Now you can fit sweeping landscapes into a single frame with the 28mm wide-angle setting. Pull in subjects from far away to capture even subtle facial expressions with the dynamic 280mm telephoto setting. Ideal for traveling, the DMC-TZ5 Lumix 9.1-megapixel digital camera combines a wide-ranging LEICA DC Vario-Elmar lens with a handy, compact body. The Extra Optical Zoom function also extends the zoom to as much as 16.9x, giving you even greater telephoto power. Set the TZ5 to iA mode and let the five Intelligent Auto functions team up to help prevent shooting errors. Intelligent Exposure corrects lighting differences, so images come out just the way you see them; Intelligent Scene Selector chooses the mode that best fits the situation; MEGA Optical Image Stabilization helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control helps prevent motion blur; and Face Detection helps produce clear portraits by optimizing the focus and exposure settings. The TZ5 can reco (more…)

Unlike animals or inanimate objects, we’re very picky when it comes to how our photos come out; which is why it is so important to know how to take good pictures of people. It’s not everyday that someone brings a camera, right? Usually, we take pictures in order to preserve memories. And who wants to keep a memory of a bad shot in their photo album? No one, right?As the photographer, you have to know how to take good pictures of people. If you need a little help with that, here are some tips to improve your shots. 1) Find the best angle.People have different angles. Sometimes, one person looks better from the left or from the right. That person may not know it himself/herself, so it’s up to you to determine the best angle for the picture. It’s not only about left and right though. It’s also about how high or low you angle your camera. For example, positioning yourself too low will only catch the unflattering view of say… your cousin Leah’s nostrils and your sister Tammy’s double chin. Do that and you’ll never be allowed to touch the camera again. 2) Catch candid moments.One way on how to take good pictures of people is by catching them during candid moments. Sometimes, people have a hard time smiling naturally in front of the camera. The photo then becomes stiff and boring. However, by catching them mid-laugh or mid-talk, you’ll have a better chance of scoring beautiful images. Just be sure to time the moment right because candid moments can also make for unflattering pictures. 3) Try different positions.Old-school photographers like to take pictures of people by lining them up side by side. While there’s nothing really wrong with such a composition, don’t you think that that’s a little too boring? If you want to take good pictures of people, I suggest trying out different positions. Group them together like a bunch of flowers and take their picture from above so their faces are the ones in focus. Be as fun and as creative as the situation allows you to. Frankly, it’s easy to learn how to take good pictures of people. You don’t have to buy the latest camera model to come up with fantastic photos. All it takes is a little bit of ingenuity and an understanding of the overall composition of the photo.
Want to know the secrets of making money taking pictures? Visit:  http://www.squidoo.com/sellyourdigitalphotosonline

The field of child photography is challenging but also both enjoyable and profitable – if you like children. Don’t bother pretending, if you really don’t. You may fool a parent – but not the little one.

Tips to help are:
The techniques used in most other fields of photography do not always apply in child photography. The phrase “hold it” or “freeze” carry very little weight with children. They typically do as they please and if they please. Your assignment is to anticipate what a child may be about to do and capture it.

YOU can turn this into your advantage: Since children don’t always do what you want them to do, or what you expect them to do (actually they rarely do!). A solution often is: don’t expect them to become a cooperative little adult merely because you want to take their picture. Trick them – expect them to act like children. Don’t expect anything in particular. DO this and you can enter the fun and profitable field of child photography.

Know your stuff -
Before you start booking sessions with children you must know exactly what you are capable of doing – what your camera is capable of doing – what all your equipment is capable of doing. Operating your camera and equipment must be second nature. Have your style of photography down pat, so when you start a session your mind is on the child(ren). This takes your complete focus. This is not the time to be fiddling with you camera, or trying to figure out your light setup. Children take 100% of your concentration. For some children the entire shoot may only last 10 minutes – though you feel you have just run a marathon – so you have to be able to get in position , get the most cooperation from the child, get great shots. At times, this has to be done very quickly, BUT you cannot make the child feel they are being rushed.

