10 Best Social Media Sites for Photographers in 2021

Tags:  Photography for Beginners, Photography, Pinterest

By Chad Verzosa 

 

 

There are plenty of social media sites for photographers out there, and they all differ in the services they offer.

We’ll go through some of the best options of social media for photographers in 2021, and help you figure out which one is right for you.

10. Vero Social

This newest social media platform is on a mission to beat Facebook and Instagram at their own game. It may not be exclusive to photographers per se. But its user interface is quite refreshing.

But what makes Vero Social perfect for photographers? One of the best reasons is that it displays your photos in high definition.

It doesn’t compress photos like Instagram or Facebook. So people can see the real beauty of your work. It also has a clean feed that allows you to look at the images in full screen.

But the best reason to try Vero Social is the fact that it’s for everyone. Vero Social not only caters to social media photographers. It also serves music lovers, movie lovers, or anyone tired of traditional social media platforms. People with different interests will get to enjoy your work as well.

And the more exposure you get, the better your chances are at succeeding in your business. After all, you won’t get any clients if you focus only on social media platforms that are exclusive to photographers.

When non-photographers also get to see your work, there’s a chance some of them would hire you.

9. Youpic

If you want a social media platform with high-quality content, Youpic is perfect for you. But don’t just take our word for it.

This app’s tagline is “Find your home among the world’s best photographers”. And it has photography icons such as Joel Meyerowitz and Steve McCurry to back it up.

Youpic is not only a social media platform for photographers but it also has a lot of social media aspects to it. Like its counterparts, you can use it to share photos which people can share and interact with.

What distinguishes it from regular websites is that it caters more to professionals than to amateurs. It serves as a conduit in exchanging ideas with fellow photographers and even future clients.

It’s full of nuggets that even the photos themselves include technical information such as EXIF data and geotags.

Since Youpic is for professionals, you can’t expect it to be free. The most affordable plan you can get is ‘Enthusiast’ for $4.99 per month or ‘Premium’ for $9.99. It may not be the cheapest app you can buy – but the perks you get from it makes it worthwhile.

Apart from sharing photos, it gives you access to tutorials from the best in the business. Plus, you also get to earn from the app by selling your work or services.

8. Flickr

This platform was already around even before the term ‘social media’ became a buzz word.

You may think that Flickr is so 2004. But it’s still the best place to store all your photos online. Sure, Instagram may get you all the fun social media interaction.

But you can’t use it to keep your high-resolution files safe and allow people to enjoy your photos at the same time.

Flickr has changed a lot over the years. Its free version now has a limit of 1,000 photos. But you can still use all its features without the need to sign up for a pro account.

And the best part? You can even store high-resolution photos (up to 5K!) without paying any fees. You can’t say the same with Instagram.

7. Pinterest

Want to boost your photography business? Then sign up on Pinterest. It may not look as exciting as other social media for photographers. But it serves a real purpose for professionals.

Unlike other social media sites, Pinterest doesn’t focus on how many likes you get. Instead, it showcases photographers to potential clients through backlinks.

When you post your photos on the platform, you lead other users to your website and discover the services you offer.

A lot of people looking for wedding and event photographers use this site to look for the best services. Don’t miss out! Post work that will connect potential clients to you.

It’s also a great way for you to find inspiration and get a glimpse of the newest trends in the industry.

6. Exposure.co

Want a platform that lets you tell stories behind your photography? Exposure is one of the best platforms for photographers for mixing photos with text.

Reading stories on Exposure almost feels like browsing through an online magazine. The pictures are big, and the fonts are easy on the eyes. The layout doesn’t only look clean, but it also appears professional.

If the captions on Instagram don’t please you, then get on Exposure to tell the longer version of your story.

The free version of Exposure lets you post up to three stories. But if you want to unlock the rest of the features, you’ll need to choose a monthly or yearly subscription.

It also offers extra quirks for businesses that include customizable templates and fonts.

5. Steller Stories

In many ways, this app feels a whole lot like Exposure.co, except that it’s for mobile users. It’s a great platform to show your work but you can also find a lot of inspiration here. It features new stories on a regular basis.

On the surface, being a mobile app without an online version makes it feel limited. But, considering that many people interact on their phones these days, it makes a lot of sense.

After all, when was the last time you checked out a website to read blogs? Having Steller Stories on your phone sounds more convenient for sure.

Steller Stories lets you post an album of images and create a narrative around it. You can then share it with other creators and start gaining interactions.

If you have a good story, you could even get lucky and get featured.

4. Tumblr

This microblogging site was the first to show the real power of photographs in the age of social media. It allowed photographers to share content that people can reblog with a single click.

Tumblr photography felt much more youthful and experimental than the other social media sites for photographers. Because of this, it appealed to a lot of budding enthusiasts.

