Tuesday, December 18, 2018

17 of the Best Photography Tutorials

#photographyhobbyist #photographybestoftheday #photographyforever

Each year we collect the best photography tips that were published on Click it Up a Notch in the past year.
What I love about this years collection of best photography tips is that is covers a wide variety of topics from natural light to editing to mistakes to avoid.
This is the best list of tips and tutorials I've seen! Must read - "17 of the Best Photography Tutorials"

This is the best list of tips and tutorials I've seen! Must read - "17 of the Best Photography Tutorials"

 Be sure to “pin” or bookmark this post because it will be one you want to reference often.

No.

01

Natural Light Mistakes You May Be Making

Natural light is, by far, my favorite light to shoot in. Whether it’s indoors or out, it offers an unparalleled beauty that is difficult to replicate. But just like anything in photography, it comes with its own set of learning curves. Let’s cover a few natural light mistakes I’ve made in this journey of understanding how to use natural light.

Read – Natural Light Mistakes You May Be Making
No.

02

6 Reasons Why You Have Blurry Photos

Are you wondering why you have blurry photos?
This is a common question that many photographers run into. We start learning manual mode and then we can’t figure out why our images are blurry instead of tack sharp.

Read – 6 Reasons Why You Have Blurry Photos
No.

03

8 FoolProof Lightroom Tips For Editing Your Photos

Its no secret that Lightroom is a secret weapon for photographers and hobbyists looking to up their editing game. The system is powerful and relatively intuitive, but as it often happens when learning a new system, you don’t know what you don’t know. In the middle of the overwhelm of learning the system itself and how it works, some of its best features get overlooked.

Read – 8 FoolProof Lightroom Tips For Editing Your Photos
No.

04

7 Habits of a Happy Photography

Being happy with our photography, and with ourselves as photographers, starts with building good habits. Just like any aspect of our life, there are things we can do to make us happier and less stressed. The same goes for photography. Photography should be a carefree and happy outlet that gives you joy. Try to incorporate these 7 habits into your everyday to help you become happier with your photography.

Read – 7 Habits of a Happy Photography
No.

05

8 Composition Mistakes to Avoid

Once shooting in manual has become second nature, focusing more on composition is time well spent. Keep reading to learn about some common composition mistakes for every beginner to avoid.

Read – 8 Composition Mistakes to Avoid
No.

06

7 Things Every Photographer Should Know

Saying there is a lot to learn about photography is an understatement. You could spend your whole life learning about photography and if it is truly a passion of yours, I encourage you to do just that.
I have been on my photography journey for almost 8 years and I continue to learn new things. I am always amazed to talk with other photographers when we share how we edit or how we find light. It’s amazing to see the world through their eyes.
However, I do think there are some key elements that you need to know as a photographer.

Read – 7 Things Every Photographer Should Know
No.

07

5 Tips for Freezing Motion in Photographs

Like many photographers, I invested in a camera when my son was born so I could capture every stage as he grew. Once he started crawling, I quickly discovered I needed to learn how to take photos of moving subjects.
Now my favorite pictures are the ones where he is running and jumping because it truly captures his adventurous personality.

Read – 5 Tips for Freezing Motion in Photographs
No.

08

5 Most Popular Ways to Compose Your Image

Composition is one of the main building blocks of a great image. There are many ways to compose an image (and many ways to break the rules once you master them). These tried and true compositions are easy to execute and help elevate you images.

Read – 5 Most Popular Ways to Compose Your Image
No.

09

An Introduction to Modern Macro Photography

When I first started trying to learn macro photography (way back in early 2012) everything I read had such an “old school” approach to shooting. Everyone said you have to shoot with a tripod and stop down to at least f/16. To me, these rules were extremely stifling and they just didn’t feel like ME.
So I set out to teach myself macro photography in a way that felt authentic to my style and vision. Here, I hope to share some tips and tricks with you, to help you on your own journey to explore macro photography!

Read – An Introduction to Modern Macro Photography
No.

10

5 Tips for Capturing Authentic Sibling Relationships

“He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother”, The Hollies said it best and it truly is what our family stands by. Both myself and my husband live this truth with our boys through our thoughts, words and actions.
Because of this our boys have lived in a world where family is number one and they know it is their job, no scratch that, their duty to lift each other up and take care of one another.

Read – 5 Tips for Capturing Authentic Sibling Relationships
No.

