink at: http://www.internetbizcenter.com/photography/index.htm
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Peace

Graduation Gifts Mean Personal Electronics

2007-05-15T12:33:00.000-05:00

Graduation Gifts Mean Personal Electronics By Chris Robertson

Graduation season is just around the corner, so it's time to start thinking of gift ideas for the graduate in your life. This year, electronics top the "most wanted" list of nearly every graduate. And with such a variety of personal electronics available in virtually every price range, there's no reason you can't make your grad's wishes come true.

Digital Cameras
When your graduate heads off to college in the fall, a digital camera will help ensure that he or she stays in touch. After all, what could be easier than attaching a photo to an email and hitting the "Send" button? Besides, college years are so precious and fleeting that your graduation gift will be put to good use and provide a lifetime worth of memories.

What should you look for in a digital camera? A digital camera with at least three megapixels should do the trick, as long as it also has an optical zoom. The most straightforward digital cameras come with a cable that hooks right up to the computer so that photos can be easily uploaded, and software that can manipulate photos by cropping them, adjusting the lighting, and removing that fabled red eye. Digital cameras are notoriously hard on batteries, and there are almost as many proprietary camera batteries as there are manufacturers. If possible, choose one that uses rechargeable AA batteries, and tuck some extra batteries and a charger into the graduation gift.

Cell Phones
What young adult doesn't live and breathe without a cell phone plastered to his or her ear - or to his or her fingers as they furiously text message their friends? With the rite of passage of graduation, it may be appropriate to spring for one of the latest models, and include a calling plan that makes it free (or nearly free) to call home. If you're willing to foot the cell phone bill for the first six months, chances are you'll hear more often from your grad.

Computers
A notebook computer is a must-have for every college student. The student will be more inclined to take thorough notes in class, and have an important tool for writing and submitting papers. College campuses are increasing jamming wireless signals in lecture halls and classrooms, so you probably won't have to worry that your grad is surfing the Internet instead of listening to the professor. When you purchase the computer, don't forget to pick up a printer. There are many compact color or black and white printers available that take up little room but give your student the flexibility he or she needs to print out research, papers, and other important documents.

Graduation is a memorable time; by selecting a graduation gift that's both useful and sought after, your gift is sure to be treasured.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Graduation Gifts Mean Electronics! or Majon's Gifts and Collectibles directory.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson

Scrapbooking Graduation Memories

2007-03-15T15:08:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that my daughter has just graduated from high school. She has some great memories of this event for us to preserve in a graduation scrapbook.
We decided to purchase a ready-made scrapbook instead of assembling one. At a local bookstore we found a large spiral bound scrapbook/journal on clearance for $2.99!
My daughter was not able to get her senior yearbook before graduation, so she had her friends write notes to her in her scrapbook. She took the book with her to her senior class party, then we set the book out at her family graduation party for friends and family to sign.
We had many photo taking opportunities over the weekend. We have pictures from the graduation ceremony, from her senior class party, and from her family party to put in her scrapbook. I will mat one of her senior portraits on the front of the scrapbook.
There are other mementos you can preserve in a graduation scrapbook. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Cards from family and friends - Program from graduation ceremony - Newspaper clippings - Report cards - Achievement and/or award certificates - Senior party mementos
I will finish off the scrapbook with graduation stickers from a local craft store.
A graduation scrapbook doesn't have to be a work of art. The important thing is to preserve the memories of your graduate's big day.
This would be a great project to do with your teen. If they would like to tackle the project themselves, give them all the supplies and let them unleash their creativity. My daughter loves the finished project, but is not much interested in scrapbooking, so she is more than happy to let me do it for her.
Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For scrapbooking, card making, gift-giving ideas, and more family memory-making activities, visit http://www.crafty-moms.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Paxton

What Can You Do With Your Old Digital Camera

2007-01-31T00:29:00.000-06:00

What Can You Do With Your Old Digital Camera By Ziv Haparnas

So you just got a new digital camera. Congratulations! What are you planning to do with your old digital camera? Many people just forget about it burying it in a drawer or somewhere around the house. There are better things to do with it, here are a few.

Digital cameras evolve all the time. New cameras have more megapixels, they have better lenses, electronics and software. It is very common to get a new digital camera every few years and sometimes even more often than that. Every time you buy a new digital camera you need to make a decision as to your old one.

You have many options for what to do with your old digital camera. Here are a few:
Put is aside: the simplest thing to do is just to put the digital camera somewhere in the house and forget about it. Many of us do just that. This is not the best solution though as your are wasting a perfectly good product.

Use it as backup: you can use your old digital camera as a backup for your new one. If your new digital camera breaks you can revert to the old one. Another option is to keep the old digital camera in a place where you would not normally store your camera. For example you can keep the old digital camera in the car. You can safely do that since you are less sensitive to the old camera getting damaged or stolen. By doing that you can take pictures when opportunity strikes and you do not have your new camera with you.

Give it as a gift: give your old digital camera to someone who can use it. For example give it to your kids or to other family members. Usually you would want to choose someone who can use it and for whom using your old digital camera will be a step forward relative to what they are using now.

Sell your old digital camera: One obvious option is to sell your old digital camera. Depending on how old it is and its condition you can get a nice sum of money for it. Getting any money is better than just throwing it away. You can sell it online on auction sites like eBay or you can use local classifieds.

Donate your old camera: you can donate your old digital camera to charity, to a local community center, to your kids’ school and more. With some donations you will be able to get a tax receipt so you can also get some money back as tax deduction.

Continue using your old digital camera: This option is not obvious. Why would you keep using the old digital camera when you just paid for a brand new one? There are many reasons. For example in some scenarios your old digital camera might be more appropriate. If for example your old digital camera is a small pocket one while your new digital camera is a big digital SLR there are times when you would not like to carry the big SLR around but you would still want to capture experiences on digital film. In such cases using the old camera is a good solution.

The way of thinking is that you did not replace your old digital camera but got a new digital camera that complements It. This is not relevant of course if you bought the same type of camera but with better features. For example this does not make sense if you bought a brand new digital pocket camera that looks the same as your old one but has more megapixels.
The most important thing is not to forget about your old digital camera just to find it uselessly thrown in a closet somewhere after a few years. Digital cameras like other consumer electronics devices age fast. Their value drops significantly after a few years. Be conscious about your old camera. You can use it for a while as a secondary camera, you can later on decide to sell it or donate it or to do something else with it.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on http://www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ziv_Haparnas

The Wonderous Works of Ansel Adams

2006-12-15T11:28:00.000-06:00

The Wonderous Works of Ansel Adams
By Morgan Hamilton

Are you familiar with Ansel Adams? He is a legendary figure in the world of photography and the consummate photographer of wilderness areas. He was born in 1902, and he spent his childhood steeped in the natural beauty of the area where he grew up. It was there that his photographic vision was born. Ansel Adams first visited Yosemite at the age of 14 and this experience defined his lifelong vocation. He took a custodial job at the Sierra Club Lodge in Yosemite Park when he was 17 because he wanted to live and work in the visual treasure chest of nature that he loved so much.

He is a lover of capturing the tiny details of nature to perfection at heart, but he is best known for his majestic sweeping views of Yosemite National Park. Ansel Adams was especially gifted in the art of bringing the moment of a just-blooming flower or a leaf floating on still water to life. He captured the attention and appreciation of hundreds of thousands of Americans through the beauty of the wilderness long before environmental awareness became a coined phrase.

He was so passionate about protecting and preserving the beauty of nature, that he was willing and enthusiastic to spread his message in political circles, lobbying for the successful creation of new National Parks. He was a pioneer in environmental protection before the National Parks were established. Ansel Adams spearheaded many projects for the fledgling Sierra Club as an environmental activist.

Ansel Adams was given a position on the Sierra Club's Board of Directors at the age of 32 because of his passion and success in educating the public through his photography and political campaigns. However, position and influence were not his ambition. Nature was his passion and his desire to bring the beauty of nature to everyone through the lens of his camera.

The works of Ansel Adams remain prominent in the world of photography, although he left this world in 1984. Everyone can still enjoy his wonderful pictures today. His photographs are featured on books and posters that are readily available. You can also check online art sites for examples of this legendary photographer's work if you want to experience the beauty of nature in an alternative way.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Ansel Adams. Visit our site for more helpful information about Biography of Ansel Adams and other similar topics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton

Looking for a Good Digital Photography School

2006-12-02T23:27:00.000-06:00

Looking for a Good Digital Photography School
By Low Jeremy

Although photography largely involve an eye for beauty and a natural instinct for clicking the camera, it is still important for photographers especially those that are just starting in the field to gather some experience in actual photography. Some practice on their spare time and learn the techniques on their own but this will take a lot of clicking time and magazine reading.

This is why most will go for the short-cut by enrolling in schools that offer short courses in photography. Of course, this will not guarantee to make you a master photographer in months but at least you already have all the tools that you need to make your way to the world of shapes and colors.

Here are some of the things that you should consider when looking for a good photography school to enroll to.

1.Course outline

This is perhaps the most important thing that you have to think about when looking for a school. The course outline will help you determine if the course is suited to the training that you need. It will contain a rundown of all the lessons that students like you will tackle in the class.

Take a look at the list and try to see if all the things that you need to learn are already there. If you find it lacking, try to shop around for other photography courses in the same school or better yet inquire in another school. With a lot of schools, museums and centers offering photography courses, chances are you will find the one that fits you to a T.

2. Specialization

There are courses that are offered according to certain specializations. For instance, some courses concentrate entirely on nature photography. Others go for portraits and human interest pieces. There are even some that do nude photography classes.

In other words, there are a multitude of specializations that you can go into. You can even take all of them; but of course, you have to shell out big bucks for that.

3. Laboratory and field work

Photography is a largely experiential field. You learn not from reading about it or discussing about the theories but in actual taking of shots and doing field works. In the course outline, try to look for the number of hours that will be spent outside the classroom.

Ideally, about 75 percent of the whole course should be used as practice time in fields or in the dark room. Only a quarter should be spent for theories and basics. Some courses offer a 50-50 ratio. Shop around for courses that emphasize field works and experiential learning as these are the courses where you can learn more.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy

Doing Digital Photography Prints

2006-11-15T23:03:00.000-06:00

Doing Digital Photography Prints
By Low Jeremy

In this transition phase of analog to digital photography, everyone knows the difference on how each images is processed into a nice print. For analog photography, the negative (film) is developed into photos in small shops called developing studios, low-end or high end, available some walks away from a nearby establishment.

They come in cheap price for every piece of shot but they come expensive in rolls. This is the conventional way of accomplishing photography. Nowadays there is digital camera mania everywhere! Who would not want private photograph shots from a handy dandy digital camera, where printing is done at home at one's convenience?

Convenience and privacy are the perfect words for digital photography. The question is how convenient is it to produce a copy? About privacy, there is no doubt, when you take a shot with a digital camera, it does not have to go out of the house.

All you need is a printer. When you need a printer, the array of other needs will start to fall in line one by one because it takes the following to create you own printing of digital photography. For a good digital photography printing, you will the following:

- A high-resolution digital camera with at least 2 mega-pixel resolution

- A stand-alone digital printer (no need for a computer)

- Fully loaded personal computer

It goes to show, processing digital printing at home is not cheap. The mania is only applicable to those who have PCs at home. Let's say you have all the equipments for digital photography printing, the next requirements are quite complex than it seems.

Digital cameras are capable of deleting undesirable shots at once. There is no more worry for wasted film for bad shots. Now it is time to transfer or load your images to your PC.

At a subdirectory you will see the photos transferred into digital files commonly in JPEG or RAW format. In the future, this will change. The setting and configuration of your digital camera will greatly affect the output you expect.

The very important aspect to be understood when doing digital photography printing is having knowledge about RESOLUTION. What you see in the computer monitor is not what you will see in the printer. This is overwhelming for beginners. Dot representation or pixels comprise an image.

At minimal requirement, a setting of 300 dpi (dots per inch) will already make a good print. For better prints, resolution must be higher. Expect the computer to slow down, assign a realistic values.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital.photography.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Low_Jeremy

Portrait Photography: Tips and Methods

2006-11-12T22:58:00.000-06:00

Portrait Photography: Tips and Methods
By Richard Schneider

Portrait is defined as, “A likeness of a person, especially one showing the face, that is created by a painter or photographer, for example.” In the area of portrait photography there are some guidelines that you should consider when you go to take photos of people.

The different types of portraits are: close-ups, facial shots, upper body shots or environmental portraits. Environmental portraits are where you focus on the subject and on their surroundings that provide more character to the subject.

When people have a camera in their face it usually makes them nervous and they will try to put on a face that does not portray who they really are. The real skill to portrait photography is trying to capture photos when the subjects are comfortable and not worried about a camera.

Many professional photographers try to capture their subject’s true essence by using tricks. One example of this is counting to three so the subject prepares and then while they are relaxing after taking a planned photo the photographer will snap a few more unplanned photos. In most cases the subject won’t even know that more than one photo was taken but it’s usually the photos that the subject wasn’t expecting that capture their true essence.

Another more common strategy professionals use is to tell funny jokes that make their subjects genuinely laugh or smile. I’m sure that you have probably experienced something like this yourself.

CLOSE-UP PORTRAITS

These usually have the subject’s shoulders and head or less. They are framed around the face. These are the most common and best at capturing expressions and glamour shots. For these it is very important to have the light coming from a good angle. To accent wrinkles or small details you should have the light coming from the side or from the top. To create flattering pictures you should choose a cloudy day or try to create diffused light so there are hardly any shadows. Also make sure the subject is brighter than the background to reduce distraction.

For close-up portraits you should use a wide aperture (low f/stop) to make the background out of focus and therefore less of a distraction. Professionals commonly use a fixed telephoto lens that’s 90 mm or higher for portraits in order to de-emphasize the subject’s nose or any other unflattering feature. It works because at that distance the nose or any other feature does not seem closer to the camera than the rest of the face.

UPPER BODY OR MIDRANGE PORTRAITS

These are easier to capture because the subject is probably more relaxed because it’s less personal. These include a little more of the background than close-ups. These are commonly used for both single subjects and multiple subjects. This is the kind of portrait used to mark occasions such as graduation, yearbook, birthdays and other parties. The ideal lens would be about a 90 mm fixed telephoto or more wide angle depending on how many subjects there are.

ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS

These are the portraits that let you into the life of a subject. They might include the whole subject in a scenario or the subject participating in some hobby that they enjoy. These are best for telling a story to the viewer about the subject. They are almost always used by photojournalists to look into the lives of interesting people. They also make great Black and White pictures.

Use this information to develop what kind of portrait style you would like to take, and then practice it before dealing with any serious clients.

Richard Schneider is a digital photography enthusiast and founder of http://www.picturecorrect.com/ which offers tips and news about digital photography, digital camera reviews, photoshop tutorials and computer wallpaper.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Schneider

How To Handle College Schedules

2006-09-07T22:50:00.000-05:00

How To Handle College Schedules
By Nic Haffner

Do You know what you want to be when you grow up? Chances are, if you ask college freshmen this question, the majority will tell you, 'Undecided.' Most students go into college without a clear idea of what they really want to do with their education. This is the rule rather than the exception. Now, what can be the reason for this?

With all the issues you have to worry about your first year of college, deciding what you will study is one of the last to be made. However, with each passing year, this question gets more and more important. While Mom and Dad are shelling out the cash for their kids' education, the kid might be drifting back and forth without a clear plan.

There are certain core required classes, no matter what your major. These are basic math, science, history as well as language requirements. If you are just starting college and, like most of your student colleges, undecided, it is a good idea to take these classes. Since you will have to take them anyway, why not can get them out of the way before you need to decide on your major?

You may even be able to test out of some of these core classes. There is a test in most schools called the CLEP, which will allow you to skip some of these basic requirements. To give an example, if you are good at math, you can test out of the basic math classes everybody has to take. This way you can prove that you are competent and already know the stuff, and you get to skip right by.

Your first semester in college is more about learning your way around campus and college everyday life than learning about math and English. Make an effort to familiarize yourself with the college library, so it will be easy to use when you really need it. The first semester is the time to figure out how to do simple college things. You should learn how to budget your time and meet deadlines, and how to effectively study for tests. Be aware that college isn't like high school!

After you have gotten used to things and learned your way around, then you can start thinking about what you really want to do with your life. Very few students - if any - decides at first what they want to do. As a matter of fact, many people change majors halfway through. You will need to take some classes just to see what appeals to you. There is no big hurry. Still, remember that the clock is ticking and you are paying for the time you're in college. It's best to start thinking about it in your second semester or after your first year. This is when you should be getting used to college life. You are a college student now, so it's time to look for where to go next.

You will most likely be taking those core classes well into your second year. It is good to get them out of the way as soon as possible. Then, you can spend the later half of your college career working on the classes for your major - what really interests you. But the first thing to do is to get on top of things and take care of those core classes, then think about what direction you will take.

When you first land in college, you will have a lot of things to get used to, and nobody expects you to know exactly what you are doing in the beginning. However, remember that the clock is ticking, and you owe it to whoever's paying for your school to set a goal and achieve it.

Nic Haffner is a publisher of College and University Search and Info. You can go to College and University Reviews for more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nic_Haffner

Digital Photography Schools

2006-09-06T18:51:00.000-05:00

Digital Photography Schools
By Ross Bainbridge

In recent years, with the advance of digital cameras and computer technology, the photo industry has been revolutionized. Modifications and enhancements to the photograph can be made without risking. To learn these techniques, you can enroll in a digital photography school.

At the beginning of your study in a digital photography school, you would still be taught the basics using an analog or manual camera. The reason being, most of the functions in a digital camera are simply enhancements of the old analog model. The fundamentals of photography are better understood with a manual camera. By learning how to do things manually, you can achieve the same thing with ease using a digital camera.

Familiarizing yourself with your camera would allow you to achieve to create black and white photographs, negative images, tricks you can do with your exposure and shutter speed, and different exposures. You would be taught how to use different flashes to create the best photo expects. You will also get familiarized with the importance of lenses. By learning the differences between each lens and what scenario to use each, you would be able to produce stunning pictures.

Part of learning digital photography is learning how to make enhancements in your pictures with the use of your computer. As part of your curriculum, you would be taught how to do digital workflow and file management. You would also dive into basic digital image editing. Knowing how to make enhancements to your photographs is one of the essences of digital photography. The ability to put one or more photographs together as if it was taken as one is part of the whole learning process.

Once you get down and dirty with digital photography, you can explore your options with different genres such as portraits, documentary, sports, landscapes, wildlife, travel, night shots, fashion and the like.

Photography School provides detailed information on Photography School, Online Photography Schools, Top Photography Schools, Digital Photography Schools and more. Photography School is affiliated with Interior Design Schools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge

Photography Poses

2006-08-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

Photography Poses - The Missing Ingredient
By Robert Bezman

You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the best price on your first digital camera, and even glanced at its owner's manual. Are you itching to take some shots of your family, or what?

Slow down, soldier. Before you take 200 shots that seem great at the time, but then upon review of the final picture are less than what you expected, let's prepare. Prepare?!?! I'll bet you thought charging the battery was the hardest part of taking great photos, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to improve your photo results 50% in 2 minutes, let's review some basic advice of the pros.

There are two categories of GENERAL ADVICE which applies, regardless of whether you're using a digital camera to take family portrait poses, baby pictures, pet portraits, group pictures, funny photos, or even maternity portraits. The first category is...

"Good Planning" Advice for Photography Poses

1) Prepare For The Event

Prepare for the event by thinking about every photograph you want to take and what kind of photography pose or poses you would like to capture. Consider who, where, how, and the type of environment.

2) Take Multiple Photographs

Take multiple shots of each pose (remember, digital memory is reusable, a.k.a. "free"). Regardless of what you say or do, people will blink. And don't count on spotting small problems on the tiny camera LCD screen (even on full magnification); which leads to...

3) Check LCD Screen

Check the digital camera's LCD screen for general framing of the picture, any movement, visibility of faces, and the histogram. Note that you can think up a fantastic photography pose; arrange everyone perfectly; and, have the photograph "frozen" (no blinking, and no shaking of the camera)...but, when you check it out in the LCD, you see 2 drunks fighting in the background! And, my favorite...

4) Funny Phrases

Have some funny phrases handy to use just before you take the photo. Don't use it when setting up for the shot. And, don't use the same phrase all the time. Throw in funny anecdotes, phrases, names, words that you know your family will find more amusing than "cheese." A natural smile looks four times better than a fake one. The second category is...

"Location" Advice for Photography Poses

Taking indoor family photography, is very different than outdoor family photograph (duh!). For INDOOR pictures...

1) Wide Angle

You will tend to use the wide angle more often than your telephoto setting. Pay particular attention to your "end people" (those farthest to the right and the left in your viewfinder), and verify there is enough space in picture, so that if cropping is required, the end people don't have to lose a limb.

2) The Flash

Flash considerations are critical. Do not be outside your "flash range." For example, if at ISO 100, your flash can properly illuminate 12 feet, don't attempt any photography pose that requires anyone to stand at 14 feet (unless, of course, it's evil cousin Ira who you want to appear in darkness).

3) Plan "B"

If you need to be further away than your flash allows, here are 2 things you can try...First, increase the ISO setting (but not so much as to produce to much noise), or second, move to a significantly brighter location.

