Travel Photography For Freelance Writers

If you are seriously into being a freelance writer, you will sooner or later have to do a travel assignment. If you are lucky, you will get your expenses paid up front, but often you will have to get them reimbursed by your client. They will always pay a lot more if you include your own original travel photography snapshots instead of just sending copy. But you want to be sure about that with your client before you cart an expensive camera along with your luggage.

Get It In Writing

The actual taking of the pictures is the easiest part of travel photography. If you’ve ever taken clear, focused and colorful photographs for your own pleasure or to chronicle your vacations, then you already know what you need to do for decent travel photography. The hard part about travel photography for freelance writers is getting paid for it.

The golden rule of freelancing is “Always get it in writing.” NEVER assume that the editor will honor a verbal contract or even terms loosely given during one email exchange about copy or photography. You need to be crystal clear about what you are going to be paid for on an assignment and what you aren’t going to be paid for.

Things you need to get crystal clear in travel photography for your articles include (but are not limited to):

How much you will get per photo Are there any specific subject matters the editor wants? What format is needed for submission When you will get paid Who will hold the copyright to your travel photography?

Take Many Pictures

In any professional photography area, you will need to take scads and scads of photos in order to find the one or two that will perfectly illustrate your piece. You might be the one who makes the final decision as to which of your photos run and which don’t. That is usually up to the photo editor (if your publication has one). This also could be the graphic artist or the travel editor, depending on the title. If it is a very small publication, than the editor in chief might also be the layout editor and the photo editor.

See if you can get to send digital photographs. In this way, you can download your travel photography onto your laptop and then email them to your editor (or whoever) in order to get the piece done even before you have to come home.

 

 

Famous Photography: Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima

In the voting for top honors in famous photography, a lot of votes would surely go to “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. There have even been reenactments of this most unique of famous photography, as well as a Clint Eastwood movie, “Flags of Our Fathers” (2006). It was not exactly your regular travel photography assignment.

You’ve Seen It

In case you are wondering what this most famous of famous photography images looks like, let’s refresh your memory. It is a stark black and white photograph of six United States Marines pushing to raise a battle-scared American flag and pole into the sand and twisted landscape. The flag is rising towards a bright white sky. It looks as if the Marines are having a tough time raising the flag.

Why So Popular

What makes a picture enter the realms of famous photography? Part of it is that it captures the essence of a huge event into one image. “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” is considered the iconic image of World War II, even though this happened on the Japanese front and not the European front, where most of the action was. Somehow, despite all of the odds, the good guys won.

Another element that makes a picture rise to the ranks of famous photography is that it has a certain timelessness, using symbols that talks to our collective unconscious. Flags are included in that silent pictorial language. It is known to many cultures that flags mean victory. Raising the flag, family crest or shield of your army or side onto the enemy territory was the ultimate declaration of victory.

Brief History

This elite specimen of famous photography is actually the second raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. However, this was the time the island was finally won. The flag was raised inside of a Japanese pipe. The image was so startling and so triumphant that it was published in newspapers a mere seventeen and a half hours after it was taken, at a time when it normally took a couple of days for news photographs to be published.

The photo was so good that it was accused of what all famous photography is accused of – being faked. Although there are many famous photos that have been set up (Marilyn Monroe over the steam grating comes to mind), Joe Rosenthal and the three Marines that survived World War II were able to testify that it wasn’t. It was just one of those things.

What You Need To Know About The Center For Creative Photography

The Center for Creative Photography is in the prestigious University of Arizona Libraries in the United States of America. Although some art historians would argue that a museum devoted to creative photography should really be in Europe, where photography originated, the University of Arizona beat them to it. However, the Center for Creative Photography is devoted to works of twentieth century North American photographers. So, that should keep the Europeans happy.

Where Exactly Is It?

