Becoming Professional With Your Wedding Photography

For years people will be displaying photos of their wedding, since it is that kind of occasion. Your clients - the bride and groom to be - will want the best and will want the quality guaranteed. If you choose to be a wedding photographer you can make a lot of money by doing so. As well as the money though there is the risk that you must manage well. If this is going to be your first wedding shoot you will want to make sure your contract is written up properly and a disclaimer... Read full post here

How to get the best from your phone camera

In the past I have always though of mobile phone cameras with disdain , and until recently I think I was well founded in my opinions!  However recently I have changed my mind about the potential of phone cameras, this was due to the fact that on one ‘photography’ holiday I neglected to include my Camera. Meaning that the phone camera had to step upto the mark so I get it a good test I wanted to get the best pictures that I could within the camera’s limitations.  After experimenting here are some of the better tips that... Read full post here

Tips On How To Choose Digital Camera Online

The first thing is finding out what kind of camera you are going to buy. It is good to currently have one in mind at this point for you to directly order, but if not you can do some study on what type and also brand of digital camera fits you and your needs, skills, lifestyle and also the spending budget While purchasing digital cameras online is the best convenience, you must keep in mind that not like actual shopping, you will not hold the camera at had to view and to test to see... Read full post here

Guide To Choosing A Camera

Many photographers have been using photographic filters to be able to get the best photo. Many people nowadays do use digital editing programs to make their photos better. Utilizing the right proper filters will give you a good photo. And the added bonus is that you don't have to do any editing. This page is a good source for knowing which filter is best for your camera. First and foremost, you have to determine the backdrop for your shot. Make sure that you have good lighting and interesting colors as a backdrop. This is the first guide... Read full post here

Importance Of Digital Photography Courses

As we know that digital photography holds a lot of promise. However, for you to tap into this potential, you have to know how to go about it. Many people that have digital cameras have not mastered the full potential they have within them. However, if you are concerned about having more results, you will have to look into digital photography courses. After all, knowledge has to come first and there are varieties of courses that you can take out there. If you are wondering where to begin, go online and see how you can find digital photography courses that... Read full post here

Learn What Photojournalistic Wedding Photography Is ? Read This FAQ Now

This is what many people know now and why they want it for their wedding. After you get done reading this you'll understand that it can be very good for wedding pictures. Make the decision after you're done reading. What is it? Its photography done in documentary style. This means that every photo is taken with a story. All the photos would be candid to get the best. These photos would tell a story from the beginning to the end of the wedding, all done without words. Meaning that the pictures... Read full post here

Photography Tips 2

When You Are Taking Photos of People Don't Be Afraid to Move In Close. Zoom With Your Feet. Standing back and trying to get in close using your zoom is often necessary when you are in stealth mode for candid shots. However it does leave you open to camera shake the more you zoom. If the opportunity presents itself the preference here is to move physically closer to the subject and increase the sense of intimacy. Read full post here

Basics About Digital Cameras

Shooting beautiful pictures will take lots of practice. Although a digital camera is able to automatically do some of the work for you, you still need to make sure you do your part. Keep in mind that you are the photographer and is responsible for capturing the images. As you browse through this article, we will get to know some things to help us enhance the use of our digital cameras. First and foremost, you need to be familiar with your camera. Most usually take the camera out of the box and then fiddle with it as... Read full post here

Event Photography - 101 Tips

An event photographer is one who is present at marriages, sports events, concerts, award ceremonies etc. to literally take photos of the event. It is commonly believed that event photography is a straightforward job, wherein all a person has to do is turn up at the event and keep clicking photographs every now and then. But this is absolutely false. Many advanced courses are devoted to prepare people to become an event photographer and like any other highly skilled profession, an event photographer must have some important qualities to be successful at his job. ... Read full post here

How To Shoot High Impact Portraits

The reason that so many portraits lack impact is that nothing seems to be happening. The person is just standing there, staring at your digital camera. Often they look bored. Sometimes they even look scared. The 'startled rabbit syndrome' is often much in evidence. Rarely does the person actually look as if they're having a good time. Therefore, one of the basic things you have to do is extract some sort of expression. Your first attention might be to go for a smile, and your first preference to ask the person to say 'cheese'. Still, it really... Read full post here

