Though a relatively new concept, more and more photography enthusiasts are discovering the beauty of microstock photography.  These people do what they like to do, which is photography, and it can earn you some extra cash on the side.  This bonus income could help not only pay bills but also for other photography related matters like buying a new camera or other photography equipment.

Since the knowledge or awareness of microstock photography is not that common yet, here are some of the things you need to know:

Understanding The Concept Of Microstock Photography.  Microstock photography is an offshoot of the traditional stock photography.  The term also means micropayment photography.  While traditional stock photos with limited use usually cost hundreds of dollars, microstock photos cost much less.  Photo buyers who buy photos for personal and small business use, more often than not, would choose microstock photos because they are way more affordable.

With microstock photography, serious photographers and hobbyists alike can enter the stock photography market.  Anybody with quality materials and who is willing to sell images for less can upload them to various websites that accept microstock photography.  Microstock sites usually do not charge a fee to anybody who will post photos but all submitted photos are not automatically accepted.  These sites usually have a team that checks all the pictures submitted for technical quality and if they have commercial and artistic merit.

Getting Started With Microstock Photography.  It is not that difficult to start with microstock photography.  All you need are your basic photography equipment and some editing software.  Your digital SLR would be suitable for many kinds of microstock photos and you can use an editing program that can be had for free.

If you already have the basic gear, the next thing to do would be to take photographs that you would need for your initial application process to the microstock site.  It would be great if your subjects are marketable like those related to business, lifestyle, and other popular themes.  Put yourself in the shoes of photo buyers to determine that kind of photographs that they would be looking for and those that your intended market would need.  Just make sure that your photos do not contain trademarked or copyrighted subjects or objects.  If you use a model, make sure that your model signs a release before you post the photographs.

It would definitely be a good idea to visit the microstock sites you intend to post pictures in to have an insight of the kind of photographs they will buy from you.  You would then need to submit your photos for review and make sure that it follows the guidelines of the microstock site.

Earning Through Microstock Photography.  Though microstock photos are available at lower prices compared to traditional stock photos, you can still earn more if you upload more photographs to microstock sites.  The more you upload, the more you earn.  The earning potential here is limitless.  It all depends on how much time you are willing to spend on shooting and the number of photographs you upload.

If you are just starting out, start small then test the waters.  See what works best for you, given your present commitments and schedule.  Consider the amount of time that you can apportion to this endeavor.  Choose the option you are most comfortable with.

..hope that helps someone,

Roy Barker

Whether it is a picture of your child’s first steps or of a very rare annular eclipse that got blurred, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for that rare moment or chance to come again.  Blurring in pictures is brought about by shaking or swaying of the hands that holds the camera.

For those who want to want to embark on the endeavor of professional photography, getting blurred pictures is a big no-no.  For budding photographers, professional or not, getting blurred photographs is a challenge that needs to be overcome.

With the advent of digital cameras equipped with automatic settings, many people think that basic lessons in digital photography are not needed anymore.  This is a misconception as the chance of getting blurred pictures is compounded by the fact that many digital cameras are very light and there is a big probability that it could be easily shaken or swayed when you take a shot.

Digital cameras make improved flexibility possible but there are also downsides like the increased likelihood of getting blurred pictures.  So here are some tips to avoid blurring of your digital pictures.

Your Stance Is Important.  When shooting pictures, there are a lot of positions depending on your subject.  You can stand, sit, kneel, or lay down to get a better focus and to get the best shot of your subject.

Whatever the position, your stance is very important.  It should be steady and stable so as to avoid any shaking or wobbling that could cause blurring in your pictures.  If you are standing, make sure that you are on level ground and that your feet are shoulder width apart.  You can also seek support by leaning to a tree or a wall, if available.

As much as possible, do not hold your camera at arm’s length as this could cause shaking or swaying of your camera.  If you are using a digital camera with an LCD screen, your camera should be at most 12 inches from your face to enable you to see your shot clearly while maintaining stability.  Try to maintain your elbows to be close to your sides.

Hold Your Camera Correctly.  The way you should hold your camera depends largely on the kind of camera that you have and what your dominant hand is.  Your grip must also be firm yet comfortable.

