Whether you are a total beginner to photography or a seasoned semi-pro, taking vacation pictures can pose quite a challenge. It seems that good photos come about almost by random magic. This year your vacation photographs can be full of unique and attractive shots if you follow these simple rules.

How To Take Great Vacation Photos

#1 Get to know your equipment ahead of time.

There are plenty of new variables when you embark on a vacation; don’t let your equipment be one of them. Before you go on vacation, get to know all of your photography equipment, including how to operate all of the features and adjust the settings. This will allow you to grab winning shots as you come upon them, rather than walking around with your nose buried in a user’s manual.

#2 Bring the necessary accessories.

The bare minimum packing list would include the camera, tripod, a memory card or film, batteries and chargers, and an external flash. You may question whether these are all necessary, but all indeed are. You will also need appropriate and portable cases for these items to keep them safe and within reach while you are exploring. If you really want superior pictures, consider investing in a circular polarized filter. These are relatively inexpensive yet can enhance color, reduce glare, and even allow you to photograph objects under water.

#3 Protect your equipment.

One important thing to remember when traveling by plane is to never check the bags containing your photography equipment. Not only does this leave it susceptible to theft (which is more common than we would like it to be), it also exposes your expensive camera and accessories to wide changes in temperature and air pressure as well as dampness and rough handling. Contrary to popular belief, the security x-ray will not harm digital equipment or memory cards. If you are going to be in a moist or humid area, consider sealing your camera in a plastic bag when not in use. As soon as possible after taking pictures, back them up on a spare memory card or storage website to prevent loss. Most important, if you are going to be in sand or water, consider buying a cheap or even disposable camera to avoid ruining more expensive equipment.

#4 Know your location.

Most vacationers know approximately what sites they will be visiting during their trip. Taking the time to check out each location ahead of time can let you plan ahead for certain shots. You can even make a list of photo opportunities you would like to shoot so you can visit them during the time of day when the light is best for that particular feature. You will also be able to view other people’s pictures of the attraction, identifying and preventing common pitfalls. Thanks to the many resources available on the internet and the local library, finding this information can be both easy and free

#5 Take pictures during the ‘golden hour’.

Despite the name, there are two ‘golden hours’ during the day: the hour after dawn and the hour just before sunset. At these times, the sunlight is coming from low in the sky, reducing shadows, and also tends to be naturally diffused. The result is a softly but completely lit photo that captures the true essence of the subject. As a bonus, sunrises and sunsets are usually beautiful in themselves and provide an attractive backdrop to other shots.

#6 Avoid clichés.

There are some shots that have been done so often they are nearly meaningless. You can see them on almost every postcard for the given area. Of course you will be tempted to photograph these famous and noteworthy angles, but consider ahead of time what you can do to bring a new perspective to the shot. Sometimes all it takes is a light spring rain or an interesting collection of clouds to bring new life to well-known landmarks.

#7 Include people and loved ones in your photos.

In a way, this tip is related to the prior one; no photo is cliché if it includes a silly shot of your child or an attractive likeness of anyone you love. You likely are going on vacation with people that you care about. Don’t be afraid that these people will ruin your pictures; in most cases, they will make them all the more lovely.

#8 Be spontaneous.

In many cases, the best photos are not of a location, but of the people and culture that define it. Don’t be afraid to take pictures of local characters (ask first, of course!) or to capture a local village or farmer’s market. Take pictures of meals with local flavor and the everyday objects that make up life in the area. These will be the memories you truly want to record. Planned shots can be lovely, but mix them liberally with impromptu pictures that capture the uniqueness of a location.

#9 Take risks.

If you are taking a lot of pictures, you can afford to take a few risks. Try to stretch your photographic abilities, to capture the sunset shimmering across a lake or a dramatic tropical lightning storm. At the very worst, you’ll end up with a handful of throw-away photos. However, there is a good chance that a few of these complicated shots will be pictures you can display with pride. This is the only way to learn how to get pictures in unusual situations.

#10 Bring a notebook. The one you can write on!

There are many reasons to record the particulars of interesting photographs. If you get a particularly good shot, people are sure to ask questions. If it is particularly good, you may want to submit the photo to a website or travel magazine. Either way, it is good to have details written down for memory’s sake. A small, pocket-sized notebook, such as the type you might buy at a dollar store, is a good way of recording the place, time, of day, and other information about your photographs. Your photographs are your memories, and the notebook will fill in the details.

Even if your real photography passion lies in landscapes, still lifes or bokeh, there are good reasons to learn how to take a portrait. First, there are many lessons from portraiture that can enhance your other photographs. Second, it is where the money happens to be. People will pay huge amounts of money for a beautiful, flattering portrait that shows their physical attributes and personality. Here are ten elements that will help you to maximize both.

• Setting.

  While lighting and other elements can show personality, the setting will do the heavy lifting in this area. However, you have to respect the preferences of the subject. Some people prefer a traditional portrait with a simple background, while others will jump at the chance to be photographed on location at one of their favorite places. If the person is willing, head for one of their favorite places and take portraits on site. This will put your subject at ease while creating a very personal feeling.

• Lighting.

  If you are in a studio, lighting is easy to control. Simply choose diffuse and soft indirect light. In locations, however, this can be more complicated. Choosing the right time of day can help; early morning and late evening when the sun is low is usually the best time because the light is warm and there are no shadows. Overcast days also can work well because, again, the light is soft and filtered. If you are determined to take portraits during the day, consider doing so inside. Museums, art galleries, and large buildings with good natural light can provide the perfect setting for a portrait.

