Although your iPhone is up to the task, there’s always a better choice when capturing your sister’s wedding or your company’s year-end party. Folks, it’s called a full frame camera and it’s the only answer for the discerning photographer who covers special events on a constant basis. Here are some reasons to convince you why a camera with a full frame sensor trumps the competition.

A full frame camera is the weapon of choice when it comes to image quality

A Bigger Sensor

When everything is said and done, the laws of physics will come out on top and nothing can change that. The same can be said to camera sensors with all the current trends and gimmicks in the industry right now and how a full frame camera is the most logical choice for event photographers. A bigger sensor allows more light to be captured without compromising image quality and current cropped-sensor camera can never hold a candle to a full frame. This allows photographers to boost their ISO and shoot with a relatively fast shutter speed to capture that decisive moment without worrying about noisy photos that much.

Furthermore, having a bigger sensor gives you that pleasing blur when you isolate your subjects. This is especially true when you pair the camera with a fast prime when the lights go out during a wedding reception or a high school prom.

A Wider Field of View

Those who shoot events know the challenge of capturing photos of groups all too well. And that folks is one good reason to invest in a full frame camera too. That’s because there’s a wide range of affordable and quality wide lenses that’s designed for a full frame sensor and gives you more than enough room to shoot those group shots.

Having a wider view is a great thing when capturing family photographs

Compared to a cropped or a micro 4/3 sensor, using a 28 or 24mm lens will give you a truly wide angle without the need to sacrifice image quality. When Uncle Bob calls out the whole family during a wedding reception, you need not worry because you have the situation under control. You’ll have an easier time arranging them and fitting them all in your viewfinder for a photo they’d surely appreciate.

Top-Notch Ergonomics

As compared to low to mid-end models, a full frame camera comes with the right amount of buttons and dials that are designed to help you take better images faster. Major camera companies have sought to make their cameras more intuitive to use so photographers can focus more on being in the moment, rather than fiddling with their settings. And that goal has been achieved to their maximum potential in the form of full frame cameras.

When it comes to great moments, having a pleasing blur to emphasise the moment more is always better.

This benefit has helped so many photographers who cover special events because a split second is all they’re gonna have on that day. Whether it’s that fateful wedding kiss, the birthday celebrant blowing the candles when the lights are dimmed, or that spontaneous reaction a kid does in the middle of the party, a full frame sensor is at its best when paired with a competent auto focus system.

A cropped sensor camera, or even a high-end cell phone, can do the trick of capturing a special moment. But when your name is on the line and people are gonna be expecting the best output from you, it’s a no-brainer folks. Go get a camera with a full frame sensor to make your life easier.
If you may have any reactions or anything you’d like to add to the topic, don’t be shy. Hit me up in the comments and give me a piece of your mind.

The post Why A Full Frame Camera Is The Best Choice When Shooting Special Events appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

That’s where the magic of overexposure comes in folks. Essentially, this act entails you to expose for the shadows and shoot at the widest aperture available. Here are some reasons why the end result should convince you to overexpose when capturing portraits.

Always expose for the shadows when shooting portraits

Overexposing Gives Your Subjects That Much Needed Glow

When you open your lens at its widest aperture and you place your subject in a location where good, natural light is readily available, the end result is much more pleasing that what you’ve expected. That’s because increasing the amount of light coming into your camera brightens up your subject and makes their skin lighter than the usual. At the same time, it also evens out your subjects skin tone and makes it more natural. This feat will make your portrait photos look more balanced as long as you’re shooting outdoors and there won’t be any shortage of natural light around.

Overexposing Makes Your Subjects Slimmer

Can you guess what happens when the right amount of light wraps around your subjects?

Overexposing your subjects make them look like they’re glowing

The answer folks is as simple as pie but as amazing the sliced bread. What happens is your subjects will look slimmer and more slender. The explanation for that is because you overexposed your shots, the light shaves off a part of their bodies when the image is processed in your camera. This feat will be really handy, especially when you’re shooting women since they would look better in their portraits.

Overexposure brings out better colours for your shots

Overexposure Leads To A More Natural Color

Have you ever tried underexposing your images or shooting in conditions where there’s no good light to be found? If you have, chances are, the color of your pictures are really bad. In fact, if you’re not used to shooting in low-light conditions, the images you’ve produced from them are those you haven’t shown to anyone.

On the other hand, overexposed images shot outdoors seem to exhibit a livelier feel when people look at them. These pictures look like they’re gonna pop out into your hands and there’s nothing dull to be found in them. When the final version of the overexposed photo has beed processed, you can see how the color impacts its overall quality and you’re gonna say to yourself you’re never gonna shoot using just the right amount of exposure again.

