How To Shoot Fireworks

Wedding Photographer Tips - How to Shoot in Direct Sunlight

Being a wedding photographer in the tropics, I am often forced to shoot the formal portraits in harsh sunlight. This is because couples love having their formal portraits shot on the beautiful beaches we have here. The problem is the wedding schedule is often set where I am shooting these formal shots during the worst time of day. Ideally, I would be shooting all these portraits after 4:00 PM, when the light is less harsh. After 4:00 PM, the sun can actually be used as directional light, that is, the sun can be used as the main light source coming from above at a 45-degree angle, and a reflector as the secondary light source. As I said above, this is not always the situation. Sometimes I am shooting between 12:00pm and 3:00 pm, where the sun is nearly directly overhead and making exposure very difficult. A problem with shooting at this time of day is that the background is normally totally blown out, with these harsh shadows on the faces of the subjects. So here are some tips for shooting in these conditions.

Obviously, if you can find some sort of shade, this is the easiest option. Just make sure the background is also in shade to maintain proper exposure, unless you are trying for a high key portrait. A more creative option though, is to shoot in the direct sun. To do this, you need to find a dark background. This could be, dark rocks/mountains, or dark vegetation, or anything that is darker than the skin tone of the wedding couple. This works really well for 3/4 portraits or closer, unless you have can find a really big dark background. At the beach I normally shoot, I use a big island off the beach as the background. The island is dark volcanic rock and a perfect backdrop. Next, shoot so that your subject (wedding couple) is between you and the sun, or if the sun is directly overhead that will work too. With the sun behind your subjects or directly above, you will find that what it is doing is just providing an interesting rim light to your subjects. That is because you are exposing for your subjects, with a darker background that is totally filling the frame behind them.

If properly exposed you will see the sun is just creating an interesting rim light around the shoulder and hair. If you have the couple positioned correctly you can shoot 2.8, and the background will not draw attention away from your subject. This means when choosing a background, you just need to make sure it is darker, and maybe has interesting lines or shapes when out of focus.

Practice this before shooting your next wedding. I hope this tip works for you.

Erotic Photo Shoot Tips: Making Your Nude Models Comfortable

The ability to make your models feel comfortable at shoots is imperative if you're going to have success in the business. I'm now going to cover a few things that will definitely help you in this regard.

Soon after the model arrives, I take her (and her wardrobe bags) to a room in the house that I use in a variety of ways during shoots. Primarily, this room will function as her "dressing room". Additionally, this room is where she and I will spend any downtime during the shoot, where we will take care of all the necessary paperwork, and where we will discuss any details or ideas about what we're doing.

I will then have her show me what clothing she brought. Obviously, by the time she arrives for the actual shoot, I'll have already talked to her and told her what types of things I'd like her to bring. For example, if it's a "MILF" shoot, I'll request that she bring a lot of lacy lingerie, stockings, heels, etc. In contrast, if it's a "Teen" shoot, I'll ask her to bring things like jeans, T-shirts, and cotton full-back panties. Some models tend to bring a ton of stuff, while other models bring very little.

Some models have their clothing incredibly well organized (with everything folded nicely, color-coordinated, with accessories for every outfit). On the other hand, some girls show up with random clothing items crammed tightly into a small bag. You can learn a lot about a girl just from the way she packs her clothes.

Next, I show her the bathroom that she will use for her hair and makeup. Prior to the shoot, it's a good idea to make this bathroom as clean and neat as possible. She will definitely appreciate it.

Now that these things are done, it's time to start preparing her for the first set of pictures. The first thing you'll want to do is have her try on different things so you can decide what will work best for the first set.

You'll find that different models have slightly different comfort levels when it comes to initially changing in and out of their clothes in front of you. Many women walk into the house and immediately take off the clothes that they arrived in. Others take a bit longer to get acclimated.

Some photographers think it's a good idea to offer the model a "changing robe" (a robe she can put on during breaks in the shoot). However, I don't believe this is a good idea. I want the model - even if she is very shy - to quickly get comfortable being naked in front of me. If she feels comfortable being nude while she's simply putting on makeup or doing various other things, she will certainly feel comfortable being nude once the actual shoot begins.

There isn't a simple checklist you can follow that will instantly make a woman feel comfortable taking her clothes off in front of you, However, you should keep in mind two specific things that will always be helpful: First, let her know you think she is beautiful and that she is perfect for the particular shoot that you'll be doing together. Second, treat her in a way that conveys to her that she can feel completely safe and secure with you. If you can consistently do these two things, you'll be well on your way to starting off each shoot in a positive way.

5 Must-Have Features For Your Next Point and Shoot Camera

Whether you are a professional photographer, a serious amateur, or just a mom who wants to take pictures of the kids - we all need a good point and shoot camera from time to time. But how much camera do we need for each situation?

I've operated my photography business for over 15 years and have owned tons of cameras - both film and digital. However, even a pro needs a compact camera every once in a while. When you carry around a big pro camera all day, you aren't always anxious to do that on vacation! The trick is finding a compact camera that will create acceptable images - but without all the bulk and weight. When you head out shopping, here 5 features to look for.

1. Most important is the lens. I don't care if the camera claims to be 20 mega-pixels - if it has a lens the size of a pencil eraser, you are not going to get good images. Of course, as the lens gets bigger, so does the camera - but there are several pocket-size cameras that still have a decent size lens.

2. Go with a reliable camera maker like Nikon or Canon. There are hundreds of companies making digital cameras, but I would suggest going with Nikon and Canon. They are the leaders of the pro camera industry, so they know their stuff. Each offers a wide variety of cameras for all budgets.

3. Make sure it can shoot video too! Why carry around a camcorder AND a camera when you can get a camera that shoots video? Sure, it won't have all the features of the full-blown camcorder, but it will be perfect for those quick, fun shots. If you are going to something important, like a graduation or wedding - then just pack the camcorder. For all the minor events, just use your point and shoot!

4. Go for Optical Zoom vs Digital Zoom. Optical zoom is actually bringing the image closer - that is the kind of zoom you want. Digital zoom is basically just cropping the image to make it appear closer. Avoid digital zoom.... trust me on this one!

5. Insist on a good LCD. With digital point and shoots, it is all done with the LCD on the back. You compose the shot, view the image, go through menus, etc. Having a slightly larger viewer on the back can make things a lot easier on you.

The main thing is finding one that feels comfortable to you. Go to the store and pick up several of the cameras and try them out. See which one fits your hand or seems easiest to operate. Choose the right point and shoot partner carefully, because you will probably share lots of memories of the next few years!