Basics of the Professional Photographer

A skilled photographer uses a camera to capture special moments, breaking news, or to promote services or products. A professional photographer might have the option to work in the news industry for the various magazines and newspapers, the advertising sector or work as a freelance photographer. While some full-time photographers might use a film based camera, many will rely on the latest digital technology for capturing their images.

Irrespective of a photographers chosen sector, their main aim is essentially the same, that is to capture high-quality and realistic images. If using the latest digital cameras, it will be possible to process the images almost instantly, which are downloaded and stored on a laptop. If the image isn't in need of editing, it can often be sent straight on to the print publisher and used as needed. A photographer has the tendency to work quite long hours, which often relates to the need to travel to far-reaching locations to capture the right image of a person, event, or structure.

In order to be successful in their chosen trade, a photographer will need to be artistic, analytical, have great communication skills, and a very keen eye for detail. Also, if the photographer is taking an image of a person, and not an object, they will need to have a calming influence to help the person relax when the photographs being taken. For the freelance photographer, they will need to have all-round business skills.

Beyond the ability to capture the perfect image, a photographer will also need to be highly skilled at using the various computer design and photo editing software. Photo editing tools are often depended on to help with touching up certain images, common use for using software relates to balancing the color, eliminating red-eye, and cropping an image to size.

A further skill required is the ability to maintain the state-of-the-art in a high state of repair. In view of the high-cost of the latest cameras and related accessories it makes sense for the photographer to learn how to keep the camera operating properly, by keeping it free of dirt and dust. It will also help to have in-depth knowledge on the various settings and adjustments that can be made on a camera in order to capture that perfect picture.

On average the photographer that has been able to become successful in their chosen trade might expect to earn in the region of $30,000 to $35,000 annually. Although various factors come into the equation when calculating an average salary, which might relate the type of employment, frequency of work, geographical location, and type of pictures captured.

Photography in Advertising

Advertising is one of the biggest industries that photography finds itself a part of. When most think of photography, wedding, family, event and club photography usually springs to mind - but advertising is one of the most profitable and technical areas that a skilled photographer can make money.

The Importance of Photography in Advertising

Photography in advertising is used to promote products, convey ideas and make the subject look as appealing to its audience as possible. Celebrity endorsements help to validate the integrity of a product while a good photograph of the product itself can catch the reader's eye and make them consider a purchase.

Because most people respond to visual stimulation, advertising in this way is effective. It is photographs that usually create the initial interest in a product. Sure, a lot of potential buyers might follow up by reading reviews or discussing a purchase with friends or store employees, but for that initial point of contact there is nothing more important than a high quality image that draws attention.

The Expense of Photography in Advertising

Advertising with photography costs in a number of different areas. Companies have to spend on the work the photographer does, the graphic designer who puts the advertisement together and then even more for the billboard, magazine, print or web space to host the advert and have it seen. For what it is, graphic advertising is considerably expensive, so most companies will invest a lot into making sure the job is done right.

Serious Advertising

While humour is a common tool used to sell, photography in advertising should take itself as seriously as possible. Images don't have the advantage of tone and comedic timing, and you aren't trying to make your subject look foolish. Painting your subject in the best possible light and making it attractive is the best way to convince the viewer.

Photographers and graphic designers are usually the ones responsible for the image and branding of a company. With the web such an important sales tool, every business is looking to market itself in the best way possible. Working with a skilled photographer who can create appealing imagery gives you a huge advantage over the competition.

Your advertising is the way you present your company to the rest of the world - there's no reason to hold back. Create more impact and a better-respected brand by working with a highly skilled photographer.

Create Stunning Photo Books

If you look through the photo books on sale in the average high street book shop then the first thing you'll notice, even before opening the photo book in question is the sheer weight of the object in your hands. That's because the aim of the book is to showcase and highlight the images it contains and, in order to do this, it has to use rich, thick glossy paper and be bound to the highest possible standards. Not only does this enhance the visual impact of the book but it also means that it is an attractive and desirable object in its' own right.

In most cases, books like this will be dedicated to the work of a particular photographer, or else to chronicling the life of a celebrity such as a film star or sporting hero. Advances in the field of digital photography, however, mean that it's actually possible for anyone with a large number of images in their collection to fashion a book of their own, printed and constructed to the same exacting standards. In the past, if you wanted to collect your favorite photographs between the covers of a book then this usually meant creating photo albums. Whilst an album such as this would be a treasured memento, it would also be fairly unprepossessing to look at, with photographs glued onto the pages of a scrapbook which was bound to deteriorate as the years went by.

If you choose to make your own picture book, on the other hand, you'll be creating a memento or gift which is put together to the highest professional standards and which will showcase your photographs at their very best for years to come. Creating online photo books is almost as straightforward as printing off a set of digital photographs or crafting individual personalized greeting cards. A quick online search will yield the best website to make photo books on, and once you've found it you just have to upload the images you've chosen. You may want to create a family photograph album, highlighting the life of your children as they grow up, or perhaps you'll put together a book to give as a gift, an Illustrated History' type of volume to give to a couple on the event of a special anniversary. The range of online photo books - from deluxe, leather bound hard covered tomes to small, cheerful, soft back, smaller booklets - is such that you're bound to be able to create exactly what you're looking for.