Of course, there are gonna be some things you might need to properly overexpose your photos. First, better get the fastest portrait lens you can afford. The faster, the better your images will come out. Second, although it’s not really a requirement, a full frame camera will most definitely help. That’s because the image quality of these cameras are way higher than cropped or micro four thirds sensors and the results can surpass your expectations. Last, but most definitely not the least, find an outdoor location that isn’t too sunny and one that’s filled with spots conducive to image overexposure. If you find the ideal place, that’s already half the battle won for your portrait session.

Do you thing overexposure is the best thing to happen to portraits? Or is there a better way to go when it comes to capturing photos of people? Sound off on the comments below and let us know what you think folks.

The post Why Overexposing Your Subjects Can Be Flattering For Them appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Connection is the key when taking images of children

Connect with Kids.

Just like with any other subject, the secret to great portraits when photographing children is to create a successful connection with them first. Sure, you could talk to them but it’s more important to listen first to what they’re saying. Be genuinely interested no matter how silly or childish their stories are. Plus, this is the chance for you to unleash your inner child and just have fun with them. Don’t mind strangers looking at you. All you need to worry about is the child in front of you and how you’re gonna make him or her comfortable while taking their photos. This act will help you connect and make it easier for them to understand and execute your directions.

Playing with them is half the battle won during portrait sessions with kids

Otherwise, all you’re gonna get from them are screams and your words will fall on deaf ears during your portrait session with them. Furthermore, you’re gonna fail the parents who hired you and you can’t expect them to refer you to the people they know.

Better Use a Fast Shutter Speed

When photographing children, you’re gonna contend against their speed and mischievousness during the portrait sessions. You can counter their innate childish nature by stooping down to their level. When it comes to their sudden movements, shooting with a fast shutter speed is your best friend.

Just make sure there’s a good amount of natural light in your location. Once you have that good light, crank that shutter speed and shoot those kids away folks. If you shooting inside and there’s not enough natural light, better bring a flash or a portable source of light to illuminate your subjects. You’ll be glad to bring those things when the time comes.

Choose The Ideal Location

Ideally, a wide open space is the best location when photographing children. You’ll need a lot of room to chase down kids because it’ll be in their nature to move a lot. Just make sure there won’t be any dangerous elements in your location to ensure the safety of the children.

Another tip that can spice up your kiddie portrait session is to get the services of a stylist. These guys would bring their own unique ideas and create a set that will add more to your kids photos. All you need to do is to direct your subjects to be more interactive with the aforementioned set and you’re good to go.

Having props and toys can be a big help when shooting kiddie portrait sessions

Use Props

Speaking of interaction, using props when taking child portraits is a good practice for your session with them. These props allow them to have fun and be themselves without any pressure. At the same time, they would be easier to direct as you take their photographs.

Some props you can use are balloons, stuff toys, giant balls, action figures, confetti, and bubbles. These things can help those kids focus, relax, and be distracted as you do your job.

Get The Parents to Join in The Fun

Who says parents should take a backseat when their children are being photographed? Asking them to join in the fun is definitely encouraged folks. As their photographer, it’s your job to create a fun atmosphere parents and their kids can enjoy. With that being said, do all that you can to make the parents relaxed too so they can be themselves when they interact with their kids. Ask them questions about their children to connect more and you’ll have them doing fun poses in no time at all.

Photographing children may seem like a daunting task for most people. In fact, others shy away from it like the plague. That doesn’t need to be the case. Remember that they’re kids and all they need is someone who can connect to their level folks. If you may have other tips that can help photographers when capturing portraits of kids, do share them in the comments below.

The post A Handy Guide To Photographing Children appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

As such, it’s always important for these couples to choose the right photographer that fits their style and convenience. If they do make the mistake of choosing the wrong photographer, they’re gonna end up with pictures they won’t even show to their close friends and one day wasted for their wedding plans. To prevent that scary scenario from happening, here are some things a photographer should not do when photographing an engagement session.

At the root of an engagement photo session is a couple’s love for one another. Always remember that fact and you’re gonna do good

Be a Jerk To Your Couple

Here we are with the basics first folks so don’t forget this one – never be rude or obnoxious to your couples. Whatever happens during the session, always be one step ahead when it comes to courtesy and politeness. If you start the session with this tip, you’re sure to have a smooth day and any obstacle can be prevented or easily solved between you and the couple.

This tip also extends to other people involved in the shoot. These people could be the makeup artists, any friends or family members who are tagging along, or stylists who are responsible in creating something extraordinary for the couple’s cool engagement photos. Heck, being courteous or polite even extends to your assistant who’s gonna carry all your stuff or act as your second shooter.

Be mindful of your couple’s personality, their respective quirks, and how it can help you take great images.

Make Them Do Something That’s Far From Their Personality

As photographers, it’s one of our talents to observe things out and discover something interesting in them. It could be the old man walking down the street with a couple of balloons in his hands or a little kid running in the rain while laughing. In line with this, we always set our photos to our subjects’ strengths, and never to their weaknesses. The same can be said when shooting a couple for their engagement photo session.

