|
Forums >
Photography Talk >
25 of the best photography tips ever
WHAT? You really expected 25 tips? Can we at least try? I'm tired of all the bitching about TFP, whose camera is better, etc. Let's make a list. Here's my contribution, if you are going to shoot outside in direct sunlight, at least have the model turn their back to the sun and light up the darkside with a flash until you understand light and contrast a bit better. If you are going to shoot inside, get the model as far away from the motel wall as possible as your flash will leave a terrible back shadow. O.K. its up to the rest of you to come up with 23 more tips. GO!!! And no arguing!!! Just tips. Mark Nov 29 05 11:36 pm Link Gunfitr wrote: Marry a very rich woman. Her friends will love your photography, and give you lots of paying jobs. Nov 29 05 11:40 pm Link Lens flare may not rear it's ugly head until post production, so make sure you are well in front (or behind) your lighting, or you can use barn doors, gobos or an assistant to shield your lens. Nov 29 05 11:44 pm Link Have an SLR camera and learn about f-stop and depth of field. Nov 29 05 11:45 pm Link Shoot one for the client and then one for yourself. The two things may not be the same thing so why fret about it. Nov 29 05 11:52 pm Link Gunfitr wrote: I'm not shooting in a motel. The two adjacent walls in my studio are dark, not white painted. I use reflectors to add bounced light under the chin or behind arms and such to fill in darker areas. Nov 29 05 11:52 pm Link Harrison Sweazea wrote: How many sandbags do I need on a c-stand to clamp him up there? Nov 29 05 11:56 pm Link For the digital photographers... After you have saved the images from your flash card to your hard drive, always make a backup of the images to a CD, and make sure that the CD is readable BEFORE you delete them from the flash card. This way, when your notebook computer gets stolen off of your desk during business hours (as mine was yesterday) you won't lose all of the images from your last three photo shoots (as I did). Live and learn. --Loren-- Nov 30 05 12:00 am Link Gunfitr wrote: Well... I dont mean to argue, but why use such an artificial light source as a flash (sometimes cold and unflattering) when one can use adjacent light colored walls and a variety of reflectors to shine a more natural light on that dark side... there's my tip... Nov 30 05 12:05 am Link Hi Mark..  1. Would to be sure you remove your lens cap... Yep,...I've done that one a few times in front of people, and each time I look really stupid..  2. Use the custom made lens hood for your lens at all times... it protects the lens from damage, by absorbing direct impacts, and shields the front element from dust & rain, and reduces flare quite a bit.. 3. I never use a UV filter on my lenses.. they soften the image, change the colour ballance of the lens, and increase flare. In all my years, I have never had a stone fly up and strike my lens, shattering it....and I used to cover Indy CART racing, and dirt track racing a lot several years back.. 4. & 5 Never go without a backup. I never have less than two cameras in my inventory at one time. (same thing with hand held light meters, flashes, flash cords, etc..) For one, having two bodies allows you to use two different lenses, with one camera w/ lens on each shoulder.. In addition to this, it is advisable to use two of the same kind of camera if you are using two cameras. The settings, and opperation of the cameras being different, can screw up some shots.. 6. Use brand named lenses for best results. If you own a Canon, put a Canon on your Canon...not a Sigma, or a Tamron.. etc.. there have been compatability issues with lenses that don't work with the newer camera bodies. 7. Gaffer tape, great stuff... you can use it more than once.. if you keep it clean, you can apply it to anything.. like an equipment case,...or light stand,...and when you are in a pinch, and need a piece of tape, you can pull it off your..what ever you put it on, and reuse it.. Also,... use that stuff instead of "duct tape" which is nasty crappy icky stuff.. unlike gaffer tape, it peels paint off of walls, it doesn't resist water that well,...it is too shiny,..and leaves behind a residue from what ever they use to make it stick.. Gaffer tape costs a lot more per roll, but on the job when you are in a hurry to set up,... and you need something to stick,... you will only wish you hadn't been so cheep when you can't get what ever it is to stay in place. 8. When working with studio strobes in public, tape down the power and sync cords with gaffer tape so that no one trips on it...and makes you have to call a lawyer, because you are now being sued to replace someone's hip.. 9.. Also when working with studio strobe lights in public,... don't use light weight stands.. use heavy duty stands, and have them sandbagged, or counterballanced at the bottom for stability.. 