If you are an amateur photographer or professional photographer, Flickr is the largest community of photos online.  Sure, there is Picassa and Smugmug, but they do not have the ability to connect with others like Flickr.  In this article, I am going to cover how to get the most out of your photos in the Flickr community.

Getting started

Uploading photos is a little tricky, that’s why I am covering it. If you know this, scroll down to Getting Exposed.

To upload photos in Flickr, go to You -> Upload photos.  Since you can now batch upload photos, pick a whole bunch and then press on upload.  Let Flickr do its magic.  It will then ask you, “Next:  add a description, perhaps?.”  Click on the link and you arrive at all the newly uploaded photos.

Now is it the time to organize it.  I admit, it’s tedious and even I avoid this task (only later to regret it).

Add Tags -  This allows you add tags that will be all the photos in the set.  If you took a bunch of photos of San Francisco, you should add “San Francisco,” SF, Bay Area.

Add to a a Set – All the photos can be added to a preexisting set or you can create a new set.

Title, Description, Tags – Add personal titles, descriptions, and tags to each photo.  If you know anything about search engine optimization, this is like adding meta data.  If you want anyone to click on your photo in a search engine search, add this data. And add lots of tags, don’t be afraid. Of course, be on topic but if the photo is of a rabbit (like the sample above) use general tags like “rabbit, bunny, fuzzy, furry”, etc to ensure that people would stumble upon a photo when searching.

Once done with this… save!

Getting Exposed

Groups
The awesome part of Flickr comes in with Flickr groups.  There are thousands of groups on Flickr from locations (Stockholm) to camera reviews and equipment (Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR) to random goodness (Purple Flowers).

You want to add your best photos to groups. The more groups you join, the greater the amount of photos you can add to groups. Okay, some groups do put limits so no one person spams the group.

Make sure to visit Flickr on regular basis to submit photos to groups so that your photos don’t get entirely buried in the deluge.

Interact with others
Like any social community, chatting/interacting with other people is the way it survives. In Flickr, photos gain popularity and exposure through commenting and favoriting them.

The more comments a photo receives, the more popular it becomes and higher it will rank on searches. Give feedback and constructive comments because you are demonstrating the ability to be a good contributor. Plus, by commenting on another person’s photo, chances are, they will visit your page. Just think of this like blog commenting.

Same goes for making a photo a favorite by clicking on the pink star. The cool bit is that you can look through any user’s favorites’ photos and see what inspires them. The photos you favorite will then appear in your favorites folder so that you can see them at any time.

You can also chat with others through threads and question groups. Some groups are entirely off topic from photography while others are ‘meet and shoot’ clubs where people decide where to meet and go off to take photos together. Yet, another great way to become more well known in the community.

Figuring out Your Activity

Your home page on Flickr is the second most important page (you’ll find out about the second in a bit).

The left side shows recent activities within your network. The Photostream shows any comments made on your photos, favorites, and any replies on comments you made on other photos. The Contacts section shows latest uploaded photos by your contacts. And, you can guess, the Groups sections shows the latest uploaded photos in some of your groups.

On the right side, is the latest from the Flickr blog. And below is an advertisement for many of Flickr’s third party applications (Moo, etc).

Now it is time to go to the most important page: Stats. See the graph to the right of “Your Photostream?” Pro account users can see statistics on all their photos. You can see number of photo views, favorites, and comments. You can also track the domain referrers. Because you can see the domain referrer, it’s easy to learn how your photo was used. If possible, comment on the post or article where the author used your photo, you can get more exposure again.

What does this all lead to? If you tag your photos well, write good descriptions, participate in community by favoriting and commenting, join groups, then you stand a chance of getting good exposure. Many photographers, especially amateurs are approached to license their photos or even do real shooting. I licensed my photos through people who emailed me via Flickr.

Don’t stand in the dark(room) anymore. Even if you have a professional site, put up your best stuff on Flickr. Chances are people are looking both via the search engines AND in the Flickr community for their next photographer or photo to buy.

About the Author:
Preeti loves taking photos even though she can be lazy at tagging them. She enjoys writing, traveling, and of course taking photos. Her blog, Lost in Stockholm, is about living in Sweden. You can see her favorites photos from Grand Canyon to Narvik, Norway on her blog.

Got questions or comments about using Flickr? Send her a tweet.

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Have you ever gone on set after prepping for a photo shoot, only to get there and draw a big blank? You have forgotten your vision of what you imagined these pictures would turn out to be. You look at your client and have no idea what to do with them. This is a common occurrence among beginner photographers. Usually once you start and get your creative juices flowing, you’ll get to a point where you are in the moment and tailoring the shoot to the style and feel of the environment. However, sometimes it is good to have a starting point so as not to get stuck in a rut. Below I have listed 5 different elements that can help you add variety to your photo shoots.