Photographers should carefully assess the personality of the couple first before making them do something that’s out of the ordinary. You should avoid making them wear something they’re not comfortable with, like a cheesy couple shirt, or make them do a pose that doesn’t make them feel good. Remember, if you do anything along these lines, you’re gonna end up with photos wherein they don’t look happy and you’re going to be on the losing side of that argument.

What Not To Do When Shooting An Engagement Photo Session

Not Communicating Well or Not Communicating at All

Shooting an engagement photo session is not just about awesome concepts or images that’ll last a lifetime. It’s also about having great communication between the couple and their photographer. This means you have to convey your engagement picture ideas well and ensure they are following your every word while you are taking their images. If you do the opposite and be silent or very unclear with your directions, they’re gonna end up scratching their head and wonder why they even hired you in the first place.

Using the Wrong Gear

When a couple hires you to capture their engagement photo session, they are trusting you to deliver the photos they want and expect. That means you have to prepare well and figure out how you’re going to execute your ideas with utmost dedication. And one of the ways you’re gonna fail at this is if you bring the wrong kind of equipment for an engagement session.

Remember folks, never bring a slingshot when fighting a war. You can’t shoot these couples with an ordinary point and shoot camera or just a kit lens that comes with your basic kit. If you use this kind of equipment, the chances of getting substandard shots are high. Plus, always remember to bring extra memory cards and batteries so you won’t end up looking like a fool when these things run out in the middle of the engagement photo shoot.

Endanger Your Couple

Never ever put your couple’s life at risk for that shot you have in mind when you’re capturing their engagement photo session. You can’t ask a girl to climb something high while wearing her high heels or tell a guy to go down a river for a unique concept you’ve never done before. Plus, anything that involves moving vehicles or dangerous surroundings should automatically be a big no-no for you due to its uncertainty and lack of safety.

A couple should always have the best time when their images are being taken before the big day. They should be pampered the entire day because this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be done again. If you may have other things that a photographer should not do while shooting an engagement photo session, don’t be shy and share it with us in the comments below.

The post What Not To Do When Shooting An Engagement Photo Session appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Interaction is the key to having a livelier couple portrait

Relax

First and foremost, what your subjects need to do is relax when they’re doing different poses for photoshoot sessions. Even though you’re in the middle of a busy scene or a number of people are stopping by to see what’s going on, it’s your job to maintain the peace and ensure your subjects aren’t stressed by what’s happening in the area. You can do that by being confident and in control of any situation that’s in front of you no matter what. If you fail at keeping your subjects relaxed, it’s gonna show in their photos and the last thing you want would be unsatisfied clients raining down complaints on your throat.

Communicate

Out of all the tips on posing for photos, maintaining a clear line of communication is the most important. You need to be easy to understand with every directive or suggestion for your subjects. At the same time, you have to be sure with what you wanna do and how your concept will be executed.  Otherwise, you’re gonna end up with a photo that will not be able to use or an image that won’t even convey your artistic vision.

In line with this, it helps to speak in an authoritative manner without leaving any room for doubt. Speaking slowly will help your subjects understand you as you direct them with all of their movements or poses for photography.

A smile is a great way to make your male subject look more comfortable and at ease

Easy Poses for Guys

There’s a stigma that men are always awkward whenever they’re in front of a camera. There’s a truth in that but it doesn’t men guys cannot be posed well when someone is taking their portraits. Unlike girls, you don’t need to do that much when you’re capturing images of men. Here’s one of the many simple tips on posing for photos that you can use a lot for your next portrait session with a guy.

First off, make him feel relaxed and ensure him you’re gonna get a portrait that won’t look unnatural. Direct him to place his hands inside his pockets with his thumbs sticking out. Ask him to place his weight in one foot while angling his body sidewards with his head in your direction. Tell him to smile, and snap away. The end result will be a portrait of him looking well without any hint of awkwardness and his masculinity intact.

Flattering Poses for Girls

As compared to guys, girls can be really conscious with how they are being posed by their photographer. Fret not folks because there are ways to direct them and assure them their photos will come out fine. First, direct your female subject to clasp her hands together while slightly bending one knee forward. This will slim down her arms and give her whole body more shape as you photograph her.

If you just allow her to stand there, you’re going to have an image that looks boring and nothing will be flattering about your subject. Always remember that her hands should be preoccupied to make it look more natural too.

When posing females, make sure they look flattering

Creative Poses for Couples

One of the best tips on posing for photos when it comes to couples would be to have them interact with each other. This gives them the freedom to act naturally and eliminates any tension in them. At the same time, when your couple is having fun, the photos you’re gonna get are full of life as well.

For starters, have them talk to each other, look at each other’s eyes, or direct them to walk while holding hands. Another thing you can do with your couple is have them hug, whisper sweet nothings to each other, or have the guy carry his loved one suddenly. This tips will ensure your images look dynamic and convey more excitement to them.

