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This is a discussion on FAQ/Helpful Hints & Links within the Photography - Snap Happy Mamas forums, part of the Photography category; The Snap Happy Mama's Board is for people of all skill levels, beginner to advanced. This is the place ...
The Snap Happy Mama's Board is for people of all skill levels, beginner to advanced. This is the place to share pictures for honest constructive critique in a friendly and helpful environment.
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Recommended Reading
Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
The photoshop book for digital photographers by Scott Kelby
The Art of Constructive Criticism/Critique:
Written By Amy N. from ILP
According to dictionary.com (I took the one that seemed to be the most appropriate)
The meaning of Constructive is: Serving to improve or advance; helpful
The meaning of Criticism is: The practice of analyzing, classifying, interpreting, or evaluating literary or other artistic works.
A synonym is Critique
Giving Constructive Criticism/Critiques
This could be one of the most beneficial learning tools, secondary to receiving criticism to becoming a better photographer. Unless you know nothing about photography there is always some sort of criticism that you can give. Learning the basics of photography will allow you the means to offer criticism. Learn to look past the subject and see the picture as a whole.
Study the Photograph:
Don’t just see the subject. Look at how the light falls on the subject, the way the camera is positioned in reference to the subject and light source. Look at the background, the foreground, the composition. Look at the color and the sharpness. Look at the texture, and the directions of the lines. Look at the subject as merely a subject, part of the picture, part of the technicalities of the photograph. Feel the emotion of the picture, does it make you smile, tug at the heart strings? Is it cold and emotionless, does it leave you wanting more?
Okay now that you know how to look at a photograph in a constructive manner, learn how to use what you feel and observe to better the photograph.
Put what you observe into a Critique:
The most beneficial critique is one where you are able to see and point out what is good and bad about the picture. Start with the good, and then progress towards the bad. By starting with the good it takes the confrontation out of the critique and it is usually better received.
Elaborate:
Every creature likes to be rewarded with praise, and that should not stop. It should, however, be elaborated. Don’t just offer a “Nice Picture” elaborate on what makes it nice to you (refer back to Study the Photograph).
Critique does not have to be what is wrong with the picture, although if there is something wrong it is better to point it out.
Receiving Constructive Criticism:
This could be the most beneficial learning tool to make you a better photographer, you just have to learn to take it for what it is worth.
It should be noted that Critiques are Subjective. Not everyone will see the picture for what it is to you. Some will love, some will hate, but if they have learned to give constructive criticism and you have learned to take it, it should not make a single difference.
Critique yourself:
Before anyone has a chance to study your picture, study it yourself (refer back to Giving Constructive Criticism). If you start by looking at your picture with an open mind it will be easier to see what others will point out. Use their eyes as an attachment to yours.
Take it for what it is:
Come into a critique with an open mind; realize that people have been studying your photograph with an open mind. Take their critiques and go back to your picture and see what they see, if you don’t feel the same fine that is your style, but more often than not there will be something that you did not see and something that will improve your photography.
Don’t Read Between the Lines:
This is where a critique becomes a personal slam, and replying to this is what makes a confrontation. Take each critique in as a separate one. Benefit from every single one of them in some way, whether it is bettering your picture or helping you to realize what your style is or isn’t.
Handling Critique:
Thank you is all you need to say. Once you realize that critiques are subjective and vary from one person to the next you should never feel the need to defend your work, and you will then be able to handle any type of critique given whether you like it or not.
This is from ILP and a great read I think, full of things to keep in mind when working towards a photography business. It was written by Cheryl Jacobs.
*Just to point out again I didnt write this, its from ILP*
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.
- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It's like money; you only have it when you don't need it.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.
- You cannot specialize in everything.
- You don't have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don't have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.
- Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business "Precious Chubby Tootsies"....but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else's, there's no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you're cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as "the cheaper photographer".
- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacence.
candlelit portraits
1. Candlelight is dim, so shutter speeds will usually be too slow to hold the camera without blurring the image - you'll need a camera support. A tripod is best, but you can improvise by using the self timer and perching the camera on a table top, railing, or whatever is on hand. And if you have image stabilization, use it.
2. Candlelight is reddish, so set the white balance to daylight to capture the colors the way you see them. Otherwise the camera will try to cancel out the color balance it reads as overly red, robbing you of the warmth that's at the heart of the image. (Conversely, if you think the pictures are too red, try the incadescent light setting)
3. Your photographs should be on the dark side to preserve the mood, so don't be afraid to underexpose your shots. The instant feedback of digital cameras lets you fine-tune the exposure and keep trying until you get it right.
5. Compose so that the background is dark and not distracting. Nothing should take attention away from the intimate portrait.
FAQ/Helpful Hints & Links
Re: FAQ/Helpful Hints & Links
