In order to protect your precious images it essential that you follow a protocol or process after every photo shoot. Keep it simple in order to ensure that your images are protected for ever and are never lost. Here are some simple steps to follow in order to be sure that keep your images forever.

1. Backup your memory cards after a shoot

Even if you are a point and shoot photographer it is essential that you back up the cards you are currently using after every shoot or picture taking opportunity. This means that at all times you have your photos stored in two places. One set of images on the card you are currently using and the other on a computer hard drive or field backup device that allows you to copy from a memory card.

2. Create a set of backups

Once you delete the images from your memory card make sure that at the same time you make a copy or backup of the images on the hard drive or backup device. Again the rule is there must always be two sets of photos available at all times. This might mean that you copy your laptop hard drive to an external hard drive or write them to a DVD or CD. Backup does NOT mean copying to another device and then deleting from the original location. It means you have a source and a copy of that source at ALL times.

3. Use an online storage service as an offsite backup

It’s great that you have everything on your laptop and then copies on CD, flash drive or external hard drive, BUT, if they are all at the same location then disaster can still strike. If your home were to burn down or get flooded you are still in trouble. If you are able to, store the copies at your office or if you are backing up your office files, store them at home. The ultimate solution is to use an online storage company where you can upload everything of importance. Google and many other online companies offer huge amounts of storage at low or no cost. USE THEM!

4. Repeat and rinse

Once you have backed up there is a false sense of security. This can lead to future disasters. Get into a rhythm of doing this regularly. Set a time on a weekly basis to do your backups and repeat this. There’s nothing worse than thinking you have it under control and then realise your last backup was 6 months ago. As long as you keep this process going on a regular basis, then you are safe.

5. Check your backups

Make sure that you check your backs on a regular basis to see if the CDs, DVDs or hard drives are in good condition. There is nothing worse than trying to restore after a crisis and finding that your backups are damaged, corrupt or inaccessible. Not all CDs last a lifetime so back archival CDS and DVDs for backup. And, there will come a time when your backup hard drive comes to the end of its life and needs replacing. Find this out before you need to use it in a restore crisis.

All of us will at some stage have a hard drive go bad on us. Don’t let the disaster of losing irreplaceable images and documents befall you. Make sure that you have some plan in place to prevent tragedy. Lost memories are irreplaceable so make sure today that you are protected by regularly backing up.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6201378

So, how can people take better images for posting to Facebook and other social media sites. Follow these simple steps for immediate improvement to your photo taking abilities.

1. Think about the lighting

When taking an image have a look at your lighting. Firstly, make sure that there is enough light to take a photo. I know sometimes this is not possible but consider it carefully before you shoot. Secondly, look where the light is coming from. Unless you are trying for a specific effect never place the light behind your subject. The camera will always focus and meter off the brightest area of a scene so your subject will be dark and indistinct. Rather shoot with the light coming from behind the camera over the shoulder of the photographer. Good images need good lighting to get a good exposure.

2. Use your feet

Sometimes it’s more important to use your feet before your head. Use them to get in closer. Most of the time photos are being taken with cellphones or point n shoots with either no optical zoom or very little. So the subjects are little blips in the photo. Get close to your subject and fill the frame so your see more of the person or object. Don’t use digital zoom as it degrades the image. Try it out and see which image you prefer. I like to see more of the memory I am making rather than all the clutter around scene.

3. Change your angle

Ninety percent of images are shot from in front of the subject approximately 5 feet (1.5m) above the ground. They all look the same, just different people. Change your angle so that you shoot from either low down or high up. Move around from your left to your right so that you aren’t directly in front of your subjects. Turn your camera at a forty five degree angle or hold it high above your head or at your waist. Digital photography allows you to review quickly and see if it works.

4. Think outside the box

Try to come up with a composition that is out of the ordinary. Be creative and take time to think about what you are going to shoot before pressing the shutter button. Look at the scene and ask yourself if you have seen a picture like this before. If you have then try another composition or angle. The key is to experiment.