Know your subjects -
With children, you must expect the unexpected. At different ages children are capable of doing different things. The more you know what they typically do during some of these stages, the better images you are going to capture. And the happier you make your clients – which, in turn, makes you financially happy.

During a session photographing children you can get a variety of poses, expressions and antics. In no other field of photography are you liable to get such variety. The more you learn about little ones the better child photographer you will be. Children are not just children until they become adults -they come in all sizes. Between four months and four years you can place them into quite a few categories: 4-6 mos, 6-12 mos, 12-18 mos, 18-24 mos, and then you can lengthen out the age span. Awareness of these ages are needed to help you – the photographer – be aware of the limitations children (especially little ones) have.

Listening to the parent can help toward a successful session.
You can learn specific things about their child that will make it or break it:
Are they afraid of certain things or sounds?
What are their special likes?
Do they like books?
How comfortable are they with a stranger approaching them? You do NOT want to spook a little one; the scheduled time may not allow for you to win their confidence.

Be ready with that camera when you first introduce something new -you do not get a second chance to get first reactions!

In most areas of photography a tripod is great for sharp photos. However with child photography you do not always have such a luxury. Once they reach the moving around stage, a tripod limits your ability to capture expressions and poses. Be mindful of your camera settings – keep that shutter speed fast enough to prevent blurring – and be ready to move quickly!

Child photography allows for close-up portraits as well as the child engaged in some activity – taking their socks off – in a box / tub with toys – climbing on or out of something. There is really no limit. As you continue to gain experience in working with children of various ages you will become more adept at learning what typically works with different age groups.

Child photography is a challenge – but don’t worry sometime it turns into children photography. Mom has twins – big brother / little sister – maybe three little cousins. The list goes on! Imagine two sister and they both have triplets! Other than the obvious difficulty of getting multiple little subjects in any semblance of position, conducive to a memorable photo you need to bring everyone’s eyes to a central focal point. Tricky, but not impossible. Adding something NEW to catch their attention, at the moment you press the shutter, can work. Use this sparingly, because when child photography turns into children photography getting all their attention on the same thing is quite a feat. The beauty of digital is no limits to the exposures you take and you can take a quick peek on the spot.

Parents can be quite helpful during the photo session. Children often are more confident with a parent nearby. Also, do not overlook the value of older brother and sisters. They have a relationship with the little one like no one else! Often they can get their little brother or sister to giggle, make faces, hold things and a host of other things that may be exactly what you need. Plus, you have the opportunity of including more subjects in the photos, which translates into a larger photo package for the customer!

As you advance in child photography you will want a lighting setup and a backdrop. A three light setup – consisting of a main light fill light and a background light – is ideal. However if you are just beginning you can do great photography with a lot less. Experiment, and add as needed. If you are using a backdrop keep the child at least four feet from the backdrop (if possible). This eliminates shadows and prevents the backdrop from competing with your subject.

Take your act on the road -
You can do child photography at the park – on the beach – in the backyard, just as easily as in a studio or home – maybe more so – and nature will take care of the lighting for you, as long as you select open shade.

Items to have on hand:
Depending on the ages and whether you are shooting indoors or outdoors you need a supply of items to catch and keep their interest and that look great in a photo:
rattles
feather dusters
soft toys
dolls
hats
mirrors
a telephone (the bigger the better)
a big whistle
duplicate toys (for twins & overly competitive little ones)
treats & snacks

There is much more to be written on child photography. For more information on this, and other related subjects, you may want to read the article

http://www.you-can-do-great-photography.com/child-photography.html

This article authored by: You-Can-Do-Great-Photography.com
This article was authored by You-Can-Do-Great-Photography.com