4) Watch Your Background

If there are distracting features, change your settings to blur the background (see the Techniques page). The best photography pose in the world won't look right with a distracting background. And finally...

5) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

If there are mirrors or reflective surfaces in the background and you can't find a different location, only take the picture in such a way that the flash is not perpendicularto the surface, but at an angle (unless you want a nice photo of your flash).

Outdoor family photography has completely different issues. For OUTDOOR photography...

6) The Sun

Avoid photographing in direct sunlight, or in mixed light and shade, especially faces. Optimal lighting results from a slightly overcast sky.

7) Shade

When photographing in shade, use fill-flash (see terms) when necessary. And, really finally...

8) Beauty

If practical, take the picture at one of the beautiful natural settings near you. Imagine the result of a creative photography pose captured in a stunning environment. Can you say: "Over the mantle!"?

To see some sample pictures including more photography tips, go to www.best-family-photography-tips.com/photography-pose.html.

Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.

Robert Bezman is a professional photographer and owner of Custom Photographic Expressions. Robert has created http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com to help beginning and intermediate photographers create better photographs. Robert is offering a free newsletter and eBook that can be obtained by visiting http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/photography-newsletter.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Bezman

Get Involved With Digital Photography

2006-07-13T17:20:00.000-05:00

Get Involved With Digital Photography!
By Kenneth Snodin

The continuing advances in digital photography make it possible for everyone to capture moments of their lives with more detail and accuracy than ever. Improvements in photo resolution and shutter speed make it easy for both professional photographers and beginners to take great pictures. And even if a photo is not perfect when it is taken, sophisticated editing software can transform it into a work of art.

Experienced photographers say that timing is the most important factor for getting a good picture. There is only a small, limited opportunity to capture a great shot. Whether you are trying to get the perfect sunset photo or get a picture of the winners as they cross the finish line, you must have a good sense of timing and the intuition that lets you know exactly when to press that shutter button. It is this factor that makes photography an art form.

Most people never quite realize the dream of getting a perfect shot. Maybe your picture is framed well, but the lighting is not quite right. Maybe you’ve got the lighting just right, but you forget to use the flash or red-eye reduction option. In cases like these, digital photography offers an excellent way to get just the look you want in a photo.

Any picture you take with a digital camera can be edited to reach its full potential. Digital photos can be automatically enhanced to improve their color; they can be zoomed or cropped to their optimal size. And, of course, the red-eye reduction capability can improve any portrait. These editing options can all be completed within minutes, giving you the chance to have the most wonderful photos you’ve ever taken.

With a good digital camera and photo editing software, you can accomplish great things. The capabilities built into your camera represent only the beginning of the editing potential. Software programs really help you make the most of the photos you have. You can use editing software to change the images in any way you desire.

Local or online retailers can provide you with the equipment, software, and information you need to take great digital photos. When selecting a digital camera, you should be sure you buy one that has the features you need and want. You should look for a model that gives great pictures and that also has simple docking methods for downloading the photos from the camera to the printer or computer. Good photo editing software that will let you alter your digital pictures includes products like Kodak Picture, and Corel Photo Album.

There are a vast range of hobbies and pastimes availble for everyone to take part in, for more information about a variety of hobbies and pastimes visit http://great-hobbies.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_Snodin

Photography Software

2006-06-26T23:12:00.000-05:00

Photography Software
By Edward Ginsberg

My friend Harry Potter and I have recently combined forces to develop a new kind of photography software. This will be built into digital cameras and will allow the photographer to take a perfect picture every time. When we say perfect picture, we don’t mean correct focus and exposure. A lot of cameras can already do that. We mean subject matter and composition.

It shouldn’t be difficult. After all, the rules of composition were devised before the camera was invented, and the Internet is full of useful tips on how to take a good picture. All we have to do is program the software. It would compare the picture that is on the photographer’s digital camera screen with an ideal photo. Then, by means of a voice program, it would direct the photographer to improve his image. So, for example, if he is about to take a shot of a statue, he might hear the following:

“This picture violates the Rule of Thirds. Move the camera four degrees to the right. That is better. General Photography Tips also suggest that you get closer to the image. Move two feet closer. You now have a perfect picture. Snap the shutter.”

That’s about all the entry-level software would do. But a lot of photographers want to be more creative. Don’t worry. The advanced software will take care of this. It will allow a photographer to dial-in the style of his favorite photographer. The program will then analyze the image in terms of the basic program while incorporating the style of the selected master photographer. An example is the deluxe Robert Frank model. Here the software voice would function as it did above but, before the snap-the-shutter command, it might add,

“You have a perfect picture, but it is not a Robert Frank picture. To achieve that, kneel down, point the camera slightly upward – not so much – now tilt the camera and dial in the grain filter. You now have a perfect Robert Frank picture. Snap the shutter.”

Okay, for those of you still with me, the question is as follows. If you could buy a camera that could do all these things, would you? If you say no, then I ask why not? Countless photographers study the rules of composition and read the latest photo tips. They ask strangers on blogs to tell them how to make their pictures look more like everyone else’s. In short, they try to do for themselves what our hypothetical software program will do automatically.

But how many people study the work of photography masters. How many have the courage – yes, it takes a certain amount of courage – to try to develop their own style? I’m always amazed that a painter is willing to spend four years at an art school, while a photographer wants to read the camera manual and instantly turn out great pictures.

For those of you who want to learn to express your individuality, it takes time, study, and sweat. But it’s a rewarding process. And to those who want to turn out flawless photos quickly, have I got a piece of software for you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Edward_Ginsberg

Incredible Tips For High Quality Digital Photography

2006-06-06T23:51:00.000-05:00

Incredible Tips For High Quality Digital Photography
By Warren Lynch

Digital photography has come a long way in producing high quality pictures, but contrary to popular belief, this cannot be achieved simply by pointing the camera at an object and clicking. Understanding certain concepts is necessary in order to achieve exceptional picture quality e.g. automatic flash, no flash, forced flash, twilight mode, natural light and red-eye reduction. The following should help in clarifying certain misconceptions.

Automatic Flash

Most digital cameras offer an automatic flash setting, which simply means that the camera will automatically gauge whether the use of flash is necessary. Once this calculation is complete the flash will go off if needed. In many cases this is the best option to choose, but there are exceptions.

Forced Flash

This feature should be used in cases where very bright light exists behind the object being photographed. This background light will cause a shadow to be cast over the subject. If your camera is set to automatic flash, this shadow will cause the flash to go off, creating an inappropriate effect. Use of the forced flash setting would, on the other hand, eliminate the shadow.

No Flash

This option is ideal in situations where the existing light is dim and the subject is too far away for the flash to have an effect, when photographing a bright object with a dark background (use of flash will erase lights in the picture), or in settings where flash photography is prohibited. The one thing to keep in mind when using this option is that the camera must be kept very steady.

Natural Light

In most cases, if used correctly, natural light is really the best option for producing vibrant pictures. If sunlight is available, snapping the picture at just the right angle is necessary to avoid glare. Squinting, although is still a common problem when using bright light. As far as natural lighting goes, cloudy days are best. Not only is shadowing not a problem but the picture itself has an additional softness to it.

Twilight mode

The twilight mode setting is best when your subject is surrounded by darkness. This option will clearly light your subject, maintaining the dark backdrop, as long as the object is within flash range.

Red-Eye Reduction

This seldom desired effect is the result of the flash reflecting off the eyes' retina. The red-eye reduction feature instructs the camera to set off multiple flashes in order to eliminate the effect. Once again the subject must be within range of the flash as well as looking directly at the camera.

It is not to say that without the above information you will never achieve a decent picture, but committing these tips to memory will surely improve the quality of your photography as well as bring memories to life more accurately.

This digital photography tip article is brought to you by award-winning professional photographer Warren Lynch. Exciting articles gives both beginners and advance digital camera enthusiast the leg up. With cutting-edge digital photography blogs, forum and review resources.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Warren_Lynch

Tips For Pet Portraits

2006-05-19T12:50:00.000-05:00

Tips For Pet Portraits
By Grace Palce

Whenever there’s a special occasion that requires the giving of gifts, only a few people usually feel the need to spend more than a few moments on thinking about a gift that would really mean a lot to the recipient. When giving gifts, we should always remember that it’s truly the thought that counts so no matter the price tag attached to the gift, if it strikes the recipient as impersonal, the gift would then be not as special as you want it to be.

Whatever the occasion, as long as the recipient is a pet lover, you might try considering giving him or her a portrait of his favorite pet as a gift.

A lot of pets who display almost human intelligence like dogs can serve a lot of purposes in a person’s life and provide not only aid in their daily routines but also friendship and protection. Pets unfortunately have a short life span, compared to that of humans, so people can enjoy only a brief relationship with their pets.

With a portrait of their pets, they’ll be able to remember them and never forget what they look like. When they feel that they miss their favorite pets, they only have to look at the portrait and feel as if their pets are always nearby.

There are artists who specialize in pet portraits. If you’re considering giving pet portraits as a gift, it’s best to spend time researching for artists who truly have expertise in doing pet portraits. Doing pet portraits after all is not as ordinary as sketching apples because you need to master a few skills, for instance, when trying to perfect the look and color of an animal’s fur.

Doing a portrait of any animal or pet would also require an infinite amount of patience and expert guidance that not all artists possess. As they’re animals, it’s impossible to expect them to follow your every order.

If you don’t want to base the pet portraits on photos, you may have to offer your pet several incentives to let him obey your wishes. Offer them treats in exchange of staying still for a certain period of time. If it’s okay with you, a sleeping pet is no doubt a better subject than one who’s awake.

However hard it may be, everything would be worth it when you see the smile on your friend’s face as you give them their much-awaited gift!

Grace Palce is writing articles for direct portrait, a very fast and easy to use painting from photo service. Specializing in pet portraits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Grace_Palce

Buying Your Child A Digital Camera - What You Need To Know

2006-04-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Buying Your Child A Digital Camera - What You Need To Know
By Kevin Rockwell

Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing task. You can never be sure whether they will like what you buy for them or not. So, when you want to buy a digital camera for your little kids, then there are lots of things, which you must know, which will help you (hopefully!) to get the right camera for your child.

One of the most important things for children is that the digital camera should be one of the latest available in the market. If it has been heavily advertised and people are talking about it, then it is even better. This gives children a sense of pride and also allows them to ‘show-off’ their possession to their friends.

Another factor, which is critical for children, is that the camera must look good. This is very, very important to them. It does not matter whether it has a big screen or small screen, whether it is 2 mega pixel or 1.5 mega pixel – the camera should have a smart shape, come in flashy colors or it can also look cute or funky. But, the camera should not look ‘boring’ or very ‘serious’ in nature. However good the functions might be, if the camera does not look good, it is most likely that your choice will get rejected.

The size is also important. Most children will definitely prefer a digital camera that is small and compact in size. The weight and size should be such that they are able to easily put the camera in their pocket or hang it by a string. Large and bulky models, even if they have better features are not advisable for children.

It is also necessary to remember that even though you might gift your child a digital camera to click photographs for school projects, they will be using it to take pictures of their friends. So, look for some ‘fun’ features in the digital camera. These can include colorful background images or sound effects, photographic effects that they can use to enhance the images taken by them.

One more thing is ease of use. It is important that the camera has a simple system through which children can easily take pictures quickly. However, you really do not need to worry about this aspect a lot because today’s children have been born in the digital era. They are able to pick up things much faster than you or me, so as long as the camera is good in all other aspects, even if its ‘click ability’ is a little confusing, it does not really matter. They are fast learners these days!

Last but not the least, is the price. While buying a digital camera for your child, it is understandable that you really do not want to spend a lot of money. There are lots of choices available in the market today. The price range starts from as low as $30 and can go up to $300. So, it really depends on how much you would like to spend on the camera. Start simple and upgrade if they grow out of the digital camera that you buy for them. Hey share them with the whole family!

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports. http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Rockwell

Wedding Favors: Homemade and Store Bought

2006-04-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

It has long been tradition to give guests small gifts as tokens of appreciation for showing up at the ceremony and as a return in exchange for the wedding gifts given to the couple. Wedding favors can be homemade, store purchased and/or food. Lots of people give out little homemade wedding favors that add a personal touch and give guests a keepsake to remember the wedding by.

Some common homemade wedding favors are paper boxes filled with candies, soaps and candles, and scented satchels of potpourri. You can set up a mini workshop with some friends a few weeks before the wedding and work on the favors assembly line style. A simple favor is the paper box. You can purchase or make homemade paper that is thick and sturdy for the box. Cut the paper into the shape of a box that is laid out flat with flaps (you can open up similar box shaped package from a store as a model) and make creases with a knife or pen to fold along. Then glue or stitch together with brightly colored sting. Place a small amount of tissue paper inside to keep the candy separate from the glue and paper.

If you find that your wedding plans are starting to get out of hand you can always place an order online or at a store for party favors. These trinkets can last longer than homemade ones and will save you time and effort. Many common types of store purchased favors are candle, picture frames or holders, spoons, corkscrews, other types of kitchen utensils, bookmarks and candies. You may be able to get a good deal on the cost of these favors if you plan on purchasing large lots of them.

Whatever you decide to give guests as a mark of the memorable event be sure to know that it will have a special place in each persons heart.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. More ideas, wedding shower party favors, decorations and Wedding Favors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino

Photo Stealing on The Internet

2006-04-01T18:34:00.000-06:00

Should you worry about photo thievery on the Internet?

There’s an element of human nature involved here: Trust.

Back when we first got here to the farm, the nearest grocery store was (still is) the Horse Creek Store. Fred Nelson would stand behind the counter and retrieve the products you wanted from the shelves. It’s not that he didn’t trust his customers. He was giving them service. It had always been done that way. A few years later when supermarkets were introduced, I asked Fred if he thought customers would walk out of supermarkets with products in their pockets without paying.

Fred’s response, “Well, there might be some of that.”

As we all know now, yes, a few people, it turns out, will do that. Maybe 2% - maybe 5% - of the population. Nevertheless, at the Horse Creek Store you now gather your own items from the shelves. And the supermarket service model, used everywhere from huge groceries to hardware stores, has benefited both customers and owners. Customers retrieve the products themselves, and thereby a greater volume of customers can be taken care of per day. Businesses have learned to factor the minor loss through thievery into the cost of the products, and volume sales.

Back to the Basics

This model assumes an element of trust on the part of the store owner. The owner's position is that, “I trust you (most of you) enough that you won’t walk out of my store without paying.” The owner absorbs the cost of the rare instance of thievery.

The Internet will also eventually settle into a comfortable balance built on sensible commerce. (You pays for what you gits.) Why not put energy toward serving the 95% of customers who are going to be trustworthy, rather than put undue time and attention on the 5% who won’t be?

You might say, “Well, photos are different. They are easy to steal. No one is watching.”

Perhaps, but small items ranging from chewing gum to shampoo would be easy to steal. But most people, including teenagers, are basically honest. They don’t steal. Besides, stealing, along with being immoral, has disadvantages that outweigh the benefits.

A FOREIGN LAND

When we hear of instances of Internet theft, you’ll find that most of the perpetrators fall into the “immature hot shot” category. Another small percentage of guilty parties are people ignorant of Copyright Law. The final percentage consists of people who do live life trying to get away with getting something for nothing. But is it worth your time to track them down with PicScout or other expensive software, just to shake a finger at them? (That’s about the only reward you would realize.) And remember, too, that in our corner of the stock photography industry that we are not dealing with advertising clients or graphic artists who might be able to benefit from such theft. We deal with photobuyers and researchers at publishing houses. It’s almost a different country. It’s rare that you ever hear of a staff member of a publishing house or magazine risking their job by stealing a photo. In more than a decade of on-line experience I have never heard of a case of photobuyer thievery at a reputable publishing house – at least not at any of the 8,500 in our database.

If it’s a question for you of whether to post your images online or not, I would advise to go about your business and post them without agitation, knowing that human nature is on your side. The majority of people who are going to visit your website are not going to steal, either because they are moral – or because it is too inconvenient!.

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. 1 800 624 0266; E-mail: info@photosource.com . Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: http://www.photosource.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rohn_Engh

Digital Cameras at Wholesale Prices

2006-03-26T21:48:00.000-06:00

Digital Cameras at Wholesale Prices

Current info about Senior Portrait Photography is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Senior Portrait Photography info available.

Finding a Digital Camera at Wholesale Price Without Getting Swindled

When you think about Digital Photography and Cameras, what do you think of first? Which aspects of Digital Photography and Cameras are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

There is a vast number of different makes and models of digital cameras, and thousands of companies online selling digital cameras. So how do you sort through all the information to find a great digital camera at a wholesale price? Digital cameras are available in several price points and can be purchased wholesale or retail. So, what do you do if you want the best at the cheapest price?

Let the internet help you. There are numerous internet services called “price comparison engines” that search the internet for the best available price on any product. All you have to do is type in what you are looking for. It is a good idea to check on about ten different price comparison search engines so that you find the absolute best prices. This however only works if you know exactly what you are looking for. If you aren’t sure what make you want you will want to do some preliminary research. Go to electronics stores and try different cameras out. This will help you get a feel for what features you want or dislike and can do without.

Another option is to talk to friends and family and see if there are at least a few people that are also looking for a digital camera. If you can find a camera you all agree on and buy more than one camera with the same information you will most likely be able to get a better deal. Manufacturers give some generous discounts for buyers purchasing more than one item at a time.

Looking for wholesale prices can bring up some less than reliable companies promising items at amazing prices. Before you buy anything or give any information make sure you check out the company or website to be sure they are legitimate. Watch out for these signs when looking for a cheap digital camera.

·Drop Shipping Agents are a middleman. You will be spending more money through them then you would if you bought the camera directly from a wholesale company. Drop shipping agents never own their own warehouses, but they may constantly try to convince you they do.

Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:

Think about what you've read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Digital Photography and Cameras? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

·Do not get pulled into buying a list from a website that supposedly gives you information about wholesalers. Most of the time this information is free from other sources or very outdated.

·Online auction sites can be a great way to find a cheap digital camera but beware, most scams involving wholesale digital cameras are run through these types of sites. Do as much research as you possibly can, and be weary of sellers with hundreds of cameras to sell. If a seller asks you to send a money wire, don’t do it. There is very little that can be done to get your money back if it is sent this way.

Chris Simons is a prolific freelance writer. You are welcomed to visit http://digital-cameras.theconsumerguide.net, for more information on Digital Cameras.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Simons

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what's important about Senior Portrait Photography.

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_C._Hoffman

2006-03-25T20:34:00.000-06:00

Pros and Cons of Sharing Digital Wedding Files

By Kenneth C. Hoffman

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Digital Wedding Files. When you start sharing the fascinating Digital Wedding Files facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

Traditionally, the portrait and wedding photographer carefully saved his negatives for future sales and the safety of the image. Courts have decreed that the photographer owns the rights to the image and that no one else may reprint the image without his permission. But in the fast paced world we live in, times have changed and the question of image sharing must be rethought.

The cons of giving the bride and groom the digital files for their own use invite the chance that they would probably make a few wallets for their relatives. I see every picture that reaches a wider audience as a piece of priceless advertisement. If the quality of the wallet picture is not up to pro standards, the recipients of the picture is probably aware that the bride and groom cut corners making the gift and won’t blame the studio. Because the time consuming inconvenience and loss of face that accompanies the ink jet gift, a very small percentage of wedding customers would resort to this practice. One hour photo establishments customarily refuse to scan a professionally made photo and prints from a CD will not match the quality of the professional lab.

The pros of offering the digital files at no charge as part of the wedding package are: a powerful tool to book more weddings, an incentive for the bride and groom to recommend your studio to their friends and relatives, and the transfer of the responsibility of safekeeping the image files. The profit made from just one wedding recommendation far outweigh any amount that could be made from a few reprint sales.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

For those more conservative photographers, the delivery of the image files could be delayed until a year after the wedding albums are delivered can be an option. This would naturally remove any benefit from handing the files over immediately. An exception could be made in the case of the image chosen for a wall sized image, retaining the rights exclusively for the studio. Of course, the master digital images will still exist on your DVD disks for normal reprint use. While you, the photographer, has the right to deny the bride and groom the use of the original image files, you also have the right to be the good Samaritan and accommodate tons of new clients at the same time.

Retired portrait and wedding photographer. Your thoughts?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_C._Hoffman

Now you can be a confident expert on Digital Wedding Files. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on Digital Wedding Files.

Definition of Resolution

2006-03-17T19:53:00.000-06:00

Photography and Digital Portrait Photographers

Are you looking for some inside information on Digital Photography? Here's an up-to-date report from Digital Photography experts who should know.

Definition of Resolution by Robbie Darmona

Resolution can be defined as the number of pixels that, constellated together, form an image or a photograph. Pixels are small points on the image that can have various colors. Digital photography uses pixels to create photos. Image sizes in photography are measured by the number of pixels in width and depth. The measurement is generally determined as resolution. Computer screens use the same measurements as digital photography. Most typical are sizes such as 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 960, 1280 x 1024, and so on.