5. Review your images

Before uploading to Facebook, review the images you’ve taken. Look through them and delete or remove the ones that you aren’t totally happy. Rather upload 10 good images than 50 average or bad ones. A little time taken to ask yourself whether you are proud of the image will ensure that your photo gallery stands out from the rest.

The bottom line is to learn digital photography and apply it so that you become a photographer and not just a picture taker. A little bit of thought and putting into practise some basic photographic principles will help you create images that you can be proud of. Facebook is there to showcase your images so try to upload only your best ones. Just because people aren’t making funny comments about them doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6353645

So, how can people take better images for posting to Facebook and other social media sites. Follow these simple steps for immediate improvement to your photo taking abilities.

1. Think about the lighting

When taking an image have a look at your lighting. Firstly, make sure that there is enough light to take a photo. I know sometimes this is not possible but consider it carefully before you shoot. Secondly, look where the light is coming from. Unless you are trying for a specific effect never place the light behind your subject. The camera will always focus and meter off the brightest area of a scene so your subject will be dark and indistinct. Rather shoot with the light coming from behind the camera over the shoulder of the photographer. Good images need good lighting to get a good exposure.

2. Use your feet

Sometimes it’s more important to use your feet before your head. Use them to get in closer. Most of the time photos are being taken with cellphones or point n shoots with either no optical zoom or very little. So the subjects are little blips in the photo. Get close to your subject and fill the frame so your see more of the person or object. Don’t use digital zoom as it degrades the image. Try it out and see which image you prefer. I like to see more of the memory I am making rather than all the clutter around scene.

3. Change your angle

Ninety percent of images are shot from in front of the subject approximately 5 feet (1.5m) above the ground. They all look the same, just different people. Change your angle so that you shoot from either low down or high up. Move around from your left to your right so that you aren’t directly in front of your subjects. Turn your camera at a forty five degree angle or hold it high above your head or at your waist. Digital photography allows you to review quickly and see if it works.

4. Think outside the box

Try to come up with a composition that is out of the ordinary. Be creative and take time to think about what you are going to shoot before pressing the shutter button. Look at the scene and ask yourself if you have seen a picture like this before. If you have then try another composition or angle. The key is to experiment.

5. Review your images

Before uploading to Facebook, review the images you’ve taken. Look through them and delete or remove the ones that you aren’t totally happy. Rather upload 10 good images than 50 average or bad ones. A little time taken to ask yourself whether you are proud of the image will ensure that your photo gallery stands out from the rest.

The bottom line is to learn digital photography and apply it so that you become a photographer and not just a picture taker. A little bit of thought and putting into practise some basic photographic principles will help you create images that you can be proud of. Facebook is there to showcase your images so try to upload only your best ones. Just because people aren’t making funny comments about them doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking them.

Hindrances to Photography

Every photographer has to start somewhere and most beginners have to overcome several hindrances on their photography journey. Here are the top five that I have discovered and how to overcome them. There is a misnomer that great images are shot by professionals and that the rest of us fit into the category of happy snappers which are a sub-standard group of photographers. The great divide is a figment of your imagination. There is no wide gap and I am going to show you why.

I find it amazing that the students I teach have this idea that they can’t take the great images the pros do and they have a mindset of inferiority. I am going to look at five hindrances that amateurs create for themselves, thereby limiting there photographic journey.

1. My photos are sub-standard

This is probably true in certain respects but you will find that there are really great images scattered amongst your mainly average images. Key here is to find those images that are good and concentrating on making them better or shooting more like them. Here’s a practical exercise for you to do. Select a random number of your photos, whether they are prints or digital, and sort through them choosing the ones you think are great and that measure up to your standards. Place them in a pile or folder. Now pack the rest away, discard them or put them in a file somewhere on your PC. Take the good ones and focus on them. Now tell yourself that you can take good photos. This is the first step to becoming an above average photographer. Your journey has begun. Change that mindset now.