• Lens.

  In most cases, you will be photographing from at least ten feet away; anything less tends to emphasize the nose, which is rarely flattering. This is not a trick of the camera, but rather caused by the fact that in close shots, the nose is proportionally much closer to the camera. Because you are going to be taking close ups from far away, you will need a high quality telephoto lens. Most portrait photographers use a lens that is between 90 and 135 mm, although 300 and more are available. Buy the lens that you need to fill a frame with a high quality shot taken from a short distance away. If you want to soften the shot, you can always do it later with your favorite software.

• Camera.

  It might seem weird that the camera is this far down on the list. While it is important, it is not the most important part of your portrait. You can do well with any digital SLR camera. There are also many full frame digital cameras that are great for portraits. Although it is not important to have the best, most expensive, fully featured camera on the market, you do need to invest in a decent one or you’ll risk destroying your reputation with portraits that look like amateur home photographs.

• Personality.

  While a standard, full frame face photos will be a huge part of any portrait package, you should also try to take shots that capture the subject’s personality. This can be very easy if you are shooting at one of their favorite locations. Encourage your subject to be themselves and relax. If this is difficult, start up a conversation about something that they love. This can be the most difficult part of taking portraits, and indeed it is where the experienced stand apart from the amateurs.

• Variety.

  Variety is the spice of life, and photos are representations of reality. Therefore, if you want for your photographs to be full of interest and flavor, you will need to take a variety of poses in several different spots. Let the subject inspire you. Look for backgrounds that are photo quality in themselves. Try to capture the way the person moves. Take photos that capture a wide range of facial expressions. Consider it this way: the wider the range of photos, the more they will want to buy.

• Context.

  While the majority of your portraits should focus mainly on the subject, you should take a few with the subject as a relatively small part of their environment. Don’t be afraid to back up a little and take in the surroundings—although don’t go too far. A good guide is to make sure your subject would still be recognizable in a standard 8×10 inch print. Wide shots are especially effective if you are photographing at a place that has special meaning or interest for the person you are photographing.

• Wide Aperture.

  While fast lenses can be costly and heavy, they just might end up to be your favorite tool in taking portraits. Even if the background is breathtaking—perhaps especially if it is—you will want some shots that blur the scenery and allow the subject to be the star. It is nearly impossible to duplicate this effect with software. You may want to consider making this investment, particularly if portraits are going to become a focus of your photography.

• Volume.

  One of the benefits of using a digital camera is the large amount of photographs that can be taken with no financial investment. Feel free to go a little crazy, try new poses, and experiment with the light. Try to capture some of the subject’s micro-expressions; these are often the photos that will really be treasured. The more photos that you take, the more likely that there will be one that is just perfect for your portfolio.

• Finish.

  There is no shame in using photo editing to perfect portraits; in fact, in modern portraits it is almost mandatory. People want to remember a more perfect, blemish free version of themselves. You can also play with filters and color in these programs, creating some interesting and eye-catching effects.

There are many things to consider when taking portraits. The only way to learn the fine points is to get practice with a wide range of subjects. Begin shooting informal and formal portraits of the people around you and see which approaches work best with your style.

Pinhole photography may be simple, but this does not mean that it is easier than other methods. Pinhole photography presents a range of complication due to the lack of technology, including hole size, length of exposure, focal length, and more. Despite its lack of options, this is a field of photography that is gaining popularity with many people who enjoy learning more about the history of the industry. Here is a short guide to this antique field of technology.

What Is Pinhole Photography?

Pinhole photography is an ancient way of taking photographs that involves a homemade camera with no lens. The cameras are basically a light-proof box with a hole on one side. Light goes through the hole and projects an upside down image on the opposite wall of the box. This is very similar to the way the human eye and commercial cameras work; it is merely simplified.

How to Make Your Own Pinhole Camera

Here is one good way of making your own pinhole camera: get an aluminum can, such as one used for drinks. Other metals are okay as long as they are not magnetic. You also should avoid hard metals such as steel, which form very hard, dangerously sharp edges when cut. Next, cut the top off the can with a can opener or another sharp edge. Be careful! Empty the contents and wash well.

Take a sheet of A4 black cardstock and cut an 80 mm strip off the side. Cut notches into the edge. With the rest of the paper, cut a circle the same size as the can, which is 60 mm if you are using a soft drink can. Tape the strip in a circle around the diameter of the lid. Place the circle over this and tape well with black tape such as electrical tape. Keep in mind that there is really no such thing as using too much tape in this situation.

Make a dot halfway up the can if it is standing upright. Push a pushpin, map pin, or thumbtack through it. It should pop in cleanly and pull similarly cleanly. Place several layers of insulation tape over this hole to keep the homemade shutter closed. Next you are ready to load the camera.

Loading a Pinhole Camera

Go into a darkroom and turn off all lights, leaving on only a red cycle light. Once the light is perfect and the door locked, take the lid off of the can. Take a blank sheet from a packet of photographic paper and reseal the package tightly. Curl the paper around the inside of the can with the shiny side, also called the emulsion, on the inside. Leave a small gap near where the pinhole is. This is important because the pinhole will allow the light in. Once you have the paper situated perfectly, close the lid and once again cover with lots of black tape.