On Digital Photography

Many people have purchased digital cameras in the past few years and are looking at improving their digital photography. This is something that can be done by understanding a few things about the technology and the camera they may have. The best thing to remember is that taking many shots of the same image is fine and is a great way to go. If someone wants to improve their experience with their digital camera then they should upgrade their memory card. This is a vital first step as it will allow for many more pictures to be... Read full post here

Outdoor And Nature Photography With Nikon Zoom Lenses

Pictures have become commonplace and photographs have inundated entire portions of our lives. Go onto any social media site and you will no doubt be greeted by hundreds of pictures per profile. Cameras are within the reach of everyone and with digital photographs there is none of the hassle of getting anything developed. We can see what we snapped right away and delete or share it just as quickly. Because of this there is an interest in going back to the basics and attempting to compose real and great snapshots and you can shoot great outdoor and nature photography with... Read full post here

How to Choose the Ideal Digital Camera

You are ready to buy yourself a digital camera. How to pick the perfect digital camera for you? Here are the ingredients that you need to consider when getting a digital camera. The very first point that comes to my mind right now is to choose the camera with the highest resolution. It should own minimum 2 to 3 megapixels, if possible. The camera should get as much RAM as you can afford. More RAM says that the camera can keep more photos, so you will own larger memory space and you wouldn't need to move them... Read full post here

The Most Opportune Time To Capture Great Photos

One of the secrets to great photography is the lighting. You can also utilize artificial lighting to capture photos. But majority of the time the greatest photo you can take is with natural lighting. So in this article we are going to discover the different advantages between the different times of the day. To start with, the time that most photographers adore taking shots at are either the early morning hours or the late afternoon hours. Photographers love this time because the sun is low and gives off a gold and orange light. Taking photographs at this... Read full post here

The ABC's Of Preventing Digital Camera Damage

To ensure that the future generation will have a keepsake of your life now is to capture pictures. For many years, people have used cameras to make photographs. The digital camera is definitely,hands down, the most used camera today. Since it is very user friendly most people have an affinity to it. As long as you want to keep your digital camera you need to take care of it. In this article, you will discover some tips by which you can protect your digital camera. The most basic thing you can do to protect your digital camera... Read full post here

Things You Can Do To Get Better Travel Photos

Many will attest that traveling brings out the paparazzi in them. Traveling induces us to grab hold of the camera and shoot away to our heart's content. There are so many new sights and sounds that tickles our fancy which prompts us to take so many pictures. This page will give you some tips when taking photos during your travels. Number one is to learn your camera settings months before your trip. Cameras today have all the options that you can set according to your taste. The camera manual will help you to ably maneuver the settings.... Read full post here

Advice On Buying A Water Resistant Cameras

A waterproof digital camera is not just a cool thing to have but is also quite equipped to capture those wonderful moments of life. There is no more need for you to worry about developing films or changing them. All you have to do is plug these into your computer and download the photos you have taken. Also you don't have to concern about your camera getting wet while taking pictures in a water park. All things said, there are some aspects of the waterproof digital camera which has to be given some thought before... Read full post here

The Pros And Cons Of Point and Shoot, DSLR And Hybrid Cameras

A camera today has gone past the point where you as a consumer can choose either to take a compact point and shoot camera, a DSLR camera or a Hybrid camera. These choices were not available to the consumer just a couple of years back. Technology as it progresses ensures that among other things the prices come down. No need to worry, in this article all the three cameras shall be considered and by the end you should be able to choose one from among them. point and shoots are the most well known types. These are... Read full post here

Family Portrait Photographer - Key Considerations When Choosing One

Family portrait photographs are taken on numerous occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, new born celebrations and annual family get-together. To capture these joyous occasions, portrait photography serves as an excellent medium. However, portrait photography must be of high quality, as inferior photographs will fail to rouse that sweet sense of longing when people revisit them and would thus be a loss of significant effort and money. Hence, it is crucial to cautiously choose a professional family portrait photographer and a few important factors if taken care of will contribute significantly towards making the portrait photography sessions an excellent success. ... Read full post here

Simple Wedding Photography Ideas

Wedding pictures is perhaps an important facet in planning the proper wedding. In any case, footage would always be the very best remnants for a given occasion. Years from the wedding, the photographs would stay as alive and vivid as if they simply occurred yesterday. As a photographer, it's important to rule in certain considerations to make your venture of pictures a success. The wedding has been entitled to your care and skills. Listed below are some suggestions which may help. First, do not forget that a specific wedding ceremony can only happen as soon as in... Read full post here