2. My equipment is not good enough

This is a statement that so many budding photographers make. And how wrong can you be. Good photographers take good images and NOT good cameras. A great photographer will take a top image using just an ordinary camera. Forty years ago most images were shot with cameras that are nowhere near the quality of equipment we use today. Concentrate on your photo taking and not on your camera. Composition is not dependent on a good camera but a good eye.

3. I can’t get this right

There is no right way to take an image. You have to start somewhere and it’s not always easy so persevere at taking photos. You have to start somewhere and regular practise is essential. Gradually you will start getting better. Get to know you camera and its settings and learn what it can do. Your camera has automatic so use it to begin with. It doesn’t make you any less of a photographer if you don’t start with manual. Ease yourself into it and start using the different settings one at a time.

4. I’ll never be able shoot like the professionals

Did you know that every single professional started at the same place that you did? They weren’t born with the ability to take great images. It was a journey of perseverance and effort that took them to where they are now. Commitment to a task and lots practise and effort will help you to shoot like the professionals. Professional just means that they do it for a living and doesn’t describe their ability. I have seen some really average images by professionals and some fantastic photos by dedicated amateurs. If you take the time and effort you will grow as a photographer.

5. I can’t afford to learn

At this point in the digital day and age there has never been a better time to learn photography. Besides the fact that digital makes it almost free to learn after your initial purchase, the internet is full of free material to download. Much of it is also very reasonably priced. So you CAN afford to learn. Join a photography club in your area and you’ll probably find others willing to teach you or courses at no cost to members.

The biggest hurdle that most have to overcome is a negative attitude or mindset. If you are really enthusiastic about becoming a great photo taker then nothing will hold you back. Find a solution to each of the barriers to learning and in a short time you will be taking great images. Happy shooting!

Every business needs to promote itself visually and there are vast numbers of small businesses in need of services to take quality images. Companies are realising that it is not as easy as it looks to shoot quality digital images on a plain background and skills are needed to do this. This is where someone who can take this type of shot can make good money.

By taking a little time and marketing skill you can find many businesses who don’t have large marketing budgets and are in need of the services of a good photographer. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Research

Do a search on local businesses from directories and the yellow pages in your area. Do a search for particular kinds of local businesses on the internet and look at the quality of their images. Most times they have been taken by the owner or staff and don’t reflect the quality of the product. Create a list of potential businesses to work from and get to know the products of each of them so that when you arrive at the store you will know what you are talking about.

2. Create a portfolio

By creating a simple portfolio of your work you will be able to demonstrate to the owner what you can deliver. We are visual people and the first impression created by a good portfolio will often open the door to some profitable business. If you have the time, shoot a few similar products in your studio to show what a particular item will look like so that the potential client has a better idea of how good it could look. You only have one chance to create a good first impression. This works especially well with estate agents and property realtors. Often you can tell the standard of their photo taking by looking in their window. If you deliver outstanding images that really showcase homes you’ll standing a good chance of getting some business.

3. Equipment

Good product photographers need a simple inexpensive setup to create good images. An essential item is a good light table coupled with a light tent and two good lights. Besides this a macro lens or extension tubes to get close up for smaller items is a valuable asset to your gear. An overhead light box or a ring flash will make it just that bit more simple to get your lighting right. On that topic, good lighting is essential to great product shots.

4. Creativity

Try to be more creative and come from a unique angle. Make sure your background complements the object and helps to showcase it. Bottom line is that your images should help the business owner to sell more of his product. If that happens you can be assured of more work and referrals. Don’t try to be too smart but rather focus on a simplistic, less is more approach that makes the product stand out clearly. Use props to complement the product without competing for attention.

You will always find work as a product photographer if you are prepared to look for it. Even if it is not a huge amount of work it can supplement your other areas of photography and bring in a tidy income.

Portraits are traditionally taken in studios by a professional photographer at great cost because we know that we are going to get great images. That doesn’t mean you can’t take top photos of family and friends by yourself. It really is simple if you follow a few key pointers.

