Learn Digital Photography - What is the Future of Digital Photography?

Do you see a future for digital photography? Quite a radical question in the feeding frenzy of digital camera marketing. To me digital photography is the best thing that has ever happened to photography. But, what is its future? A difficult question to answer and possibly a loaded one.

Film photography was always known as just 'photography', never film photography. It was the standard. With the emergence of digital photography this standard has been challenged. My question is, "will digital photography become the standard or will it remain the ugly sister of photography"? 

I think that it will always remain the 'poor cousin' of film photography unless two things happen:

1. All digital cameras need to develop to the point that they are equivalent in quality to that of the most basic film camera. They must eradicate the digital vs film debate. There must be no difference between the two formats. The most expensive digital cameras are getting close to that standard but the point and shoot models cannot compete with their film counterparts. I think that with the pace of development, despite an economic crisis,  consumers are demanding that lower end cameras need to improve in quality. Although, true photography is all about the SLR and I think we are on the road to the quality needed to compete with film cameras.

2. There is a mindset change that quantity is better than quality. Thought that went into taking a photograph with film has all but disappeared. The speed with which digital images are taken degrades the results of good photography. This is evidenced by the quality of images submitted to competitions, placed on forums and displayed on blogs. If this mindset changes and we start putting more thought into photography it does bode well for digital as an art form.

How do we change this so that digital is synonymous with photography? I personally think that the key is education and learning. In the same way that digital photography has changed the face of photography digital has changed the face of publishing. 

Great learning material is available in electronic form as free education or reasonably priced education. It is now cheap and easy to learn about photography and the techniques of improvement. It doesn't take an expensive course or diploma to radically improve your images. It's as simple as buying an eBook or an electronic course. Many have money back guarantees so the risk is minimal. Easy to find and easy to learn. The key is to learn photography and not just digital photography.

When film photography was born it was perceived as an art and much care was exercised in the execution. It was birthed in and developed with this mindset and, linked to the costs involved, remained mostly as an art form. Even the masses exercised care in its practise. 

But, with digital photography it is very different. What it has done is make the art form cheaper, simpler and faster. Whenever you add these three factors to anything in life, it opens the door to loss off technique, lower quality and diminished value. This is seen by the billions of electronic images that remain on DVDs, hard drives and memory cards, unappreciated and valueless. 

It's in this world that the art of photography has to find its place and raise its head again from the chaos of digital. Digital is the best thing since sliced bread.  The only question that now needs to be answered is will it rise to the occasion and become the new art form or will it be the vehicle that is responsible for the loss of a great art form?

How To Select The Right Photography School

If you are like many, you have an interest in developing the background and skills necessary to enter the field of photography as career. And what a great career it can be. There is nothing more gratifying than creating a powerful image with your camera and a keen eye. Of course, in order to achieve your goal it is important that you get the right photographic education along with effective coaching and mentoring. With the right education, lots of hard work, and many hours of practice you will soon have the title of professional photographer.

Just like any school you will need to do your research to make sure that the photography school you select will best meet your individual needs. This article is intended to provide you several of the key areas that you should take into consideration as you begin to research good photography schools. After all it is your time and money so you owe it to yourself to make a well educated selection.

In choosing a photography school you should start by looking at the big picture. The selection of a photography school must be aligned with your specific career goals. As with any business field photography presents many opportunities in a wide range of categories. For example, you may have an interest in portrait photography, product advertising, or sports photography. At this point you may be focused more on the general aspects of photography and if so that is okay. But, if you have an area of interest it is worth your investment in time to determine the areas of specialization your short list of photography schools may have to offer. It would also be beneficial if your school of choice provides courses in general business in addition to the photography classes. This will aid you as you move from student to professional status.

I am sure you already know this but I will say it any way. Professional photography is more than point-and-shoot method for making a living. It requires an attention to detail and a wide range of skills including mathematics, business management, marketing and more. So make sure that the photography school you select can provide you the knowledge you need in the area of general business education too. Since many photographers eventually go into business on their own you will find these to be extremely valuable survival skills that will lend to your success.

It is always wise to inquire about the size of the class as well as the ratio of students to teacher. To many people in photography class can really be a hindrance toward proper learning. And it will also prohibit the instructor from providing effective hands-on supervision to each of the students.

Another skill area that should be considered is in the area of computers and you should determine if the photography school of choice provides learning in this area as well. A good photography school needs to have courses on basic computer use as well as more advance courses for those who have an interest in expanding their knowledge of digital photography as well as specialty software used for creating a digital darkroom. Since the field of photography is a very competitive it is imperative that you gain education and knowledge in this area as well.

Lastly, keep in mind that any education will have a price tag associated with it. So unless you just happen to have all of your photography education funding in hand it is worth while to determine if the schools provide scholarships or other forms of financial assistance for their students. Also keep in mind that you will more than likely need to invest in some of your own photography equipment. So I would recommend that you ask for a listing of equipment that the photography school offers to their students as well as a listing of equipment that you need to buy. This will aid you in determining the total cost of your education.

Hopefully, these recommendations will help you build your list of investigation questions so that you can make a wise and well educated decision. Choosing the right school is just as important as having a good view of where you want to go. And the right school is the best way to help you get there.

To Your Success as a Professional Photographer!

What Kind of Photography Do You Want?

Persons capture images for a lot of motives, assorting from over-romantic incentives to extremely convenient anxieties. Capturing images may possibly be an artistic structure, a family unit pastime otherwise a past obligation. Likewise, staring at images keeps us in contact with the past times, continues us educated of happenings moreover permits us to value creativity.

Photography is an impressive ability outline that comprises more than simply portrayal, scenery or glamour taking pictures. Mutually specialized and unprofessional photographers might support precise varieties of photography more than others. Although an expert photographer may possibly toil in photojournalism, an unskilled might be mainly fascinated in large-photography.

Capturing images can be as effortless as positioning the photographic camera, clicking and desiring impressive turns out. A lot of inhabitants capture images in this way Nonetheless, this technique might be incompatible: at times it works and occasionally it doesn't.

So, which kind of photography do you want? Here is a comprehensive list of the kinds of photography:

Representation Photography-Documental photographs inform tales with pictures. The major dissimilarity among photojournalism and representation photography is that representation photography is destined to provide as a past representation of a political or sociable period whereas photojournalism represents a specific prospect or occurrence.

Photojournalism-Even though unskilled might terminated into this branch of knowledge lacking of proper preparation, photojournalism is frequently restricted to proficient. One cause photojournalism is frequently accomplished by experts is that sober photojournalists have to be sure that their shots uphold the reliability of the unique view.

Photojournalism entails the photographer to capture simply the essentials: no modification or exaggeration of the image is allowed. Photojournalism images are frequently influential pictures that prosecute the observer with the information subject matter. Cognizing how to obtain specified shots to interpret the unique sensation is frequently discovered simply throughout the years of performance and understanding.

Macro Photography-Macro-photography distinguished the subject field of photography in which images are captured at close up scope. When limited to lens men with improved and luxurious apparatus, macro-photography is currently uncomplicated for unskilled to put into practice through digital cameras by means of macro environment. Macro-photography subject matters might comprise arthropods, plants life, as well as the surface of a woven jersey otherwise some content where close-up taking photos exposes appealing informations.

Action Photography-Though experts who capture moving shots might concentrate in a diversity of various subject matters, games photography is one of the quickest and most arousing styles of taking photos. Just like several action shot, an excellent games lens man has to be acquainted with his or her subject matter fine adequate to expect when to capture images. Very similar regulation goes for photographers captivating moving shots of fauna organisms in natural world or of an airplane departure.

Micro Photography-Microphotography makes use of dedicated cameras and magnifiers to captivate pictures of enormously tiny objects. The majority of utilization of microphotography is better suitable for the systematic human kind. For instance, microphotography is exercised in subject areas as varied as natural philosophy, environmental science and medical science.

