Here are a few wedding photography tips to help you make and capture memories that will last forever.
1. Search for a professional photographer ASAP
It’s important to hire a professional wedding photographer as soon as possible. As soon as you know the date, this should be one of the first items on your list. Wedding photographers typically book many months, or even a year in advance. The better their reputation, the more likely they are to have a full schedule. You do not want to miss out, so this should be one of the first items on your list.
2. Develop a Shot List
Your photographer will probably have a few ideas for classic wedding photos. Certain photos are iconic and a part of most wedding packages, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a little bit creative and come up with a few of your own. Perhaps you would like some special shots that capture your personality and show who you are as individuals and as a couple. If you decide that you would like some special photographs, such as these, it is a good idea to plan them out and let your photographer know ahead of time so that they can prepare, too. You will also want to make sure that the photographer gets things like siblings, cousins, grandparents, and other guests of honour. Don’t forget to include things like the bouquets, rings, veil, shoes, invitations, and other things that are a part of the ceremony. Make sure you point them out so that your photographer knows about them and has them on the list.
3. Pre-Plan the Shoot
Planning is the key to a successful shoot. You need to make sure that you have any props that you need, a list of shots, and that you meet with the photographer ahead of time to discuss these things. Some of the things that you want to do may require special equipment on their part or special preparation. It is best to make sure that you plan the day and have a set schedule. This makes it easier on Everyone.
4. Practice Poses
The best poses are those that look natural, but looking natural takes practice. One of the best tips is to pretend that the photographer is not there and keep moving naturally. Your photographer will probably have a few tips, but it is a good idea to study the basics and practice them. For instance, you should not press your arms against the body, but hold them out slightly. When holding your bouquet, your arms should be relaxed and stretched out with your elbows away from your body. You could even practice with your phone to make sure you have it right.
5. Minimise Your Locations
Another important tip is to not overwhelm your photographer with driving and changes in location. Setting up photography equipment takes time and can be complicated. You are probably hiring the photographer by the hour for the shoot, so you want to allow them to spend the time taking photos of you instead of travelling, setting up, and tearing down their equipment. Your photographer will thank you for being considerate of this factor.
These wedding photography techniques and tips will help you get the most from your photographer and help them capture the day in a way that will live in your memories forever. Another thing you might want to consider is hiring a wedding planner. Having a wedding planner can take the stress away from both of you so that all you can all you have do is enjoy the day. There are online platforms that allow you to browse and connect with wedding providers near you. The most important tip is to start planning soon.
You’ve gazed up at it countless times, but have you ever really managed to take a good photo of the moon? Pointing your smartphone up at the sky on a particularly beautiful night can yield inconsistent results, but don’t be disheartened. With some guidance and the right camera gear, you can vastly improve your moon photography.
We teamed up with the photography experts at Ted’s Cameras to round up the best moon photography tips. Here is how to take good photos of the moon in three simple steps.
1. Use the right gear
First things first, you need to find the best camera to photograph the moon. While you can try your hand with whatever camera you can get your hands on, your chances of success will increase if you use a camera with compatibility with accessories, manual settings, and good low light performance. We recommend a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, with big zoom compact cameras also being a suitable option.
Although the moon can often look big in the sky, to frame it to perfection, you want to invest in a telephoto lens for your camera. This allows you to crop out peripheral details and fill more of the frame with the moon, making it the best lens for moon photography. We recommend a 200mm focal length to start off with, with zoom options providing greater flexibility when composing.
Another essential item for moon photography is a tripod. When mounted on a tripod, your camera will stay still as you shoot with slower shutter speeds, which eliminates camera shake. An added benefit is your composition remaining unchanged once you have perfected it.
The last item that you should consider adding to your kit is a light pollution filter. This easy to use accessory is handy for reducing the unwanted colour casts given off by artificial lighting, such as street lights. A must-have for all astrophotographers, these filters save plenty of time and frustration during the editing process.
2. Use the right camera settings for moon photography
While experimentation is the key to unearthing fresh results, there are a few key settings that you can lean on to take a good picture of the moon straight away.
Set a low ISO speed (100-200). This will limit the amount of noise that your sensor will record, seeing as the shooting conditions will be dark.
Aperture f8-11. This is a rough figure, so make some changes to see what works best. You are looking for the figure at which your lens is its sharpest.
Shutter speed. With your ISO and aperture set, adjust your shutter speed accordingly. Take a few test shots and see what speed captures the best detail of the moon’s surface.
Use manual focus. Your autofocus system may struggle with accuracy. Switch your lens to manual focus and take matters into your own hands.