Taking a Pinhole Photo

Now you are ready to use your camera! When you open your shutter, the photographic paper will begin to be exposed to light. It will grow dark in much the same way as your skin tans. This type of camera usually requires much more time than a typical photo, from minutes to hours. You can even set the camera up on a tripod and let it photograph over a period of days or weeks. It’s important that the camera be angled so a direct source of light, such as the sun, is pointed directly at the pinhole. When you are finished, cover the pinhole immediately with dark tape.

Making Prints of Your Pinhole Photographs

Now you are ready to save your pinhole photos for all posterity. You can either develop them with chemicals, similar to the traditional method, or use the following new method. Take a scanner into your darkroom. Go in and, under red light only, open your camera. Set your scanner to a high resolution, such as 500 dpi. Take the photo paper out of your can and place it in the scanner. Scan and save this negative image, laying it flat. Open this image in your favorite photo editing software and use the negative function to convert it to an ‘inverse’ image. From this point, you should be able to play with setting such as contrast in your software and save your pinhole photography to be shared with others.

Variations on a Theme

There are several ways that you can experiment with pinhole photography. These experimentations will help you get to know some of the basics of your favorite field a little more intimately. For example, a smaller pinhole will result in a smaller image, but also in a clearer and crisper one. The more perfectly round, the better; rough edges cause diffraction effects that can ruin the photograph. You can also try having two pinholes near each other to get a double image. The sky is literally the limit; once you understand the basics of pinhole photography, it is fun to come up with new ideas.

How Long Is Long Enough?

Many people kind of guess how long to leave their shutter open, but there is actually a way to calculate the ideal length of exposure. It will require a calculator, however, and a little math skill. The first step is to calculate the f-number, which is the distance from the pinhole to the film (the diameter of the can in most cases) divided by the diameter of the hole. This number is usually quite large. This is known as your f stop. Once you know this numbers, there are many calculators on the internet that will help you determine the exposure time based on your type of paper, quality of light, and f stop.

Why Go Through All of This?

Most photographers have at least a fleeting interest in pinhole photography because it is an ancient form of their favorite hobby. However, it can be fun as well as educational. Because the apparatus is so simple, building and using a pinhole camera is a great way to learn about photography and to begin to experiment.

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If you have been online at any point in the last several years, you have probably heard of lolcats and related photographs. There are several sites featuring this trend, which involved pictures of cats with captions and humorous additions that are usually posted on internet forums and other dedicated websites. While pictures of kitties hardly seem relevant enough to be counted as a genre of photography, the lolcats macro has indeed become a huge part of modern American pop culture and thus deserves a mention.

However, not every cat photo is a lolcat photo, however cute and funny it might be. There are a few elements that make a photograph a “lolcat” photograph. Here are the basic criteria.

• A photograph of a cat. The potential humor of cats is the heart of the popularity of lolcat photographs. The cat is usually doing something that could be interpreted as cute or humorous. While this by nature demands a cat as the subject, there are other image macros involving rabbits, dogs, and other cute, furry animals. The image is usually shown as close up as it can be.
• Humorous text. This text is usually funny not just due to the humanization of a popular house pet, but due to the somewhat bossy nature of the jokes. The cat in question is undeniably the boss of its human owners, other house pets, and generally the entire household. This is usually written in large lettering, either in black or white for the best contrast, in a bold, sans serif font. Arial is a popular choice, although there is a great deal of variation.
• Poor grammar and/or syntax. It seems a shame to say that poor grammar is a trend; however, this seems to be the case with this genre. The cat in question may speak in internet language, using common acronyms and abbreviations, or use a recognizable type of poor syntax, as seen in the popular site “I Can Haz Cheezburger.” This internet style of language is even inherent in the name; ‘lol’ is internet speak for “laugh out loud.” Phonetic spelling and purposeful misspelling are both part of the lolcats trend as well.

This genre may seem new, but using cats in humorous photography has been a trend for at least a century and a half. The cat macro began with joke images and postcards featuring photographs of cats in funny situations with amusing captions. As with the lolcats meme, these photos usually involved the cats being demanding or acting as humans. These were popular during Victorian times and continue to be so through modern times.

The internet made this humor style more accessible by its very free and communal nature. Cat owners and photographers could take pictures of their favorite feline and add a humorous caption. People could access and share these images at no cost to themselves thanks to a large and growing number of sites dedicated to the trend. However, actual lolcats name and style is believed to have begun with the popular website 4chan. This website featured “Caturdays”—Saturday pictures of cats in funny situations. This took off and became a trend on other websites. The result is that lolcats have become a recognizable form of photography and one of the hottest trends to hit the internet.

While most lolcats photographs involve cats in somewhat human situations or cats making demands of their owners and other house pets, there is actually a huge variety of different jokes that have become popular in this meme. Here are a few that seem to pop up the most on these websites.

• I’m in your (ur)… This form usually shows a cat laying in or on something belonging to another species, usually a human or a dog. The general form reads: I’m in your (place), (verb)-ing your (noun). For example, a cat might be shown napping on a keyboard with the caption, “I’m in your office, texting your girlfriend.” The impression that the cat is violating the owner’s space (and proud of their accomplishment) is a key part of the humor in this type of joke.
• I can haz… This type of lolcats photo usually involves a cat asking for some sort of human junk food food in very poor grammar. It comes from the popular website “I Can Haz Cheezburger?” which was one of the original lolcats websites.
• Ceiling Cat is watching you. This cat character represents God, stemming from a joke in which a cat was shown looking down through a hole in the ceiling. Since then, the joke has been expanded to include “Basement cat,” a black cat living in the basement representing evil. Ceiling cat may be watching you perform a wide range of activities. This version of lolcats has become so popular that Ceiling Cat plays a God-like role in the lolcats translation of the Christian Bible. That’s right… there is an ongoing project to translate the Bible into the feline concepts and poor grammar of the lolcats world.