Marketing Photography-It's because photography performs a very important role in marketing, a lot of expert photographers dedicate their professions to marketing photography. The require for sole and noticeable marketing reproduction means the photographer might toil with numerous forms of taking pictures, as well as macro-photography and beauty photography.

Beauty Photography-Beauty photography, sometimes misidentified with pornography, might be horny and titillating except it is not pornographic. Alternatively of centering on nakedness or violent postures, glamour photography seeks out to seize its subject matter in reminiscent postures that give emphasis to curvatures and shades. As the name entails, the objective of beauty photography is to interpret the role model in a sensational brightness. Therefore, lots of glamour shots bear teasing, unexplained and good-humored natures.

Aerial Photography-An airborne photographer concentrates in capturing images from the air. Photographs might be utilized for reviewing or constructing, to seize birds or climate on movie or for armed forces intentions. Aerial lens men have make use of airplanes, particularly lights, parachutes, hot-air balloons and remote controlled airliner to capture images from the atmosphere.

Imaginative Photography-Imaginative photography can hold a broad selection of subject matters. Whereas a natural world photographer might make use of undersea taking photographs to generate an art show based on marine life, a representation photographer's amusement might attribute black and white imaginative portrayal. Overall cases, the shoots should have artistic significance to be regard as artistic creation.

Marriage Photography-Marriage photography is a combination of various styles of taking photographs. Even though the nuptials photograph album is a documentary of the marriage day, marriage photographs can be improved and modified to generate a mixture of special effects. For instance, a lens man might take care of several of the photographs with reddish brown harmonizing to provide them an extra traditional, enduring look.

Underwater Photography-Subsurface photography is frequently in employment by scuba divers. On the other hand, the price of scuba diving, attached with frequently luxurious and awkward undersea picture making apparatus, creates this one of the fewer frequent styles of taking pictures. Likewise, if an unskilled has the apparatus and the scuba knowledge, captivating shots below the surface can be difficult, as scuba safety glasses are overstated and deform the photographer's visualization.

Travel Photography-Travel photography might extent numerous types of photography, as well as advertising, documentary or dialect photography that portrays a mainly local or chronological taste. A travel lens man can capture the sense of a site with mutually sceneries and portrayal.

The Secret To Online Digital Photography Course Success

What is an online digital photography course and how can I learn more about them?

Digital photography is an increasingly popular hobby that more and more people are taking up every day. The beauty of digital photography is that all it really takes to get started is a digital camera, and cameras are more affordable than ever. In addition to having a camera, it will take some technique and skill to take great photos so aspiring photographers are always looking improve their overall skill in taking photos.

One way to improve your digital photography skills is to take an offline photography class at a community college. However, I would recommend taking an online digital photography course first, as it will be cheaper and more convenient. You will be able to learn on your own time.

Where can I find an online course in digital photography?

The first place to look for a digital photography course online is to search for "online digital photography course" in your favorite search engine. This will bring up a number of results for you to choose from. However, before you decide on a course, you will want to do a little research on each of the courses to help determine which one is best for you.

Start by looking for an independent site which reviews online photography courses to see how they rate a given course. Try not to form an opinion on one review alone, but base it on an overall consensus from numerous sites. If the reviews for one course are favorable on numerous websites, chances are it is a quality course.

What exactly is involved in an online digital photography course?

Most online courses will start off by teaching you the basics of digital photography. Once you have the basics down, they will move on to more advanced techniques such as lighting, adjusting tone, and image editing. Whatever your current skill level is, you will certainly learn a few new digital photography tips and techniques that will result in much better photos.

Can I just take a free digital photography course?

Most online digital photography courses will require payment, but there are a few of them that are free. From what I have seen, the free courses only offer the most basic information and won't really get into any advanced techniques.

If you are short on cash, than you should try to find a free photography course online first. At the very least, you will learn a few things that you probably were not aware of. Eventually, you will want to take a more advanced course to take your photography skills to the next level.

Starting a Photography Business: The Principles

A passionate zeal for photography can capture the imagination of people worldwide. It depends entirely on you what kind of pursuit you have attached to your fervor for photography. One of the best platforms to showcase your photography skills can also be started from the comfort of your home. In order to earn a substantial amount of income from photography, I'll wager that it would be hard to beat opening one from home - at least to start with anyway! This way you have a better chance of survival as you build your wealth alongside your business.

If you are thorough with your plan to establish a photography business from home, you must be thorough in your research towards not only the kind of equipment you would need but also the most important and critical element of setting up a sound business foundation, your marketing skills. This will govern how well you are able to promote your business.

All pros and cons of setting up a photographic business must be pondered carefully. In any case, here are some of the guidelines that may prove helpful to you in establishing a successful photography business from home.

Make a blueprint of your photography business.

Guideline 1: Blueprint is a plan or proposal about a business that you are intending to set up. In the case where the business is being started up from home, there should be an approximate estimation of all the required elements. Finance is another important part because it's too easy to fall flat on your face if you haven't considered the essentials for the journey. Plan a period of time which shows no income at all - say three months to start with. Renovating that portion of your home from where you mean to carry out your business, estimate on the number of people to be employed and their basic salary (if any). Another important thing that needs to be kept in mind while doing business from home is the kind of photography business you intend to start, such as portrait photography, underwater photography, pet photography, sports photography and wedding photography, etc.

Guideline 2: The marketing process is as important as all the other things. Marketing included two primary levels. One, when you have setup a new business and want to promote it and the other is the marketing being done to further profit your business in the established circles of existing business. Advertising is one of the best ways to promote your business from home. Especially when you're starting out.

Equipments required

Guideline 3: You must have the right kind of camera and other studio and lighting apparatus. Don't adopt laxity in the photography business you are opening from home because you must have a competitive professional environment as is found in other commercial photography businesses. Light, shadow, contrast and appropriate camera angles all require equipment so do your homework on relevant costs.

Advantages of possessing Digital Camera & Photo-Editing software

Guideline 4: The advantages of digital cameras are enormous. Firstly, you don't need to set up a separate photo lab for processing a camera reel and photographs. Secondly, a less amount of time is required for the maintenance of a digital camera. Thirdly, photographs taken from a digital camera can be used as the actual printed photo or can also be fed into the computers for transferring them free of cost via electronic mail (e-mail).

Guideline 5: New technology has eliminated the extra cost incurred in processing and treating the photographs. Photo-Editing software is extremely useful in treating various anomalies that often develop such as red-eye, show problem, extra shine, etc. These software applications treat photographs as originals and are also useful in adding extra special effects.

Developing a website as a part of your marketing strategy.

Guideline 6: Constructing or developing your own website is the next step for a photography business because websites can help promote your business much quicker than working without one. Websites can also be easily managed even if you are operating from your home. For this purpose, you need to take the help of an accomplished website designer. An ideal Website must include all your best photographs, have a vibrant, impressive appearance and contact details.

Photography - A Memory Preserver

Photography is used by amateurs to preserve memories of favorite times, to capture special moments, to tell stories, to send messages, and as a source of entertainment. Many mobile phones now contain cameras to facilitate such use. Photography is all about light, and as photographers, we're constantly thinking about the light as we photograph a scene. Light dominates our thoughts during the photographic process, and light continues to be a defining element when converting your RAW captures to "real" digitalimages. Photography is an art and those of us who choose to practice the great art of street photographyought not be targeted by bullies like Blint. Many of the great artists, artists being shown in the SF MOMA itself were practitioners of street photography.

Photography is a language; it has syntax and structure like English. As with a language, there are many ways to understand how to use the language. Photography is also increasingly asserting itself on the auctionblock as an important investment. And its prices in the galleries and at the major fairs reflect its serious status.Photography is one of the most basic, quintessential prototypes for how a "small business" works. It's the single-celled creature of the business world, making it the easiest to analyze, experimentwith, test, and retest.

