Digital Photography Tips

In today's society, digital photography is gaining popularity at an extremely high rate. Almost everyone nowadays owns a digital camera. Perhaps this is because there are more ways than ever to share your photographs or perhaps it is because of the ease of use that digital cameras provide. Most people are interested in purchasing or owning a digital camera purely for personal usage. There are an increasing number of people, however, who are taking digital photography very seriously and who may be interested in pursuing a digital photography career. If you are one of these people, this article is for you. Here are some tips, aimed at the beginner, to help improve your digital photography skills.

If you are seriously interested in pursuing a digital photography career, you have probably already purchased an SLR camera. These cameras are designed for professional photographers and take more knowledge to use than the average digital camera. The first thing you will need to know when using a SLR camera is how to hold it. Although holding a camera may seem quite forward, it is more difficult than it seems. SLR cameras are much larger than other camera types and are more likely to shake when taking a photograph. This can cause serious issues for photographers, especially if they are photographing with a slow shutter speed. The best option for photographing is purchasing a tripod to hold onto your camera for you to prevent unwanted movements during photographs. Obviously, you will not carry your tripod with you everywhere, so if you do not have it, hold your camera in your right hand so that your thumb can easily reach each the rear dial, exposure lock button, and focus point selector. While you use your right fingers to operate the camera, cup the camera in your left hand to help it remain steady.

Once you have perfected holding the camera, you can begin shooting photographs. When shooting pictures, most people shoot with both eyes closed. Do not do this. When shooting photographs, it is important to keep both eyes open as this will help you stay focused on your subject and gain perspective of whatever it is your are looking at.

If you are photographing a moving subject, always keep with it until it has moved out of sight. For example, if you are photographing a young girl running, keep your camera locked on her at all times. If you don't, you may miss that perfect shooting moment. Try to keep your finger half pressed on the shutter button so that when the perfect moment does arise, you will be ready to capture it.

Learning to hold your camera, shooting with both eyes open, and following your subjects are three of the most basic photographing techniques that you can learn. Once you have perfected these three things, begin playing with lighting, angles, and other fun photography accessories such as filters and flashes. If you are seriously interested in pursuing a photography career, search for a good photography school online to help you learn all of the best techniques of the trade!

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Where to Learn Digital Photography

You already have chosen your equipments in digital photography, you already have decided what you want to do with it and what subjects to capture, but are these enough or do you want to learn more? So the question is where can I learn digital photography? In all honesty, with all those fast changing and upgrading camera models, and in demand clients, there are so many ways to learn digital photography. They can be free or paid. But you just have to really invest time for these. Below are some ways and sources for you to learn digital photography.

There are so many courses out there sold by real photographers, professionals, or photo enthusiasts for you to learn digital photography. Heck, I even know a course which you can get for less than $10. But of course you have to be vigilant about these ebooks or books. It doesn't matter how much they sell it, it is the course itself that matters. You can do some research before you buy anything online so you can be sure that you do learn from that course.

As a profession of course, there is no better job than you actually enjoying it. Membership sites usually have coaching programs for you. Though there are different types of membership sites about digital photography, the usual are those that will also teach you how to sell photos online. Not only will they teach you how to take pictures but these membership sites actually will teach you how to monetize your hobby. They also have access to sources for clients and where you can sell your photos. They usually offer a few fees, but bear in mind also the amount of knowledge you will get versus the amount you pay to join them.

If you want free but random tips in learning digital photography, all you need is do some searches and you will find so many bloggers out there that share their techniques on how they create their masterpieces free of charge. You can even subscribe to their newsletters or RSS feeds. I have found a lot of them that are even technical in terms of how they capture their images. With sparing your time to search and find a great blog, I am sure it will be worth it.

In some cases, not only new models of cameras are being posted in news. Press Release webs are being utilized by web masters to spread about their sites. So they put in good information like how-tos or did-you-knows to attract visitors. And of course as photo enthusiasts, this is beneficial. Not only will we learn form that article but we will find their sites as well that offers more information we need.

