A website a day, keeps the doctors away!

When I was in a poetry class in college, my instructor told us that to be able to write well, you need to read A LOT!

Stephen King, who is probably the most prolific and published writer in the whole world, reads every single day.  He probably reads a book a day or a book every 2 days.  Whenever he gets on his car, he pops an audio recording of a book so even when he can’t read, he can listen to a book.

It’s the same with photography, you need to look at a LOT of photography to get better.

I try to look at photography websites everyday so that I can absorb different techniques and open my mind to new ideas.

Here is a good website with explanations of why he likes each photo.

http://admiredbybeckstead.com/

Aperture tutorial

Here is a video that will explain aperture more thoroughly.

Depth of Field tutorial

Here is a great video tutorial on depth of field.

Video about perception of beauty

Here is a cool (freaky) video about beauty.

Wedding Photography Tutorial

Here is a good wedding photography tutorial from photographersacademy.com.

Some other useful videos.

Fashion Photography

More from PhotographersAcademy

Professional Photography Secrets

Commercial Photography

Nigerian scams and other scams

Nigerian scams are one of the most popular spams on the internet.  If you have posts in classified ads or ebay or if you have your email somewhere on the internet, it is only a matter of time before you get one of these.

The reason it’s called the Nigerian scam is because Nigeria has very weak laws regarding this so it’s very rampant in Nigeria.  They also have really good counterfeit services and it is quite an industry there.

They generally start out as trying to buy a product from you or a service.  They then send you a check with an amount larger than what you asked for.  They ask for the change back.  The problem is, the check is not real but the bank will cash it.  After a few days, the check will bounce and the amount will be charged to YOU.  If you sent them back the money, then you are gonna be in debt.

Some characteristics of a Nigerian scam is that the grammar is very off.  Not just normal grammar mistakes but really weird phrasings.  Weird punctuations as well.

Another characteristic is when they tell you too much detail.  Like they tell you how they fel in love and how his fiancee is a beautiful American damsel and they’re so excited.

Sometimes they don’t even know what you are selling or where you are located.  Like they didn’t read your website or your post.

If you they tell you that he’s British or from Africa or Nigeria, that’s a foreshadowing so that you won’t be surprised when they tell you to wire back the money in Nigeria. 

Here are some examples of the email.

SUBJECT:  I need your service

How are you doing ? . I will be glad to know more about how you give out your service as a Photographer or vidieographer . I request the service  to help me with my wedding party on 19th of october 2007 . I want to know what is it like getting your service I will love to know how you charge and what are the things you consider for an event. I want to know more about your service. Pls if you are intrested in having a job from me let me know. I will love to know what your service area is so that I can work out a prefect venue. I hope to read from you as soon as you get this email because dont have much more time to make the plans and because of my job ………Looking forward to read from you soon.
Regards
Martin

 Here’s another one:

Hello,
    Good day to you.i was searching for a Good Photographer for my Daughter`s birthday,so i came across your advert on CRAIGSLSIT. So what i will be needing now is that,i want to know your schedule on 15th of Oct,cos thats when Karen(my Daughter’s,birthday will be coming up) So i want you to get back to me asap concerning the schedule and the amount i will be paying for the whole hour(like 5-6hrs),and the address where the event will be coming up so let me have the whole quote total,and pls i will be needing the best of your service. thank you and God bless as i look forward for your reply
Regards Dr Jonathan

Here is one where I replied so this is a whole conversation. 

Hello, I was going through all the ads here and i came across yours… I am hoping that i can secure your services for my wedding to a nice American Damsel which am in love with.. I am Charles Depp by name.. I am hoping to have the wedding in New York where my fiancée live.. I am a Briton, however i will like the wedding to have the perfect American setting…. I will like to know the Kind of songs and music that you play… Will you be able to travel to New York? How do you charge? I am hoping to have my wedding for the 2nd week in September, will you be available then? I hope to hear from you soon… Best Regards Charles Depp

The funny thing is I don’t even offer DJ services.  Obviously, this guy didn’t even read my ad.  I replied to him that I did photography, not DJing.

Thanks so much for your mail.. I`m looking forward to having the best wedding for my fiancee so am looking at a varieties of events to spice up the day.
 
I will like to know the kind of photography that you offer….
 