Photography is a type of art. With the skillful use of the artist's hands, photography can bring out the subject's "personality" and create almost magical moments which might not ordinarily be achieved through other means of self-expression. Photography is a creative endeavor, if you removethe pressure to capture every angle and view of a location, you free yourself up to be more creative and your results will be much better. Photography is not art any more than oil paint is art. Some photographers used it to create art.

Photography is the confluence of chance, observation and memory. Photography and Art tap into the very life force that drives us. Photography is an emotional and intuitive process for me. Scenes, objects, and the subtleties of light and colour are like emotional bookmarks. Photography is an art that is capable of ?

Photography is so much a part of our culture now that we hardly even notice all the places that it exists. When you watch television, look at a magazine or even view a billboard on the highway, this is all because of photography. Photography is no different than cave painting, we all want to tell our story, some want to record that story for others who missed out. Did you see the anguish in her face, did you notice the mother's reaction?". Photography is the dream, the interval, which we take to be the real. And yet secret tears flow behind these portraits.

Photography is an entire hobby in itself, and a thorough exploration of it is beyond the scope of this article. If you are interested in Professional RC aerial photography, or just want to know more, get a book from the library on photography and read it. Photography is a life-long hobby for many people. But for many thousands more it is a vocation. People who gain ability in photography can put their knowledge to work by making their living in it. Photography is also just plain fun, and it's a wonderful foundation for community-based projects. If you introduce photography properly, it helps you look much more carefully at the world around you.

Photography is finally escaping any dependence on what is in front of a lens, but it comes at the price of its special claim on a viewer's attention as "evidence" rooted in reality. As gallery material, photographs are now essentially no different from paintings concocted entirely from an artist's imagination, except that they lack painting's manual touch and surface variation. Photography is HOT in the international art market. People in the know buy photos by hot artists from hot dealers, the way some savvy businessmen buy blue-chip stocks. Photography is probably the most accessible form of art in the world. Granted, a box of crayons is cheaper than a disposable camera, but in theory you do not need any technical skills to use the camera.

Photography is an art form that should not be squelched. Transportation is a huge part of our lives, and documenting this whether it be subway photos, or pictures of trains and airplanes, has a long history and tradition in this country Photography is also a large part of our modern news media and journalism. Photography is an expansive art form that includes more than just portraiture, landscape or glamor photography. Both professional and amateur photographers may favor specific types of photography over others.

Cameras also provide histograms to help you determine if a photo has been properly exposed. Histograms will be a subject for a future article. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or triggered automatically. Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, balloons, blimps and dirigibles, rockets, kites, poles and parachutes. Cameras are changing and improving. Methods of developing are changing and improving as well.

Cameras in the nineteenth century were large, took photographic plates and required a long time for exposure. Subjects in portraits would have to sit for minutes, and some photographers would use restraints or posture holding devices to reduce movement. Cameras do not focus infrared light the same way they do visible light, which is one reason infrared photographs tend to be a little blurry. Cameras with a pentaprism (as opposed to pentamirror) ensure that little light is lost before it hits your eye, however these often increase the cost of the camera significantly. Larger format sensors also produce a brighter viewfinder image (such as full frame 35 mm, compared to 1.5-1.6X or smaller crop factors).

Stock photos are professional photographs of all different subjects that are sold individually or as a set, usually on a CD or on the Internet. Clip art is line art such as drawings and illustrations rather than photographs. Stock photography websites contain thousands of existing photographs that can be licensed for specific uses. Legally, you cannot use a photo you find on the web without the photographer's permission.

Practice your photography skills and improve your class projects. Practice this at home in a dimly lit room and without a flash change the shutter speed settings on your camera. The manual you got with the camera should explain this more in detail.

Subject movement is also an important factor to consider. Macro photography magnifies the subject, leaving more room for blur. Subjects in all lower case tend to escape notice in a busy group like RPD, and those in ALL CAPS tend to get actively ignored?probably because many experienced Internet users take all caps as SHOUTING.

The Different Types of Photography Are Endless

Photography is an art form that encompasses many forms. Portrait photography and landscape photography are perhaps, the most popular types of photography, but there are many different forms as well. Both amateurs and professionals will enjoy particular types more than any other. Most professional photographers will choose one type of photography to specialize in. Some types of photography encompass two or more other types of photography, so it's not hard to pick a specialty based on the photographer's personality.

Photojournalism

This type of photography is for shooting photos of facts as they happened. These photographs are used to attract readers for news stories. This style of photography requires the knowledge to capture human emotion in a single photograph and can take years of practice to perfect.

Macrophotography

Macrophotography refers to photos that are taken at a very close range. In order to become a macro photographer, the proper professional film equipment (pfe) is essential. Lenses and other needed equipment are expensive and require advanced knowledge to learn.

Documentary

This is very similar to photojournalism, but in documentary photography the photographs are meant for historical evidence of an era. In photojournalism, the photo will depict just one scene or event. Documentary photographers also need experiences and training to capture human emotion.

Glamour

So many consider glamour photography to be pornographic, but is an art form that shows the beauty of the human body. These photos may be sexy, but they are done tastefully and respectfully. They focus on light and shadows to show the human body at its best.

Action

Although there are different types of action photography, sports photography is the most popular. The photographer must study the subject and anticipate the next move in order to get a good shot. This holds true for sports photographers as well as those photographing animals in nature.

Portrait

This might be the most popular type of photography and certainly one of the oldest. Subjects can be people or animals. Portrait photography serves to capture the unique personality of the subject in a photograph.

Art

Art photography can include photographs on many different subjects. Some photographers use animals or nature as subjects, others may use objects posed, or even an interesting view of everyday objects. No matter what the subject is, art photography must be aesthetic.

Wedding

This is a unique blend of portrait photography and documentary photography. Many photographs of this style are post processed for creative effects. Many photographs are given a vintage or timeless look in post processing.

Advertising

This is yet another type of photography that encompasses different forms. It can include macrophotography, glamour photography, and portraiture. The photographs need to be interesting and catch the eye of consumers in print. This is a popular form of photography that many people devote their careers to.

Travel

This spans several types of photography as well. It can include portraiture, documentary, advertising, and glamour photography. Photographs should depict life or events of a particular place in the world. This can be achieved through portraits or by landscape photography.

Photography - An Art of Wisdom

Photography is a complex art which needs a lot of attention, and skills of thinking beyond the limits of normal human being. You need to put the best efforts into photography to come up with the best results. One can be a master of this art only after lots of practice and learning, but these two things are not enough to be a perfect photographer, you need to have passion for photography and to view the world behind the lens.

Photography is one of the most fascinated professions for youngsters these days. Wildlife photography, nature photography, food photography, fashion photography and wedding and bridal photography are the most popular modes of photography.

All the modes of photography have its own set of importance, but Wedding photography and bridal photography are more attached to the whole life of two human beings and their families. So, it's a kind of more important and special. As wedding is one time affair for people, they want to store all the memories of their wedding to remember and cherish for the whole life. Bride and groom both want to store every single moment spend during the wedding celebration in form of photographs or videos. So, they look for an expert photographer with enough experience to handle all the task of wedding photography efficiently.

An expert wedding photographer is not a general photographer. He generally has experience of capturing thousands of snaps in hundreds of weddings in diverse set of customs and photography scenario. The work of an expert wedding photographer is to extract the best look out of bride and groom along with the best moments in best possible capturing angles. There is no place for anything less than the best in wedding and bridal photography. In bridal photography it's more important because a photographer has to display all the hesitation, excitement, glaze and anxiety of a girl who is going to marry. It's very tough to reflect all those true feelings, but an expert photographer knows how to do that.

Thus wedding and bridal photography is really different than other modes of photography, because here you don't have independence of experimenting much, you have to experiment to a certain level, and the priority goes to the demand of bride and groom. This is a completely professional affair, and the photographer has to be professionally experienced to deliver the best service.