Although listed as being at the University of Arizona Libraries, the Center for Creative Photography is not exactly open to the public like other art libraries. There isn’t any money or manpower to keep a proper museum up and running in a way that the images inside deserve. But to lock the photographs inside of a bank vault away from those who love photography would be cruel. So, the Center for Creative Photography came up with a compromise.

You have to make an appointment in order to see the collection. If you are alone or in a group, you definitely need to make an appointment and expect to be chaperoned throughout. You will be escorted to see some of the 80,000 pieces of artwork and can make requests to focus on particular North American photographers such as Ansel Adams, Josef Breitenbach, Aaron Siskind, William Mortensen, Frederick Sommer and W. Eugene Smith.

For Researchers

If you are a researcher, then you need to make special plans with the Center of Creative Photography in order to be able to access its vast archives instead of just looking at the more famous photography images that most casual visitors want to see. You also can have access to the written works from and about the photographers as well as negatives. You still need to make an appointment. Please don’t just show up unannounced. They hate that.

The Center for Creative Photography is open weekdays from 10am to 4pm. It is not open on weekends ever. If you go to the Center for Creative Photography’s website, you can view a comprehensive index of all of the materials in their incredibly vast archives. Depending on what your research subject is, you might be eligible to apply for a research grant, funded by Polaroid. Again, you need to see the website for details.

The Center for Creative Photography is the largest collection of its kind in the world and they keep as close an eye on it as possible, because they know their duty for posterity.

 

The Advantages Of A Mobile Photography Studio

Although there will probably always be a need for bricks and mortar photography studios, the savvy photographer is going mobile. It can be too much of a hassle in time and gas money to bring yourself to a photography studio, so you need to go to the customers, instead. When the customers don’t have to pay for travel, they tend to spend on extra prints. Even premier professional portrait photographer Annie Liebovitz went to the Queen of England instead of the other way around.

Cooperation Opportunities

Have you ever gone into a pet store and seen a display about a pet photographer coming to the store? If you’ve ever come back on pet photography days, you know the lines go out the door. This also happens for children’s professional photography or for any formal portraits, which can often be quickly set up in the corner of a large department store.

And what photographers do these stores pick on these busy days? They pick photographers with a mobile photography studio. Although some chain stores, like Sears, might have their own in-house photographers, for the most part, if you contact a store to set up a portrait day, you’re going to get some action (provided you have good references and a great portfolio, that is.)

Stocking Your Vehicle

You don’t need to bring everything and the kitchen sink along to your next portrait gig. You do need a van, truck or at least a station wagon filled with lighting equipment, extension cords, extra batteries, different colored background drapes or cloths, a tripod, some reflective umbrellas or cards to help with your lighting and a vast array of props. Usually, adults don’t need any more props than a chair. But pets and kids need some squeaky toys to get their attention, at least. And, of course, you need a camera or two.

The Darkroom

Just about the only thing you can’t stock in your mobile photography studio is a good darkroom and your darkroom chemicals. Professionals who want to make creative photography out of even the most basic portrait need to develop their own pictures. Many photographers can do away with the need of a darkroom altogether by going digital. That way, their laptops, their memory cards and their cameras become the photography studio darkroom. Some artists claim that the quality of a real live film photography studio can’t be matched, but technology is very quickly catching up with the imagination.

 

The Many Varieties Of Art Photography

There are about as many varieties of art photography as there are photographers. Although you could probably argue that your beach vacation snapshots could be called art, you won’t find a gallery to hang them. But if you did something extremely different and interesting with your beach photograph, such as go to a beach entirely made up of different colored beach balls rather than a real beach, then that might qualify as art photography. Let’s look at some of the varieties seen in galleries today.

Photojournalism

This kind of art photography is much harder than it first sounds like. How many college students do you know have a poster of Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue or of that one lone Chinese demonstrator who stopped a column of tanks in Tiananmen Square? Those photos are art. They tell far more stories than the actual newspaper stories they were originally used to illustrate.

The art of photojournalism lies partially in being in the right place at the right time but also choosing which photo to select. It has to capture the essence of a situation or a story with one image. This kind of art photography is sort of a visual haiku.