Not to mention the fact that more people find out about their work through the platform. That’s why it served as one of the best free social media sites for photographers for years.

Tumblr may be 11 years old now but it remains popular among teens and the older millennials alike. To this day, it still features a lot of fantastic photography gems that you won’t find anywhere else.

If you’re thinking about creating a free portfolio, Tumblr is one of the best platforms to start.

3. Instagram

Ah, the holy grail of social media. This app was among the first to allow photo-sharing exclusively on phones. And today, it remains among the most popular social media sites.

You can get inspired by the best Instagram photographers, and it’s the best channel to make your mark.

Of course, it’s not always easy to make it on Instagram these days. With so much talent around, it’s challenging to gain followers and interaction. But it’s still the best option if you need exposure.

Invest your talent in it and in time, you’ll reap the benefits. Remember that a lot of creative individuals got their break using this platform.

As you pursue photography as a career, don’t make the mistake of thinking of social media as a popularity contest. So don’t worry about racking up followers.

Instead, focus your energy on the quality of your work. And make it available, so the right people see it and offer you opportunities.

2. Behance

This Adobe-owned platform is one of the best photography networking sites available today. In essence, Behance is an online portfolio that lets you post some of your best works.

What makes it different is that it also allows other users to share and interact with your content.

Behance functions like Linkedin for creatives. The only difference is that it focuses more on graphics and photography.

Once you post your work on your site, it will be available to regular users as well as potential clients.

Like other social media sites, Behance lets people like and comment on your work. But it mostly acts a portfolio where you can show of your work to your colleagues and the general public.

Apart from the generic comments, you’ll also see a lot of technical critique from professionals which can help a lot in your growth.

1. Facebook

You may not associate this popular social media platform with photography. But having a Facebook page is essential in building your business.

Interactions on Facebook pages isn’t as high as other social media sites. But the people that follow you through this site are more likely to become clients.

Plus, it’s also a great way to attract older people that are on this platform but not be on the others.

So take your time to create your page and update it all the time. Facebook is one of the most accessible platforms you can use, so why not take advantage of it?

After all, promoting your photography through Facebook ads can be beneficial. Apart from its reach, it also lets you target specific demographics that are most likely to hire you.

Whether you like it or not, social media is a crucial part of photography. Don’t limit yourself with only one platform. You’ll increase your reach if you sign up for a few more and showcase your work.

The services each one offers are different, so choose the best options that work for you. And don’t forget to update your content regularly.

It may seem a lot of work in the beginning, but it’s going to pay off in the long run.

 

 

 

 

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Photography Style: What Is It and How Can You Find Your Own

Tags:  Photography for Beginners, Photography Style, Photography Composition

By Taya Ivanova

 

 

Most of the best photographers out there have a distinct and unforgettable photography style.

Although there are many types of photography styles, you need to find your own style to stand out.

 

What Defines Photography Style?

A photography style is more than an editing or photography technique. It’s a combination of every decision you make as a photographer.

One of the best ways to discover your style is to look for patterns in your behaviour. Your taste in food, travelling, socialising, and so on, make up who you are.

You can develop these styles as you learn more about different cultures and preferences. Photography is no different.

Look for patterns in your techniques, compositions, and favourite photographers. You already have a photography style that complements your personality.

All you have to do is let it awaken and emerge using these methods.

How to Find Your Unique Photography Style

The first part of every photographer’s journey is discovery. As a beginner, you might not know where to start. Equipment, famous photographers, and the possibilities of editing might confuse you.

Try to avoid distractions like this. Your priority is to cultivate and nurture your unique photography style.

Make a List of Photography Genres That You like and Experiment with Them

There are many types of photography styles out there. To find yours, you need to expose yourself to different genres. Here are a few of the many genres you can choose from:

• Portrait
• Landscape
• Macro
• Underwater
• Architecture
• Conceptual
• Abstract
• Dance
• Event
• Photojournalism
• Street photography

Within these genres, there are many sub-genres. For example, portrait photography doesn’t exist on its own. There are many types of portrait photographers out there:

• Conceptual photography
• Self-portrait photography
• Fashion photography
• Fine art photography

Which genres stand out to you? You can choose as many as you like.

Now, start experimenting with them. If you have a smartphone camera only, begin taking photos with your smartphone camera. Right now, your equipment doesn’t matter as much as your creativity.

This exercise will give you experience in many genres, which is very important in the long run. It will also start to provide you with a better idea of your photography style.

Make a Collection of Inspiring Photos to Understand Your Creative Taste

You have specific foods, outfits, and places that you like more than others. In a way, those are your styles. Even if you’re not aware of them yet, you have similar styles in photography.

You can find them by looking at different photographs. Choose a genre that you like and look for it online. If a particular photo stands out, save it. You’ll use it to understand your preferences later on.