11

7 Photos Every Mom Should Take

As mamas, the act of picking up our camera to capture memories with our littles ones is equally exciting and daunting. It’s exciting because we know that the pictures we take will be cherished forever. But it is also daunting because we want to photograph everything.
If you’re like me, you feel the pressure to photograph every little thing your child does and sometimes feel guilty when you didn’t get a photo of them doing something particularly adorable.

Read – 7 Photos Every Mom Should Take
No.

12

How to Grow as a Photographer (Even if on a budget)

Photography is an expensive hobby or business and you may be wondering how to grow in photography on a budget.
Shortly after purchasing my first DSLR camera, I remember asking my friend, Megan Cieloha, how she got those awesome blurry backgrounds.
I thought all I needed was a nice DSLR camera to get those kinds of shots.
You can imagine my surprise when she told me I needed to purchase a different lens other than the one that came with my camera.

Read – How to Grow as a Photographer (Even if on a budget)
No.

13

5 Facts About Natural Light

The quality of natural light is the difference between hard light and soft light. There is no “good” or “bad” natural light, but a preference of different types of lighting for different situations, moods, and styles.

Read – 5 Facts About Natural Light
No.

14

8 Tips for Creatively Composing a Photo Series

One of the first pieces of advice I was given when I started diving into the world of photography proved to be one of the most valuable. MOVE. Take your scene and really look at it. Don’t just shoot from where you initially approached it, but try looking at it from at least FIVE unique perspectives.
Doing this causes the story to change and evolve right in front of you. So that’s exactly what we’ll be looking at today. How to put together a story board with a simple scene and nothing more than a change of perspective.

Read – 8 Tips for Creatively Composing a Photo Series
No.

15

6 Ways to Enhance Emotion in Your Photography

There comes a point in every photographer’s journey where taking a pretty photo just doesn’t feel like enough any longer – when you want to look at your photos and feel your soul stirring underneath the surface.
To create a photograph that is emotionally moving, there are many different artistic lighting and compositional choices that you can make to help enhance the emotion that you’re capturing within the frame.

Read – 6 Ways to Enhance Emotion in Your Photography
No.

16

Using Common Photography Techniques to Enhance Stories

Every photo has a story to tell. Okay, so maybe not EVERY photograph, but so many photos aim to tell stories. With the telling of stories comes the interpretation of stories by an audience.
How can you ensure that you’re conveying the message you intended? Well, there’s no way to guarantee your story will be “read” by everyone exactly as intended, but there are ways to remove ambiguity from your stories and communicate more effectively.

Read – Using Common Photography Techniques to Enhance Stories
No.

17

6 Photography Mistakes You Will Never Make Again

We have all experienced mistakes in our quest to be better photographers. It’s part of the process. Some mistakes will be made again, while others have completely changed the course of our photography journey. Our contributors share the photography mistakes that they’ll never make again.

Read – 6 Photography Mistakes You Will Never Make Again

Courtney Slazinik

Learn it all, step-by-step, with me, the force behind Click it Up a Notch, a Huffington Post Top 5 Blogs for momtographers.
A former teacher who got into photography to capture my beautiful family, I am eager to share what I’ve learned over the past 5 years & open the door to photography for other moms.

Learn the EXACT techniques that I use everyday to photograph my kids. Stop feeling frustrated with your DSLR. Let me help you with this FREE webclass.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Beginner Photography: How to Go from Auto Mode to Manual Mode on Your Ca...

Christmas Photography Tips

^{#photographyhobbyist #photographybestoftheday #photographyforever}

^{Image Credit: martin-dm via iStock}

You've got the tree nicely decorated, the gifts wrapped, and your family in their matching ugly Christmas sweaters...
Now all that's left to do is take a few memorable photos.
Ugly sweaters aside, if you want your Christmas photos to go off without a hitch, follow these Christmas photography tips.
From family portraits to photos of Christmas lights, this quick set of Christmas photography tips will get you headed in the right direction.
Let's get started!

Recommended Gear for Christmas Photos

^{Image Credit: yulkapopkova via iStock}

You can take great Christmas photos with any camera - smartphones included.
Having said that, as capable as smartphones are as cameras, having a DSLR or mirrorless system with interchangeable lenses will likely help you be more successful in getting photos of the festivities.
This doesn't mean you need a $3,500.00 camera body, though...
An entry-level DSLR with manual exposure controls and RAW shooting capabilities will give you all the control you need.