Digital Tricks

You don’t need a fancy photography studio in order to create art photography. You do need a computer and an excellent image program, such as PhotoShop. There, you take a photograph as the framework for which your artistic expression is loosened. For some, the challenge is in making a fake photograph look identical to a real photograph. Some make a real photograph as beautiful as possible. The sky’s the limit with this type of art photography.

Portraits

The bread and butter of a professional photographer’s trade is in portraits – of people, pets, buildings or whatever. The usual portrait, although framed and hung on a wall, is not often considered art photography. The art is when these portraits are taken just left of center. Instead of stiff poses looking artificially perfect, another approach is taken.

Instead of the usual portrait of a little girl in a dress, the photographer could mount a ladder and look down on the girl spinning in play. That would be art photography, even though it may be hard to tell the features of the little girl. It is still a portrait, but captures more about the girl than just what she looked like on a given day.

 

 

 

 

 

What Makes A Photography Gallery Special

Most people’s photographs will never be mistaken for art photography. Because cameras are available to most people, they might not consider photography worth of being hung up in a museum. All you have to do is point and shoot, right? Not exactly. Walking through a photography gallery or wing at your local museum is nothing like having to endure your friend’s slides of Bermuda.

Telling A Story

Think about the most memorable photograph you have ever seen – whether in the newspaper, in a book or in photography gallery. What was is that was so special? For a lot of people, great photographs tell entire stories or reveal entire lives in one image. Although these pictures can be taken by accident, often they are taken through the eyes of someone with a story to tell. Walking through a photography gallery is a bit like paging through a short story anthology.

The images selected to hang in a photography gallery aren’t just interesting compositions or shapes. They might be entirely what you think a bad picture would be. Images in Photography galleries can be blurred, unfocused, off-center or poorly lit. But the images in a photography gallery not only show the story of what that image is about and, most tellingly, they tell the story of the photographer behind the lens.

Perception Through The Lens

We all long to express ourselves in some way. Many people choose to express themselves through the use of the arts. Almost all professional photographers develop their own photographs in order to ensure you see what they see. Words can easily be misinterpreted and forgotten. But images, such as the ones in a photography gallery, stay in your mind for a very long time.

We see this all the time in advertising photographs (which sometimes do pop up in a photography gallery or two). You are meant to see only the effects that one product or service brings. The picture doesn’t show you all of the problems the employees might be having or the effect the product or service might have on the environment. We only see the positive, which can be done in surprisingly ingenious and quirky ways.

A photography gallery might blur the line between real life and art, but that is its goal. Despite all of the technology and skill into every image, the ultimate interpreter of each picture is you. Your input is the last sentence in the story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In order to improve the photographs you have been taking, you will to learn need some good photography techniques. A good photography technique will help the amateur photographers find the best ways to enhance the images in their photographs and select subjects that would be attractive to photograph. There are many different types of photography techniques for a person to choose from and choosing the right one for the right situation can be a difficult task until you learn each of the different techniques.

The first step in choosing the right photography technique for your needs is determining what you would like the photograph to look like. Many beginners are happy with taking basic images so that they can practice their placement and their lighting until till they are happy with the results. There is some photography techniques that only focus on the creative aspects of photography and assume that the person already knows the photography basics. More sophisticated techniques are generally useless the photographer is interested in adding their work to a photography gallery, but the basic techniques are great for people that would like to take artistic photographs or are interested in scrap booking.

Basic Photography Techniques

The most common types of photography technique used today are intended to enhance the images that are obtained by the camera. This includes many basic activities that are commonly used by amateur photographers, such as positioning the camera for the best angle and the best lighting and choosing the subject of the photograph carefully to obtain the best image. Basic editing techniques include resizing, cropping, red-eye removal, and some printing options for the people that are using digital cameras. In some cases, the basic photography techniques learned will also include how to use various filters and how to change the photographs from color to black and white. Many of these techniques require little time to learn and will be retained by the photographer for as long as they are taking photographs.