3. Pick the right night and location
While full moon photos are the most popular when it comes to moon photography, each phase of the moon is picturesque in its own way. Study the phases of the moon and decide which you would like to photograph. Moon phases are predictable, so you can easily pick the right night by looking at your calendar or installing a dedicated app on your smartphone.
In terms of weather, it is a personal choice as to what conditions are the best for nighttime moon photography. If you want a stark image with as much detail of the moon as possible, keep an eye out for a clear night. Some photographers love the glow that the moon gives off when it gets covered in clouds. If this is you, pick a night with some cloud cover and wait for your perfect moment patiently.
Lastly, make sure you have a spot that gives you a clear view of the moon, without manmade or natural obstacles getting in the way. Go scouting before your shoot looking for your perfect moon gazing location. You may want to find a hill, so that you have a good vantage point of the moon as it rises above land and into view. Keep in mind, there are many tools online that can tell you when the moon will rise and at what position in the sky, so if you really want to be prepared to get the best shot, take this into account when you plan your shoot.
Get creative with your moon shots
Now that you’ve mastered the art of capturing great moon photos, it’s time to go out and get creative with your shots! For more photography inspiration and tutorials, make sure to check out Ted’s Cameras’ blog.
Polaroid cameras are proof that nostalgia is a force to be reckoned with. That’s right, the instant camera has made a comeback!
Before digital photography, you had to wait until a lab processed your film before seeing the results. That is until the Polaroid Corporation pioneered a consumer-friendly instant camera and film. Other manufacturers soon followed.
As such, the term ‘’Polaroid camera’’ is often used in place of ‘’Instant Camera’’, regardless of whether its actually the Polaroid brand.
The Polaroid camera changed history and some of history’s most famous artists have been linked with this camera, including Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams.
Its popularity is not confined to artists though. They are used by family and friends who love the novelty of an instant camera, travel photographers to leave a memento with their subjects, and at parties for a whole lot of fun.
With many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which Instant camera is the best to buy. Fortunately, we’ve listed a few core features and specifications that will help you make the right choice.
Photo Size
Typically, each instant camera will only print on one size of film, so you will need to decide what size and shape film appeals to you the most.
Mini is the most common, giving a photo around the size of a credit card. Wide film is for those who wish to take more panoramic shots and square film emulates the old-school instant cameras, yet also appeals to those who love Instagram.
The Camera Size
Think about how portable you need your camera to be. The smaller your instant camera is, the easier it will be to carry it around and pack it up when travelling.
Selfie Mirror
Be honest … Do you take lots of selfies? Some polaroid cameras feature a small mirror located near the lens so that you can ensure you are in the shot. Remember, you can’t ‘’delete and redo’’ a polaroid, so it's an important feature.
Tripod Socket
If you plan to take timed group selfies with your instant camera, a tripod socket is a must. This will ensure stability and correct placement as you leave the camera to quickly run into the shot.
Brand
Buying a well known brand with a good reputation will make it easier to get your camera repaired if something goes wrong, and will also increase the availability of film. Polaroid and Fujifilm are the main manufacturers.
Shutter Speed
Basic polaroids often have a set shutter-speed that aims to reduce blur while maximising light. If you’re needing to shoot at higher speeds, such as action shots, you will want to consider a camera that allows you to do so.
Old school doesn’t get much cooler than this modern take on a vintage classic! The Polaroid Originals OneStep+ Camera is our TOP PICK and one of the most exciting polaroids on the market.
It’s a step up from the OneStep 2, allowing connection via Bluetooth to the Polaroid Originals app and unlocking six creative tools. These tools allow users to explore double exposures, light painting, and a noise trigger.
Don’t worry, the camera works just fine without the app as well!
The Polaroid OneStep+ Camera features a secondary lens designed for portraits. The portrait lens is for when the distance between your camera lens and the subject is 0.3 - 0.9 metres and the standard lens is used for every other situation.
Film used is Polaroid i-Type or Polaroid 600. i-Type film measures 7.89 x 7.68 cm for the photo and 10.75 x 8.84 cm total area.
Pros
Several shooting modes
Additional lens for portraits
Noise trigger
cons
Internal battery only
#2 Fujifilm Instax Mini Instant Camera
best value
BUY AT amazon
GREAT FOR FAMILIES!
The Fujifilm Instax Mini is a simple to use beginner level camera, making it ideal for families.
Powered by two AA batteries, its big buttons and plasticky build make it appealing for kids. There is a built-in automatic flash so you really don’t need to think too much with this one!
Exposure modes of sunny, cloudy, indoor and Hi-key are chosen by a turn of the lens ring.
Film type is Fujifilm Instax Mini which gives a picture size of 6.2 x 4.6 cm and a total size of 8.6 x 5.4 cm.