Instead of saving photos to your computer, you can use different social media platforms instead. Pinterest is excellent for creating inspiration boards.

Instagram has a handy saving tool. Tumblr can let you create an entire inspiration blog.

Start with 20-50 inspiration photos. Why did you choose them? What stands out the most? Write all of this down. Do you notice any patterns?

The more you understand your photography taste, the closer you’ll get to discovering your photography style.

Share Your Photos to Get Helpful Feedback About Your Style

Your friends don’t have to be professional photographers, although that would help. Your goal isn’t to ask for constructive criticism. All you have to do is ask them to point out things that you’re unaware of.

You can ask them questions like:

• What was the first thing you noticed when you looked at my photos?
• Did you notice any patterns or styles in my pictures?
• Is there anything that’s missing in my photos?

This is a great way to look at your photos from a very different perspective.

Your friends might give you feedback that you wouldn’t have been able to find on your own. They might see patterns that will help you understand what kind of photographer you are.

Limit Your Equipment so You Can Focus on Your Photography Style

Limitations are important because they can help you understand your strengths and make you more creative. They can also give you a clearer idea of your photography taste.

Instead of looking for the best equipment, start with what you have. This doesn’t mean that you should never invest in professional equipment.

If you expose yourself to a lot of technical information now, you might not develop your style.

Get rid of technical and social media distractions. Use what you have. Take photos of everything that catches your eye.

The less advanced your equipment, the easier it will be to understand your unique photography style.

Why Is Limiting Equipment Effective?

If you try to learn all the technical settings at once, you won’t invest as much time in your intuition.

Your creative intuition is what helps you understand the heart of your photography. It’s what makes your photos emotional and thought-provoking.

Even if you learn every setting on your camera, you won’t have a distinct style. You need to focus on the emotional side of your photography.

The fewer distractions you have, the more you’ll be able to focus on developing a unique style.

How to Develop Your Photography Style

There are many exciting ways to develop your style. The more you do this; the more distinct your style will become.

Look for Editing Inspiration to Find a Starting Point

Many, if not most, photographer styles rely on editing to stand out. This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours on editing.

If you prefer a natural look, you can still edit your photos in a way that makes them look eye-catching.

These photographers have a natural editing style:

• Laura Kok
• Els Vanopstal
• Roberto Bertero
• Danielle Nelson

View this post on Instagram

In the elegant sunset atmosphere, you can see in the distance the north-western face of Monte Viso, which rises as a true King of the Cottian Alps (Italy), perfectly framed between the clouds and the other surrounding mountains. . . . #Monviso #Alpicozie #Alps #alpenglow #clouds #unlimitedalps #Backpackerstory #lonelyplanet #discoverearth #wonderful_places #modernoutdoors #discoverglobe #earthfocus #createscenery #wildernessculture #theworldshotz #adventureculture #ExpediaPic #orbitzpic #packedforgood #thegreatoutdoors #peaks #bestmountainartists #instamountain #mountainscape #discovernature #italianalps @canonitaliaspa #Savoie

A post shared by Roberto Bertero (@roberto.bertero) on Oct 8, 2019 at 3:31am PDT

Other photographers have a more intense style:

• Alessio Albi
• Alexander Shark
• Mike Monaghan
• Rosie Hardy

View this post on Instagram

Swipe чтобы увеличить ➡️ Dispelling the darkness ••••• Меня среди ночи встревожил странный звук, доносящийся из глубины леса. Быть может раненый олень, бедолага снова нарвался на охотников. Мой дом становился все дальше дальше, но ноги непослушно несли меня вперёд. Странный рев был все громче и впереди будто что-то шевелилось. Но необычайно сильный холод для Ноября меня погружал в ещё большую неизвестность и приступ паники. Внезапно я начал буквально на глазах покрываться льдом, огонь в фонаре начал тускнеть и уже не согревал меня. Мои движения замедлились и где-то позади меня раздался треск старой кедровой ветви. Обернувшись перед глазами показалось странное существо, медленно приближающееся ко мне. А дальше…я ничего не помню, будто кто-то вырвал мои воспоминания словно страницы из старой и никому ненужной книги. Следы борьбы, следы чужой застывшей крови и сугробы высотой в десятки метров. Я в ледяной ловушке и отсюда мне просто так уже не выбраться… На фото: @saint.liss ✨ #eyes #cold #wind #ice #girl #portrait #canonrussia #atmosphere #vscocam #weekend #mist #winter #autumn #dark #darkness #photo #photooftheday #picoftheday #picture #look #instagood #instagram #instamood #instadaily #alexshark

A post shared by Alexander Shark (@alexandershark) on Nov 3, 2019 at 10:53am PST

Practise Editing to Intensify the Atmosphere in Your Photos

When you have a few photos you’re proud of, edit them in your preferred program.