1. Lighting (sun)

front lit, back lit, side lit

2. Background

sky, grass, landscape, architecture

3. Perspective/angles

above, below, straight on, behind, side

4. Poses/emotion

laughing, smiling, turning to side, serious

5. Props/Wardrobe

personalize to each individual (football, umbrella, flowers, scarf, cowboy etc.)

Now mix and match these elements. If you do this, you will find that you have endless opportunities to get a variety of shots that will showcase your client in a new and exciting way. Jot down this list and keep it in your camera bag so when you have that moment of What Do I Do Now???, you will be prepared. If you have other go-to ideas that you always use, please feel free to share them.

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There was a time when people weren’t so interested in transparency, when the web was principally used to send email and the idea of keeping interior monologues interior was key. That was before blogs.

Blogs have become useful in lots of ways, especially to photographers.

Blogs are useful because they can help prospective clients see what your interior monologue looks (or even sounds) like. You can use your blog as a place to put your photographic experiments. Sometimes projects have happy accidents and those are useful fodder. Sometimes, things go terribly awry. You have to be a good judge of what’s “overshare” and what’s interesting. Putting these things on your blog gives you a comfortable place to “talk it out” about the things that you experienced. An added bonus of creating a blog is having a place to come back to see what you were thinking previously.

Photographers have lately needed to become experts in all sorts of fields rather than just making images. Many have had to learn how to bid for projects, how to understand search engine optimization, and finally create and update websites. Having a blog is a way to cut down on website content changes and keep your work fresh. Putting up work from recently completed jobs gives prospective clients a chance to see your range. It allows you to showcase whatever newest image (or set of images) you’ve made that strikes your fancy.

Value-added extras, like behind-the-scenes videos and photos, can also fit well on your blog. Often, people like to see what went into making a particular image as much as they like seeing the actual image itself. More than that, some ADs are interested in knowing more about who you are, so keeping your personal projects on your blog can humanize you. Telling stories about your images aids in this. It helps clients gauge how you might integrate with the creative teams they’ve assembled.

What’s important is to keep a regular posting schedule because in the digital world, attention spans are fickle. A blog that’s a hit today can be a dud tomorrow because of a lack of posts. It might be good to keep the following things in mind as you enter the world of blogging:

(1) As a photographer, it’s always good to put a photograph in each of your posts.
(2) Post on a regular schedule so that your readers can know when to expect new content.
(3) Enjoy yourself! Your blog should be about your work, but it’s about you, too.

Here are some helpful blogs to look at:

Jay Reilly Photography
Lemon Lime Photography
Jasmine Star Photography
Emily Shur Photography
The 10 cent Designer
Lydia Hudgens Photography

About the Author:

Thomas Scott is a photographer in Richmond, Virginia. He specializes in location portraiture. He likes bright colors, the laughter of children, a good beer and pretty pictures.  Drop him a line; he also loves to talk.  More information can be found about him at his website: www.punchphoto.com.

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I remember the first time I heard the word “blog”. I thought it just might be the funniest word I had ever heard. It took me a while to get used to  it, and to even know what it meant. But now, 8 years later, the word “blog” is used in every day conversation. The blogging world is taking over, and you better be ready for it.

There is one powerful tool that can separate your blog (whether just a personal journal, or a photography blog) from all the others. It’s something that will keep your readers scrolling, or send them on to the next site. That tool is the proper use of pictures. Here, I offer a few ways to make your pictures more appealing and fitting to your online journal:

1. Invest

If you are serious about your blogging, then it’s time to get serious about your camera. I’m sure by now you have noticed the difference between a pictures shot with a measly point and shoot compared to one with a dSLR. Need help deciding on which one to get? Refer back to this article. If you want to make it more interesting, try using different types of cameras like Holgas, Polaroids, etc. for a different style.

2. Simplify

Is your blog for a business? Or just personal? Either way, your pictures should be free of unnecessary distractions. In order to get your story told, or your product sold, you need to learn how to find nice lighting, a simple background, and voila. A nice, simple picture that will get your readers hooked.  Oh, and one more thing. Instead of posting 5 pictures of the same thing, but maybe each one has a slightly different angle, just choose your favorite one and post it. Pictures lose their impact if they are repeated too often.

3. Lighten Up

You’ll find that one of the most common problems in photographs is that they are underexposed and flat.  Once you have your pictures, find a program that allows for easy editing (Picasa and Lightroom are both simple).  Add some light and some contrast, and you will be amazed at how big of a difference it will make on your pictures. A good tip to remember is that the whites should be white, and the blacks should be black.

4. Focus

Please don’t post pictures that are out of focus. It hurts my eyes.

5. Bigger is Better

Save the readers from having to click on each picture to get an idea of what the picture is all about. Post a picture big enough where they don’t have to click on it, but not so big that they feel they’ve lost their personal space. Your pictures and design are the look of your blog, so make the look worthy of your writing. Having problems with your writing? Check out Fuel Your Writing and Fuel Your Blogging for tips!