Joining a group or club can be expensive at times. But this really depends on what projects your group or club is in. There are exclusive clubs that offer certain seminars and hands-on coaching and at times on a field trip. This is the part where it becomes expensive. The hotel accommodations, the transportation, and the guest speaker do not come cheap. But before you dive in such programs, you better research first who will be the speaker or consultant is. There are a lot of artists that are great, but they are having a hard time to say in words how they capture their masterpieces. Trust me when I say that it is not worth being with a master if you cannot read their minds at all. There is no way you can learn if you cannot get the technique being explained well.

One good idea for inexpensive lessons is to come up with a small group, look for a place that do not require any fees such as parks and is not out of town or too far for cheap commute, utilize the whole day, and talk to a great photographer who is willing to teach for free or small fee that you and your other buddies can share. I have seen some of my friends do this thing on a regular basis. They even hire models where they also spilt the fee.

And lastly, a no-brainer, where else can you get to learn digital photography but from photography classes. This can be expensive, but if you are willing to really learn, enroll in this kind of classes. There are even curriculum for this on selected universities. Do also some research in this and ask school registrars about their programs.

Photography is vast and it is an art. So learning it can be time consuming and sometimes expensive. But it is a hobby and also a profession. So what do you have to lose if you want to learn it?

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Beginner Photography Tips For Better Photos

You Have Been Warned:

This is an extremely long post, one of which that does not contain any technical photography tips, but instead focuses on simple yet powerful photography tips for the beginner just starting out.

With that in mind, I'd strongly advise you to read through the whole article, even if you're an average amateur, just to freshen up on the mental aspect of photography. I've never written an article on my way of thinking when taking pictures, but I think it's cool because it's not like your everyday photography tip article.

So read on for a few secrets, along with a few photos, of course. 

Learn To See Creatively

The best way to learn to see creatively is to take more photos. The reason being is because the more pictures you take and the more time you spend on your photography, the more you will begin to see things you would normally never see. The eyes of a true photographer, or artist, sees shapes, patterns, light and color when walking down an ally or across a street. For example, let's imagine I took a photo of a railroad track at night in a big city:

I saw a good photo because of the 1) light reflecting off the metal 2) the contrasts in color between the wood and metal 3) the strong diagonal lines of the track leading from edge-to-edge. Before I learned how to see creatively, I've probably walked over that railroad track a million times and not once have I seen it the way I do now. All these things added together create a great picture for the eye. That's good and all, but, the photo is missing a strong message. It doesn't emit a strong enough feeling/emotion when one views the photo. To get that, you gotta: 

Feel The Moment

If the following makes any sense what-so-ever, it's that I believe everyone has the ability to see creatively in their own personal way. To see creatively is, in my opinion, to set your mind free and get in-tune with your feelings. These feelings are what drive powerful photographs. And if you can get your brain, eyes and camera to link with your feelings then you've just opened up a door that has the potential for you to become a great photographer.

You want people to feel your photos; To get a strong emotional reaction because it's all about the feeling, the impact and the structural composition of a photo. There are just a few key steps to improve the feel and impact of your photos, making them into memorable masterpieces. It's certainly not as easy as you'd think and definitely not something you can learn in a few hours or a few days. It may take weeks, months and sometimes years. It's all up to you and how much time and devotion you spend taking photos and learning photography. When you are out shooting and see something you want to take a picture of, stop and ask yourself these three questions:

Why do I want to take this photo? What is the main message of the photo? How am I going to take the picture effectively?Keep asking yourself these three questions before you press the shutter and, I promise you, there will be an improvement in your photos. Let me explain the questions in more detail:

The question "why do I want to take this photo" forces you to explain your feelings. You did after all stop to take the photo because you "felt" it could be a good photo. But why? Was it because the light was good? Was there something extraordinary happening? The more you ask yourself why and the more you answer why, the more you'll start to feel the moment and start seeing creatively. Remember, it's all about feeling and communicating that feeling to the viewer.