You can use GIMP, Photoshop, Lightroom, or anything else that catches your eye. I like to use Lightroom and Photoshop for different purposes. You can mix and match as you like.

Don’t watch too many tutorials. Instead, treat your editing program like something that you need to figure out on your own.

This will help you save time and introduce you to a variety of interesting tools. It will also prevent you from feeling limited by specific editing rules.

There are three main types of editing:

• Retouching: This is very popular in portrait photography. Retouching involves getting rid of flaws and blemishes. Many retouchers aim to perfect their photos without making them look unnatural.
• Colour correction: You can change the tones and colours in your image with colour correction. A few simple clicks can instantly make a simple photo look more emotional. There’s a lot you can do with colour correction, so take some time to familiarise yourself with it.
• Photo manipulation: This involves merging different photos together to create surreal or conceptual images. Photographers like Karrah Kobus, Alex Currie, and Rosie Hardy do this often.

Start a Daily Photography Project to Strengthen Your Creative Muscles

One of the best ways to develop your style is to practice regularly. If you dedicate one hour a week to your photos, you won’t be able to improve quickly.

Even if you’re busy, you can help your style evolve a little every day. All you need to do is start a photography project. Make sure it’s either daily or weekly to ensure that you spend as much time with photography as possible.

A few common photo projects are the 365 project and the 52-Week project.

For the 365 project, you have to take a photo every day. It doesn’t have to be outstanding. The point is to spend a little time with photography every day.

Projects are an excellent opportunity to experiment with different genres and techniques.

The 52-Week project is a weekly project with a theme. Every week comes with a new topic, which is often abstract. This is meant to strengthen your creative muscles and help you think outside the box.

You can share your results online to get constructive criticism and to inspire others.

Spend Less Time on Social Media to Avoid Getting Influenced Too Much

I know, this sounds weird. You spend hours looking for inspiration, and now you’re told to stay away from social media.

This doesn’t mean you have to delete your social media accounts. Just spend a little less time looking at other photographers’ photos.

When you start to develop your style, you might get distracted by other people’s techniques. Sometimes, this is great for inspiration. If you do it too often, you might end up doubting your own abilities.

Social media is a wonderful place, but it can also become a source of insecurity. You can follow photographers, but don’t spend your time comparing your work to theirs.

Instead, use that time to practise, edit, and familiarise yourself with new types of photography. The more time you spend with yourself, the more original your photos will be.

Most Common Photography Style Questions

What Is a Photography Style?

A photography style is like your fashion and interior design choices. It’s the way you approach photography and edit your pictures.

Photography styles can evolve a lot with time and practice.

Which Type of Photography Is Most Demanded?

Some of the most demanded photography types include:
landscape, headshot, photojournalism, portrait and wedding photography.

Architecture and macro photographers can also earn a lot of money in their respective industries.

If you’re an aspiring photographer, chances are you already have a style.

Look for inspiration, take photos often, join photography projects, and ask for feedback to make the most of your journey as a photographer.

 

 

 

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Your Digital Photo Developing Options

 Tags:  Photography for Beginners, Photographs

by Darryl Turner

 

Nowadays, buying a committed computerized photograph printer for building up your advanced photographs might be a more exorbitant and essential course than choosing a legitimate computerized printing administration. There are numerous administrations online that will print your computerized photographs. In the event that you need results quicker, pretty much every cutting edge pharmacy or photomat offers computerized printing. Generally this is pretty much as basic as putting your computerized cameras memory card in a machine and choosing which photographs you need and some other choices. Your pictures at that point print just before your eyes. 

Probably the greatest benefit advanced photography has over conventional photography is that you can decide to just print the pictures you need. Envision the cash you would have saved over your lifetime in the event that you could single out your film based prints. No more hazy expendable pictures, presently advanced photography innovation has made it simple for you to just present the pictures you really need, not the ones you don't. 

The genuine inquiry is one of value. Fortunately, the advances that are included are progressing quickly. Today's computerized prints are made to last a decade without blurring or staining. The lifetime of expertly printed pictures is currently identical to the lifetimes of film based pictures. This is another significant benefit that proficient advanced printing has over DIY photograph printers, they last longer. The prints that you make yourself with most purchaser photography printers don't share the long life expectancy of prints that have been made expertly. This is generally because of the utilization of business grade recorded paper and ink in the printing interaction.