Advanced Photography techniques

More advanced photography techniques include more difficult applications that require adjustment by the photographer to achieve the best effects. Some of these techniques include using artificial lighting to lighten or darken portions of the images in the photograph, creating off center focal points, and adjusting the horizon in the photograph to better suit the image. These techniques will increase your photography skills substantially but much practice will be required to create great photographs. While many of the basic photography techniques can be found on the internet for free, learning the more advanced techniques may require a small investment on the part of the photographer.

If you are interested in learning about photography, then there are some photography basics that you should learn first. Taking photographs correctly can be a highly technical process and often requires a lot of skill to get the images that you desire. Taking the perfect photograph cannot be taught in any school or from any book, it requires practice and hard work to get better on the part of the photographer. If you do not push yourself to get better and to take more creative photographs, you will remain an amateur in the world of photography forever.

The Equipment Used For Photography

One of the first photography basics that you will need to learn is the different types of equipment and what each type of equipment is used for. The most important piece of equipment for photography and there are many different types of cameras available for an aspiring photographer to choose from. Most photographers today are choosing digital cameras because of the ease of using them and changing the settings to fit any situation that the photographer may encounter.

Another piece of equipment that is considered to be one of the photography basics is the tripod. The tripod is used to hold the camera steady during the photography shots and will prevent blurring, crookedness, or movement while the photograph is being taken. A tripod can be a photographer’s best friend, but you would be amazed at how many people call themselves true photographers and do not own a tripod for their camera.

The Photography Styles

The next step in learning the photography basics is to learn the different photography styles that can be used for taking a photograph. One of the most prominent styles of photography today is portrait photography which requires a sophisticated photography technique to improve the image of the face and the skin for the portrait. Many people that practice photography professionally learned the photography basics of portrait taking early and decided to make that their career.

Other types of photography include landscape photography, nature photography, wedding photography, and family photography. Each of these photography styles have photography basics that must be learned if you hope to obtain a good photograph using that method. Photography can be very rewarding as a hobby or as a career, but excelling in the methods used in photography will take a great deal of dedication on the part of the photographer to improve their techniques and their images.

Many people are interested in how to learn photography to create lovely photographs of the images that they choose. A few of these people would like to become a professional photographer while others enjoy taking photographs for fun. There are many resources available that can help a person learn photography and the type of resource that is chosen by the person will depend on how much they are willing to pay to learn photography and how serious they are about becoming a professional photographer.

Taking Photography Classes

Many places located in major metropolitan cities offer professional photography classes for people that would like to learn photography. Colleges and universities often offer photography courses as an elective course that will satisfy the Arts credits that are needed in order to graduate with a degree. These courses will teach the student the photography basics and if they would like to learn more, then they can take the professional classes that are offered by some photography studios.

The classes that are offered by a photography studio for a person to learn photography is generally a group session where several people are doing the same tasks at the same times and the instructor may ask you to bring the photographs that you have taken to share with the rest of the class. These classes can be expensive and will often require you to have specialized equipment so that everyone in the class is on the same footing. If you are not willing to spend a lot of money to learn photography, there are some other options available as well.

Books On How To Learn Photography

There are many books available on how to learn photography that have been written by photography experts. These photography books teach the basic techniques for photography and give tips for getting the best shot in different situations. These books focus on the different photography styles and the best way to go about learning each of the different ways in an easy to follow fashion. Each type of photography has a number of different techniques that will be associated with it so it is important to learn photography one style at a time so that you do not become confused.

Many retailers will have a variety of photography books available for people to choose from. These books may be designed for a certain skill lever, such as beginner or expert, so choose the books that best match the photography level that you are currently at. Some people choose to obtain the books to learn photography off of the internet because there are a wider variety of books available and they can choose the books that focus on the photography style that they would like to learn.

