The failure to prepare, is preparation to fail. – John Wooden

While this may have been applied to basketball at the time of the quote, this principle applies to many important things in life, including wedding photography.
This preparation for the wedding day can be followed in three steps. Treat them like wedding rehearsals. Let’s see how.

A Few Months Before
A few months before the actual wedding, a tulsa wedding photographer should
try and do a planning ‘run through’ with the wedding couple, and plan out the day. You may not have all the details chosen yet, but it is a good starting point to get things narrowed down. An experienced photographer can also help you with ideas that you may not have thought of, and details to consider.
Another thing to potentially plan for is a “photo-run-through” aka, engagement photos. As a photographer, you get to know the couple even further, learn about their personalities, and get them ready for feeling comfortable when posing for pictures. Besides these advantages, you get the opportunity to discuss style with the wedding couple, and inquire more intricate details they would want to incorporate in their wedding photos.
You can also use this time (either in addition to, or in place of) to do bridal portraits. Usually featuring the bride and her dress, many times at the place of the ceremony (or at another scenic location) the bridal portraits offer the bride a chance to get some beautiful shots that she and all of her family members will want to keep, and possibly more importantly, gives the bride another excuse to be the princess if the day. Getting dolled up, hair and makeup done, and donning the dress that she plans to be married in is a great run through for the big day.

One Week Before
This is ‘making sure’ rehearsal for the wedding day, in order to ensure the same situations discussed previously are still on the list.
Most important shots like pre-ceremony and post-ceremony shots of the couple or the group shots should be planned at this time. Shot sheets that feature specific family member names can also be very helpful in organizing the day, since it is difficult to off hand remember every shot you may want, especially in the whirlwind of the day.

The Night Before
Sleep well! Your big day is ahead of you, and your photos are the last thing you will need to worry about. With the preparation you have gone through for the day, everyone should be on the same page, and you are free to enjoy your big day!

By: Tulsa Wedding Photographer
Jake Aldrich
Epic Photography Tulsa

Marriage photography in general must evolve to stay relevant and in line with the other elements in these unusual weddings. Presented here is a look at the latest trends in certain key markets around the country.

The main trend in California marriage photography is photojournalism. Photojournalistic wedding photography allows the marriage day to unfold naturally. Rather than playing an active role in posing shots, the photographer captures events as they happen.

This style of photography results in more candid and natural looking photographs. The major drawback to this style is that an inexperienced photojournalist may miss certain shots or fail to capture the shots well in the ambient light.

If you choose to go with the photojournalistic one, be certain that your photographer is experienced in this style.

The typical Seattle marriage photographer will blend the new trend of photojournalism with a more timeless traditional style. The Seattle trend seems to be creating a marriage album that highlights the best of all worlds, thus offering the most complete account of your special day.

Florida wedding photography has begun to move in the direction of candid photography, which is very similar to the photojournalistic one. The main difference between the candid and photojournalistic styles is that in photojournalism, the shots combine to create a dramatic storyline. Candid photography is more laid back in style, reflecting the general feel of a Florida marriage.

The trend in Toronto marriage photography appears to be “creative candid” photography. This style is a sort of offshoot of both the laid back candid photography popular in Florida and the dramatic photojournalism of the California market.

Rather than simply sitting passively and letting the events unfold, the creative candid photographer works to set up good candid shots, but without the posing required by the timeless style.

No matter which market we talk about, one common thread binds them all. People are trying to get away from pictures that look posed. Couples want their shots to look as natural and as candid as possible.

Natural compositions in photos lend overall warmth to the marriage album, something that was lacking in wedding photography in earlier days.

The style of wedding photography that you choose should match the style of your special day. A traditional ceremony is best documented through traditional photography.

A relaxed destination ceremony calls for equally relaxed candid photography, while a creative themed marriage would be best matched by a dramatic photojournalistic approach.

Despite local trends, wedding photography in most markets have a number of photographers from which to choose, all of whom offer their own personalized approach.

Shop around carefully to find the photographer whose personal style best matches yours, then work together to design the perfect wedding photography package.

Visit us for free tips and training to help you make quick easy money and have the financial freedom you deserve.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon

One of the most common and unfortunate mistakes couples make is hiring a family friend or an enthusiastic relative to photograph the day.  Some may even ask guests to take as many photos as possible with the hope of piecing together an album composed of candid shots, most of which are unusable.  Keep in mind that even with the proper equipment, photographing a wedding properly is a daunting task requiring significant experience, the finesse’ to be virtually invisible, and most importantly the talent and artistic vision to capture the memorable details and emotions of your wedding day. It is certainly not a job for the faint of heart. 