How to Start a Digital Photography Business

So you took a lot of pictures and a lot of your friends are saying that you are good at it. However, you're tired of just receiving a lot of praise because what you really wanted is to make money out of your talent. You then keep on thinking on how to start a photography business.

Well I'm glad you think that way my friend. Unless you're really have a high paying job that gives you a lot of extra time, making photography for just a hobby is not practical at all. Think of how expensive the camera is and its equipment. Companies are also upgrading brand new models every now and then so you need also to catch up or else you'll be left behind. Therefore, you really need to know how to start a photography business for you to have some resources for buying your gears and sooner, it might be your bread and butter.

Here are things that you need to know on how to start a photography business:

1. Choose an area that generates money in your situation

There are various areas in photography and it's really up to you to choose where you can fit yourself in. However, since you wanted to know how to start a photography business, you must also place yourself in an area that gives you income. You might love taking abstract pictures but you might not be able to generate money from it. Well, I'm not saying that there's no money in abstract photography. What I'm saying is that choose an area in photography that you not only like but will also be a good source of income in your situation for a long run.

One good example here is wedding photography. I have friends who are really good in capturing artistic shots. They post those photos in Facebook and they receive a lot of good comments. However, with that kind of photography, it's only good for sharing in social networks but does not give them any dime from it. Because of that, they do wedding photography. Every now and then, many couples are getting married so they always have bookings for a shoot. This area in photography might not be their first option in this field. But since they wanted photography for business, they still do it.

2. Starting from a sideline first

At first, you might not have a lot of resources and you really don't know how to start a photography business. If you have a job now that is not related to photography, it's not yet a good idea to just drop that job immediately and do photography full-time. That might be possible if you really got lucky but I tell you what, it's very risky for now. Building up a business is not an overnight matter. Therefore I suggest taking it slow and making it a sideline for now. How about offering a photo shoot to your friends and colleagues first. You can start by offering them a big discount. This will save them some money from hiring a professional photographer. It will also give you an opportunity to learn and earn income bit by bit. Almost every successful businessmen started from being small. How to start a photography business is not different.

4. Use the power of the internet

Create your blog or even a website and upload your photo samples there. Create a fan page also in Facebook and even Twitter. Almost everybody now is using the internet so who knows, you might be discovered! It's also good to join photography forums online. You can ask questions to your fellow photographers about skills in photography and even how to run the business. Many professionals are always willing to give some help and even tell you how to start a photography business.

5. Make a goal to do photography business full-time

If photography is what you really like to do in life, you must dream to make it your full-time job. But before that happens, you really need to invest in skills and equipment in photography. It is also good to work as an assistant of a professional photographers at first. By that you can learn how your boss do the business and make your own soon. If there's an opportunity, join a photo shoot and see how they do it. One day, you'll be able to stand in your own feet and do your own business.

These are some of the ways on how to start a photography business. Try them and be a success photographer some day!

How To Start A Photography Business - Knowing When You're Really Ready And Knowing Other Differences

Here's a question: How do you know when you're ready to start a photography business? Answer: When you 'know' that you 'know' (the doublespeak is for emphasis) the difference between your artistic photography skills and your understanding of business. Knowing the difference makes the difference between success and failure when you start any type of business, for that matter.

Tip #1

Think about it, the art of taking pictures is getting easier and easier - especially with the advancement of technology. Digital technology has made photography so easy that it appears that everybody and their brothers and their sisters are photographers! Such ease makes photography a very popular attraction and very compelling to start a photo biz.

But, what many budding photographers fail to realize and take seriously is that: Business is Business. Whether selling teddy bears, cell phones or photography, the business principles are the same. And they are basic and simple (not easy - simple). Successful photographers aren't necessarily the most skilled. They understand and practice the basic and simple principles of running a photography business. They also don't confuse the quality of their photography with the need to plan, market and operate their photography business.

Don't be confused! You must consistently produce top-notch quality products and photographic services. Constantly improving your skills is critical. So is the learning and consistent practice of business principles. If you don't consistently practice the necessary business principles, budding photographers that do know the difference and practice the principles will get the customers and the business that should be yours. If you fail to practice the principles you will fail at your photography business attempts. Period. You will be another charter member of the 'starving artist' club! There's a reason why they're 'starving!'

Once you do start a picture-taking business, every day that you're in business there's opportunity to grow and prosper, and the chance to stagnate and fail. Your being clear on the difference between photography practices and business practices determine the success of your photography business more than your photographic skills and talents. Be sure to spend as much time developing your photography skills as you do your business (marketing, self-promotion activities, for example) skills and you will find success.

Compliment vs Reality - Tip #2

Most budding photographers have this experience: a good friend, family member or neighbor sees a photograph and 'raves' how good it looks and how 'valuable' it 'should' be! Somewhere in their raving they proclaim, "you should sell that, you'll probably make a lot of money!" Red flag warning! What is given as a compliment of your photograph is instantly translated to your having a "diamond" that you can sell and that will change your 'status' in life. Here's a test: the next time you receive such a 'compliment,' do this: thank them and then ask them how much are they willing to pay you for the photo? I promise you that the same 'expert' that just raved about your valuable artwork will pass on the 'opportunity' to grab up your 'valuable' artistic photo. In the photography business value is determined by other criteria than a compliment or two. Knowing the difference contributes to your success in business.

Develop your knowledge and skill and your confidence as a photographer will dramatically increase. Likewise with business: develop and practice basic business principles and your confidence as a successful professional photographer will dramatically increase. I promise.

Research Builds Confidence - Tip #3

Do your research. Go online and read the available research on the business of photography. Read before you buy. Online research is just a click away. Take your time. Take advantage of free and easily available information online. If you choose to buy something offered, determine what goals you want to accomplish and ask yourself will what you're buying help you to really meet your goals. Avoid the resources that promise and guarantee you that you can make $200 - $300 a day overnight - for obvious reasons. Also, there are no "secrets that the pros don't want you to know!" There is information that you do not know now. But, isn't information that is unknowable or impossible to find out - they're just unknown to you at this time. Do your research. Besides, if they're for sale, how "secret" can they be? Do your research

In the business of photography, it is more profitable to specialize. Specialization (also referred to as your "photography niche") is how your customers will find you. Another development of technology is how customers - those who can afford and are willing to spend money for photography - find the photography that they buy. They look for something specific (in photographer speak that means "photography niche"). Go online and do a search on "photography niche" and take advantage of the information available. Remember, read before you buy; there are no "secrets that the pros don't want you to know;" and great photography does not sell itself. In the world of business, nothing does.

For business purposes, go online and do a search on different business topics that you want more information about. For example, do a search for "photography marketing" or "marketing for photographers" or "amateur photography tips" or "how to sell photos online" or "how to start a photography business" etc. etc. Read before you buy.

Know And Start Where You Are And Be 'Sincere' - Tip #4

Start where you are with the equipment that you have. If you don't have a photography studio don't take on photography jobs that require a studio. Don't be all things to all people - remember, specialize (research "photography niche" - you'll be head and shoulders above the majority of your competition). If you feel that you have to purchase equipment to take on a job - that's a red flag that you're not ready, yet. In successful photography, the profit is in the "photography niche" and your understanding of that simple difference.

Doing your research will prepare you for one of the biggest challenges most photographers have - pricing. The challenge of knowing exactly what to charge stops most of us in our tracks. It shouldn't! Do your research. Search "photography pricing," for example. The information is available and most of it is free. Remember, read before you buy.

In my opinion, there really is no one criteria needed to start a profitable photo business. However, my experience has convinced me that self-confidence is the most significant asset a photographer in business can possess. You develop that self-confidence by knowing what you know and knowing what you don't know - and being crystal clear on the difference. Confidence is gained by knowing the necessary criteria needed and knowing that you possess the knowledge and skills to consistently accomplish tasks in a satisfactory manner.