1. Location

Always find a great place to take your photos. An area that is interesting and with backgrounds that will show off the person being photographed. There should be no distractions and the background should be simple and uncluttered. A good location is going to complement the overall image. Be very aware of the colours in the scene so that there is no clashing between your subject’s clothes and other elements in the photo. Choose a location where there are a variety of props that will improve the image. These could be a vintage car, a tree with an interesting trunk or an archway, window or stone structure. It gives the subject something to hold on to or lean against. A subject standing on a plain background will make an average image.

2. Get in closer

We are all guilty of shooting images that are not close enough to the subject. Of course you need to vary your photoshoot and take some wide angled shots but the majority of the images need to be shot in close. More detail often means better memories later. Getting in closer does two things, one, lets you see more of the person in the final photo and two, helps to exclude all of the unnecessary clutter you often see in an image. Be aware of the edges of your scene when framing it in the viewfinder or on the LCD. Find the clutter and you won’t have to crop unnecessarily in your editing software.

3. Change your angle and your format

Firstly your angles. By shooting from a variety of different angles such as low down or high up you will change your viewpoint and make a more interesting portrait. So many images are shot from directly in front of the subject and most people have seen images like this. They are average and below par. On the other hand by looking for unique angles you will create a dynamic photo. Secondly your format, a portrait taken using a vertical format may seem the right way to take it. But, if you use a horizontal format it may result in an even better image. And, if you really want to be daring turn the camera 45 degrees and see what results. Key here is to experiment with all the formats and see what you get.

By putting these three steps into practise I can guarantee that your portraits will improve and the resulting dynamic images will place you head and shoulders above your peers. Happy shooting!

You need to be able to get along with people and take direction. The client is the one who will give you the brief and expect you to create an image that is only in their mind. The ability to keep cool is essential and the ability to bite your tongue a great asset. Here’s how to shoot great food images.

1. Know the trends and styles

This is where you need to do your research and keep up to date using the latest books and magazines. Many mags have a food section and this will give you a good idea of what the trends are. Get to know the lighting set ups so that you can duplicate this.

2. Detail is king

When photographing food you are trying to get a good representation of how the food looks and in the case of restaurants, what will be delivered to the person’s table. Because you are shooting so close to the subject and often using close-up lenses you will see all the imperfections such as dust, hairs and fingerprints. So you need to make sure that everything is clean and free of any imperfections. With digital it is essential to review your images in high resolution while on set to check all the details.

3. Create a portfolio

Every food photographer has a portfolio of their work but what do you do if you don’t? Create one. It’s as simple as that. By studying magazines and books you will know the trends so setup dishes in you own kitchen of if you have a friend crazy about cooking do it in theirs. Copying the lighting, back grounds and techniques of top food photographers will give you practise and help create a portfolio of what you can deliver.

4. Do a workshop

We have a local photography school that offers a weekend workshop in food photography. This is the perfect way to hone your skills and refine your techniques. Most times they are offered by experienced food photographers from the industry and you will learn helpful tips and ways to get a foothold in the industry.

5. Market yourself

It’s very difficult to market yourself if you don’t have a track record so start small and approach local restaurants and non-chain fast food outlets and offer your services. Often they don’t have big budgets and are looking for people to photograph their products. Offer your services to local cookery or chef schools where students are looking to create their own portfolios.

As I said, this is a demanding industry and you need to stay focused and work hard while looking for opportunities. Perseverance is key and the ability to endure rejection is essential. If you can stick it out and overcome the pitfalls you’ll find your niche and achieve great success. Happy shooting!

What we are going to look at are three controls on your camera, ISO, aperture and shutter speed. You need to understand that each of these impacts on the others. If you change the aperture then you need to change the shutter speed, if you change the ISO then you need to change the aperture or shutter speed.

So here’s how it all works.