Don’t be afraid to make them look silly. The result can astound you

Posing people in front of a camera can sometimes drain a photographer but it doesn’t mean it can’t be accomplished well. With constant practice and research, you can surpass your old methods and bring a whole lot more to your portraits. If you may have other tips on posing for photos in mind, don’t be shy and share it with us on the comments folks.

The post Great Tips on Posing for Photos For Your Next Portrait Session appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Find a Source of Light

No matter how hard it may be, look for a source of light that can help you out. It can be that spotlight moving across the stage or a strategically-placed candle illuminating a laughing lady. Whatever that may be, you have to be alert because these sources of light can be gone in a second so you need to capitalise on it right away.

Create Your Own Light

If all else fails, go ahead and create your own sources of light. That’s right, just jump the gun and invest in a speedight or a video light to help illuminate those wedding reception images. With this tip, you need not worry about murky photos anymore. All you need is an assistant to hold and direct that light source for you.

One of the secrets to handling bad light and capturing good images indoor is to master your camera and it’s controls

Slow That Shutter Down

Another great tip to combat bad lighting conditions is to use a slow shutter speed whenever you’re shooting. Although it can be really hard at first, with constant practice, you can be sure to shoot at around 1/25 shutter speed in a dimly-lit environment. Furthermore, there can be some cool effects to your image if you use a slow shutter speed when people are losing themselves on the dance floor.

Anticipate and pre-focus so you can capture that perfect moment.

Crank that ISO up

So, you think a slow shutter speed isn’t for you eh? Don’t worry though because you need not stand still for that technique because  you can always raise your camera’s SO to get an image during bad lighting scenarios. With cameras these days, you’re sure to have a clean photo at around ISO 3200 with a minimal amount of noise. Plus, if you need to take your ISO levels higher, the noise would really make your picture more artistic and unique.

Invest in Gear Designed for Bad Light

Last on our list is a long-term solutions to fighting bad light during events or concerts – buy new gear. That’s right folks. You can’t expect equipment designed for a beginner to capture professional photos. With that being said, a good starting point is to invest in lenses with a wide aperture. These lenses suck in more light and gives your images a dreamy look that you won’t get anywhere.

Stay on top of your game and place your subjects away from a bad light to a good one.

Another option you can think about is upgrade to cameras good in low light. Some features you might be interested are fast auto-focus speed in badly-lit places, ease of use, and of course, its high-ISO capabilities. Just make sure to get the best low light digital camera you can afford, you’re comfortable using and one that seamlessly adapts to your current system.

Shooting in bad light is something every photographer will have to face and master one day. It takes a great amount of patience, cunning, artistry, and resourcefulness to be able to capture low light photos that won’t turn your clients off. Just follow these tips and you’re going to be fine.
If you have more tips on how to capture low light images, hit us up on the comments or share your thoughts on SlickPic folks.

The post How To Shoot Photographs During Bad Light Situations appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Go out of the box with your travel photos and lose yourself with all the creativity hiding inside of you.

Bring only what you need

When bringing camera gear to an out-of-town trip, it’s tempting to bring everything you have and stuff it all in your bag. Well, here’s me saying you shouldn’t do that because all it will do is cause you stress in your vacation. Remember, the greatest photographers of our time managed to get the shot because they had a camera readily available to them. If you bring all you gear, you would fuzz over what lens to use or set up your tripod first. At the end of the day, all you’re going to need is a camera and the best lens for travel that you own.

Use a Bag that won’t let you down

One of the more important travel photography tips you’re going to encounter is the usage of a competent bag for your camera and other equipment. Having the best camera bag possible will not only help you be more organized with your gear, but it can also protect your equipment from the elements when you are out there on your trip. Just make sure to get a bag that fits you properly and will not be a cause for body pain when you’re carrying it.

Research where you’re going

The beauty of having a world connected by the internet is you can be informed of so many things that weren’t available two decades ago. With that wisdom, you should definitely invest some time into checking the ins and outs of your future destination. This step will help you find out in advance all those spots you can take amazing photos and plan how to execute them.

Among all the other travel photography tips, this step also serves as a safety check because you can be aware of dangerous places and hazardous venues in your itinerary. You can also chat some locals to get an idea where it’s safe to bring your gear.

Always make it a point to know where you’re going to travel so you can be prepared for anything.

Bring Extra Batteries, Chargers, and Memory Cards

Have you ever experienced accomplishing all your tasks only to find out your phone is low on battery and you left your charger at home? Well, multiply that experience by a thousand when you go on your trip and you only have one camera battery with no charger. That’s why it’s really important to bring not just one battery  or charger for that trip you’ve been planning for a long time. This will ensure your camera will operate through all the important and fun moments without any worries.

At the same time, one of the travel photography tips you should adhere to is the inclusion of additional memory cards. With this tip, you won’t have to worry about deleting any image to make room for more. You can also get a high-capacity memory card if you’re not comfortable bringing around two or three of this vital tool.