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A lot of new photographers look at the work of professionals and lament, “I’ll never be able to do anything like that!”  Their reasoning is simple: Without the funding to trek to the four corners of the earth and hire talent from the sets of Hollywood, what are beginners to do to get practice and build a body of work? The answer is equally as simple.  Give yourself an assignment.  There are many ways to make this work.

1.

If you want to shoot editorial portraits, find models that are willing to sit for you, and create a reason for your images.  If finding people is difficult, use a website like Model Mayhem to find people near you who are interested in having their photographs taken.

2.

Another possibility is to find or start a collective blog.  The photographers at This is a Photo Blog aren’t all professional photographers, but they do get the opportunity to share their images with at least each other and whomever reads their collective blog.  The photographers at Smash All Your Idols run a similar program.

3.

If you like to be given a challenge, Digital Photography School has weekly assignments with a forum for all the contributors to post their pictures as well as give feedback to others’. It’s a great way to get practice in all areas of photography, and expand your creativity in finding things to shoot.

4.

Making images that are interesting and stretch your creativity isn’t hard, but it does take some practice.  Another possibility is to organize a group of photographers near you and start a weekly photography walk to explore parts of your area that you might not while alone. When you’re with a group, things that may seem mundane on your own can take on new lives and be interesting in new ways.  Moreover, the camaraderie that comes from collaborative exercises may provide other avenues for your creativity.

So even if you’re not Chase Jarvis or Anton Corbijn or even Annie Lebovitz, there are still chances for you to begin to excel at your work.

About the Author:

Thomas Scott is a photographer in Richmond, Virginia. He specializes in location portraiture. He likes bright colors, the laughter of children, a good beer and pretty pictures.  Drop him a line; he also loves to talk.  More information can be found about him at his website: www.punchphoto.com.

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If you are a beginner and are interested in being an assistant to a photographer – OR – if you are a professional who is looking for a photo assistant, this article is for you. There are a lot of important characteristics of an assistant that you need to take into consideration. There are technical, social, intellectual, and fashionable traits to look for.

Technical:

Need to have a basic knowledge about: cameras, reflectors,  lighting, tripods, backdrops, etc. etc. etc. You should know how to angle reflectors to fill in shadows, and where the lights need to be placed. You should know enough about the technical aspect to be able to take direction and understand any of the technical vocabulary.

Social:

You need to be comfortable in front of clients. If you are painfully shy, this probably isn’t the job for you. You need to be able to communicate effectively. You need to know your boundaries – don’t interrupt the photographer. If you have a good idea, know how to express that idea effectively and properly. You should be able to help the clients feel comfortable and relaxed. Unless asked, you should not be doing funny faces and bunny ears behind the camera to get someone to laugh. In other words – don’t be annoying.

Intellectual:

You may be asked to help with paperwork/ filing/ billing/ etc. You should be good with numbers and have a good memory. You should be organized and always be aware of the time. You should know photography terms and be familiar with the photographer’s work.

Fashionable:

Maybe fashionable isn’t the right word, but if you are going to be interacting with the clients, you should know what poses look good, and SHOW them how to look fabulous. You should know when to fix their hair, or help them with any wardrobe malfunctions. You should know how to create space and lines. You should know enough to make any client – short, tall, fat, or skinny, look flattering in front of the camera. It’s good to take a few tips from Tyra on how to extend your neck, drop your chin, and smile with your eyes (the one good thing I’ve ever learned from her). Small changes like that make a huge difference in the shot.

Most important of all, you should support the photographer. You should only say kind things about him/her, even when you are off set. Be professional and be open minded. You will learn the most by being on set at photo shoots, so be grateful for opportunities to learn in these situations. These are prime chances to grow as an artist and as a business person. The more you assist with, the more the photographer can focus on getting the perfect exposures/focus/framing. Work as a team. The better you get at assisting, the better prepared you will be to get behind the camera and get out on your own. While browsing, I found this assistant’s online resume that I thought was a good idea. Best of luck!

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Have you had someone tell you had an eye for photography? What does that even mean? That you know how to take a good picture? I had someone tell me I had the “eye” many years ago when I had just messed around with the camera. Looking back at those pictures, they were crap. Crap, I tell you.

I’ll tell you what that comment did for me though. That little comment gave me a nice boost of confidence that drove me to pursue photography a little more that what I was doing at the time. It made me feel as though I was special and that I was naturally good at something. But was I?

I do not believe that the photographic eye is something you are born with. I believe it is a learned way of seeing the world through a lens. Those who are out there that feel as though they do not have an artistic bone in their body – have hope. It wasn’t until someone gave me a boost of confidence(perhaps false confidence?) that I was ready to take on the challenge of photography. The photographic eye is simple. It is recognizing situations where the elements of art come together in a frame. It is opening your eyes a little wider and really paying attention to the details of the world around you.