We present some useful and practical tips from been there, done that professional photographers who have taken to practicing their art underwater for a reason, whatever the season and bring you these handy hints to excel in a specialized segment of nature photography, here! Take a look –
The nature of underwater photography has undergone a vast sea-change (and there truly is no pun on that) in the last 3 decades: while the mid eighties saw photographers taking to the waters with video and still camera lenses covered with plastic to prevent seepage entering and spoiling their sensitive parts, the nineties saw the development of water-resistant lenses and later water-proof cameras that enabled one to capture moving shots of sea-creatures and underwater life along with flash-enabled lighting. Moving to the year 2000 and beyond, there were lots of improvements in the field of science and technology, which yielded great results for the field of Digital photography; for the whole new burgeoning world of amateur and hobby photographers who were also keen on sea-diving and other water related sports, this meant being able to take photos in hitherto unexplored places and in a candid manner!
Being able to go where few have gone before and get consistently good results from advanced features contained in latest underwater digital cameras supported by long-life batteries, artificial lighting that enhances the focus of underwater subjects and practiced photography skills are some of the advantages modern photographers of today have for themselves.
Underwater photography is now a singular segment warranting its own special techniques, equipment and group of professionals. Apart from naturalists and botanists studying underwater plant species and animal-life, even historians studying wrecks and anthropologists studying life-forms and people giving birth underwater etc are groups that have interest in underwater snapshots besides of course, scientists and biologists who photograph and study marine life.
To ensure your underwater photographs turn out better than usual, there are a few points you’d do well to remember:
• Invest in a basic digital camera meant for underwater photography as you can spoil your normal digicam if you just cover it with plastic to use underwater. Underwater cameras come equipped with special parts that prevent it from getting spoilt even when submerged in murky waters and still manage to give good shots in limited natural light, depending on their quality.
• Always follow the guidelines given with the underwater camera for best results gained by the device as straying from these can result in causing major damage to your precious piece of photographic equipment and be hard to repair, thus cost you dearly.
• Always remember that the deeper you go into the waters, the poorer light conditions you will have to face, so learn the techniques of underwater photography as best as you can to be able to use white (natural) light or some type of artificial ones to counter this issue.
• You can avoid using zoom feature when taking shots underwater and turn off flash wherever possible so the quality of photos is higher and not blurry, which is what it tends to be when flash is used underwater.
• Check for warranty of your underwater camera and do so at the shop if possible – submerge it underwater to check for leaks and get it replaced instead of waiting to try it out on an expedition and then getting disappointed if it doesn’t measure up and ruins the fun of taking underwater shots and your mood.
Abhishek  is a Digital Photography enthusiast, find more from him here  http://www.Fun-Galore.com/634/index.htm

Almost everyone likes to have professional photographs taken of their family or their kids. Professionally done newborn portraits are breathtakingly beautiful and showcase the innocence of new life. Family portraits capture a special moment in time. You may have seen these portraits in store windows or on the Internet and thought that you would have to pay big bucks to achieve the look. Or perhaps you thought you would have to settle for one of the inexpensive photography chain stores with the same old backgrounds and props.
It’s true that the professionals have all the right know-how and equipment but if you follow these simple tips, you too can take better pictures that most of your friends or family would guess were taken at a chain studio or even by a professional.
1. Obviously, you can get amazing results using a high-end camera but if you have a point and shoot, you can still get really nice pictures. So try to borrow a digital SLR if you can but if you are not able to, your point and shoot can do the trick.
2.Use a tripod if you are trying to do group pictures.
3.Make sure that you keep all the individuals in a group about the same distance from the camera (the people in the front and back shouldn’t be very far apart). This will keep everyone in focus.
4.While creating the composition, look for simple backgrounds. Try to avoid clutter as best as you can. If you are going for a professional look, you do not want magazines and shoes lying on the floor. If you are outside, choose backgrounds like brick walls, trees, or water. Make sure there are not other people or things in the background that will take the focus away from the subject.
5.When focusing, take care to zoom in so that the subjects are filling the frame. Nothing screams amateur like having to squint at two small people with tiny heads in the middle of the picture.
6.The lighting in your scene will make or break the quality of the picture. If you are going outside, try to go in the early morning or right before sunset to get the warm, diffused light. Avoid hard light at all costs as this creates too many shadows and “blow outs” in the photo. If you must do it during the day, try to find an area of open shade, such as under a thick tree canopy (but watch for dappled light) or in the shadow of a building or other structure.
7.If you are taking the photo inside, you must find a large source of diffused light, such as a large window or the opening to the garage. You will not be able to get professional looking pictures using the flash that comes on your camera.
If you follow these tips, you can really improve the quality of the pictures you take with a point and shoot camera. If you just take some time to slow down and think about what you are doing, you will be able to take some of your own family portraits and maybe even begin a new hobby.