^{Image Credit: SolStock via iStock}

Pair your camera with a solid zoom lens, perhaps something like a 24-70mm.
What's great about a zoom lens like this is that you have a wide range of focal lengths, so you can take group photos at 24mm, fill the frame at 70mm, and have plenty of room to work in between.
Since many Christmas photos are taken indoors in low-light situations, a tripod and remote shutter release are also a good idea to have, that way you can slow the shutter (more on that below) as needed to brighten the exposure without risking camera shake.
Quick Tip: Whatever you do, don't use the pop-up flash on your camera. The light from a pop-up flash is extremely harsh, will wash out many skin tones, and cause harsh shadows. Instead, try using a hot-shoe speedlite like this one that has an articulating head, that way you can bounce the light off a wall or ceiling to soften it.

Recommended Camera Settings for Christmas Photos

^{Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages via iStock}

I think it goes without saying that there is no magic set of camera settings that will get every single person the best Christmas Day photos.
Having said that, there are some starting points that will help you find your way.

Camera Settings for Indoor Portraits

^{Image Credit: ViDi Studio via iStock}

Fortunately, there is usually a little more ambient light indoors during the holidays thanks to all the Christmas lights. However, you'll likely find that your camera still needs help to get a properly-exposed indoor portraits, which usually means boosting the ISO. Try the following settings as a starting point for indoor portraits:

Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority (A or Av on your camera's dial)
Drive Mode: Continuous
Focus Mode: Single autofocus
Metering Mode: Spot
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: Will be set by the camera

By shooting in aperture priority mode, you control the camera's aperture and ISO while the camera controls the shutter speed. This is advantageous because it allows you to have more control over the exposure but without having to worry about all three settings.
If you start out at these settings and find that your images are too dark, try opening the aperture (say, from f/5.6 to f/4).
You'll find that as you open the aperture, that the depth of field is reduced, which can produce beautiful background blur.

Camera Settings for Outdoor Portraits

^{Image Credit: AleksandarNakic via iStock}

Getting the camera settings just right for outdoor portraits at Christmastime can be a challenge, to be sure.
In some instances, you might be taking photos at dusk. In others, it might be at midday. Some of you might have snow on the ground for your photos while others might be at the beach.
Again, there's no single set of camera settings that will work in every situation, so use the following as a starting point and work from there:

Shooting Mode: Aperture Priority
Drive Mode: Continuous
Focus Mode: Single autofocus
Metering Mode: Spot
Aperture: f/2.8 (or the lowest available aperture setting)
ISO: 200

Notice how in this instance, using the widest aperture possible is recommended. Again, this is to get that nice background blur that will help set your subjects apart from the background in an outdoor photo shoot.
For a few more tips and tricks for great Christmas portraits, be sure to check out the video above by Moose Winans.

Learn More:

Best Camera Settings for Portrait Photography

Camera Settings for Christmas Light Photography

^{Image Credit: JamesBrey via iStock}

Your loved ones aren't the only subjects you'll want to photograph at Christmas - what about all those beautiful Christmas lights?!
Give these settings a shot as a good starting point for capturing all that beauty:

Shooting Mode: Manual
Drive Mode: Single Shot
Focus Mode: Single autofocus
Metering Mode: Matrix
Aperture: f/2.8 (or the lowest available aperture setting)
ISO: 400
Shutter Speed: 1/50th sec

Contrary to our first two examples of portraits, when shooting Christmas lights, it's recommended to shoot in manual mode. Not sure how to do that? Check out this detailed guide.
The key setting here is the shutter speed. If at 1/50th sec the image is too dark, slow it down to 1/25th sec. On the other hand, if the image is too light, speed it up to 1/100th sec.
Getting the ideal shot of Christmas lights will require a little bit of work, but if you start with these settings, you'll be in a good position to get pleasing photos!
Quick Tip: Be careful of setting your shutter speed too low. If there are lights that blink, a slow shutter speed runs the risk of blurring the lights.

Composition Tips for Christmas Photos

^{Image Credit: Steve Debenport via iStock}

One of the most common mistakes that people make when photographing Christmas is taking a shooting position that's too far away (or zooming out too far).
Instead, challenge yourself to fill the frame with the subject for a more detailed and intimate shot, like the one shown above.
Another top tip is to really focus on having a central, strong subject in each image.
This can be difficult to do given all the lights and decorations associated with Christmas.
But no matter if you're photographing people, Christmas lights, or something in between, your shot needs to have something that stands out and grabs people's attention.