How, then, does one choose an accomplished, professional wedding photographer? The key items to consider are your personal preferences in photography, your budget for the event, and the professional relationship and chemistry you have (or don’t have) with the photographer.

Wedding photography is usually classified as traditional, photojournalistic (candid), and artistic.  There is a wealth of information online regarding these categories, if you would like more explanation of each.  Although some photographers may declare that they are “hardcore photojournalists” (the current buzz-word in the wedding photo industry), I believe that a good wedding photographer must be able to do all the styles equally well. It is important to review a good selection of the photographer’s work, and you should love most (if not everything) you see.  You should insist on viewing complete wedding albums to see how your final album could look.  If you don’t feel an emotional connection with the photos, you need to iHiring a wedding photographer may seem like a simple task, but choosing someone to capture all the moments and details of that special day can be much more difficult than most couples realize. The professional you select will create a photographic record that will be treasured by your family for generations, and making this decision is a critical step in the wedding-planning process.  In some instances, hiring the wrong person might not only result in poor wedding photos, but could also have a negative effect on your entire wedding day (for example, imagine a sloppy-looking photographer running around, blocking the guests’ view and constantly distracting you from enjoying your day).

One of the most common and unfortunate mistakes couples make is hiring a family friend or an enthusiastic relative to photograph the day.  Some may even ask guests to take as many photos as possible with the hope of piecing together an album composed of candid shots, most of which are unusable.  Keep in mind that even with the proper equipment, photographing a wedding properly is a daunting task requiring significant experience, the finesse’ to be virtually invisible, and most importantly the talent and artistic vision to capture the memorable details and emotions of your wedding day. It is certainly not a job for the faint of heart. 

How, then, does one choose an accomplished, professional wedding photographer? The key items to consider are your personal preferences in photography, your budget for the event, and the professional relationship and chemistry you have (or don’t have) with the photographer.

Wedding photography is usually classified as traditional, photojournalistic (candid), and artistic.  There is a wealth of information online regarding these categories, if you would like more explanation of each.  Although some photographers may declare that they are “hardcore photojournalists” (the current buzz-word in the wedding photo industry), I believe that a good wedding photographer must be able to do all the styles equally well. It is important to review a good selection of the photographer’s work, and you should love most (if not everything) you see.  You should insist on viewing complete wedding albums to see how your final album could look.  If you don’t feel an emotional connection with the photos, you need to interview another photographer.

Couples also either under-budget for their wedding photography, or they try to shop around for the cheapest package, forsaking quality. As with any creative service, with most photographers you normally “get what you pay for.” If you see an all-inclusive package with albums under $2000.00, the quality of all the products and services is usually poor. If the package is above $5000.00, you should expect 2 photographers present, at least 8 hours of coverage, and high-end wedding albums (along with some extra items, such as proofs or parent copies).  Make sure you compare apples to apples when reviewing various wedding packages, since they can be confusing.  In most cases a typical wedding photography budget would be in the $3000.00 – $6000.00 range. Don’t treat your wedding photography as an afterthought – photographs are the most enduring and viewed remembrance of your wedding day (more so, even, than a video recording).

Make sure you feel a personal connection with your photographer.  Some of the best photos of the day are usually taken “behind the scenes” as the wedding party prepares for the day, when you will be interacting with your family and friends. You should feel comfortable inviting the photographer “backstage.” As a wedding photographer, I regularly get invited to see the most intimate parts of the wedding day that are normally not visible to most guests or even family. Your photographer should be calm and assertive and have a positive energy about them.  Make sure he or she shows a genuine interest in you and your family. Do not hire a photographer that makes you feel that your wedding day is just another job for them.  Your photos would certainly reflect that.

You may do whatever you want to do, as long as it is not negative thing like going to the beer and gets drunk. Maybe you could try your hobby that has been long time not being done. What about doing your photography activity again? You might never do it for spending all of your spare time with your boy friend previously, besides the condition of your camera that is broken. Well, you can immediately have a digital camera repair through Teleplancamerarepair.com. Although it is online service, but they could guarantee that your camera will be treated appropriately and sent back safely. Many professional photographers have used their service to repair their important camera. Due to their long good list of service, you do not have to worry for sending your camera to them.