  You are able to create digital pictures in three different types of file formats: JPEG, TIFF, and RAW. Each file format has its good qualities and bad qualities. It is the photographer’s choice to see which file formats to use that works best. If you want to send an image through e-mail, the best format would be JPEG. If you like creating large prints and like optimizing the color that best suits you, shoot in RAW, or you may prefer TIFF if you are working with an advanced desktop publishing software. What are these formats and what do they stand for? JPEG is an acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group; this is the gathering of photographers who met to discuss formats. JPEG is used a lot in e-mails because it is a compressed image file format and has a smaller size in megabytes unlike the other formats. A disadvantage is if the image is compressed too much the photo quality may seem noticeably damaged. TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format. This is a file format that was created in the 1980’s as the standard format used across multiple platforms. Once the TIFF was introduced many people have improved upon it and now there are around fifty variations. Also the TIFF format can handle color depths between 1-bit to 24-bit. RAW files are unprocessed images that are generally referred to digital negatives. RAW mode doesn’t compress the images and another disadvantage of RAW is that it uses a lot of memory on your card. An advantage is that since this format is unprocessed you can have more control over color corrections and processing on the computer. If you plan on making large prints this is the format to use. More expensive D-SLR cameras have this feature and come with editing software allowing you to open RAW files. Then you are able to edit them and save them to JPEG or TIFF file formats. Now having a better understanding of file formats you are able to be more creative in your digital photography. Nathaniel Johnson has been a photographer with over of eight years of experience in wildlife and landscapes.
To find more information on <a href="http://photohalo.com/photography-tips/understanding-the-rule-of-thirds” rel=”nofollow”>digital photography come visit photohalo.comnintendo wii mod chip

How to Choose a Photography or Camera Club.

Do you feel alone in your photography? Why not consider joining a camera club? Joining a club can be a good experience especially if you are around people that share the same passion.

Here are some tips in choosing a club.

1. Look for a club that is accessible to you. Going to club meetings is fun but if they too far away, there may be a million reasons not to go that is why location of the club is criteria in choosing a club.

2. Look for a club that share the same passion and zest for photography. Am sure you would like to be caught in a room of gear heads that think the best equiptment = the best photographer. Choose wisely since these are the people you will be shooting with on your photo trips.

3. Look for a club with a good mix of members. A good variety of taste is good because it will expose you to different types of talent around. Seeing is learning and the more attractive photos you see the better. You can get first crack on interviewing someone on his “techniques and tricks”

4. Look for a club that is willing to share in their experiences. Some clubs are too competitive and it is everyman for hiimself. This doesnt instill sharing and competition can sometimes get out of hand.

5. Look for a club that loves photography and the art of taking pictures not a group that uses photography as a guise for other deeper and darker plans.

6. Look for a club that suits your budget. Some clubs spend a lot on photo trips and photo expeditions. Joining clubs that do these things in excess can be harmful to the pocket.

7. Join a club that has experience. There are new clubs and there are old clubs, join a club rich in tradition and experience so you can take advantage of the rich and diverse culture they present to you.

8. Join a club that is active in promoting its craft. Having exhibits are one of the main goals of the club, showing your work can be a rewarding experience. Look for a club that actively participates in photography activities and exhibits.

Am sure if you go over the above list you will find that the clubs you join should be a place where you will fit in. They are a group you should grow with and are willing to share what they learn along the way.

Happy Shooting! Anton Sheker is a photographer based in Philippines. For more Photography tips, tricks and articles visit his site online at Blogalicious: a photo odyssey
Anton Sheker is also founder and member of the World Photo Directory World Photo DirectorySmartphone Software

There are many things that you can learn by going to workshops. Traditionally, workshops are time when you can work with an instructor and with other people who want to learn to do things in the same way that you do. You can all work together on the task at hand, and most of the time you can critique each others work as well as do work as a group. Going to panoramic digital photography workshops can be a great way to discuss your various panoramic photos, and to talk to others about the skills that you need to create them in even greater depth.