If you are wondering “what about those people who can just pick up a camera with no photography background and STILL take a beautiful shot?”. Well, just like anything in life, some people have different backgrounds and different learning curves. If you have any artistic background, whether that be painting, drawing, designing, decorating…anything….then you are already exposed to elements that are appealing and beautiful, and are more likely to pick it up quicker than those with no artistic background.

My sister once asked me how I take such good pictures. She said “All I do is see what I want in the picture, put it in the center, and snap the shot”. Well, there’s the first problem. That’s exactly what you’re NOT supposed to do. If you do a quick study of photography, the rule of thirds will surely be one of the first you read about. Then next time, you ask yourself “Ok, I know it’s not supposed to be in the center, so I’ll move the subject off center”. You do that and you are now more aware of what is in your frame, and you are making your picture more interesting. That’s an easy one.

I think most people relate the “eye” as more of the composition of the photo. I have never heard of anybody who has just been able to pick up a camera and know how to use every setting to get a perfect exposure. A good way to practice composing shots can be done without a camera. When you are going about your day to day activities, look around you. Look for the patterns, the colors, the depth, the symmetry of normal, everyday life. Take mental note when you see something that would make a good picture – train your vision.

I think anybody has the potential to be a great photographer. I don’t think you have to be born with this magical eye that allows you to produce beautiful images. I think if you want to be a photographer, and are willing to study and practice, you can be as good as you want to be. If you are looking for that boost of confidence that I got years ago, send me some of your pictures and I’ll give you the genuine encouragement and critique that you may need.

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Always bring your camera.

Even if it’s just your point and shoot that  you throw in your bag – always be prepared because you never know when you’ll come across a person, place, or thing that you will want to remember.

Don’t forget the people.

Often times when traveling, you focus so much on the landscape and tourist attractions, and not enough on the people who

live there. I think the people make the location – and it is always interesting to get portraits of different personalities.

Please be respectful of people’s emotions and cultures. It’s always best to ask them if you could take their picture before shoving a camera in their face and getting all up in their business.

Utilize your different shooting modes.

Take the time to adjust the camera modes for the specific shot you are taking. Especially if you are used to just keeping it on automatic all the time. When shooting a landscape, change it to landscape. For a portrait, change to portrait mode. You get the picture. It could make a big difference in the outcome of your photos, and all it takes is like 2 seconds.

Bring extra batteries.

It’s happened to all of us one time or another. Something great happens, you whip out your camera, the red battery light flashes, and the moment is gone. If you have a rechargable battery, make sure it is fully charged before you go out for the day…plus bring an extra. And if you use disposable batteries – bring lots and lots and lots with you.

Don’t be afraid to ask someone to take a picture.

Instead of being Mr./Mrs. Independent and wanting to do everything for yourself, kindly ask someone around you to take your picture so you can be in it as well. You don’t want every picture of yourself from your trip being at arms length, with half the arm showing in the picture b/c it’s holding the camera, up the nose shot – do you? Didn’t think so…and besides, it’s always fun talking to other people in new places.

Learn to use your self timer.

If there is nobody around, and you still insist on being Mr./Mrs. Independent, set your camera on a tripod, or even a table, pillar, or anything that is flat and sturdy, and bust out the self timer. Resist the in your face picture for hundredth time!

When the lights go out, turn off your flash.

One good way to ruin a potentially beautiful shot is when you use the flash at night when all the city lights/moon light is setting a perfect mood. You’ll probably have to use a longer shutter speed to do this, so be careful it doesn’t get blurry. But trust me, your results will be so much more satisfactory.

It’s also good to know how to turn your flash off for those times where there is a “No Flash Photography” rule.

Savor the flavor.

I like to take pictures of the the food I eat wherever I go. It seems that I can remember the taste better when I see the picture.

The food is all part of the traveling experience anyways.

Live in the moment and create your memories.

I find myself in a conflicting situation when I travel. Part of me wants to lose the camera and be 100% in the moment, and create a memory that I know is genuine. The other part of me knows that 5 years down the road, my memory will most likely fade from those moments, and it is the photographs that can bring me back to every last detail of those memories. Does anyone else feel this way?

My advice would be to find the balance. Don’t waste your time taking thousands of pictures that don’t – or won’t- mean anything to you. Enjoy yourself, and take pictures of those experiences that you do want to remember forever.

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1. Digital Photography School

This site has it all. Tutorials and articles on everything photography you can imagine. Equipment, post-processing, tips/tricks, forums, assignments, etc. It is because of sites like this that people can buy a camera and make a career out of it with no formal education. If you haven’t seen it, well, you are missing out on a TON of really useful information.

2. Strobist

You may have your camera down pat, but what about your flash? This site has some fantastic tips for on and off camera lighting. Photography IS all about light, right?