Never forget to enjoy the moment

Last, but not the least, on our list is just go with the flow and have fun as you’re out travelling.

Have fun and soak yourself in the moment. Amazing images will soon follow after.

Your camera is just a tool to capture your memories but it’s not the end-all-be-all of your trip. Why don’t you indulge in a meal you can’t find anywhere else? Or you can also lay down all the stuff you’re hauling around and just enjoy the view with the people you’re with. Believe me, having a once-in-a-lifetime experience is way better than having that once-in-a-lifetime picture.

Travelling is and will always be good for a person. It gives us the chance to refresh our creative perspective and flushes out all the negativity bought by the repetition of work. As such, these travel photography tips can be of great help for your next adventure. And when you’re done with your travel, why not share your amazing shots on SlickPic? It’s the only photo-sharing site that gives you absolute control over your images.

The post Helpful Travel Photography Tips For Your Next Getaway appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Take A Step Away From Your Comfort Zone

You read that right folks, step out of that zone as soon as possible. The moment you feel you’ve mastered something is the same moment you have to venture into the horizon to conquer new territory when it comes to your photography skills. Whether you’ve already taken a thousand portraits or you’ve achieved that long-exposure night-cap image, you should never settle down and rest on your laurels. Otherwise, you’ll stay stuck on that photography plateau with no hopes of going up.

Why not try to cover a wedding? It’ll challenge your creativity and your skill in coming up with pictures that will last a lifetime for a couple. Why not head out to the busiest part of the city and shoot people walking along the streets? It’ll help you master the art of capturing that decisive moment. Why not take your friend out to the park for a quick portrait session? This experience will aid you in posing people properly.

Whatever you’re doing with your photography right now, it’ll be a big boost to just go out and do something you have never done before.  

Get out of that zone you’ve known for so long and shoot something that does not fit with your style.

Let The Internet Inspire You

If you’re gonna get lost, better get lost in the works of other photographers and their work. This tip will definitely fill up your mind with concepts and ideas you can adapt and make your own. Plus, as you try new things you’ve seen from others, it can help you create your own distinct style that will set you apart from the crowd.

All you need to do is search for photographers on social media, browse galleries found on their websites, or stalk their Instagram accounts for a quick fix of photographic inspiration. You can also join a forum or a group online so you can directly connect with other photographers, feed off from their ideas, and you can even share yours.

Experiment with Light

When the sun goes down and the light runs out, most photographers will call it a day and pack their bags. When that happens, be the one that stands out from among the rest. Just take out your flashes or video lights, ask for some assistance, and go wild in the dark. Experiment all you want, from the intensity of your light source to the different angles you can play with. There’s a good chance you’ll produce an image that will surprise the heck out of you.

There are so many things you can do with external light when the sun goes down. Don’t limit yourself and shoot away.

Do a Photo Challenge

Do you have a friend on social media who seems to post artistic photos every day? There’s a good chance your friend is accomplishing a 365 photo challenge and doing so can be good for you. First off, this task helps you be more resourceful in coming up with unique concepts for each day of the year. Second of all, it makes you more disciplined in shooting, sorting, editing, and posting your photos online. Last, but never the least, this practice will undoubtedly boost your creative skills and instill a new sense and style of taking photos.

Now, if a daily change may be taxing, you can modify the challenge to a weekly or a monthly one. Nevertheless, the same wisdom applies when it comes to improving your photography skills.

Socialize, Socialize, Socialize

What may seem so daunting at first can be the secret to a whole new world for you. Yes, that’s right folks. Getting out there and simply saying hi to that girl you’re sitting across the train can mean a new portrait session in your schedule. You can also go the extra mile and reconnect with lost friends, go to that party your co-worker was telling you about, or attend a seminar related to your hobbies. All of these and more can mean new connections to be made and more opportunities to widen your network. Believe me when I say that a simple acquaintance can produce 10 bookings for you when you make the simple effort of connecting on a personal level.

Getting out of that rut is never easy. At the same time, it’s not impossible to do so when it comes to getting inspired and finding new ways to take photographs. All you need to do is take that small, brave step, the world is yours. If you have other wonderful and simple ideas on how be more inspired when it comes to photography, hit me up in the comments below.

Get into the habit of talking to your subject and making them feel more comfortable because this will translate into the images you shoot.

The post How to Take Your Photography Skills To The Next Level appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Always keep an eye on patterns when you’re shooting with your macro lens. The more intricate and detailed, the better.

Look for patterns

What do you see when you look at a that old cross stitch artwork your grandma made? If you’re not into that kind of hobby, there’s not much that might capture your interest. But don’t look away because with a macro lens attached to your camera, there’s something you can capture that may be more than meets the eye.

First off, go closer and look at the intricate patterns made. Frame your shot properly and snap away. The result will be something you’d never expect.