The question remains: how is this relevant to real, legitimate photographers? There are several reasons to watch this trend and know what makes it so popular. First, there is a significant amount of money involved, both online and off. A simple Amazon search revealed several photo books bearing the word lolcats in the title or the tag. There are more websites than can be counted. Further, the style of photo and the recognizably improper language is showing up in a variety of places, from t-shirts to television commercials. A photographer with a sense of humor can benefit both in their finances and their reputation by participating in this cutesy trend.

Even if the lolcats style is not your cup of tea, you should try to be in touch with the latest pop culture photography trends. You never know when you will be able to make a fortune or at least make a name for yourself on the internet!

If you think about it, a person’s wedding is an odd time to take a picture of them. There is no time more exhausting and stressful in a person’s life, and no event more momentous or distracting. This leaves many to wonder if this is really the ideal day to get a picture of the happy couple-to-be.

In many countries, wedding pictures in all their stressful glory are just part of the package. In addition to these, couples also sit for pre-wedding photographs. This captures them in a more natural and stress-free setting while allowing them to get more enjoyment out of the process. The result is often a true keepsake: a portrait of this important part of a couple’s life that is captured during a calm and happy period. For this reason, pre-wedding photography is taking off in the United States and other countries.

There are two different types of pre-wedding photography. In one type, the pictures are simply like a large packet of very professional and stylized engagement portraits. In the other type, the pictures are basically wedding photographs taken several days or even weeks ahead of time. These may be shot instead of traditional wedding day pictures or in addition to them. Both types of pre-wedding pictures are gaining in popularity as the wedding industry grows.

Why choose pre-wedding photographs? First, regardless of the type you are choosing, they take a lot of pressure off the big day and allow the couple more time to enjoy their ceremony and the reception that follows. Even if the photographs taken are in addition to the wedding day portraits, they nonetheless mean less work and less time sitting on the big day.

Second, there is a high chance of something going wrong on a wedding day, or any given day. The weather may be wrong; the bride may have a pimple; the list goes on and on. If you are taking part in a scheduled photo shoot, you can always reschedule. Large events with guest lists don’t usually work that way.

Third, brides and grooms don’t have to spend as much time looking for a photographer who is open on a particular day. You can simply compare schedules and make plans accordingly. This also allows for an expanded range of venues as well as a more complicated and varied shoot. In short, there are none of the temporal and logistic limitations that exist with a traditional wedding day shoot.

Last, having a pre-wedding shoot allow you to adorn invitations and the event itself with pictures of the happy couple. They can also rest assured that they will have photos ready by the time they are back from the honeymoon and ready to send thank you cards.

Pre-wedding photography is a new field in our nation, but it has certain expectations associated with it.  Here are a few ways to make sure you meet your pre-wedding photograph customers’ expectations every time.

• Allow extra time for wardrobe, hair, and makeup changes. Because one of the benefits of this style of photography is the extra time and flexibility, plan for the bride and groom to take advantage of this.
• Get to know the couple. A couple’s style is usually immediately apparent when you walk into a wedding. You can see their theme, their level of formality, and their choices in color and fabric. A pre-wedding shoot makes this a little more difficult. You will have to ask questions in order to find out exactly what poses and packages are best for them. Because pre-wedding photography allows more flexibility, you may want to come up with a list of ideas for different locations and themes. Make sure your level of creativity and cleverness in developing this list of ideas are somewhere in the ballpark of the couple’s.
• Go over packages immediately afterward. Couples may be inclined to reconsider their choices and upgrade packages a little when they are in the moment. In many cases, they have underestimated their needs and will not require much encouragement. Upselling is not “weasely” or déclassé. It is a legitimate part of doing business, especially in service industries such as professional photography.
• Bring a crew. Pre-wedding photo shoots tend to be large affairs even though they are far removed from the wedding day itself. You will be happy if you bring an assistant. This person can manage your equipment, prepare scenes ahead of time, and assist the bride in changing between customers.
• Set the mood. Romantic music and a few glasses of champagne may exponentially improve the quality of your pre-wedding photographs. If this seems a little extreme for many of the couples you work with, consider offering this option as part of select packages. Weddings are stressful times, especially during the planning stages, so loosening them up a little may save time and increase the number of usable photos that you end up with. It never hurts to get couples in a romantic mood before trying to take romantic pictures.
• Consider doing group photos ahead of time as well. Pre-wedding photos don’t need to be limited to couple’s portraits. The wedding day itself can be streamlined immensely by getting the most common group photographs out of the way. As a bonus, this will reduce worry about small children messing up their outfits or members of the wedding party missing their manicure appointment.
• Publicize the benefits. Because weddings are bound up in tradition, many people simply follow custom without thought when it comes to portraits and other big decisions. If you want to make a business from pre-wedding photos, you will need to publicize this type of portrait package and convince potential customers of the benefits of going this route. The advantages are clear, but not to someone who has never even thought about the issue.

