Maternity Portrait Photography

Maternity portrait photography is a wonderful way to document your journey into motherhood, especially when you choose a photography package that includes both maternity and newborn portrait photos. Most parents have hundreds of photos of their little ones, but few have a set of professional pregnancy portraits, despite those nine months being such an important time in any mother and father's life. Some women don't feel confident enough to have a photos taken when they're pregnant, or simply don't think about having a maternity photoshoot until it's too late! But no matter how shy or nervous you are about getting in front of the camera with your baby bump, an experienced portrait photographer will be able to put your fears at rest and coax a beautiful, natural pose out of you!

Your maternity photographer will help you to try a variety of poses to really show off your blooming and blossoming figure, and there are many different post-production effects that can be applied to your images to make your photos truly unique. You don't have to pose alone, either! Why not include your partner or your other children, if you have them, for a family photoshoot before and after your birth? Props, accessories and different clothing can also be used to give a variety of textures and colours, and if you're feeling really brave, why not try a semi-nude maternity photoshoot?

The lovely thing about maternity photography is that you can replicate your poses once baby is here in a newborn shoot, replacing your bump with your gorgeous new baby! The continuity of using the same photographer means you can come away with a set of portrait photographs that match and complement each other in their style and setup. Many photographers offer special deals for expecting mothers, which include a maternity photoshoot, a newborn photoshoot and even the option of further sittings to document your growing baby's journey.

The best way to approach your pregnancy portrait photography is to dress comfortably, ensure you're well hydrated and make sure you find poses and positions that feel natural for you. Bring along your partner or a friend who is sure to make you laugh and smile - a good portrait photographer will also do their best to make you feel at ease and often it's the unposed, candid photos that really capture your natural beauty and happiness.

When looking for a maternity photographer, word-of-mouth recommendation is always the best way to judge, and make sure you look through a photographer's portfolio or website so that you can get an idea of their style and approach. It's also a pertinent idea to check exactly how many prints you will receive with your photoshoot, and how much extra prints and frames will cost, so you are able to budget accordingly. Celebrate your pregnancy as well as your baby's arrival with a maternity photoshoot and flaunt that bump!

Rebecca Dawe Photography is an all-female team of experienced photographers working from a friendly studio in Leciestershire.

Street Photography

What is street photography exactly? One might guess its photos taken on the street; and that one person would be correct. But also street photography; is photographs of inspiration at that moment, where you find something that is visually intriguing. Something that is so eye-catching: you have to take that shot; that is my definition of street photography. The whole point of street photography is documenting what is happening before your very eyes, a situation perhaps that is playing out in front of you at that very moment. Being alert about everything going on around you so you can be quick enough to get that shot; because you'll never get that same shot twice.

Street photography can be very exhilarating because everything is constantly changing; never to be shot in the same way again. Street photography has many themes as long as you don't make it seem like an ongoing boring project. Its photographing things that will add up over time; things you document with your own eyes. One example is a shot of a business man being splashed by a car passing by as he stands at the curb waiting to cross the road after a heavy rain. This photo will tell many stories of that moment and you have only one opportunity to capture it. That is what makes street photography so absorbing. This can be photographs of people who actually work out in the street selling things: such as a street vendor. Taking shots of how they look at that moment; the expressions on their face could be telling you a story of the hardships they might be having, or success.

Street photography doesn't necessarily need any type of theme. Sometimes it might be about something in front of me that amuses or interest me while I'm taking pictures. When certain elements come together to form a visually striking image; and the composition is happening before you're very own eyes and the shot is there for you to take at that very moment, that's street photography. I took some photos of a parade and the most intriguing shot I had taken was a little girl who was sorting her parade candy out in the grass after the parade.

What's the best camera for street photography? The answer to that is what ever type of camera you're comfortable with; it can be a point and shoot camera or a digital SLR camera. As long as it's what you feel comfortable using. I prefer a SLR camera with a 50 mm lens which allows me to get up close in the area I'm shooting without getting in my subjects face. But you don't want to go out on the street to take photograph with a long focal length lens. This will make you too detached from the surrounding area and your mind really has to be in it to get those shots. You can't just look what's going on, you have to really see it. And a 50mm lens will help you pick out the interesting parts of your shot over the other random series of events that are not under your control during your shot.

