Wedding season is upon us, and that means a record number of photographs will be snapped in the coming weeks and months.
Of course, most brides have figured out who their photographer will be – whether it’s a professional or a talented family member or friend. If you’re a shutterbug and plan on taking pictures at the wedding, that doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the fun!
After all, a wedding is a big day for the invited guests too. So whether you’re a favorite aunt, a close cousin, or a life long friend, here are three tips for taking wedding photos you’ll be proud to share with the bride and groom, and everyone else for that matter!
Tip #1. Be discreet, but don’t be afraid to get the shot. Of course, a wedding is for the bride and groom, and you don’t want to do anything to call attention to yourself. So during the ceremony, it would be best if you kept your camera in the bag. Leave the tender ceremonial photos to the person the bride has designated as her photographer. Unless, of course, she has sought you out prior and specifically asked you to take photos. And no, it’s not OK for you to ask her if you can take photos of the “You may kiss the bride” moment.
Of course, taking photos before the ceremony begins is perfectly acceptable. Just be careful not to get in the way of the professional photographer or the wedding party. And after the ceremony, everyone lightens up quite a bit, so as long as you’re being polite and discreet, you shouldn’t have any problem getting great photos.
Tip #2. Look for photos in the crowd. The professional photographer will have the bride and groom covered. If fact, aside from a couple quick shots, you may not even want to take their picture, as they will both likely be very nervous. The rest of the wedding party and the other invited guests are another story, however.
Oftentimes the bridesmaids and groomsmen are overlooked once the formal wedding photos are taken. Try to get both casual and posed pictures of people in the wedding party. Again, you’ll need to be discreet as they do have a formal function and you don’t want to interfere. But if you can get a candid picture of a bridesmaid holding a young ring bearer, that may just become one of the most memorable shots of the day.
What’s more, the professional photographer won’t know all the guests. So you can take the opportunity to get candid and posed shots of guests you know are important to the bride and groom. Maybe it’s an old friend from high school, or a cousin from out of town. The bride and groom will certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness if you get pictures the professional photographer is likely to miss.
Tip #3. Have a telephoto lens handy, or use your zoom. If you are fortunate enough to have a Single Lens Reflex camera and multiple lenses, then you will want to rely primarily on a lens with multiple focal lengths – a 70 mm to 200 mm works best. This way, you can get both close in shots and shots from further away. Also, have your standard 50 mm handy for some of the posed shots you are sure to take.
If you have a simple point and shoot camera, that’s OK too. Simply rely on your zoom feature when you’re trying to get a candid shot. You can also use the zoom as a cropping tool as you are framing your picture, zooming in on your subject and eliminating unwanted backgrounds.
Just by following these three simple tips, you’re sure to get a lot of really great photos that you’ll be happy and proud to share with the bride and groom, and everyone else at the wedding.
You’ll become more than a bystander and observer – you’ll become someone who helps the happy couple remember all the special moments from the most special day of their lives!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
How to Take Excellent Baby Photos
Why should you accept baby photos that are merely good when you can have photos that are truly exceptional? But you don't have to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for professional photography services. Creativity and a simple camera will allow you to produce good results. Read on to discover some convenient, easy to follow suggestions that will help you achieve picture perfect photos for your baby photo albums.
Adjust your shooting style to accommodate your growing baby. Change the way you take the photos and the poses you use as your baby becomes stronger and more capable. You will have to pose an infant as they don't move around very much. But with a very small baby it is best to get the most natural appearance. Just have the baby lie down. Don't try to pose it. When the baby's neck is strong enough to hold its head up you can start taking its photographs at eye level. This will give you pictures that are more expressive. This is doubly important when they start to sit up and wiggle around. Patience is required to take great baby pictures. The best time to take good pictures of a baby is when the baby is quiet, calm, and clean.