Will pre-wedding pictures take off in the United States and other countries? Only the future will tell. Wedding fads tend to be capricious and ever-changing, so there is no way of predicting what will be in style next year or even next month. However, offering this service a part of your repertoire is a no-risk way to expand your selection of wedding portrait offerings.

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We all dream of turning our favorite hobby into a living. Photographers are no different. However, there are many different factors to be taken into account when planning to run a business. Your photography talent just may not be enough to guarantee success. Whether you are currently running a photography related business or simply dreaming of taking this step in the future, here are a few tips for ensuring that your love of your hobby and your financial needs are both fulfilled by your small business.

Know Your Hobby

It’s not enough to be somewhat talented when you are thinking about going into business. You must know for a fact that you have a unique vision, a high level of creativity, and the technical skills to turn these into reality. Until you have these, no amount of business sense can help you. Ask the people around you for an honest evaluation of your work. It is critical that these people be both brutally honest and have a good idea of what a professional photographer’s work looks like. Your mom, your spouse, and your best friends simply will not be able to give you an honest idea of your true skill level, so don’t even ask these people.

Learn about Small Business

Regardless of your photography skills, you will find that no business can be successful without the set of skills unique to entrepreneurs. This is why banks and other lending organizations are more likely to give those rare small business loans to people who have experience in these areas. If you have never worked in a small business, you may want to try it—just to find out if you are really cut out for the job. Also, talk to a few entrepreneurs, preferably ones in the photography business or related fields. Find out what their day to day schedules look like so you can decide if this is a the right career choice for you.

Sales, marketing, self-promotion, managing employees, and keeping records are just a few of the many skills that entrepreneurs need and even use on a daily basis. If you are falling short in any of these areas, you will need to make the effort to develop critical skills.

Do You Have the Personality Type?

While almost anyone can learn the skills needed to run a service-oriented business such as photography, there are many people who still would not be happy or successful doing so. Effective small business people tend to have a certain personality type. They are usually outgoing and enjoy dealing with the general public on a daily basis. Moreover, good businesspeople are usually people pleasers with a desire to give good service and a sixth sense that clues them in to their customers’ true wants and needs. The ability to listen and understand another person’s point of view is mandatory here. If you don’t have this type of personality, you may find that your days as a small business owner are miserable and highly unsuccessful.

Can You Go the Distance?

While we all hear stories of small business owners who stepped into instant success, this is not the entrepreneurial norm. Most small business owners work very hard in the early days and even years of their business with no reward whatsoever. As Benjamin Franklin wisely pointed out, genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. In order to make it through these early days, weeks, and months, you must have a sense of vision and the perseverance to work tirelessly with no reward in sight—that is, inspiration and perspiration both. The reward will come eventually—if you are doing everything else right—but you will never know success if you can’t stick it out through the hard times. Patience and perseverance are crucial skills for entrepreneurs. If you haven’t had a chance to test these qualities in yourself, it is best to do so before your financial future depends on them.

Get a Plan

If you are sure that you have what it takes, the next step is to make a plan for success. You can probably picture what a successful photography business would look like, but now you need to use your creativity and good business sense to imagine how you will get there. This document describes what you hope to accomplish, the phases your  business will go through on your way to this accomplishment, and what resources you have that will help you along this path. Not only is your business plan essential in helping you to plan and make good business decisions, it also will be important in getting funding and other types of support from outside agencies and people.

Spread Your Vision

Now is the time to bring together your vision and your long hours of practice and planning. With all of the skills listed above as well as a well written business plan, you now will be able to find partners, financing, or other funding options. You also will want to share your vision with potential customers and even local media outlets. Open social networking websites and begin getting the word out about your new small business. If you have an impressive portfolio, you will be sure to get a few clients and soon have your business well on its way to the success you have always desired.

Keep Going

Many small businesses have a slow start, but in artistic businesses there seems to be a very different curve. Often, these businesses begin with a full booking of clients only to see work slow to a trickle as time passes. When you hit this plateau, don’t give up. Keep marketing yourself and your small business aggressively and reaching out to new clients. Although it seems counterintuitive, it sometimes takes more work to keep momentum moving than it does to get it going in the first place. But if you believe in your photography business dream, the effort will be well worth it.

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This time of year brings natural beauty and fun textures, enough to make you want to pull out your camera and shoot away. However, there are a few things to think about when planning the perfect autumn shot. Here are a few tips for get the very best autumn photography.

Focus on Color and Texture

These truly are what set this season apart from the other three-quarters of the year. Leaves turn brilliant shades that can make lovely pictures on their own or serve as high contrast backdrops for other objects. As amazing as the colors might be, texture is the real winner in the fall. Everything seems a little crisper and crunchier during this time of year. Capturing this texture can be a fun challenge for photographers at all skill levels.

Use Your Zoom

Zoom is one of the best and most obvious ways to capture the details and textures that make up this time of year. It can also compress larger pictures so that they seem to take on a new shape and perspective. This allows the colors and textures of autumn to play off each other and get maximum contrast.

Take Advantage of Autumn Light

While scores of would-be photographers are inside waiting for that rare sunny day, the wise ones are out taking advantage of overcast skies. Overcast skies serve as natural diffusers, allowing you to get even light at any time of day. When the sun breaks through the clouds occasionally, the effect can be positively magnificent as colors seem to dance in the rays of light. Overcast skies also can lend a crisp gray color to water and other reflective surfaces. If you are concerned about making color pop, try using a polarizing lens. There is a good chance this will bring out the rich hues you are seeking.

