Photography News

These Tasks Will Help You Become a Better Photographer

As we all know, overconfidence and complacency can be a photographer’s own worst enemy. Being able to recognise one’s technical deficiencies is one of the best ways to continually improve your photography skills. Ultimately, if you’re not learning, you’re not trying hard enough. Next time you have a chance, incorporate these tasks into your schedule to help you become a better photographer.   Step in Their Shoes This is less about creativity than it is about execution. If you have a favourite photographer, or even some favourite shots that you’ve collected, go about trying to recreate the work. Perfection isn’t the be all and end all with this task, so long as you’re picking challenging photos that test and broaden your skills.   Stay Away from that Magic Wand Given the processing capabilities of today’s editing software, it’s easy to become accustom to fixing everything on Photoshop. What this means… | Read the full article


Getting Your First Photography Job With No Experience

Starting out in the photography industry is an experience that places photographers straight into the deep end.  Like many of today’s high demanding professions, it’s often expected that you’ll have a wealth of experience under your belt before applying for jobs or taking on new clients. But what are new photographers to make of this catch 22 situation?   Build a Network One of the common themes of today in just about any line of work is your network. There are no shortage of options when it comes to networking events for professionals, and photographers are also afforded the benefit that their work is discussed online and in the community via forums and message boards. Of course, there’s always the tried and tested method of doing work for friends and family to begin with, which in turn has the potential to snowball to third parties.   Furthermore, educational courses, workshops… | Read the full article


Budget Items Every New Photographer Needs

When entering the industry, new photographers are often constrained by a tight budget. Perhaps you’re yet to secure a reliable client base, or overheads are eating into your earnings. Naturally, lining up some quality gear is often at the top of the list for many newbie photographers, even if it isn’t as important as the person behind the camera. With that said, there’s nothing wrong with picking up a good camera and a versatile set of lenses. But there are also some budget items photographers should considering carrying. Not all of the items will necessarily influence the outcome of your work, but they will sure make your job easier.   Portable Flash Using a flash isn’t just for night time work. In fact, there are many applications you could well find yourself benefitting from using a flash in an indoor setting. Portable flash units, often referred to as speedlights, provide… | Read the full article


Earning Extra Money as a Photographer

Even at the best of times, making a career through photography can be challenging. From an abundance of competition, to price sensitive clients, or even the growing trend where anyone who owns a mobile phone now considers themselves a photographer. You can see, it’s not easy. With that, photographers should consider diversifying their offer by extending into other services. Here are 5 ways you can earn extra money as a photographer.   Run workshops There’s two different angles you can approach this from. If you’re a veteran photographer who has developed a skillset and portfolio that is the envy of your peers, you’re well positioned. This is because you have considerably greater flexibility in terms of your target audience and the prices you charge. On the other hand, if your career is still a work in progress, there may be opportunities to share your insights about the industry with beginners… | Read the full article


Tips for Macro Photography

There are times where you just want to incorporate that little bit extra detail into your photos. Macro photography is the perfect approach, while also a thoroughly challenging and enjoyable experience. Naturally, the process is all about a close up, but is macro photography really as straightforward as that? No, not really, but take heed of these points and you’ll deliver impressive results.   Use a suitable support If you’re using a regular lens, one of the difficult aspects when shooting close ups at ground level is ensuring the camera remains steady. Rather than trying to find a support for your hands or body, instead consider one for your camera. For example, specialty tripods or even cushions and beanbags can be great as props to minimise any movement. Similarly, where appropriate, you can use one of your hands or a purpose made device to steady the object that you are… | Read the full article


News Photographers, The Times They Are A-Changin’

The legendary Bob Dylan put it best when he penned the infamous song, ‘The Times They Are A –Changin’. The tune, which has been used as an emblem of protest and uprising in recent decades, speaks volumes about where we are at today with news corporations and photographers in Australia.   Last month, News Corp made the announcement that it would be cutting jobs across its offices throughout the country, with photographers facing the prospect of redundancy. The company initially distanced itself from the gravity of the claims by downplaying the impact of the job losses, saying the business would transition from a “one hundred percent in-house model to a hybrid model where we retain a core team of specialist photographers combined with freelance and agency talent”. In recent days however, the number of photographers facing redundancy has been quoted as being up to 70.   What we’re seeing are… | Read the full article


Tips for Low Light Photography

As any photographer would know, it’s important to be versatile. Not only with one’s style of photography, but for the conditions with which they work. This includes low light conditions, which may be attributable to shooting: outdoors at night, indoors, or where there are varying sources of low–intensity light on offer. What’s more, low light photography skills are necessary for a variety of photographers, including those working with portraits, weddings and landscapes. Of course, a flash would appear a logical solution to deal with low light conditions. However, it’s not necessarily a fix that works in every situation. You see, a flash device, particularly when integrated into a camera, can sometimes result in a flat looking picture by compressing image depth. There are also the complications that come with a flash being distracting to the subject of a photo, as well as the potential need to set up and configure… | Read the full article


Copyright, Plagiarism and Ethics

With recent stories in the photography industry casting light on several controversies ‒ including: a renowned global  photo competition being caught up in a plagiarism scandal; Marie Claire magazine using a photographer’s shot without her permission; and critically acclaimed photojournalist Souvid Datta “appropriating” others photographers’ work as his own ‒ it’s fair to say the industry has somewhat of an ‘image’ problem on its hands. Quite evidently, the blurred line over copyright and plagiarism is dividing photographers and other stakeholders, while the ethics of some is putting an asterisk next to their name and accomplishments.   Although it’s hardly new for photographers to have their photos used by others, the nature of the problem has only been exacerbated in recent years with the surge in social media use. Nowadays, sharing a photo is merely a click or two away, meaning photographers are afforded less protection of their own work. Whereas… | Read the full article


Where Photographers Go Wrong in Photoshop

While the merit of Photoshop has long been debated by photographers, there’s little doubt that the decision is a personal choice. However, what is often overlooked from the conversation is the fact that photographers make mistakes which have the potential to undermine the impact of their work. So what are some of these mistakes? Continue reading to find out.   Overprocessing Let’s talk about the elephant in the room first. Irrespective of whether you advocate for the use of Photoshop to edit your pictures, there is no bigger cardinal sin than overprocessing. One of the biggest areas concerns sharpness, where photographers seek to overcorrect for a very minor, and at times unnoticeable flaw. In turn, this often leads to the photo looking unrealistic. Other watchpoints concern adjustments to contrast, white balance and colours, plus poor bevel and emboss that again make the photo look less authentic.   Not understanding layers… | Read the full article


4 Things to Avoid When Shooting Portraits

In just about every photographer’s career they try their hand at portraits. Whether it’s for personal or professional purposes, it’s a form of photography that can complement one’s skillset given its emphasis on lighting, composition and the like. However, despite being commonplace, it’s not unusual to see photographers make the same mistakes. Here are 4 things to avoid when shooting portraits.   Distracting the viewer It might come as a surprise how many photographers try to incorporate too much external detail into their portrait shots. One of the biggest faux pas in this area is a ‘busy’ setting. While there are ways to incorporate a subject into a lively environment and still make them the focal point of the shot, it’s far from easy. Playing it safe and blurring the background via depth of field, or opting for neutral backgrounds is a sure way to maintain the viewer’s attention. Alternatively,… | Read the full article


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