Setting up your photographs for printing is truly simple. In the first place, you can make any ideal amendments to picture quality with your number one photograph altering programming. At that point, you basically save your pictures (as a rule as .jpeg) and transfer them over the web to the photograph printers site. In the event that you are printing them locally, you would basically take your memory card with you and either place it into oneself help machine or hand it to the agent. In the event that you requested your photographs from an online photograph printer, you can ordinarily anticipate that your images should show up at your home in 2 to 5 days, contingent upon the help you pick and different factors. You will probably be agreeably shocked at the nature of the pictures you get. In the event that you are utilizing a moderately current advanced camera (with sufficiently high goal), the subsequent pictures will be a similar quality or better than if they were created from film. Advanced based photographs at higher goals store more "data" (pixels) in the picture than can find a way into the fine grains of film. This additional information makes for better, better prints. As should be obvious, there are many practical alternatives for computerized photograph creating. In this way, get a good deal on a photograph printer and prepare those pictures to transfer. Its fun, its simple, and the photos will endure forever.

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 Fuji Underwater Cameras – Photography Above And Below The Waves 

People are never satisfied! We came from the primitive world of black and white pictures to the colored ones that we have today. But did we satisfy ourselves? No, still we look for a higher trend, to add something new to our technology. Now we have underwater cameras that allow us to see the world underneath the waves. To capture the time spent with the creatures of the sea. 

 

 Fuji is recognized globally for its technological innovation and high quality. Fujifilm actually introduced the world’s first one-time-use 35mm camera the QuickSnap. Fujifilm’s technology is now licensed to many other manufacturers of one-time-use cameras. 

 

Fujifilm is also becoming a Hollywood standard. Up to date movie blockbusters, including Punch-Drunk Love, The Wedding Planner, and Holes were all filmed in Fujifilm motion picture film. Fujifilm has received both an Academy Award and an Emmy for Technical Merit. 

 

How dependable are these cameras? Let's take a short look at the latest innovations – Fuji Underwater cameras. The Fuji Fine Pix F440 packs just a bit more zoom than any other cameras in its class. When it comes to charging the battery, you have two options, either uses the AC adapter built within the camera or use the included camera dock. In both cases, it takes two hours to charge the battery. The camera has only two accessories, a carrying case, and an underwater case. The underwater case lets you take the camera up to 40 meters underwater. The F440 doesn’t support conversion lenses or an external flash — not surprisingly. This camera is an all-metal camera that can go anywhere you want. Its construction is definitely good and of higher quality than cheaper Fuji cameras. The controls are well-placed, although the micro buttons on the four-way controller are a bit too small for some. One thing that bothers some consumers is that cameras like this can easily be scratched! 

 

Another camera is the FinePix F10. This camera can shoot at 6.3 Megapixels at ISO 1600 — something no other point-and-shoot camera can do. It has a unique “natural light mode” for taking sharp pictures in lower light conditions without having to dwell on flash. There are a few accessories that can go along with this camera. But the most amazing of all these accessories is the WP-FXF10 waterproof case, which lets you take the camera for 40 meters down underwater. With these great Fuji underwater cameras, you can enjoy the sights of the underwater over and over again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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10 Tips for Better Engagement Sessions

Tags:   Photography for Beginners, Engagement

 

By Jackie Lamas 

If you’re just starting out in engagement photography, these 10 tips are for you.

Photographing a couple for their engagement session is a very emotional and meaningful way to capture your clients as they are before the wedding day.

It’s a chance for them to take a more relaxed approach and for you to get to know them a little better.

 

1. Chemistry and Couple Poses

Not all couples are the same. This means that not all couples will feel comfortable kissing and showing lots of public displays of affection.

It’s really important you ask your clients if they are comfortable with kissing or any other form of PDA.  You can do this at the pre-consultation or at the time of the session.

Having said that, it is also true that not all couples are the lovey-dovey romantic types. Before even setting up the first couple pose, talk to your clients about how they met, what they do for work, and try to find out what vibe they are giving off.

Some couples are more playful and will laugh more, others will be more serious, and others will be romantic.

Once you determine the type of chemistry the couple has, set up poses that really highlight it. You should be doing romantic poses on a couple that loves to laugh and play. For example, a couple that is fun will like to joke and perhaps be more active during the session. 

You can ask them to jump, dance with each other, look at each other and try not to speak, or simply walking. All of these couple poses will create laughter and fun for them.  Sure, you can try pictures where they are kissing, but you’ll most likely get laughing photos which is who they are as a couple and that is what you are there to capture.

For a romantic couple, having them jump or splash at the beach isn’t going to look very natural for them. So rather, try poses where one person leans into the other and they both look down at their hands.

Or have one person kiss the other on the forehead with their eyes closed. When you go along with the natural chemistry of the couple, they’ll loosen up sooner and give you more to work with.

2. Ask Your Clients for Their Favourite Photos

It’s not news that portrait photographers should have a pre-consultation with their clients before the session. This is because you’ll be able to read their chemistry, know what style of photography they’re looking for, and connect with them on a deeper level.