We will be using a place in Albany. 
 
So i`ll like to know how much you will be charging for these event. You will be probably be on for not more than two hours..The event will start by 1 pm
 
The date will be 8th of July.  So i will be hoping to know the details and booking your services now.
 
Get back to me as soon as possible.
 
Regards
 
Charles

So the end of this story is that this guy sent me a check for $4000.  Obviously a fake since I didn’t quote him that much.  We didn’t cash it and he never asked me about it, obviously a fake.

If I did cash it though, the bank would cash it because it is a rule with the bank that they need to cash it on that day even if it doesn’t clear yet.  After a week or so when the check clears and the bank discovers it’s a fake, the bank will charge that amount to YOU. 

What the scammers often do is have you cash it, then send them back some of the money.  Don’t do it because after a few days, YOU will be the one charged with that amount.

Awesome wedding photographers

Here is a list of some awesome wedding photographers.

Alt-F by John Michael Cooper http://www.altf.com/
Bebb Studios http://www.tyingtheknot.net/
Becker http://www.thebecker.com/
Boutwell Studio http://boutwellstudio.com/
Cantrell Portrait Design http://www.cantrellportrait.com/
Dane Sanders http://danesanders.com/
David Beckstead http://www.davidbeckstead.com/ & http://admiredbybeckstead.com/
David Jay http://www.davidjay.com/
Dino Lara http://www.dinolara.com/
Elizabeth Messina http://www.elizabethmessina.com/
Jeff Ascough  http://www.jeffascough.net/
Jerry Ghionis (XSiGHT) – http://www.jerryghionis.com/ & http://www.xsight.com.au/
Jesh de Rox http://www.jeshderox.com/
Jessica Claire http://www.jcsphoto.com/
Jessica Strickland http://www.jessicarstrickland.com/
Joe Buissink http://www.joebuissink.com/
Marisa Holmes http://www.marisaweddings.com/
Mike Colon – http://www.mikecolon.com/
Storybook Weddings – http://storybookweddings.com/
The Image Is Found – http://www.theimageisfound.com/wedding/
Yervant – http://www.yervant.com/

The average cost of a wedding

As wedding photographers, it is very important for us to know our market very well.  Do you know how much your bride spends on her wedding?  Do you know how much of that budget she spends on the wedding photography?

According to costofwedding.com, the average couple in Charleston, South Carolina spends $25,340 for their wedding.  (You can also view the cost of wedding in other cities in the USA in their website)

Here is a sample of how the average wedding budget is spent.  Some brides give more priority to certain items, such as a wedding gown or a spectacular venue or a six-string orchestra, and may adjust their budget accordingly.  It all depends on what is most important to the wedding couple.  Also, wedding budgets differ depending on how many guests the bride has.

Rings (Wedding and Engagement) 15% Wedding Gown (including accessories such as veil, tiara, etc.) 5% Wedding Reception and Catering 35% Photography and Videography 10% Music and Entertainment 4% Flowers and Decoration 13% Cake 3% Wedding Party Gifts 2% Wedding Invitation 4% Rehearsal Dinner 2% Officiant/Ceremony Fees 1% Transportation 2% Tuexedos 1% Pre-Wedding Parties 3%

Selling Stock Photography via Microstock Sites

Microstock sites are websites that sell stock photos to consumers, usually royalty-free.  Microstock websites accept photos from amateur photographers and hobbyists as well as professional photographers.  Since the stock shots are very affordable, the photos from these websites are usually used by small businesses such as for their websites, company brochures, family newsletters, etc. but some have also been used in magazines, billboards and other commercial uses.
 
Pay per photo is usually small, (a percentage of the sale price which is also small) but if you sell a lot of photos (which is pretty easy), you earn a lot.  Some photographers who have hundreds of photos online claim to earn $100 to $300 a month from these sites but you have to have a HUGE portfolio to achieve this.  These sites are quite picky about quality of the photo, useability, noise and other technical qualities as these photos should theoretically be able to print at billboard size in high quality. 

Here are the sites that I have tried:

THE BIG 6   

Istockphoto
You have to take an online quiz then submit 3 pictures for review. I had to submit 5 before I got accepted. The 2 they didn’t like because the focus was too shallow. But I got in! In the email, they say “Congratulations, the iStockphoto administrators have determined that your images are commercially and technically ready for iStockphoto.com.” Very nice.