The general thing about digital photography is the number of pixels. Different resolution makes for different images. The more pixels an image has, the more elaborate it is. Details depend on the number of pixels. But bigger resolution also means bigger image file size and larger print size. This may cause some difficulties if you are trying to print the image by yourself. Larger file formats also cause trouble when sending files via email: some email accounts have specific space and your attached files are too large to be received. Despite this, people prefer resolution with greater number of pixels. The picture looks much more realistic when more pixels construct it. It is the same as in the puzzle game: the more pieces a puzzle has, the more complex it looks. Pixels give additional shades and nuances because they can take different colors, so the image looks as real as possible.

If your Digital Photography facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don't let important Digital Photography information slip by you.

Let's discuss the difficulties of file and print size. Using a 3 megapixel camera, you have no trouble printing 8x10 or smaller photographs and get satisfying results. If you want to print something bigger, you will get into trouble. You'd better go to a printing shop. For prints of larger size, you may need special paper and a professional, who can do it for you. Another thing to remember is changing of size. You can change the print size without making defects on the resolution. But this can only be done when making an existing photo smaller. If you decided to enlarge a small image using a program, you'd better give it up. Smaller images are made of different resolution formats and when you enlarge them, the number of pixels stays the same and is no longer compatible with the larger copy, so the quality of the photo is lost. Resolution defines the file size as well. You may try to convert larger files into smaller ones, before sending them through email. Before re-sizing an image, you should better save it in its original resolution quality. Save it in its larger and pixel-rich size and then make it smaller in the editing program for emailing. In that case you will always have a copy of the original if you like to print it. Remember that once resized, an image cannot be brought back to its previous size, as it is larger and resolution would be changed for the worse. This effect is called pixelation: when you try to enlarge an existing copy. It always results in worse printing image quality.

There are three points you should remember about resolution.

1) The higher the resolution, the better printed image quality. 2) The higher the resolution, the larger the file size and the larger the print size. 3) Do not confuse pixels with dots. They are not the same. Pixels per inch (PPI) and dots per inch (DPI) are variables completely different from one another.

About the Author
Article by Robbie Darmona - an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects. For more information click Photo hosting

As your knowledge about Digital Photography continues to grow, you will begin to see how Digital Photography fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

Article by Robbie Darmona - an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects. For more information click Photo hosting

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robbie_Darmona

Digital Portraits for Seniors and Graduates

2006-03-06T09:07:00.000-06:00

Senior Portrait Studio Photographer

When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.

Senior Portraits with Digital
The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of Digital Portraits is certainly no exception. Digital Photography Techniques - The Secrets That Make The Difference Between Dazzling Photos... or Boring Bloopers So far we've talked about cameras and accessories. But there'sanother very important element to taking pictures that can'tbe ignored — the person behind the camera.
Digital photography technique may seem like a daunting term,but it's really about the basics of digital photography.

"Choosing the right photographer is an important decision"

No matter how good the camera is, the critical decisions aboutthe picture are always in the hands of the photographer.That's why today we're going to talk about the art of takinggood pictures...
How Can I Improve My Digital Photography Techniques And Make Sure I Take Good Pictures? There is only one chance to capture each magic moment. It'simpossible to re-play the scene if you're disappointed withyour picture. That's why it pays to be prepared and ready.Here are several tips to help you make sure your digitalpictures turn out memorable:

Get The Lighting And White Balance Right: Lighting is much more important to digital cameras than tofilm cameras. If your digital camera has settings fordifferent lighting conditions, such as daylight, cloudy,fluorescent, incandescent, make sure you use them-it can makeor break your pictures. Never aim a digital camera at a lightsource (unless it's a sunset or candles). Make sure thatbright lamps, sunshine, glare, etc. are out of the frame.

Use a flash for indoor shots and dim outdoor lighting. If theflash is too bright, lower the intensity a couple of f-stops,or use a homemade diffuser by placing a one-ply tissue overthe flash. Be Sure To Get Close Enough: One of the biggest reasons digital pictures look bad isbecause they were taken from too far away. Avoid vast expansesof boring "dead" space (like the walls, ceiling, grass,pavement). Move in and get close to your subject. Fill theframe with the scene, the people, or the faces you want andleave the background out.
So far, we've uncovered some interesting facts about Senior Portrait. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

Reduce Red-Eye: It's almost impossible to completely eliminate red eye with apocket or compact digital camera. But it can be reduced byusing the "Portrait" setting, turning up the house lights, andhaving the subject face the light while turning slightly awayfrom the flash. If all else fails, use image-editing software to remove red-eye.

You can see that there's practical value in learning more about Digital Portraits. Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far?
Compose Your Pictures: Before pressing the shutter, take a quick, objective look atthe composition and background. If there's clutter,distraction or a confusing subject, make changes before takingthe picture.
Steady The Camera: Prevent "camera shake," by using a wall, table or tripod tohold the camera steady, especially at night. And be sure towait until the camera completes the shot before you put thecamera down. It can take 5 seconds or longer if the light is low.

Be Prepared For Shutter Lag: Digital cameras are really small computers-they require timeto capture the scene. Plan ahead when shooting people andespecially children or your two-year-old's smile could be ascowl by the time the shutter snaps. Anticipate the perfectmoment and press the shutter just before it happens. It'stough to do, but with practice, you get better at it. Use High Resolution: High resolution and low compression produce smoother and moredetailed images. For best results, get 3.2 MP or higher anduse the highest resolution for important pictures you plan to print.

Have Battery Backups And Extra Storage On Hand: Running out of batteries or room on your storage card puts aquick end to your photo fun. Be prepared with spare batteriesand another memory card so nothing puts a damper on yourmemories.

Learn more digital photography techniques in "Master Your Digital Camera in Four Easy Steps:"http://hop.clickbank.net/?photograph/dazzlepics Do all the strange terms in digital photography sometimes seemto be another language? Can't tell the difference betweencompression and dynamic range? Or a megabyte from a megapixel?In the next section, I've included a quick Digital Photography Terminology reference guide. Feel free to print it out and refer to it. Look for it tomorrow, Rufina James

http://hop.clickbank.net/?photograph/dazzlepics
support@masteryourdigitalcamera.com
Of course, it's impossible to put everything about Digital Portraits into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your understanding about Digital Portraits, and that's time well spent.
Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action. Rufina James http://hop.clickbank.net/?photograph/dazzlepics
support@masteryourdigitalcamera.com

Of course, it's impossible to put everything about Digital Portraits into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your understanding about Digital Portraits, and that's time well spent.

Wedding Photography: How to Become a Wedding Photographer

2006-03-02T09:32:00.000-06:00

Finding the right San Antonio Wedding Photographer
If you're seriously interested in knowing about Weddings, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about Weddings.

See how much you can learn about Weddings when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don't miss out on the rest of this great information.

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:

When word gets around about your command of Weddings facts, others who need to know about Weddings will start to actively seek you out. "

"Wedding Photography
Wedding Photography Packages
Professional Wedding Photography
If you want something different and artistic"

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.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association,and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photography

San Antonio Wedding Photographer
For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at Oregon Wedding Photographer
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Juan_Carlos_Torres

Camera Digital Technology - Sensors, Storage Space And Snapshot Sharpness

2006-02-27T15:09:00.000-06:00

Camera Digital Technology - Sensors, Storage Space And Snapshot SharpnessBy Rika Susan

Camera digital technology: do you have to understand it to utilize it? Probably not, especially if you're using a consumer digital camera - a point-and-shoot - and you just want to get that holiday trip recorded for posterity...
On the other hand, it is quite useful to have a good grip on camera digital technology to get the best out of that little technological marvel!
For starters, it makes sense to know that the number of pictures you can take on your camera depends on the file format you select, and on your camera's storage capacity.

Camera digital technology generally works with two main formats, the JPG and the RAW file. The latter is for storing as much as possible original data per picture, to be adjusted later on a PC. The RAW format is of particular interest to professionals. RAW pictures often need nearly 10 times as much storage space as JPG files, so a casual photographer will generally choose to use JPG.

However, your camera might give you the option of selecting high quality JPG's or standard quality JPG's - the latter using less space, and mostly giving quite satisfactory results.
The camera will store the picture files on a card. A 256MB card can sometimes store more than 80 images of standard JPG size. If you're willing to spend more, new camera digital technology allows you to buy cards with 10 times more storage capacity.

Another aspect of camera digital technology which is useful to know about, is the way the images are captured. In stead of the film of well, film cameras, digital cameras have a silicon sensor with light-sensitive photosites (pixels) which capture the light information.

These sensors are often less precise than film when it comes to rendering detail in shadows and highlights. Camera digital technology therefore dictates that you should be careful not to "blow" your highlights. If they are not captured in the first place, you can't make any adjustments afterwards in your software processing.

To ensure you capture as much shadow and highlight detail as possible, and in a balanced way, camera digital technology offers you the use of a histogram. This handy tool is a little graph which indicates how the levels of brightness are distributed in an image. Many cameras show a histogram in real time, while you compose your image, giving you the opportunity to make exposure adjustments.

While digital camera lenses are essentially "old technology", it is useful to know that you can get excellent quality pictures from fairly inexpensive consumer cameras. This has once again to do with the sensor used in camera digital technology.

As the sensor in these point-and-shoots have a much smaller surface area than the 35mm film of a film camera, the former can get a much sharper and detailed image than a film camera with the same lens, due to the smaller focal area.

Camera digital technology has the major advantage of offering you stacks of opportunity to experiment with taking first-rate pictures, because you don't have to be concerned with the expenses relating to camera film.

So go out there and put the new camera digital technology to use!
Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rika_Susan

Senior Portraits and The Senior Portrait Photography Studio

2006-02-13T14:56:00.000-06:00

Studio Photography and Digital Backgrounds
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Studio Photography to be dangerous? Let's see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Studio Photography experts.
The article given here was written for Adobe Photoshop 5,6,7,CS, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 and 3.
Most photographers who are serious about improving their portrait taking skills have realized that a beautiful background can greatly enhance their photographs.
Muslins are a very popular choice among professionals. However, they can get very costly at several hundred dollars each. For the professional who is well established, this may not seem too much, but for the hobbyist, this may be a stretch.
A less costly alternative is a digital background. With a digital background, one can get the look and feel of a professional looking portrait without the additional cost of muslin.
Many Photography websites also sell digital backgrounds on cd. In some cases…as low as $15.00 dollars for an assorted collection. As with anything else…you usually get what you pay for. Some of these pre-made digital backgrounds are not worth the cd they’re printed on, but some of them are very beautifully made. Even so, you may be wondering how YOU can make your very own digital background. That being said, the following information will help guide you along the way.
Okay, let’s create a digital backdrop using Adobe Elements 2.0. We will create an 8x10 300dpi (dpi = dots per inch or ppi = pixels per inch) digital backdrop. For printing purposes, 300dpi is strongly recommended for a high quality print. This will also create a large file approximately 20.6megs.
Having a fast processor (Pentium 4 or Athlon XP) and at least 256megs of ram will definitely help. Also having your screen resolution on your monitor set to its highest setting 24 or 32bit will give the best results.
Okay let’s begin! If you haven’t already opened Photoshop Elements, do so now.
1. Click on File < New. When the window opens up,make sure to set it to 8x10 inches at 300dpi.
2. Make a copy of the background layer you just created by pressing Control-J on your keyboard. If you look at the bottom right corner of your monitor, you should see an exact copy of your background layer named layer 1.
3. Select the “foreground” color for your background by clicking on the foreground square on your toolbar… the black one. (Bottom left)
4. The Color Picker window should now be open. Select a light red by clicking on the top right corner of the color palette. Click ok.
5. Now select the “background” color by clicking on the background square on your toolbar… the white one. (Bottom right)
The best time to learn about Studio Photography is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Studio Photography experience while it's still free.

6. The Color Picker window should open again. Select a darker red by clicking halfway below the lighter red you previously chose. Click ok.

7. Now comes the fun part! Let’s put some clouds in there. On the top of your screen, click on Filter
8. First, make sure that layer 1 is not locked! Look at your layers palette on the bottom right of your screen. Do you see the little black “lock” icon? Make sure that the little white square to the left is NOT checked!

9. Okay, now press “m” on your keyboard. At the top left corner of your backdrop, click and drag your mouse to create a 2x3 inch square. If you do not see the ruler along side your backdrop, press “control-r” on your keyboard.

10. Press “v” on your keyboard. Your selection should now have little handles on all sides that you can click on to pull to any size you want. If you do not see any handles, click on “Show Bounding Box” at the top.

11. Click on the lower right handle in the corner and drag and stretch it to the bottom right corner of your backdrop.

12. Double click anywhere on the red backdrop to apply the resizing. Now press “L” on your keyboard then “control-d”.
Okay, now you should have a beautiful looking backdrop ready to use, but wait, there is still more we can do to take it to another level. You will be simply amazed at the results you will be getting in the next few steps. You may have noticed that many types of muslins on the market have painted on them what’s known, as a “hot spot”.

What is a hot spot? A hot spot is a circular area near the center of the backdrop that is lighter in color. Why is this there? It allows the subject to stand out and creates a vignette at the borders. This will greatly enhance your backdrop. Are you ready? Okay, let’s do it!

13.On the top, click on Filter-Render-Lighting Effects. Select “Omni” for your “Light Type” and move the slider for your intensity to 25. Now click on the middle handle in the circle and raise the circle just above the halfway point to where the person’s head will appear.Click ok.
Now you should have an amazing looking backdrop!
Fabian Barajas is author of several Photoshop ebook tutorials including "How to Create Your Very Own Professional Looking Digital Backdrop!" His website which includes samples of his work is http://www.digital-background.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fabian_Barajas

If you've picked some pointers about Studio Photography that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.

Introduction to Travel Photography

2006-02-09T19:02:00.000-06:00

Introduction to Travel PhotographyBy John S

If you’re a traveler and a photographer you’re blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime to capture moments in time from throughout the world and allow others to experience the world through your photography. Your adventures will become others dreams and inspiration. Often a particular photograph could make someone want to follow in your footsteps. Just one photograph could trigger the travel bug in someone and the next thing you know, you, the photographer, and enhancing people’s lives through the use of your camera.

Besides the impact travel photography has on others, it’s also very rewarding to the travel photographer. Chances are you would have had a camera on you anyways, so why not apply the creative principles of art photography to help enhance the pictures you take.
How to take the best travel photographsThere are two types of travel photography.

1) The “stand in front of that sweetie” brand and the “spontaneous and interesting” brand. Unfortunately most travel photography falls into the former category. We’ve all seen this type of photographer before, and regrettably most of us are guilty of it as well. We will try and capture the shot of something for no other purpose than to just prove we were there. The result is an often scripted, uncomfortable, predictable and visually boring picture. These types of pictures clog photo albums. Page one; the family in front of a water fountain. Page 2; the family in front of a monument. Page 3; the family in front of a sign that says something only funny to tourist. Congratulations, you’ve taken the same shots, in the same position as thousands and sometimes millions of other people. Let’s now turn our attention to the other brand of travel photography, the spontaneous and interesting brand.

2) with this type of photography you are still free to capture the tourist site and you are still allowed to include yourself in the picture. However, there will be a stark difference in both composition and character engagement. Let’s say for example that you and your family have gone on a kayaking for the day. Some people may line the kayaks up, gear up and stand in front of the kayaks, throw their thumbs in the air and “click”. The picture is taken. When you get home to look at your shot you realize that the picture didn’t capture the peacefulness of kayaking, the calming backdrop of mountains or the scared look on sisters face when she had to duck under a log. You’ve simply captured proof that you’ve been there and done that. A better idea would be to have someone on shore (because you probably don’t want a camera in a kayak unless you’re very skilled), and have them take pictures of the action while its happening. Even if you have to recreate events, it is still better than the scripted and visually boring alternative. Obviously capturing the moment spontaneously is best, but recreation finds itself in second place if that’s the only other option.

Likewise if you’re in Rome and you’d like to get a picture of your friend and the Coliseum all in one, try quickly pulling out your camera while they are looking at the size of the structure and snap a shot of the wonder and curiosity in their eyes. Often this takes some preplanning with however you’re with. You will need to tell them; “Look, when I take out the camera I don’t want you to stop what you’re doing and “say cheese”. Just keep doing what you’re doing because I’m trying to capture our unpredictable and beautiful life as it unfolds”. It may take a couple of times before they stop turning and looking your way, but once you get this down pat as a team, your pictures will turn out much better.
John S Stare Online Photography School http://www.starephotography.com

Buying Your Child A Digital Camera - What You Need To Know

2006-02-08T00:01:00.000-06:00

Buying Your Child A Digital Camera - What You Need To KnowBy Kevin Rockwell

Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing task. You can never be sure whether they will like what you buy for them or not. So, when you want to buy a digital camera for your little kids, then there are lots of things, which you must know, which will help you (hopefully!) to get the right camera for your child.

One of the most important things for children is that the digital camera should be one of the latest available in the market. If it has been heavily advertised and people are talking about it, then it is even better. This gives children a sense of pride and also allows them to ‘show-off’ their possession to their friends.

Another factor, which is critical for children, is that the camera must look good. This is very, very important to them. It does not matter whether it has a big screen or small screen, whether it is 2 mega pixel or 1.5 mega pixel – the camera should have a smart shape, come in flashy colors or it can also look cute or funky. But, the camera should not look ‘boring’ or very ‘serious’ in nature. However good the functions might be, if the camera does not look good, it is most likely that your choice will get rejected.

The size is also important. Most children will definitely prefer a digital camera that is small and compact in size. The weight and size should be such that they are able to easily put the camera in their pocket or hang it by a string. Large and bulky models, even if they have better features are not advisable for children.

It is also necessary to remember that even though you might gift your child a digital camera to click photographs for school projects, they will be using it to take pictures of their friends. So, look for some ‘fun’ features in the digital camera. These can include colorful background images or sound effects, photographic effects that they can use to enhance the images taken by them.
One more thing is ease of use. It is important that the camera has a simple system through which children can easily take pictures quickly. However, you really do not need to worry about this aspect a lot because today’s children have been born in the digital era. They are able to pick up things much faster than you or me, so as long as the camera is good in all other aspects, even if its ‘click ability’ is a little confusing, it does not really matter. They are fast learners these days!

Last but not the least, is the price. While buying a digital camera for your child, it is understandable that you really do not want to spend a lot of money. There are lots of choices available in the market today. The price range starts from as low as $30 and can go up to $300. So, it really depends on how much you would like to spend on the camera. Start simple and upgrade if they grow out of the digital camera that you buy for them. Hey share them with the whole family!

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports. http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Rockwell

How To Make A Time-Lapse Video With Your Digital Video Camera

2006-01-28T19:08:00.000-06:00

How To Make A Time-Lapse Video With Your Digital Video Camera By Kevin Rockwell

Getting the most out of your digital video camera can mean being able to create some really cool stuff. You just have to step outside the manual a bit and find the cool things you can do with your digital video camera and your editing software.

We have all seen them in a movie or a TV show, those very cool shots where they speed up time and capture a long segment of time and condense it into a very short amount of video. My very favorite example of this technique was an arty movie of many years ago that was called Koyaanisqatsi. (view trailer) In that movie they had some very interesting segments where they did time lapse effects to show driving on a bridge, flowers growing, clouds flying by and so on. Another example is many of the TV news stations nowadays have a camera that captures the day’s weather and then they process it down to a 20 second clip to show the clouds and weather racing by on screen.

Well this technique is not just a tool in the hands of the movie makers or the big TV stations. You can do this with your digital video camera gear too. I will go into two ways that you can accomplish this effect and get some cool results for your next video project. This one is worth playing around with in order to find the right settings to get the most dramatic effect.

Technique number one is to use the camera itself to do the time lapse recording for you. Almost all digital video cameras have the ability to do an interval recording. What this means in a nutshell is that you tell the camera how long you want to record for and how long in between recordings and it will go on autopilot for you for as long as the battery lasts or the tape runs out. This is what those cameras at the convenience store do, they record a few seconds of motion every 30-60 seconds giving the overall view of the traffic in the store over time.

Now if you want to capture some time lapse in your digital video camera you will need to get into your cameras menu and find Interval Recording (or in my case Int Rec, as I use a Sony PD 150 for my camera) When you select this option you will decide how long of an interval between shots you want and how long to record each time. If you are trying to capture something that takes a long time to occur and in which not much happens quickly you will want to set the interval at around a minute and the record time as short as possible on your camera. An example would be if you wanted to record a day in the life of a flower or the clouds rolling by in the sky. Suppose however that you want to capture an event that has lots of action and occurs over a much shorter time frame. Then you would want to shorten the interval between recordings and increase the time of each recording. So in this case you might record every 15-30 seconds and record up to 2-3 seconds of video each time.

I used this technique to capture an afternoon of work being done by a team of carpenters on my house remodeling project. The result was a flurry of activity as workers raced hither and yon nailing boards, carrying equipment and building walls. I have added it to my photo collection of the project. (Hey I had to live through the project so I might as well have a great record of it for posterity!)

Now suppose you have one of the great software video editing packages on your computer to work with your digital video camera. Now you can do it in post as they say in the business. You can record any length of video you want (subject to the limitations of your tape length) and then import it into your editing program.

Sidebar:
I use Adobe Premiere Pro for my editing jobs, but I have also used Avid DV Express, Final Cut Pro, and others in the non linear editing world. These are all great programs and are very powerful products that can create some very professional looking videos. You don’t have to have these products to create your own videos but if you are serious about digital video editing it might be a good idea to take a look at these options.