3. Photographer’s Edit

If you find yourself pulling your hair out because you have taken on more jobs than you can handle, Photographer’s Edit might be your solution. The concept: you take the pictures, they do the editing. Tempting, isn’t it?

4. Behance

A collection of portfolios from some of the most talented creatives in the industry. A great source of inspiration for all genres. I would say this site is best for those photographers who are already established and need some new ideas. Just be careful, you could find yourself browsing the site for hours!

5. B&H Photo Video

Love this site. Mainly because it is where you will find the most reliable equipment for the best deal. For most products, you have the option of buying new or used equipment. I love it when people take your budget into consideration.

6. Photojojo

You wouldn’t believe some of the ideas these people come up with. Ways to use your photos, or even recycling your camera…this site is a MUST for all you photo fans!

7. I Heart Faces

This site has you smiling the second you see it with it’s clean, appealing design. A great resource for portrait photographers who are looking for both tips/tricks, and get to know other talented photographers. Check out the challenges and the guest judges they bring in.

Do you have other sites you frequently visit? Let us know about it!

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I. Become Familiar With the Couple

If you are shooting a wedding, spend time with the client before the day of the wedding so that the couple can become familiar with you and you can get a feel for what they are like before the day of the shoot.

Things to look for:

- Who is the shy one? Who is ambitious and outgoing?

- What is their personality like within the relationship? Are they comedians, romantics, shy, quiet, energetic, or a combination?

Another way to get familiar with your clients is to do an Engagement Session before the wedding. This gives you a great opportunity to spend quality time with the couple. After an Engagement Session, the couple usually are thrilled – instead of feeling nervous – to see you on the wedding day. They wont have their guards up, and will be much more relaxed.

II. Watch, Don’t Intrude

Look for poetry to naturally develop in front of you. Some of the most magical moments are the ones that are unexpected. Be ready to capture every moment that occurs in front of you.

- Make use of some zoom lens so that you can place yourself in a spot where you can observe the whole room and get an array of photographs in a candid manner

- Don’t forget to capture the audience and their reactions

III. Guide and Encourage

If there is no chemistry there and you find yourself in a situation where you have an awkward hour to spend with them in between the ceremony and reception to do portraits of them, find a way that is comfortable for you to help “encourage” the type of emotion you would like to capture in your photography

Ways to Encourage your couples:

- Baby steps. Start with the basics like giving them a moment to hold each other and enjoy a moment of Peace during their busy day. If you are shooting on the wedding day, be aware that this is most likely the first time they are able to spend alone together after having a hectic day and getting married. During this time, you will find that they are either relieved to not have all eyes on them and have a moment to breath so they are happy to relax within each others arms for a moment, or they are so pumped with adrenaline that they are laughing and poking jokes with each other. Let the “magic” happen during that interaction and candidly capture some honest moments occurring between them.

- Romance. Some couples like to kiss. A lot. If this is their thing and they are comfortable kissing in front of you, help place them in a setting that best suites what you are looking for, then let them enjoy themselves while you quietly capture some images of them. While some couples thoroughly enjoy themselves and can really get into this, be mindful that this approach isn’t for everyone since some couples are more conservative then others, or simply shy.

- Surround them with what makes them feel comfortable. If you see that they are not responding to doing things alone and that they are having fun and enjoying themselves more with their bridal party, involve others in the shoot to help alleviate the pressure that they might be feeling. Others might feel more comfortable if you take them to their favorite joint and let them be themselves in their favorite cafe, or location of choice. Try to be very responsive to their needs and desires. It is typically best if you can get a feeling for what would work best for them beforehand so that you are not trying to second guess what to do on the day of their photography session.

About the Author:

Jana Morgan was born in Thailand and grew up in Bangladesh before moving to America in 1992. With her international travel experiences, her interest in photography began with a documentary style of influence. Jana currently resides in Hawai’i with her husband and two dogs and shoots weddings internationally.

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What’s Your Number?

I highly encourage keeping your personal and professional phone lines separate. However, I realize that this may not always be possible. For example, I don’t have a land line. All of my calls are managed using my iPhone. So fear not – I am going to share with you how to manage different numbers on one phone. First, there is a service called Ring Central that allows you to create a toll-free number that can be forwarded to your existing phone line. It also has various voicemail options that you can set-up, i.e. for Wedding Photography press 1, for Portraits press 2, for Stock Photography press 3, etc… Ring Central also has an iPhone app that is available to download in the Apple App Store.