Research, develop and practice both your photography knowledge and skills as well as your photography business knowledge and skills.

Finally, when vaudevillian, George Burns, was asked what was the secret to his successful career, he responded - "sincerity, be sincere - even if you have to fake it!"

The Effects of Digital on Photography and Photography Education

As working photographers how would you describe the effect of Digital in your photography career?

The consensus was that the greatest benefit is that the moment you take the picture you know whether you have the image or not! On a large budget shoot it is incredible to have the client look at final takes from a shoot before they leave the studio. But also to Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer or on Weddings the benefit is immense. Other benefit were the total control of the image once in the studio, the option to become the retoucher and to not have to outsource. Any Photographer can layer any number of layers and images to create any kind of Photograph. Ten years ago that was not possible without a very large budget or with the help of a professional retoucher. The major problem we agreed on is the enormous and never ending learning curves. and the amount of time required in front of the computer. For any educators it is a difficult situation. Educators have to know and have gone through Photoshop CS to CS2 to CS3, to Adobe Lightroom, and Apple Aperture. But also may include software such as Capture Pro, iView and many other.

What other comments do you have about Digital?

Couple of things that people who have only shot with Digital are not aware of is the cost of shooting has been reduced to nothing. Once a camera and some memory cards have been purchased a photographer can go and shoot as much as his/her memory cards will handle. No Polaroid at $1-$2 a piece, no film cost no lab cost. It allows Photographers to have a photography project that can be very extensive without the financial worry. The quality of Digital Photography was for a long while,considering its short life, not great. Now the files you get from a $500 are incredible.For $2000 you have a professional camera of excellent quality. Digital has also created new opportunities for Photographer to offer more services.

Dealing with Students and teaching Photography what do you see is the benefit of Digital Photography?

The answer surprised us a bit but most agreed that the cost of taking pictures was the major benefit they could see. Most student have and will always struggle with the cost of photography, However once they have made the investment they are pretty much set. In studio shooting 4x5 Polaroids, 4x5 transparency film was extremely costly. However shooting film made students slow down. It is too common for student to fix things in post-production. The major draw back is the focus on technology and not on the "Visual" aspect of Photography.

What do you think will be the most drastic change or changes we will see in the field of Photography during the next few years?

The most drastic change in Photography has already happened: Digital. For a while we could say Photography and Digital Photography but the reality, however disappointing it is to many, is that photography is digital. Very little film used anymore. Manufacturers have moved on and each and every field in Photography has adapted and changed. The more interesting question is where do we go from here? Let's look at the 2 major groups who create photography, professional photographers and consumers.

Taking into consideration what digital has brought to the media; Ease of Communication, immediate delivery worldwide, a Highly technical users and consumers base. The changes will be drastic, especially when you think that digital photography is still in its infancy.

The ease of communication as seen in the web conferencing industry will grow to allow pro to shoot and connect through a wireless network to the web from anywhere and present images for approval/delivery across the world. Think IPhone built in your $3000 camera and you are set. Someone is about to change way of coding images that will make raw file extremely compressed. It will become the standard. As a result Photographers will deliver RAW files, with protected metadata included and locked in the file for copyright protection, Gps location, the minute you mess with the metadata the File will self destruct. If you are a pro you like the sound of that. So on a pro level Cameras will have wireless transmitter built in, just as any phone connecting to a satellite, built audio and video for communication and extremely small raw files containing encrypted metadata protecting creator. From the consumer point of view the changes will come faster and in a greater steps.

TV, computers, phones will merge into one product or service resulting in countless possibilities. With a technically advanced consumer base it is easy to imagine a screen allowing you to write an email on one side, watch a TV program in another and speak on a video/phone in another part of the screen. This technology is available today but too expensive for consumers, for how long? Will you see your children come home, turn their phone or multimedia device on, connect to a base that will automatically download photographs, TV shows and whatever it's set to do. Your child will select the photos he she wants to post, dial on a keyboard and call across town to shows his/her shots to a friend or family member? Most definitely! The missing piece is a new language or new way of coding. To allow for smaller data transfer. This will come, without a doubt! So if you are an engineer, find a new way of coding all these information into a much smaller data size, find a new codec and you'll be set and retire early.

Does all this make photography better. Photography has become more and more affordable giving access to incredible equipment to a large group of consumers that may not do this for a living but love it and are constantly trying to learn more. Look at how many classes and workshops that have been offered over the past ten to fifteen years ago that did not exists. In a sense with more and more intelligent and dedicated amateur photographers the quality of images will get better and better as a teacher I see it on a day to day basis.

Photography School - Choose The Right Field Of Study

Photographers may specialize in one field of photography or they may generalize in a combination of two or more types of photography. Prior to selecting the photography school you are going to attend. Narrow down the specific fields of photography you are most interested in. The differences between photographer specialties are in the subject matter, work conditions and in the type of equipment used and required for design and composition of the photograph.

Photographer fields of study for you to consider:

Wedding and Portrait Photographers pose their subjects and carefully set up lighting and use flash units to enhance the images.

  • Fine arts photographers sell their images as fine artwork. In addition to technical proficiency, fine arts photographers need artistic talent and creativity.
  • Commercial Photographers shoot scenic photography for advertising, stock image and print sales. They also photograph products like food and merchandise or buildings and architecture.
  • News Photographers typically work on location at news-worthy events. They take pictures that enhance stories used by the news media.
  • Industrial Photographers shoot photos of machinery, employees working, equipment, products, and company officials. The images are typically done on location and used for the analysis of engineering projects, publicity, or company records.
  • Medical Photographers specialize in more technical forms of photography, such as Ophthalmic, Surgical or Pathological photography.
  • Freelance Photographers line up their own work and projects. Then they sell their photography directly to clients. They must be highly motivated to become successful.

Which field should you pursue? Ask yourself, why do I want to be a professional photographer, for the love or the money? Most of us do it for the love of photography. If you do it for the love of photography, consider combining your passion for photography with other interests like chemistry, medicine, news, special events etc. Important things to consider when choosing a specialized area of photography:

  • Working Conditions- If you want to work indoors in an air conditioned office or outdoors in the elements and on the move.
  • Salary Range- The compensation you can expect from each field of photography varies greatly. Research pay ranges before you select your field of study.
  • Educational Requirements- In some fields of photography like portrait and fine art, talent and experience are enough for motivated individuals. However additional education in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry are required for other fields.
  • Advancement Opportunities- Opportunities for advancement at a small photography studio are limited. Photographers in other industries such as media, medical and scientific photography can find room for moving up.

Careers in traditional photography like the media positions are highly competitive, since salaried jobs are extremely desirable. Some of the less crowded fields in the photography profession are the aerial, industrial and scientific fields of photography. In addition to photography skills, these jobs require college degrees and specialized technical training. When you carefully consider all of the factors, I'm confident you will choose the right career path.

Digital Photography Schools and Degrees

If you are interested in pursing a career in digital photography, you have come to the right place. With interest in photography increasing, the field of photography is becoming increasingly competitive. It is therefore imperative that anyone who is interested in a photography career, obtain the right training. There are many fine arts schools and professional photography schools that offer photography courses to help you learn about the history of photography and learn the techniques of photographing. With an interest in photography and some technical training, you can turn your passion for photography into a lifelong profession.

If you are interested in photography, there is a wide variety of career paths to select from. These include, but are not limited to, wedding photography, portrait photography, fashion photography, photojournalism, fine art photography, and landscape photography. If you are looking to pursue a career in any area of photography, you will need to attend a fine art or photography school that can provide you with the technical instruction that you need to succeed. Without proper training, you may get left behind in a field that is full of competition.

What will you learn during a photography course? During this course you will learn everything that you need to know to become a successful photographer. Most courses will start from the basics and give you a firm foundation in which you can start gaining experience. Lessons in photography courses include everything from the history of photography to the actual techniques used by professional photographers. These schools will also help you in creating a portfolio that will be attractive to potential customers and employers.