Fotolia
Fotolia accepted 12 out of 21 pictures that I submitted. Not bad.

BigStockPhoto BigStockPhoto accepted 3 out of 21 that I submitted and they sent a detailed email explaining why they didn’t accept the pictures.  

Dreamstime
 
Shutterstock
Shutterstock needs 10 sample pictures.
 
StockXpert
StockXpert Needs 5 sample pictures Featurepics

The Shot & America’s Next Top Model

One of my favorite TV shows these days is The Shot .  It is a reality show about photography and starts with 10 photographers from different photography backgrounds who fight it out to become the next fashion photographer.  Each week one person gets sent home and whoever wins at the end of the season will shoot a Victoria Secret cover and a $100,000.  It is hosted by Russell James who is a leading fashion photographer.

Learn more about The Shot from Wikipedia .

The reason I watched The Shot from the beginning is because I have been watching  America’s Next Top Model since Season 1 all through Season 9 and they are made by the same producers. 

MTV plays America’s Next Top Model marathons so everytime it’s on, I just play it in the background while I’m editing photos or emailing or blogging. 

The show always starts with a recap of the previous episode, who got sent home and highlights.  The beginning of each episode starts with somebody teaching the models about an aspect of modeling, such as runway walk, posing, acting, doing interviews, being a spokesperson, etc.  Then there is a challenge where the models need to apply what they learned and whoever wins gets a prize like a shopping spree or a massage or something. 

Then comes my favorite part which is the photo shoot (sometimes it’s a TV commercial shoot).  They always have really good concepts like the zodiac signs, the seven deadly sins, done with really good makeup, great sets and amazing clothes, always in a high fashion style.  This is the part where you can learn about poses, albeit high fashion editorial or commercial, and you can check out their lighting setup and their photo gear.

After this comes the judging where you can see all their photos and each model is critiqued regarding her best photo.

Here is a link to a photo shoot of some past contestants for a magazine.  http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/11703362.html?page=1#comments 

Welcome to my photography BLOG!

Hi, y’all!

Thanks for stopping by my blog.  My blog is all about photography, mostly wedding photography and portrait photography.  This blog documents stuff that I’ve learned throughout the years of being a photographer, although I’m still learning SO much everyday.

I’m gonna be writing a lot about photography techniques, marketing and other photo-related stuff.

Feel free to leave a comment, a question or violent reactions.

Visit my website at SilvasPhoto.com to view my work. 

Hiring the right person makes a difference.

The Basics of Digital Cameras

THE LEAST YOU NEED TO KNOW

The best way to learn how to use a camera is… to use it! So take your camera out of the box or out of the closet, go out into the world and start taking pictures. But before you start, here are some pointers that will help you understand your camera better and help you take better pictures.

1. Know your gear.

Read your camera’s manual or at least have somebody show you the camera features. This seems annoyingly obvious, but few of us really ever bother to do it. I know I never read my camera’s manual, I only refer to it when I have a problem or when I want to do something that I don’t know how to do. BUT, I did have somebody show me how to use my camera, and I had some photography classes before.

If you are buying a new camera, you can have the salesperson show you the main functions of your camera. Or just read the manual. It is a pain, but a necessary one, and you have to only do it once.

Fiddle with all the buttons and try out everything so that you know what does what. Know your gear. Or at least know what button to press to turn it on and take a picture.

2. Shoot a lot.

When I was in my photo class, my professor told us that in one roll of film with 36 shots, you can only get at most 4 good photos. This might seem like a steep ratio but as you learn more about photography, the more this makes sense. National Geographic actually uses up 1000 rolls to get that 1 good picture. And what a great picture that is.
If possible, try to bring your camera everywhere. Just make sure the places you go are safe and nobody would steal your camera.

3. Framing and Composition

THE RULE OF THIRDS

The most important rule in photography is the Rule of Thirds. It is not a hard and fast rule, feel free to break it whenever you feel the need to, but it is important to understand it. As humans, it is our natural tendency to put the subject in pictures at the center of the picture, making it very boring and static. The center is actually the most boring place you can ever put an object.

The Rule of Thirds divides your photo with 2 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines.