Having uploaded the images you've selected, you'll be able to use specially created software to put the book itself together. This software has been designed to keep the process as simple as it can be, guiding you forward in a series of small, logical steps as you select options such as the size and shape of the book, the design and material of the covers and the layout of each page. By the time you're shifting the images around, adding text and previewing the finished results you'll probably find you're actually having fun.

There are so many photo books to make online that you'll probably end up making more than one - some to give as gifts, some to celebrate specific events such as holidays or weddings and some to have for yourself, to take down from the shelf and leaf through whenever you want to travel down memory lane in style.

Using your own photographs to create distinctive and unique items is now quicker and easier than merely having your photographs printed used to be. Whether you create online photo books to grace your own bookshelves, or photo greeting cards to delight friends and loved ones, you'll be crafting items which are totally personal yet still produced to the highest possible standards.

Employment Opportunities for Photographic Artists

The employment opportunities for photographic artists in the United Kingdom are actually numerous and varied. There are opportunities for people with photography talents to make a good living pursuing something that is exciting, rewarding, and fun to do.

The number one opportunity for photographic artists in the United Kingdom comes from publications like magazines. Wildlife photographers are in high demand for many of these types of job positions. Magazines and publications that are devoted to depicting wildlife images are always on the lookout for people who can provide them with a fresh perspective and a new shot that has never been gotten before. Wildlife specialists spend a great deal of time with their subject matter or in search of their subject matter. They are well paid professionals and they are highly respected.

Photography can be all about the current things that are happening and this type of picture taking is needed by newspapers and television stations. People who have a talent for getting the good shots of current events can make a good living without having to travel all over the world. They can take pictures for law enforcement agencies, and they can work as a freelance specialist or hire out to just one company.

Some people do not see the photographers that capture events like weddings, galas, and parties to be photographic artists, but these individuals are just as artistic, and committed to their art form as wildlife photographers are. Taking photos at an event like a wedding means the person has to set up shots so they include all of the bridal party in the albums they create. They need shots of the bride and groom that show them at their very best. They need candid pictures of the reception, the ceremony, the getting ready, and the couple exiting. There are even a lot of couples that are now hiring a photographer to come to the hotel room the morning after the wedding and take morning after shots. It takes a great eye for detail for someone to get all of these types of pictures and make them look good so that the couple have a documented pictorial of their special day.

Add to the group of photographic artists the ones that take pictures of families, children, children at school, and graduation shots. These people are also hard work and they have to be able to manipulate their subjects, their lighting, and their equipment to provide the best pictures of their subject that they can. People want to be flattered when they take a picture. They envision themselves as looking better than they actually do at times and it is the job of the photographer to make them look as good as they can.

You can even find photographic artists positions that have you taking pictures of things like fruit, or a bowl of mashed potatoes. Maybe some fashion photography with real live models would be more in line with what you would enjoy. There are plenty of opportunities for the individual that see the world through a lens and documents that sight.

How to Get a Photography Job With a Magazine?

Before we even begin this journey, you need to have a good Digital SLR camera with flash, and good images to share with magazines. Be extremely selective with your choices, ask friends and family to pick their favorites. Do not include pictures of your pets, or kids. Look for unusual photos, sometimes mistakes or blurred images end up being the most interesting to magazine editors. Photograph something from above or below. Anyone can stand in front of the Capitol and snap a picture, you have to catch their eyes with something new and fresh.

Enter a general message directed at the art director, photo editor, or publisher. I usually email all 3 in one email so that I cover all my bases. Include your personal website address if you have one. Keep your email short and to the point, editors are busy and do not want to hear about your life, they just want to know if you can take an interesting high quality photograph.

Research which magazines you want to work with. Do a general web search for magazines or publishers in your zip code. You will have more success if you stay local and only contact magazines who publish your type of photography. Go to the magazine websites and make sure that your photos would be appropriate for their magazine. Look for the emails of the publisher, art director, and photo editor. Copy those email addresses into your email with your photos attached.

Make sure that your email is open and friendly. Make it clear that you are willing to do ANY assignments, travel on short notice, and help in any way possible to make this magazine even better than it is now. You see, the point is not to make money now, it's to get published and have a portfolio that you can use to make money in the future. Photo editors will not give you cover shots or high-profile articles until you have proved yourself to be reliable and consistent in your photography.

Be patient, and do not email publishers asking why they did not respond unless you want to be deleted from their inbox. Anyone can get 5 really good photos out of 1000's. If you really want to work for someone, send new photos every month with a friendly note. Most websites will tell you what is coming up in the next issue, this is your chance to go out and get some images that are relevant to what they are working on at the moment.

Photography Outlook Until 2014

Cameras have advanced through the years. From the old ones that use film, we now have the digital cameras. After the standalone units comes the smartphones built with cameras that can capture images of similar or even better quality than the digital cameras.