A Few Basic Tips About Travel Photography

You can be sure that travel photography is here to stay just as long as people want to travel. Because of the budget-friendly DSLR cameras available today people are getting encouraged more and more to become photoholics. Travel photos are really dear to their owners because of the fact that travel photos contain lots of memories. Traveling provides you only once chance to get your technique right so it is important that you perfect your technique before the trip. This page will teach you some simple things about travel photography. First, make sure that you are well... Read full post here

5 Techniques For Good Outdoor Photos

Everyone adores the perfect nature snapshot. It's effortless for viewers to position themselves in the photograph. Even tough they've never went to the lake, people like checking out photographs of lakes because it brings them, for just a brief moment, into a peaceful environment. To help you get the most from the time you spend outdoors with your camera, here are five elementary methods for taking superior nature photos. Being a photographer, I've realized that in case you attack your outdoor photography with the correct mindset, you're sure to do well, quite often in ways you never... Read full post here

Don't Be a Wombat. A Wombat Eats Roots and Leaves

Very often you get some of the best shots especially of people after the event. This is especially relevant to wedding and party photography for the purposes of blackmail... however I digress. Given you have good intentions you can get some great shots at this time because people tend to relax after there is an agreed end to whatever the proceedings are. They tend to forget your presence and relax and it is at this time you can capture some great candid images. Read full post here

How To Create Your Photo Portfolio

People today love taking pictures and making a collection out of them. This is actually one of the most fun hobby that one can indulge in. If you are already dabbling in photography you will do well to make your own portfolio. You only need to have few tools which will be discussed on the following paragraphs. It is important, of course, that you have a digital camera. However, do not just use any digital camera. It is important that you buy the most excellent camera that you can afford. A camera that has high quality features is a... Read full post here

Choosing A Picture Editing Package

With so many photo editors swarming throughout the market today, you can expect them to range from one side of the spectrum to another in functionality and complexity. Similarly, photo editors pricing can also range widely from free to hundreds of dollars. However, if you're going to put the effort in to find the right one that fits your particular needs, do not consider price to be a good barometer of capability. It's all about your personal preference and your individual needs when making a choice. Today's photo editors offer a wide selection of functions and features.... Read full post here

How To Begin Your Own Photo Blog

Digital photos are everywhere you look these days! It seems like almost everyone has a digital camera these days that can snap images of just about anything in a matter of moments. Using electronic photographs instead of the traditional film and paper print photos is cheap, there is no wasted paper to end up in the garbage and they take up almost no physical space at all! And what's better than just taking lots of digital photos is the fun way you can share them with others. There are lots of different ways to share your photos,... Read full post here

The Canon Digital Camera Powershot Range

Many cameras today are minimal cost and have great options. It used to be that digital cameras cost lots more money but now they are terribly reasonable. Selecting the right camera for your wishes is the real call that has to be made. The best camera for the price that's on the market is the new Canon electronic camera Powershot. The Powershot is Canon's most popular camera. The cause of this is because it is a great priced camera with a lot of great options. It is the only camera in that price range that offers 5... Read full post here

Should I Take A Photography Class?

If a person is interested in photography as a hobby, as a future profession or simply because it is a requirement in their art studies then attending a photography class would be a good idea for a number of reasons. There are many aspects of photography to consider as it is not just about getting lucky with a random snap. Good photos are usually foreseen by the artist before they even take a picture, they should know what the outcome will be. Many people that attend photography class as a hobby use their skills to enter competitions because during the... Read full post here

Choosing Digital Camera Memory Cards For Better Photography

Just like a traditional analogue camera needs film, a digital camera needs memory to store your photographs. Most digital cameras come with a pitiful amount of internal memory, so you are almost required to buy a memory card as your first accessory. Don't stop at getting a single memory card for your digital camera, though. There are several reasons why you should get more than just one. For starters, digital camera memory cards are cheap and don't take up any space, and having several will greatly improve your chances to take more and better pictures.... Read full post here

All About Photorealism

Art in the skies. All you need to do is go to the Kansas University Art Museum to experience photorealism which was really big during the 70s. Setting apart pigment from celluloid is something that you need to master. This is a kind of painting wherein the artist needs to work on what is called a working medium. A canvass serves as the base of what is to become a replica of any photograph. The skills of 22 artists were presented in an exhibit organized by two friends, one of them a leading aviation and aerospace attorney.... Read full post here