As a general rule, it is best if you hold your digital camera with your right forefinger on the top edge.  Your thumb must then be placed on the back of the camera firmly and the rest of your fingers should then be around the front.  Also make sure that none of your fingers will obstruct the lens.

Your left hand must be placed around the lens and must support the weight of your camera.  This is especially helpful if your gear is a DSLR digital camera.  You can also support your camera firmly if your left hand is along the camera’s bottom edge.  This also allows you to have a more stable grip when taking pictures.

Use A Tripod.  If you still keep on getting blurred digital photos despite the first two tips, maybe you should try using a tripod.  This would provide the stability that your hands can’t give but your camera needs.  There are many tripods out there in the market that comes at various styles and prices.  There are also portable types that you could easily bring to any location.

If you’re seeking more advanced techniques, Amy can lead you along the right path with photographic technique and application. You’ll learn more at her site.

stay focussed,

Roy Barker

The depth of field of a picture appears as a gradual transition and not as an abrupt change of the subject and the background from being sharp to being not.  Anything in front or in the back of the subject focused on begins to lose their clarity or sharpness.  The image of the subject in focus is sharp while everything else in the shot are out of focus or unsharp.

Knowing the concept of depth of field and being familiar with the various techniques in controlling your photograph’s depth of field can enable you to create spectacular photographs of anything you want.  With this knowledge, you can bring your subject into sharper focus and allow the background to blend in for a stunning picture.

There are certain factors that allow you to control your photograph’s depth of field.  A combination of these would help you to create the image that you want:

Aperture.  The aperture basically is the size of the opening which permits the entry of light through the lens.  The size of the lens aperture is usually referred to as aperture value, f/value, or f/stops.  The aperture that you can use depends on the kind of camera that you have.  The size of the aperture that you choose can greatly impact especially close-up shots or those that are taken using zoom lens.

As a rule of thumb, always remember that the smaller the value, the larger the aperture.    Consequently, a larger f/value will give you a smaller aperture.  This is very important to remember as a small aperture will give you a more extensive depth of field while a large aperture will give your picture a shallow depth of field.

If you want to concentrate wholly on your subject or only one part of a scene and make the rest out of focus, it is recommended to use a large aperture.  If you want to keep your photographs as sharp as possible, choose a small aperture.

The Lens’ Focal Length.  Always remember that there is an inversely proportional relationship between the focal length of your length to the depth of field of your photograph.  This goes without saying that you can attain a greater depth of field if you use a shorter focal length.

You can also enhance this extensive depth of field if you attach a wide-angle length.  Photographers use this trick if they want to focus mainly on the subject and would want to avoid the background from distracting or stealing the attention of the viewer from the main subject.

The Distance Of The Camera From The Subject.  In this case, the distance of the camera from the subject is directly proportional to the depth of field of the resulting shot.  This means that the farther the camera is from the subject, a greater depth of field results.  The depth of field decreases as the camera comes nearer to the subject.

Some would contend that one could get a shallow or limited depth of field by either getting closer to the subject or increasing the camera’s focal length.  However, the results between these two techniques will be different.  By using longer focal lens instead of getting close to the subject, you can get a “flattened” perspective which allows more prominence to the potential narrow depth of field for your picture.

Amy has to be one of the best tutors online when it comes to photography including the finer parts like depth of field. She can even teach you how to change the look of depth of field in photoshop. If that interests you take a squizz at her site.

..stay focussed,

Roy Barker

A digital camera user can also view the shots instantly.  There are also various photography resources, especially on digital photography and the various digital photography techniques, which are readily available now especially on the Net.  There are even websites that specialize in the matter of photography and all its aspects.  An amateur digital photographer or one who is planning to start a photography business can now find the endeavor made a lot simpler and easier with the various photography tips that are within reach.

There are also many brands and models of digital cameras that are out in the market today.  And they are becoming more affordable than ever.  They are now within the reach of ordinary consumers and professional photographers alike.  And the array of choices of various digital camera models and brands is just great.

When dabbling in digital photography, there are certain things that a digital photographer needs to always remember:

Comfortable Grip.  There is no one kind of grip that all people would feel comfortable to.  It does not mean that if Professional Digital Photographer A holds his camera in a certain way, that it will suit you.  You would need to find it yourself.  Grip depends mostly on one’s shooting style.  So don’t be afraid to experiment to find that grip most suitable and comfortable for you.  try to do it in various stances in different hand choices.