1. Aperture

The aperture is the scale of numbers on your lens or camera ranging from f2.8 all the way to f22 and above. The widest aperture denoted by f2.8 and the smallest by f22. Aperture controls the amount of light you allow to reach the sensor or film. This determines the depth of field reflected in your photos. Depth of field or depth of focus controls how much the photo is in focus. In a portrait you’d see that the background is blurred out which is created by using a large aperture i.e. f2.8. The opposite is true for a landscape image where nearly the whole image is in sharp focus. Here a small aperture of f22 is used. So how does this affect shutter speed?

2. Shutter Speed

Shutter speed in shown all the way from seconds to thousandths of a second. It determines how long the sensor is exposed to the light reaching it. The brighter the light the shorter the time the shutter remains open to obtain an optimal exposure on the sensor. What you need to understand is that there is an optimal speed for every aperture in order to get a perfect exposure, and vice versa. Lets say for example, that you want a depth of field that shows a fair amount of the image in focus, which could be f8. The light meter says that a shutter speed of 1/125 of a second will give the correct exposure. If you decide to blur out the background a little more by reducing the aperture to f5.6 you effectively double the size of the aperture. At 1/125 of a second you have double light reaching the sensor so you have to reduce it by half to 1/250 of a second. There is a direct relationship with the aperture. The same goes for the shutter speed. If you want to slow it down to 1/60 of a second from 1/125 then the aperture that was correct at f8 needs to be halved to f11. If you increase the aperture then you need to decrease the speed.

3. ISO

This is the sensitivity of the sensor to light. By increasing it from 100 to 400 the sensor is far more sensitive to the light reaching it. This is great for low light conditions where you cannot open the aperture any wider to let in more light so you make the sensor more sensitive. Or, if you need to use a fast shutter speed but the light is too low then by increasing the ISO it will allow you to use a faster shutter speed.

Being able to control your shutter speed or aperture allows you to be more creative as a photographer. Being in control of your aperture allows you to set how much of the image is in focus, i.e. depth of field. Being in control of shutter speed can equally give you more creativity by allowing you to blur or freeze your image. A fast shutter speed will freeze action while a slow speed will blur the action.

On your camera these creative settings are controlled by setting the camera to either aperture priority or shutter priority. Aperture priority allows you to control your aperture while the camera determines the shutter speed. Shutter priority does the reverse allowing you to set the shutter speed and the camera chooses the correct aperture.

There are times where you want the ability to set both aperture and priority. This is done by setting the camera to manual. By getting to grips with these settings you’ll be able to shoot perfect exposures and take complete control of your creativity.

When I discovered digital photography after years as a film photographer I wanted to get the best possible camera and other equipment. But, equipment was really the last thing that should have been on my list besides a camera of reasonable quality. What I really needed was to learn the fundamentals of photography. Good photographers take good pictures not cameras.

The first thing that any budding photographer needs to learn are the fundamentals of photography starting with the basics. Get these under your belt quickly and you have already won half the battle. So, what needs to happen to get you going as a beginner with your first digital camera? Let’s take a look at my top seven.

1. Equipment

It’s not all about equipment. Don’t go rushing out to buy expensive equipment without knowing what you need. A keen sales person will sell you as far as your wallet or credit card will take you. Wait until you know what you need and what you like and match these desires with the right equipment.

2. Decide on the type of shots you’d like to shoot

A good idea is to browse the internet photo galleries, look in magazines or visit your local library to get an idea of what type of photo you really like. Try it out with your camera and see if you are able to, or, want to persevere until you can. Once you’ve made a list plan to go out and shoot on a regular basis. It’s practise that makes perfect. Stick to it until you master your genre. Only then start looking for the equipment to match your area of interest.

3. Decide on a structured learning plan

Find out what you’d like to learn and what you need to learn in order to shoot the type of photos that interest you. For example, macro and nature photography is a more specialised art form and there are a number of techniques and skills to learn, as well as equipment you’ll need to buy. Research it on the internet, read books and if possible take a course on macro or close up photography.