10. When driving to a job in the ghetto,..put a "for sale sign" on your car that reads something like...for sale.. needs new transmission, and head gasket work.. otherwise an o.k. runner aside from the flood damage.. So far, so good.  11. Do not put any nifty looking stickers on your car that announces to the world that you have nice photo equipment in your car. 12. BLACK! Black is a nice colour,...in fact, it is my favorite colour.. Keep everything black.. Black is also the least noticable colour to be seen by casual observation..especially in your car. 13. When working on location, outside, where there is a lot of people around, interlock all of your gear by their straps.. like a lens case and your stand bag.. and your camera bag...so if someone decides to grab something, he'll have to drag everything else along with his dumb ass which will not go unnoticed.. 14. Keep a list of all the serial numbers of your equipment handy.. keep a copy with you, and one at home/ office.. 15. Keep a business card in each major equipment case. 16. When working with subjects from a distance, use walkie talkies to communicate.. You can talk into one end, and they can hear you a lot better than you having to shout all the time.. 17. Keep an updated portfolio with you pretty much all the time.. along with a business planner.. I prefer the "Franklin Covey" system. 18. Get to know your competition on a friendly basis... no need to be mean to the guy next door who is trying to do what you are trying to do. Also,... for those who own equipment of the same brand as you,..and may have equipment that you don't own yourself, you might be able to rent something from him if you aren't a jerk.. 19. IF you are incapable of a certain task given to you,...refer the job to someone who can do it better than you. Two things that are good usually come of this.. 1. The client respects you more than ever, and thanks you for looking out for their needs, and the photographer or studio who you referred the job to will never forget you..they may send work your way, often they do. 20. This is true in my field of work.. I use Mac computers... I switched nearly 5 years ago, because I was on the "outside" looking in,..because I used a PC.. Mac is also a selling point on your service..because it is pretty much "industry standard"**. ....**Not everyone in it uses Mac, but everyone I know does.. 21. If you want to learn the way I did,... learn to take criticism from (here is the catcher).. people who have a real clue as to what they are talking about.. Just putting your work up in some website forum for critique is usually a good waste of your time.. Seek out a person who's work you really appreciste, and go to them for critique. Internet forums have such a vast spectrum,..& you will probably get several confusing comments, and or dumb comments like "cool picture".. when you aren't asking if it is a cool picture.. you are asking for a critique of it. 22. To learn a lot more than what you can learn in a classroom, or a photography book.,...try to be an assistant for a local studio.. some established photographer/ photography studio. Often, you can use their equipment, and studio too.. You will learn what you put into being an assistant.. 23. If you are assisting for a photographer, keep your business cards in your wallet. Do not hand them to anyone while working for them. You don't do the "talking". You refer all questions to the guy in charge from people who matter. From passers bye, tell them that you are busy and you can't talk right now. Do not watch the subject/ look at them..because too many people watching them makes them feel uncomfortable.. Occupy yourself by watching to see if the lights are going off,..& if the photographer may need something soon.. Be "Johnny on the spot".. We like that in our assistants. When you aren't shooting, pratice how to set up their equipment, and how they put it away, so everything is exactly where they are used to finding it in a hurry. 24. When you are taking your pictures.... pretend that there is no such thing as photoshop. "Get it in the original image" / "get it in the negative". Go to great lengths to take a damn good shot. It will be worth it in the end, after everyone has gone home. 25. Have at least a 2 million dollar "umbrella insurance coverage" for liability, in addition to your equipment coverage. Bad things can happen, and add up quickly..  I could go on but, 25 is the limit.. JP Nov 30 05 01:03 am Link Remove the lens cap. Nov 30 05 02:06 am Link Loren Scott Photography wrote: If you have time save them to separate hard drives and still back it up for cd's do not work sometimes and hard drives break. Nov 30 05 02:11 am Link John Paul... Thank you very much. I for one will certainly benefit from your input. Take care. Nov 30 05 03:34 am Link Get the best glass you can afford. Get a damn good tripod. What more is there? bs Nov 30 05 03:52 am Link Study other people's photographs. Study paintings and drawings. Take a drawing class. Nov 30 05 04:07 am Link lll wrote: bobby sargent wrote: Brian Diaz wrote: Pretend your camera is a Machine Gun...... Nov 30 05 04:17 am Link pay attention to light, even when you're not shooting. Nov 30 05 05:43 am Link learn with film. you pay more attention to what you're shooting and how you're doing it Nov 30 05 05:50 am Link Zach Watkins wrote: You mean, "Pay attention to what you're shooting and how you're doing