One of the biggest problems that many people have when they learn photography is how to fix the photography lighting properly. People that never learned proper photography lighting often find it difficult to find the correct combination of light to enhance the look of their photographs. Although many types of cameras have light filters and automatically setting flashes, to really get the best photographs, the person must be able to control the lighting themselves.

Different Types Of Photography Lighting

Hands down, the best type of photography lighting is natural light. The light from the sun or the moon can illuminate the object of the photograph in such a way as to make them appear smoother and softer. Direct sunlight is some of the brightest photography lighting available and creates perfect shadows for the backgrounds of the photographs. Natural light is also used as photography lighting indoors, by taking the photographs near windows and other brightly lit areas.

There are many other types of photography lighting that can be used by someone that is interested in taking excellent photographs. Many photographers choose to use directional lighting, which can be placed anywhere around the subject to illuminate them in a specific way by using artificial lights such as flashes or tungsten halogen lamps. Using a combination of lights to create shadows or focus on a particular area of the image, the person can obtain creative images by changing the direction of the photography lighting.

How To Learn Proper Photography Lighting

Most photographers learn the techniques of photography lighting by trial and error. Different combinations result in different types of illumination and shadows, so it is important for the photographer to find a lighting technique that they like. This method is the least expensive way of learning photography lighting. Some cameras have different lighting functions that can be used for different situations so that the photographer does not have to worry about setting the lighting each time. This helps create the perfect lighting for different photographs without using additional flashes or lighting equipment.

The direction that the photography lighting is facing is just as important and should be modified to place the subject in the best light possible. When taking portrait photographs, lighting should be at the back of the subject to soften the facial features and hide any minor imperfections in the skin. For landscape photography, the easiest light to use is natural light but direct light into the camera can create a washed out or over exposed photograph. By controlling the amount of light that is allowed to illuminate the photograph, the photographer can make sure that the subject is portrayed in the best light possible creating an image that will capture attention and praise from those who view it.

 

Photography has become one of the most important past times in the world, will millions of people taking pictures of items or individuals each day and making the photography industry a billion dollar a year industry with the sale of cameras, film, and other equipment. Taking great photographs can be a fun and rewarding experience for people that are able to follow a few simple photography tips and each of the photography tips that are provided can greatly increase the appeal of your photographs. If you are looking for great photographs incorporating pretty much any image that you can think of, then following these photography tips can get you the images that you desire.

How To Handle Blurring

Blurring has always been a thorn in the side for many photographers and there are not many photography tips to be found to address the problem. Blurring is generally caused by either the camera or the subject moving while the photographer is attempting to take the photograph. There is an easy way to fix the blurring problem if the issue is with the camera moving and this simple solution will improve all of the photographs that you take from this moment on.

The solution to the blurring problem is simply to rest the camera on a steady surface while the photograph is being taken. This is one of those photography tips that is so simple that people feel ridiculous for not seeing the solution earlier, but many people do not think to steady the camera when they are taking a photograph to reduce the blurring that occurs. The camera should be mounted on a tripod for the photograph so that the camera will be level and will not shake during the taking of the photograph. If there is not tripod available or it cannot be used in the area that you are in, then you should rest the hand that is holding the camera on a steady surface before you click the shutter to take the photograph.

Obtaining The Best Light For The Photograph

Changing the amount of photography lighting that is falling on a subject can be easily accomplished if the subject is indoors and stationary, but how do you improve the lighting of a subject that is outdoors. This is another one of those photography tips that is often overlooked until the person needs to know it, in which case it may be too late. There are two different ways to change the lighting of an image that is outdoors; wait or attempt to find a different angle to obtain the photograph from. If items can be moved out of the way to allow more light to fall on the subject, then move them. Another little known photography tip is to always carry a small ball of string on you so that you can tie branches and bushes out of the way to help more light can fall on the subject that you are targeting.

