ABCs of Beautiful Light

ABCs of Beautiful Light
Author: Rosanne Olson
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2014-08-12
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608957179

Everything we see is lit by one source or another. The questions are: what and how? That is what this book is designed to teach you. Through Rosanne Olson’s tried-and-true course on lighting principles for photography, video, and art in general, you will discover how the angles and heights of your light sources affect your pictures. You will learn how to work with light modifiers to change the quality of your light, and how to control light to create a feeling of depth and dimension—whether you’re shooting with natural light, continuous artificial light, studio strobes, dedicated flash, or a combination of sources. Assignments are included to help you put each concept into practice as you perfect your skills and train your eyes to see the subtleties of light. You will never look at a photograph or painting in the same way after you read this book!

The Speedlight Studio

The Speedlight Studio
Author: Michael Mowbray
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2014-12-22
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608958299

In this book, Michael Mowbray shows readers how to set up a completely speedlight-based portrait photography studio. He goes in depth regarding gear and techniques, providing photographers with scores of example portraits and lighting diagrams to make it easy to follow along and replicate the portrait lighting effects that he shows. Readers will learn about selecting speedlights (Mowbray covers Canon, Nikon, and third-party units), learning standard operations, and working with the units on the camera’s hot shoe (a connectivity device on top of the camera) or in the periphery for more flexible, controllable results. Readers will learn why modifying the light from speedlights will produce a lot more bang for their buck and will also discover a host of tools—commercial and DIY—that can be used to change the direction, color, and quality of light for the ultimate artistic control.

The World's Top Wedding Photographers

The World's Top Wedding Photographers
Author: Bill Hurter
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 127
Release: 2015-02-16
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608958574

The material in this book is the result of asking each of the 10 photographers a series of 14 questions carefully designed to get to the heart of the matters of creativity and profitibility. As each profiled photographer has a distinctive style, background, and personality, the resulting answers will engage, inspire, and educate readers on all aspects of the task of creating stand-out imagery in a field in which only the best survive and thrive.

The Mobile Photographer

The Mobile Photographer
Author: Robert Fisher
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2014-12-30
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 160895823X

It’s been said that, with smartphones, everyone is a photographer. There is a snide implication with that statement—that camera phones aren’t “real” cameras and that the people who use them aren’t “real” photographers. In this book, Robert Fisher proves that today’s Android devices offer cameras that are remarkably powerful and more than capable of producing images that rival those made with more “serious” equipment. In this book, Fisher guides readers through the menus of the Android operating system, helping them to understand how to choose and use out-of-the-box controls for better images. Next, he covers add-on accessories and applications designed to enhance the devices’ capabilities. While the photographic capabilities of the “base” camera are pretty terrific and will meet with rave reviews from many users, the camera really produces images that sing when suited up with DSLR functions, filters, and postproduction effects—all of which Fisher covers with prowess and technical skill.

Foundations of Posing

Foundations of Posing
Author:
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2015-10-13
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608959457

With tips for posing the young and old, males and females, singles, couples, and groups in both indoor and locations and in reclining, seated, and standing poses, from full-length to close-up, this book will walk you through all aspects of posing and balance with examples and easy to follow instructions.

Digital Black & White Landscape Photography

Digital Black & White Landscape Photography
Author:
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 127
Release: 2015-07-20
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608959228

Landscape photography is a popular photographic genre—and for good reason. The great outdoors is an ever-ready subject. It is variable, as well; it is affected by changing light, decomposition, weather, human interaction, and myriad other factors. Its features range from natural to manmade elements—and many landscapes are comprised of both. Photographers who point their camera’s lens at a scene do so in an effort to communicate their feelings about the landscape. Rather than simply document the scene, they seek to capture the spirit of place—perhaps to tell a story or depict a mood. They aim to share with viewers the ways in which the scene speaks to them. Accomplishing these goals may seem simple at the outset, but the task is rife with challenges. In this book, Gary Wagner shows readers how to create powerful, evocative black & white landscape photographs filled with beautiful light, a full range of tones, and exquisite detail. Beginning with a look at the gear you’ll need to get the best-possible images, Wagner covers cameras, lens types, tripods, and filters. He then discusses the postproduction processes he uses to enhance his images, producing breathtaking photographic records of natural and man-altered locales. Following a run-through of the basic tenets of landscape photography, Wagner presents 60 of his favorite images for review. Readers will find images in six categories: (1) Lakes and Streams, (2) Trees and Rocks, (3) Coastal Seascapes, (4) Winter, and (5) Man-Altered Landscapes. This presentation model allows readers to focus on the aspects of landscape photography that most appeal to them or challenge them most. With each image presented, readers will learn the strategies that went into conceptualizing and creating the shot—from exposure, to composition, to postproduction, and more. With information on every aspect of creating striking, moving landscape images—from choosing gear, to studying light, to calculating ideal exposures, to composing images, to retouching/manipulating the images for breathtaking results, to setting up your workflow to ensure that the printed/output image meets the strictest criteria, this book will prove indispensable to photographers new to landscape photography or those seeking to take their image creation to a whole new level.