After The Beep

Before I begin this section, let me state that if you are able to answer the phone when someone is calling, I highly encourage you to answer it instead of letting it go to voicemail. However, I realize that this is not always the case. Since potential clients will be going to voicemail, this is a great opportunity to share with them your USP , any news about your business, or inform them on any specials that you may be offering at the moment, i.e. “Hi this is Ryan from Ryan Photography. Please leave a creative message and I will get back with you. In the meantime, feel free to check-out our work in the latest issue of Shutterbug Magazine. Thank you for your call, and we’ll talk soon.” Basically, use this opportunity to somehow stand-out from the crowd, and be creative with it. As Jerry Seinfeld has stated, “There are people on phones and voicemails still telling you to leave your name and number. Are those necessary instructions? Is anyone getting messages like, ‘This is a woman. Good-bye’?” And his thoughts on the beep, “I know people who are still telling you to wait for the beep. It’s the 21st century – I think we’re all up to speed on the beep!”

Press 2 for Awesome Service

Finally, I want to let all of you know about an amazing service that Google is offering, called Google Voice. This service used to be GrandCentral before Google bought them on July 2, 2007. Google Voice allows you to select a specific phone number in an area code of your choice, and when this number is dialed you can determine what phone you would like to ring, i.e. your personal phone, your business phone, your cell phone, etc… This is a great way to provide potential clients with a different local number than your personal number. A great feature of this service is that all calls are stored in your Google Voice Account. This makes it very easy to check messages and manage your calls. Currently, Google Voice is by Invite Only, but I highly encourage you to sign-up to get on the wait list for this service.

In closing, remember that the phone is simply a tool for conversation. The main thing is to make it super simple for clients to contact you – how they want to contact you. Some may feel more comfortable via Email, whereas others will only dial a toll-free number. The key is to have these options available to them, and provide them with superior service.

About the Author:

For the past five years, darkroomRYAN has worked with Fortune 500 clients. As the owner of Darkroom Branding, he now provides marketing and branding strategies for photographers. Feel free to follow him on Twitter at: @darkroomRYAN

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This is a beginner’s introduction to HDR using a Nikon D200 digital SLR camera, however you can still do HDR if you own any digital camera that allows changes to the exposure values (EV). If you are using another digital SLR camera (Canon, Pentax), check the manual for the setting up auto bracketing.

Using a point and shoot camera is just a tad trickier than using a DSLR but make sure to use a tripod so there’s no camera shake.  Then on the P&S settings for the camera, put it in manual mode, turn the flash off, keep the ISO at auto (too high ISO will create noise), and use the Menu to change EV.  It will take almost a minute to do the shoot.  Some point and shoot do allow for bracketing but it is something you will need to read up on.

If you know how to do bracketing (changing the EV photos in series shots) but unsure how to use Photomatix, you can follow this guide from step 7 onward.

What you need:

• Photomatix – you can use the free trial to test drive the features before buying.  Photomatix software.  It’s a stand alone program (though can be integrated with CS3) created by HDRsoft.
• 3-5 Photos – These photos should be in RAW (JPG if you are in a serious pinch) with different exposure settings.  Instructions are below.
• Post processing program – Photoshop or Gimp works fine.

Taking the Photos:

1. First, you need photos.  Three photos are a good start, five are ideal.  On the Nikon D200 (similar to D300), have your images set to RAW, large file, and fine quality.

2. Get a tripod.  These photos should take as still as possible and tripod works the best.  I did the hand held in the sample photos and you can see small shakes in the photo.  Even the negligible camera shake between shots can affect the final photo so best to hunker down the camera to a good tripod and keep it still.

3. Take a normal photo and set the EV to the best possible photo that you can make in standard lighting.   Also, do not shoot in Shutter priority as the shutter speed needs to be adjusted because of the varying EV.  I shoot in Aperture priority, normally f/2.8.

4. Now set the exposure by pressing the BKT button on the camera: on the upper left side of the camera.  If you hold the button down and turn the dial (the one on the back of the camera body), you can see on the screen different exposure sets appear.  Some go every 1/3 EV, while some are -3, -1, 0, +1, +3.  You can decide what works best depending on your lighting conditions.

5. If all is good, turn the BKT on by pressing down the button and turning the dial so you see the BKT sign pop up on the screen.

6. Shoot, shoot, shoot the set of photos.  You can see the five original photos on Flickr that I used.  On each photo one part is perfectly exposed, the rest are highly over or under exposed.  Here they are:  1. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire/3801512613/, 2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire/3801509905/, 3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire/3802321866/, 4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire/3802319834/, 5. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire/3801502833/.

Start here for Photomatix Processing Steps:

7. Once you have your photos loaded on the computer, open up Photomatix.  You have three options: Generate HDR Image, Exposure Fusion, and Batch Processing.

a. Generate HDR Image – It is the function most often used with Photomatix to blend at least two photos of different exposures.

b. Exposure Fusion – Creates a natural looking feel to a photo but with more limiting options.  Sometimes EF is a better choice than the above.  If your image turns out terrible with Generate HDR (too fantasy-like especially), then try this function.  The file format for Exposure Fusion is best with processed photos, like JPEG.

c. Batch Processing – Exactly what it means, batch process photos for different HDRs.