Composition and Layout.  Decide on how you want your photograph to be.  When taking photos of people, determine whether you want to include the background and how much of the background to include in the picture.  With this, you would need to be at the right distance to get the subject-background composition that you want.

The Importance of Focus.  Most digital cameras out in the market nowadays are equipped with automatic focusing function.  If you want to succeed in digital photography, it would be best to turn off this function and train yourself the traditional way.  This means doing the focusing manually in trying to get the right shot.  This would require patience as it could get tiring.  With practice, you can choose the right combination of arrangements vis-à-vis your equipment and your subject.

Just Click Away.  Since one need not worry about wastage in films in digital photography, one can shoot hundreds of photos of a subject in a single photo session.  These photos can then be reviewed to find the perfect shot that you have been looking for.  You can always delete the bad shots or the shots that you do not need anymore to free up some space in your memory.  If you are a budding digital photographer, you can always practice your shooting skills this way.  As they say, practice makes perfect.  You can hone not only the technical skills needed in professional digital photography, you can also enhance yourself in the field of art photography.

Digital photography can be embarked on as a simple hobby or a as a trade.  One can even start a business in digital photography.  Like any endeavor, digital photography skills can be improved with time, patience, and practice.  The use of new technology in photography makes a lot of things to be possible but the best results can only be achieved with hard work and dedication.

…hope this is handy to you in some way,

Roy Barker

Professionally created child photos taken in a studio are very popular among parents.  There are even studios that offer themes and costumes for children to put on during the photo shoot.  As a result of this, professional child photographers come up with stunning child portraits that no parent could resist showing off (or buying).

Doing child portrait photography or child art photography is not an easy job.  Portrait photography is an art that requires not only the “eye” but also the technical expertise that comes with the job.  A professional photographer needs special technical know-how and training for a portrait photograph to come out good.  A good portrait is a result of the technical expertise of a photographer.

And when specializing in child portrait photography, a photographer should be prepared to deal with the different attitudes and moods of children during photo shoots.  And with this, it is very important that child photographers have an idea of child psychology and would need to have a lot of patience.

There are also parents who tend to hover around their children and are overly anxious during a photo shoot and this could be quite distracting and stressful.  So any photographer who wants to do children photography or baby photography must be prepared for this.  The exercise of utmost professionalism is also very important in handling not only the kids but also their parents.

So, for beautiful child portraits without the fuss, here are some tips to bear in mind:

• The innocence of children allows them natural expressions and looks that are priceless and could never be possible when they grow up.  This simplicity and beauty is what many child photographers want to capture with their cameras.  So it is important to never force a child into a pose.  Just let them be their natural, carefree, and uninhibited selves so just click away and capture every expression and angle possible.  Besides, with the advent of digital cameras, one need not worry of films that would be wasted.

• Understanding the person to be photographed allows a photographer to establish a connection and rapport with the subject.  And in the realm of baby photography and kids’ photography, these are important as little children tend to be a bit fidgety around strangers.  Being friendly with the subject can really help a lot during a photo shoot.

• It wouldn’t hurt to relax.  This goes for both the photographer and the parent.  If children sense some sort of tension, uneasiness, apprehension, or fretfulness, they often tend to be affected and get fidgety themselves.  Children can easily relax and be themselves if they are in a relaxed atmosphere.  And excellent photographs usually results if a photographer is relaxed, friendly, playful and engaging with the subject during the photo shoot.

• Whether a photo shoot is done in a studio, outdoors, or elsewhere, it is very important that the child or baby to be photographed is in a comfortable outfit.  This consideration in clothing is of utmost importance to ensure that the child is comfortable and relaxed for the photo shoot.  A child in a fancy fairy get-up or in a Batman costume would indeed look good on pictures but if it is uncomfortable to wear or would hamper the natural movement of the child, better do away with it.  Costumes or clothes that make children ill at ease would adversely affect the mood and the disposition of a child and this will clearly show on the photographs.

It is very important that a child portrait reflect the uniqueness of the subject.  The photograph or portrait should speak for itself.  Though children photography can get quite tricky, a good, sensitive, and creative professional child photographer can certainly pull it through.  With experience and expertise, the insights that a child photographer gain with every photo session are invaluable gems that can be applied to hone one’s craft and art.