Learn to Love the Weather

If you think damp weather and fog are a photographer’s enemy, think again. Water droplets and moisture on plants can accentuate shapes and even be the object of your photograph. In fact, dampness tends to make colors appear even brighter and crisper, especially early in the season. Fog and mist can be photographed to be pleasant and cool looking or have a sense of foreboding. Because these weather forms are rare at other times of year, now is your chance to play with them to your heart’s content.

Get Reflective

The bright colors and bold shapes of autumn  are beautiful on their own, but they hold up uniquely well in reflective pictures. Try getting a picture of leaves reflected in a puddle, lake, or window. In general, reflections are most attractive in photographs if you have the subject lit and the reflective object in shadows. Also, if you are using water, you may want to play around with the different shapes produced by ripples and other water effects.

Create Your Perfect Scene

Sometimes an autumn scene is close to perfect—but not quite. Don’t be afraid to improve a little on Mother Nature. If the leaves are not evenly distributed or need more color in certain areas, rearrange them. If the dew isn’t wet enough, get a spray bottle and help it out. Sometimes you have to construct your photos. It isn’t cheating; it’s acting creatively.

Watch Out for Critters

This may be your only chance to see them again before spring! Animals are easier to capture during the fall because they are too busy fattening up for the long winter to care about that man with the camera. Baby animals look half grown and a little less delicate this time of year, while the adults are sleek and fattened from the abundance of summer. When it presents itself, take advantage of the general attractiveness of the fauna at this time of year.

Look Beyond the Leaves

There is a tendency to assume that nature in the fall means colored leaves, but there are a variety of other hues. Water takes on a gray hue from the sky above it, and woods seem to be a little more ashy than at other times of year. Fall fruits and vegetables tend to be shaped into interesting configurations and often offer color schemes that rival the leaves. There is so much to photograph this time of year that sticking to leaves seems very redundant.

Think Big and Small

Many people wonder whether they can capture the autumn best by sweeping panoramic shots or with close ups of the details. The answer is: all of the above, and areas in between as well! Try a variety of different shots and see which ones speak to you. The small things add up into the big ones, so focusing too much on either end of the spectrum will result in an incomplete picture of the season.

See the World from a New Angle

We all have seen leafy trees from head-on, but have you ever seen them from above? From below? Try adding some new and unexpected angles to your repertoire. You’ll be happy you did, and your viewers will wonder why your autumn photographs get their unique sense of perspective. Autumn happens from a variety of angles, so you are selling yourself short when you stop at the obvious.

Play with Color Effects

Color is the real star of the fall, so don’t be afraid to mess with it a little. Take pictures of the contrast in color, such as a tree with late green leaves next to one that has already turned. Different settings on your camera can either mute or brighten autumn hues, both of which can be interesting takes on the season. Post processing also presents an opportunity to be creative with color. You are an artist, so think artistically about how you can make each shot a little better.

Autumn represents one of the most beautiful and colorful times of year, so no photographer should miss this chance to try for the perfect photo. Best of all, the good light and relatively good weather will make it easy for people of all levels of skill to get the beautiful pictures that they seek.

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Depending on your age and station in life, Halloween can be a spooky, silly, or serious event. Regardless of how you feel about this holiday, it comes only once a year, which makes it all the more important to get photographs of this event whenever the opportunity presents itself. Here are a few tips and tricks for taking memorable photographs of the images that combine to make up this season.

1. Always have a focal point.

   Because Halloween comes with a lot of visual clutter, from trick or treating children to fake spider webs to jack-o-lanterns and other accessories, it is a little too easy to simply try for an overview of the scene. Keep in mind that all photographs must have a focal point—without exception. Identifying this focal point will help you to build a better photograph around it. Once you know what you are photographing, you can use the rule of thirds, leading lines, and other photography principles to create an attractive overall picture.

2. Fill your frame.

   This helps to reduce the visual clutter that can overtake this holiday. It also adds maximum impact and allows you to maximize any emotion associated with the scene. Whether scary or cute, you can bet that your subject will be even more so when they dominate the shot. Make sure you bring lenses that allow you to get up close and personal.

3. Light from a different angle.

   Try using flashlights (with or without a covering to diffuse the light) and glow sticks to light your subjects from the side or from below. If no lighting sources are available, you can turn your camera so the flash is coming from another angle. This will give a spooky effect or a contemplative one, depending on how you build the rest of the shot. It also will create a subtle sense of originality that can make the photograph really pop.

4. Light in a different color.

   Because we are used to seeing white light, light in different colors looks a little “off”, even if we don’t really register why or how. This may not be attractive in your average portrait, but it can create some very creepy Halloween effects. Glow sticks come in a variety of colors but may not actually give off enough light. You can also try putting colored cellophane over a flashlight, your flash, or another light source. Black light can also create fun effects, especially if your subject has a lot of white or neon colors.

5. Be original.

   Anyone can take a picture of a pumpkin—just look at your favorite photo sharing site the day after Halloween for a few thousand examples. However, capturing the same objects from a new perspective is what makes you a pro. This holiday tends to be a little extreme, so don’t be afraid to go overboard in trying a new angle, such as from the very top of your subject. Before you take a photograph, look at the object from a few angles. This will help you to evaluate what perspective will be the best and which aspects you want to emphasize in your photograph. Think outside the box and build your photograph; this will give a more pleasing result with a professional quality finish.

