Make Your Amateur Photos More Professional | Photography. With everyone and their grandmother having a digital camera you can make almost anybody look like a professional photographer, well, better-than-amateur at least. You can use this simple process on almost any photo you take. Let’s start with our regular, old, point-and-shoot photo. This one was taken with a little higher-end camera, but it can still use a lot of work.
First, we’re going to sharpen our image a bit using the Unsharp Mask [Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask]. We don’t want anything too drastic, so I used some low settings. Now we’re going to add a Levels Adjustment layer [Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels]. Next step is to add a Brightness/Contrast Adjustment layer [Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast].
One more adjustment layer… the Hue/Saturation Adjustment layer [Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation]. Now you can probably already see how much of a difference these few steps make. It’s a subtle change, but it usually makes the photo look nicer. Tips For Taking Better Holiday Portraits. This week it’s Thanksgiving here in America, which means it’s the start of the holiday season.
Family and friends will be together more, meaning more opportunity for potential portrait sittings. The larger the group, the more opportunity you have to sell. Yet if you have a small home studio, or no studio at all, where are you going to photograph everyone? While it may not be a problem if you live in a nice warm climate, what do you do when the wind is howling and the snow is falling? Find A Perfect Location Don’t scout the perfect location on your own; talk with the family as well.
Find A Backup Plan Now that you have ideas, choose one more. Understand the Family Dynamics New moms may not want a small infant outside in the cold, even if another member of the family set up an outside portrait. Break Down The Groups Before the portrait day, get a list of families and relationships. Entire familyGrandma and GrandpaSon, wife and kidsDaughter, husband and kids Ask for special requests as well. 10 Tips For Taking Portraits In The Cold and Snow. 1.
Choose your location before the clients arrive. In the summer it’s nice to walk around, shooting in several places. In the winter, the cold can get to you quickly. Have places picked out ahead of time, and walk your clients there quickly. Keep them bundled in coats or close to the car until the shoot, then move quickly. Avoid the red noses and cheeks if possible. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
If they want an outdoor winter portrait, chances are they like to play in the snow too. 7. 8. 9. 10. 7 Photography Tips for Better Children’s Portraits. How do you approach portraiture for children so that you get great images AND make a ton of money doing it? 1. Treat the child as your client. Your first task is to create a great rapport with the child. They won’t work with you if you don’t talk to them in their mannerism. Find what they like and share in their excitement. Get down to their level. You don’t want them to see you as an adult. Image source Tina Keller 2. 3. 4. Image source Tiago.Ribeiro 5. 6. 7. 7 Tips To Take Better Senior Portraits. Here in Colorado, May signals the beginning of high school senior portraits. And as the class of 2010 graduates, and the class of 2011 moves in to take its place, there will be a ton of opportunity for you to capture a piece of this lucrative market share. The difference between a good senior portrait and a GREAT senior portrait is how much you put into it.
Can you do something cool and unique the kids will love? Can you use technology to the max, giving seniors a reason to “beg” their moms and dads to use you over any of your competitors? Try out these 7 tips, and work to become the best senior portrait photographer in your area. 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 10 Photography Tips for Better Outdoor Portraits. I’ve been a professional photographer for over 20 years. Even though I have a ton of ideas and styles, sometimes I find going back to the basics creates portraits that clients truly love. Here are some simple solutions that everyone can benefit from when capturing your next outdoor portrait session.
Select a location Locations are very important and should be thought out in advance. Look for locations that bring interest and enhance your session. Choose a location that is not busy and bustling with activity. Repeating lines A great way to add depth is to find a location with repeating lines. Use a longer lens By selecting a longer lens, you can put the focus on your subject, leaving your background soft and out of focus. Clothing selection To ensure optimal results, consult with your client about clothing selections prior to your portrait. If you have more than one person in the portrait, teach your clients about matching. Use a reflector.