it," right? The medium doesn't dictate the amount of attention paid. Nov 30 05 06:05 am Link Always use a lens hood!!! Erick -aka- FotoPixels Nov 30 05 06:10 am Link I think someone else should write this one but he/she is not here. So.... Don't suck. and don't copy people. But most of all. DO NOT Copy people who suck. (Don't pay attention to me. I suck when I sleepwalk.) Nov 30 05 06:16 am Link Gunfitr wrote: Eh!!! You got two tips in there, is that allowed? Nov 30 05 06:22 am Link Zach Watkins wrote: Brian Diaz wrote: I agree about using film. You appreciate the pictures a lot more. Hence, because you don't want to make the same mistake twice will pay attention. Nov 30 05 06:31 am Link Always use the best lens that's made for your camera. It's the most important thing for your images. Other then lighting. Erick -aka- FotoPixels Nov 30 05 06:46 am Link Don Vaillancourt wrote: I reject the idea that using any particular medium means that you will not pay attention and that you will make the same mistakes twice. Nov 30 05 06:46 am Link Go to law school instead Nov 30 05 06:50 am Link Bill Tracy wrote: Mark will love that one... LOL Nov 30 05 06:54 am Link 1. Expose each frame like it is the only one you have. 2. Do not blame the equipment, film, model, weather, government, God, Devil, or your mother for a bad photograph. It is your fault. Figure out what went wrong, then do it right next time. 3. Vertical images have more use than horizontals. Start with the camera vertical. 4. All those rules about thirds and the Golden Mean can be approximated by not centering anything. 5. Keep the viewer's eye inside the frame by not providing an easy path of escape. If you can't do this in camera, do it post-prod. 6. The soul is in the eyes. Critical focus on the pupils is important. 7. Do not depend on PhotoShop (or darkroom) to fix a bad image. You might fool someone else, but you can't fool yourself. Make the image good in-camera and make it better in PS (or DR). 8. Do not purchase something that you do not specifically need. And only then if you can't rent it. The only thing you can buy to make better photographs is an education. 9. Money talks - bullshit walks. The best compliment to your work is when someone will give you money for it. 10. Do your next shoot exposing only a dozen frames. That takes luck out of the equation. -Don (Seems to me that ten is more than enough, and probably more than can be remembered when shooting anyway.) Nov 30 05 07:06 am Link Craig Thomson wrote: Gunfitr wrote: Nope you're right.....getting the light closer will give you softer shadows, but your model should be at least 6 feet away from the background. Nov 30 05 07:07 am Link Enjoy making photographs. You're never going to make enough money at it to justify making it into just a job, so make sure every minute of it is fun and positive. *this goes for models too actually.* Nov 30 05 07:16 am Link D. Brian Nelson wrote: Great post! Number 7.....a big think now is to take the shot and fix it later, I've heard too many photographers say that exact thing. Nov 30 05 07:17 am Link D. Brian Nelson wrote: Number 6 is very important as well. You don't want to be a soft shooter... Nov 30 05 07:24 am Link My list is here: Have camera ready when picture arrives. Best camera is one you have ready. See whole thing in the viewfinder - shape, colour, movement - then make picture. Graphics and structure is more important than boobies. Pretty girls and pretty pictures is not same thing. Photo school is good but knowing art is better. I go to museum in Tulce. Only let people see best pictures. Throw the rest away. Short list. I am sorry. Sincerely Yours, Tavuk Nov 30 05 07:34 am Link Tavuk Hantaviro wrote: Good point and well-illustrated by your avatar. Nov 30 05 07:38 am Link Make sure the cameras power is on before you try to take the picture. Nov 30 05 07:41 am Link Tavuk Hantaviro wrote: Best tip by far... Nov 30 05 07:46 am Link Learn the basic principles of lighting. Nov 30 05 07:59 am Link Bill Tracy wrote: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Nov 30 05 10:14 am Link two of the best things i remember always. You are as good as your last edit. If you spend more than 5 mins. trying to make one shot work, forget about it and move on. others include. Fashion doesnt mean "model wearing clothes". There is much much more to it than that. If it was that simple, the top jobs would be easy to get. Use feet to zoom. Personal thing, after I realized zoom lenses made me lazy and didn't learn what I should about aperature vs. focal length vs. depth. Shoot color, only if color is needed. Personal theory. Make the photograph mean something other than forgettable. Super pretty isnt always the best thing. Thats it I guess...... Some interesting respones on here. Nov 30 05 10:19 am Link Smoke cigarettes. Buy a BMW. Use $10.00 words. Shave your head. Grow a goat. Wear black. Talk softly. Buy a gun. Turn Vegan. Speak with an accent. Date models. Buy a small dog. Drink tons of coffee. Sleep in late. Listen to acid jazz. Wear cheap cologne. Read Kerouac and Ginsberg. Then go out, get a nice camera and that's it! Nov 30 05 10:40 am Link |