Enhance Your Message With Personalised Greeting Cards

In this age of quick, simple electronic communication, it can often seem quaintly old fashion to want to send an actual physical card. After all, if you want to get a message across to somebody, then you can ensure that they receive that message in a matter of seconds by sending a text, tweet or Facebook message. It's this very simplicity which makes such formats unsuitable for marking special occasions. The fact that you receive multiple electronic messages every day of the week renders them somewhat common place and ordinary, and thus not remotely suitable for marking the likes of birthdays, anniversaries or Valentine's Day. The whole point of sending greetings on occasions such as this is that you want to show the person you're sending it to just how much they mean to you, and that's why going to the trouble of selecting and writing photo greeting cards is such a touching and heartfelt gesture.

Once you've decided to send a card, the task of picking one from the range of greeting cards available may prove somewhat daunting. After all, if you're going to this much trouble, then you want to ensure that the image on your card is as right as it possibly can be. When it comes to sending a card which is absolutely perfect, nothing is quite as effective as choosing to create your own photo greeting cards. In the past, making your own card would have been something which only a very talented artist could think about doing. After all, no matter how touching the thought which has gone into creating the card is, if the finished product look amateurish and shoddy then it won't do the job properly.

Making personalized photo greeting cards using digital photographs from your own collection has been made extremely simple. Indeed, choosing the perfect image for the occasion may well be the most difficult part of the process. If it's Mother's Day, then what could be better than a card featuring a much love photograph of the children sending their love, whereas a card saying 'Congratulations on Passing Your Driving Test' will be all the more effective it has an image of the recipient on the front, playing in a toy car when they were just a child.

When you're sure you've got the perfect image, you simply have to upload it to the relevant website. Once it's there, it can be turned into a bespoke card with just a few clicks of the mouse, using software which has been made as user-friendly as possible. The same easy, logical step by step process can be applied to producing personalized photo albums in the form of stunning photo books, meaning that you can now design and print a wedding album which will look truly professional whilst featuring intimate, special personal images.

The range of items which it is now possible to create using your favourite digital images is vast. From photo greeting cards to photo books, what they all share is a commitment to excellent production values, allied to the chance to create something of a truly personal nature.

Steps In Taking Photos During Winter

Some people don't find it very comfortable photographing outdoor scenes during the cold winter season. It's understandable if they feel this way because after all, who would want to stay long outside when the weather is freezing?

But people passionate about photography and living in areas where snow is a regular occurrence should feel lucky. Did you know that you can actually find great details when taking close up shots of scenes and objects with fresh frost or ice? It is because they can form unusual shapes that make for great compositions.

Winter may provide a short time for photographers to capture great images the reason why you also need to be observant enough to find areas and details worth snapping. Lighting may be an issue as well but there could be occasions where you won't need it. Again, your eyes should be fast enough to find those out of the ordinary details and compositions.

If you're searching for subjects, it would help a lot if you just walk around even just outside your home within your neighborhood. Driving in a car will not give you much result. Strolling, however, with your eyes wide open will surely give you opportunities to spot unique shapes, texture and patterns.

To get the best out of this cold season and to capture those amazing details, you will need certain digital camera accessories. One of these is the short zoom which new models already have. This is ideal for short focusing objects from a distance.

The telephoto lens is also ideal to use. Choose those between 100 and 400mm which is capable of compressing perspective.

If you're after a close up shot, the macro lens is strongly recommended. This is perfect for capturing images of objects covered with ice.

To get more creative, you can capture surfaces with sheets of ice. Keep in mind that ice creates a reflective surface which you can experiment on. So you may want to snap on those reflections of the sky, buildings or people in different angles and positions. Changing angles and positions will create different effects so take as many pictures as you wish.

With ice and snow, you will often get abstract figures. But it doesn't matter because it is through these exquisite shapes that you create drama in your images.

An important point to keep in mind when shooting during winter is to be very careful with your moves. Remember that sheets of ice and ice crystals are very fragile and can easily break with a slight touch or when you step on them. So if you want to capture wonderful details and take close up shots, go slow when taking your position.

Be particular about your background as well. Always aim for a clean background if possible.

Some subjects worth photographing during the cold weather are plants or shrubs covered with ice crystals or snow, ice formations, as well as reflections on icy surfaces.