..stay focussed,

Roy Barker

Making extraordinary photographs with ordinary cameras

1. Pay attention to light – Photography is pretty much like seeing—our eyes are like cameras. In both processes, light is your best friend. You utilize light, you should play with it, it’s basically what you need—whether you have a compact camera or a digital single lens reflex camera.

2. To flash or not to flash – I think so many people holding their point and shoot cameras make it a point that the flash works—meaning, that it should flash every time. However,  sometimes bright flash removes the realism of a scene. In fact, some of the most dramatic images are taken relying on only natural light. Gloomy days with overcast skies cast a dark coating on everything on the ground, and that nasty flash can ruin the opportunity to present nature photography in its raw state. There are a lot more instances when you just don’t need that flash, aside from wanting to capture your subject’s facial shadow under the sun. If you’re taking pictures of landscapes and sceneries, turn off the flash.

3. Play with different angles – How many pictures of a subject do you capture? One? Mostly about three or five? Professional photographers can take dozens of photographs of a single subject, experimenting with different angles, heights, light settings, and distance. The more photographs you take of a single subject, the greater chances of picking out good photographs. Regardless of your subject—a child holding a cone of ice cream, red maple trees on an autumn day, ominous clouds before a storm, or a blooming flower in a garden—use your creativity and  capture it in the frame.

4. Use a tripod – A tripod for your point and shoot camera is not a bad option, especially if you have issues keeping the camera still.

5. Focus on your subject – You can adjust the aperture to get your subjects in focus although this is not something you’d do when taking pictures of hills and landscapes. However, if you have a particular subject and you want it to steal someone’s attention, increase the aperture. A large aperture reduces depth of the photo and puts focus on the main subject and blurs the foreground. This could create some impressive effects especially with a wide array of subjects—flowers, insects, faces, etc.

6. Play with colour effects – Colour adjustments can be done during photo editing or through the changing camera settings prior to taking the shots. While you can capture a realistic imagery using normal color settings, you can create surreal or fancy effects by adjusting these settings, and this is much of a trial-error thing. For instance, portraits would look classic and elegant using grayscale tone.

7. Learn the ins and outs of your camera – Did you bother to read the user manual? Many don’t. Knowing much about that gadget is just as important as taking good pictures. Take it to bed and read it again. It’s an essential factor because if you know little about your camera, you also have limited access to its functionality and capability. Therefore you should experiment with its functions and settings frequently.

…stay focussed,

Roy Barker

Why are they so important? When we talk about a photograph we usually speak of it in terms of subject matter, lighting, balance, etc. In reality, the three things that make that picture possible or effective were the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. If you can master these three activities then you will be able to always create the kind of results you want, regardless of conditions.

Remarkably, even the most modern of digital cameras cannot always guarantee success. That includes top of the range digital cameras. If the camera allows the photographer to shoot entirely in manual mode, however, almost any sort of lighting conditions or photographic requirements can be tackled. Even better, if the camera has “semi-automatic” features such as aperture or shutter priority settings the photographer’s life just got even easier.

Don’t know about these settings? Well, there are all kinds of descriptions, metaphors, and illustrations as to how these three factors interact to make a final image, but these tend to make very little sense unless you really understand the fundamentals of the three settings. It begins with ISO, which is the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor to the light entering through the lens. The ISO can be automatically adjusted to ever increasing levels of sensitivity, but this comes at a cost, and that is digital “noise” or graininess in the photograph. Instead of making the sensor do the work, the photographer should consider letting more light into the camera.

This can be done via the aperture of the lens or the speed of the shutter. Both choices also come with some valuable and steady compromise, and it is up to the photographer to select the right setting for their photographic intention. When they decide to allow more light in through the lens, by opening or closing the aperture they will instantly change the depth of field. This will make the background and foreground sharper or blurrier. When the photographer sets the aperture at a very low number, such as 2.8, they are actually flooding the camera with light. This shortens the depth of field and makes everything but the subject extremely blurry. Obviously a smaller or higher aperture setting will do the opposite, and this is usually what a landscape or cityscape photographer chooses.