Portraits of your baby shot in a photographer's studio can be boring and expensive. Do an activity with your baby that is fun for both of you if you want to take interesting baby photos. Stroll through the park, visit the zoo, or go see a garden. Packing a blanket, toys, food, and extra diapers will ensure that your baby will be comfortable and happy.
For pictures of newborn babies, parents will often ask you not to use your flash. For this reason, it is important to take your photos in a well-lit room. For a good picture, lighting is crucial. If your picture is underexposed, you won't get good detail. If your picture is overexposed, it will look white, flat, and lacking in contrast. Most cameras available to the general public today are automatic, and you don't have to worry about adjustments. However, if this is not the case with your camera, you can make allowances for varying light conditions by making adjustments to the exposure settings.
It is never a good idea to put a child in front of a bright light like a window or a lamp. If you backlight your baby, you will end up with him or her appearing to be in silhouette. When you are outside, be aware of the light situation. You will want to avoid lighting that causes your baby to squint or that casts odd shadows across his or her face. Use the tools you have. For example, if you are fortunate enough to have high speed sync for your flash, take advantage of it. If not, be advised that the flash speed on most digital cameras is one sixtieth of a second.
Have that digital camera handy at all times, especially when attending parties or special events. Photos of your infant will be cherished for many years to come, so you'll want to make sure they're personal and special. Informal photo shoots are fun; they create great shots and help to foster even tighter bonds between you and your baby.
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About the Author: If you want to support a children foundation in Los Angeles, Danoel Galliatta recommends the Make a wish Los Angeles. Make a wish helps children by taking California auto donations and Los Angeles car donation. They have many volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles for those willing to give or serve.
Adjust your shooting style to accommodate your growing baby. Change the way you take the photos and the poses you use as your baby becomes stronger and more capable. You will have to pose an infant as they don't move around very much. But with a very small baby it is best to get the most natural appearance. Just have the baby lie down. Don't try to pose it. When the baby's neck is strong enough to hold its head up you can start taking its photographs at eye level. This will give you pictures that are more expressive. This is doubly important when they start to sit up and wiggle around. Patience is required to take great baby pictures. The best time to take good pictures of a baby is when the baby is quiet, calm, and clean.
Portraits of your baby shot in a photographer's studio can be boring and expensive. Do an activity with your baby that is fun for both of you if you want to take interesting baby photos. Stroll through the park, visit the zoo, or go see a garden. Packing a blanket, toys, food, and extra diapers will ensure that your baby will be comfortable and happy.
For pictures of newborn babies, parents will often ask you not to use your flash. For this reason, it is important to take your photos in a well-lit room. For a good picture, lighting is crucial. If your picture is underexposed, you won't get good detail. If your picture is overexposed, it will look white, flat, and lacking in contrast. Most cameras available to the general public today are automatic, and you don't have to worry about adjustments. However, if this is not the case with your camera, you can make allowances for varying light conditions by making adjustments to the exposure settings.
It is never a good idea to put a child in front of a bright light like a window or a lamp. If you backlight your baby, you will end up with him or her appearing to be in silhouette. When you are outside, be aware of the light situation. You will want to avoid lighting that causes your baby to squint or that casts odd shadows across his or her face. Use the tools you have. For example, if you are fortunate enough to have high speed sync for your flash, take advantage of it. If not, be advised that the flash speed on most digital cameras is one sixtieth of a second.
Have that digital camera handy at all times, especially when attending parties or special events. Photos of your infant will be cherished for many years to come, so you'll want to make sure they're personal and special. Informal photo shoots are fun; they create great shots and help to foster even tighter bonds between you and your baby.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: If you want to support a children foundation in Los Angeles, Danoel Galliatta recommends the Make a wish Los Angeles. Make a wish helps children by taking California auto donations and Los Angeles car donation. They have many volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles for those willing to give or serve.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Traditional or Artistic: The Best Photography Style For Your Wedding
Your wedding day is the most awaited and special day of your entire life. The preparation alone took a great deal of time, money and effort on your part. Every detail has to be perfect, from the wedding gown to the wedding favors you are going to give away. Every part of the wedding is very important but special attention should be given in choosing the perfect photographer for your big day. Your wedding photography in Phoenix was already chosen but still you have this dilemma if you will go for a traditional style of photographs or an artistic approach.