The points where the lines intersect should be where the subject of the picture should be for more dramatic effect. These points, according to millions and millions of photographers, and according to the Rule of Thirds, are where it will be most pleasing to the eye.

HIGH AND LOW

Do not be afraid to look like an idiot when you are taking pictures. Because you have a camera in your hand, you now have a license to crouch down, lie on the floor, sit on the grass, climb up a chair or whatever it takes to get the right angle for your photo. Walk around your subject and study it from various angles to see which ones would be best.

4. It’s all about the Light

Photography is all about the light. It is not enough that you capture an object, you have to shoot it in the best light possible.

When shooting outdoors, some say do not shoot between 10 am and 2 pm because the sun is up and produces too many harsh shadows. The best times are after sunrise and before sunset because the sun is at an angle.

Do not shoot against the sun. The sun should be behind you, not behind your subject so that the subject will not be backlit.

Experiment with using a flash and without flash.

5. Meet your new best friends, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

6. Be Inspired.

Look at magazines, websites or books to see different kinds of photography and to learn from it. See what you like, try to emulate the styles of different photographers to find out what your style is.

ASSIGNMENT

Go out into the world and shoot some pictures. Choose 4 of the best ones, think of a title for each one. Have them printed, preferably in 8×10 size.

Buying a Digital Camera

Buying a Camera

Choosing a camera really depends on your personal needs, your preferences and most of all, your budget. There are so many technologies to choose from but the trick is being equipped with knowledge to help you choose the right one. Let’s break it down.

Film vs. Digital
SLR vs non-SLR
Brand
Budget

FILM VS. DIGITAL

For so many years, photography has been too expensive for most people because of the expense of buying film and developing and printing the pictures. One film roll only has 24 or 36 shots so every time you take a picture, you are counting every shot to make sure it is worth it.

A memory card in a digital camera however, could hold from 100-500 pictures depending on its size and your settings. You can easily put the pictures onto a computer and reuse the card again. You don’t even have to print the pictures if you don’t want to, or at least just print the 3 or 4 pictures that you like.

Nothing beats the quality of film, the accuracy of the colors and the sharpness of the photo. Analog is definitely warmer. But very few of us print billboard size photos that we would notice the difference. For most purposes, like if you’re printing 3×5, 4×6, 8×10 or even 16×20, the differences are very minimal. But the freedom that digital cameras can give you is priceless.

With digital cameras, you can easily review the pictures as soon as you take them, making it easier to learn complicated things like apertures and shutter speeds.

If you already own a film camera, especially if it is an SLR camera, you can start learning with that camera. Otherwise, I strongly recommend buying a digital camera.

SLR Cameras vs. Non-SLR Cameras

THE LAZY SOLUTION

The easy solution is to buy a Nikon D80 with the kit lens. This is the camera that I personally am planning to buy. Usually they sell this as just the body (meaning they sell it without the lens), but if you don’t want to think anymore or you really have no clue about buying lenses, just buy it with the kit lens. This is a very good SLR camera. This is usually voted as the best digital SLR cameras in most lists because of its great value for the money.

Personally, I have a Nikon D70s camera. It is a good camera but because of the nature of the work that I do, I am beginning to outgrow it. Because it is an old model, the prices have dropped for this camera so it would be a good entry level camera if budget is a concern. You can buy it second hand for relatively cheap.

 If you have a bit more money to spare, try a Nikon D200. This is the camera that I really want because the colors are really great.

WHAT NOT TO BUY

Unless in unavoidable circumstances (like if you don’t have a camera and suddenly need one because you saw Bigfoot or the LochNess Monster), please avoid buying the following:

Disposable Cameras (One-Time-Use)

Disposable cameras are good emergency cameras, like for instance if your camera breaks down while on vacation. These, however, should NEVER be your primary camera because though they are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $7 to $30 each, in the long run, it costs more. One camera has only 24 or 36 shots and you still have to develop and print the pictures. You are better off just buying a regular film camera and buying film for it. There is no zoom in the camera and the quality is unbelievably unacceptable. If you really have to buy one, try to buy one with a glass lens as opposed to a plastic lens because the quality would be a little bit better. The only time you should buy one is if you want to buy an underwater one, though the picture quality is still horrid, it is a small price to pay for being able to take pictures underwater or at sea.