So who says you can't engage in your favorite hobby of photographing scenes, people and objects in winter? Trust your instinct and keep your eyes open and you'll surely find that moment to snap on that shutter button.

How to Add Randomness With Point and Shoot Cameras

As a budding photographer, I always carry a camera with me, even if it's just a camera phone. However, I do prefer to carry my Canon S95 if I can't take my DSLR with me, as it's a great point and shoot, fits into my pocket nicely and always ready when needed.

My camera phone is ok, but it's not as flexible as a proper dedicated camera, but as a last resort, it's ok. What I do always bring with me is a spare Canon S95 battery, as one time I was out, wanted to take this great shot, and my battery was dead. It was very frustrating. Of course, these point and shoots and phone cameras aren't anywhere near as good as a good old DSLR, but they have taught me a lot.

Because of their own limitations, I've had to be more creative with the point and shoots, and this has led me to become a better photographer with my DSLR too. Let me explain... With my DSLR, I have complete control over many facets of photography. Things like controlling depth of field is a piece of cake with a DSLR, not so with a point and shoot. The zoom on my DSLR is optical, whereas the zoom on my S95 becomes digital, which is no where near as good. So, I've had to think outside the box a little when using my point and shoot.

I like creating interesting non representational shots on my camera, and one of the funnest ways of doing this is camera tossing. I'm not too keen on the idea of letting my DSLR out of my hands, particularly to throw up in the air, but with my point and shoot, it's not as much of a big deal. I've gotten some really great shots, especially at night with lights and I've used these shots as interesting backgrounds on web sites and so forth.

To make some of my other pictures stand out more, I've also thought more about my composition. Instead of taking the regular stand point of a scene, I look for alternative solutions. Trying to get higher, or crouching right down often make great and exciting vantage points. The key is to really think outside the box and look for new ways to capture something that no one else has thought of before.

In almost every photo rule book, it says always try to achieve the right exposure. One day, I was fiddling with my S95, and ended up taking a shot that was way over exposed. I was ready to delete the shot at first, but as I looked closer, I had a very minimalistic effect of a lot of white, and a slightly burnt out subject image. When I downloaded it to my PC, I opened it up in Photoshop, tweaked it a little and ended up with a really good photo.

There's a lesson there too, don't be too dismissive of your own shots, they can often be salvaged. And so, my S95 point and shoot has enabled me to do some things I may not have thought of with my DSLR.

Composition Tips For Outstanding Photography

You don't need a top of the range DSLR camera to take great and interesting shots. A Canon Powershot SD1400 IS can be all you need to take great shots. What you do need is an understanding of some basic composition and an eye for the unusual. These two elements can help you begin to understand and gain insight into what makes a great image.

Using a point and shoot like the Powershot, was a good way for me to get started and to understand important features in composition. The first thing you need to do when seeking to take a photo is to ask a simple question; why? Why do you want this shot? Why does it appeal to you? Focusing on this question will help you to visualize and to concentrate on this aspect that first attracted your attention.

Before you continue, you should already be aware of basic compositional principles. They are the rule of thirds where you place your focus point a third of the way into your frame, whether horizontally or vertically; keeping your frame square and any horizon completely level; and finally to keep the image in focus and as sharp as you can. With these basic techniques in mind, you are ready to go to the next phase, establishing a vantage point.

If your subject is a popular tourist building, consider thinking outside the box a little and trying to take it from another view. Perhaps focus on one part of it. Remember, there's already millions of photos out there, with the majority probably very similar. So try to think of something someone else hasn't thought of (difficult, I know). Look at your scene, and try to see if there are any lines in the composition. These lines could be physical (perhaps a road, telegraph poles or lines), or they could be implied, perhaps a small child looking across at something.

Remember your rule of thirds, and try to focus on the why of the image with regards any storytelling you may want to do. Maybe take someone down a road towards the main focal point, a building or something. Consider the three types of symmetry you have available to you. You have perfect symmetry where one side matches the other identically, then you asymmetry where the left and right don't match, but still balance out, and then you have radial symmetry where the focus starts in the middle and works its way out. All three symmetries when understood well can all help impact your photo positively.

When out and about with your camera, always be mindful, and consider your environment well. You never know what you may come across or see. Above all, look up, because many things are above us that we may never have considered looking around at our current hight.