Pros
Simple to use
Comes in a range of colours
cons
The flash can’t be turned off
Simplicity can be restrictive for more advanced users
#3 Fujifilm Instax 300 Wide Polaroid Camera
BUY AT camera house
The Fujifilm Instax 300 Wide Polaroid gives you instant prints closer to the dimensions of standard photographs, allowing you to include more in each shot. An automatic flash ensures any environment is well lit.
It features a focal zoom to get in close if required and a rear LCD makes it easy to see the camera settings.
Film type is Fujifilm Instax wide with a picture size of 9.9 x 6.2 cm and total film size of 10.8 x 8.6 cm.
Pros
Tripod socket
Focal zoom
Close-up lens for shots up to 30 cm from the subject
cons
Bulky design
Small viewfinder
Requires four AA batteries rather than the standard two
#4 Leica Sofort Digital Camera
BUY AT ebay
The Leica Sofort Digital Camera is the first instant camera from this usually expensive brand.
Beginners will love that it has a program for every occasion. It’s as easy as picking the one you need, concentrating on the subject and taking the shot. Your Leica Sofort will take care of all those pesky details.
For those that love a good selfie, it even has a selfie mirror!
However, if you wish to take control of the flash, exposure compensation and focusing distance yourself, your Leica will allow you to do that as well.
Film type is Leica Sofort or Fujifilm Instax Mini which gives a picture size of 6.2 x 4.6 cm and a total size of 8.6 x 5.4 cm.
Pros
Comes in white, black, orange or mint colour
Seven different shooting modes
cons
Expensive compared to others similar
#5 Fujifilm Instax SQUARE SQ6 Instant Camera
BUY AT ebay
The Fujifilm Instax Square SQ6 is an IDEAL GIFT for young adults or Instagram fans!
The square film gives an Instagram feel and once printed, can be displayed creatively in the same clean way as an Instagram feed on your wall or desk with blu-tac, or in a photo book. There is something satisfying about all those squares lined up neatly!
The camera feature a selfie mode and a mirror next to the lens to make sure your in the shot when taking a selfie. Other features include automatic exposure control, macro mode, landscape mode, double exposure mode, light/dark mode and the ability to add a color filter to the flash.
Film is Fujifilm Instax Square, which comes in both black and white. The image size is 6.2 x 6.2 cm with a total film size of 7.2 x 8.6 cm.
Pros
Comes in five appealing colours
Different shooting modes
cons
Camera body lacks a proper hand grip
verdict
The Polaroid Originals OneStep+ is our Instant Camera Top Pick. Old school doesn’t get much cooler than this and Polaroid have done an outstanding job of adding modern features that are actually useful and fun.
The new shooting modes and additional lens for portrait photography make it great value for money, along with the fact that Polaroid is the pioneering brand that we all know and love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jessica Palmer
Photographer and Writer
A photographer and writer who has a somewhat constant urge to escape the mundane, Jessica travels regularly overseas and within Australia.
As a writer, Jessica writes for a variety of sites and magazines and is also the founder of www.familyholidaydestinations.com, a site dedicated to family travel.
Author: Jessica Palmer - Professional Photographer
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There are many different types of photography genres, but regardless of your interests, there are some basic concepts that need to be understood that apply to all types of photography.
Wondering where to start?
It’s hard to know where to begin when taking those first steps away from your camera’s automatic mode.
Fortunately, we’ve created this basic guide to photography for beginners to get you started!
We discuss how to expose your images properly, some key terms to know, suggested cameras for beginners and a basic composition tip for instantly improving your photos.
Key Terms
EXPOSURE
Exposure occurs when the image sensor is exposed to light to capture your image. The correct exposure is achieved by adjusting the three elements of aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
Understanding these three elements and getting them working together is the secret to moving from automatic to manual mode.
The best way to ensure you have correct exposure is by using your camera’s exposure indicator.
It usually looks something like this:
If the marker is in the middle, the exposure is correct! If it’s to the left, the image will be underexposed and dark. If it’s to the right, the image will be overexposed and too bright.
APERTURE
The aperture is the hole inside the lens which the light passes through. The easiest way to think of it is like the pupil of an eye. The wider it’s open, the more light can get in!
The aperture is referred to as the f-stop and is written like this: f/number. The lower your f-stop number, the wider the hole is open.
This is one of the coolest things to learn as using a wide aperture is how the beautiful effect of a blurred background is achieved.
Background blur looks great for portraits and creative photographs!
When your camera’s exposure indicator shows the image is underexposed, increase the aperture (lower f/stop number) to allow more light in. Decrease the aperture (higher f/stop number) to reduce the light if your image is overexposed.