However, many photographers forget this one important step: Ask your clients to send you at least 5-10 favourite photos that you have taken (chosen from your portfolio). This will give you further insight as to what kind of photos really jump out to them that you have already taken.

It could also be that the look they like is one in a forest setting and some cute props and being slightly underexposed. Perhaps they really like the beach couples photos you’ve taken and want to do something similar, with lots of light. 

Seeing exactly what they like about your photography is a great tool for you to prepare for the session.

This step also involves your clients in the process and that will make them even more excited to have you photograph them at their engagement photography session.

3. The More Wardrobe, the Better

Engagement photoshoots can get stale and boring really quickly if you only work with one clothing change. Try and encourage your client to bring clothing that is comfortable and that they like to wear.

It’s easy to spot when a client is uncomfortable in front of the camera because of a shirt they don’t feel confident in.

I usually offer these three options:

1. Formal wear like a dress or button up and jacket;
2. Casual day-date clothing;
3. Every day comfortable clothing. 

This way, they have three options that offer very different looks to the session. Encourage them to bring more. At the session location, you can choose what will work best. This way, clients don’t feel like they “should have” brought a certain shirt that they really loved.

You won’t use all of the clothing they bring. However, allowing you to choose the outfits also gives you creative direction over the final result of the photographs. This is especially helpful if you’re creating a specific portfolio to target specific clients.

One important note is to make sure to tell your female clients to not worry about smudging or wiping off makeup. When they are conscious of their makeup, they often look stiff and don’t act very natural around their partner.

Reassure them that it won’t show and that the makeup is specially designed to not wipe off. This will help them to feel confident to rest their head on their partner’s shoulder or go forehead to forehead.

4. Acknowledge Their Nervousness

Engagement sessions are usually the first professional portrait session that couples have ever had. They are also in the midst of planning a wedding. Adding both factors can leave you with nervous clients.

Let them know that this is okay. They are allowed to feel awkward at first and later they’ll open up.

Taking this into account, try to talk and walk with them a little bit so that they loosen up. Talking helps to break up the silence so that they don’t feel intimidated by the camera. Try poses that are more loosely directed and let them talk to each other a bit before the session.

Ask if a little music would help to lighten the mood. Sometimes this can break up the silence if they’re more introverted.

5. Create an Experience

Most people, not just couples, aren’t professional models. They have no idea what they’re doing. It is your job as the photographer to lead your clients through the portrait experience. This means that you show them how to pose rather than direct or bark orders. It also means that you allow the session to evolve organically.

What do I mean by this? It means that when you pose a couple, let them sit there a while. Let them enjoy the closeness, the laughter, the surroundings. This is where you take photo after photo grabbing all of the in-between moments that are natural and authentic.

Talk softly and slowly. Allow them to enjoy themselves without feeling rushed. If a pose isn’t working, just move them into a different one. Stay positive always and smile as much as you can.

Showing them a few photographs from the start can boost their confidence as well and in no time you’ll have a couple who is more into the session than they were in the beginning.

Talk to your clients and ask them if there is a special location that they would like to have their session at. Sometimes, couples don’t think about these locations at first but when you choose a location, for example, the place where they got engaged or had their first date can make the session and photographs much more meaningful.

It will also be fun to get to know more of their story, adding to the overall experience.

6. Keep Them Moving

Keep the couple walking from spot to spot at the location you have chosen so that they don’t get bored posing too long in the same spot. This also helps with giving their hands something to do. 

Have them walk, stop, give a kiss, and keep moving on.

Moving from spot to spot after about 10-20 photographs is a good rule of thumb. This will also help you to keep your creative ideas flowing as you move to a new spot with perhaps more interesting light or background.

Also, keep them moving within the same pose. Have them look toward you, away from you, switch sides, etc. The more variety you can give your clients the better.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Sessions should always focus on the client, after all, the photos are theirs. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t experiment a little during the session. Perhaps you saw a photo in a magazine that you’d really like to try with the couple, go for it.

Sometimes, the experimental photos become favourites for all. It also helps you to capture real clients with a look that perhaps you are trying to market to future clients. Just make sure that you’ve taken the photographs that your clients do want before you transition into taking experimental photos.

This way, you are covering all of your bases and don’t leave your clients confused when they see the final images.

8. Children and Dogs

You’ll encounter lots of different couples and some will have children and/or dogs that they’d like to join the session. If this is the case, break up the engagement shoot in two parts. The first part, you’ll have the children or dogs join the session.

After some great photos are taken, have an extra family member help with taking the children or dogs home, or watch over them.

Doing this gives your clients a very special portrait session experience by including the entire family but also allowing time to photograph them alone.

Your clients will appreciate the gesture and will surely return to you for more family photos in the future.

9. Have Fun with Engagement Photography

Chances are you and your clients get along really well and therefore you can have a lot of fun! Don’t be afraid to joke around and get into the experience with them. If you are having fun, they most certainly will also.