Photography Coaching - Make use of Composition To Improve Your Photos

Do you want to take some unbelievable pics? Do you need photography instruction? Why don't we check out composition and just how it will enhance your pictures with immediate effect. Composition possesses many features like; perspective, lighting, coloration, depth of field, position of the topic area and many more. This particular list doesn't get into all of the different items which make up composition, nevertheless uncover a few to get you thinking. Should you employ a few of these digital photography lessons, your pictures will certainly advance significantly. Here are a... Read full post here

Portrait Photography - Tips And Methods

Profiles of people have been captured in several famous photographs for decades. However, portrait photography is not as simple as clicking a button on the camera; instead it is about making a person or a group of people come alive in a image by depicting them in their true form. A good portrait photograph goes against the norm and is able to catch mental states and angles of a person like never seen before. However, photographs of one person or of entire families are also taken by photographers, and these are generally preserved in family albums. ... Read full post here

Photography Business Card - A Small Portfolio

Though it may really take up a lot of effort and time on your end, a photography business card must be more creative than most cards. It should serve as a mini portfolio or a sample, at the very least, that it of your work and your abilities. This is one of those things that you need to think about. If you don't have the necessary design skills, go get a friend who is a graphic designer to do it for you. If you don't have a friend who is a graphic designer, hire a professional to do it for... Read full post here

Access To Flip UltraHD Camcorder

If you love to capture every single thing that catches your attention while on a trip or even that extraordinary thing at an ordinary day, then here's something that you will surely love, the Flip UltraHD Camcorder. It is the latest released device that guarantees to provide you with various features that are perfectly fit for your needs in terms of getting videos. Thus, it's a must-have for anyone who always goes for the best. Nowadays, the Internet serves as a very helpful venue where you can find that Flip Video UltraHD Camcorder Review. It is important... Read full post here

How To Make Your Portrait Photography Look More Professional

Do you know the difference between people photography and portrait photography? People photography is simply snapping pictures of friends without thinking of how it might turn out. Portrait photography gets photos one step closer to looking like they were shot by a professional. There are many elements to be considered in portrait photography. One is the angle at which you take the photograph, the expression of emotion on the subject's face, and the lighting that will be used. Just because you may be an amateur snapping photos at a family gathering, you still need the same basic knowledge which is... Read full post here

Digital Cameras Exposure Settings Explained

Anytime you hear the word "exposure" in regards to photography it has to do with the amount of light that the sensor takes for each photograph. It's a huge part to whether or not your pictures come out perfect or unpleasant. If you own a digital camera you should know that they help determine the correct exposure by using judgment light meters. This helps provide the proper amount of light automatically. The use of light meters is acceptable if you're just learning about digital photography. It might take a little time to understand the entire process, but... Read full post here

Starting With a Portrait Career

If you wish to become a professional portrait photographer, make sure to study the profession alternative in detail. Photography is usually a changing venture. Increasingly more photographers are entering the field because of the accessibility of the digital medium. It is ruthless and also you must be geared up in order to putting your all into to get clients and have them coming back. DON'T romanticize shooting as a career Smaller photo shoots oftentimes do not involve the equal volume of photographs as a wedding party or some other occasion, however editing still requires... Read full post here

Photography Tips 1

1. Don't Always Have People Smiling and Looking at the Camera. You May End Up With Just a Snapshot. Think about the shot you are about to take if it involves people. Remember that as soon as you have a person or people looking at the camera smiling you are in danger of creating a "snapshot." In the viewers mind you run the risk of having your photograph lumped in with a million other snapshots they have seen. Read full post here

How To Make Money With Event Photography

A great way to make money with photography is to focus on events. You will be surprised about how many people want events covered and photographed. The key trick is in choosing your market slice. You must choose a slice of the market where people want to keep memories alive in print. It must also be an event that is hard to capture for a not professional so that they will need your services. One idea is to go to kids sports events. Get permission from the coach to click pics for the... Read full post here

Digital Cameras

If you are planning to buy a digital camera then the following points should be considered before going for it. The entire market is full packed with a range of different digital cameras which are available in different price range, sizes and to variable degrees of operational complexity. If we talk about the size then they are available in various sizes right from the miniatures to the size of a credit card with the distinctive featured SLR systems. The leading brands of the market include Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Fuji, Kodak, Olympus and the list goes on. They... Read full post here

For Outdoor Photography Wear Sensible Shoes. I know I sound like your mother.

