Conceptual Photography

One of the things you may come across in photography school is Conceptual Photography. Conceptual photography differs slightly from regular photography, in that it's about the concept or idea of the photo, rather than the subject itself. In some schools of thought, conceptual photography is actually considered to be a more artistic application than other forms of photography, because it tends to incorporate aspects of abstraction as well. Though some photography schools specialize solely in the subject of conceptual photography, most photography schools at least offer some courses in it.

Most conceptual photographers aim to communicate some type of message to their viewers. The most common types of these are political and social commentaries, as well as advertisements. When making a conceptual photograph, the artist will take the various elements that make up the subject of the photograph/concept, and place those elements in the picture in a way to communicate their ideas. Though some photographers may come upon their concept through experimentation, it's usually the concept/idea that precedes the photograph.

In the past, much conceptual photography was done by hand. Nowadays it's just as common to use computer programs like Photoshop to generate the effects found in conceptual photography, though many artists still do utilize organic conceptual photography techniques.

People Photography

The most wonderful thing about 'people photography' with a digital is that you can see what the picture of that person is like on the LCD even before you take it! You can position the light in the way you want it, take the picture and if it still isn't right you can take another one until you are satisfied with the lighting. You can even do a few in black and white, a few in sepia and a few in colours, change the ISO as you go and generally have a fabulous time. Or you can just delete it there and then. You can try all this, plus shoot them at different angles, and everything between. And if you have colour filters.....well, you are only limited by your imagination.

Outdoor Portraiture Photography

It's not unusual for domestic portraiture photographers to shoot outside on a pleasant day and take pictures of their model. As a photographer I believe that the photographic studio can make people a tad nervous. The big lights and camera lens can make for a nervous experience. For shy people wanting their photograph taken, a photographic studio may not be the best.

External sources of light such as direct flash is so vital even in outdoor portraiture. You must have your speelite with you to fill up any shadowed areas that become visible. A reflector is a practical tool as well. You can slot the reflector under the persons face to photograph a very abstract shot, or, to simply get rid of shadowed areas beneath the nose and jaw.

Recently I did a series of photos outside in a park. It was of a young lady who sought shots for her collection. She was hoping to break into modelling. After some ideas back and forth we made the mututal decision that going to the recreational area was an ideal way to do the shoot.

Lenses for Portrait Photography

Firstly, one of the most vital aspects of winning outside portrait photography is the photographic lens you employ. Using the correct aperture, focal length and depth of field are essential components to an outdoor portraiture shoot. A rapid photographic lens is the ideal lens by skilled portrait photographers. What is a fast lens? A fast lens is a lens that has a very big maximum aperture. This will be anywhere between 1.8 and 2.8. This will mean that you can let a lot lighting in and use a quick shutter.

Imaginative portrait photography ideas

You can cultivate a large amount of creative portrait photography ideas simply by working at it.. Working at it gives you with something so extremely precious: experience. Once you begin to acquire added experience in outside portraits you will understand how outdoor lighting and flash fill work, in what way shadows work together on peoples facial features and most notably how you can do it better next time.

A lot of my most innovative ideas come to me from not only getting official training in photography, but also, from watching the way light interacts with it's environment. Light can give you some good ideas about where to position a person, the best way to angle yourself to get the most ideal portrait shots.

Outdoor Portrait Photography Poses

Posing relies upon on the gender of your model. There are various stances that a gentleman will hold to appear more manly. There are very different poses a female will take so she seems to be more feminine. Female models look great when the angles of her body are softened as opposed to accentuated. This requires turning on an angle, leaning the face and using the clear, sharp focus on the eyes. You can employ a foot position modification to emphasize a posture change.

High Key Portrait Photography

What does "high key" actually represent? Well, if you examine the technical meaning it is all about reducing the lighting ratio present in the image. What this means, in English, is that the lighting is overexposed with just the main details in focus. This is wonderful fun and a great way to create appealing portaits. Can you create high key photography outdoors? Most definitely. As long as you have a strong lighting source on one part of the persons head for instance, you can utilise the flash on the other side. Ensure that you lock clear, sharp focus on the eyes to begin with so finer details is kept on the eyes.

Remember that taking photos of outdoor portrait photography is a huge opportunity to have an appealing background. A recreational area, seaside or city street scene can improve the story of your photo considerably.

Photography Poses

When you want to become a professional photographer there are many things that you will need to study. Photography poses are one thing that you should study and get perfect. Some people are very tense when having their photo taken and you will need to put them at ease and make them look their best. By ensuring that your client is posed correctly they will look amazing and your work will get the credit it so deserves.

Initially you will need to practice a lot to find which photography poses you prefer and which ones your clients like. The more confident you are then your clients will be more relaxed and enjoy the photo shoot more. You need to find environments and situations where everyone is relaxed, ensure that they wear comfortable clothes and if possible the same contrasting colors to make the shot look amazing. As with any profession you will get better with time and experience, the more photos you take the better they will be.

