Most of us don’t know the various types of photography there are. We all love clicking away with our cameras to capture the perfect moments, be it our baby’s first smile or our parents’ golden wedding anniversary. And we all love to cherish our photographs by putting them into albums or in frames to show all our friends. This is what I would call recreational photography, not really a hobby and definitely not a profession. There are many types of photography these days that professionals and amateurs specialize in. I could probably fit in just a few to let you know exactly how vast the field of photography has become today. Continue reading A Look At The Different Types Of Photography
Modeling 101: Modeling Scams You Must Be Aware Of
All people have that hidden desire to become a model or a supermodel. Some are willing to give up everything and give anything to have a shot at becoming a model. This is the reason why there are a lot of people who were able to make a living out of creating modeling scams. This is why if you want to start a modeling career, you have to make sure that you stay clear of these modeling scams.
Here are the things that you need to remember to do in order to avoid the scams.
If the modeling agency is asking for a ridiculous amount of money which they claim is needed in order for them to jump start your modeling career, just walk away. You are the job seeker. You don’t have to spend money in order to earn money. Also, remember that these people have their way of getting into people’s heads so that they will be persuaded to pay. This is why if they are asking for money, they are definitely modeling scams and the best thing to do is walk away without talking to them.
Even established models get scammed which is why you should never think that you will never get scammed. That is how people get scammed in the first place. When going to an agency or a casting, get your head in the game. Don’t assume the best in people and in yourself. Always be open to the possibility of a modeling scam.
If the agency or the organizers cannot name the designer, label or even the company that they work for, don’t even consider taking a single photo with them. Modeling scams are not just about agencies that are asking for money. It is also about people who book models for pornographic projects without immediately informing them. This is why you should never sign anything not unless you are completely sure that everything is legitimate.
There is also a lot of modeling school scams. Some people offer fake modeling courses and charge money inappropriately. This is why when it comes to modeling scams, you should keep an open ear and an open mind all the time.
How Digital Photography Lighting Can Work for You
Digital cameras sometimes make taking photos a little too easy. Line up the subject in the viewfinder, check the image on the LCD screen, and click the button. The flash goes off exactly when it should… right?
Sometimes. Learning more about digital photography lighting can help you decide when to trust the camera, and when to trust your own judgment. Below we’ll talk about the different camera settings and accessory options available, and also how to use Mother Nature to your advantage.
Built-In Flash
Most of the digital photography lighting you need is already built into your digital camera. Get to know your flash – look up its maximum range. If your subjects are standing beyond its reach the photograph will turn out too dark. Most internal flashes work best between 10 to 15 feet.
Besides range, most point-and-shoot camera flashes can add digital photography lighting in via their fill-in flash setting. A fill-in flash is a quick burst of flash to light dark areas in the photograph. It can be used indoors, or outdoors in bright sunlight. The fill-in flash heightens the contrast between colors.
External Flash
Compared to film cameras, digital cameras don’t capture the difference between light and dark as well. So for digital photography lighting, external flashes are important when shooting during nighttime, outdoors, or whenever you want more finesse than you can get from your built-in flash because they offer both automatic and manual controls.
They increase flash range, and also get rid of the red-eye effect sometimes seen with built-in flashes. Professionals prefer external flashes for all of the above reasons.
Artificial and Natural Lighting
Not all digital photography lighting has to involve a flash! Pay attention to the way sunlight falls on your subject from all angles. Incorporating some shadows by shooting a flower at a diagonal, for example, can add a layer of interest to an otherwise commonplace photo.
But watch out for sunshine that’s directly over your subject if taking a photo of a person. This can create deep, dark hollows under their eyes and along their mouths. Either wait until the sun is lower in the sky, or hold either a reflective or bright white piece of cardboard under their chin to counteract the shadows.
Artificial lighting, like that given off by fluorescent office lights, needs a different correction. In these circumstances you’ll want to adjust your camera’s white balance setting to either ‘fluorescent’ or ‘incandescent’. This prevents color distortion.
Modeling Jobs to Aspire for in the Modeling Industry
The modeling industry is not only about being seen as a fashion or commercial print model. It is a tough place to be because many are struggling to stay or make it to the top. It offers many modeling jobs to choose from that can open countless opportunities to one who has the brand or name, expertise and credibility, patience and discipline required to survive the challenges in the fashion arena.
There are different modeling jobs to choose from. Finding the right one for you may be a little confusing if you do not know the nature and scope of the work involved. Here are some bits of information about the most sought jobs in modeling:
Continue reading Modeling Jobs to Aspire for in the Modeling Industry
The Various Types of Camera Lenses
All cameras use a lens in order to view the subject of the photograph. Many automatic cameras have a lens that will shoot from a few set distances, which is fine for many people. For the more serious photographer, who wants greater flexibility from their camera, the lens is the one item that will allow more freedom as far as focusing on different subjects when the distance is reasonable. You can get a telephoto lens that will allow you to take clear photographs from a greater distance than the automatic cameras will allow.
