Proud Photography Blog

Photographers taking the leap from amateur to professional face the tremendous challenge of building a clientele base. It is almost impossible to make the change from amateur to professional without creating an online presence for your portfolio. Many potential clients do still use the phonebook or word of mouth to find photographers, but it is much more compelling for a client to be able to evaluate your work themselves. Creating a website to showcase your work is the best way to reach new clients in an unobtrusive way. Potential clients can review your work on their time and save you the trouble of scheduling meetings for clients who are just beginning to shop for a photographer. There are a few great website resources available that will help you create the online presence you need to establish a profitable client base. Read the rest of this entry »

Photography is a wonderful hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Although you don’t need to be wealthy to enjoy photography, it certainly helps when it comes time to purchase equipment. Let’s face it, photography can be quite expensive. So how does a person with limited means acquire new equipment? The answer is simple; sell your photographs! Not only is photography a great hobby, but it can also make you money. Chances are you won’t become rich through photography, but if you are enterprising and patient, you can make enough to support your hobby. Here are a few suggestions to help you turn a profit through photography. Read the rest of this entry »

Here is an exciting software package to create interesting effects with your photographs. HDR Soft (http://www.hdrsoft.com/) offers a software package called Photomatix, which combines a series of photographs into a single image while retaining the qualities of the individual photographs. Although the photographs appear surreal, they are actually not enhanced “lies” where improperly exposed photographs are enhanced through filters. Each photograph processed through Photomatix are unenhanced. The magic happens in layers within a system called High Dynamic Range, or HDR for short. Here is how it works in a nutshell.

The photograph depicted here was taken on Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana and was processed through tone mapping using HDR Soft Photomatix Pro. Read the rest of this entry »

It is amazing how attached we become to our photographs. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist, cutting elements from a composition can often be a difficult task. Call it photographer’s pride, or perhaps just a bit cautious, but removing elements from an images takes a keen eye and decisiveness. It is time to set aside your fears of shredding your photographs. With digital media, cropping does not need to be permanent. You can try different variations to include and remove distracting elements, or bring more focus to the intended subject rather than the fragments that were cut off during the initial composition. In some applications, such as Photoshop, you can use the crop tool to actually increase the usable space and add a border to your photograph. Read the rest of this entry »

Creating interesting photographs does not need to be difficult. Oftentimes, the difference between an interesting shot and a boring one is a matter of perspective. There are many times when a straight-on head and shoulders shot is appropriate and well-deserving for your intention. However, straight-on shots are not very exciting. Straight shots tend to become quite mundane and your viewers will quickly find excuses to escape from the drudgery of seeing Uncle Harold from the same angle over and over again. Sometimes, all it takes is a little change in altitude to make your shots more interesting. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking for a variation to photography that is interesting and fun to publish, try photographing small objects, such as toy cars and action figures. This niche has become quite popular over the past years, especially amongst young adults. The concept is simple; make something small appear full-sized. The photograph in this article is one example where a scale model of a Mini Cooper was shot at a low angle. There is usually no need to purchase specialized equipment, such as macro lenses or light rings. Oftentimes, a quality point and shoot camera is all you need to create interesting and creative shots. There are a few methods to employ when shooting small objects that will help create the appearance of making the objects appear full-scale. Read the rest of this entry »

It can be said that photographers are, in a sense, historical recorders. After all, photography is the art of capturing a very discrete moment in time and preserving that moment for as long as the photograph exists. Once the photograph has been destroyed, the moment can no longer be recreated. Take a moment to consider the photographs of historical significance we have seen at one point or another. Oftentimes, these photographs show scenes where people dress a certain way, or have a certain appearance that is no longer common in today’s society. Other photographs may show antique cars that were shiny and new in their common era, running on the streets that are common to us today. Other times, photographs like those of the Old West show daily business being conducted on the main street of a pioneering town. Unfortunately, there are very few photographs of how life was in the past, but there are still evidence of our history around us today. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps one of the most challenging photography assignments to take on is photographing children. Overall, children can be quite difficult to work with, and who can blame them? After all, these little people are often dressed in outfits that although may be adorable in the eyes of the parent, the clothes may not be comfortable for the child to wear. There are the other factors as well, such as hot, bright lights, a strange environment, and strange people who make strange noises and point scary objects at them. Although some children seem to enjoy the experience, many find the experience unnerving. However, there are some preparation steps that you can take that may minimize the negative experience for the child and, in turn, produce more favorable results. Read the rest of this entry »

While traveling through Virginia a couple years ago, my wife and I decided to take a side trip and visit Luray Caverns. My wife, who is not known to voluntarily enter closed-in spaces, reluctantly agreed to walk through the underground cavern. Being a self-proclaimed camera-nerd, I could not resist the temptation of taking along my Canon PowerShot A710, and was I glad I did. Upon entering the caverns, we were led along a concrete stairway that brought us deeper into the Earth than I ever had before. My wife was beginning to lag behind a little and I could see that she was having second thoughts about the idea of entering a cave. She later confessed that thoughts of bats and other cave-dwellers nesting in her hair had understandably made her uneasy. I assured her that her anxiety was completely unfounded, but I think she caught me looking up, just in case. Read the rest of this entry »

Creative photographers are unique within the photography world. This is not to say they are difficult to locate; they are all around us. They do not come from certain identifiable backgrounds, or have genetic qualities that make them different from others. In stead, they are unique in a manner that they have developed an ability to see patterns, colors, and light in a manner that is often unappreciated in daily life. While most walk past the ordinary, creative photographers see a special, intrinsic quality in the ordinary. Be it true that some people tend to have developed a knack to develop their creativity more easily than others, anyone who chooses to develop their skills as a creative photographer can become more creative with a little bit of practice and guidance. Following the following steps will help you to develop your creative skills. Read the rest of this entry »