How do you know if this kind of school is the right choice for you? If you have an eye for detail, if you are extremely creative, and if you love shooting with the camera, school may be the right choice for you. If you have all of these qualities, you have everything an employer is looking for - except training. Attending a reputable photography school for training will make you one step closer to your success story! There are several schools across North America that offer a wide variety of training programs, degrees, and certificates in the field of psychology.

If you are interested in a photography career, attending a fine art or reputable school is definitely the way to go. Obtaining a photography degree will not only make you look more appealing to potential employers, but will also help you gain a solid foundation in which to build your business. Courses will provide you with everything from the basic information you need to understand photography to the specific skills and techniques you need to apply it. Enrol in a photography course today and become one step closer to obtaining your dream photography career.

How to Choose Photography Programs

What makes a good photography college? Every student has their own opinions about it, so it is very difficult to define a good photography college. Selecting a good photography college is a very personal matter, so the best photography college would be the one that matches the prospective student's each individual requirement.

Various factors need to be considered in determining the ideal photography college. Tuition and fees, whether the student received any grants or academic scholarships, and other available financing are key factors in the process of selecting a college. Of course, the college photography programs and academic courses, in addition to the faculty teaching photography, are crucial as well. Looking at related courses that may be available, like photography or game design, is also highly recommended.

Moreover, the prospective student also needs to carefully consider the location and atmosphere of the college. Is the college in an urban or rural setting? Are there off-campus activities? What transport options are available? And, if a student is interested in athletics, the college sporting programs and achievements can be influential in deciding on a college.

What are other factors to take into account when choosing a good photography college? Prospective photography students should also consider non-academic aspects. The services that photography students can use and the facilities available to students definitely should come into play when deciding between good photography schools. Yet another factor to consider is whether there are many notable photographers among the college's Alumni. And, whether the photography program also offers photography internships or even job placements may greatly influence which photography college a student may end up choosing.

In the end, the choice is the student's to make, so choose carefully! You may be wondering if attending art school is a pre-requisite for a career in professional photography. A few short years ago, it seemed nearly anyone with a camera could parlay their skills into a career. This is no longer true. The technical aspect of photography has exploded with the digital photography boom. Not only do you need to learn all the artistic angles of setting up and shooting a photograph, you also need to learn how to produce that photography in its best possible light on a computer.

With digital cameras, anyone can shoot a photo-but not everyone can shoot a good photo, and not everyone knows how to turn what they've shot into a professional quality picture. There is so much to know about digital enhancement that it would take years to learn on your own. Doesn't it make more sense to attend a concentrated program, taught by professionals so that you can learn all you need to know in a relatively short amount of time?

Fortunately, there are many reputable art schools teaching photography today. During your course of study, you will not only learn all of the technical aspects of professional photography, you will also study art history, the history of photography, color theory, and composition. Most art schools and photography schools also include courses in business practice, in order to get you up and running in your new career as soon as possible

Everything You Wanted To Know About Event Photography Software

The beauty of photography is the opportunity it provides to those who take photographs. There is a wide array of possibilities for the photographer who is looking to make money taking pictures. Some may opt to take pictures of the beautiful sunset or mountains, while others like to hire themselves out to people to take photographs for them. Event photography is a very popular type of employment within the photography industry. Event photography software serves to make this job a bit easier. Not sure what event photography is and why you might consider it? Read on to find out all the information on it.

What is Event Photography?

Have you ever been to a wedding? That's a silly question because most likely, you've been to a lot of those. What about a sporting event or a concert? Chances are, if you've gone to any of these, you've noticed photographers there taking pictures of the event. This is, in a gist, what event photography is. It is photography taken at events such as a wedding, sports event, concert, awards show etc. Event photography software will help you with this job.

Do Event Photographers Make Good Money?

If you're looking for a type of photography that is pretty much sure to earn you good money, event photography is it. While for most photographers it isn't all about making money, they can't deny that event photography is very lucrative. Some event photographers have reported making as much as thousands of dollars for taking pictures at one event. That's certainly a lot of money.

It's worth noting that not all event photographers make this type of money, although most do provided they're very professional. Event photography software helps them to take and manage professional event photos.

What Equipment Do I Need?

People will pay to have quality event photos taken, so it's important for you, as an event photographer, to have quality equipment. This means making a bit of an investment. You'll need to spend money to get money you need to purchase some of the best photography equipment available, which includes the camera and event photography software.

Let's start with the obvious: the camera. You'll want to get a digital camera, but stay away from the very small cameras - those are for amateurs. There are some great digital cameras on the market which have the traditional camera look, but are digital. These have the big lens, great zoom features and excellent megapixel quality. Go for a digital that has at least 8 megapixels. This may cost you from $400 on up.

Grab a good event photography software program, too. A good event photography software program will allow you to manage your photos in the easiest way possible. If you're not sure which event photography software program to buy, read some reviews online or ask around.

Next, you'll want to invest in a big memory card. Think at least 2GB, because the photographs with the highest quality tend to take up the most space. Nothing is worse than being at a gig and running out of space, so buy a few 2GB cards and you'll be set there.

Good batteries are also required. Make sure they are long lasting and hold a good charge (if they're rechargeable). Get an extra set of batteries, too.

Finally, you'll want to invest in a good stand and case. The stand will allow you to take great still shots, while the case will protect your investments. Definitely don't skimp here.

Why Do Event Photography?

Still not sold on why event photography could be a great choice for you? That's alright, as many people are skeptical of it. We'll give you a couple reasons here.

-Flexibility. One of the great things about event photography is that it providers photographers with a great deal of flexibility. You are able to choose how many events you do and how many hours you work. Usually, you won't have to work weekdays, or if you do, it may only be for a few hours. This is good for parents who want to work and still have time with their kids. Using event photography software can help to make things even more flexible and easy.

-Great Pay. Have you ever wanted to make hundreds or thousands of dollars for just a few hours work? You can do exactly this as an event photographer. Event photography pays very well, so it's very easy to make a lot of money doing it.

Why Event Photography Software?

There are a lot of reasons why you should use event photography software, but we won't get into all those now. Instead, we'll just give you the biggest reason, which is that it makes your job a lot easier. Event photography software will automate the process of managing and naming photos, and will even help you when it comes time to edit the photos. That is why you should consider buying event photography software.

How to Study for a Career in Photography

A career in photography can be a lucrative and rewarding experience and the choices are many for any budding photographers in today's modern and digital world. The photography industry covers a wide range of disciplines including:

• Digital Photography
• Photojournalism
• Editorial Photography
• Fashion Photography
• Advertising Photography
• Photographic Art
• Photojournalism
• Wildlife Photography
• Fine Art Photography

However, competition is fierce in the photography industry with only the most dedicated making a successful career for themselves. So if you are serious about this career path you need to be prepared to study hard and learn as much as possible about the art, techniques and industry as a whole.

Those choosing to study photography at an academic level will have the edge on other hopeful photographers because they gain all the basic knowledge required and also have the opportunity to network with photography professionals. An education course also enables students to try out many different forms of photography and decide what's best suited to them.

Choosing the right photography course is no easy task on its own. There is a wealth of photography courses available in the UK alone, from Foundation courses and national diplomas in photography to university degrees in photography. Some of the most widely respected Universities in the UK which run photography degree courses include the University of Westminster, London College of Communication, and the Surrey Institute of Art & Design University.

Would-be photography students should have a look at the UCAS website and see which courses are available at various universities. Then look closely at the course curriculum and decide if it matches their career ambitions. There are many great universities and colleges so it's important to look closely at each in terms of location and the success rate of their graduates.