Three Main Types of Camera Lenses
There are three main types of camera lenses that will suit your needs as a photographer. You can get the standard lenses that come with many cameras. Chances are good that you have already used a standard lens if you have ever taken photographs. This is the typical lens that is used for taking pictures while on vacation, family events and for other personal needs.
Wide Angle Lens
The wide angle camera lens is used for getting a wider viewing angle and will give you a large field for taking your photographs. This type of lens is particularly useful for wide angle shots of landscapes, architecture, huge groups of people and nature scenes. This camera lens will enhance the depth that you can achieve with your image.
Telephoto Lens
The telephoto camera lens is useful for taking a focused photograph of a subject that is far away from the camera. This is great for sporting events, concerts, wildlife and apparently, snapping pictures of celebrities. A zoom lens will allow you to take a range of photographs that depict a subject who is a different distances from the camera.
Specialty Lens
You may want to use the fish eye camera lens, which is capable of taking photographs that resemble a convex image, which is caused by the very wide angle lens. Another lens that you may be interested in is the macro camera lens, which allows the photographer to take close up photographs while remaining in focus unlike other cameras, which cannot focus so well when they are too close to the subject. This is useful for taking photographs of small subjects such as a pin or a penny.
If you will be using a camera for more than just fun, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the options that you have in camera lens. A camera lens can mean the difference between a mediocre photograph and a fantastic one.
Candid Photography, Taking Pictures Of Your Friend Without Their Attention
Candid photography is by definition taking pictures of people when they are unaware. Part of the fun in photography is catching your human subject’s off guard so that your pictures have more emotion. Photographers who work for magazines, like Time Life, have been able to get candid shots of their subjects. I think most of us can remember the black and white photographs of Africans and others giving rise to more emotion from the viewer. Taking candid shots may appear easy although there are few techniques in the photography world that will make the candid shot worth more than just a snap shot of friends. Continue reading Candid Photography, Taking Pictures Of Your Friend Without Their Attention
Camera Bags for Women on the Go
Women nowadays are having a camera as one of their must brings during travels and trips. Who can blame them? Most women are more sentimental and would want a remembrance from the places they visited. Bag makers and camera manufacturers makes sure to include camera bags for women in their line of products. Since women make up most of the market’s earnings, and since women are shoppers by heart, why not bring to the table something that they will look forward to in their next shopping spree. Plus, women love traveling and bring their camera along. Which is why there are many camera bags for women available in stores.
Finding the Right Fit through Model Casting
You see them everywhere, on billboards and on runways. These live mannequins are used to make our heads turn, or linger in the pages of magazines, and entice us to buy. These men and women go through model casting to land jobs as talents for print ads and fashion shows. They are handpicked to be the perfect representation of the brand to make it more appealing to the consumers. It really takes more than just a pretty face.
The Look
Model casting is the process where a brand or a designer chooses talents to represent their vision properly. The models that land in print and walk the runways are specifically chosen for the job. These models are part of an equation for an ad campaign to be effective, which is why model casting is necessary.
Continue reading Finding the Right Fit through Model Casting
Extending the Life of Camera Batteries
Camera batteries are essential to the life of your camera. You will need to make sure that you always have extra camera batteries handy in case your current battery goes dead because it always seems like the batteries can go dead just when you need them the most.
Read the Instructions
Since camera batteries can be expensive, it is important that you save your batteries energy as much as possible. You can do this by following a few camera battery tips such as following any battery conditioning instructions that came with your battery, particularly concerning the first use of the batteries.
Battery Conditioning Method
Typical conditioning instructions will tell you to charge the batteries before using the camera for the first time and then either cooling them or running them down until they are empty and then recharging them. Some instructions will tell you to go through this process a few times because doing this will add life to your camera batteries. If your batteries do not have instructions for conditioning the batteries, look up the manufacturer’s web site for instructions.
Changing One Battery? Change Them All at the Same Time
Another tip is to change all of your batteries at the same time because leaving a partially charged battery in your camera will cause the other batteries to be drained of their energy quicker. Also, make sure all your batteries are from the same manufacturer because mixing batteries can sometimes cause a battery leak. When your batteries are not in use, store them in a cool place with dry conditions.
No Extreme Temperatures
Keep the contact points on the camera clean with a clean pencil eraser. When it comes to temperature, do not leave your camera with the batteries still in it if it is hot and sunny or very cold. Both situations will cause the batteries to drain and the heat is bad for your camera.
Rechargeable Batteries
If your batteries are rechargeable, make sure you use a recharger that is made for them. When you purchase batteries, buy a few extra sets so that you do not have to wait for your batteries to recharge before you take your next photograph.
Since your camera batteries are so essential to the use of your camera, it is worth your time to find out how to care for your camera batteries. When you are able to continue taking photographs, despite a set of batteries going dead, you will be glad you did.
Common Modeling Scams to Avoid
There are two sides to the modeling world, good and bad. The good side is that models are becoming smarter and educated. However, despite that fact, the bad side is there too. It thrives with modeling scams. In recent years, there is a remarkable increase in the number of crooks engaged in preying unsuspecting victims in the industry. It is just dumbfounding how crafty they have become in cooking up tricks to take advantage of people who are simply aspiring to become successful models.