I digitize my raw video of the scene I am doing time lapse on into my computer (big hard drive, video eats up GB’s of space) and then import the clip into my time line. From th3e timeline you can then select the clip with a right click. From there you will be given a menu with options depending on the software you use. Select the option that says “duration”, “speed” or something similar. Change the speed of the clip so that time will speed up considerably. If you have an hour of video in the clip and want to shorten it to 2 -5 minutes then you need to increase the speed of the clip to 3 or 4 thousand percent of normal. This will require your software to render the clip at the higher speed and may take some time top process depending on the speed of your computer.

Once you have rendered the video clip at the new speed you will want to play it to see if the movie flows evenly or if you will want to readjust the speed setting to make it better. Sometimes you may want to shorten your raw video and adjust the speed down somewhat in order to get a smooth flow of action. Once you have rendered the clip at the new speed you can now cut and splice it as you see fit with the speeded up action intact. There are some things you will record that might only need a slight speed change, take for instance some digital video of your kids playing sports. Double or triple the speed of the clip and show it to them and you might have them rolling on the floor.
You can also use these techniques to capture the growth of a flower or plant over the course of days or weeks. Simply set you camera in exactly the same place at the same time each day and record an interval that works each day fro however long you want to document.

May be you get the seedling just breaking soil and follow it all the way through turning into a full grown plant.
Another interesting idea is to capture the path of the moon across the night sky. Set up your camera on a tripod in a spot that can see the path of the moon for several hours. Set the camera to interval record and put the moon on one side of the frame so that it will pass across the frame as the night passes. This one may require some testing in order to get the exposure and framing right as well as the right interval to record at.

Most likely you would want to set the interval as long as you can and the record time as short as you can but do a test run first to see what works.
I can’t stress enough that using your digital video camera can be great fun and you can achieve some cool results. Play around and test. You just might find yourself creating some very creative digital video to share with the rest of the world.

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of cool and interesting things all the time. http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

How Many Pixels Make A Good Print?

2006-01-25T23:49:00.000-06:00

How Many Pixels Make A Good Print? By Ziv Haparnas

One of the more common dilemmas for people is choosing the paper size for printing their photos. Everybody knows that if your digital camera does not produce enough pixels (or actually megapixels) printing its photos on a large paper size will yield poor quality and you will be able to see the actual pixels (also known as pixelation)

So how many megepixels do I really need in order to print on a specific paper size? there is no one right answer for that. The actual quality of the print depends on many factors other than the number of pixels. For example the paper quality itself the printing process that is used the lighting conditions when the photo was taken the photo itself (i.e. portraits are different than scenery) and much more.

However a rough estimation of how good a picture will be based on the number of pixels can be calculated and is actually pretty easy to do. When evaluating how good a print will be there is a measurement that is simple to use and provides a good estimation for the quality - it is called DPI (dots per inch). DPI is actually the number of pixels along one inch. To get a good print you would need a certain DPI (on both X and Y axis).

Experiments show that the following qualities are usually associated with a specific DPI number:
DPI 100 - fair to badDPI 200 - goodDPI 300 - very good

So all we need to do now is to figure out for each paper size how many megapixels translate to those DPI numbers. To calculate this we need to simply multiply the page length by its width in inches. The result is the number of square inches on the page. Now multiply this number by the square of the DPI number and the result is the number of pixels on the page which is the number of pixels we want our source photo to have. Here are the numbers calculated for some common sizes (for 100,200 and 300 DPI respectively):

page 4X6 0.24MP 1MP 2MPpage 5X7 0.35MP 1.5MP 3MP page 8X10 0.8MP 3MP 7MP page 11X14 1.5MP 6MP 14MPpage 16X20 3MP 12MP 28MP page 20X30 6MP 24MP 54MP
Again we would like to emphasize that these are just ballpark numbers. Factors like the ones mentioned above and also like the compression ratio used (low or high compression) and the aspect ratio difference between the paper and the camera can result in a need for more or less pixels. Our best advice is if you are not sure just try one or two photos before printing a large batch.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the link is included. You can find more information about photo printing on http://www.printrates.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ziv_Haparnas

Props For the Studio

2006-01-22T19:45:00.000-06:00

Props For the Photography Studio By Kenneth Hoffman

There is a never ending quest for a ‘different’ look in the portraits we take. One easy way to inject interest in a portrait is to add a prop or two to the scene,. After a few years, you may have too many props adorning the walls, floor and ceiling and you may have to discard some and make new ones.

Some of my favorite props have been and 1890s tricycle, a 1910 iron and wood sleigh, a white wicker sleigh/bassinette and a couple of faux marble columns. The wicker sleigh made it easy to prop up wobbly babies and when leveled with foam and a blanket, supplied a nice base for tummy shots. Of course we couldn’t do without the ubiquitous baseball.

The marble columns came plain white plastic so I painted them to simulate real marble. First I prepared four buckets with white, light gray, darker gray and black water paint. Latex is fine. I placed the bare column on a large plastic sheet and quickly painted one side of the column with the white paint. A handy hose set at fine mist then wets down the Wet paint. Applications of the light and dark gray latex and sprayed with water allows the colors to blend naturally. After all sides are completed, a feather dipped in black latex and drawn randomly along the surface supplies the final touch. A c oat of clear acrylic will protect the surface for many years.

For Communions, I cut a 30 inch circle out of heavy cardboard. Making an X from two rectangular pieces of cardboard, I stapled the circle on top, creating an instant round table. Cutting a piece of white Dacron for a table cloth that just reaches the ground results in beautiful natural folds. On top can be placed a bouquet of flowers, a candle, missal or white gloves and placed in the near background of the Communion picture.

One photography prop that has many uses is white nylon tulle. Used to cover flower arrangements, antique boxes or any accessories in the background, it imparts to these artifacts a smoky ethereal atmosphere. The lowered contrast and softening of detail allows more emphasis to be placed on the main subject while adding interest to the composition. The white tulle is especially effective on a near white background. Large amounts of tulle can represent clouds or water.

For a rustic look, several four foot weathered barn boards can make a country look background for children’s portraits head shots. This easily made prop can be stored in a small area. A small section of white picket fence can be part of a beach scene or a Huckleberry country look. An eighteen inch long log with rough bark provides a handy place for young feet or to straddle. A taller log is handy for resting elbows and log sitting.

Try to use only one prop at a time and follow a central theme.
Retired portrait photographer. Where are your comments?
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenneth_Hoffman

Amateur Photojournalism and Moral Dilemma

2006-01-16T21:25:00.000-06:00

Amateur Photojournalism and Moral Dilemma By Eric Hartwell

Many of us have visions of producing that “once in a lifetime” image. This may be one that you have struggled to perfect – a landscape or a certain portrait perhaps. Alternatively, it might be one that you have captured in a fit of “photojournalism”.

The latter is something we often wish to aspire to. Capturing an image at the moment of breaking news and then wiring it to some picture agency or even a local newspaper has the feel of professionalism and excitement about it. Seeing your image in print can work wonders for the psyche as well as accumulating that little bit extra in your bank balance.
But consider your actions. What pictures are you going to take, for what audience and where will you send them? More importantly, what are the consequences of your actions?

Imagine you are driving along the highway and you come across a car that has just burst into flames. It’s dramatic and you are first on the scene. What do you do? Do you get your camera out and start snapping away, knowing that you have an exclusive in the bag?
Or do you do what many would call the “honourable” thing and call for help and perhaps administer valuable assistance to the poor occupants of the car, some of which might be severely injured or even worse.

It’s a moral dilemma which could land you in trouble. Moreover, it could play on your conscience in the future if anybody did come to serious harm whilst you were there taking pictures when you could be offering aid and succour.

Perhaps leave photojournalism to the professionals in certain circumstances?
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.

Identifying A Good Digital Photography Camera

2006-01-07T00:11:00.000-06:00

Identifying A Good Digital Photography Camera ReviewBy Rika Susan

Doing your homework before deciding on a digital camera? You are going about it in the right way if you make use of the many professional reviews available on the internet.
But then you will want to be careful about rating the reviews themselves, as some take a genuine, in depth and objective look at the camera, whereas others are little more than marketing exercises by agents!

The reviews you will find about some of the very latest digital cameras are often based on pre-production models made available to the reviewers. In most cases this should present no problem, as the reviewers who get hold of these cameras are generally knowledgeable individuals and will point out any potential problems that still need sorting out.
When you read a digital photography camera review, make sure that the reviewer looks into the following issues for the sake of comparison and thoroughness:

How many pixels: is it a 5MP or 6MP or 8MP camera? What is the size of the image sensor (CCD)? How does it compare to other cameras in the same range? Remember, the number of pixels is not the only important aspect for a better image - you also have to check the size of the CCD.

What file formats are supported? Only JPEG or also RAW? Many photographers are now waking up to the post-processing possibilities of RAW files, and you may want to have that option available!

Does the camera have an auto-focus assist lamp for low lighting conditions? Without it you are often fairly restricted in low light situations.
How about batteries? A proprietary battery can hav
e a very effective lifespan, but they tend to be expensive - and you do need a backup for when on the road or in the mountains. Many excellent digital prosumer cameras such as the Olympus SP500 Ultra Zoom work on simple AA batteries which you can easily replace when in trouble!

If you buy a good prosumer camera with which you want to do some experimenting (and being able to experiment is a major plus of having a digital camera in the first place!) you will want to know that you have a manual focus option for those tricky situations...

What is mentioned regarding the camera's manual settings: can you set shutter priority, or aperture priority? Do you have full manual control over the most important aspects of exposure? It will be a pity when you start shooting away and trying new things you never dared with your film camera (costs!) only to find out you have virtually no manual control!
Ensure that the digital photography camera review you're reading points out the important optical (real!) zoom capabilities - and not only gloat about the digital zoom facility - which is sometimes little more than a cropping tool!

Lastly: compare not only cameras but also reviews, and shop around for the most informed opinion before you decide on the camera...
For more information visit http://www.Best-Digital-Photography.com. Rika Susan researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2005 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box - including the link - is left intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rika_Susan

Don't Forget to Finish Your Photographic Projects

2006-01-02T16:52:00.000-06:00

Don't Forget to Finish Your Photographic Projects By Eric Hartwell

Sometimes it can be hard to get going with your photography and it can take an age before your images are created in the camera. But sometimes, just sometimes, although it is possible to get started, it takes an age to get actually finished.

Have you ever taken the trouble to capture what you believe to be a great image only to let it lie on the memory card for ages? Or perhaps you have uploaded images to your computer without taking the time or trouble to review them. Or what about the case where you have uploaded, reviewed, edited and contemplated but not printed?

We all have these “blocks” and most of the time don’t worry about them. Perhaps we are liable to just forget about the latest project or are too lazy to be bothered to complete a task.
Well, you may not be too concerned, and I truly believe that you should never get stressed about your photography, but consider your actions.

If you have gone to the trouble of capturing an image, surely you owe it to yourself to upload and deal with them rather than leaving them lie fallow? And, how many images are awaiting treatment that are really rather good or, in some cases, downright brilliant?

If you take your hobby seriously, you should consider dealing with all your images even if it is just to edit or remove them. Much of your work will have personal attributes and remind you of a day, a place, a person. With luck and good judgement, many of your images will be suitable for sharing either with family or friends or perhaps in online galleries, forums or competitions.
Images: if you take them, use them!
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.

Photography - The Digital Age

2006-01-01T22:15:00.000-06:00

Photography - The Digital Age by: David Rose
The traditional world of photography and cameras has recently been turned on its head by the introduction of modern technology, which has spawned a whole new type of photography - namely digital photography.

Whilst traditional film-based photography made it difficult for photographers such as photo-journalists to get their photos processed quickly enough for the current news due to a complex processing procedure, digital photography has the advantage of being fast and inexpensive as well as introducing video and audio into the world of stillness.
Some people predict that the end is nigh for traditional film-based photography - a belief strengthened by the fact that Kodak - a major player in the photographic industry since its inception early last century - has now stopped producing 35mm cameras. Others, however, believe that traditional photography methods will live on despite the rise of digital photography.
About The Author

David Rose is an internet junkie who helps keep photographers armed with the latest resources at: http://photography-info.com

School's out for the summer.. . school's out forever!"

2005-12-28T14:59:00.000-06:00

"School's out for the summer.. . school's out forever!" - Alice Cooper
It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since we played Alice Cooper's song over and over again at graduation. It's amazing to me how it's still played across the country every year at graduation time.

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers' dirty looks."
So congratulations! You made it through 12-plus years of public your brains intact. For 12 years they have told you where to be and what to take, with bells to remind you where to go next.
Rarely in life will everything be so neatly laid out for you again. Unless you join the military.
So now what? Some of you may have that all laid out and planned as well. Good for you. Others aren't so sure.

What you have really accomplished is that you have earned your beginning "ticket" for the rest of your life.

Here's what I mean.
My family moved to Orlando in 1971, six months before Disney World opened. Back then you didn't just pay one general admission and ride anything you wanted.
You had to buy a coupon book, with tickets that ranged from A to E. An A ticket would get you on all the little stuff like Dumbo's Wild Ride or the carousel. You had to use an E ticket to get on things like The Haunted Mansion or 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

It's much the same with education and life. By passing all those courses that you may never use (it's true), you have gotten your A, maybe even your B ticket for life.
Those who don't get this far stand a fair chance of spending a good part of their working lives saying "Would you like fries with that, ma'am?" or "Do you prefer paper or plastic, sir?"
What you do next can increase or limit the range of options you have in life. As you consider what your next move might be, think about this quote:

"If you do now what other people are not willing to do, you will be able to do later what other people can't do."
And here are a few words for the parents of the graduates. I trust by now you realize that the world they are about to enter is dramatically different than the one we entered 30 or more years ago.

As you prepare to launch your child/young adult into the world, remember the words of Mark Twain: "When I was 17, I thought my old man was the dumbest person in the world. Then when I turned 21, it was amazing how much he had learned in four years."
They will still have difficulty listening to you. They will make mistakes. Give them room to do both of those things and to find their way back to you when they need you.
And they will.

It's also time for parents to begin to shift their focus a bit. Instead of concentrating on what you might want to make them do, begin to consider what you are going to do.
In closing, here are a few more tips for the graduate. Although you may have a dress rehearsal for graduation, there is no dress rehearsal for life. This is live and real.
Before you receive that diploma, find someone who invested in your life during these past four years and simply thank them.

You'll make their day, or more.

Visit http://www.parentingyourteenager.com/ for tips and tools for thriving during the teen years. For regular weekly tips you can subscribe to our f-ree from parenting coach and expert Jeff Herring.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Herring

Are There Other Types Of Photography?

2005-12-27T22:07:00.000-06:00

Are There Other Types Of Photography?By Roy Barker

As we have discussed there are many avenues open to a professional photographer. Some actually graduate from the world of business into corporate photography. Corporate photography has many facets; it is used for publicity, in the form of advertisements; for public relations, for historical purposes, and for in-house brochures. Some corporate photographers can work for the same company for many years. They cover special events in the companies’ history, as well as being as in some cases an important aspect of industrial history. The history of the steamboat, the transition from the Agrarian to the Industrial revolution has all been captured on film.

Not only industrial history but history has been captured on film. War photographers usually by press photographers’ have captured history.

In the 1940’s Ansel Adam’s was probably the best-known American photographer. He captured images of the enforced internment of American citizen’s of Japanese descent at the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California. These prints record history in another way as the Photographic Division of the Library of Congress show digital scans of his negatives as well as his prints; this allows a student to study his dark room techniques.

The art of action photography is a specialised art that presents unique challenges, requiring both technical skills in capturing a moving image, as well as knowledge of the activity you are photographing. A sense of timing is vital as well as having the ability to pre-focus. Some types of photography has peak moments, such as the hour before dusk, action photography has peak milliseconds! Your sense of timing has to be well developed to know when this is going to be, because you have to shoot a millisecond before that to give the camera time to actually shoot. This is where knowledge of the activity is very helpful to allow you to anticipate the peak second. However, this is a very specialised aspect of the photography business, your techniques can be improved. Sport photography is easier than moving wildlife, or breaking news stories, as it is more predictable in its outcome. Common sense is fairly important with your positioning, you need an interesting backdrop, as well as a place that allows you to make best use of ambient light, be it also to keep yourself in a position of safety. The Pulitzer Prize for photography is no use to anyone when they are dead. Often these skills can be refined at amateur sporting events, where you do not need a press pass.

Another specialist type of photography is underwater photography, partly because you also need to be a qualified diver and partly because the equipment is specialised. It is possible to take shots underwater, with a normal camera, but amphibious cameras, get better results, unfortunately they are expensive, with a lot of things to learn and the possibility of very expensive repairs. As with action photography this is best left to the specialist and it is not a feasible option, unless you work in this media for the majority of your time. The sea can be a dangerous medium to work in, and it presents special challenges such as night, and wreck photography, as well as drift photography, all of which challenge both your diving skills as well as your technical skills.

Scientific photographers take images of a variety of subjects to illustrate or record scientific or medical data using knowledge of scientific procedures. They typically possess additional knowledge in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry. Often the photography of this type of record is an adjunct to a scientific career.

Assignment photography is the delivery of material for a specific assignment, often with limited appeal. It includes portrait photography, as well as wedding photography. Portrait photographers often have their own studios, as their clients come to them to have a formal portrait photographed. SLR digital cameras are often preferred to do this type of work, as there are more opportunities to “view real timework”, you do not have to wait for the negatives to be printed to see if you have created a shadow on the face with a hat. Also they can be retouched, pixel-by-pixel, which means the small time imperfections can be glossed over. The adage the camera does not lie has never been completely true, but in today’s world is even less so. A portrait photographer has the opportunity to go out on assignment and covers events such as weddings, and christenings.

Photo Journalism is another branch of photography that covers the breaking of various events; it can be general, on a local paper, covering local events such as school plays etc. International freelancers often cover specific areas such as war photography. Press photographers are often characterized under the banner of “journalism”, as they collect, edit and present news material, yet despite this they use images to tell a news story.

It is distinguished from documentary photography, street photography and the photographing of celebrities because they have a timeline in that they tell a story in a chronological order. A narrative to further complete the story nearly always accompanies the work. Implicit to a degree in this type of work is a level of objectivity rather than creativity, as the images are recording real events in real time. For these reasons it differs from a wedding photographer, even though in theory he covers an event in real time and for publication.
A further aspect of photography is the “celebrity” and “Society” photographer. The two are distinguishable, though the person being photographed can fall in both categories. The society photographer may be also a photojournalist himself.

In Europe at least the Society photographer, is nearly always of the same class, partly on the ground that they have the “breeding” to cover such events, which may be Wimbledon, or the Melbourne Cup, or even a charity-raising gala. It is implicit that the Photographer has permission to take the photograph. That's quite different to the inherent distaste often applied to the methods used by the celebrity photographer, whilst at the same time the public retain an insatiable desire to be able to see the photographs. Celebrity photographers are often these days called paparazzi, after a famous Italian photographer known for his dogged determination to trail after celebrities, and publish photographs taken in an unguarded moment.

Publisher & Author: Roy Barker. Roy is the author of the popular ebook, Income from Photography - a downloadable ebook. It can be viewed at photography business
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Barker

Setting up Portraiture

2005-12-26T21:35:00.000-06:00

Setting up Portraiture By Chris Thomas

Introduction
Portraiture is the 'bread and butter' of any professional photographer. Getting it 'right' is essential.
I once heard a professional artist - an oil painter - describe a successful portrait as one which told you something about the subject which you did not already know! I do believe there is something in this.
Capturing people in an unguarded and relaxed moment is possibly the trick.

Outdoor Portraits
Perhaps due to the warm summers that we have had over the past few years, I am finding that outdoor portraiture is becoming more popular.
For families, groups and for individuals this can be a great approach - using locations such as the back garden, a park or green fields - if you live in or near the country.
With this approach there is little point in using a backdrop - it is already there. However, make the backdrop unobtrusive - or an integral part of the study.

When I take an individuals portrait outdoors, and I have done this for several actors and professionals, I look for a green hedge, a nice neutral brick wall or a huge, slightly out of focus, green field to place behind the subject. The background is there - interesting in its texture perhaps - but of little consequence. Clearly the subject has to stand out from the background - so be careful with colour. A lady in a nice green office suit will not profile well against a hedge!
However the backdrop may be an essential feature of the photo. A farming family posed against a hay rick, with a few bales acting as seating props for the more senior members of the family.
I can offer two main tips concerning Lighting Outdoor Portraits. Firstly beware of sunshine! Amateurs always think that bright sunshine is an ideal photo environment. The reverse is true. Bright but even light giving few if any shadows is ideal. Bright overhead sunshine - referred to as 'top light' by professional photographers, leads to shiny foreheads and deep dark eye sockets - very unflattering. In those instances put the subjects in shade - under a tree or some such place.

The above point illustrates the need for example when taking a wedding to have prepared for all contingencies beforehand in finding an appropriate location.
Further, midday clear skies produce blue light, and early morning or late evening sunshine yellow light - be aware of this! Set the colour temperature of the digital camera correctly or use a correcting filter in film work. Or use the colour cast to your advantage.