8. We are going to use Generate HDR Image.  Click on it and then ‘Browse’ on the popup dialog box.  You can select all your photos.

9. Press OK.

10. You now are given options now for creating your HDR photo.  I choose aligning images by Matching Features as this photo was taken without a tripod.  I can eventually crop the photo in post processing if parts are missing at the edges.  The remaining choices are up to the need of the photo, but I have normally not used them.  Click on Okay.

11. Using RAW photos will take a few minutes to process, so go grab a cup a tea and a cookie while Photomatix processes and aligns the photos.

12. You will now get a very ugly looking photo that is not tone mapped.  Click on Tone Mapping to get settings for tone mapping.

13. The settings will allow you tweak the photo to look realistic as the way you remember it in person.  The major functions are Strength, Color Saturation, Luminosity, Microcontrast, and Smooting.  I tend to keep the color saturation at least 50, even higher to really feel the colors of the objection.  Also, always make sure that in Smooting, you have it set to High or Max, lower settings will create  a painting type feel to the photo.

14. After tweaking everything, press Process and you will now get a finished product.  Go ahead and save it as a 16bit (if the photo is in RAW format) or 8bit (if the photo is in JPEG).

15. Post process the photo in Photoshop or Gimp or whatever program that makes you happy.  Ssave up!  You have now created an HDR photo.  Not as hard as it looks right?

I love HDR because it fills in that missing spot when shooting large landscapes or indoor low lighting that a standard digital shot fails to capture.  To be honest, it does not matter what digital camera you use, just that you know how to use the camera. After I read a lot of digital slr camera reviews, I bought a Nikon D200 (now the newer is D300) and it is extremely versatile. But even lower end Nikon cameras like the D40, D70, D90 take wonderful HDR photos too.

HDR brings a realness and alive feeling to these photos. As a caveat, high dynamic range photography should not be used all the time.  Even if you take mostly landscapes, sometimes pure, unadulterated photos are the best.  If you are interested in HDR Photography, join this Flickr HDR Discussion Group. Happy Shooting!

About the Author:

Preeti is an amateur photographer in Stockholm, Sweden.  She loves taking photos of Stockholm and even jellyfish, plus a musing about Swedish life.

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Work hard but not too hard.

There are two traps when photography becomes your business.  The first is to think that throwing up a website will make you visible to the world and have people begging to take your photos.  On the contrary, there were many lonely nights waiting for emails in my inbox or for the phone to ring.  A year long concerted effort was required to market myself to potential clients and build my portfolio so they’d hire me once they found me.  And therein lies the second trap.  Photographers are amongst the most passionate folk around and because of that it’s easy to burn out, or worse, lose sight of your goals.  My wife and kids hold me accountable and remind me that it’s okay to leave the camera behind on our family outings.

Charge for your work and keep your day job.

Even when building up your portfolio – charge for your time, expertise and personality.  If no one is willing to pay for your work, then, “Houston we have a problem!”.  My biggest competition hasn’t been other photographers, it’s people who take pictures for themselves.  To get business, a potential client has to look at my portfolio and say, “I need to hire this crazy guy to get photographs like that.”   Early on, my friends complimented my photography, but only two were willing to pay for my services.  Looking back, those two friends were really supportive, but it’s also possible that they were just terrible photographers which made me look like a god.   It was a humbling lesson, but a priceless one.  Since then, I regularly read the latest techniques, practice them, have my work critiqued and correspondingly my book of business has steadily increased.  After doing a ton of work for strangers, many of my friends and family have circled back as paying clients.

Having a day job, even an unpaid one like being a stay at home mom, forces you to prioritize your work.  For me, there were many mundane tasks that just had to be done to establish my business from getting a business license to automating my workflow so that I could scale my business.  Having two jobs help me avoid spending unnecessary time with Facebook, the bazillion photography chat rooms or twitter (gotta be honest, I have an account but don’t know what to do with it).  It also allowed me to stay firm on my prices since it made no sense to take on business that earned me less per hour than my day job.

Help the community.

This is a much higher bar than Google’s “Do no evil” which is analogous to raising kids and saying, “I won’t kill them”.  In fact, actively helping the community is the opposite, more active approach of seeing what you can do to provide benefits to those around you.  Very early on, I decided that the litmus test would be if the community actually missed Phat Baby Photography were it to go out of business.  The company is not there yet, but it’s always in the back of my head.  Can I auction my services for a benefit or charity (the education system can use all the help it can get)?  Should I buy from the local camera store Keeble or Amazon?  And because I fundamentally believe that my competition are people taking their own pictures, that frees me up to help my fellow photographers as well.  So I spend time each day answering questions on Flickr, providing tips on my blog or writing articles like this at midnight.

One thing not to worry about – your equipment.