Traditional style remains to be one of the most popular styles of wedding photography. This is a tried and tested technique wherein the perfection and quality of each image can be achieved by correct positioning and proper lighting effects. A controlled environment permits creating an ideal set up wherein every detail can be managed to achieve the best images as possible. In this method, a sense of timelessness and accuracy can be attained.
Traditional photographers have exceptional skills in doing portraits. They make sure their subjects will look flawless and shown in the best possible light. He looks over every detail like the lighting equipment, background, body alignment and even the wedding dress has to be perfect. Unfortunately, setting up this equipment takes time and becomes a hassle for the flow of the wedding.
An increasingly popular style besides the traditional one is the artistic approach. This method is a growing trend in modern photography wherein creative expression and story telling approaches are becoming more and more admired.
Artistic photography allows a photographer to use his artistic skills to show the story that is going on behind the wedding. This method is known for its distinctive and unusual use of light and angles that result in extraordinary and unique images. One particular style that is emerging nowadays is the candid or journalistic type of photography. These shots occur naturally and sometimes the couple or their guests are unaware that the picture is being taken.
A good artistic photographer will use the atmosphere and background of the wedding ceremony and location to have a desired effect. Shadows, lighting and focus are also very important factors to be considered in order to achieve a stunning image.
Which style is best, is really a decision of the couple. If you want your wedding photography Phoenix to be timeless and classic then the traditional style is the best one for you but if you want your pictures to tell the story of your wedding day, then the photojournalistic style is the right one for you. No particular style is superior than the other because it is still a matter of your personal preference. If ever you still find it hard to decide which one is the best for you then it is recommended that you opt for a combination of these two great styles.
Author Resource: Find more about wedding photography Phoenix at http://www.memoriesputtomusic.com/wedding_photography/index.html
Traditional style remains to be one of the most popular styles of wedding photography. This is a tried and tested technique wherein the perfection and quality of each image can be achieved by correct positioning and proper lighting effects. A controlled environment permits creating an ideal set up wherein every detail can be managed to achieve the best images as possible. In this method, a sense of timelessness and accuracy can be attained.
Traditional photographers have exceptional skills in doing portraits. They make sure their subjects will look flawless and shown in the best possible light. He looks over every detail like the lighting equipment, background, body alignment and even the wedding dress has to be perfect. Unfortunately, setting up this equipment takes time and becomes a hassle for the flow of the wedding.
An increasingly popular style besides the traditional one is the artistic approach. This method is a growing trend in modern photography wherein creative expression and story telling approaches are becoming more and more admired.
Artistic photography allows a photographer to use his artistic skills to show the story that is going on behind the wedding. This method is known for its distinctive and unusual use of light and angles that result in extraordinary and unique images. One particular style that is emerging nowadays is the candid or journalistic type of photography. These shots occur naturally and sometimes the couple or their guests are unaware that the picture is being taken.
A good artistic photographer will use the atmosphere and background of the wedding ceremony and location to have a desired effect. Shadows, lighting and focus are also very important factors to be considered in order to achieve a stunning image.
Which style is best, is really a decision of the couple. If you want your wedding photography Phoenix to be timeless and classic then the traditional style is the best one for you but if you want your pictures to tell the story of your wedding day, then the photojournalistic style is the right one for you. No particular style is superior than the other because it is still a matter of your personal preference. If ever you still find it hard to decide which one is the best for you then it is recommended that you opt for a combination of these two great styles.
Author Resource: Find more about wedding photography Phoenix at http://www.memoriesputtomusic.com/wedding_photography/index.html
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