The major downside to adjusting aperture is that it directly affects your depth of field, which is the range in front or behind the point you are focusing on that remains sharp and in focus.
This means that a wide aperture is terrible for landscapes where you want the majority of the scene in focus, but it’s great for creative images.
Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense now. Just go out and experiment!
The best way to experiment with aperture is to switch your camera from Auto to Mode A or Aperture – Priority Auto. When the camera is in this mode, the photographer chooses the aperture and the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed.
Grab a friend or place some small objects on the table and take the same shot adjusting only the aperture.
Below is an example of an image taken with a wide aperture, in this case f/2.8. The shallow depth of field keeps the lizard mostly in focus but the background is nicely blurred.
SHUTTER SPEED
The shutter speed is the measurement of time the shutter is open and allowing light onto the camera’s sensor. It’s shown in seconds and fractions of a second.
1/1600 is a fast shutter speed and 4 (seconds) is a slow shutter speed. Anything below 1/80 usually required a tripod.
Shutter speed is fun to play around with!
Using a fast shutter speed means you can ‘freeze’ fast moving objects, thus avoiding motion blur. This makes it ideal for sports photography, wildlife or active kids.
Here is an example of a fast shutter speed that froze the action:
The image above was taken using a shutter speed of 1/1600, effectively freezing the puddle splash.
On the other hand, a slow shutter speed allows you to capture images in low light conditions or create that whispy look in flowing water. You can delve into astrophotography using a slow shutter speed.
To practice with shutter speed, set your camera to Mode S or Shutter-Priority Auto. In this mode, the photographer chooses the shutter speed and the camera automatically adjust the aperture.
Get out there and try to freeze a fast-moving object!
ISO
The ISO is the measure of the camera’s ability to capture light. The higher the number, the more light is captured. This is usually only adjusted when the correct exposure is difficult using only the other two elements.
A great example is if you wish to freeze the action in low light conditions, but can’t get the correct exposure using a high shutter speed (which you need to freeze the action). In this case you would increase the ISO.
It’s important to remember that although raising the ISO sensitivity allows you to use faster shutter speeds and/or a smaller aperture, it creates a kind of visual noise that doesn’t look that great.
Basically, the higher the ISO, the grainier your photograph will appear. This can be adjusted a bit when editing with software but the grainiest of images cannot be fixed.
GETTING IT RIGHT
The only way to really understand the above is to go out and experiment. Throw the ball for the dog and attempt to freeze the action with a fast shutter speed. Try it again with a slow shutter speed.
Experiment with aperture and selective focus, grab some Lego or jewelry and place them on the table. Select a wide aperture and experiment focusing on particular items.
Most entry level DSLR cameras come with a standard zoom lens and this is all you need to start with. Whilst there are a few different brands to choose from, Canon and Nikon are the most popular with plenty of options for lenses when you want to add to your kit later. Examples of lenses you many want to add down the line include landscape lenses and macro lenses.
These are our two top picks for beginner entry DSLR cameras for both Nikon and Canon:
This 24.1MP camera is marketed toward beginners with options to take full control or keep it easy with scene modes and creative filters. There is even a built-in guide that teaches you as you shoot.
This 24.2MP camera is a great starting point for beginners, offering fully automatic, semi-automatic and manual modes. Perfect for transitioning to full manual!
We would also recommend checking out mirrorless cameras, which offer many of the same features as a DSLR, but in a smaller, more lightweight package.
Basic Composition Tip
Composition is one of the key components of taking great photos and most photographers spend their entire career learning and improving on their composition.
However, there is one basic composition tip that will instantly improve your photographs.
It’s the rule of thirds!
You will find the rule of thirds used not just in photography, but artwork, picture books, advertising and anything else with a visual element.
The basic idea is that you divide what you see into thirds and place your subject or key object on the lines.
In the example above you can see I have placed the tree in the foreground on one of my imaginary lines, and the horizon also sits roughly on another.
Conclusion
Now that you have read about the basics, it’s time to get out there with your camera and experiment!
Don’t be afraid to switch to manual, the worst that can happen is you end up deleting some photos that aren’t so great.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jessica Palmer
Photographer and Writer
A photographer and writer who has a somewhat constant urge to escape the mundane, Jessica travels regularly overseas and within Australia.
As a writer, Jessica writes for a variety of sites and magazines and is also the founder of www.familyholidaydestinations.com, a site dedicated to family travel.
Finding yourself in a situation where there is not enough light for a decent exposure could be a little intimidating at first. Compared to real life it’s much like stepping out of your comfort zone.