Actually if I WAS your mother I would also advise clean underwear but that's a subject for another blog. If you are scouting the neighborhood for that elusive shot or hacking through the jungle for a different but still elusive shot, you need to be comfortable. The ability to focus your attention outwardly on your environment for extended periods of time is the key to observing and capturing great shots. This activity is never helped by a pair of feet sending constant messages demanding some kind of attention. Read full post here

Photography Tips 4

People in Portraits Don't Necessarily Have to be Smiling. Nothing Says, "Amateur" Like a Big Cheesy Grin! Take a look through the average friends and family photo album and notice how there is an insistence that in all posed photos everyone is supposed to be smiling. When you are taking portraits you are not looking for death glares and you are not looking for big cheesy smiles either. Try to engage the subject and grab those moments that say something about the subject. Read full post here

When Photographing Men in Formal Surroundings Tell Them What to do With Their Hands

Most guys can deal reasonably well with how to act or behave in a formal setting such as a wedding, party or even corporate event. Of course there will always be exceptions and that's why wedding planners have "that table" way up the back of the room! What most men have great difficulty with is posing formally for photographs within those types of settings. As the photographer in situations such as these you hardly have time to spend hours working with them to get just that right pose that conveys some sort of natural ease. In... Read full post here

Waterproof Cameras: How To Buy A Kid's Digicam

Children of all ages love snapping pictures. And while we may tell them no each time they reach for an adult digital camera to toy around with, there comes a time, when they become prepared for one that belongs to them. Of course do not go out to buy them a costly camera with extravagant fragile features, but there are cameras out there that are ideal for kids! Digital cameras for children should be created for small hands. They should be designed in a way that they won't slip out or wiggle from their occasionally unstable grip. Kids cameras... Read full post here

Photography Tips 2

When You Are Taking Photos of People Don't Be Afraid to Move In Close. Zoom With Your Feet. Standing back and trying to get in close using your zoom is often necessary when you are in stealth mode for candid shots. However it does leave you open to camera shake the more you zoom. If the opportunity presents itself the preference here is to move physically closer to the subject and increase the sense of intimacy. Read full post here

Widen Your Photographic Horizons - Technical Versus Artistic

Photography is like any other field of the arts, it has a technical aspect and a creative one. It is only through constant improvement in the technical that you will be able to truly express yourself artistically. Your first two targets are the technical aspects of using your equipment to achieve a desired result as well as the technical side of creating an image that communicates something. Having said that the balance to seek here is not getting overly involved in the technical to the exclusion of the creative. Learn... Read full post here

The Art Of Hanging Artwork And Framed Photos

Decorating the wall with pictures and artwork is not as easy as it seems. Choosing a theme is important as well as picking the right pictures that will turn any empty wall into a lively and interesting one. If you want to achieve great results, then you have to understand that the task is something you must not take for granted. Moreover, there are some considerations that you need to take into account. Whichever part of the house you are decorating, it's important that you create a focal point. When it comes to arranging pictures on the... Read full post here

Learn How To Get Better At Photography

Photography is fast becoming a worldwide favorite hobby. It is great since it gives people the chance to shoot a scene and keep it as a souvenir for years. There are so many reasons why people decide to give photography a try but then the most common one would be just pure fascination. People love the freedom that they have in photography to snap photos of their everyday lives and special occasions and have those memories forever. If you are new to photography then this is the right place for you. This page will give you some ideas on how... Read full post here

Improving Your Photos In Five Steps

1. P is not for professional. So you pick up your camera, switch the mode dial to P, or if you are really getting fancy perhaps even shutter speed or aperture priority. But how do you go shooting in manual mode? Are you on top of all the decisions you are faced with? Leaving your camera on manual for a while may feel awkward at first but after a short period you will gain a much better understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how the three correlate to determine exposure. After you are comfortable shooting in manual there... Read full post here

The Rules of Image Composition are Both Fixed and Fluid

Photography tips on the rules of composition and how they cannot be broken yet must be broken!

