Photography Tips

The Lessons About Photography

If there is one thing that years and years of practicing photography helps us understand, it is ourselves and the wider industry we work in. Of course, along the way there are a multitude of technical facets that we learn to craft, but the holistic observations are far more pertinent to the success of our business and our career. These are some of the important lessons about photography. Real World Experience Makes All the Difference Although there is some merit in taking a course and studying photography, nothing quite compares with the reality of the job. There are endless variances in what you learn in a class room compared with being out amongst the elements, not to mention, schools don’t quite prepare you for the business side of things and dealing with clients. Love What You Do It might sound cliché but if your heart isn’t in it, then you… | Read the full article


Identify a Nightmare Client Before it’s too Late

During the early stages of one’s photography career, we often take what we can in terms of available work. Even if perhaps the nature of said work, or the client aren’t exactly aligned with our vision, we feel as though the experience will serve us well and help round out our versatility and complement our portfolio. As time progresses however, and we start to receive more interest from prospective clients, we realise that it’s actually beneficial to be selective regarding the work we perform. That is, choosing work where we share a vision with the client, and declining work where we are not on the same page or believe things might be more complicated than they need to be. Therefore, it helps to spot a nightmare client before it’s too late, so keep an eye out for these behaviours. They Speak About and Compare You Against Past Work It’s one… | Read the full article


How to Emphasise Texture in Your Photos

For many photographers, textures are one of the most endearing aspects of photography. The visual formed by the contrast of colours, shapes, light and depth is something that creates a unique appearance every time. It’s also a representation of how a photographer sees the subject of their work. That is, a look through their lens as to how they interpret their surroundings. Textures are all around us, meaning there is always an opportunity to get creative. Here are some tips so that you can emphasise the texture in your photos. Familiarise Yourself Beforehand Although a large element of photography may be spontaneous, there are just as many instances where we set out to photograph a specific sight, environment or client. With this in mind, and where possible, consider visiting the setting in which you will take your photos. You’ll want to have the foresight to understand how shadows, lighting and… | Read the full article


Prime vs Zoom Lenses

When it comes to having the right gear for the job, photographers still remain somewhat divided over which type of lens they should keep on hand. For the beginners out there, prime lenses are those with a fixed focal point, whereas zoom lenses allow zoom capability as their name would suggest. So while on the face of things it might seem more versatile to carry a zoom lens, the reality is that prime lenses have notable upsides. In effect, it would be remiss to think that the two don’t both have a place in your bag. Let’s look a little closer at each option. Prime Lenses Since prime lenses do not have any zoom capabilities, photographers are restricted in terms of framing photos how they would like. Because of this shortfall however, quality is generally considered to be superior between the two options – at least on a like for… | Read the full article


Golden Hour Photography

When it comes to photography, timing can make all the difference. Trying to nail that shot with a perfect balance of warmth, colour, intensity and depth is no easy feat. The golden hour, which covers the hours ‘immediately after sunrise and before sunset, is considered the most accommodating time of the day. The reason being, these are the moments where the soft glow of the sun provides a delicate warmth contrasted with striking shadows. Something that just can’t be matched or recreated artificially. Let’s look closer at this special source of light.   Soft Warmth and Dimension Because the sun’s light is diffused through more of the atmosphere when emerging or descending, the light offers a warm, golden appearance. There are hues of yellow, orange and red which strike over subjects leaving a gratifying sight. This is particularly the case when it lights up a person’s skin, offering a soft… | Read the full article


Ranking on Photographers.com.au

Whilst it’s not quite a complicated as Google’s famous ranking algorithm, we have gone to some effort over time to try to push the best results to the top for potential customers who are searching for a professional photographer. Behind each profile on the site is a score. This score, combined with three other things (location, subscription status & responsiveness… we’ll talk about those later) dictates how high up the search results you’ll be on any given search. This is obviously really important – if you’re a wedding photographer in Adelaide, for example, you want to make sure that your name is in the top few results, or at least on the first page. The biggest factor in this score is your profile completeness. Searchers (potential customers), don’t want to see profiles devoid of images, information and a just a few lines in the description. They want to see a… | Read the full article


Responding to Negative Reviews

One of the inevitable parts of business is that you’ll eventually work with clients who leave negative feedback. Whether it’s a mismatch in expectations, or just different styles, beliefs and personalities, you shouldn’t be too despondent as long as things stay professional. After all, as much as we might try, it’s unrealistic to expect that you’ll be able to please everyone. However, with the internet now a common place for anonymously communicating one’s opinion to the masses, while also functioning as a make or break marketing tool for photography businesses, how much attention should you pay to negative reviews left by clients? When you consider the internet is a virtual CV and portfolio for photographers, it’s easy to worry about the implications of such publicity. In most cases however, the reality is that one bad review shouldn’t tarnish your reputation. Consider these responses to negative reviews. Maintain Composure Some professionals,… | Read the full article


Setting up a Photography Studio

Having your own dedicated studio is an essential aspect of running a professional photography business. While some opt for an external studio, provided you have ample space and privacy, you can also set up your own studio at home. Let’s take a look at some of the steps involved with a home studio. Find a Suitable Room This is the first and most important step. Fundamentally, if you don’t have a large enough room, or it lacks privacy, then your best bet is to consider an external studio. The measure of this should really be whether you have space to work different angles and also zoom with a wide angle lens where suitable for things like full body shots. Overall, for a broad range of photography sessions, the bigger the better. Suppose however that you do have sufficient space. First you want to make sure that the walls are white… | Read the full article


Food Photography Tips

Few things look better than a well prepared dish crafted to perfection. And as a food photographer, you’re fortunate enough to be involved in the important step of showcasing this delight. However, considering there are countless blogs and magazines out there dedicated to the topic, and even the same dish, you’re not short on competition. As such, it takes perfect execution to really separate yourself and your dish from the crowd. Follow these tips to get the fundamentals right.     Maintain the Focal Point It goes without saying that the dish is the star of the photo. Therefore, if you’re starting to incorporate other items like cutlery, porcelain or other, remain mindful that these have the potential to decrease the viewer’s engagement with the food. They can, and still should be used effectively, but balance and positioning are vital points when you create the composition of the shot. Presentation… | Read the full article


8 Things Photographers Hate

Photographers are generally considered a tolerant bunch. What with an endless number of amateurs devaluing the work of professionals, patience and persistence are defining traits of a successful photographer. Having said that, there are an assortment of things that make photographers want to tear their hair out. No doubt you’ve experienced some of these, or others, but let’s glance over the worst offenders.   Hearing How ‘Easy’ it must be to Take Photos for a Living There’s nothing easy at all when it comes to being a photographer. Boundless competition, price pressure, difficulties securing long-term clients, a general underappreciation of the industry – the list goes on. But just because a photographer happens to follow their passion and enjoy what they do, it doesn’t mean it’s an easy job.   Praise for Your Camera This one is all too common. Photographers should and do take great pride in their abilities… | Read the full article


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