Engagement photography shoots can feel awkward and the couple is usually nervous so being positive and light can give them the best experience.

Giving clients a great experience is what they will remember the most. When they see the final images, they’ll remember how much fun you were and how much they enjoyed having their photos taken.

10. Take Individual Photos

Even though engagement photos are about two people, take individual photos of each person too. Make each of them feel like they also stand alone and together. This helps to break up the session and posing for the couple who can get stiff after a while or bored with the poses.

Take close up, mid focal length, and full body pictures of each person. To get real expressions have the other person joke about the photos or something funny.

These tips are important to take note of as they can make the engagement photography session experience a fun, happy, and exciting one for both you and your clients.

It will have them coming back to you for the wedding, their first family portrait, and beyond.

 

 

 

 

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PHOTOGRAPHY FREEBIE:

How to make money with your Photography even if you're not a Pro.

Copy & paste this link into your browser, click ENTER, and enjoy: 

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Being a Wedding Photographer

 

12 Best Things About Being a Wedding Photographer

Tags: Photography for Beginners, Wedding Photography,  DSLR

By Karthika Gupta      

Wedding photography is one of the most popular genres out there. If you don’t believe me, take a look around the room the next time you get invited to a wedding.
Nearly every guest is documenting every detail of the wedding – right from the bride walking down the aisle to the happy couple sharing their first dance.
Now, not everyone is taking photos with a professional grade camera. Most guests will be using a mobile phone or even a great entry level DSLR camera.
But weddings are such a happy moment that people almost always feel compelled to take photos. 

True wedding photography, the one where the couple hire a professional experienced in this line of work, isn’t as easy as carrying a camera and snapping pictures of the happy couple. Nor is it as glamorous as it may seem.
But there are still some really awesome things about being a wedding photographer.
Here are my top 12 reasons why I really love being a wedding photographer.

 

1. You’re Part of Someone’s Special Day

Weddings are truly one of the most special moments in a person’s life. There is so much emotion all around and people seem to really put away their differences (for the most part) and come together to celebrate as a family.
Being surrounded by all that love and warmth is something I really enjoy. The way a mom’s eyes mist up when she sees her son all grown up ready to start his own family, that instant when a dad realises that his little girl is not so little anymore, the first kiss between a married couple!
What can I say – I am a hopeless romantic at heart and really enjoy being part of someone’s special day. There is always something going on and each wedding I photograph is different from the previous one.
You get to spend the day capturing romance, laughter, joy, anticipation, excitement, and many other photographic moments for your clients. 

2. Wedding Photography Is About More Than Just Photos

As a wedding photographer, I find myself wearing so many different hats throughout the day. I am working through many different styles of photography like candid shots, family portraits, environmental details, food and florals.
And I’m also using soft skills like relationship building, emotional support, coordinating family dynamics, easing last minute nerves and problem solving in a fast paced environment.
Sometimes bridal flowers don’t arrive on time or the bride is missing her shoes and cannot remember where she put them. A lot is happening and often at the same time.
My multi-tasking skills have definitely vastly improved since I became a wedding photographer. 

Formal wedding photos as well as candid moments document a couple’s special day.

3. You’ll Develop Great Technical Skills

There is so much more to taking a photo than simply clicking the shutter. A lot of things need to align in terms of lighting, composition and subject matter. These are particularly important when you are taking wedding photos.
There have been weddings where I have had the perfect light, location and couple whereas other times everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Bad weather forced the ceremony to be moved to an indoor location with terrible lighting and I had to perfect using multiple off camera flashes very quickly.
Oftentimes you don’t have the luxury of analysing all the factors at your own pace. During a wedding, things move very quickly and you have to react to all that is happening with a sense of urgency.
Wedding days can also be long in terms of hours where you have to be fully functional both mentally and physically. If anything, photographing a wedding makes you stronger in terms of your technical, physical and emotional skills.
Making split-second decisions also become second nature as you learn problem solving skills with so much more confidence.

4. You’ll Recognise Story-Telling Photography Moments More Easily

Weddings are a treasure chest of multiple stories built in throughout the day. As you photograph a wedding, you learn to recognise when a beautiful story is being played out right in front of you complete with characters, outfits, props, emotion and action. You just need to know where to look.
A father-daughter exchange, a bride reading a letter from her groom, a mother fixing her daughter’s veil, mother and son sharing a dance – these are just a few of the wonderful stories that you get to experience during a wedding.
Making sure you capture all these moments throughout the day will help you understand the art of visual narration and how to add depth to your photos so much better. 

Some stories are just too hilarious to not capture via photos!