So now that you know why you want to take the photo, you have to ask yourself, "what is the main message of the photo?" This question will better refine the first question, helping you define the actual subject whether it be exquisite shapes and colors or a person whose face tells a story of a life-long struggling journey. Whatever it is, it prepares you for the next question:

"How am I going to take the picture effectively?" Well, you can start by thinking of the first two questions and what their answers were. Imagine this as an example:

Say you're sitting in a car at a red light and see a man starting to cross the street. You feel it can make a good photo, so you ask yourself "why" and answer "because the sky is blazing red and the timing just right." So you quickly ask yourself the next question, "what is the main message of the photo" and answer "to get the feeling and mood of an urban sunset." Next you swiftly take out the camera (shame on you not having it out already) and ask yourself the final question; "How am I going to take the picture effectively?" You struggle at first, then you realize that timing is everything. So you quickly compose the shot, frantically making sure the buildings are lined up roughly using the rule of thirds and wait until the man crossing the street is right in the middle of the blinding sun, creating an awesome editorial like silhouette.

These three questions will become second-nature to you and soon you will find yourself asking and answering these questions sub-consciously. Just remember once again, that communicating your feelings through your photographs by using your creative eye and brain, all linked together will make for amazing, memorable photos.

Study Amazing Photos And Books

Granted, I'm not an amazing photographer by any sorts, just an average amateur, but I believe that if you want to take good photos, you can, and you can do so without going to school. I am self taught in pretty much everything I do, photography being my main passion. A big influence for me are amazing photos. You can learn a lot by studying them and figuring out what makes it an awesome photo just by asking yourself the same three "why", "what" and "how" questions mentioned above. I sometimes spend hours just analyzing photos, both to enjoy and also to figure out the ingredients of making it a memorable photo. Go to sites like Flickr, Photo.net, 500px and 1X because not only do they have photos, they have amazing photos. Especially 1X. Look at the photos that interest you and ask yourself why they interest you. Just start studying them, and read the peoples reactions to the photos. Learn everything there is to know.

If you like to learn through books and want something good to read, I'd suggest picking up at least 3 out of the 5 books mentioned here because all 5 of these books have made a significant impact on my photography:

The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe Photoshop CS3 by Scott Kelby The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes by Joe McNally The Camera (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 1) by Ansel Adams and Robert BakerDid you notice that I picked 5 books on 5 completely different subjects? That's because with these 5 books you can learn everything from off-camera lighting and composition, to Photoshop and exposure. These books combined together are just awesome to read and study, and because they're written by very well known photographers, you know there's good info to gather inside.

Get Constructive Criticism

Improving your photography and taking good photos means you have to get advice from the pros, because they've been where you're at and know the good and bad, and the right and wrong in photography. I personally have never talked to a real "professional" photographer face-to-face. I've only chatted with pros through the use of web forums and email. I'd suggest, if you can, to meet a few pros and join them in a few gigs or whatnot, which is actually something on my to-do list because working with an actual pro will give you hands-on experience and get real feedback, real constructive criticism, unlike the kind your family and friends give you.

I'd suggest you sign up to one or all of these critique websites because they, too, can give you honest but sometimes blunt, constructive criticism. Google the following to find the sites:

photocritique flickr digital-photography-school And last but not least my favorite and by far the best of them all, 1X. You have to sign up to see and use their critique system, but it's totally worth it, and free.What you do is you sign up to one or all of the critique websites, and post a photo that you want to receive some feedback one. Most of the time these sites require you to give feedback on at least one photo before posting your own. This makes the community balanced, so everyone doesn't just keep posting pictures for critique and never give out any critiques themselves.

In addition to critique websites, there are a few photography blogs that I love, also. The first being the well-known blog authored by David Hobby called Strobist. His blog is mainly about off-camera lighting, or hence the name, strobes. I have to mention him just for the sake of mentioning him, Ken Rockwell. He's pretty much a Nikon fanatic that talks jokes a lot about a wealth of different subjects. He also has a lot of great information on Nikon camera gear. Joshua Hoffine is probably one of my favorite photographers because he sets up his shots as if they're movies. He also has a great blog so I would recommend that you follow him just so you can see his latest amazing work and how he creates them.

And now for the no brainer...

Keep Pressing That Shutter!

Practice makes perfect and taking photos is no exception. If you want to become the next best photographer in town, or in the world (hey it's possible!) you have to get out and start shooting more. And for those who log in 60 plus hours of work a week and still strive to be a great photographer, you have to find time to get out and shoot. It's tough, I know. I only work around 50 hours a week at my retail job here in Berkley, Michgan and know first-hand how hard it is finding time to take photos.