What You Can Do

There are many things that you can do at panoramic digital photography workshops. First of all, in the group of people there is going to be an instructor, someone who is probably very good at digital panoramic shots, who can give you tips about how to make your digitals even better, and what you can do to improve your technique.

There will also be many people in the panoramic digital photography workshops with you that can give you pointers and help you to get even better at your photography. There is a great thing that happens in most of the panoramic digital photography workshops, which is discussion of the work of others. You can bring in some of your panoramic shots, and the group can talk about the things that you did well, and the things that you should work on so that you can get even better at doing panoramic shots.

Where Can You Find Them

If you are interested in panoramic digital photography workshops you can usually find some adds for them in your local papers or in magazines that deal with arts and crafts like photography. If there is a college near you, you can look to see what kind of photography classes they are offering and see what it would take to do some panoramic digital photography workshops.

If you can find the right panoramic digital photography workshops for you to join with the right group of people, you can find that your skill as a photographer is going to get better and better because you’ll be able to take pictures that have real meaning and that really get the beauty of the panoramic shots across to the people who are looking at your photos. There is simply no end to the benefits of panoramic digital photography workshops. Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. Need more details and expert advice on Digital Photography? Then please visit our Panoramic Digital Photography Workshops Resource.Free WP Autoposter Plugins

Don’t Underestimate the Value of Your Photographer

Amongst the plethora of wedding professionals that you will need to consider for your most singular day, there are several reasons your photographer is probably the most important and possibly the most difficult vendor to choose. While the caterer, limousine service and reception hall operators are all very important in their own right, your photographer is perhaps the only artist with whom you will spend the entire day; this means a good rapport is an absolute must.

Products provided by other vendors such as the cake, music, tuxedos and food may be absolutely fantastic – but after a few months have passed since your wedding day, when the cake is gone, the music has stopped and the tuxedos were last seen prancing around at the local prom, what will remain to immortalize those majestic moments of your life? The photos from a professional photographer will last a lifetime at the very least.Which Style Suits You Best?

When it comes to wedding photography there are two major style philosophies that tend to dominate the current market place, Traditional and Photojournalistic.

As the name may imply, the traditional style has been around the longest and until recently was the most common. Essentially the traditional style wedding photographer is one who prefers to place the couple and groups in specific poses for their photos. This style of photography usually requires that a shot list be prepared in advance by the bride and groom so that the photographer can have a step-by-step checklist and be sure to photograph everyone the couple wants. This style calls for a meticulous photographer who excels in portraiture and is very concerned about each detail in an image including things like: head angle and body positioning, hand placement and ring location, lighting ratios, backgrounds, etc. As you might imagine the time requirements for this type of photography are significant and require a commitment from the couple and attendants to accommodate this style.

With the photojournalistic wedding photography the concept is to capture images as they occur, with little or no intervention. This photographer will typically create more images during the course of a wedding in an almost documentary fashion and usually has a great eye for storytelling. Photojournalistic photographers must be skillful at capturing candid, emotional moments and therefore should have great timing and anticipation. Currently this style has become the most popular throughout much of the United States, whereas overseas there are still some places such as France where the traditional style appears to remain in vogue.

There are many photographers that offer some elements of each style in an attempt to provide the ‘best of both worlds’. Often this takes the form of a photojournalistic approach to the ceremony and reception, but with traditionally posed portraits of the bride and groom as well as group shots either before or after the ceremony.

Quite frankly there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ style; either method can deliver very beautiful images. You should review prospective photographer’s portfolios and consider the ones that you have the best feelings about – also, remember that on your wedding day you will need to be prepared to either work with a person who is something of a ‘director’ in the case of the traditional photographer, or more of a ‘reporter’ with the photojournalistic style photographer. Finding the Right Photographer

There are many things that go into the choice of your photographer – style, professionalism, value and cost are some of the commonly considered attributes. The best way to get started is to do your research by asking friends and family members for recommendations and searching the internet for photographers in your area; also many of the professional photographer associations such as PPA or WPPI have searchable listings of their member photographers.