Secondly use a flash.
I cannot remember using free standing lighting in an outdoor location. But I usually use flash. Why - to give the subjects a 'key light' in their eyes - which ads vibrancy and intimacy to the picture. The flash will also fill in those dark corners where daylight is not penetrating.
Indoor Portraits
I carry lights and backdrop in my working vehicle. So I can create a studio in my client's home within 15 minutes!

Successful indoor portraiture cannot be achieved with on camera flash. This creates deep shadows and look very amateur. Studio lights are essential.
The backdrop is optional. Some customers like to have a neutral photographic background for their study. Others like to feature their home. Both will require lighting.
When lighting beware of mirrors, glass fronted frames and shiny objects which will pick up the flash!
I generally use three lights for indoor portraiture. A soft light from the left, a soft light from the right at reduced intensity, and a low level 'key light' at my rear. The light from the left will illuminate the subject, the light from the right will fill in the shadows and the key light will provide that all important glint in the eye.

Some photographers try to get very sophisticated with other lighting combinations. However, in my experience, when invited into people's homes to take a set of portraits I recon one has an hour to get the job done! A quarter hour to set up, half and hour to take the shots, and a quarter hour to do the paperwork and get the equipment out. I try not to overstay my welcome and get on the clients nerves!

Studio Portraiture
Studio portraiture is easier for me because I do not have to set up - the equipment is already there.
But while I am in my familiar environment, the client group is not! So take care to relax and familiarise them as to where things are and what to do.

In the studio I use the same basic lighting combination as I would use in peoples homes. This keeps things simple. A range of backdrops should be available from the fashionable pure white through plain colours to traditional multi coloured photo canvases.

The sitting will probably last no more than a half hour to an hour and the customer should have been briefed as to what clothes to bring and changes of clothes which might be required.
What comes out of this is that clients need to be briefed before they leave their homes. Clothes, changes, time, location etc. This highlights the advantages of a home based shoot where everything the customer wants is to hand.

Photographing the Professional Actors and Actresses, Models, Politicians and Corporate Giants are a group of customers who want something special.
They want a special shot - something different. And they are prepared to be patient and experiment to get a distinguished result.
Innovative lighting using lights behind the subject to highlight hair, the use of coloured gels on lamps to provide effects, unusual poses or particular props might be required or desired.
These subject will spend half a day in the studio to achieve something which they want and which will be valuable to them.
This is playtime for the photographer. However, I always get a set of standard shots off first in order to have something in the bag in case the imaginative approach backfires!

Photographing Groups
From Dinner Dances to School Proms the attendant photographer is expected to be able to capture the shot - be it a couple or a group of twenty friends.
In these instances I select - or have been allocated! - an appropriate spot and either set up a backdrop or use a feature of the environment.
In these instances where I may be photographing a very diverse grouping I put up three lights as before, left, right and a light behind me. They are all set at similar levels to provide an even coverage of the area in front of me - such that however many subject that I have, they are evenly lit.

Posing the Subjects
A complex subject and could occupy a book. This is one of the areas where the innovation and inspiration of the photographer comes to the fore. Since many decisions are made on the fly and adapting to a situation it is difficult to make rules.

A few basics:
Have the subjects stand at an angle to the camera - not facing it. This presents a more interesting profile. But the subjects should look into the camera lens. Except for the couple who might look into each other's eyes!

Have a range of seats and stools available. When twenty people appear wanting to me photographed together, arrange them tightly using stools for the ladies - even getting some - gents? - to kneel on the floor - football team style.
Setting up The Lights
I use high power studio flash lights - both on location and in the studio itself. They are readily available from several manufacturers.
I very rarely point the lights at the subject! They are too harsh and bright! The only time I do this is in a hall when photographing an orchestra or very large group when I need the light coverage.

Pointing the lamps away from the subject I fit white umbrellas, which reflect a lower and softer light towards the subject.

All of the lights I use are able to slave. That is, when turned on, a light will fire itself if it detects a flash from another unit. This saves a great deal of wiring on location - and in the studio! I need only connect the camera to one light and the rest of the lights will slave.

Getting the Exposure Right
When taking outdoor portraits I use the programmed function of the camera most of the time. The camera is sophisticated enough to take into account the small amount of additional light from the on camera flash.

In the studio, or in the home environment when using lights, I set the camera to manual mode and select one 60th or 100th of a second shutter speed to synchronise with the lights and freeze and motion. Then an aperture of F8 or F16 to give a reasonable depth of field. Following this I set up each light with a flash meter such that I get the overall balance of light I require.

In Conclusion
Portrait photography is a very broad subject and requires much experimentation and experience to get good results every time. Find a patient sitter who can be paid off with a free portfolio!

Christopher Thomas is both keen photographer and company director of Viewlink Ltd based in Amersham, Uk. The company focusses on digital photo developing for both amateur and commercial photographers. For more articles by Christopher Thomas please visit the company website at http://www.view-link.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Thomas

How to Get into a Top UK University Even If You Don't Have the Right Qualifications

2005-12-14T21:38:00.000-06:00

How to Get into a Top UK University Even If You Don't Have the Right Qualifications by: Tony Radford
How to Get into a Top UK University Even If You Don't Have the Right Qualifications
If you have a strong desire to study at a UK university, but do not have the necessary qualifications, this short article describes the perfect route for you.
The Way In
Many universities provide a training course called a Foundation Year. The Foundation Year provides essential preparation for a chosen course of study and also covers areas such as IT skills, maths and numeracy, academic and studying methods and communication skills.
Some Foundation Year courses provide English language preparation, to ensure your English is up to the required academic standard. Most Foundation Year programmes have a minimum language skill requirement, although many universities provide English language training.
A Foundation Course provides you with all the basic skills you need to gain access to a UK University course. Many Foundation Courses even guarantee you a place on the degree course you are aiming for, provided of course that you achieve the required standards in the Foundation Year.
You should definitely consider a Foundation Year if you do not have the necessary qualifications to gain entry to a degree course.
Typical Entry Requirements
Foundation Year entry requirement vary from university to university, so you must find out what is required at the university you are considering. However, there are some basic requirements:
* Most Foundation Year courses require you to be at least 18 years old.
* You must be able to prove that you have completed Secondary education in your home country.
* English - The English language requirement is likely to be at least IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 525. Some Universities provide English courses.
* Maths - You should have the equivalent of at least a Grade D in Mathematics at GCSE level.
* You must of course have a strong desire to succeed in your chosen area of study and any evidence of your desire will be very helpful in your application.
* Some 'life experience' may be required for certain courses.
What Can You Study?
Foundation Year courses are available in an very wide range of disciplines including:
- Business, Marketing, Accountancy - Law - Social Science, Humanities, Arts - Hospitality, Consumer Technology, Leisure - Science and Engineering - Information Technology, Computing - Food and Health - Joint Honours Programmes
A Foundation Year is often organised into course units, designed to prepare you for your intended course. Some units are mandatory, others optional, many will be specified by the degree course you are preparing for.
Foundation Year Mentoring
Some Universities offer a Foundation Year mentoring scheme. A mentor is a volunteer who offers confidential help and guidance based on their experience. The mentor relationship can be very helpful.
How Do You Apply ?
First you should decide which degree you wish to study at University.
Then you should identify the University or universities offering a Foundation Year course that is the appropriate preparation for degree you have chosen. The
Then you need to apply for a place on the Foundation Year through the University & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This is the university applications processing organisation in the UK and all applications for university places, including Foundation Year, go through UCAS www.ucas.ac.uk
Summary
A Foundation Year is all about giving you the chance to gain a place in a English University. For many it is a second chance – the chance to develop, the change to get a degree, the chance to get on that first rung of the ladder to success.
About The Author
Tony Radford
Manchester Metropolitan University offers a very successful and substantial Foundation Year programme and welcomes applications to courses from overseas students. Click http://www.mmu.ac.uk/international/courses/foundation.php here for full inform

Composition - Improving Technique at the Picture-taking Stage

2005-12-10T21:46:00.000-06:00

Out of all the steps involved in taking a photograph, the one that creates most impact is correct composition. It is also the one that is the most fun and where you are likely to have the greatest control. It follows, then, that getting composition right in the viewfinder at the time of shooting will yield the best results with regard to the final image.

So, how can you ensure great composition and a great image?
fill the viewfinder: if your subject is too far away, get closer; if it is too near, move further back. Alternatively, use a zoom lens to alter the relative size of the subject in the viewfinder
avoid empty space: look around in the viewfinder and only choose to shoot when you are certain all the elements you require are in view
don't just look at the subject: check the background and the foreground. Are there unsightly objects or distractions? If so, what can you do about it?

Moving your subject might be an option. Otherwise you can either remove the distractions or shoot from a different angle
check your viewfinder: next time you have your camera to your eye, look around at the whole field of view in the viewfinder. Look at the edges, the top and bottom and both sides. It is so easy just to focus in on the subject without being aware of the huge spaces around it
isolate your subject: anything near to the subject will create a distraction. You can isolate it in a number of ways: move the subject or move the distractions; use a larger aperture to throw the foreground an background out of focus; wait until the surroundings get clearer (e.g. when taking pictures in crowds); get in close
turn your camera: most cameras have a rectangular screen and picture taking capability. Most shots will be in landscape format (with the long sides of the image at the top and bottom resulting in a postcard-shaped image).

If you turn the camera 90 degrees you then have "portrait" view. Try using this for some of your subjects and see what difference it makes
Many of these steps may seem simple, but you will be surprised how many photographers ignore basic rules. By thinking about your composition when you take your photography, you will enhance the potential of the final image and improve your photographic skills.
Eric Hartwell is an enthusiastic photographer and owner of the photography resource site The Shutter. He would pleased to hear from anyone who might wish to become involved in the site - email click here to send email
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Hartwell

Portraits: Prepare First

2005-12-10T21:44:00.000-06:00

The golden rule when taking pictures of people is to always think about what you are doing before you press the shutter release. What do you hope to achieve? Is the image being taken for record purposes (that would make it a formal shot) or is it to display the personality of the sitter?

Pressing the shutter release in a haphazard manner will lead to uninteresting and poorly thought out shots. Neither you nor your subject will be pleased with the results.
Think about a number of issues first:

- What makes the subject interesting? – does your subject have a part of their personality that you wish to show – are they relaxed, happy, serious, austere, cheeky and so on. Or are they being snapped to depict a trait or a connection – for example a picture detailing their occupation, sport or interests?

- Is the arrangement appropriate? – there’s no point having an interesting subject with a competing background. Clear clutter and make your background and environment suit the sitter.

A teacher would look at home behind (or sitting on) a desk or surrounded by books. A basketball player wouldn’t. A child would be best placed near to toys, games and bright colors but your grandmother would wish a more mature and homely environment around her.
You could always choose a large aperture to blur out the background or place a white sheet behind the sitter to make the background neutral.
- Can you use props? – a pen, a book, a chair, a flower – something to make the subject feel more relaxed and to give the viewer a connection with the subject. Props can be very useful ways of enhancing a portrait.
- Is the lighting correct? – shots of females and children often look best with diffused light. Watch out for harsh shadows cast by angled lighting and always have a reflector ready to bring light into shadow areas.
Rugged faces look startling with harder and angled lighting whereas smoother faces look better with softer more flattering light.
Prepare yourself before the shooting begins.
Eric Hartwell is an enthusiastic photographer. He owns and runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums http://www.theshutter.co.uk/forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com Anyone interested in getting involved contact him at shutter@theshutter.co.uk

Make-Up Tips for Portraits

2005-11-26T00:09:00.000-06:00

Photography make up is slightly different from daily make up applications. Here are some pointers -
Lighting:
Use natural lighting – for example, near a big window with lights coming in
If photography is taking place outdoors, do so around 4pm to 5pm, when the sun is about to set. Soft lighting makes a person better
Preparing the face:

Wash, exfoliate, tone and moisturize your face before applying make up
Oil control is very important. If you can, use oil free formulated products
Keep hair away from the face
To reduce puffy eyes, use Preparation H

Foundation:
Choose a thicker formulated foundation rather than the sheers ones that are used in daily applications so that all blemishes are covered easily
Blend foundation from chin to neck so that they are of the same colour

Powder:
Use lots of it, and reapply between shots, to create a mat finish look
Concealer:
2 shades lighter than skin to cover blemishes and dark spots; apply before foundation application

Contouring:
Contour cheeks and eyes to create a sculpted look
Use foundation in a shade that is 2 to 3 shades darker than normal skin tone
Eyes:
Highlight eyebrow bones using light shadow to create lively eyes
Avoid eyeshadow that is too frosty or shimmery – it’ll appear shiny
Apply eyeliner with precision
Use waterproof mascara
Overall application needs to be than normal make up
Lips:
Use lipstick and liner of same colour, in a shade darker than natural lip colour
Noelle Wong sees and unveils beauty in people. She is the owner of iN-IMAGE! Inc., a personal image consulting company in Toronto that offers one-on-one consultations and workshops to help people increase their personal presence. For inquiries please contact her at noelle@in-image.com. Visit her website at http://www.in-image.com

2005-11-15T01:56:00.000-06:00

wedding+favors articles

Additionally, your pictures are guaranteed to turn out better
if you like the photographer.
Another key aspect about your
photographer is their ability to use natural light in their
photographs.Natural light is perhaps the hardest and yet most rewarding
lighting a
photographer can work with.Used
correctly, and the photographs will inspire emotions and feelings in the
viewer that are nearly impossible to recreate with a studio lit
photograph.Or used incorrectly and you will end up with a snapshot.Ask
the photographer to see their portfolio or gallery of
On-Location Photographs.
The next thing to do is choose a place, weather, time or all three.This may be a bit trickier.Everyone has their personal favorite place
that holds deep meaning for them.Often these places are beaches,
mountains, the desert or even a time of year or a type of weather.Usually these places bring out a passion and a certain beauty in a person
that is unique to their experience in that location.There in lies the
magic of
On-Location Portrait Photography.
To find such a place you may need to spend some time thinking about
what inspires you as a person, family, couple etc.Do you love to go
beach combing together?Does riding a horse make you feel free?Does the
city inspire you?Or maybe the deep blue sky at 7000 feet is your
inspiration.These are the things you need to think about before choosing
a location.If a place eludes you, yet you know the feeling you want to
capture, use your photographer's knowledge of their location surroundings.
For example, Southern California and the Palm Springs area specifically
contain some of the most stunning natural areas in the world.Ranging
from the surreal windmills along I-10, the 8000 foot peaks surrounding the
desert, the majesty of Joshua Tree and Santa Rosa National Monuments, the
dunes of Kelso, the Pacific Beaches to the desolation of the Salton Sea,
Southern California has plenty to choose from.
Once you have your
photographer and your location, plan the
date.If you would like to have your make-up done professionally,
schedule an early morning appointment at a make-up counter or a salon.If
the location requires permits now is the time to get them, not the day
before.Got maps?Don't get lost.
The time of day is absolutely critical to the quality of light
available to you at your location.Typically the best light is either
early morning or late afternoon/evening.Make sure your
photographer knows the location you have chosen and knows the
light at different times of day.Work with them to plan the timing to
capture the best light time possible.
The day before your photography session eat well and get good sleep.Being tired and hungry on a long hike definitely shows up in pictures.
On the day of make sure you and your
photographer are well prepared for the elements of your
location.Bring water, some extra food, extra clothing and any portable
beauty items you may need.Make it a great fun day and you'll come back with some amazing pictures
to mark this time in your life.
For more information about On-Location Portraiture in Southern
California contact the author, Scott Campbell
http://www.scottcampbellphotography.com. About the Author
Scott Campbell is a published, exhibited, award winning, professional
photographer based in the Palm Springs area. He has a fine arts degree, 15
years creative experienc

2005-11-15T01:36:00.002-06:00

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants

Depending on your tastes and faiths, you can often find a judge, a Catholic priest to marry you outdoors, a Rabbi to officiate at an interfaith wedding, a non-denominational officiant who encourages you to write your own vows, and so on. How to find officiants A good national directory for finding Catholic officiants is www.rentapriest.com. If you're stuck for ideas, try asking vendors. Your florist or caterer is probably well acquainted with local options. Another excellent way to find officiants is to visit a large wedding forum, like The Knot, and post on boards for your local geographic area. You can often get an idea of the flavor, preparedness, flexibility and even appearance of a popular local officiant. When should you book an officiant? Some officiants book early. If you're really particular about whom you want to do the service and can't budge on the date, try to book more than six months in advance. Some couples book a year ahead. How much do officiants charge? A minister at your own church may not charge anything at all, but may accept donations. In that case, a $100-200 donation is about average. Ask the minister yourself if there's any doubt. An officiant you engage yourself will set his or her own rates. Rates generally range

2005-11-15T01:36:00.001-06:00

Lighting the Way when Two Become One

Now, join the two flames together and look at the single flame. The united flame is taller, stronger and brighter than the sum of the two individual flames. Isn't that what marriage is supposed to be�a single unit stronger than the sum of its parts? The most traditional of the variations on the theme is the tall, thick white candle in the center of a candleholder surrounded on each side by a white taper. During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom light the center unity candle with the two tapers, creating the stronger flame as a symbol of the stronger unity gained through marriage. Beyond the traditional unity ceremony, today's weddings provide the opportunity for many variations, particularly second weddings that include children. If each partner has children, the children may light the unity candles. Sometimes, parents from each family light the unity candle. You'll want to preserve the moment in a picture, because it's unlikely you'll find this level of cooperation again. If you carry a hand-tied bouquet, incorporate a white taper into the bouquet, and carry the taper up the aisle. The groom can hold his taper until you reach the altar, when you each place your taper into the unity candleholder to accentuate the unity theme. If your house of worship doesn't allow unity ceremonies, conduct the ceremony at the reception right before the toast. Candles for Your Wedding Decor Consider candles an integral part of your floral displays to add warmth to a sterile reception hall environment. Select your candles first, and then select flowers to complement the candles. If you maintain the candle as the focal point, you'll spend a lot less money on bridal flowers. Place a single sculptured candle by the guest book, for example. Incorporate candles into your table displays at the re

2005-11-15T01:36:00.000-06:00

The Monogram Theme Wedding

And what�s not to like about monograms? They�re elegant, understated, versatile, and a dramatic visual reminder of your new life together. Ideas for including monograms You�ll find them popping up in more and more places throughout the reception, and sometimes even prior to it. Here are some ways that brides include monograms: embossed, stamped or printed bridal stationary custom postage stamps (see www.funstamps.com) stationary seals or stickers painted aisle runners printed bridal bouquet ribbons bridal underwear or garter bridal handkerchief accent to bridal train, veil or gown ring bearer�s pillow stamped or printed out-of-town bags bridesmaids� totes guestbook engraved guestbook pen tablecloths chair covers place cards and menus cocktail napkins coasters centerpieces engraved cake server set cake embellishment wood, wire, metal, chocolate or a

2005-11-15T01:08:00.002-06:00

Wedding Favor Creator

(for anything heart-shaped) Love lives in happy hearts (anything heart-shaped) The best gifts are tied with heartstrings (anything heart- shaped) May there always be spice in your life! (for apple pie recipe and spice; for hot chocolate/cinnamon mix) We�re suited to a 'T' (for specialty teas) Nothing can wash away the love we feel! (bath oil, bath salts, soaps) Thanks for sharing this special day with us Thank you for sharing in the celebration of our love (or union, etc.) Thanks for joining us on our wedding day Thanks for sharing in our special day Other Unique Ideas Personalized coasters made from CD�s (see http://www.whimsies-online.com/cdcoasters.htm) Personalized CD mix of your favorite music - print out a liner for the CD case with your names, wedding date and a nice background or a photo of the happy bride and groom-to-be! Fortune cookies to make with printed fortunes that you create on your computer - or add your names and wedding date (see http://www.whimsies-online.com/wedding.htm for fortune cookie recipe) small picture frames that can double as place cards Heart-shaped cookie cutters with your favorite sugar cookie recipe Homemade bell-shaped or heart-shaped cookies decorated with your names and wedding date in hard icing Finishing Details Wrap each filled favor in colored netting or tulle to match your wedding colors or line white or glitter netting with colored tissue paper before wrapping your favors. Wrap the favor bag with ribbon or lace and add your note card (hole-punched). Tie into bow and add a sprig of dried or silk flowers and it�s ready for your special day! (c)2004 DDesign Reprints of this article are free of charge as long as you include the author portion of the text About The AuthorHeather Diodati is the owner of Whimsies! By DDesign featuring Personalized Cartoon Designs for all occasions. See our unique Wedding Cartoon Design personalized with your names and wedding date! 8" x 10" size with free mat, they make a truly special souvenir for the new Mr. And Mrs! Wedding favor magnets are also offered in four different designs, fully personalized; something really special for your favor bags! Sign up for our free ezine, On A Whim, for your free time management gifts; and if you looooove ballroom dancing be sure to subscribe to Dancing On Air ezine, for your free gift, The Dancer's Notebook! http://www.whimsies-online.com info@whimsies-online.comThis article was posted on March 21, 2004 ...Wedding Photography by Richard's
Photography San Antonio