If they decide to control light through shutter speed they will have to understand that slower shutters allow a lot more light into the camera, but this runs the risk of adding blur to the image too. Shutter speed also has a lot to do with controlling motion. When something is moving fast, you will be able to capture that motion as sharp and “frozen in mid air” or, alternatively, you may simply choose a “streaky blur” look to add more artistic value to your image.

A common problem photographers have is shooting fast motion in low light. There really is no “magic” answer to this. You need as much light as possible. Since there are only really three ways to enhance the lighting in your images, you really only have three options available to you; a slower shutter, a wide aperture or a higher ISO. Each have their advantages and disadvantages and it is up to you what you are prepared to gain and prepared to lose. You may want a frozen in mid air look of a fast motion subject and are prepared to have a little more noise in your image. Or you may choose a slightly blurrier look but a lot less noise.

If the photographer knows that they must have a specific aperture or shutter speed for the image, and the camera has priority modes, they can simply set the element that they want, and the camera will tackle the rest. The trick is learning exactly what is required!

If you like this article, please feel free to leave a comment below and bookmark it with one of the many I’ve provided below if you can spare a minute.

This article provided by Amy Renfrey (visit her website)

Vaseline effect #1 - Eva Polak

Quick note from Roy – Photography tips and tricks are welcomed here and if you feel you have something to offer other photographers, feel welcome to visit this page for the guidelines. Now on with this amazing tip….,

Vaseline does wonders, not only for your skin, but can also help you to create impressionist masterpieces. You can transform just about any subject into something interesting and exciting. If you like the soft, poetic look in your photographs this simple technique is for you.

You will need:

a tripod, a skylight filter or piece of clear glass that will fit into your Cokin filter holder, (You can ask your framer to cut few pieces of glass to fit into your Cokin Filter holder), Vaseline, and a soft, absorbing cloth.

Technique:

1. Place your camera on a tripod and set it to a manual focus.

2. Compose your image.

Vaseline effect#2 - Eva Polak

3. Place a tiny amount of Vaseline on the glass or filter

4. As you look through viewfinder, smear the jelly in different directions,
using your finger or a cotton bud, until you achieve the desired effect.
(Horizontal strokes on the filter will reveal vertical lines in your scene and vice versa).

5. Adjust your exposure settings and focus if needed.

6. Release the shutter.

7. Check the preview for the result. Repeat if necessary.

Note: Vaseline can damage your camera or lens if it gets on them so remember to wipe your finger.

Play with this technique for a while to discover how it works with a different subject and light condition.

Have fun!

Eva Polak

shooting backgrounds

The first thing to remember about the background of any photograph is that it is indeed the background and ‘not the subject’. This means that the power of this part of the scene must be to a much lesser degree than the primary focus. While there is no easy tip or trick for knowing if you have allowed the background to overwhelm or distract from the subject, simply remembering that it isn’t to be any kind of competition to the attention of the viewer, is a good start.

2. There are many great techniques that can be used to diminish the effect of the background as well. The first is to simply eliminate the background altogether by filling the frame with your subject. Zooming in on the faces in the crowd, the flowers in the garden, or the goofy face of the mud-covered dog will not allow for any room to spare, and this can reduce the chance of a distracting background.

3.  The photographer can simply position their subjects in a way that leaves the entire area behind them as open space. A portrait at the edge of a horizon-free field, along the shore, or simply against a blank wall can force the subject to “pop” and take the viewer’s entire attention. Alternately, the photographer can position themselves to create these same effects. For example, they could squat down below the subject of a portrait which leaves only the open sky above them as the background.

4. Many photographers decide to create a specific look or feel to their photographs by intentionally blurring their backgrounds as well. This is done in several ways, including through panning and aperture adjustments. The panning technique can be used only on images that are in motion, and can be a great way to add movement to the scene as well. For instance, two boys kicking a soccer ball could be frozen in time by a super fast shutter speed, but this might allow by-standers and other people in the scene to pull attention from the subject. Instead, the photographer could partially depress the shutter to lock the settings on the moving boys and then follow them with the camera focused and ready until the right moment comes and they hit the shutter. This is going to allow the boys to remain in full focus, but the entire background is going to be a blur due to the motion of the camera.