This site is the trusted source for a kind of Nikon camera repair. They are also ready to fix many series of Nikon camera. If previously you have ever been cheated by a camera service provider, now you can completely entrust your Nikon coolpix camera repair to them. Please visit the website for further information. You may believe their service, since they are focusing their work on Nikon only, and have been proved that they could bring the broken camera back to its well work like when it was just purchased.

A picture says a thousand words- and it also it the best way to remember the past. Camera technology has come far throughout the last century. From black and white to color and grainy to crystal clear. There are thousands of different types of cameras on the market today. You can buy a camera that caters to your specific needs, whether underwater or shock proof. Because of the significant advances in technology, cameras have become very complex and sometimes difficult to understand. There are hundreds of misconceptions that accompany digital cameras, especially about megapixels.

The number of megapixels is one of the most advertised features when it comes to digital cameras. It is important to know exactly what role megapixels play when taking a picture. Many people think megapixels determine the clarity and detail of a picture. This is a common misconception because the manufacturers actually advertise cameras in a way that makes the customer think like this. Megapixels actually have no effect on the clarity of a picture. Let’s look at what megapixels actually effect when it comes to taking pictures.

Megapixels actually determine the resolution of a picture. More megapixels will produce a picture that has a higher resolution. The only time that a high resolution is need is when pictures are blown up. There is no need to buy a camera that has more than 10 megapixels, unless you plan on blowing a photo up to a 4 foot by 8 foot billboard. Normal picture uses, like printing 4 x 6 pictures or uploading them to the internet, do not need high resolution. Not only is high resolution not necessary, but you can’t even see it with the naked eye. The bottom line is that a camera with a lot of megapixels is only for those who plan on enlarging photos.

Don’t make the same mistake that most people do when buying a digital camera, which is sacrificing zoom for megapixels. When given the choice of a 10 megapixel camera with 4x zoom capabilities or one with 8 megapixels and 8x zoom, nine out of ten consumers will choose the one with the larger number of megapixels. This is the worst mistake you could make when buying a camera. Save your money and buy the camera with a larger zoom capability. The zoom feature will benefit you in more ways than the increased number of megapixels.

If you plan on using your digital camera for professional uses, like a photographer would, then you might consider buying a camera with high zoom capabilities and a large number of megapixels. These types of cameras can be extremely pricey. If you only want a camera for capturing life’s memories then such a camera is not necessary.

Shopping for and comparing cameras can because confusing and stressful. The consumer is forced to consider a camera’s features and compare it to the next one, all while taking the price into consideration. Hopefully, this new knowledge about megapixels, resolution and zoom will help you make a more informed choice when buying your next digital camera.

I talk to many people who have trouble remembering the details of their childhood or of some of the most significant events of their lives. This saddens me greatly because I do not think that it has to be this way. I think that regardless of whether or not you have a lot of pictures from your past, anyone can start now to take pictures and make memories of their life from this point forward.

Taking memorable pictures doesn’t mean that you have to be a professional photographer or that you need to have years of experience. All you need to have is an eye for capturing the memories that happen everyday in your life. A great first step is to head out and get a couple of disposable cameras. If you’re surprised that I am encouraging you to get dispoable cameras rather than a “real” camera, then read on. I suggest this because disposable cameras are an easy and cheap way to begin practicing taking pictures. Don’t jump into purchasing an expensive camera until you are comfortable taking the most basic pictures.

If you know anyone that is a bit more experienced with taking good pictures, hook up with them and see what you can learn. Other than just plain practicing taking your own pictures, the next best thing you can do is to join with other photographers and learn what you can. You might be surprised how quickly you learn to take great pictures that will become great memories for you and your family.

Grab an album to begin collecting the pictures you take. As you gather pictures I think that you’ll begin to really value them in a whole new way. I think you’ll value pictures as you realize that life is short and goes quickly and that you will be greatly aided in remembering by taking pictures. So grab a camera and start taking pictures. The rest of your life could easily be changed.

If you would rather promote yourself …

Some models would rather promote themselves instead of listing through an agency. Nothing wrong with this but it does require more work on your part.

If your are signed with an agency, they promote the business, they talk to the clients in your behalf, they set up the shooting dates, they take the heat if you don’t make it to the session, etc.

But, there are many models who are “loners” in the pool of modeling and want complete control over who they work with and why.

If you are one of these models, read on …

There are several ways to promote yourself. I will try to mention some ways for you to promote your modeling talent and a step by step format to follow.

First things first ..

In self promotion, the first step to take is putting together a professional portfolio.