A flower is always a good still subject when shooting macro.

Go outside and be one with nature

The moment you step out of your house, and into the wild outdoors, is one filled with endless possibilities when it comes to macro shots. There are a lot of choices you can go to, actually. From an interesting flower you saw in the garden to a tiny spider weaving its web, you’re sure to have a good number of shots afterwards.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb a mountain or wade down the nearest river for something out of the ordinary. This will give you an opportunity to flex your photography skills and help you be inspired.

Document your collection

As a kid, I’d save up my allowance to buy toys. Even as I grew up, I never lost my passion for these action figures and the exhilarating feeling of enlarging my toy collection. In my case, I love to tinker around with my toys and capture them in all sorts of poses with my macro lens.

You can do this too with your hobby. Whether it’s lego minifigures, dolls, seashells, old coins or stamps, and what not, you’ll have absolute freedom to take quality images and have fun with your collection.

Create your own macro studio

You might think shooting small stuff in a controlled environment can drain your wallet faster than a lightning bolt. Sure, that may be the case but you can be resourceful and invest in things you can buy at the handyman store for your creative macro shots. You can buy a clean sheet of white paper, set it up as your background. Add a couple of slave flashes or any steady source of artificial light and you’re good to go.

Shoot portraits using a macro lens and focus more on your subject’s details

Take Very Close Portraits

Whoever said you can’t use a macro lens to photograph people? In fact, you can capture another side to their personality by shooting their eyes or smile. The end result will be something you’d never even imagined before.

At first thought, a macro lens can be somewhat limiting when it comes to photography ideas. But just like every craft in this world, rules are meant to be broken to create stunning art. If you have more macro photography tips to share, go ahead and hit me up in the comments.

The post Be More Creative With Your Macro Lens appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

When using a telephoto lens for full body portrait photos, make sure you’re far away from your subject for proper framing and composition

Telephoto Lens

For most photographers, having a telephoto lens is the ultimate answer when capturing portrait photos. That’s because this lens gives you definite control over your depth of field to separate your subject and give it a dreamy feel to your photo. But of course, using a telephoto lens can be different to the shooting style you’ve been used to.

Whether you’re using a zoom or a prime, a telephoto lens is at its best when there’s enough distance when you’re shooting your subject. Always remember to take a step back, dial in the correct settings, and compose your photo properly. Once you’ve done this, capturing amazing portrait photos will a piece of cake.

Normal Lens

A normal lens, one in between the 35 and 50mm focal length range, offers a good depth of field and a healthy working distance for your shooting technique. Of course, when it comes to amazing bokeh, nothing beats a telephoto lens. This right here, is the next best thing folks.

In the event you’re shooting with a normal lens, make sure it has a fast aperture to give your shots that signature look you’re aiming for. In that case, a fast prime is your best bet. And since it’s has a normal field of view, composing your shots won’t be hard at all. Just make sure to place your subjects in a good light and background and the rest is as good as done.

Wide Angle Lens

This is where it gets tricky folks. Using a lens that’s wider than 35mm can really challenge you as you take portrait photos because of its distortion and deep depth of field. That means this lens can make your subjects look wider and you won’t be able to blur the background the way you would want it to be.

Now, don’t you worry because you can still be creative with this lens. All you have to do is find a really good location and include it in your composition. That way, you can go wide and incorporate a creative angle when it comes to your image using different elements in your background. It could be a really detailed building, stunning landscapes, or huge artworks that can give your portrait that edge it sorely needs.

Plus, having a deep depth of field can also be useful when taking photos of 3 or more people. With a wide angle lens, you need not worry about blurring out those in front or at the back of your group portrait anymore. This benefit will surely come in handy for your family portrait photography skills.

In the event you’re shooting group portraits, stop down your aperture and place your subjects in a single line to ensure everyone is focused.

Super Telephoto Lens

There are not many photographers out there who utilize a super telephoto lens when shooting portraits. With its huge size, heavy weight, and enormous price tag, only a chosen few get to take photos with this kind of lens. Nevertheless, the same wisdom using telephoto lenses apply. Just make sure you’re far away from your subject, illuminate them well, and snap away. What you’ll end with is a photo with a shallower depth of field and a flatter image that will flatter your subject more.

Macro lens

Using a macro lens to capture portrait photos is an unconventional choice. But, if used properly, can unleash a different world in a creative sense. With a macro on your camera, you can go closer and take intimate headshot using an angle you can’t achieve with other lenses. You can also crop your subject’s face and take photos of their eyes and smile to give your image a sense of intrigue and mystery. Whatever you do, you’re sure to find new ways of shooting portraits you haven’t done before.

Having a fast normal lens will come in handy for your portrait photos when the sun goes down and good lighting can be a challenge.

Of course, there are other ways to make your portrait photos stand out. These include a set of lights, props, a unique location, and so much more. If you think, there’s much more you can do when taking portraits with your camera, do let us know in the comments below.