5. Aperture adjustments are known for allowing as much light into the camera as possible, but they have a huge effect on the foreground and background too. When the f/stop is set to the lowest numbers the lens is open all of the way, and everything but the subject tends to be out of focus do to the shortening of the depth of field. This too is a great way to capture still subjects without a distracting background.

Contributed by Amy Renfrey who is responsible for many articles on this site. She makes every shoot seem so easy and gives away tips on just how to do it regularly each month in her downloadable photographer’s ezine.

Daylight exposure table by photo.net

Taking good pictures is a great way to be able to share your experiences with other people and make a living. Time marches on very quickly, and those pictures are a great way to look back over what has occurred or indeed, help recommend a photographer. Many people are disappointed though at some of the pictures. They didn’t turn out the best.

This can be due to:

- Not enough exposure

- Too much exposure

- Double exposure

Understanding Photography Exposure

There is more to understanding exposure than most people realize. Once you understand the basics of it though, you will get better quality pictures more often. You won’t be relying on luck alone to get your great shots. Too many people assume that with a better quality camera or one that is higher priced, they won’t have to worry about exposure issues.

Photography exposure chart

However, most find out they still need to learn the basics. Don’t just assume that there is enough lighting in a room or that the sunlight will always provide it. Likewise, you need to be prepared for too much lighting to create problems for you as well. That is more common than not enough of it.

By understanding photography exposure you will find that you achieve remarkable photos to remember any experience by. The exposure for pictures refers to the amount of light that is involved with the processing of it. The shutter cycle time frame will affect your photography exposure. This is why you need to make sure you get a camera with a reliable cycle time.

Here’s a photography exposure chart and further detail.

Digital cameras have certainly taken over the way in which we take pictures. Exposure is something that is built right into it for convenience. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get the level of clarity or all of the detail that you are after though. That is why you need to explore your options when it comes to exposure. That way you can be confident you will always have wonderful pictures. Why be stressed out over something that should be fun?

Double Exposure

A common problem with pictures is double exposure. This involves a picture alrady being in place on a particular frame. This is often the result of either not using your digital camera properly or it isn’t working like it should. However, many people have been achieving startling effects by intentionally double expose their pictures. They feel it gives the end result something very unique and interesting. In fact, you will find quite a few contests out there that allow you to enter your double exposures.

Learn about the Camera Exposure Meter

Day-night exposure by aguntherphotography.com

The camera exposure meter is something you need to pay close attention to. Many cameras offer this built in feature to reduce problems with exposure. However, the camera exposure meter can really only benefit you if you know how to use it. This will take the guess work out of how much light you need at a given time to get quality pictures. That is important when you consider all the possible variables that can affect it.

There are many different kinds of exposure meters you can have for your camera. For example some of them are manual while others are more advanced and will do most of the figuring out for you. It is a good idea to have one with many modes so you can choose the most appropriate one at any given point in time.

It may surprise you to learn that you don’t have to spend a ton of money either to get a quality camera with an exposure meter on it. Take your time to do research before you buy such a product. You want your pictures to have great color and a sharp appearance. The amount of exposure they get is going to significantly influence that.

Experiment with your camera too so that you are aware of which setting seem to provide you with the quality of pictures you want. Try to take several pictures of the same thing with different amounts of light exposure. Doing so gives you something to compare it to and determine which setting is going to get you the best looking pictures.

You can help me. If you like this piece on exposure photography, let me know by leaving a comment below. If you have some tips to offer or experiences for other readers  you can also share them below.  I can give you more relative content if you leave a suggestion for future articles too. Go ahead, leave a comment – everything helps!

Use one of the bookmarks below if you want to find this article again or share  it with others. Every photographer should have at least one bookmarking service and they’re free.

Special Note: Good results with digital backdrops, backgrounds and image editing are often more easily achieved with step by step video tuition rather than trying to absorb a five hundred page book or guide. Why? Because you can actually see what needs to be done and how to do it.

If this takes your interest and you want to try it, this link provides the first of a string of free tuition videos straight after registering your interest. All you have to do is register your email address. Then, after confirming your receipt of a test email, we send the backdrop (background) and image editing videos to your inbox. It all takes a few seconds surprisingly. Later, you will be given an option to join the club but that’s up to you. You will also be informed if the club is closed for new members.