Once you’ve followed the portfolio guidelines from above, it’s a good idea to have comp cards and business cards made.

A) Business Cards – Your business card should have as much information on it as possible. It’s not expensive to have extra words listed and this way you can include things other than the name and phone number.

For best results and at just a little extra cost, I would suggest putting your photo (preferably a headshot) on the card. People don’t tend to throw away photos as quickly as they do just cards. Below the photo (or on your card if you choose not to include the photo) you should list ..

Your name, contact phone number, email and don’t forget to put your web address on the card
You may want to also include in bulleted form your attributes (i.e. height and weight), special skills and the type of modeling you specialize in (your modeling strength area)
B) Composite Cards – You’ll definitely want to get composite cards (comp cards) made to hand out to possible clients / agents and to leave with clients or photographers you work with. A comp card is one of the least expensive pieces of printed promotional material but packs a big punch in saying, “I’m a professional model”.

Here is a basic layout of a comp card ..

Front – Photo covering the front of the card (I suggest a good, strong headshot here) along with your name in bold letters.

Back – From four to six photos showing different looks (indoor and outdoor) in a variety of outfits with at least one good body shot (swimwear or tight-fitting clothing).

The back of the card will list important information about you and your stats including …

Contact information (Who to contact, phone, email, web address, etc.)
Height
Weight
Bust size / cup size
Waist size
Hip size
Dress size
Shoe size
Hair color
Hair length (short, shoulder length, long)
Eye color
Type(s) of modeling jobs preferred (i.e. commercial, fashion shows, catalog, promotional, etc.)
No need to feel overwhelmed with the details of getting your comp card ready. There are many companies online such as CompCard.Com who have versions and templates online which will help you every step of the way.

Remember too that there are many different versions of comp cards so it’s all a matter of personal preference as to which style you choose.

C) Modeling Websites – When it comes to websites, I could probably write complete chapters on the subject but I will try as best I can to simplify this part.

Your website – Paid or Free?

Should you pay to have your own website created or go with one of the free web listing services online? Your choice in the type of web promotion you do depends upon your level of experience and the amount of budget you have to work with.

If you are, in actuallity, an eccentric millionaire and are just pursuing modeling out of boredom, by all means hire a professional web designer and start from scratch to build a website that other models will be in awe of! But, even if you go this route, there’s the promotional costs and time to think about; time that could be better used to improve your modeling abilities and make contacts with clients who need you for their photo projects.

I personally feel that it’s better to start but using a few of the online services (paid and free) to get your name out there. You can do a search and find many listing places but two sites that seem to have lots of buzz at the time of this writing are ..

One Model Place & Model Mayhem

Both of these sites offer a basic free package or a paid premium package. Either way, this is a less expensive way to get your feet wet and find out if you’ve got a look which is in demand.

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A word of warning about putting your model photos online

Remember to stay safe when placing your photos online. Don’t provide too much personal information about yourself or location untill you’ve thoroughly checked out the person who is contacting you.

If you are under 18 years of age, put your parents’ email address in the contact section and have them deal with any incoming offers.

Never, Never meet a photographer or potential client alone. Take a parent or friend (preferably male) with you untill you are completely satisfied that you’re in a safe environment. I cannot stress this enough!!

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There are other ways to promote yourself on or off the Internet such as contacting local upscale clothing or department stores for fashion shows or catalog work, jewelry stores if you offer hand modeling, hair salons, etc.

This is your starting point in becoming a real model. See if you can come up with more creative ways to promote yourself as a professional model.

Remember, you can have the most awsome beauty & talent in the world but if nobody knows where to find you … It’ll all be in vain! So, get off your backside and go to work!!

Caving – If you’re caving you’ll have a helmet and a head torch so why not add a Go Pro camera such as the helmet hero. This way you can get some excellent atmospheric footage of your exploration and some recordings of anything you find. The great thing about a Go Pro camera is that they’re mostly waterproof to about 60 meters meaning you don’t need to worry if you get wet or fall over.

Spelunking – Spelunking is a kind of cross between abseiling and caving where you lower yourself into the cave via a rope. This then leaves you hanging in the great open expanse which can have a great feeling of adventure and reveal some stunning views.

Football – A Go Pro camera doesn’t only need to be used for extreme sports and sports involving big engines. And with the Go Pro Naked for example you can fasten a camera to yourself without the need for a helmet (which you make you look a bit ridiculous on the pitch). If you really enjoy your sport then, be it football, rugby, hockey, basketball, cricket or anything else – then why not get some great footage that will make you look like a pro when you play it back and that can also help you to critique your own technique.