The post Tips on how to capture portrait photos using different lenses appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Use Your Camera’s Live View Function

One of the great things modern DLSR cameras have is its live view option. Basically, the huge LCD behind your camera can be used as an larger and brighter alternative to the viewfinder for those hard-to-reach angles. With that benefit in your hands, you can easily check if you’re spot on with your focusing by zooming in on your subject. With constant practice, using live view with your manual focus lenses will ensure your shots are tack-sharp.

Use A Lens Dedicated To Manual Focusing

Sure, you can go with your current auto focus lenses and use them manually. On the other hand, it’ll be better if you go ahead and purchase a real manual focus lens to improve your photography skills. Offerings from Zeiss are currently the best in the market but you can go with cheaper lenses made by Samyang. Whichever choice you make, these lenses are designed to be easily used. Plus, their image quality can stand against the autofocus counterparts on any given day.

If budget is an issue, you can always turn to old film lenses that don’t have autofocus motors in them. They’re cheaper, easier to acquire, and the quality of their images are not far off from modern lenses. What’s important is to find a manual focus lens that easy to use and fits your hand like a glove.

Learn how to zone focus.

Have you ever wondered what all those numbers are doing on your lens? Well, for starters, they’re used to aid photographers focus manually without looking at viewfinder during the good old days of film photography. This is done by setting the aperture at around f8 higher, using a 35mm lens or wider, and measuring the distance between the camera and your subject in your mind. Afterwards, you set the lens’ focusing on the corresponding distance on your lens before you shoot, find something interesting, and take a snap of it without looking at the viewfinder to check if it’s focused.

This method is perfect for street photography to prevent any intrusions on your part and capture the moment as it its. Just remember to correctly set the aperture of your manual focus lens as it will determine the correct depth of field of your photo.

Stay Steady By Using A Tripod

Having a tripod would be very useful in manually focusing your lens. This is true when you’re shooting images without any moving subjects, such as landscapes and product images. Using a tripod to capture this pictures will eliminate the need to be steady and give you more freedom to focus manually without any worries

Practice, Practice, and Practice Some More

Like with most things in this life, you can never master the art of focusing your lens manually if you don’t dedicate ample time to practice. With that being said, you need to go out of your comfort zone and master your manual focus lens by any means possible. You can ask your close friend to be your model for the day and help you appreciate shooting portraits more. You can also take time to travel to a busy part of the city and see how you can give new life to your images with the help of a manual focus lens. Heck, you can even practice in the comfort of you home by capturing everyday items and scenarios without the aid of your autofocus lens.

With the rise of modern technology in photography, it’s so simple to forget that a time existed when everything was done manually, including the focusing of a camera lens. While the times have changed, the importance of learning how to use a manual focus lens and the fulfilment of capturing the moment with it still stays the same. Take that chance now and see for yourself how focusing manually can help take your photography skills to the next level.

The post Get The Hang Of Using a Manual Focus Lens appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Use a Macro Lens

Shooting a ring and giving it justice can be extremely hard if you use a zoom or a normal prime lens. As such, it’s really important to have a macro lens in your bag to allow you to get closer to your subject. Anything that’s longer than 60mm will suffice to give you a good working distance when you are capturing ring shots.

Illuminate, Illuminate, Illuminate

Oftentimes, a wedding photographer might face challenging lighting conditions that will hinder the way towards the ring image you want. In this case, there’s no better way than to use a competent ring lighting system. You can simply use a flash mounted on your camera or go the extra mile and employ the use of slave flashes to brighten up those rings when ambient light won’t cooperate.

Apart from the use of flashes, going with a LED video light is also a reliable option. What’s good about these devices are you can instantly see how the light is gonna affect your image so you can just adjust accordingly. Of course, it would be best to employ the aid of an assistant to hold the video light when you are photographing ring shots.

Arrange Your Ring Shots For A Perfect Composition

Go for the Mood

Sometimes, the lack of light can be a good thing for those wedding and engagement ring photos. If you find yourselves shooting rings with little ambient light or without the aid of a lighting system, just go ahead and take your shot. Find the best spot possible, increase your ISO, open the lens at its widest, and shoot at the slowest shutter speed possible. After doing so, you might be surprised that the end result looks dramatic and artsy.

Go The Extra Mile and Decorate Those Rings

Let’s face it. Shooting engagement and wedding ring shots can be mundane when they’re all alone. Why don’t you look around and check for details that will highlight the rings to increase their beauty?

It’s simple actually. You can place those rings on a piece of clean, white paper to eliminate any distractions on your image. You can also find some leaves or small flowers and arrange them accordingly next to the rings to give your photo a livelier atmosphere. Furthermore, you can place those rings next to tiny and intricate details, like the beads of a wedding gown or a letter written by a groom to her bride. Heck, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can splash water on those rings or use sparklers for a unique shot.