Fear not, there are a number of simple ways to create great photos in low light environments. Once you have these techniques in your tool belt it will open up a whole new world of shooting opportunities.
Without further delay, let's have a look at five tips that could really help you handle such situations as a photographer.
1. Use the ISO noise in a creative way
ISO noise is very often considered to be a flaw, but that’s not necessarily always the case. It could also be a great creative decision and a smart way to take advantage of a low light scene you're trying to capture.
So how to turn the high ISO into a valuable asset? Think about the message you're trying to get across with your photography and whether it adds up to your main idea.
For example, imagine you're shooting street photography. You're past the golden hour, but there's still some light left in the sky - use it to build visual tension, the high ISO will make your images look authentic and it will bring a little bit of the sweet
Speaking of high ISO and low light conditions, there's another thing you could try in order to turn the defect into a treasure: try shooting in black-and-white. If the light is not really sufficient where you are now - then take advantage of the lines, shapes and textures that surround you.
Making those elements stand out is really easy when you lack colour and other distractions. In low light conditions it's also easy to notice abstract subjects, silhouettes or repeating patterns - go look for those!
3. Play with long exposure
Long Exposure can really make your images look other-worldly and add a bit of a mystical feel. It's especially suitable for landscapes - in scenes where you have moving water, a patch of evening sky with stars or even moving human figures.
Long exposure is considered any shutter speed between a few seconds up to 30 minutes or even more. If you're willing to try this it's necessary to have a tripod so that you can ensure that your camera will remain stable while creating the image.
When light is not abundant, it's important to make sure that your camera will be able to let as much of it in as possible. You can achieve this through using wide aperture.
The problem is that not all of the lenses out there are able to accommodate a low f-number. For example my kit lenses for Sony Alpha 7 only have a maximum aperture of f/3.5 which is really not sufficient when you're shooting in low light conditions.
5. Bring a tripod with you
A tripod could surely turn out to be one of your best friends when it comes down to challenging lightning scenarios.
The tripod will help you eliminate the shake of the camera which is typically caused by slower shutter speeds. If you're aiming at non-dynamic scenes this will save your photo from blurriness.
It can be a very handy piece of gear, especially if you're shooting architecture, interior and landscapes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Polina Raynova
Professional Photographer
Polina is a freelance photographer, always on the lookout for creating simple images with deep impact.
She loves observing the details around her and giving everyday scenes and objects a touch of cinematic feel.
Selective focus is a very popular technique in the photography world nowadays. It’s basically a way of drawing the viewer’s attention to the most important part of your photograph by blurring the rest of the elements in the particular scene.
Through this technique you’ll be able to put focus on the main subject and guide the viewer’s eyes to the point that you wish to be observed.
Keep reading to learn how to use selective focus and which genres are most suitable for applying it!
How to use selective focus
Selective focus requires setting your camera on low f-stops or in other words: choosing a large aperture.
This will cause the separation of the subject from the background become more visible. A low f-stop is typically considered to be f/2.8, as well as numbers much lower than this e.g f/1.8 or even f/1.4.
A word of caution here: shallow depth of field can be a great idea if you intend to use it for taking portraits for example, but it may also turn out to be a bit of a tricky venture. F-stops which are lower than f/2.8 will place the focus only on certain parts of the model’s face - the eyes, the nose, the lips, depending on what you’re aiming at. In some situations this could be a creative resolution, but it could also look like an unintentional mistake on the photographer’s end if you haven’t given it some thought beforehand.
When to use selective focus?
Selective focus is undoubtedly great to use in some genres of photography. Let’s have a look at a few of them and see what advantages it has to offer and how it can create mood in the image.
1. Product photography
Selective focus in product photography can really add a premium look and emphasize details. When used properly it can make the product pop and focus the attention of the viewer on the right place.
2. Portrait photography
By using selective focus in portrait photography you have the chance to convey your message in a powerful way. You may place the focus on the eyes or even on the hand of your model, while creating mood through the defocused elements in the background
3. Macro photography
Macro photography is the genre we most often see shallow depth of field used. If you’re taking a picture of a flower or an insect, you’ll want to get rid of the distractions that lay in the background area and to show colour and texture in their full magnificence – selective focus is the best technique to go for in this case!
In food photography selective focus can be very beneficial. In this genre it’s important for the photographer to translate the perception of taste and the scent of the meal into a two-dimensional image. In some situations this could be quite challenging, but the use of selective focus can be of significant help!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Polina Raynova
Professional Photographer
Polina is a freelance photographer, always on the lookout for creating simple images with deep impact.
She loves observing the details around her and giving everyday scenes and objects a touch of cinematic feel.