When you have completed a photo shoot you need to analyze your photos but not be over critical of them. If you research photography poses well and keep up to date with the latest trends and fashions then you will become a very good photographer. You may decide to specialize in a certain type of photography whether this is weddings, portraits or action photography, but the principles are the same. Knowing how to arrange the surroundings, clients and overall look of the photo is essential.

Beach Photography Tips

Have you ever been on a beach holiday and thought it would be a good idea to take thousands of photographs to remember how beautiful it was, only to be disappointed with the final result? I'll bet you took a portrait of your loved one only for the shot to turn them into a dark shadow or it left them with harsh black shadows on their faces. Please don't worry, you are not the worst photographer in the world, this problem is quite common.

Photography can be tricky in the bright light of day, especially in a hot, reflective place like the beach but it is not impossible. If you adhere to a few of the following tips, you will find that your photography on the beach will most definitely improve.

1.USE YOUR FLASH! I know it sounds odd to recommend flash photography in broad daylight but this is a technique of all professional photographers. It's called "fill in flash". And it does just that: it fills in all those dark shadows! Fill in flash really only works if you are close to you subject as a flash does not illuminate too far from the light source. So, a perfect time to use fill in flash is if you are taking a portrait and you have the bright sky in the background, for example. Turn the flash on. Focus as normal. Take the photo as per normal. It is that simple. If you find that your subject is a little "washed out", try turning the flash down (if you have an external flash) or if not, simply just take a step or two back from your subject and try again. The photo should turn out with a well exposed background and your subject's face should be well lit with no harsh shadows. Fill in flash is also perfect to use when your subject has a hat on, to stop the hat covering their face with a dark shadow.

2. CHOOSE YOUR TIME OF DAY WELL! Obviously, the brightest and hottest part of the day gives the most problems with photography exposure. Therefore I would recommend taking photos in the early morning and the late afternoon. The light at this time of day is somewhat filtered, is therefore not as harsh and gives lovely tones. It also creates a moodier feeling in the photo. And once again, it prevents to some degree those dark shadows (do you get the feeling that I don't like shadows?).

3. TAKE A PHOTO OF ONE SPECIAL THING! When you're at the beach the temptation is to just snap away and take photos of just the beach. That's great if you want to end up with 548 holiday snaps of the same thing! Make your holiday photos something interesting. Focus on one subject. Don't take a photo of your kids off in the distance playing on the sand. How about taking an up close shot of them, building a sandcastle, their little faces deep in concentration as they build it higher and higher? Or what about some foot prints in the sand? A feather? A crab peaking out from it's home in the dunes? All these might sound like silly things to take a photo of, but when you have your photo album of your holiday made up, it creates a story of your time there, instead of just bland old images.

4. COMPOSE YOUR SHOT WELL! A well composed photograph draws the viewer in to a resting spot and makes them think. Plonking everything in the smack bang middle of your photo looks kind of drab and dull after a while. Okay, here's a little secret: you don't have to have a great camera to take great shots, it's all to do with composition. Example? Okay, to keep it simple, imagine you are taking a photo of the ocean. Instead of putting the horizon light right across the middle, imagine your viewfinder is divided by three equal parts. Now, put the horizon either on the bottom third or the top third line and suddenly the photo is all the more interesting. It draws the viewer.

Love Photography Quotes

I believe that people who love photography quotes have a certain passion and curiosity for life. They are not content to let the smallest, most mundane things that occur in the world go unnoticed. They are excited at the mere thought of discovering the unknown and getting up close and personal with every aspect of this world.

Engagement Photography

It is very common to visit few different photographers' Website to check some of their wedding photography samples and package prices before you select the one that will be your Wedding Photographer. When you are checking their Websites, you might also find pictures and some minor information about Engagement Photography.

The truth is that a lot of brides still don't know what Engagement Photography is and most of them don't know why to have a special Engagement Photography session done is so important.

Here is everything that you need to know about Engagement Photography, and why this session is a must for who is getting married.

What- Engagement Photography is a special photography session dedicated to couples that are soon getting married.

Why- There are few different reasons for having your Engagement Photography done, but two of the best reasons are;

a) Know your photographer better (quality, talent, personality, etc)

b) Have a nice picture of you and your loved one displayed at your Wedding Reception

Where- You can have your Engagement Picture taken at the photographer's studio, a nice park, or at the beach. You should select the location that will translate the personality of the couple best. I personally recommend beautiful open areas with a lot of plants, flowers and etc, or a beautiful beach with clear send, beautiful palm trees and etc.

When- This session have to be done no latter than two or three weeks before your wedding date, so you would have time to select the best picture to be printed and find a nice frame to display the picture at your Wedding Reception. If your intention is to use this session to know better your photographer or just to try a photographer before you sign any contract. I would recommend you to schedule this session at least three to six months before your wedding date.

How- Once you selected the location and the date you and your loved one have to decide about what clothes to wear, makeup, hair, props and etc. Your photographer will be able to help you with some personal suggestions.

There is no reason to you don't have your Engagement Photography done, other than if your Photographer does not offer that on his or her packages. If this is the case, talk to your photographer about your needs or find another photographer that will work the way that you want.