6. Focus on details.

   A single piece of candy corn, a pillow case full of loot, or an open but uneaten candy bar: these are just three of the thousands of details that create this holiday. Why not focus on the details for just a few shots? These will round out your collection, and in many cases become the stars of it.

7. Tell a story.

   Unless you are a carving expert, your jack-o-lantern will likely be almost identical to everyone else’s. Instead of making that your subject, take photos showing the process of carving the pumpkin, from children scooping out seeds to the intricate dance of trying to get a lit candle inside the gourd. The same strategy can be used for putting on makeup, fitting a costume, and other events that define the holiday as much as the finished product. Don’t forget the ‘after’ shots with chocolate smeared children being carried home by parents and drunken partiers leaving their gatherings.

8. Catch a silhouette.

   This will be easy considering that this is a nighttime holiday with a variety of lighting sources. Catch the silhouette of children as they stand in a neighbor’s doorway receiving candy or a car sitting in a window watching the festivities. These tend to give a ghostly and spooky effect that is definitely complimentary to this holiday. They also allow you to focus on general forms and shapes while ignoring overly complicated details.

9. Make some noise.

   As a photographer, you probably spend a lot of time and effort trying to avoid noise and other grainy effects. However, at Halloween this can create a fun and spooky effect. Shooting with high speed film (or the digital settings that are equivalent) will help overcome the dim lighting of the occasion while creating a little noise.  You can use digital programs to lighten your pictures later, which will emphasize this effect.

10. Be safe.

    We often hear children warned of the dangers of Halloween, but there are very real dangers that adults face as well. Don’t creep around hiding in bushes with your camera unless you want to face the wrath of an upset parent. Be sure to show caution when around the many distracted drivers that are out on this busy night. Keep a cell phone on you and stay in well lit areas. Last, respect the safety of the children around you as well, who will be excited and not as aware of their surroundings.

Halloween is a fun and festive time, so why not enjoy it? Better yet, why not capture it in all its spooky and kitschy charm? Hopefully these tips will set you on your way to a more interesting and attractive portfolio of Halloween pictures.

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In almost all aspects of modern life there are legal issues to consider. We cannot drive and schoolchildren cannot go on school field trip without legal advice to make sure no one suffers a violation of their legal rights. Whether you are an amateur or a professional photographer, there are a few legal matters that you should be aware of. The following are the most common legal issues that photographers run into.

• Get releases.

  Anytime that you are photographing someone for a purpose other than your own personal memory book, you should have them sign a release. People have the right to dictate where and when their photos should be displayed and who makes money off them. Don’t violate this right; have models for any potentially commercial work or work that you show others sign a release that details the rights of both parties. Similarly, you should also get a release signed by the property owner any time that you photograph their property. These and other sample releases can be printed for free from the Professional Photographers of America website.

• Get a contract.

  You should never make a business deal without a contract—no matter how simple the job or how well you know the people involved. Your contract should at the very least detail the place, date, and time; the amount, type, and size of photos to be delivered and when; and who owns what rights to the photographs. If you are photographing a larger event, you should also specify whether you will be the exclusive event photographer or whether there will be others, as well as who owns media rights to the resulting photos.

  There is a different type of contract used when you are taking pictures of models or aspiring models. Called a TFP, or Time for Print contract, these detail that the model is exchanging their time and skills in modeling for you for the prints resulting from your photo shoot. These can come with a variety of clauses; the important thing is that you agree on them ahead of time.

• Be clear about fees.

  When you are being paid to photograph an event, it is important that you establish all fees and charges upfront and in writing. Collect a retainer and specify the time frame for payment. You can add to this tally if your employers decide that they need more photos, but, again, get these addendums in writing. The key to getting paid on a consistent agreement is to be very specific about costs and to get everything in writing.

• Consider carrying a pocket release.

  These documents usually fit on a small index card and have the basic legal rights regarding a photograph without all of the fine print. These can be kept in your photography bag and pulled out when you are unsure about how you will use an impromptu photograph. While they don’t cover ever possible situation, they offer a reasonable amount of legal protection for everyone involved.

• Talk to venue owners and managers before shooting.

  Due to fear of theft, terrorism and other crimes, many people are inclined to assume the worst of anyone lurking around public. If you want to avoid issues with Homeland Security, it is probably best to make your purpose completely clear. Carry a recognizable computer bag, a light meter, and other accessories associated with photographers. However, even these may not clear you of suspicion. To avoid any unpleasant complications, you may want to speak to the building manager or owner and explain your purpose.

• Negotiate copyright ahead of time.

    When you are shooting with the intent to sell the photographs, you should take the time to educate yourself about copyright. There is a difference between selling a photo for onetime use and completely giving up the copyright. There are also shades of gray between these two extremes; get to know the legalese involved in photography before jumping into any contracts.

• Show care when photographing children or their surroundings.

  Imagine how distraught a parent would be if their child came home reporting that a man at the park had taken pictures of them. Because there are many people who photograph children with less than pristine motives, parents are quick to jump to conclusions. You may find yourself explaining your cause to the police—or worse yet, ducking punches from an irate father—if you don’t stay clear of children except when their parents have explicitly given permission for their pictures to be taken. The same goes for shooting parks, playgrounds, and anywhere that children tend to play; choose a time when there are fewer people around.