One of the major obstacles for photography students and any students today is the cost. Tuition fees have reached record levels in the UK (£9,000 per year in many cases) so this can deter many students from study. However there are other options, cheaper options such as online learning or distance learning.
Distance learning photography courses often come in full-time or part-time format, making it perfect for those already with jobs or perhaps with children that they need to take care of while studying.

The best known distance learning establishment is the Open University which offers a number of photography courses but there are also others who specialise in distance learning such as the Interactive Design Institute who currently offer online photography courses online.

As in any other discipline, the career prospects for photography graduates are not guaranteed in today's economic climate. However, employment prospects can be improved greatly by networking while at study, and spending time gaining work experience through established agencies or professional photographers.
Once photography students have gained the required experience along with the qualifications, they are then faced with the choice of either working within an agency or as a freelance photographer.

The Internet is a great tool for modern photographers and there are any online communities full of great advice and real life experiences for potential photographers. Portfolios can be shared and reviewed online from peer groups and this can be invaluable for photography students.

Studying for a career in photography is not easy, requires dedication and a lot of hard work for a few years before gaining the position in employment sought by students. But the rewards can be fantastic both in monetary terms and job satisfaction.

7 Best Online Institutions For Photography That Can Change Your Career

Online institutions for photography are great options for professional and amateur photographers who want to improve their photography skills. Compared to the conventional photography institutions, online schools have various benefits from lower fee structure to efficient time utilization. Our busy schedule today, does not allow everyone to regularly attend a regular classroom program but it is easy for anyone to regularly attend an online photography course. Since the materials can be downloaded and learnt at your own convenience, you can learn during your spare time and weekends.

7 best online institutions that you should consider are:

1. AS in Digital Photography, International Academy of Design and Technology- For photography beginners, this is probably the best online course because it covers a large range of topics from composition to lighting techniques at a beginner level.

2. Photojournalism Program, Boston University- Boston University is a renowned university in United States. When the university officials realized the potential of internet as a great resource for educating students, they came up with a number of fascinating online courses and their department of photography is one among them. The faculty includes professional photographers who have won several prestigious awards and worked with prestigious institutions.

3. BFA in Visual Communication, American Intercontinental University- BFA program from AIU is dealing with the artistic side of photography. However, this program also provides very good insight to various photography equipment, photography techniques and the scientific aspects of photography.

4. BFA in Photography, Pratt Institute- The photography program from Pratt Institute covers various aspects of photography including the history, color and studio lighting. The program has eight semesters.

5. BFA in Photography, Savannah College of Arts and Design- If you are photographer with a strong passion for art, this program works best for you. The introductory classes include drawing and painting sessions to provide you a better insight to colors. MFA in Photography, Savannah College of Arts and Design is one of the best courses for professional photographers and students who want to learn the commercial aspects of photography. The MFA program covers marketing and sales as well as digital photography.

6. BFA in Photography, Academy of Art- The San Francisco based institute is well known for their cutting edge art courses and this course is no exception. You will learn about working with clients, organizing portfolios, studio tools and lighting. They also offer an MFA program.

7. Visual Journalism, Brooks Institute- The Visual Journalism program from Brooks is the best option for those who are looking for a specialized photography degree. Be it fashion, advertising or industrial photography, the institute has tailor made courses that suits you the best. This course can be the best choice for amateur photographers who want to learn about a particular niche and for professionals who are planning to expand their career to one more niche.

There is no doubt that these schools have at least one course to offer that will be quite appropriate for you.

Best Photography Colleges

Art is beautiful, and most of the time, is beauty itself. May the medium be painting, sculpting or writing, the artist knows how to capture the essence of the moment, and has the innate capability to make it stand still as time moves on. In photography, a single moment can be captured for a lifetime. So it is not surprising that these days, more and more people are thinking about taking formal training of the said craft.

Many aspiring artists seek for the best photography colleges around. And you ask, what is it exactly should you be looking for in a school? What are the types of courses they give out for a shutterbug like you? More importantly, are these schools capable of honing your passion? They are not called the best photography colleges for nothing.

Programs on best colleges offer history of photography, art history, color theory, composition, technical aspects and all related topics are covered to easily educate and give out the best application process in which the art of photography is involved.

Today, there are a lot of schools which are accredited in offering courses in photography, but the question you should ask is which one can hone your skills the most. The difference about the best photography colleges is that they give you in-depth information about your course since it has a lot of fields, and makes you realize your skill. True, anybody can shoot a picture, but not just anyone can shoot a good one.

The best photography colleges make you understand the technical aspects of the art, and most of them now use digital photography. Aside from that, they also teach how to turn your photograph into a professional quality picture using the computer.

Most notable photography colleges are art schools, such as the Academy of Art University's School of Photography. As one of the best photography colleges around, they teach the technical and aesthetic qualities a photographer needs, and promise their students of being capable enough to compete in this kind of business. It doesn't matter to them if you prefer traditional or digital photography; they have staffs that are there to teach you to have an artistic sense wherever you go. It is not surprising that they are one of the best photography colleges today, they know what their students need.

Promising careers in photography are very diverse, some of them are mostly on Portrait, Magazine, Architecture, Landscape, Advertising and Fashion Photography. These can easily be profitable for students that graduated and learned the needed skills for photography.

Also, other aspects of the best photography colleges are not just teaching photography, but how to handle it as a business as well. It is not a surprise to know that this can be a lucrative field, especially when it comes to advertising. They are also capable of helping you find your niche, like knowing if you are more inclined to news photography than travel applications. This beautiful field can be made into your lifetime passion if you know how to pick out the best photography colleges.

10 Tips To Tell You How To Start A Photography Business By Finding Your Photography Niche

Sooner or later, most photography enthusiast give some thought to "how to start a photography business." Unfortunately, there are a 'few' challenges that "doom" us to failure. One of the biggest challenges that we bring is our failure to make the distinctions between our love of photography (re: our enjoyment and passion for photography) and the business of photography (understanding buying and spending habits of people that are photography customers).

For example, many of us think that because our photography work is "so good," that we shouldn't have that much trouble selling it. We, sometimes, mistakenly, think that great art and photography "sells itself." Big mistake! Great photography does not sell itself. In the business world, nothing sells itself - nothing! Knowing this is critical to start a photography business.

Our failure to make the distinction between our passion for photography and our desire to be in the photo business is also evident in how we try to tell people about what we do. For example, photography customers don't care what type of equipment we use. They don't care how many mega-pixels we have, nor how much our equipment cost us, nor what brand of camera we use. Photography customers (current and potential) want to know that we can, and will, produce the highest quality photography work for them.

Think about it, the mechanics that repair our cars don't tell us what tools that they use. The chefs in the restaurants that we patronize don't tell us what type of pots, pans or stoves that they use. In those businesses, it is already established what customers want and how best to give it to them. In other words, other businesses do a better job of understanding their 'niche.' In order to start a photography business that is consistently successful and growing, we must be clear on what niche we are offering and how to sell the benefits of our niche to the customers.

Another mistake that we budding photography business owners repeat is failing to "specialize" (know our photography niche) in what we do. As photography enthusiasts, we enjoy shooting any and everything. As photographers, that's just fine. However, when we start a photography business, we, mistakenly, try to be 'all things to all people' - we take every photography job offered us.

One of the obvious problems with this approach is our failure to recognize how it drastically cheapens the value of what we do as skilled photographers, in the eyes of the customers. Mistakenly, we want our customers (current and potential) to know that we can photograph anything - after all, we're very versatile photographers! What the customers actually see is that we're not "versatile photographers," we're just someone with a camera that's available to take pictures when they call us. Serious photography customers (re: those that can afford to spend regularly) want to do business with specialists - photographers that know their photography niche.

Successful wedding photographers are clear on this, as an example of my point. Their 'primary' customer (usually the bride) has dreamed about her wedding day for most of her life. She isn't looking for a vesatile photographer. She wants a "wedding photographer" that can make her 'look' as good, happy and beautiful as she has been in all of her lifelong dreams of 'her day' - her wedding day. There's a special skill to this type of photography service. In fact, this niche has more to do with well developed 'people skills,' in my opinion. Successful wedding photographers that are clear on these nuances are more successful in business.