If you want to get better, you have to dedicate time to shoot pictures. When I first got into photography I didn't spend more than a few hours a month with my camera. And it showed; My photos looked the same as they did when I first started. Something needed to be done so I got into the habit of spending a few hours every week working on my technique. That eventually developed into a few hours every other day learning how to take photos. Soon I'd find myself spending hours upon hours every single day taking photos and learning, that I think my head literally got a few centimeters bigger from all the information I had gathered! 

Final Words

If there's one thing that I've found out over the last year while trying to become a better photographer, it's that attitude has everything to do with photos. Most of this article has nothing to do with an actual photography "technique" if you will, because I feel that if you're told to take photos a certain way you're constricted within a set silly rules, and you will never be able to explore photography with your own feelings. Anyways, I hope I brought up some good points, ones that you will take into action soon because if you do, I know you'll soon discover that there is a great photographer within you. You just gotta have the motivation to continue and have the right attitude.

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Digital Photography Classes That Obtain Awesome Results

Standing near a path, hedge, fence or wall which stretches away into the distance will carry the eye from the foreground through to the distance, giving the picture the extra dimension of depth. Rivers and streams, stretching into the distance, can be used to serve the same function with the added advantage of sparkling with light and reflecting a blue sky. Whether the photograph is framed to give a vertical picture (portrait format) or horizontal picture (landscape format) will always be dictated by purely visual considerations. Just what is visually most effective in any particular situation will determine whether we should take a landscape or portrait format photograph. Street scenes are another popular subject in this category. Streets in villages, old market towns or the endless variety of town scenes in other countries provide a continuous source of interest. Looking down a street automatically gives the picture a certain depth. Finding a suitable item for the foreground can help this along. This might be such things as a quaint shop front, a market stall, the wing of a car or a person.

If you're planning on opening up a studio to take children's photos then you're going to need to lease a building. It doesn't have to be anything large but it should be in a visible part of town with a lot of other businesses. Visibility is half the battle won. Finally, you're going to have to take lots of photos, especially if you want to build a reputation for yourself. You'll want to put together a portfolio of your work so that you can bring it around with you. Again, this is going to depend on what field you want to get into, whether it be freelancing for a magazine, setting up your own shop, or working for somebody else, which is usually a good way to break in. The world of photography is wide open. There are many options to each aspiring photographer. So pick a game plan and stick to it. With patience and perseverance, you'll eventually get to where you want to be.

A digital photography camera is a tricky choice for some. Many people are more concerned with price than they are with how much memory the camera will have. The cameras range in price from a hundred dollars all the way to thousands of dollars. Depending on what is needed, the choice can seem overwhelming. One photography site that can help determine just what is right is Short courses. This site helps the consumer decide from the four major types of cameras as to which one fits their lifestyle. Digital photography is a great way to capture the images of an individual that will be seen for generations to come. By using digital photography instead of regular film, those memories will be perfect the first time. The choices of cameras are endless, and with the help of the internet, a person can make sure and choose the right camera that best fits their lifestyle and price range.

Anyone who wants to learn how to be a photographer doesn't have to enroll for many years to get a degree. There are colleges who offer this as one of the subjects which the student may take as an elective. Can you still learn how to be a photographer being out of school for many years? The answer is yes. The only thing needed is your dedication to learn from the proper techniques and a camera to take some shots. Some students don't have to go to campus anymore. There are some institutions that offer distance education. A good example is the New York Institute of Photography. You will learn everything from exposure, lenses, the various techniques used to cover different events, journalism and much more. Being affiliated with the school, you will be entitled to free online magazine articles such as contests and digital imaging.

Some of you may have more options than others depending on where you live. If there are several schools in your area I highly recommend investigating the following; 1) Go over the course outline; by looking over the subject matter in the digital photography course, you will be able to check out which classes are suitable for your skill level. Some classes teach just the basics like how to work your camera. So if you're well passed that, why not take on something a little more challenging? 2) See if there are any interesting aspects to your class. Does the class teach nothing but black and white photography? Will you be out and about in nature trying to photograph birds at six in the morning? Some of this may interest you and it also might give you a headache.