Legal Photography

Legal Photography
Author: Stan Sholik
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2015-03-17
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608958590

While the number of assignments available in many photographic specialties is decreasing, there are still relatively untapped growth areas for still photographers and videographers. One of these specialty fields is legal photography. Legal photography involves working closely with lawyers in law firms to provide photographic or video documentation relevant to their civil, not criminal, cases. It can involve a range of other photographic specialties from macro photography to architectural photography. No matter what is involved in a legal photography assignment, it is generally interesting and presents a new, unique set of problems to solve. Legal photography is far more technical than creative, but it is also in demand and is financially rewarding. Civil cases brought to arbitration or jury trial range from simple to complex. Common to all cases is the need to present evidence in a fair and accurate manner. In this book, readers will learn how to take responsibility for ensuring that the images captured and delivered for presentation are a “fair and accurate representation” of the observed scene. That responsibility begins with the choice and use of the proper equipment (e.g., camera type, sensor size, capture mode, the correct focal-length lens for the job), through the techniques used during image capture (exposure, lighting, camera angle, camera-to-subject distance, white balance, etc.), to the processing of the captures for output. Sholik also points out that documentation is required for each step to ensure all parties that the representation is indeed fair and accurate—and the details of how this can be accomplished are outlined in this book as well. Also covered is information about how to proceed should you be asked to give testimony as to the accuracy of your work and information about the requirements to be deemed an “expert witness.” For most photographers, doing assignments in the field of legal photography is the easy part. Getting the assignments can be more of a challenge, so the process of marketing yourself as a legal photographer is covered.

ABCs Naturally

ABCs Naturally
Author: Lynne Smith Diebel
Publisher: Big Earth Publishing
Total Pages: 84
Release: 2003
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781931599276

Each letter features an object photographed in nature accompanied by a fun poem.

Pricing Your Portraits

Pricing Your Portraits
Author:
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2015-04-20
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608958728

Portrait photographers agree that one of the most important yet shrouded aspects of running a successful business is accurately pricing your products for profit. Some charge too little, then scramble to photograph and edit photos for throngs of clients, only to become overwhelmed and burn out. Others price too low initially, just to get people in the door, but soon mark up their prices and lose clients to new photographers who charge rock-bottom prices. There are still others who price themselves out of the game right out of the gate. Jeff Smith, owner of two thriving portrait studios teaches you how to tackle one of photography’s most vexing problems—working out a pricing structure that allows you to cover your costs and clear a profit that you can live comfortably with. Smith begins by showing you methods that he—and countless other pros—have used in a misguided attempt to reap a great cash flow, helping you avoid time-and-revenue-burning missteps. Next, he walks you through the process of figuring out where your money goes—How much should you shell out for new equipment? What falls into the category of “overhead?” How much do you need to pay your staff and yourself?—and then moves on to show ways to cut costs, price individual prints and packages, maintain your desired business volume, retain existing clients, and delegate tasks in order to work smartly toward profitability—all while enjoying your work and achieving professional and creative satisfaction.

Maximizing Profits

Maximizing Profits
Author: Lori Nordstrom
Publisher: Amherst Media
Total Pages: 131
Release: 2015-04-14
Genre: Photography
ISBN: 1608958515

If you’ve got great camera skills and want to take the plunge and make your passion a career, you’ll need to build a solid business foundation from which your passion and creativity can take flight. If you’re like most artists, the business side of things seems a bit dry—and it may be something you dread. Fortunately, Lori Nordstrom takes the sting out of your studies and gives you all of the skills you need to plan your business, attract the attention of the clientele you want to serve, recruit a staff that supports your creative and financial objectives, create a top-notch customer-service experience, and show and sell your unique images to happy clients, time after time. Lori Nordstrom is an award-winning photographer and an active lecturer and blogger who inspires other photographers to make smart business decisions that positively impact the children-and-family portrait industry as a whole. In this book, she’s compiled her hard-won tips, sharing clear, simple ideas for developing your personal style; identifying your ideal client base, creating a referral system, constructing displays, getting media coverage, and hosting events. She’ll also help you understand how to hire a staff, create a budget, schedule your time, manage your workflow, and establish a sense of value and a cost structure that allows for a nice profit. Because all of your pre-session efforts should lead to a successful photographic experience for your clients, special attention is given to cultivating a standout studio experience that allows clients to feel relaxed, happy, and yes, pampered. Nordstrom also helps readers work through some issues that are notoriously challenging for photographers—breaking free of pricing set points, selling their products, and overcoming client objections to close the sale. This book offers a fresh, exciting, and friendly approach to building a sustainable business that affords photographers the opportunity to confidently create—and make a great living.