Most photographers you’ll find have websites where you can view their work and narrow your search down to the ones who have produced images that you find impressive. Once you find several credible photographers that have shown they can produce excellent photos, it’s time to pick up the phone and call them – ask them about their services and just feel them out in general. The initial conversation should give you enough of an impression to determine if a face to face visit is warranted.

When you decide to meet your photographer in person most likely you will have already seen some of their work online and have a pretty good feeling about the artist; while you may discuss many things during the meeting, its main benefit is to determine if you feel comfortable around this person. Do they make you laugh or smile? Does the conversation flow smoothly? There are many things that make for great photographs, not the least of which is a highly skilled artist behind the camera, but not even the most technically proficient photographer can produce truly beautiful photos of people when they are not comfortable and relaxed.How Much Will it Cost?

Your choice of photographer in a perfect world would have very little to do with the cost of services and everything to do with their professionalism, photographic abilities and penchant for making you feel at ease when in their presence.

In many ways this purchase is similar to that of the engagement ring in that you really ought to get the best that you can afford because you’ll have to live with it for the rest of your life. Can you imagine calling around to your local jewelers and asking what they charge for an engagement ring, hearing them tell you $3000, $8000, etc. until finally you get one that says “I have one here for $350” and you yell “SOLD, hold that ring and I’ll be right down to pick it up!” You might say it’s silly to buy a ring you’ve never seen just because it costs less than the others but of course I’m just trying to show that sometimes it doesn’t pay to buy heirlooms based on the price tag alone.

While not every photographer lists their prices online the fact is these artists charge wildly varying prices, from the guy down the street who can shoot your magical day for $500.00 to the higher end photographers who earn $120,000 per wedding assignment. Keep in mind when making your choice that the old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ does not always apply very well to photographers. Paying more money does not guarantee getting the best photographer and hiring Uncle Larry to shoot your wedding for a six pack and a couple of NASCAR tickets does not necessarily mean your photos will be horrible. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 to $20,000 for a full day of wedding coverage from a professional.Before You Sign That Contract

Most of us have heard the horror stories where photographers don’t show up, don’t deliver the photos, get drunk and start hitting on the bride or tragically try their hand at the old ‘watch me yank this table cloth off without affecting any of the dishes’ during the reception. The fact is in most cases these sorts of photographers are the exception, not the rule. If you perform the same due diligence that you should before hiring any vendor – meet with several professionals, view samples of their work, get references from past customers and perhaps check them out with the Better Business Bureau, you should feel completely confident by the time you decide to retain your artist.

With all that in mind, there are many things to be wary of when selecting your photographer. Here are some things about any professional wedding photographer’s service that you should ask before making your final decision:

1. Who will actually photograph your wedding?

Quite often there are studios that have many photographers working for them; also there are outfits that act basically as a referral service, booking couples and then assigning one of their many affiliate photographers. Be sure to make it clear that the whiz-bang images and album samples that you see actually come from the same person who will be shooting your wedding. If that’s not the case then ask to see samples from the actual photographer.

2. What happens in the event of equipment failure?

We’re all familiar with good ol’ Murphy and his laws by now. Any professional photographer should have, at a minimum, duplicates of every vital piece of equipment. This means a second camera body, backup flashes, extra batteries, cables, etc. I know several pros that steadfastly refuse to work at all unless they have a backup to their backup!

3. Will you receive the negatives or high resolution digital files?

Some studios include the negatives or digital images in their packages, some don’t and others include it only at an extra cost. Many photographers depend on income from print sales after the wedding and so are concerned that giving negatives or digital files will cause couples to run out and get their own prints made at the local CVS (I should point out here that printing images without written permission from your photographer is illegal) instead of purchasing them from the photographer.

The concern from a customer perspective is – what happens five years later when you want more prints made and find that your photographer has closed up shop and retired to Bangladesh?