4. Take photos often

If you are not regularly shooting images you are not going to grow in your skills and abilities. Set yourself assignments based on what you are studying. Of course, in a structured course you will be given assignments. A photo a day keeps the creativity flowing and helps you to keep motivated. I did an assignment once taking a 100 photos of the same subject from a host of different angles. It gave my photography an unexpected boost.

5. Learn your camera’s settings

Getting to know your camera is paramount if you want to learn to take great photos and the best way to do this is by reading your manual. Like I should be telling you this. I am the last one who reads a manual. But, if you do it in a structured way you’ll be amazed at how quickly you get to know your camera. The way I did it was to go through the manual highlighting everything I already knew about it. Then I went back through the manual reading up on each section I didn’t know, practising as I went along. Once I got to know it I was amazed at how much more I could do with my camera. The key is to experiment.

6. Keep your camera with you

Take every opportunity to get a great shot. Whenever you see something that would make a great photo, shoot it. I have often wished that I had taken my camera with me and got an amazing shot. If you don’t have it with you, you won’t get the shot

7. Buy a tripod

Besides my camera, my tripod is the most important piece of kit in my equipment bag. There are shots you can only get if your camera is steady. The sharpness of your shots will improve dramatically. If the pros use them then why not the amateurs?

As you begin your photography journey, work at learning in a structured way so that the fundamentals of photography become second nature. Photography should be fun but your learning process needs to be serious. Happy shooting!

You’ve spent your hard earned money on your first digital camera or perhaps your first digital SLR and you want to do more than just take photos on automatic. Do you start reading your manual, should you take a course or perhaps buy some digital photography books? The big question is where and how do you get started? I have some great digital photography tips to help you on the road to becoming a real photographer.

Just because you aren’t going down the route of professional photography it doesn’t mean that you can’t take top photos like the pros. Any new piece of technology can be quite daunting to the newbie or amateur, but, not worry as there are a few simple steps that will get you going.

1. Get the feel of your camera

Before you open the manual or read any quick start guides play with the camera. Make sure that it is on automatic and shoot some photos. Get the feel of the camera. How the shutter button feels and how the camera sits in your hand. It’s going to be your photography companion for a while. Most of all get to know the various buttons, NOT what they mean or what their functions are, but where they are situated. Carefully press any buttons and see what happens. The reason you want to familiarise yourself with the camera is that when you read the manual and it refers to a button with a star and moon you will know where it is. Once you know where all the buttons are you will be able to follow the manual.

2. Read your manual

What you need to do is take a highlighter pen and start at the beginning of the manual and highlight all the section or chapter headings that you know and are competent with. Once you’ve done this you can start working through all the un-highlighted sections in order to understand the features or settings mentioned in those chapters. If it gets too technical go on to the next section and once you are familiar with that part of your camera highlight the section in the manual. When you have finished this exercise you will know what you need to get help with or read up about.

3. Experiment

This is a logical exercise as you need to start at the beginning of the manual and try the different settings and work out how they affect the final image. Take for example white balance. This has no meaning to a non-photographer as it is something unique to digital and needs to be mastered. Shoot an image then change the various white balance settings and see what happens. Try this on all the different features on your camera. What you want achieve is an understanding of all the buttons, menus and knobs on the camera. Only then will you get creative with your compositions and final images.  By understanding your camera’s controls you will understand what effect they will have on your compositions.

Unless an artist or a workman has an intimate knowledge of the tools of their trade they will never rise to a level of competence necessary to be skilled at what they do. You need to get to a level of being able to change settings with your eye glued to the viewfinder of your camera. Operate it in the dark. This may seem weird but photography is all about capturing a moment in a sliver of time and sometimes there just isn’t the time to think before changing a setting. It may seem a big task at first getting to know your camera, but as you learn digital photography it will form the foundation of all great images in your future. Practise makes perfect as the old adage goes so take the time and make the effort to practise. Happy shooting!