5. You’ll Build Relationships Within the Industry

The wedding industry is comprised of so many incredibly talented vendors and creatives. A wedding photographer is one of the most important people at a wedding.
Many of the vendors really look to the photographer to not only capture the couple with their product and/or service but also to showcase their work and talent in a professional light. Be good to the vendors you work with and you will make friends for life.
These people know and understand what it is like to work in the wedding industry and wedding market, and are always willing to go the extra mile for colleagues/peers who treat them right.
I have made so many amazing friends in this industry and have enjoyed building mutually beneficial relationships with many vendors. They are an amazing source of support, advice, and friendship!

A lot of vendors put in a lot of hard work to make a wedding beautiful all around.

7. You’ll Become More Creative

Wedding photography can be a great way to explore and nurture your creativity. Doing something different and outside the box will get your work noticed among many other photographer who might be just happy with the status quo. Give yourself permission to explore your creativity.
Perhaps get the ‘safe’ shot and then try the same photo in a different light and technique. This sort of creative freedom of expression is really great for your growth as an artist.
And brides and grooms are always excited when they get to see themselves in atypical wedding photos.

Thunderstorms and lighting did not dull this couple’s love. We found a textured wall with a single light source and I created some of my best wedding bridal portraits.

Additionally, no two weddings are ever the same. Work is always interesting and challenging and never mundane or boring.

8. You’ll Have a Diverse Photography Portfolio

If you have been in the photography industry long enough, you know how competitive the market is. Photography is a field where the barrier to entry is relatively low based on the easily available technical education online and the price of an entry level DSLR camera.
It seems like every day thousands of people say they’re a photographer because they have a camera and took a 1-hour online class.
If you have been doing this for a while, you know that one of the toughest things about being a photographer is getting a steady stream of clients.
The good thing with wedding photography is that if you do a good job with a client, they are likely to keep coming back to you for more life events like maternity photos, baby photos, family and friends engagement photography etc.
And they will also refer you to their friends.

This lovely couple had me photograph their wedding and their maternity photos.

9. You’ll Expand Your Cultural Repertoir

I love photographing weddings of other cultures and traditions that are different from my own. They help me get insight into people from other cultures and make me so much more knowledgeable in how they think and behave.
Plus I get to interact with people from all walks of life and always walk away learning something new.
If you are a destination wedding photographer, then you get to travel the world to do what you love to do – can you think of a better way to earn a living?
Destination wedding gigs are certainly a lot harder to get and take a lot of work to get your name out there enough to be hired but it is completely possible. 

My first time in an Arabic wedding was such an incredible cultural experience.

10. You Get to Photograph Happy Moments

People spend many hours preparing and getting ready for their big day. More often than not, professional hair and makeup is involved, fancy clothes are worn and people are happy and look beautiful not only from the outside but also inside.
The joy that radiates from a happy bride and groom is infectious and you cannot help feel happy and euphoric to photograph them on one of the most important days of their life.

Every couple radiates a beauty from within on their wedding day. Strive to capture it.

11. Your Work Can Have a Significant Impact

Take away all the superficial elements for a moment and really think about what wedding photography is all about. It is the unique opportunity to capture an important day in someone’s life and give them the gift of freezing that moment in time for all eternity.
How often have you looked at your parents’ or even grandparents’ wedding photos and shed happy tears for the joy of being a part of that experiences via the images. The albums and photos you create for your clients become treasured family heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation.
This intrinsic value is becoming more and more apparent as wedding photography is trending towards documenting the feelings and emotions of the special day as opposed to just a traditional wedding portrait taken in a studio setting. 

My bride not only had a first look with her future husband but also her dad. He got to see his little girl in her wedding dress for the first time!

12. Your Schedule Will be Flexible (Mostly)

In most countries, weddings are very seasonal. This means that there are some months in the year where you will be really busy. But other months might be light in terms of photography work.
This can mean a break from photographing weddings and focusing on other aspects of your business like marketing and networking.
Additionally, if you have a family and kids, this means you can spend more time at home during the off-season. It can give help you achieve some work/personal life balance.

Wedding photography is truly an amazing gift that we photographers give to our clients. Do the best you can to give everyone a great experience when they have their picture taken. You’ll make people happy and appreciative of what you can do for them.
Beyond the money, the fame and the creative satisfaction, that’s the most exciting part of being a wedding photographer.

 

 

 

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PHOTOGRAPHY FREEBIE:

How to make money with your Photography even if you're not a Pro.

Copy & paste this link into your browser, click ENTER, and enjoy: 

https://mrdarrylt.blogspot.com/2020/01/how-to-make-500-month-from-your.html

                                                         or

https://www.photography-jobs.net/?hop=darryl54

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Visit me on Facebook and post your pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/Darryl-T-363867387724297/  

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Need a camera?  Try this link (Tri State Camera) for discounted prices:  https://ebay.to/2Smb1ho