If you end up with your heart set on a photographer who doesn’t offer the negatives, one possible compromise is to ask her to provide them after a period of time such as 90 days. In most cases there are very few print orders after the first 30 days have elapsed since the wedding; therefore at 90 days the photographer should have already gotten any print orders he is likely to receive for your wedding and may feel comfortable at that point releasing (or selling) the images to you.

4. Are there any hidden fees?

Make sure to find out if there are any additional charges such as travel costs, printing or shipping charges, etc that will be tacked onto your bill. It’s a good idea to ask what the photographer charges for ordering prints and enlargements, especially if they refuse to provide you with your negatives.

5. Get it in writing!

You want to be sure to get in writing everything that your package entitles you to. The photography business is rapidly changing from month to month and many photographers update, modify or tweak their packages regularly to respond to industry trends. You don’t want to find out when your day arrives 8 months later that the photographer has changed his packages around and now doesn’t remember that you are supposed to receive three signed 16×20 prints as part of your deal!

Ideally all the terms of the package that you agree to should be included in your contract. Amir West is a professional photographer in the DC/VA/MD area specializing in destination weddings and portraits. Amir is a proud member of Professional Photographers of America and Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. You may contact Amir for other articles or information via his website.Provillus

You’ve booked the venue, you’ve invited the guests. The clothes and flowers are all chosen and the table plans have been pored over. All in all, you’ve made every arrangement to ensure that the day goes well not just for you but for all your friends and family. But what about the photos?These top tips will help you to get the photos of your dreams from the day of your life.1. Don’t rule out doing it yourself. Surprised? You probably don’t expect to feed the guests yourself and few people these days make their own outfits, so why wouldn’t you hire a professional photographer to take the photos or film the whole event?For starters, nobody knows your friends and family like you do, except for them themselves. Many professional photographers stipulate that no one else is allowed to take pictures at your wedding – after all they want you to buy as many pictures from them as you can. But professional photographers tend to concentrate on posed pictures of the ‘wedding party’ post-vows and whilst we may want a record of how fine we looked, those stiff group shots never sum up the feel of a day like a picture of a loved one laughing or revellers on a dance floor. By allowing your friends and family to take their own shots, you can get those candid shots that a professional would never think to take.2. Appoint two family members to be head photographers. Why two? Unless your families know each other very well, the chances are that each photographer will show a bias towards the people they know. So whilst the groom’s family are in every shot, the bride’s might be neglected. Most families have at least one person with a photography hobby that they’d love an opportunity to practice. You might think the day is all about you, but a wedding is a huge celebration of your commitment and in years to come you’ll enjoy looking at the pictures of your friends and family enjoying themselves. Yes, you want some great shots of you and your spouse looking your very best, but don’t neglect the guests!3. Put a disposable camera on every table at the reception and offer a prize for the best photos. Sounds unconventional? Well, you may find a few unwanted snaps come development time, but this ups the chance that the cameras will be filled. Quite often people forget about the cameras after the first bottle of wine is opened and at the end of the event only a few pictures may have been taken. By offering a token gift for each filled camera brought to you at the end of the night you’ll be sure of having photos that show what happened after the vows have been said and the posed shots are over.4. Encourage your friends to bring their cameras and get them to email digital shots to you afterwards or forward their pictures by post. Once the wedding is over you’ll realise just how little time you got to spend with each guest and it’s far better to have as many pictures to choose from as possible of your big day, particularly if you plan to print them for an album later. Don’t forget to ask when you write your thank yous.5. Remember that even the best laid plans can go awry. Having a photo of that ripped veil or Uncle Bob drunk (again) under a table or the pageboy picking his nose at the critical moment will one day be something you can laugh about when the photos come out. If you do decide to go the ‘unprofessional’ route of wedding photos, the good thing about using amateurs is that you won’t be relying on just one person to produce the goods. Because even professionals can get it wrong and if that happens, the chances could be that you’ll have no record at all. Abbi Rouse is Head of Marketing at www.7dayshop.com, the UK’s cheapest source of camera memory, digital cameras, film and peripheralshazardous