Learning how to create different photography styles has taken the world by storm, even causing some professional photographers to learn some new mediums such as digital photography and photoshopping. Some photography equipment manufactures have created new types of equipment to appeal to all of the new individuals that have entered the field of photography either as a hobby or as a professional career choice. There are many different types of equipment that can be used in photography and some of the items are just as important as the camera itself.

There are numerous brands of photography equipment available for purchase and each brand has different features that could be unique to the particular item. Each photography equipment item is designed to be user friendly and can enhance the images obtained by the photographer. Most types of photography equipment include detailed instructions to help beginning photographers with setting up and using the equipment properly. These equipment items may include camera accessories, editing equipment, and different products to manage the lighting of the photograph.

Common Photography Equipment Items

The first photography equipment item that is generally purchased is the camera because the camera is the most important piece of equipment in photography and without a good camera, the rest of the equipment is worthless. The popularity of the digital camera makes it the camera most often chosen by photographers today with many manufacturers switching their production lines to all digital items. These cameras allow a large number of photographs to be taken without the photographer having to waste a lot of money on film for the camera. Any images that are taken that the photographer does not like can be easily erased from the memory card inside of the camera to make room for more photographs that the photographer may like better.

Another photography equipment item that will be needed is a sturdy tripod. The tripod will keep the camera steady while the photographer is taking the pictures and will reduce the amount of photographs that are blurry or skewed. Tripods can be purchased fairly cheaply and will result in better looking photographs. One of the most important photography tips is to purchase a tripod that is adjustable both up and down and side to side to allow the camera to be angled in many different ways to capture many different images. The price of this photography equipment item will be well worth it in the long run.

If the person has purchased a digital camera, then one of the most important pieces of photography equipment is the software to edit the digital photographs. These software programs allow the editing of the photographs in ways that would never be possible with traditional film photography. Each of the different software packages will have different features available, including layering options, color filters, red eye removal, and resizing options. When choosing the photography equipment that is right for you, be sure to explore all of the options before making a decision on which types of equipment to choose.

Although photographers can shoot amazing photography in their studios, there are a lot of benefits from location and outdoor shoots. Outdoor portrait photography places the subjects in scenes that give greater insight into the lifestyles and personalities of the subjects. As long as they are not too distracting, outdoor environments provide interesting points of interests to portraits. The subjects of the portraits are usually more comfortable and relaxed in a location shoot.

Though there are some photographers who only do studio shoots, most of them will do both studio and outdoor portrait photography. Some photographers even have outdoor portrait gardens and environments already set up and ready. They have scenes like gold fish ponds, miniature foot bridges, seasonal flower gardens, beautiful old trees, fishing piers, barn or porch scenes, etc. Many photographers are willing to travel to and set up at a location of your choice. You should discuss available options with the photographers when you initially contact them.

Outdoor Portrait Photography Tips

The location chosen for the portrait should say something about the subject. The environment should be interesting and provide perspective without overwhelming the photograph and taking away from the subject. Try to avoid bright colors and cluttered backgrounds that will distract the viewer from the subject. Props can be used as long as they are appropriate and relevant to the background, Props should add to the photograph rather than diverting from it. The subject should be posed in a way befitting the context. The subject could put their hand on a water fountain, throw stones into a lake, or pose with a baseball bat as if ready to hit a baseball. A pose that is appropriate for the background looks more natural and flattering. Facial expression should also be appropriately fitting to the context.

A somewhat cloudy or overcast day provides enough light to illuminate the photograph without the glare of blinding bright sunlight. If the sun is out, it would be better to find a shady spot for the photograph. If the subject is in the shade but with the sun behind them, squinting will be eliminated. The camera flash can sometimes be effective in outdoor portrait photography for reducing harsh shadows from the sun. If the sun is behind the subject, the flash can be beneficial for evening out the light and making their face more visible. Photography equipment like reflectors can be used when more light is needed for the photograph. Black and white portraits can also be beneficial for evening out colors and tones while providing a powerful and elegant photograph. Whatever you decide, with a little planning and effort, you are capable of creating exciting outdoor portrait photography that shows the subject in a more gratifying and natural environment.