Similarly, if you actually want to photograph a child, you should get a release similar to your modelling release signed by the custodial parent. Children are not allowed to make legal decisions or sign contracts on their own in the United States, so good communication with the parents is crucial. You may have better luck getting parents to agree if they are allowed to see and approve photographs before they are used.

Public property is usually fair play. If there are interesting sites on public property and no signs disallowing you from entering or photographing them, you are probably safe in photographing them. This includes large national monuments and skylines. Public property is usually just that—property owned by the taxpayers, including you. These can be resold without any special permission as well. However, you should remember that the free and public nature of these sites makes them very attractive to other photographers. You will have to work hard to bring a new perspective to these subjects and settings!

These are just generalities; for instance, there are exceptions to the rules for journalism and private use. However, it is important to be very vigilant in protecting yourself from legal problems wherever possible. If you have no reason to need a certain shot and it might be legally questionable, be sure to err on the side of caution. This will ensure that your photography hobby—or career—can last for years.

We hear all the time that it is important to consider line and form in photography. However, it is rare that someone is specific about exactly what this means. Here are several tips for using lines to improve your pictures and make maximum impact just like the pros do.

• Use lines to emphasize and de-emphasize different elements.

  Leading lines are called this for a reason; the photographer can use them to lead to the eye to a particular subject, making it more important within that particular photo. This by proxy de-emphasizes other parts of the photograph. Lines occur in both nature and in manmade settings, such as crop lines, fences, and roads. Use these and other elements to lead the eye to certain elements, effectively taking viewers on a journey into your mind.

• Use lines to portray emotion or to add emotion into a ‘dry’ photograph.

  Like color, line can be used to invoke emotion. Different lines give people different feelings. Here is a short primer on using line in this way.

• Horizontal lines create calm, natural feelings. Think about ocean-scapes and other landscapes dominated by horizontal lines; most make us feel rested and at ease. If anything, they can even be dull and boring. This may be why we see these lines so often in the background of portraits. Horizontal lines are good for creating patterns in more artistic photographs as well; just remember the rule of thirds and be careful to create the all important balance.
• Vertical lines give a sense of power and growth. Trees, skyscrapers, and turrets: all are very different yet create the same sense of wonder in viewers. We feel small and powerless next to very tall things, so they seem larger and more powerful by comparison. Use these types of lines when you want to inspire awe in your viewer, and keep in mind that the effect is intensified by multiple lines in close proximity. Again, be sure to consider the Rule of Thirds when using these lines, to avoid having a cluttered picture or visually cutting the photo into sections.
• Converging lines give a sense of scale. When these are symmetrical and relatively even, they can help create a sense of scale and/or distance. Think of power lines, fences, and stairs. They all help the viewer to gage length and width carefully, which can be a great tool in photographs that are emphasizing either a very large or very small scale.
• Diagonal lines add depth. Not only do these add physical depth, they add emotional depth as well. If the line is straight, it draws the eye through the photo, while adding a curve or wavelike shape creates an overall sense of movement. Because we tend in Western culture to look at a photo from left to right, moving diagonal lines from the bottom left to the top right is often best for creating a very attractive sense of beauty and symmetry in your photograph.
• Curvy and S-shaped lines imply elegance and femininity. From violins to the female form itself, many of the things that we associate either with women or with upscale elegance have s-shaped curves and other wavy lines. A winding line of any type creates a sense of flow and serenity, but that deep s-shaped curve will bring in elements of sensuality and good form. This type of line can be beautiful or completely unattractive depending on the subject of your photo, so use it with care.

• Practice capturing lines by themselves.

  Before you can effectively use lines as a background or foreground, you must learn how to capture them correctly. Look around your world for different combinations of lines and different materials. Take pictures of these from a variety of angles and vantage points. This will help you master lines, and later use them as elements of more complex photographs. It will also train your eye to instinctively recognize scenes with good ‘bones’.

• Try different lenses.

  Nowhere is this more effective than in lines that travel from very near to very far away, usually converging at some point in the distance. You can create an interesting and artistic sense of depth by positioning yourself between two of the lines and then using a wide angle lens to create a sense of space. In general, wide angle lenses will exaggerate space when used in conjunction with lines because they make things that are up close appear larger, but don’t convey this effect over the rest of the photograph.

• Provide contrast to add interest.

  As you can imagine, many lines are accentuated by the use of other, contrasting lines, especially if these are in a different color or texture. Using contrasting lines in your photograph can be interesting enough of a visual image that no other subject is needed.

• Keep it simple.

  While using a variety of lines can add interest, too many elements can result in a chaotic and confusing image. There is a fine line between ‘just right’ and ‘too much’, and only practice will help you learn to identify it consistently. This is especially true if you are using the lines in question as a background and not as the actual subject.

• Practice whenever possible.

  As with any photographic or artistic technique, the only way to master the use of lines in photography is to practice over and over in a wide range of settings. Keep a camera on you at all times and start taking it out whenever you notice one of the types of line that we have talked about. Before you know it, working effectively with line will be second nature, something that you adjust for without even thinking about it.

Using good lines in photography comes naturally to some people, but most of us need to learn this technique just as we would take care to learn anything else. Hopefully, this guide to using lines to add beauty and meaning to your work will lead to huge improvements in your work.