Computer skills: A good photography school needs to have courses regarding the use of computers. The field of photography is a very competitive one and you could really use some knowledge of computers. With the advent of digital photography, the need for computer literacy is more evident than ever. Scholarships It would be best if the photography school is offering some kind of financial assistance for their students. Some of the equipments in photography are not that cheap. These are just some tips on how to choose a photography school. Choosing the right school is as important as having a good view of where you want to go. The right school is the best way to get there.

To keep yourself enthusiastic about your subject, you might want to shoot two or maybe three projects at a time. Spend a Saturday afternoon shooting your local town's attractions and people, and next weekend drive into the nearest city to shoot architecture and calf culture. But how do you choose projects that will assist in creating strong saleable images? Search stock photography agencies, look through travel magazines and newspapers. What you see everyday is what sells. The key is to plan what you are going to shoot. Although we are all guided by weather conditions, it is possible to select the images you want before you arrive at your location. I rarely arrive without at least a few images mapped out in my head, and never without a shoot list. As travel photographers, it goes without saying that we have a passion for travel. It's why we do what we do. But it is an extremely difficult business to get into. The catch 22 is that to produce a portfolio or stock image library you need time and money. To fund your photography you need to work. It will take time and dedication, but by shooting close to home you will gradually improve your photography skills and start to build a portfolio of images to be proud of. It all comes down to the way we view our surrounding.

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Photography techniques for taking great pictures

Beautiful moments regularly come and go in our lives. Fortunately, most of us have at least a camera to capture some of these unforgettable scenes. Caméras peuvent être utilisés à des fins allant des anniversaires aux remises de diplômes, d'une pièce de l'école à des scènes tragiques sur un champ de bataille et bien plus encore.

Unfortunately, most people who stand behind the button of the camera do not have the expertise necessary for high-quality photos that really attract our attention. We love our family members, friends and associates work, but love does not translate the talent of photography. As a result, many of us hire professionals to do the job for us, despite their often steep costs.

For those who want to avoid the cost of pay, here are some technical brief to guide you through the capture of images, you will be delighted to show.

1 For the portraits, it is important to have a proper setting. Using a camera support allows to stabilize the image and avoid blurring, it.

2 Using the Sun as your main source of light adds the natural beauty of the image. Make sure that the Sun is not directly opposite the lens of the camera but rather behind him.

3 Natural poses are generally a more attractive image. Photographers should try to make their subjects feel at ease before taking a shot. Book in a friendly conversation before the image usually lightens the atmosphere.

4 All by taking a photo, sure that each person or object that you intend to be in the photo is included in the view. Provide polished instructions if necessary. It is recommended that the person more high stand in the row of the bottom with people shorter at the front so that nobody misses of the shot. The positioning can be difficult for someone who is sensitive to their height (tall or short), so take this step with due account.

5. Sometimes - perhaps often - you want to take spontaneous pictures. It is good alternatives to rigid, artificial smiles and poses that silent natural style of the person when you point the camera in their regard. These types of images are great for weddings, anniversaries and other festive events.

The work of a good photographer is to capture the best moments of their subject, as when they are really at ease and not actually trying to hard "natural law" camera - usually a prescription to capture a horrible pose. A photographer should also ensure that the people in the pictures see as natural as possible. A large image will bring out the innate personality and beauty of the object - rather than as an attempt to create what isn't really there.

The practice often and take photos as much as you can until you are comfortable with your specific camera. Over a period of a few months or even weeks, you surprise perhaps even yourself to convincing how some of your photos to.

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Photography School

If you have the desire to capture special moments and freeze them in timeless photographs, then you already have one key ingredient to becoming a good photographer. But, if course, you have to supplement your desire with training. Hobbyists can learn how to shoot with the most advanced cameras and deliver captivating pictures effortlessly. To be able to move on from being good to being great, it is encouraged that you seek expert training in a photography school.

Photography schools are scattered all over the place and you should not have a hard time looking for one. There is no age qualification for most photography schools. What you would want to do is look at the portfolios of the instructors to see the level of their expertise and their reputation. Most distinguished universities offer photography courses and some even specialize in it. Here, more advanced students can go deeper in their photography training and get to brush elbows with the industry's elite.