Today, more than ever, people are in the habit of taking as many photos as they like wherever they go. Thanks to the digital units, consumers today enjoy keeping their memories and sharing them as often as they can online through the various photo sharing sites. But other than the main camera itself, the memory card is also instrumental in helping people capture numerous images during their photo sessions. With this advanced storage card, hundreds of pictures can be saved and shared on the internet.

Big cameras are it

For the future, the big cameras are going to make a comeback. Manufacturers such as Canon, Nikon and Sony are putting their bet on the high-end units that boast of full-frame sensors. The latest buzz is that Photokina will roll out five full frame models.

The best part is that these cameras will become more affordable. Canon's 6D and Nikon's D600 are selling for $2,100 while Sony also has its SLT-A99 valued at $2,800. Sony's SLT-A99 boasts of great features such as full-time autofocus in live view but is much affordable compared to its close rivals (Nikon D4 and Canon 1D X) which are at a price range of $6,000-$6,800.

Moving onwards, analysts see many photographers seeking image quality that can be achieved by a massive sensor. This may be the feature they will be looking for more than the sturdy body.

Mobile Imaging

As smartphones are now more patronized by consumers more than the digital cameras, top camera manufacturers are considering the idea of incorporating some mobile phone features in their products. Wireless capability is what's being focused on by the makers these days to allow for faster and easy sharing of images on the internet without having to use the computer.

So far, only Samsung has responded to this need. Its Galaxy Camera is known as the first smart camera despite its being compact. Some of its great features a wide screen measuring 4.8 inches, a touch interface, 3G/4G data antenna and the latest version of Android.

Expensive cameras

One of the trends being predicted is the creation of expensive digital cameras of different brands. These are the equivalent of luxury cars with unique designs.

An example is the Lunar made by Hasselblad which is selling at $6,500. In truth, this digital camera is just the bigger version of Sony's NEX-7 but features a new frame.

Leica, for its part, has the V-Lux series which are very similar to the Panasonic units. They even have the same designs but only their logo or brand is different.

Besides these three, the demand for longer zooms, higher megapixels and brighter lenses will also continue. Manufacturers are listening and taking action and hopefully, these features will soon become a reality.

Legal and Copyright Issues in Photography

If you're doing photography as a business, you might have wondered about legal and copyright issues. After all, trick photography is still part of photography whether you digitally manipulate the images or not. Have you ever seen a piece of video or a show that includes public shots and some of the faces seem to be blurred out? That is not poor production values on the part of the video team. The producers who eventually sold that video to be used commercially did not secure releases from those individuals. And if they used their images, they are laying themselves open for lots of legal problems.

So how do you know if the work you are doing in your photography or trick photos business requires such releases? After all, it's better to be safe than sorry and get releases from everyone you use as a subject than face a surprise problem down the road.

If you snap for portraits, weddings or other events where the intent of your work is to sell the photos to the people being photographed, there is certainly no need for releases. As long as you have no intention of ever using any of those photographs in a sale that will profit your business other than the original way, then you should be fine.

It is when you are working with models to provide photos for advertising, magazines, newspapers or any other purpose in which you are selling the images you have photographed for a profit, that is when a release is needed. This whole area of professional photography is very profitable because you are working at a higher level of professionalism than photographing the public to provide them with portrait pictures. It is a lucrative arena of professional photography, the competition to make those sales is very competitive.

When you are working with professional models, securing their releases is pretty routine and never a problem. They are working for you and they know the photographs are for sale so their agents and lawyers do all the legwork so the releases are proper. But from your perspective, don't let this detail go unattended to. After all, it is your responsibility to your customers, those magazines or ad agencies who look to you for professional photography work, are assuming you have this covered and that they can count on you to deliver not only quality work but work that has been legally released to be used for promotion.

The complexities come if you do your shoots in a public place such as a park, a mall or anywhere that there may be traffic that becomes part of the shot. If you complete the shoot and discover that the perfect shot that fits your customers needs just right happens to have miscellaneous members of the public in the background, you have to secure the releases from them or you cannot sell that photograph.

So what can you do to avoid these situations? You could think ahead and try to secure those releases on the spot. But if the people you are trying to convince to sign such releases know you are going to use their images for profit, and you pretty much have to tell them, you get into another whole level of negotiation. But you sure don't want to have to blur their faces out on the shot.vYou could Photoshop them out but then you might lose the spontaneity of the shot.

It is best to stage the shot from start to finish. If you want traffic to be occurring around your model, bring in models who can do the job for you. Any good modeling agency to provide you with average looking models to use for this purpose. You will have to pay them but at least you know that the shot is clean. Plus when you sell the shot, you are going to get questions about whether those models were paid and if you have releases on them too.

You can find a standard release form on the web or your lawyer can help you develop one that covers the legalities you need handled but also reflects how you want to handle this issue. But make this a priority. By protecting yourself, you can do good business and profitable business but above all, legal business in perusing your professional photography career.