Decorate your Ring Shots with Unique Details

Use Blue-Tak

Making rings stand can be next to impossible if you don’t use a handy solution like Blue-Tak. You can get a tiny piece of this putty-like substance, attach it to the bottom of the ring to make it look like it’s standing on any surface. This gives you the power to place those rings on walls, stylish surfaces, and detailed patterns without them tumbling over and over again. Just make sure to use the right amount of Blue-Tak for your ring shots so they won’t be seen in your photo.

A Simple Engagement and Wedding Ring Shot Using Blue-Tak

Every wedding photographer need not lose their heads over something so small and so beautiful. With the right gear and loads of creativity, you’re sure to shoot ring shots that will blow everyone’s minds away in no time at all.

The post How To Capture Amazing Ring Shots Right Away appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.

Camera Bodies

This right here, folks, is the very heart of a wedding photographer’s kit – the camera body. What you should go for is a camera with blazing autofocus speed and can deliver images in any lighting condition. At the same time, a rugged body that can take abuse and intuitive ergonomics are also a  must-have in a professional wedding camera.

Now, there are a lot of options out there in the market that can satisfy your needs. Whether it’s a traditional DSLR or a mirrorless camera, you won’t run out of competent options.

And don’t forget to get yourself a backup camera too. You’ll never know when your current body might fail so it’s imperative to have a camera ready to back you up in your time of need.

A Set of Lenses

Normal: This kind of lens is a default choice for your wedding photography checklist and the one you’re gonna use the most. Anything that falls within the 35 to 50mm range is considered normal and it’s best for capturing a wide range of wedding images without any distortion. With this lens in your arsenal, you can be ready to shoot portraits, details, and all the important moments right away.

Telephoto: Normal lenses can sometimes be limiting during a ceremony wherein you can’t get closer to your subject. When that occurs, a fast 85mm or a 70-200mm lens is your best bet to capture those shots without any intrusion on your part. Plus, you can be sure to capture flattering portraits that isolate your subject from the background with utmost clarity.

Wide: Of all the lenses a wedding photographer can use, a wide one is utilized the least. Although that’s the case, it doesn’t mean it’s less useful during a wedding. In fact, a 24mm prime lens can come in handy when you need to shoot large groups of people in tight spaces. Better consider this one if you want to cover all the bases when it comes to the essential equipment for wedding photography.

Macro: No matter what everyone says, a macro lens is a must-have for professional wedding photographers and their creative process. How can you ever give justice to that large diamond engagement ring or the intricate details of their wedding invitation if you don’t have a macro lens in your bag?

Lighting System

Flash: What would you do if you need to shoot wedding reception images when the sun has gone down and the lights are horrendous? Get a flash for your wedding photography checklist, that’s what. Once you’ve got one, set it properly, and go about your job in covering the big day.

That’s right. With a flash, you need not worry about bad light or the lack of it anymore. Just make sure to bring extra batteries so you won’t shoot in the dark.

Slave Flashes: Sometimes, images shot with a flash can be far from what you’ve envisioned. When that happens, get some some additional flashes you can slave with a wireless trigger and an assistant to help you out. You can get more creative with your shots and have more options when the lights go dim and people are dancing the night away.

Video Light: What may seem unconventional is rather practical when you get to use this. Just imagine having a steady and reliable source of light to illuminate your subjects softly. Compared to a flash, images shot with a video light look more natural.

Data Storage

Memory Cards: Get the card with the biggest amount of data you can afford. It’s always better to have too much memory than running out of it during a crucial time. Plus, choose a card with a fast read and write speed so you won’t need to wait that long when copying your files.

External Hard Drive: Backing up images is a responsibility every professional constantly does in his/her wedding photography checklist. And there’s no better tool to do that than a reliable external hard drive. Make sure to get the largest external hard drive you can afford. More space is always the best.

Post-Processing Computer or Laptop

When gathering wedding photography tips, using a competent computer or laptop is one of the top answers for every professional. That’s because you’re gonna use this machine to sort and edit countless images. It’s important to choose a laptop or computer that can handle those tasks so get one with a good processor and large amounts of RAM for your needs.

Complimentary Accessories

If the professional wedding camera and the lenses are the main attraction of your equipment, the batteries, chargers, light stands, bags, cases, and cleaning materials are the support system it direly needs. Having multiple batteries will save you the hassle of charging during a wedding while light stands can be helpful in positioning your slave flashes for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. Furthermore, using various cleaning materials can extend the life of your gear and having a reliable wedding camera bag can of great assistance if you need to move to a new location in a moment’s notice.

Not all photographers are the same when it comes to their equipment. Some prefer one camera brand while others are staunch advocates of a specific lens that suit their shooting style. If you want to add something to our wedding photography checklist, go ahead and let us know by commenting below folks.

The post The Quintessential Wedding Photography Checklist Every Pro Must Have appeared first on SlickPic Digital Photography School.