Full Post here Image Composition

Try to Engage Emotionally with Your Subject or Subject Matter

Try to Engage Emotionally with Your Subject or Subject Matter

If you are shooting people and simply take snaps of them representing nothing in particular all you are doing is creating a document.

You might as well just write a note to yourself that "George was in the living room."

Take a moment to identify your feelings towards the subject or observe the subject’s feelings towards themselves, their environment or others around them.

In other words look at what you are seeing and "see" something, something worth communicating through the final image.

My Photography Blog

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Try to Engage Emotionally with Your Subject or Subject Matter Posted: 10 Jun 2011 12:36 AM PDT If you are shooting people and simply take snaps of them representing nothing in particular all you are doing is creating a document. You might as well just write a note to yourself that "George was in the living room." Take a moment to identify your feelings towards the subject or observe the subject’s feelings towards themselves, their environment or others around them. In other words look at what you are seeing and "see" something, something worth communicating through the final image.

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When Photographing Men in Formal Surroundings Tell Them What to do With Their Hands

In the absence of clear directions when photographing men, a sort of nervous hysteria will begin to set in.

This may result in them either striking some kind of silly pose or worse still, reverting to Neanderthal behavior and scratching their nether regions.

Read the Full Post here

The Technical and the Artistic of Photography

Photography is like any other field of the arts

it has a technical aspect

and a creative one.

Read the rest of this post here.

Take the Time to Get Accustomed to Your Environment Before Shooting

It is important to have your full attention on seeing and getting the shots you want... not on your surroundings.

Read the full post here

*19. Start by Shooting Subjects You Know and Have a Natural Liking For

Start your photographic adventures by shooting people you are familiar with, places you know well and things you are passionate about.

Persist with this process until your work begins the reflect your natural affinity for the people and things you love.

A pro can literally make an image of paint drying seem appealing... but that's because they are pro's!

Eventually you will become more technically and artistically proficient at representing things you like in way that makes them interesting to others.

The final step is bringing it all together so that you can take a shot of something you are not that interested in personally BUT... can make it interesting to others.

*18. For Outdoor Photography Wear Sensible Shoes. I know I sound like your mother.

Actually if I WAS your mother I would also advise clean underwear but that's a subject for another blog.

If you are scouting the neighborhood for that elusive shot or hacking through the jungle for a different but still elusive, shot you need to be comfortable.

The ability to focus your attention outwardly on your environment for extended periods of time is the key to observing and capturing great shots.

This activity is never helped by a pair of feet sending constant messages demanding some kind of attention.

17. When you think you have the shot... shoot some more! Note: Keep Brain engaged at all times.

There is a lot to be said for learning photography in the digital age and one of the great advantages is that it costs nothing to take a bunch of extra shots. In the days of film you would have been restricted in your output based upon your budget.

Film and processing costs quite literally forced photographers to get good fast, go broke or give up.

These days its a different story. Shooting a multitude of extra shots may very well get you the shot exactly how you want it but doing it mindlessly will teach you nothing.

So by all means take advantage of the freedom offered by digital photography but at the same time note what you are doing and note the different outcomes you are achieving as you do them to improve your skills.

16. You never know when something is going to happen so have a camera with you at all times.

Success at really getting good at photography is the idea of creating within your own mindset the viewpoint of always "being on." By that I mean always being aware of the world around you and opportunities within it for getting that great shot.

Of course sharpening your observation and "seeing" your environment as a photo is all rather pointless if you don't have a camera with you!

16. You never know when something is going to happen so have a camera with you at all times.

Success at really getting good at photography is the idea of creating within your own mindset the viewpoint of always "being on." By that I mean always being aware of the world around you and opportunities within it for getting that great shot.

Of course sharpening your observation and "seeing" your environment as a photo is all rather pointless if you don't have a camera with you!

15. When Photographing People, Portraits or Otherwise - Don't Be a Bossy Pants!

It is very easy when you get caught up in the moment of creation to start ordering people around like cattle to get them to comply with your "grand vision!"

Yes, a degree of control is always necessary when photographing people, especially when there is more than one to cope with! However for the most part maintaining the concept that the end result is for them and not you will always yield better results.

14. Only Use Photoshop As A Last Resort Or Port Of Last Call. Force Yourself To Achieve Your Best With The Camera

Try to use photo editing software as rarely as possible until you have a clear understanding of the abilities and limitations of your camera. Although there are always things you can do to improve or even save a shot in Photoshop it can lull you into a kind of laziness with the act of photographing itself.