^{Image Credit: morrowlight via iStock}

When taking outdoor photos, try incorporating tried-and-true landscape photography tips like leading lines to add depth to the shot.
Additionally, bring in foreground elements - plants or decorations, for example - to add dimension to your photos.
When composing your photos - whether indoors or out - pay particular attention to how you frame the shot.
Ensure that all people in the image are fully there - no chopped off heads or knees!

^{Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages via iStock}

Lastly, since Christmas is all about love and family and friends, strive to capture moments that highlight the relationships between people.
Sure, it's fun to get shots of kids' faces as they open their gifts, but 10 years down the road, the more important shot to you will be the one of your child hugging your spouse or your siblings sharing a laugh.
Focus on those fleeting, yet meaningful moments, and you'll have Christmas photos that you cherish for years to come!

Courtesy of : Photography Talk

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Analogue Photography Reference Manual: A Tome for Film Photographers

#photographyhobbyist #photographybestoftheday #photographyforever

Analogue Photography: Reference Manual for Shooting Film is a must-have book for today’s generation of film photographers.

Analogue Photography: Reference Manual for Shooting Film is most likely the most extensive film photography resource to come in printed form in a very long time. A project by Andrew Bellamy and published by Rome-based Ars-Imago, the book celebrates both the beauty of analog photography and the magical cameras from many decades past.

“A few years ago, it would have been unthinkable for you to be reading these words printed with real ink on real paper,” wrote Supersense Founder Florian Kaps in the foreword. This insight couldn’t be more true, as most film photographers sourced information about their cameras and films online, hardly through books and manuals. Hopefully, this book will change that.
This manual is a beautiful volume that will surely delight readers who enjoy the weight and feel of an actual book in their hands. I especially love the textured cover and the slightly thick off-white pages. The inspiration from vintage camera manuals is definitely present from cover to cover, from the layout, to the photos, down to the the illustrations.

Analogue Photography is strictly a technical manual for shooting film. If you want to know your film camera’s functions by heart, this book is definitely for you. If you’re someone who started with point and shoot cameras, but have recently advanced to film SLRs and rangefinders, this book will help you learn the ropes of the manual controls. However, if you’re looking for tips on how to take better photos, play with textures and patterns, or improve your composition, you won’t find them here.
The attention to every technical detail there is about film photography is impressive. I’ve been shooting film for several years now but admittedly, I’m not a very technical snapper. Still, I found it interesting to see some terminologies and techniques I’ve never heard of before (or skipped in my eagerness to just create photos, my bad). For the ones I’m familiar with, I found that they were succinctly and clearly explained.
Despite being a technical manual, the goal of this book is not to turn today’s film photographers into technical whiz kids. Instead, it encourages them become more acquainted with the functions that are fundamental and specific to the processes involved in film photography.

Nothing beats learning how your camera works with its dedicated manual. But if you need something simple, straight to the point, and applicable to most camera models from the 1930s to the 1960s, this book makes for a valuable resource.
Cleverly designed to be read in either a linear and non-linear way, readers have the choice to browse from start to finish or choose sections as the need requires. I can see how this book will have a prime spot in every film photographer’s bookshelf, both as go-to reference material, and also something to flip through and admire once in a while.
Grab a copy of Analogue Photography: Reference Manual for Shooting Film.

Photos of Babies with Grown-Up Teeth

Dec 14, 2018

Michael Zhang

If you need a chuckle today (or a nightmare tonight), there’s a strange new photo project you can check out called Babies With Teeth. As its name suggests, each of the bizarre photos shows an infant with grown-up teeth ‘Photoshopped’ into their tiny mouths.

The project is the brainchild of Texas photographer Ashley Evans, and it all started while she was playing around in an app called YouApp.
“I had an app and wanted to see what my son looked like with teeth,” Evans tells PetaPixel. “It was hilarious so I did it to my daughter. I then posted in a Facebook group and it just blew up from there.”

Tina | 55 + Rachel | 54. Spend Sundays garage-saling together

After seeing Evans’ photos, a lot of people began sending her baby photos to add teeth to. She then started a dedicated Facebook page for the project and began writing captions about each baby as if they were an adult.

Heather | 30 | Ordered a hamburger with extra bacon and received NO bacon.

Some of the babies are edited in Photoshop, while others are roughly teeth-ified using the app.
“I like that it makes everyone laugh,” Evans says. “I think it would be cool to start selling mugs, cards, calendars, etc. and use the money to help fund dental treatment for people who can’t afford it. I definitely don’t want to profit from it.
“I keep it going because it seems like a lot of people think it’s funny and I think it’s important to laugh.”