Parkour – Parkour is fast becoming a phenomenon. Also known as free running, it essentially involves running across roof-tops, flipping off of tables and scaling high walls in a fashion similar to Spider-Man or Jackie Chan. This of course is one of the most visually stunning activities out there and can benefit greatly from some great camera work. Using a Go Pro camera you can get a first person angle on the action which will be great when edited into your online ‘sampler’ (the video demonstration of a traceur’s skills that they tend to upload to YouTube). This is also a great opportunity to get some really iconic photographs of you or a friend sailing through the air.

Martial Arts – Watching a fight back from your own eye view can be a great and exciting experience, and again martial arts provide many opportunities for those ‘cool’ moments where you deliver a great roundhouse to the head or block and counter an attack.

Jet Skiing – Jet Skiing is a very fast sport that requires a high def camera to capture all the individual drops of water as well as a high frame rate to capture the scenery as it speeds by. Both scenic and fast, this can make for some exciting videos and some great still shots.

Snowboarding/Skiing – Snowboarding and skiing are two activities that feature great locations (snow covered mountain peeks to be specific) as well as high speeds and lots of exciting jumps. All of these will translate excellently to video and make for some excellent photographs.

Rock Climbing – Rock climbing is another incredibly visually impressive activity that not only involves many technical and dangerous moves but also some stunning vistas and views. Again this makes for some great photo-ops too and would look great on anyone’s wall.

One of the most popular gifts to give is a photo and picture frame combination. A couple celebrating a milestone anniversary may enjoy receiving a retouched image of their wedding photo or a special moment captured on film from their earliest days together. Today’s technology allows old photos to be restored with the touch of a button, but that’s not the only way to restore an old image. Many gift givers present an artist’s rendition of a photograph, which may be either oil or acrylic. And, what is the best way to present this beautiful memento? In picture frames, of course.

If you are giving the gift of a photo, select the perfect picture frame to go with it. If you envision the picture being hung above the fireplace, purchase a large photo and picture frame. The border should be bold and would preferably match something in the home’s decor. If the photo is small and better suited as a tabletop gift, a regular picture frame will suffice. No matter the size, a picture frame is often too awkward to use with gift wrap. Most opt for a large decorative bow in the top corner, which is simple but outstanding.

There are a number of other ways to use picture frames in gift presentations, including baby photos or a collage of special memories, graduation photos, wedding memories or even a special pet memoir. Many have heard of novelty companies who offer a star-naming service. In exchange for a fee, individuals can name a star after a friend, relative or other acquaintance. These are popular gifts because not many people can say they have a star named after them. Upon receipt of the star kit, a large certificate is included. Even though the service usually offers a choice of picture frames to go with the star kit, any individual can do the work themselves for a lot less money.

If it weren’t for picture frames, our photos would certainly age much faster than we would like. Discoloration, scratching and unwanted bending would most likely be a problem. Thanks to the sturdy help of picture frames, however, our memories no longer have to remain in our minds because they can forever live on in our photos. And best of all, we get to enjoy them every day.

We don’t have to stick to many rules to produce great landscape images, but knowing what they are will make your pictures more successful. There are two salient points in landscape photography: how to compose your image, and how to use available natural light in any given situation.

Lets start off with light: There are three basic qualities of light: intensity, direction and colour.

Intensity: refers to the strength of light. If the sun is high in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring soft and defused light.

Direction: this refers to light placement. There are three categories of light placement: front, back and side-lighting. Side lighting produces more texture between light and shade.

Colour: the colour of sunlight varies depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or the end of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.

Understanding natural light will develop your ability to see. You will start to see the beauty of light in a different and exciting way.

In landscape photography it is very important to take care with composition. A normal scene can be transformed by paying close attention to detail. Composition is all about how you arrange the elements in front of you.

Here are a few ideas in which you may find useful.

Lead with lines: To lead with lines into the main part of the scene will draw your viewer into your image. These lines don’t have to be straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or fences, may work successfully.

Foreground interest: Simple foreground objects can give your landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture (f/22) to keep the entire scene in focus.

Natural frames: Frame your scene with the elements all around you. This will focus attention on the main part of the picture. Trees make great natural frames.

These are just a few essential guidelines, and combined with a good eye, you have all you need to get the best out of photography – especially landscape photography.  These are just a few rules to get you started, but like all rules, they are there to be broken.