The final result of this will be a stunting in your development as a photographer (although you will probably get pretty good with the software!) and ultimately you will hit the wall creatively. Unable to really "get" that shot you want because you haven't progressed technically or creatively with the camera.

Whenever Possible Shoot Using a Tripod or Alternately BE the Tripod

No this isn't a lesson in method acting. Obviously there are many situations where using a tripod is simply impracticle but...

It is a good idea to always think of stabilizing the camera at least in some way if possible. The greater the zoom you are dealing with, the greater the compensation you are making for low light the greater the possibility that camera shake will enter in.

If you can't use a tripod or monopod then try to make yourself into on. Lean against a wall or even lock your elbows against the side of your body.

12. Spend time studying the species and habitat you’re shooting. Especially Kids, they Move Around a Lot!

Try to visualize the shot or type of shot you want to get.
Observe your prey carefully within it's natural environment being very careful not to disturb it.
Take you time as some species can be quite flighty.
When the time is right... fire!
If you miss, pretend to your quarry that you got the shot you wanted lulling them back into a false sense of security.
Begin the stalking again...

11. Learn to Use Your Camera and Avoid the Need for Digital Enhancement Through Constant Practice.

The key to learning anything is to practice constantly but this does not mean endlessly running around snapping away at everything that moves... or doesn't.

Observation is key to this process. Observe the scene, predict the shot, try the shot until on the camera display, it looks ok.

Pay attention to how you have adjusted your settings throughout. Now go home and take a look at the shots full size.

Take note of the changes in each shot and how those changes moved you closer to or further away from what you were going for.

10. In Nature Photography or Outdoor Photography Your Observation and Understanding of the Environment is Vital.

You can’t rush nature photography and you really have to watch your subject for a long time in order to understand its behaviour. Put the camera down for a while and simply look at the scene or your subject in that scene.

9. How to Avoid That Look in Your Subject's Eyes That Suggests You Are Holding a Gun and Not a Camera.

The first step in any photo shoot of a person is that you must engage with the person and establish a rapport.

You must instill trust and confidence because the only way you are going to get great shots of that person is if they are relaxed with you.

If you are not a "people person" then try wildlife or perhaps a career in passport photograhpy.

8. Photography Literally Means Writing With Light or Light Writing. Look at the Light.

Take the time to step back occasionally and take your attention off the subject matter of your shoots. Instead look at the light in the scene.

Look at where it is coming from and what effect it is having on the subject or the overall scene.

Observe and learn the different effects that different light sources have. Step into the light!

7. Find a Rule of Photography. It Doesn't Matter Which. Prove It Right. Now Break It Until You Can Prove It Wrong.

Photography is an art.

Like any art it has a technical aspect to it and because of that certain rules have evolved.

Never treat the rules as being set in stone. Learn to follow the rule and achieve the expected result but don't stop there.

Look at lots of images that follow the rule then find images that break the rule, yet still work. Try to figure out why. Then go out and break some rules!

Lather, rinse and repeat.

6. The Camera is a Tool Like Any Other. It Has to Be Learned So That You Can Use It Instinctively.

6. The Camera is a Tool Like Any Other. It Has to Be Learned So That You Can Use It Instinctively.

Camera manufacturers go to great lengths to produce manuals and guides for the use of their cameras.

Take advantage of this and learn how to use the one you have.

Don't ever fall into the trap of chasing that other great camera that will take brilliant photos. Cameras don't shoot photos, photographers shoot photos and a photographer is someone who know how to use their available tools without thinking.

5. In Candid Photography the Keys Are Persistence and Quantity. Shoot Often and Keep Shooting

Cartier Bresson was the king of candid photography.

He would sometimes scout a location for days before he even took a shot. You may not have the time or inclination to do that but what you can do is look around to observe your environment and thanks to digital cameras, take a mountain of shots.

Persist, you will strike gold eventually.

People in Portraits Don't Necessarily Have to be Smiling. Nothing Says, "Amateur" Like a Big Cheesy Grin!

Take a look through the average friends and family photo album and notice how there is an insistence that in all posed photos everyone is supposed to be smiling.

When you are taking portraits you are not looking for death glares and you are not looking for big cheesy smiles either.

Try to engage the subject and grab those moments that say something about the subject.