2005-11-15T01:08:00.001-06:00

wedding+favors articles

someplace you have a passion for and have your portraits taken?Wouldn't
you be more likely to enjoy the experience?Wouldn't the photographs show
you and others who you were at this time in your life?This type of
photography is called
On-Location Portraiture.
On-Location Portraiture is the Art of
taking beautiful, meaningful, unique photographic images of people,
families, friends, lovers, in a visually unique & personally meaningful
setting.This style of photography is really a fun family friendly
experience.Additionally people find it to be very spiritual, intimate
and romantic. The resulting images and memories are unique because each
location and each trip is a unique adventure.Generally you will find
that you will receive:
- Images as art that tell a story about them.
- An exciting and fun experience to remember.- Photographic memories that have real meaning beyond simply a
beautiful picture.
Does this sound fun or what?So how do you get started?The first thing to do is find a
photographer that offers this kind of service, such as
Scott Campbell, a Palm Springs Photographer.Once you've found
someone willing to do this type of photography, interview them.You are
going to spend a good part of a day with them so you better make sure you
like them.Additionally, your pictures are guaranteed to turn out better
if you like the photographer.
Another key aspect about your
photographer is their ability to use natural light in their
photographs.Natural light is perhaps the hardest and yet most rewarding
lighting a
photographer can work with.Used
correctly, and the photographs will inspire emotions and feelings in the
viewer that are nearly impossible to recreate with a studio lit
photograph.Or used incorrectly and you will e

2005-11-15T01:08:00.000-06:00

How to Save Money on Wedding and Baby Shower Favors

If you know other people that are having weddings or baby showers, then you can combine your orders and benefit from lower costs and possibly bulk purchase incentives like free shipping. 3) Make your own favors - If you are crafty, then you can make your own favors. Purchase all the materials at your local craft shop or online. Since you are making them from scratch, you can customize and personalize as well. People will appreciate the effort that went into making your own favors. 4) Find a craftsman - If you find a local craftsman or artist, then there is a chance that you can get a great price from them for your favors. Another possibility is an art student that is still in school. They will usually work for less money than a full time professional. 5) Flea markets and thrift shops - Flea markets and thrift shops are great places to locate bargain items. Also check out closeouts, store sales, garage sales, and live auctions. Oftentimes, you can also negotiate prices with these vendors.As you can see, there are many ways to save money when shopping for gifts for your guests. Follow these tips and you are sure to save money or favors and supplies for your wedding, baby shower, or any other special occasion. Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. See Cheap baby shower favors(www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/cheap.htm) and Inexpensive baby sh

2005-11-15T00:50:00.002-06:00

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants

Perhaps you remember a time when it was hard to get one if you weren't among the "regularly churched"! But times have changed, and hiring an officiant for your wedding is now standard procedure. Basically, brides-to-be find themselves in one of two camps: Either they have a regular church and a favorite minister, who might be a longstanding family friend, or they need to find one through word-of-mouth or web sites. The latter situation often costs more, but allows for a lot of flexibility. Depending on your tastes and faiths, you can often find a judg

2005-11-15T00:50:00.001-06:00

The Monogram Theme Wedding

com) - stationary seals or stickers - painted aisle runners - printed bridal bouquet ribbons - bridal underwear or garter - bridal handkerchief - accent to bridal train, veil or gown - ring bearer�s pillow - stamped or printed out-of-town bags - bridesmaids� totes - guestbook - engraved guestbook pen - tablecloths - chair covers - place cards and menus - cocktail napkins - coasters - centerpieces - engraved cake server set - cake embellishment - wood, wire, metal, chocolate or acrylic monogram cake topper - monogram wreaths of silk or real flowers - fabric wall or door banners - champagne flutes - bottled water labels - �tears of joy� packs - monogrammed wedding favors: cookies, ornaments, shot glasses, votive candles, chocolates, petit fours, notepads, favor boxes - dance floor �gobo� projections How do I get a monogram? You make it! Many brides find they can �roll their own� using a readily-available software program such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. If you�re a graphic designer or have access to high-end tools, you�d probably prefer Adobe Illustrator, but Word or PowerPoint are also fine. If you�ve played around but don�t like the results, call on an arty friend. To design your monogram in Microsoft Word: Choose Insert -> Textbox. Type and format th

2005-11-15T00:50:00.000-06:00

Wedding Favor Creator

(many of them can be purchased at your local dollar store) - tiny wicker baskets or straw hats - egg cups - candle holders - flat shells (scallops) - small filigree metal boxes - decorated wooden boxes - coffee mugs - wine glasses - small decorative dish - tiny flower pots - little tin watering cans - small jars - ceramic spoon rest Fillings to add to your favor containers - heart-shaped candies or chocolates - Hershey�s kisses and hugs - small floating candles - gourmet or flavored coffee - enough for one pot - little decorative soaps - wild flower seed packets or small quantity of seeds with planting instructions, wrapped in colored cellophane - flower bulbs - bath oil beads - bath salts - small bag of mixed spice (cinnamon/nutmeg) and your favorite apple pie recipe - packets of specialty tea - hot chocolate and cinnamon mix - enough for one mug Sample sayings and poems to write or print onto a small note card along with your names and wedding date (punch a hole in the card and attach a ribbon to tie to your favors) - Please plant these to celebrate our growing love (for bulbs, seeds) - All things grow with love (for bulbs, seeds) - Our flame of love will always be bright (for candles) - Hugs and Kisses from the new Mr. And Mrs! (for He

2005-11-15T00:00:00.002-06:00

5 Things You Must Do To Fail in Business

If you are starting your business or currently being miserably unsuccessful, you might want to read on. No doubt that most entrepreneurs want to succeed in business and I wont argue that failing is on the top of the do list for anyone. Here are five things you must do to fail in business. 1 You must want to become an overnight success. Isn�t it great to hear about some new product becoming an instant hit? Realistically, most overnight success stories take a lot more than one night of work. Think of any popular brand and think how long it took to create it. Even though things can happen quickly online, it takes a lot of testing and trying of what works for your business. 2 You must

2005-11-15T00:00:00.001-06:00

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants

s
Photography San AntonioWedding+favors
Back To SnippetBack To SITEMAPAll You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants
Author: Blake Kritzberg
Tracking down a wedding officiant can be a little intimidating. Perhaps you remember a time when it was hard to get one if you weren't among the "regularly churched"! But times have changed, and hiring an officiant for your wedding is now standard procedure. Basically, brides-to-be find themselves in one of two camps: Either they have a regular church and a favorite minister, who might be a longstanding family friend, or they need to find one through word-of-mouth or web sites. The latter situation often costs more, but allows for a lot of flexibility. Depending on your tastes and f

2005-11-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

Spotlight on the Asian-Themed Wedding

Asian-themed weddings are on the rise, and at first this might come as a surprise. After all, nothing could seem further from the Laura Ashley vision we get when thinking of a wedding. And in fact, that's one of the forces behind the rising popularity of the Asian-themed wedding: how it turns things upside-down. In fact, in a Chinese-style wedding, white is bad (it's the color of death) and red and black are good (they're the colors of luck and prosperity). You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian (or marrying someone who is). The answer is, sometimes. Surprisingly often, they aren't, and the choice is purely aesthetic. Today's trends break down into two main types of Asian-themed weddings: the Japanese or "Zen" style, which values simplicity and nature, and the more riotous Chinese style, which bristles with bright colors and shiny fabrics. Although ei

2005-11-14T23:22:00.002-06:00

Finding the Dress of Your Dream at a Price You Can Afford

I started looking for my dress a few months before I got married and I found the dress I loved, but it was $800. My dress was really simple and this was not in my budget, so I got the company name and the style number and searched everywhere online and off for this dress. Finally I found it offline for $499 at a local bridal shop. But them I was looking for flower girl dresses in a popular department store catalog and imagine my surprise when I saw my dress for $299. I couldn�t believe it. I know I lucked out, but maybe with these tips you can too! Be patient. You can definitely wait to buy your dress. With all these different companies selling that on dress, you can search to find the best dress. Unless you�re buying a Vera Wang original, do a little hunting! Write down the designer and style number or dress name. This is important for your research. Research Look everywhere online and off for your dress. I found my dress online for a couple of lower prices

2005-11-14T23:22:00.001-06:00

Buy Discount Candles Online or Make Them Yourself

Here is a brief list of the types of candles available: Paraffin Candles Tea Light Candles Scented Gel Jar Candles Soy Wax Candles Christmas Gel Candles Gold Votive Candles Mini Floating Candles Thanksgiving Floating Candles Christmas Floating Candles Lily Floating Candles Easter Vigil Candles Coconut Candles Animal Shaped Candles Frosted Votive Candles and Holders If you are looking for some nice candle holders, here are some you may find: Hanging Candle Holders Wall Candle Holders Glass Flower Candle Holders Stained Glass Candle Holders Iron Pillar Candle Holders Some people enjoy making candles as a hobby. Making candles is fun and relatively easy. You can find several good how to guides and books online that will show you how to make the most popular types of candles. For instance, you can find out how to make unique: soy candles, gel candles, swirled candles, hurricane candles, etc. When you learn how to make your own home made candles you can even make cool items like: gel candles in cocktail glasses, wedding favors gel candles, i

2005-11-14T23:22:00.000-06:00

An Ethical Alternative to the Conspicuous Excess of the Average Wedding

With the cost of the average wedding reported to be around �17,000, a rising number of couples are beginning to question just where that money goes. In these times of environmental awareness and social responsibility, a lot of people are looking at how they can arrange their special day with these ethical principles in mind.A growing number of wedding gift lists are being substituted for the more selfless idea of charity lists. The fact that many people live together nowadays before they get married, means that they already have all the household items they actually need. Rather than ask their guests for gratuitous symbols of consumption, some couples are choosing to support a good cause instead. Guests are asked to donate to charity in a range of ways, from buying a cow or a camel for a third world community, to planting trees to create a woodland grove.�Green� issues can come into every aspect of wedding planning, from finding �conflict-free� wedding rings to environmentally-friendly confetti and wedding invitations made from recycled paper. More and more people are choosing to follow an ethically-aware lifestyle, so it makes sense for their wedding day to follow their beliefs. Ways to cut down on waste and food miles include using local

2005-11-14T22:51:00.002-06:00

Wedding Insurance � Peace of Mind for Your Perfect Day?

Events can happen unexpectedly that it is impossible to plan for. For example, what if there was a fire that destroyed the wedding venue just before the big day? Or what if the marquee company went bust? Most couples would by then have paid a large sum of non-refundable deposits to hire the venue and the caterers etc. Without insurance this money has effectively gone up in smoke, and the couple would have to find a new venue for the reception at very short notice, or face the option of having to postpone their wedding day altogether.In this situation, a good wedding insurance policy would cover the costs of the deposits and provide help towards the extra costs of rearranging the wedding. Of course it always pays to be diligent when buying any sort of insurance premium. It is advisable to compare the level of cover offered by various companies, as this can vary considerably between insurance providers.With the average cost of a wedding dress now approximately �1000, plus the high costs of the attire for the groom and the rest of the bridal party, it may well be worth considering insurance in case any of the outfits get ruined. There are so many different things to organize when arranging a wedding, which means relying on lots of other people to make

2005-11-14T22:51:00.001-06:00

All The Details: 25 Ways to Make Your Wedding a Unique and Truly Memorable Event

ack To SnippetBack To SITEMAPAll The Details: 25 Ways to Make Your Wedding a Unique and Truly Memorable Event
Author: Ashley Rader
If you've been to one wedding, you've seen it all. From the flowers and the candles to the dress and the music, the typical wedding can be as predictable and generic as your Uncle Leo's dance moves. For your wedding to stand out, you need to involve your guests in the sentiment and process of the day. It's not the cake or the great food that will be remembered, but all the little details that will make your wedding as unique and memorable for your guests as it will be for you. These 25 ideas on how to personalize your day will make it the event that will be talked about for years to come:1. Write a welcome note for your out-of-town guests on postcards

2005-11-14T22:51:00.000-06:00

Finding the Dress of Your Dream at a Price You Can Afford

I started looking for my dress a few months before I got married and I found the dress I loved, but it was $800. My dress was really simple and this was not in my budget, so I got the company name and the style number and searched everywhere online and off for this dress. Finally I found it offline for $499 at a local bridal shop. But them I was looking for flower girl dresses in a popular department store catalog and imagine my surprise when I saw my dress for $299. I couldn�t believe it. I know I lucked out, but maybe with these tips you can too!Be patient. You can definitely wait to buy your dress. With all these different companies selling that on dress, you can search to find the best dress. Unless you�re buying a Vera Wang original, do a little hunting!Write down the designer and style number or dress name. This is important for your research.Research Look everywhere o

2005-11-14T22:36:00.002-06:00

Spotlight on the Asian-Themed Wedding

Asian-themed weddings are on the rise, and at first this might come as a surprise. After all, nothing could seem further from the Laura Ashley vision we get when thinking of a wedding.And in fact, that's one of the forces behind the rising popularity of the Asian-themed wedding: how it turns things upside-down. In fact, in a Chinese-style wedding, white is bad (it's the color of death) and red and black are good (they're the colors of luck and prosperity).You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian (or marrying someone who is). The answer is, sometimes. Surprisingly often, they aren't, and the choice is purely aesthetic.Toda

2005-11-14T22:36:00.001-06:00

Wedding Favor Creator

(many of them can be purchased at your local dollar store)tiny wicker baskets or straw hatsegg cupscandle holdersflat shells (scallops)small filigree metal boxesdecorated wooden boxescoffee mugswine glassessmall decorative dishtiny flower potslittle tin watering canssmall jarsceramic spoon restFillings to add to your favor containersheart-shaped candies or chocolatesHershey�s kisses and hugssmall floating candlesgourmet or flavored coffee - enough for one potlittle decorative soapswild flower seed packets or small quantity of seeds with planting instructions, wrapped in colored cellophaneflower bulbsbath oil beadsbath saltssmall bag of mixed spice (cinnamon/nutmeg) and your favorite apple pie recipepackets of specialty teahot chocolate and cinnamon mix - enough for one mugSample sayings and poems to write or print onto a small note card along with your names and wedding date (punch a hole in the card and attach a ribbon to tie to your favors)Please plant these to celebrate our growing love (for bulbs, seeds)All things grow with love (for bulbs, seeds)Our flame of love will always be bright (for candles)Hugs and Kisses from the new Mr. And Mrs! (for Hershey�s kisses and/or hugs)Heart-felt wishes f

2005-11-14T22:36:00.000-06:00

Planning Weddings on a Budget

uthor: Rosemarie Baylor
Planning as early as possible for your wedding is the key to maintaining a budget you can afford. It is a good idea for both the future Bride and Groom to do this together. You may find that you have two completely different ideas of what your wedding should cost.Make a list for each area of your wedding. This will help you in coming up with a total cost for your special day. Include the amount you would like to spend and who will be paying for each area. The following is a list of some area�s you may want to consider adding to your list:1. Wedding accessories and gown2. Grooms Formalwear3. Bridal Jewelry4. Ceremony Site, Officiator, Musicians and vocalists5. Phot

2005-11-14T22:02:00.002-06:00

Planning Your Honeymoon -- 6 Tips To Help

Going for an Arctic Cruise in the middle of January might not be the wisest thing to do. All honeymoon destinations have a peak season during which you experience the best of the place. If the higher rates don�t bother you, travel during peak season.Using a good travel agent: Most people think a honeymoon package would turn out more expensive than if they plan their own honeymoon trip. This is not always the case. Sometimes a good travel agent can get you great discounted rates. A travel agent can also help you pick and choose your destination, make reservations for you and in general advise you about your honeymoon plans. Using a travel agent is also helpful if you are traveling to a foreign country, which is unfamiliar territory for you.Legalities & papers: The last thing you want on your honeymoon is to be stuck in a foreign country with some legal documents missing. Make sure your passport, visas and any other documents you may need are organized well in advance. Also get yourself an International driving permit to enable you to move about freely.Traveler�s checks: Carrying cash while traveling may not be such a great idea. It is always better to carry traveler�s checks which you can encash at your convenience around the globe. Credit cards are also an option but with Internet fraud on the rise, they too pose a risk. Wherever you choose to honeymoon, remember to plan well in advance an

2005-11-14T22:02:00.001-06:00

Bridal Accessories To Complete Your Wedding Look

ere�s a quick rundown of the bridal accessories you want to pay attention to. Wedding veils: Other than the wedding gown, the veil is another piece of wedding accessories that shouts � �Here comes the bride!� If you choose to wear a wedding veil, make sure you pick one that suits you and your wedding gown. Veils come in varying lengths. The shoulder length flyaway style is very popular with modern brides. However, the traditional cathedral veil is ultraformal and three and one-half yards long. That is one bridal accessory that makes a statement!Headpieces: Generally, headpieces are used to attach the veil in place. Combs, headbands, backpieces and Juliet caps are all popular bridal accessories. These wedding accessories look very beautiful and are decorated with pearls, crystals, beads, lace or even f

2005-11-14T22:02:00.000-06:00

Wedding Flowers -- Determining What You Need

The corsages can match the wedding bouquet, the wedding decoration or the dresses worn by the women in the wedding party. Make sure you ask beforehand whether the women would like corsages to be pinned to their dresses or purses or to wear on their wrist.Boutonnieres: The groom's boutonniere almost always matches the wedding bouquet. The best man, groomsmen and ushers also wear boutonnieres, but different from the groom. The fathers and grandfathers of the groom and bride receive boutonnieres as well.Ceremony wedding flowers: You will need to check with the coordinator at the ceremony site before you place any orders for wedding flowers for the ceremony. You generally have the option of decorating the beginning of the pews, the aisle and the arches with wedding flowers. You may also want wedding flowers at the guest book table. A beautiful tradition is to pass around rose petals to all the guests to toss at the bride and groom when they are finally introduced as man and wife.Reception wedding flowers: Wedding flowers to be used as part of the wedding decoration for your reception will be determined entirely by the theme of your wedding reception. In general, it is common to have some kind of wedding flowers at each table. The buffet table also needs to be decorated with wedding flowers. One way to cost cut on wedding flowers is to use the attendants' bouquets to decorate the cake table. As beautiful as flowers make the occasion, remember to order only as many wedding flowers as you can afford. Also, a great way to share your joy with others is to arrange to have the wedding flowers sent to an orphanage or old age home the day after your wedding. Not only will this bring a smile to the faces of those who receive them, it will bring a big smile to you knowing you passed on your joy to others.Copyright Andrea Britt, 2005. All rights reserved.Reprint Rights: Feel free to use this article on your website or online publication. Please remember that you must include the author's copyright, resource box and live URL links, exactly as shown below, to the author�s website at the end of the article.Andrea Britt is owner of http://www.CharmingWeddings.com where you can find elegant, unique wedding favors, bridal shower favors, and wedding planning tips for your wedding reception and brida

2005-11-14T21:38:00.002-06:00

Selecting Your Wedding Centerpieces

The height of the wedding centerpiece also needs to be carefully considered. If the wedding centerpiece you choose is something thin like a beautiful candle, the height won't matter. In fact you may need it to be really tall to get noticed. On the other hand if the wedding centerpiece is a floral arrangement, ensure that it is short enough that guests can see each other over the arrangement. Often people choose wedding centerpieces that are so overwhelming that guests cannot even see each other across them, let alone hold a conversation!Your budget will of course determine the wedding centerpiece you choose. Wedding centerpieces can be very affordable or very extravagant. It is up to you to decide how much you want to spend.You could also choose a wedding centerpiece that doubles as wedding party favors. This is a great idea because it allows you to combine your budget for the wedding centerpieces and the party favors and afford something better. Wedding centerpiece options: Floral arrangements are the most common and traditional wedding centerpiece options. They can vary from small exotic arrangements to large effusive ones. If you want the wedding centerpiece to double as a party favor, think about placing a small potted plant that als

2005-11-14T21:38:00.001-06:00

Get Wedding Gifts You'll Enjoy -- Creating Your Wedding Registry

A large and popular store like Macys is a good option to create your wedding registry with. Let your guests know about your wedding registry at least 2 months in advance. If a guest has already bought you a gift, it is highly unlikely that she would buy another one from your wedding registry. Also, if the gift is not listed in your wedding registry it can put the guest in a spot. Ensure that you have gifts in your wedding registry from a wide price range. Choosing only high priced wedding gifts as part of your wedding registry could be considered to be in bad taste. Create a wedding registry with a store that allows you to merge the registry online and offline. This will make it easy for guests from out of town to shop for you. Ensure that your wedding registry includes items that can be easily shipped. While most guests are willing to spend on the wedding gift itself, if they have to pay extra for shipping and handling they may not be so excited about it. When creating your wedding registry make sure you specify your name as well as that of your spouse. Some guests may want personalize your gift and may need to know how to spell your names. Creating a wedding registry online has many benefits. The online wedding registry keeps track of who bought you what. Also, you can email thank you notes directly from the website. You can also create multiple wedding registries with dif

2005-11-14T21:38:00.000-06:00

Wedding Planning -- Staying Within Your Wedding Budget

Planning and organizing a wedding budget can greatly reduce the stress of putting together a wedding. The very thought of a wedding conjures up images of finery and elegance, music and dance, fun, frolic and lavish spreads. However, all the extravagance can really add up. So, whatever the size and style of the wedding, one cannot underestimate the importance of a wedding budget.Getting started on the wedding budgetYou need to determine who is paying for the wedding. Traditionally, the bride�s parents sponsored the entire wedding. This no longer holds true. So put your heads together and decide who is paying for