You would be taught how to use different cameras. You would learn the differences between a regular point-and-click camera from an SLR and the different lenses you can use to capture different images. Creative techniques, color theories, composition and the control of your photograph and pre-visualization could be part of your curriculum.

To become a great photographer, you would have to learn how to play around with colors by using different films like black and white, color negative or color transparency both for digital and analog cameras and zone system. You also need to familiarize yourself with the equipment you would be using, the different type of flashes, the lenses, exposures and shutter speeds of your camera and how to get the proper light ratios.

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Rules For Professional Portrait Photography - For the Love of It!

Without a doubt, the easiest subject for me to express my feelings about and to write about is this one: The Love For The Job Of Making Portraits!

First, let me just say that I believe that for every occupation, profession or career path there is a personality that is perfectly suited to it. It is my prayer for humankind that everyone should find that occupation that perfectly suits them. I believe that if everyone had the job they loved to do that the world would be a better and much more peaceful place. And really, I thank God that there are people who are happy to do the things I just couldn't be happy doing! For instance, I couldn't be an accountant, or a physical therapist. I actually thought at one time I would love to do physical therapy, but I quickly discovered that I couldn't be happy being around severely injured or sick people every day!

I grew up in south central California, and was never really all that fascinated with Hawaii, or struck with a desire to go there. However, as is often the case, as a result of certain events and circumstances I found myself in Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii in the June of 1976.

I arrived in the late afternoon, and the drive to the end of the road, Kekaha, where the friend I was visiting lived took nearly an hour in his little Toyota truck. By the time we got to his house, I'd had enough adventuring for that day! I had come to Hawaii with the intent that I would stay for about 3 months, then go back home to California. With that thought in mind, I had determined to go first thing to the post office and sign up for general delivery.

The post office was about a mile from my friend's house, so I set out to walk it first thing in the morning. I had a much unexpected and nearly spiritual experience on that walk! As I traversed the little residential streets of Kekaha town, past huge colorful hedges, open, unfenced yards, big, sprawling mango trees, past the sugar mill to the post office, I actually experienced a very vivid feeling of welcome coming right up from the ground, and from the very vegetation all around me! It was an experience that I will never stop enjoying! It was like coming home for the first time in my life!

And what exactly does this have to do with portraiture? Well, it was very much the same for me when I discovered photography. Except that when I found photography, I was much younger.

For me, art has always been a passion, and people have always been my favorite subjects. Ever since I could hold a crayon or pencil I've been sketching and painting. I've always loved looking at books on art, going to art museums, copying famous paintings, and drawing pictures of statues. To me, people are art. And creating portraits that people of all walks and cultures can appreciate for their sensitivity and artistry is the highest form of art.

When I was introduced to photography by way of a twin lens Yashica camera, I was in Junior High School. At first, my fascination was simply for making photographs to see how they would come out. Very quickly though, I became enchanted by the near magical influences one could obtain by altering perspective and adjusting the camera's controls.

Then I took a class in school and was introduced to the darkroom! What a revelation that was! Talk about influencing and altering the outcome of a photograph! And by no means did it escape my notice that, when you carried a nice big camera around with you, pretty girls were nearly always willing, indeed eager to pose for you! I was completely hooked!

For me the study of art and developing my skills for creating photographic art is a lifetime project. There will never come a time when I will say, "I now know everything there is to know about making beautiful portrait art"! There is and always will be something new to learn or try, and always room for improvement of skills and techniques.

Very simply stated, if you don't love making portraits, and if you don't enjoy learning and improving your craft so that you continue to grow in the art, and in the value you give to your clients, then you are in the wrong profession. If you don't love making portraits, find something else to do, for you are doing a disservice to yourself, your clients and the profession.

As I stated at the outset, for every profession, career, vocation, there are people who are particularly well suited. For portrait photography, the personality traits that contribute to the ideal for this art are:

1) A love for people,
2) A love for the science and technology of photography, and a natural affinity for it,
3) A love for making sensitive, meaningful art, and,
4) A desire to continuously improve.

In my humble opinion, love for the craft and art of photographic portraiture, and a love of people are the most important qualifications for entering the profession.

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