Despite the ultimate compliment every photographer yearns to hear, “Wow, beautiful work, I need to get a camera like that”, the latest equipment helps you take pictures faster (e.g. more shots/second, faster autofocus, shorter shutter release, faster flash exposure calculations…) but rarely better.  Frequently, my client’s favorite pictures are the most deliberate, not the one they could have taken with auto everything on.  Technology progresses so quickly (i.e. Moore’s Law and all) that you can buy a very capable used SLR and 50mm prime lens for less than $500 and be off to the races for most portraiture work and you only need an extra backup body (which you can rent) for wedding photography.  One of the silliest things I ever did was buy two new lenses in rapid succession.  It takes me time to learn the nuances of each piece of equipment and I would have been much better off waiting at least a few months between them.

Have fun out there.

About the Author:

Whitman, head (and only) artisan at Phat Baby Photography, is an amateur daddy and professional photographer working out of the San Francisco Bay Area.  He has a B.S. in engineering from Harvey Mudd College, an MBA from Columbia University and jack for photography.  Despite that, his clients love him and his kids consistently praise his work (both as a father and as a photographer).

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How Do You Create Depth?

I. Shoot Manual Mode

Open up your aperture and focus your lens on your subject to blur the surroundings.

II. Distance

Use your aperture wide open in manual mode and focus on your subject. While doing this, place your subject further away from other objects/people/backgrounds to create a wider separation between the objects. The greater the distance, the blurrier it will be which gives it a more prominent separation to help focus on your subject.

III. Linear Perspective

Line up people/objects so that the closest one starts in the front near you, and then it extends to the opposite side of the image plane to the farthest horizon.

Creative Ways to Enhance Your Depth

I. Contrast

Utilizing contrast to aid in depth helps when you can set your object against a dark background for maximum contrast. Using this technique helps to accentuate the details of your subject and pop it out.

II.  Layering

Helps to define the depth, especially when you use translucent objects (such as veils, screens, leafs, glass, etc) to focus through. Depending on how you execute this, it can bring a sense of reality in how the human eye would perceive it, or can even lend a sense of romanticism to the atmosphere.

III. Framing

Arrange positive/negative space to create and support depth.

About the Author:

Jana Morgan was born in Thailand and grew up in Bangladesh before moving to America in 1992. With her international travel experiences, her interest in photography began with a documentary style of influence. Jana currently resides in Hawai’i with her husband and two dogs and shoots weddings internationally.

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Your Shutter Speed is Just Too SLOW

Also known as camera shake, the easiest way to solve this problem is to switch that dial over to Tv (shutter priority) mode. By doing this, you can choose for yourself just how fast you want your shutter to be, and the camera will make up for the rest of the exposure. Sounds easy enough, right? The rule of thumb as to what shutter speed you need to choose says that whatever focal length of lens you are using, take the reciprocal of that number and use that for your shutter speed. For example, if you are using an 85mm lens, your shutter speed should be AT LEAST 1/85th second. This is only a rule of thumb, meaning there are some variations taken into account with crop factors and what you are shooting.

If you are familiar with manual mode, this is an ideal way of fixing the problem. That way, you can choose your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, ensuring that you get a sharp photo that also has your ideal exposure. I have talked to some mothers who have found success in taking pictures of their wild and crazy children by switching their dial over to the sport mode. I’ve never tried it, but perhaps that could be useful.

Just Plain Out of Focus

One of the most aggravating things is when you have a perfectly exposed picture with the shutter speed set properly, but instead of the subject being in focus, something else is. This has happened enough to where I made sure I knew how to prevent it from happening as much as possible. Each photographer has their personal preference on how they choose to focus, and there are different options as to how you do it. You can do full automatic where the camera determines what is in focus, choose one focal  point(usually the center) to do the focusing, circle through manually which focal point is in focus, or do 100% manual focusing.  My favorite way to focus is by manually cycling through the focal points for each shot. I also have an option to mark a red square on the LCD screen to show what was in focus in that shot. This way, I can see exactly what part of the photograph I wanted focused, and have proof in the screen.

Your Aperture is Too Wide

When you shoot with a wide aperture, you are creating a very shallow depth of field. This does not give you much room for error when it comes to focusing. If you do not get your subject in focus, the entire picture loses it’s purpose. The smaller the aperture you use, the more depth of field you create, giving you a little breathing room. If you like to shoot with wide apertures, be sure that you know how to focus correctly. If you’re taking a picture with more than 2 people, and you want any depth, drop your f-stop down so that everyone is in focus.

Another thing that is helpful is to take your time! Sometimes when I want to absolutely know that I get what I want in focus, I will press the shutter release down half way while my focal point is focused, pause, and then without moving, focus it again. Make sure you are not moving and that your hands are steady. Don’t be afraid to pull out your handy tri-pod if you don’t feel like the situation will allow you to hand hold the camera.

If a picture is out of focus when it’s not supposed to be, it ruins the picture. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of proper focus!

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