2005-11-14T21:06:00.002-06:00

Budget Tips For Your Wedding Reception

Ask the staff to pass around glasses of champagne especially for the wedding toast. Close the bar an hour before the wedding reception ends. Serve only cold drinks, tea and coffee afterwards. If possible, choose a venue that allows you to bring your own liquor. Once you are bringing your own liquor the rates go down considerably and you can consider having an open bar at the wedding reception. The venue is another large expense for the wedding reception. Think about having your wedding during off-season. Most wedding venues will be available for discounted prices during the off-season.Also, booking a wedding venue for your wedding reception well in advance gives you the leverage to try and bargain for a good discount. If you cannot get a monetary discount try and wrangle some perks like valet parking at the venue for your guests. Wedding cakes can get really expensive. Instead of having one single large wedding cake, order a smaller wedding cake to be cut at the wedding reception. Use this cake for display and for the cake cutting ceremony. Let the guests be served from sheet cakes inside the kitchen, which are a whole lot cheaper. You also don�t need any other dessert other than the wedding cake.If you are on a really tight budget, plan a cocktail wedding reception instead of one that includes a full meal. Also, discuss with your caterer, which foods are in season. Using foods that are freely available also means they are cheaper. Strawberry shortcake in th

2005-11-14T21:06:00.001-06:00

Top 10 Wedding Decoration Budget Tips

Here are the top 10 tips that you should know in order to lower the cost of your wedding decorations.1. Decide on the essential items that you must have first and then worry about the extras.2. Hand make the centerpieces yourself using items priced toward your budget.3. Using artificial flowers is cheaper than fresh flowers unless you pick them yourself from a field.4. Skip the extra wedding favors and focus more attention on decoration detail.5. Never go over your budget because you set it up for a reason6. For smaller items like candles, candle holders, small laces etc. visit your nearby dollar store.7. Never underestimate the elegance

2005-11-14T21:06:00.000-06:00

Focus On What Is Important � Your Wedding Disc Jockey Choice

That�s less than the gratuity on the meal!Remember that $75/pp meal will only occupy guests for 2 hours out of the average 5 hour reception. Your Wedding disc jockey is responsible for everything after the meal. Your banquet staff will disappear into the background. Their job is done. It is time for your Wedding disc jockey to bring the event to a party atmosphere.Let�s look at your wedding budget for a minute. The difference between a low-end disc jockey and a true top-notch professional Wedding disc jockey is less than $1,000. What other items in your wedding budget can be eliminated to facilitate obtaining a better wedding reception entertainer?Printed napkins - $150Cake knife set - $50Toast glasses - $50Ice sculpture - $200Floral centerpieces - $20/table = $200 (can be replaced with inexpensive votive candles)Wedding favors - $250Not one of these items would be missed if they were not present at your Wedding reception. Without the best available Wedding disc jockey, your party could be a flop from the moment people walk in. We�ve all been to events where the Wedding disc jockey plays �Kenny G� music throughout cocktail and dinner as if guests are not supposed to notice that they are just playing the same cd. We�ve gone to events where the Wedding disc jockey plays the same music in the same order as the last person without any regard to the crowd or what they are reacting to or not reacting to. Choose wisely and make sure your Wedding budget keeps emphasis on the important things that will guarantee you a successful Wedding reception and not one where guests stare at their wrist watches looking for an opportunity to sneak out early due to lack of quality Wedding disc jockey entertainment.Rob AlbertiProfessional Wedding Disc Jockey since 1983After Hours Disc Jockey Service - MA/CT/RI Regionshttp://www.afterhoursdj.net ...Wedding Photography by Richard's
Photography San Antonio

2005-11-14T20:44:00.002-06:00

Celtic Wedding Rituals -- "Tying the knot"

It is a long standing Celtic tradition that is still quite popular, and happens to be the origin of the expression "tying the knot" which has grown to mean getting married. Though this tradition is a lovely and meaningful tradition, many other Celtic wedding traditions have not aged as gracefully.All marriages start with a proposal. Proposals such as "Live in my heart and pay no rent" or "Would you like to hang your washing next to mine" might have been uttered to a would be fianc�.As beautiful as the ceremony was, after the ceremony wasn't so sweet. The bride and groom might eat three handfuls of salt and oatmeal as protection against evil spirits, which probably wasn't as tasty as cake and cham

2005-11-14T20:44:00.001-06:00

wedding+favors articles

edding Favor Creator
Wedding favors have always been a nice, personal gesture to include in your wedding preparations. Unfortunately, there are too many "cookie-cutter" type favors out there, which portray the couple�s lack of interest in providing something unique. Here is a Wedding Favor Creator for you to use for your upcoming wedding or one that you�re planning for your best friend. You can mix and match to your heart�s content and according to the budget you have. Small containers to use for candies, chocolates, small floating candles, decorative soaps,...
Author:Heather DiodatiCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
The Monogram Theme Wedding
Monograms are a huge trend in weddings, to the point where they feature strongly in some, and in others, provide the actual theme. And what�s not to like about mono

2005-11-14T20:44:00.000-06:00

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants

You can often get an idea of the flavor, preparedness, flexibility and even appearance of a popular local officiant.When should you book an officiant?Some officiants book early. If you're really particular about whom you want to do the service and can't budge on the date, try to book more than six months in advance. Some couples book a year ahead.How much do officiants charge?A minister at your own church may not charge anything at all, but may accept donations. In that case, a $100-200 donation is about average. Ask the minister yourself if there's any doubt.An officiant you engage yourself will set his or her own rates. Rates generally range from $250-600, but some well-known officiants may charge more.Do we send an invitation?By custom, you invite your officiant to your rehearsal dinner as a guest. You also invite the officiant and his or her spouse to your reception with a formal invitation, just like other guests. Unless the officiant is an old family friend, he or she may decline to stay, but an invitation is proper. You aren't expected to invite the officiant's children.Can you use a friend as an officiant?It's done all the time, and can make weddings very personal. A father, mother, or the friend who introduced you can make for an amazing event. Be sure to pick someone comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, and brush up on your state's laws and licensing requirements. Here's a good site to begin your research:www.northernway.org/marriagelaws.htmlYour chosen friend or family member can become ordained "instantly and online" at the Universal Life Church, which in some areas will enable them to perform legal weddings. Again, be sure of your state's laws. Many times, ministers ordained by ULC will also have to register in their state and obtain a license before they can practice. Call your local county clerk for clarification.Universal Life Church: www.ulc.orgDo I meet with the officiant before or after booking, and what should I expect at the meeting?Ideally, an officiant will allow a "getting to

2005-11-14T20:18:00.002-06:00

wedding day favors and exciting articles

Basically, brides-to-be find themselves in one of two camps: Either they have a regular church and a favorite minister, who might be a longstanding family friend, or they need to find one through word-of-mouth or web sites. The latter situation often costs more, but allows for a lot o ...
Author:Favor Falafel CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
How to Save Money on Wedding and Baby Shower Favors
Planning on having a wedding or baby shower soon? Getting favors is a nice way of saying thank you to your guests for coming. Here are some tips for saving money when purchasing baby shower or wedding favors.1) Buy extras off other people - Oftentimes, people get too many favors for their occasion. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry. Once the celebration is over, however, these people may be willing to sell you their leftover favors at a sharp discount. If you don't know anyone personally, then look in the clas

2005-11-14T20:18:00.001-06:00

wedding and bridal favors information articles

Author:George MeszarosCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Wedding Favor Creator
Unique Wedding Favor Ideas By Heather Diodati, DDesign Wedding favors have always been a nice, personal gesture to include in your wedding preparations. Unfortunately, there are too many "cookie-cutter" type favors out there, which portray the couple�s lack of interest in providing something unique. Here is a Wedding Favor Creator for you to use for your upcoming wedding or one that you�re planning for your best friend. You can mix and match to your heart�s content and according to the budget you have. Small containers to use for ca ...
Author:On A WhimCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
The Monogram Theme Wedding
Monograms are a huge trend in weddings, to the point where they feature strongly in some, and in others, provide the actual theme. And what�s not to like about monograms? They�re elegant, understated, versatile, and a dramatic visual reminder of your new life together. Ways to include monograms You�ll find them popping up in more and more places throughout the reception, and sometimes even prior to it. Here are some ways that brides include monograms: - embossed, stamped or printed bridal stationary - custom postage stamps (see www.funsta ...
Author:Favor FalafelCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLEWedding Photography
by Richard's Photography San Antonio

2005-11-14T20:18:00.000-06:00

wedding favors professional photography articles

If you are put off by the materialism and �me, me, me� aspect of modern weddings, then why not plan your day to reflect your personal philosophy and beliefs? It�s not just gift lists that are being replaced. Conscientious brides and grooms are putting a lot of thought into making every part of their wedding day more ecologically sound, from purchasing fair trade flowers to using organic food in the catering.
Author:Simon PhillipsCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Buy Discount Candles Online or Make Them Yourself
If you�re looking to buy discount or wholesale candles online you�re in luck. You can find just about any type of candle online to add decoration and beauty to your home. Likewise, if you enjoy making your own homemade candles, you can buy wholesale paraffin candles, tea light candles and soy wax for making lovely soy candles. There are many varieties of unique decorative candles to choose from online. It would be hard to find all of these candles in a department store or gift shop, but online there are

2005-11-14T19:45:00.002-06:00

wedding bridal favors tips and informative articles

In fact, in a Chinese-style wedding, white is bad (it's the color of death) and red and black are good (they're the colors of luck and prosperity).You might wonder whether brides that plan Asian-themed weddings are Asian ...
Author:Blake KritzbergCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Finding the Dress of Your Dream at a Price You Can Afford
Finding the Dress of Your Dreams At a Price You Can AffordInspired by my own search for my wedding dress, I decided to write this article because it turns out you can get lucky if you research and are patient. I started looking for my dress a few months before I got married and I found the dress I loved, but it was $800. My dress was really simple and this was not in my budget, so I got the company name and the style number and searched everywhere online and off for this dress. Finally I found it offline for $499 at a local bridal sho ...
Author:Kristie McDanielCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
All The Details: 25 W

2005-11-14T19:45:00.001-06:00

wedding favors and wedding articles

Wedding veils: Other than the wedding gown, the veil is another piece of wedding accessories that shouts � �Here comes the bride!� If you choose to wear a wedding veil, make sure you pick one that suits you and your wedding gown. Veils come in varying lengths. The...
Author:Andrea BrittCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Planning Your Honeymoon -- 6 Tips To Help
The groom traditionally plans the honeymoon. However, most brides prefer to be in on the honeymoon plans so that they can prepare ahead too. Here are some things the two of you need to discuss when planning your honeymoon. The honeymoon budget: The groom usually pays for the honeymoon so it is important that you both know how much you can afford to spend. The budget will determine your choice of destination and the duration of your honeymoon.The honeymoon destination: Honeymoons are meant for relaxing, ...
Author:Andrea BrittCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Planning Weddings on a Budget
Planning as early as possible for your wedding is the key to maintaining

2005-11-14T19:45:00.000-06:00

Professional Wedding Photographer|Portrait Photographers|San Antonio Wedding Portraits

Up to 5 Hours of Coverage $1595 or
$1395 for CD-Only
Additional Hour $150
Unlimited Photos Taken
Receive Minimum of 250 - 4x6 Proofs
CD-ROM for Reprints with Copyright
Release
Optional:Bridal Portrait add$275
Optional:Engagement Package add$250Economy 2
Up to 7 Hours of Coverage $1795 or
$1695 for CD-Only
Unlimited Photos Taken
Receive Minimum of 300 - 4x6 Proofs
CD-ROM for Reprints with Copyright
Release
Bridal or Engagement Portrait No
Charge upon Request
or choose an 11x14 Enlargement from
WeddingFormal 1
Up to 8 Hours of Coverage $1995 or
$1795 for CD-Only
Unlimited Photos Taken
Receive Minimum of 350 - 4x6 Proofs
20 - 8x10s/Collage with Art Leather
Coffee Book Style Album
CD-ROM for Reprints with Copyright
Release
Optional:
Bridal or Engagement Portrait No
Charge upon RequestFormal 2
Start 1 hour before wedding
Up to 8 Hours of Coverage $2595 or
$2395 for CD-Only
Unlimited Photos Taken
Receive Minimum of 400 - 4x6 Prints
20 - 8x10s/Collage with Art Leather
Coffee Table Book Style Album
CD-ROM for Reprints with Copyright
Release
Optional:
Bridal and Engagement Portrait No
Charge upon Request
or choose an 11x14 Enlargement from
WeddingFormal 3
All the Time Necessary for Your
Wedding Day
$2995 or $2695 for CD-Only
Unlimited Photos Taken
Receive Minimum of 400 - 500 4x6
Prints
20 - 11x14s/Collage with Art Leather
Coffee Table Book Style Album
Up to 2 Art Leather 4x6 Parent Albums
CD-ROM for Reprints with Copyright
Release
Optional:
Bridal and Engagement Portrait No
Charge upon Request
or choose 2 - 11x14 Enlargements from
Wedding
Albums, Portraits and Reprints can be
Purchased Separately
Home Page Richard's Photography
Richard
and Patty
231 TammySan Antonio, TX 78216
In San Antonio Call
210-349-2922HomeiPrices and
packages subject to change without notice

2005-11-14T19:28:00.002-06:00

Professional Wedding Engagement Photographer|Engagement Photographers|San Antonio Engagement Portraits

It's not hard to find an engagement ring of your choice. You can find
fabulous engagement rings on the Internet or by visiting a local jewelry
store near you, but this is a fact - when it comes to buying engagement
rings, it's not WHAT you know about engagement rings, diamonds and the
quality of gold that matters, it's WHO the engagement seller is and his
reputation in the engagement ring sector.
Regardless of how successful the engagement ring seller is, a dishonest
engagement ring seller will always try his or her best to fool you about
the quality and price of the engagement rings he or she sells. This is to
ensure highest possible profit. Even the most experienced and established
engagement dishonest ring retailer will try to do this.
However, there's a handful of honest engagement ring sellers who will
give you a fabulous deal even if you know NOTHING about engagement rings.
Their focus is not to fool you once-off. But the most important trait that
an honest engagement ring seller has is that he or she is trying to give
you value for money and build trust and a long-term relationship with you.
They want you to take the engagement ring home, show it off to your
friends and relatives, and then give good reviews about where you got the
engagement ring a

2005-11-14T19:28:00.001-06:00

wedding favorites and wedding day tips and articles

Worrying about things like whether the couple will like it, is it nice enough, do they need it, can it be exchanged and similar things can make the shopping expedition quite tiresome. You can make things easier for your guests by creating a wedding registry.Not on ...
Author:Andrea BrittCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Selecting Your Wedding Centerpieces
Wedding centerpieces help tie together the look of your entire table setting. The wedding centerpieces will affect the linens you choose, the size of the tables and even the number of guests you seat on each table. It is important to discuss beforehand with your decorator and caterer the wedding centerpiece options available to you.Things to keep in mind when selecting wedding centerpieces:The size of the wedding centerpiece is of utmost importance. The wedding centerpiece should not be so small as to get overloo ...
Author:Andrea BrittCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Wedding Flowers -- Determining What You Need
Wedding flowers make up a large part of the wedding decoration. When you talk about wedding flowers, you don't mean the flowers for the wedding reception only. Wedding flowers also include the bride's bouquet, corsages, attendants' flowers and all the other flowers you need throughout the wedding ceremony.Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding what wedding flowers you need. Bride's bouquet: The most talked about wedding flowers in the whole ceremony. This one has to match your dress and other accessories...
Author:Andrea Brit

2005-11-14T19:28:00.000-06:00

wedding+favors articles

One of the most elegant rituals you can choose for a wedding is the traditional Celtic hand fasting. After the vows, the bride and groom's wrists are bound together with five colored ribbons, each symbolizing an aspect of marriage and their shared commitment. It is a long standing Celtic tradition that is still quite popular, and happens to be the origin of the expression "tying the knot" which has grown to mean getting married. Though this tradition is a lovely and meaningful tradition, many other Celtic wedding traditions have not aged as...
Author:Andrea BrittCLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE
Focus On What Is Important � Your Wedding Disc Jockey Choice
Your true love got down on his knees and asked

2005-11-14T19:27:00.001-06:00

wedding favors articles

Wedding Favor Articles

2005-11-14T19:27:00.000-06:00

wedding+favors articles

%TITLE% Wedding Favor Articles

2005-11-14T19:26:00.000-06:00

wedding+favors articles

%TITLE% Wedding Favor Articles

Photography: The Basics

2005-10-24T22:12:00.000-05:00

Photography comes from the Greek words meaning “light writing” and first became known back in 1839 by Sir John Herschel. For many years prior to this, people had discovered ways of causing certain chemicals to change color when exposed to light but they did not discover ways of getting the images to remain permanent until later on. Now photography is a big part of our culture, something that everyone recognizes.

Most everyone has family photos lying around their house, many people take these photos on a regular basis, preserving precious memories for years to come. Even if you don’t have your own camera, you have seen photos in magazines, used on billboards and advertisements and more. What is Photography? Photography is defined as “The art or process of producing images by the action of light on surfaces sensitized by chemical processes. The average person never has to deal with this technical definition because they take their photographs to a lab to be processed. They simply take pictures with their camera and then drop them off somewhere to be developed. They get their prints back on nice glossy paper that they can then keep to see the images at any time they wish.

There are also instant develop photographs, commonly known as the Polaroid, in which the paper itself contains the chemicals needed and when the paper sits for a few seconds exposed to light the photo will develop. Many people enjoy these because you could view your photo almost instantly but over the years, the quality has improved with other films and many people migrated to other types of cameras. The common types of film are 35mm and 110. These film rolls come in different speeds that are meant for different lighting and situations and are loaded into your camera, used until the end of the roll and then sent for developing. What Are the Different Types of Photography? Photography is more than just a fabric of the average family’s memories, it has become an art form taking on many different types.

Some types of photography are artistic photography, photojournalism, documentary photography, portrait photography, event photography, family photography, nature photography, advertising photography, underwater photography, satellite photography and more. Each of these types has many different directions in which they can go. Photography is a common hobby or pastime for many people. It is a career for many other people. There are so many different venues of it. One of the most recent revelations in photography is the digital camera and digital photo. In an age of computers and computer technology, digital photos have become increasingly popular. People no longer have to deal with film and developing because digital photos can be downloaded onto a computer and viewed instantly. Digital photos can be shared on the web and through email.

They can also be saved on CDs. Many digital cameras come with LCD screens so the photos can be viewed from the camera itself. You see what the picture looks like instantly instead of waiting for developing. Digital cameras are advancing every day and new technology is released on each one. Lower quality ones can be picked up at a local retail store for about $15 now.

These often do not contain flash and the quality is not as great. Other digital cameras can range anywhere from $20 to $1,000. The most high-tech camera for normal individual use is about $200. This may seem like a lot but when compared to the price of film and developing, you can save a lot by going this route. You can also send as many copies of your photos as you wish through email and the web so copies are unlimited. You can even print copies of your digital photographs from your computer. Photography has come a long way since its early days but its popularity has not waned. It will likely be with us for thousands of years to come.

Loving Your Hobbies More

2005-10-13T23:16:00.000-05:00

Loving Your Hobbies More by Ray La Foy

With the advent of technology that makes almost every chore less time consuming, more and more time may now be devoted to enjoying your hobbies. More people can now take on one or several recreational activities like photography, stamp collection, embroidery, handicrafts, etc.

To provide more resources in the growing interest in having fun with hobbies, the web world has yet gave birth to a website that deals with anything about hobbies: hobbiesataglance.com.
This everything about hobbies website has clickable sections regarding hobby supplies, hobby lobby, tower hobbies, collectibles and model trains.

It is an online resource center promising hobbie enjoyment, satisfying your hobby needs and assistance in finding hobbies that suit you.

On its hobbies updates and information part, it presents tips on how to find a perfect hobby or hobbies. For those looking for supplies, retailers or suppliers of hobbies materials are also found in this section of the site. If one is looking to buy some hand-made crafts or planning to grow some dough, many for-sale crafts and income-producing hobbies also shared the limelight in this website's hobbies updates and information segment. On one's prime years, a wide selection of suitable hobbies for those who already retired is also availed in this portion. Links, directories and forums that discuss and lead to other several crafts or activities that can be done leisurely are also provided here.

This online hobbies spot also unveils a plethora of hobbies supplies resources. Most of the links found here lead to suppliers of excellent materials, indigenous and synthetic, that make the dream hobbies of a lot of people come true. Painting materials, flowers and plants resources, jewelry making supplies and picture framing materials are all available here. Other more unique hobbies like enjoying the nature through non-conventional methods are also supported in this section of the site through providing stuff like portable microscopes. For those more inclined to mechanical or technical hobbies, web pages and other sites on modeling supplies and aircraft materials can also be accessed on this portion of hobbiesataglance.com.

Hobby lobby is another clickable link of this website leads to innumerable stores and shops and their locations with hobbies how-to's, supplies, workshops and seminars. Craft store catalogs, online coupons and aircraft models may also be seen on this page of updates regarding hobbies. Creative centers, hobby lobby founder, workers and investors are also given ample chance to shine on this fragment of the site. Hobby lobby stores in various States are here too for those looking for their hobby shop within their vicinity.

