Archive for the Tips & Tricks Category

Creating HDR Images (tutorial)

Want to know how to create images that show details in the shadows, and does not burn out your highlights? Try HDR, a technique for merging different exposures of the same image into a well toned image.

This article by Canon can be applied to any camera really, using the software Photomatrix and Photoshop CS3 or above.

http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1646

Online directory of agencies, casting directors

http://www.exploremodeling.com/ContactDirectory/Default.aspx

This is a great searchable directory for models and actors looking for agencies.

List of agencies for models and actors

agencies.xls

Agency list for models and actors

Models Still Need “Polaroids”

Models provide agencies with Polaroids (not necessarily real polaroids, they are no longer making polaroid film) that show basic parts of a model to give an idea of his/her proportions. The photographs are very basic, no retouching, shot from an angle to give true proportions (not real wide, not shooting high/low just at center of the shot). Many beginning models don’t have these, and providing their best images is good up until the photographer or agency says “but what do you really look like”?

The “polaroids” can be done with a point/shoot camera against a plain light colored background, wearing a two piece bathing suit (if you’re a girl that is.)

http://www.jurgita.com/articles-id2058.html

Photographer’s Portfolio & website

http://www.asmp.org/strictlybusiness/2009/04/not-working-enough/

Wonderful video about what works, what doen’t for a photographer’s website and book.

Photographer suggests going Mobile to increase clientele

In any economy, photographers seek those clients who are willing and able to make orders large enough to allow a photographer to spending significant time applying her talent to each picture and still make a profit large enough to live on. In a down economy, many photographers are looking for additional clients regardless of whether their clients are in the optimal market segment.

To accomplish these objectives, photographers should be ready and able to take portraits in their client’s home, or anywhere else their client’s desire.

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Photoshop tutorials on LayersMagazine.com

http://www.layersmagazine.com/category/tutorials

Great stuff here for those going beyond retouching photographs….

Got Photoshop but need web pages from the file?

http://www.psd2html.com

This service takes your webpage design in a photoshop file and turns it into a fully functional and standards compliant CSS, xhtml or other.   I am pretty good with photoshop and basic html, but when it comes to CSS I’m out of my league.   This looks like a great solution.

Articles for taking better photography: shootsmarter.com

http://www.shootsmarter.com

Found this site and thought I’d share; great stuff, free too!

Video Tips

http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/shooting_tips/

Introduction
Planning Your Shoot
Roll Blank Tape Before You Shoot
Check Your Audio
Shoot Selectively
Shut Up When You Shoot
Hold Your Shots
Excessive Panning and Zooming
Shoot in Sequences
Framing and Composing Your Shots
Headroom and Noseroom
Depth of Field
Change Angles and Perspectives
Get People in Your Scenes
Tripods for Steady Shots
Anticipate Action
Interviews
Sit-Down Interviews
Microphones
Avoid High Contrast in Lighting Situations
Manual Exposure
Get All the Shots You Need
Labeling Your Tapes