Digital portrait photography has become very popular for both professional photographers and amateurs alike. Countless photographs can be taken without the worry of wasting film. Unwanted photographs can be deleted from the camera with the push of a button. With the emergence of advanced digital cameras that are affordable and readily available to the public, just about anyone is capable of taking quality digital portrait photography. Photograph editing software has the capability of removing red eye, adjusting the lightness or darkness, along with countless other modifications to photographs. Photographers now have a greater margin of error because imperfections can be fixed by the editing software. Digital cameras have unbelievable features, such as faster shutter speeds, night and portrait modes, and better zoom capabilities, which make the job of a photographer much easier.

Tips for taking great Digital Portrait Photography

Here are some good tips and tricks that will help you excel at producing digital portrait photography. Try to be sure and provide enough light as to avoid using flash whenever possible. Not only does flash create red eye, it can also reflect off of clothing and jewelry, causing undesirable effects. If you have to use a flash, avoid the blink syndrome by taking several warm-up shots. This will allow the subjects’ eyes to become accustomed and help reduce the incidence of blinking during the shot. Keep your viewer’s attention focused on the subject of the photograph by using simple backgrounds. Leave plenty of room around the subject by avoiding the urge to fill you frame with the subject. Different sizes of prints often require cropping of the edges and you want to have plenty of room to work with.

Take advantage of the digital cameras faster shutter speed. This is especially beneficial for shooting babies and capturing facial expressions. Engage the subject in a conversation about a topic that pleases them. You are more apt to capture and beautiful, natural expression rather than a forced, rehearsed smile. A more natural setting for the portrait can make you subject feel more at ease as well as conveying openness and friendliness. Try converting your portraits to black and white to give them a more elegant and dramatic look. Outdoor portrait photography can sometimes present challenges. It is important to research and prepare for the portrait before hand. Try to have everything set up ahead of time, including lighting, background, props, etc. Digital portrait photography can be very rewarding. Don’t worry too much or be intimidated by it. There is a lot of photograph editing software available that can easily help make corrections and alterations to images.

Black and white portrait photography is very popular because it adds an air of elegance and drama to the images. Black and white portraits impart rich and timeless appearance. Without the hindrance of colors, the viewer focuses on other elements of the photograph. The lack of color allows texture and form to become more significant features of the portrait. An uncluttered look and simplicity adds a polished look to the portrait. Black and white portrait photography is an excellent way to add a classic and romantic feel to your photographs. It adds an air of nostalgia to portraits and evokes reminiscence of a time prior to color photographs, when all portraits were black and white.

There are a lot of people who consider black and white portrait photography to be an artistic form of expression. They believe that black and white portraits are more of a fine art than color portraits. Black and white photographs contain a distinct sophistication, summoning memories of a bygone era. They soften facial features and capture the delicacy of shape and contour. It is often suggested that black and white portraits look best displayed in silver, anything antique is especially effective. Displaying new modern black and white portraits with heirloom family portraits is an excellent way to incorporate the past with the present for the preservation of the family’s heritage.

Black and White Portrait Photography is the Preference of Some Photographers

Some photographers are so impressed by the beauty of black and white photography that they specialize only in the photographing of black and white photographs. Many of them believe that the elegance and emotion of occasions like weddings are best captured by the art of black and white portrait photography. Newborn baby/family portraits done in black and white can have an exceptionally dramatic effect. A uniform background and clothing color can focus attention on the baby and the family’s loving gaze and embrace become a more impressive and inspiring image, symbolic of their family’s love and devotion.

Though some photographers still prefer traditional film processing, most of them utilize modern digital cameras. Digital portrait photography allows for greater versatility. The majority of black and white portraits are originally shot in color. State of the art technology can then be used to manipulate the photographs to convert them to gray scale. Specialized software is used to erase imperfections, lighten tones, and deepen shadows allowing for flawless, exquisite black and white portraits.