Those who are into tower hobbies are even given a special spot or link on this hobbies website. Building wireless towers that provide Internet access to a massive number of net users is one major feat. Links on other hobbies sites that deal with tower building, tower materials, and other tower crafts are also placed in this page of the site.

Collectibles like antiques, figurines, stamps, novelty items and other collection-worthy items may also be found here. Resources on where they can be found or bought are piled on this site. Model trains also found their way on one of the links of this all about hobbies web site.
So if you're just one of those can't-live-without-my-hobby kind of person, this website is made totally for you.

How to get started in home schooling

2005-10-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

How to get started in home schooling by Jay Moncliff

Home schooling has been around for centuries. The beginning of schooling actually started in the home and then moved into outside schoolhouses. A homeschool is where children are taught by a parent or parents without the outside influence or interference of the school system. There are many variations on a homeschool but all fellowships basic rule of no outside interference. Home schooling is legal in all 50 US states with each state having set guidelines and rules about the homeschool process. Getting started in home schooling will require the parent to do some research ahead of time, so they know exactly what laws apply to them and what they need to do to get the curriculum underway.

The reasons parents choose to homeschool their children vary. Some parents site research like home schoolers placed in the 89th to 90th percentile in national standardized testing. Others state their reasons as being able to provide religious studies and building strong family bonds. Other parents look at the quality of homeschool and feel they have more control over the curriculum and content of the materials studied in addition to knowing their children will be safe. There is also the factor of flexibility that draws some families to homeschool. Flexibility not only refers to time, but methods as well. There are many good reasons to homeschool and each family should decide based on the reasons they feel are best for their family.

Getting started in homeschool involves quite a bit of research and studying before homeschool even begins. Parents looking to home school their child or children need to first find local and state home school groups. These groups will be able to provide you the best information on home schooling in your state. You can also go online and find homeschool websites where you can discuss anything relating to home schooling. They can offer you wealth's of information and help. The more you research and talk to others about homeschool the more you will be able to learn what you want to do in your homeschool curriculum and how to avoid common problems that may come up.

Home schooling is a broad term. There are many techniques that fit under the term home schooling. There are many different styles of home schooling that you can use.

The following list describes the most common types of home schooling: Structured - This works like a public school, in that, it follows a schedule throughout the day. For example, math would be done at a certain time, English at another and so on. Interest-initiated- This approach is based on what is happening at the current time. For example, if it is snowing, you may chose to revolve the days curriculum around snow or if someone in your family has chickenpox, you may wish to do studies on that disease. This can be very unstructured or structured depending on your choices. Learning-style- This method is based on each child's learning style Philosophical- Using educational philosophies and studies to mold a curriculum is the basis for this method. Accommodating- For families with special needs this approach works around those needs. Community- Using outside groups and learning areas to teach the children is what this method is about.

These are just some of the methods used in home schooling. Some people may find a mixture of these works best for them. Home schooling is all about tailoring the process to the child, so do the research and find the methods that work best for your family.

Brochure Printing For Good Business Impressions

2005-10-03T18:33:00.000-05:00

Brochure Printing For Good Business Impressions by Jinky C. Mesias

A full color brochure is a great means of showcasing your business and products. Brochures are usually done in three standard sizes and these are 8 ½ x 11, 8 ½ x 14 and 11 x 17. The different brochure sizes have its specific use or purpose take for example the unfolded 8 ½ x 11 which is commonly used in creating product sheets or may be tri-folded if ever to be used as a company's brochure. However, for those companies that want to economize the 11 x 17 brochure may be employed. These 11 x 17 brochures are simply folded in half.

There are certain things to consider when creating brochures. First you have to make the cover as interesting as possible. Bear in mind that it's the cover that will be the first thing that your customers will notice when they received your brochures. The cover will determine the very first impressions of your customers toward your business.

Likewise, try to create a theme in which your customers may relate to and then make use of this theme all throughout the content in your brochure. Make use of one large illustration that illustrates a story that has significance to your readers for a much greater impact. In terms of pictures to be use for your brochures again it is best to choose photographs that provide an idea on the message that you want to convey. And then put captions on the cover to further provide your readers with ample information on what's in store for them.
Try to have as much information in your brochure. Don't be afraid to include every important information you deem helpful to your clients. And then highlight every facts that you want your customers to remember about your business like business hours, your business address, your business phone numbers, costs of products and services.

Then make use of photos instead of drawings since photos suggest realism and is known to increase retention by 26%.
Then lastly try to make your brochures worth keeping. Make use of convincing words to encourage consumers to continuously support your business. Have your brochures printed by only the best brochure printing company available. Remember that your brochure acts as your representative to your customers so make sure you make a good impression.
For comments and suggestions about the article kindly visit 4 Color Brochure Printing Press

About the Author
Jinky C. Mesias is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Management. She is at present an Associate Manager of a Life Insurance Corporation and do freelance writing in her spare time.

Basic photo composition

2005-09-27T19:08:00.000-05:00

Basic photo composition by Mark Rigney

If you pay attention to some simple rules of photographic composition, rather than simply "pointing and shooting," you'll begin to notice a significant difference in your snapshots, even the ones you take of family events.1) Remember, centered photos are boring. Pay attention the next time you're in a movie theater; nothing is ever centered. Follos the rule of thirds - mentally divide the frame into thirds both vertically and horizontally, and place the center of interest (usually your subject's eyes) on one of those 'third lines.'2)

Frame your pictures. If you're taking scenics of a distant lake or mountain, look for an interesting frame. This is no different from framing a photo on your wall. Your frame can be tree branches, rocks, or some other interesting foreground object.3)

When shooting portraits, use the longest zoom setting your camera will allow (without using the "digital zoom").
Also use the widest aperture (or the lowest f-stop number). This will throw the background into a nice soft focus, drawing your viewer's eyes right to your smiling subject.4)

Look for distractions in the frame. It's hard to learn to do this, because your brain naturally filters out the telephone pole growing out of Uncle Joe's head - but the photo printer won't. Look for objects which will draw your viewer's attention away from your desired center of interest.Follow these four simple rules, and you'll begin to see a dramatic improvement in your photos!

About the Author
Mark Rigney has been an entrepeneur and professional photographer for over two decades, and has worked in the film industry as well. Learn more about digital photography at http://digitalcamerapage.com/

Bad photos turned masterpieces

2005-09-24T11:56:00.000-05:00

Bad photos turned masterpieces by Florie Lyn Masarate
Taking pictures if you are not a professional is really something you find very difficult and frustrating.

Something wrong always turns up. It can be the shot is askew, or the focused out of line. And when you finally got the position right, the picture blurs. These are the results you get for spending too much time looking for the right picture and giving so much effort in your new found hobby that is photography.Being a beginner and an amateur photographer is really exasperating. You felt like you tried your best but still have not gotten the result you want. Even trying your best does not help either.

In Paint Shop, pictures that did not turn out right can be edited to one's liking. With its superior features, bad photos can be turned to professional photo styles. This software helps amateur make excellent photos by using editing tools and graphic designs too. With the use of modern techniques and styles, photos that you consider trashing can still be saved to be turned to masterpieces. Pictures that are edited can be printed afterwards to show the result of the transformed photo you took.

This is just one of the new software that people can access to that helps them become the photographer that they are not but is wishing to be. Modern machines can now help people be something that they want to be. And do what they want to do.Not only that, by giving the best possible service, they give people the opportunity to become the person that they want to become even for just a moment. How's that for technology?Photo Shop not only helps novice photographers create the photos they wanted, it also helps them preserved time in pictures. Before these technologies were created, only the professionals can create magic with their photos. It takes time and talent and a lot of patience.

Now, people are capable of doing works worthy of the professionals. The advantages of modern technology. One can never tell if by just looking if the photo is edited or not with those innovative effects and realistic colors.Makes one wonder about their past pictures that surely need editing. About the photo you hated because you look fat on it? Or the one with your blouse getting blown by the wind.Professionals photographers, watch out. Everywhere you look, you will find one just like you.For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.colorprintingwholesale.com
About the Author
The author got her flair for reading when she subscribed to the school newsletter when she was just in kindergarten. She got her first article published on that same newsletter in the third grade.

Taking time out: for some students

2005-09-18T13:14:00.000-05:00

Swoosh! Another stolen ball, another basket for the other team. Things are getting out of hand, so the coach immediately calls a time-out so the team can regroup, focus, and execute the game plan.

In sports, time-outs are often the key to victory, and they can work the same way in life. If you feel your game plan for life after high school is not clear, or if you really don't know what you want to study in college, then calling a time-out may work for you.

The idea of a "gap year"--a time-out of 12 months after high school graduation--has long been popular in Great Britain and is catching on fast in the United States. Last year, almost 10 percent of U.S. high school grads took a gap-year time-out.
Don't get the wrong idea. Taking a gap year does not mean living as a couch potato for 12 months or partying for weeks on end. It's something entirely different.

"For a student to stay home and veg out on the couch watching TV is a bad plan," says psychologist and educational consultant Carol Maxym, coauthor of Teens in Turmoil: A Path to Change for Parents, Adolescents, and Their Families. Maxym says students should choose to do something "gutsy" during their year, something that stretches the boundaries of their experience.

Career World talked to Holly Bull, who runs the Center for Interim Programs, headquartered in Princeton, N.J., and Cambridge, Mass. Since 1980, Interim Programs has found gap-year projects for more than 3,500 people and has a database of more than 4,000 options worldwide.

The typical students who come to Interim Programs, said Bull, are "kids who want to go out and explore, who don't want to be munched up by the system, who don't want to march in lockstep into college when they really aren't sure what they want to do."
After a year off doing something completely different, said Bull, "the students often come back eager to go to college, more mature, more secure, and more motivated. As one girl told me, 'I feel like I'm making my career choice myself, not being pushed into it.'"
Career World talked to three students about their recent gap-year experiences.
IAN HOCK, 20, New York City: "I went to a private high school in New York," said Hock. "Everyone was ferociously competitive and worked really hard. I just wanted some time to chill out, and summer was not long enough.

"I heard about kids who had taken a gap year, but I thought they were slacker kids and they were hurting their career," said Hock. After asking friends and teachers about gap years, he changed his opinion and told his parents he wanted some time off. His parents supported his plan. He went to the Center for Interim Programs and told the counselors there that he was interested in doing something outdoors. Soon the New York City kid found himself working at Mission Wolf, a wolf sanctuary located in the remote mountains of Colorado.
"We took care of wounded wolves, rescued young wolves from people who illegally owned them as pets, and helped protect them in large, fenced-in areas. The hardest part was cutting up the carcasses of dead livestock brought in by ranchers to feed the wolves."

Hock went home after three months in Colorado and, in February--the dead of winter--flew to Fairbanks, Alaska, to work at a remote kennel for sled dogs--another match found for him by the Center for Interim Programs. "I enjoyed both jobs during my gap year. I felt for the first time I was really on my own, in a working environment, doing something useful. It cleared my mind, and I could focus on what I wanted to do in life."

Hock was scheduled to attend Colorado College in September. He felt that his experience during his gap year made him more mature and better able to pursue his college career.
STEPHANIE YARGER, 18, Dayton, Ohio, "I hated high school," Yarger told Career World. "I needed more of a challenge, and I wanted time off just to breathe. I didn't want to be like some of my classmates who simply were going to college because it was expected of them. They didn't really want to be there."

Yarger found out about gap years through her high school guidance counselor. With her parents' support, she joined a group called Where There Be Dragons that offers several programs of educational travel in Asia. Yarger signed up for a three-month trip through Nepal and Tibet to study art and culture in the Himalayas. "We moved from village to village as travelers, not tourists," said Yarger, "studying the culture and religion."
Because of that experience, Yarger realized that she wanted to study world culture and take up a career that would allow her to travel. "I knew right away that I wouldn't be happy at a desk job," she told Career World. "The gap year really changed my life in a positive direction." Yarger was scheduled to attend Wesleyan University in Connecticut in September.

RICHARD HEROLD, 19, Bernardsville, N.J. When he graduated from high school, Herold wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Because he was interested in many areas--political science, English, film studies--he "decided to take a year off to find out what I really wanted to do."
With the help of the Center for Interim Programs, he went to England and took courses in political science in a program at Oxford University. While at Oxford, he signed up to serve as an intern for a member of Parliament (MP). "Interning with an MP was just a great experience," Herold told Career World, "but I wanted more. I came back and took courses in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy, then moved on and worked for Project Vote Smart, a nonpartisan organization that helps educate voters."

Herold now knows what he wants to do: He was scheduled to enter Northeastern University in Boston in September and major in political science. He hopes to become a lawyer and maybe pursue a career in politics. What about filmmaking? "It proved to be an awful lot harder than I thought," said Herold.

GAP-YEAR ADVICE

Do the stories of Ian Hock, Stephanie Yarger, and Richard Herold inspire you? If they do, and you want to seriously pursue a gap-year program, here are some tips from Taking Time Off, a book about gap-year strategies by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber.
Gain Acceptance. Students should complete college applications in their senior year and defer enrollment for a year. Most colleges will gladly do that, but don't take it for granted. Find out first whether your chosen college defers enrollment.
Find Your Passion. Take the year to accomplish a goal, live out a dream, or really explore what you want to do.

Calculate Finances. Some students pursue their year off with an internship in order to earn money. For those who don't have to be as concerned with earning an income, volunteer opportunities are a great way to serve a community. (Keep in mind that some gap-year advisory programs charge a fee to match you with a program.)
Get Your Parents on Board. Everyone Career World talked to about gap-year strategies agreed on this point. Most parents will at least consider the idea if you assure them you're going to do something, not just sit around watching TV or listening to music.
In fact, you might just be getting to know yourself and starting to make plans for the rest of your life.

Here are some sources about gap-year programs:
Nonprofit programs that offer gap-year opportunities include AmeriCorps (www.ameri-corps.org), which places volunteers in community service around the country, and Earthwatch (www.earthwatch.org.), which offers internships for volunteers and placement on scientific expeditions worldwide. Also check out Where There Be Dragons at www.wheretherebedragons.com.
Consulting firms charge a fee to match students to programs. Here is a short list:
Center for Interim Programs: www.interimprograms.com or 609-683-4300
Where You Headed: www.whereyouheaded.com
Interpoints: 860-868-6778
Phyllis Seinbrecher Associates: 203-227-3190
Discuss
Ask students:
* What might make a student decide to take time off from school?
* Do you think it's a good idea to take a gap year, like the ones described in the article?
* What kind of attitude would you need to succeed in a gap year?
Write
Imagine an Opportunity
Have students imagine their ideal gap year. Have them research gap year opportunities related to their "ideal year" and write a proposal for where they'd like to go and what they would like to achieve in their gap year.
More Resources
Taking Time Off (Princeton Review Series) by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber, is a guide that helps students make the most of their break from school, whether they decide to work, travel, or volunteer. The guide includes stories from 26 students whose time off was well-spent. (Princeton Review, 2003)
COPYRIGHT 2004 Weekly Reader Corp.COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

http://www.senior-portraits.com
Senior Portraits

Buying a new digital camera

2005-09-18T13:05:00.000-05:00

Buying a new digital camera by Nick Stubbs
I feel, after visiting so many websites and reading so much advice, and also by frequently visiting photography forums, that I have to speak on this subject.For the majority of the buying public, there are 2 categories that we fall into when getting started or upgrading in digital photography, the "Absolute Beginner" or the "Amateur" (or serious amateur sometimes labelled as semi pro). Now for the beginner, or someone getting started in photography itself (not just digital), the choice of cameras nowadays is quite overwhelming! Everywhere you look there are cameras, not just in camera shops like the good old days. You even get given a cheap digital camera as a gift for buying something else in some places. There are reasonably powerful digital cameras in the more expensive mobile phones now and they come in all shapes and sizes.So where do you possibly start and how do you make that choice for buying a camera for yourself or someone else. Really it is quite simple and there are 3 criteria you should look at:1.Quality - If you want the camera to last at least a few years and not get bothered by a bit of bashing about, go for quality. A titanium body, not plastic, something that is fairly heavy and robust in your hands, you can feel quality!2.Features - Do you want quality video capabilities? How big do you want to print the pictures that come from the cameras files (how many mega pixels)? Do you want to have at least some manual features so you can get a bit creative? Or do you just want a "Point-and-shoot" digital camera?

3.Price - You will have a budget in mind of how much you want to spend. Get the best camera and memory you can for your budget, worry about extras later! Don't be cheap; if you want reasonably good quality prints, by spending too little on a very cheap camera, you will waste paper, printer ink and/or good money at your local lab. Get a good make and model of digital camera now and it will outlast a cheapie 4 or 5 times.DO NOT be swayed by digital cameras that have "Non-Photographic" features, gadgets and gizmos. Any of these unnecessary features added means that some quality has been sacrificed elsewhere. Buy a camera to be a camera, and nothing else. I would also suggest buying one of the top brands such as Canon, Nikon, Konica-Minolta, Olympus etc., they may cost a little more, but the difference in quality is worth it. They all make cheaper end cameras too.Look for decent features such as a good optical zoom, NOT digital zoom. Digital zoom is an unnecessary marketing tool; it is the same as zooming in on the photo once you get it onto your PC. 10-20X digital zoom is acceptable but I have seen video cameras with 1000X digital zoom, have you ever tried holding the camera steady at these kind of magnifications, even with a tripod?!! Basically, write down exactly what you want and need from the camera, go to a reputable dealer and buy a good branded camera that has what you need for your requirements and budget, don't be swayed by the salesperson into buying more than you need. Now, the Amateur or Semi Pro. When you start to look at Semi professional Digital SLR's or Advanced digital compact cameras, the choice is a little less but no less confusing. The same advice goes here as in the previous section, think about what you need the camera for, how you think you may progress in this hobby and your budget. The "prosumer" advanced digital compact cameras available today are steadily encroaching on the quality of the DSLR, although in my opinion, they will never catch them. The optical zooms are fantastic, the sensors, albeit smaller than the DSLR are powerful and produce stunning images, and some even have "built-in" image stabilisers…Great!

Again, my advice would be to go for quality. These cameras are more expensive anyway and you want one that will last and put up with a bit of knocking from your "getting creative in photography" moments! Once you have your advanced digital compact, don't be swayed by the latest upgrades, updates or releases. Get to know what you have, learn how to use it effectively and learn the photography side of photography, not the technical side.Once you are happy with your progression and feel that you want to move on, be more in control and maybe even start to earn from photography, only then should you splash out and upgrade to a Digital SLR. The Semi Professional Digital SLR or consumer DSLR is a fantastic thing in photography. Many of the "die-hard" film photographers are seeing the light and going digital. Many aspects of film are still widely used and will do for some time, as large format film photography produces the absolute finest detail I have seen (at the time of writing. In 2020, who knows?).

However, the latest batch of Digital SLR's have now reached the point where they match or out perform 35mm film. It is predicted that next year (2006) will be "boom time" for the sales of DSLR's as the quality increases and the prices come down. There has never been a better or cheaper way to get into 35mm photography!The BIGGEST thing to consider when buying a DSLR kit is to choose your brand loyalty.

Look at Canon, Nikon, Konica-Minolta, Olympus, Kodak etc., and make your choice, why? As you progress and become more enthusiastic or serious, you will want to add more lenses to your kit. Wide angle, telephoto, zoom, macro, standard….there is a massive choice. With the way technology is going, you are much more likely to upgrade your camera than you are your lenses and it will be a lot cheaper to do so once you really get into this hobby, believe me! One decent lens in my kit cost €2,000 (£1400) alone. A decent lens will, with care, last you a lifetime. There is only a certain level of quality of the glass you can obtain with optics so remember this point when buying your camera. My choice? Canon. I used to work for Nikon and had a preference towards them, but nowadays all my kit is Canon. I feel they are one step ahead with technology and the lenses (especially the nice white ones) are amazing! Just look at the next major sporting event on TV, how many "White" lenses you see.

Only Canon makes white lenses.Again, once you have made your choice, BUY the camera, ENJOY it and LEARN from it! If the sensor (i.e. 8MP or bigger) produces LARGE, high quality prints, why be swayed by the newer, latest upgrades? Photography is about "learning" and enjoyment, DO NOT be intimidated by technological gobbeldy gook, as long as your camera has the features that you need, quality to match and you build a nice set of lenses over time, who cares if the latest model has 0.1% better white balance control, or flashing lights?If you are new to Digital SLR's, I have a section on my website that explains all the bits and buttons.

Wedding Photographers Money Saving Tips for Weddings

2005-09-13T11:54:00.000-05:00

Wedding Photographers Tips for Weddings

Most brides forget the photographer is a very important part of their day. Not all wedding photographers are created equal. Many have various styles of shooting whether it be traditional, photojournalistic or posed images. The most popular style of photography today is a photojournalistic touch with some black and white photos mixed in. Some photographers create collages of photographs on an 11x14 template with a faded background as the image.

So when you think you're saving money by hiring the cheapest photographer that owns a camera you're only cheating yourself. It's once in a lifetime. Let a professional handle the job. Besides, the price you pay for a good photographer is only a one-time charge. It's not like a 30 year mortgae or a 5 year car payment. It's a one time investment to get the images you want.

Visit our site and see some wedding day samples