Do your research.

  • Inventory Your Photo Collection - Take a look at your photo collections. Determine what it is that you 1.) shoot the most; 2.) shoot consistently well; and 3.) enjoy shooting. Identify your and categorize the photos into various niches, i.e. portraits, sports, glamor, pets, children, landscape, etc.
  • Research The Photography Markets - Do internet searches using the words "photography niche." Also, use the type of niche that you think your photos fit. For example, "event photography niche," "wedding photography niche," etc. Also, a good source to help identify some of the photo markets is "The Photographer's Market." This is a book that is published annually and claims to provide photo buying contacts and information. Online searches are the most useful, in my opinion. Books by author and photographer, Dan Heller are good places to get a better understanding of the vast world of photography, without all the 'artsy-hype,' in my opinion. He also has a very informative website - DanHeller.com
  • Identify 'Real' Markets - Find out what type of photography (of your specialties) your customers currently are purchasing. What type of photography is selling? At some point, you'll have to 'balance' the realities of the different niches. There can be some factors that aren't consistent across all photography niches. For example, some niches require longer "workflow" (workflow is the post production process of taking photos) periods and tasks than others. Higher quality portraits normally require photo editing - which is time-consuming. Event photography requires the processing, packaging and delivering (presenting) of photos. True story: I went through my large photo collections and found that I had a very large number of outstandingly beautiful flowers. I can't begin to tell you my disappointment when I found out that there is 'virtually' no market of photos of flowers - it seems that everybody has them already, everybody! Lesson learned - identify 'real' markets.

Ten Tips To Assist You To Identify Your Niche

  1. Identify specialties that fit your style:
  2. Determine if you have the necessary equipment for the niche
  3. Do you have identifiable and specific skills in this niche area - can you articulate them?
  4. Who is your target audience
  5. What type of photography do they purchase the most
  6. Where are they taking their photography business currently - your competition
  7. What will be different about your services
  8. Does where you live support your preferable niche
  9. Is your niche 'stock photography' or 'assignment photography' - do you know the difference
  10. What is the future potential and tendencies of your niche

Fortunately, the internet makes this information just a few clicks away. The information isn't difficult to find and learn. Knowing your niche increases your confidence tremendously. Truly know your niche - and your photography business will follow!

Commissioning Wedding Photography

What is Wedding Photography?

To many wedding clients, this might seem a strange question to pose, because after all, wedding photography must be, by definition, photography taken on your wedding day. Well yes it is, of course. But such a simple perspective glosses over how much wedding photography has changed in the last fifteen years; and indeed, even today why it means one thing to one wedding couple and a completely different thing to another.

Years ago, a wedding photographer was a technician who owned a mystical black box that very few other people would have been able to operate. Wedding couples were employing this person to produce a few nicely exposed, technically correct, record shots of the big day. And the photographer might have even attended up to six weddings in one day.

In 2009, virtually all wedding guests own a camera capable of producing well-exposed images at very little cost. So the digital revolution has meant the role of the professional wedding photographer has needed to change considerably. More importantly, technological advancements have given photographers the flexibility and empowerment to offer something radically different. This has attracted different type of people into the profession and resulted in the general standard of wedding photography improving significantly compared to previous generations. At their very best, wedding photographers offer stunning images that tell a narrative in a very artistic, flattering and evocative manner.

But at the same time, the economics of setting up as a wedding photographer via the internet now means that the range in quality and diversity of photography has also widened immeasurably. It is no longer right to say all wedding photography is same, and no longer right to assume all couples desire the same photography.

A Guide to Photographic Styles

A benefit of the internet is the ease in which you can examine the work of a large number of photographers. Surf through just a few photographers' websites, and not only will you come to terms with the range in calibre, but also the proliferation of photographic styles. Many of the terms used to describe these styles can also be confusing because they are used interchangeably and sometimes inconsistently.

Reportage photography  is also referred to as photojournalism or documentary photography; and is often used to describe an unobtrusive approach in which the photographer does not direct the wedding couple or guests at all. Instead the photography captures the flow of the day  - in a creative way as possible - as it would naturally happen.

Traditional wedding photography is probably the most confusing description, but many people use it to depict old fashioned line-ups of wedding guests and family. But it is also used to describe any photographic posing of the couple.

Contemporary wedding photography (sometimes confusingly used interchangeably with reportage photography because it is modern!) can refer, for example, to poses with modern, urban or colourful backgrounds. Or perhaps because the image has a strong camera tilt, an avant-garde feel, or simply just that it contains a new innovative fashion pose.

My advice is not to get hung up labels. First, the labels can be sometimes more confusing than helpful. Second, styles of photography often do not fit neatly into one category or another anyway. Third, it gives the impression that wedding photographers offer, or should offer just one style throughout the wedding (indeed I get bored listening to photographers' arguments about which style is superior).

My view is that weddings are rarely suited to just one style. Photographers will typically need to draw on many skill-sets during the day. Photographers cannot for example, start posing couples - or ask them to move to a better light - during the wedding ceremony. Equally, it is very rare for a couple not to expect some photographs within a formal framework which shows them in their best light. And even the most modern of weddings will still have a few traditional family shots.

Many photographers will of course excel in one type of skill over the other and indeed emphasise and market it. I often describe my own style as classical with a fashion edge, although I have to rely on a mix of genres - including reportage - during the day. I emphasise the importance of directed photography, because, within the very tight time scales of a wedding, I think that it is important to spend at least 30 minutes partially directing/posing the couple away from the attention of the guests. The key objective for me here is to give the couple flattering, fine art photographs that they will probably never have taken again.

Choosing Your Photographer

As a couple, the key starting point for choosing your photographer is your aspiration for the photography. Some couples see photography in much more traditional sense: they would like a professional, reliable record of the day; but they do not want to interrupt the flow of the day too greatly.

Other couples love photography in its own right, and having a creative and evocative set of photographs - particularly of themselves - is an important and integral part of the day. They might be aiming at high end photography.

Once you are clear on aspirations, examining photographers' galleries for quality and style is much more important than descriptive labels as we have seen. But galleries merely represent the photographer's best work, so it is important to also ask to see whole weddings to check for consistency and to see how the style translates itself into the different requirements of the day. Wedding couples and guests are not on a photo shoot, but there to celebrate the day and party, so it would be unrealistic to expect a whole set of images from a single wedding to look the same as the photographer's portfolio!

Photography awards are another guide to the quality of a photographer's work, and you would expect him or her to be a qualified member of a professional body such as the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) in the UK.

Equally importantly, as you will spend a fair amount of time on your wedding day with the photographer, you should ensure that you have a good rapport - and that you share the same photography goals. As well as photographic flair, you and your guests are likely to value a high level of experience, organisation and professionalism on the day. Finally you will need to consider the album ranges offered.

Budgeting For Photography

It is, of course, impossible to advise generally on the appropriate level of budget. But what should be given careful consideration is the allocation of your total wedding budget between the competing elements of your day.

Professional wedding photography will shape your memories of the day. You are entrusting a particular photographer to use their skill to represent your day through their eyes. Wedding planners often tell me about couples who regretted not allocating more of their budget on wedding photography. In fact, the wedding planners who I work with often advise clients to budget for a few high-end suppliers and, if necessary, cut back on guest numbers.

The price of wedding photography sometimes surprises prospective wedding clients. But is stands to reason that the scarcer the skill the higher the price that can be commanded by the best photographers. It should also be borne in mind that photographers need to plan the day, shoot the day itself, and then spend at least two further days on processing the images and designing the album. Ultimately you have to make a decision on the importance of high quality wedding photography and consider whether it is a price worth paying.