Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Light and Shoot 50 Fashion Photos

Light and Shoot 50 Fashion Photos Review



Have you ever wondered what it really takes to be a fashion photographer? Want to learn what the pros do in the field on a daily basis to create compelling, artistic, iconic fashion imagery? Then this is the book for you!  With a focus on lighting, Light and Shoot takes 50 truly amazing fashion photos and tells the budding fashion photographer how each was created. First is the equipment "must-haves." Next are lessons on how to integrate make-up and lighting. From there, you will learn how to shoot for the three main outlets: catalogue, editorial, or advertising. From beautiful photos and lighting diagrams to the photographer's thoughts behind the photos, to a snapshot that shows what camera, ISO, shutter speed etc. were used, this book will give you the tools you need to light and shoot your own fashion photos.

*Lighting diagrams-which are in high demand-that show you not just one view, but three *A global assortment of fashion photographers that are at the top of their field that will walk you through their thought process and lighting choices *Lots of beautifully composed images that will make your jaw drop


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The 2011 Report on Portrait Photography Studios: World Market Segmentation by City

The 2011 Report on Portrait Photography Studios: World Market Segmentation by City Review



This report was created for global strategic planners who cannot be content with traditional methods of segmenting world markets. With the advent of a "borderless world", cities become a more important criteria in prioritizing markets, as opposed to regions, continents, or countries. This report covers the top 2000 cities in over 200 countries. It does so by reporting the estimated market size (in terms of latent demand) for each major city of the world. It then ranks these cities and reports them in terms of their size as a percent of the country where they are located, their geographic region (e.g. Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America, Latin America), and the total world market.

In performing various economic analyses for its clients, I have been occasionally asked to investigate the market potential for various products and services across cities. The purpose of the studies is to understand the density of demand within a country and the extent to which a city might be used as a point of distribution within its region. From an economic perspective, however, a city does not represent a population within rigid geographical boundaries. To an economist or strategic planner, a city represents an area of dominant influence over markets in adjacent areas. This influence varies from one industry to another, but also from one period of time to another.

In what follows, I summarize the economic potential for the world's major cities for "portrait photography studios" for the year 2011. The goal of this report is to report my findings on the real economic potential, or what an economist calls the latent demand, represented by a city when defined as an area of dominant influence. The reader needs to realize that latent demand may or may not represent real sales.


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers

Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers Review



Time-tested lighting strategies that will improve the quality of a portrait are detailed in this book for beginning photographers. Terminology used by industry pros is explained, the equipment needed to create professional results is outlined, and the unique role that each element of the lighting setup plays in the studio is explored. Photographers learn how color, direction, form, and contrast affect the final portrait. The concise text, photo examples, and lighting diagrams enable photographers to easily achieve traditional lighting styles that have been the basis of good portraiture since the advent of the art.


Friday, April 13, 2012

Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop (Voices That Matter)

Professional Portrait Retouching Techniques for Photographers Using Photoshop (Voices That Matter) Review



Each year, Scott Kelby, Editor-in-Chief of Photoshop User magazine and the #1 best-selling Photoshop author, trains literally thousands of photographers on how to retouch portraits using Photoshop through his live seminars, online classes, DVDs, and standing-room only workshops at the Photoshop World Conference & Expo. Now you can learn the same techniques he uses in his own retouching workflow, in the only book of its kind–one written expressly for photographers who do their own retouching.

As a pro photographer himself, Scott understands that photographers make their living shooting, not retouching. But, delivering fully retouched images is now expected by clients. That’s why Scott put together this amazing resource for teaching photographers the quickest, easiest, and most effective ways to create professional-looking, retouched final images without spending hours grinding away at painstaking, detailed techniques.


LEARN HOW THE PROS DO IT

It’s all here–the step-by-step methods for fixing, enhancing, and finishing your portraits in Photoshop. Using the techniques in this book, you’ll create images that will absolutely wow your clients. You’ll learn:
• How to soften skin and still retain detail and texture

• The best tricks for beautifully enhancing eyes, eyebrows, and eyelashes

• How to selectively sharpen portraits without complicated masking

• How to create gorgeous-looking lips

• How to remove blemishes fast and keep the most detail

• The pros’ tricks for body sculpting

• How to make your subject’s hair look fabulous

• How to give your retouches that natural look that sets them apart

• Plus, you get Scott’s complete 5-minute, 15-minute, and 30-minute start-to-finish workflows

If you’re ready to learn the “tricks of the trade”–the same ones that today’s leading pro photographers use to retouch, tuck, tighten, and tone their images for that pro-retouched look–you’re holding the book that will do exactly that. It will radically change the way you retouch your portraits from here on out, and give you the best-looking, most natural retouches you’ve ever done.


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Tabletop Photography: Using Compact Flashes and Low-Cost Tricks to Create Professional-Looking Studio Shots

Tabletop Photography: Using Compact Flashes and Low-Cost Tricks to Create Professional-Looking Studio Shots Review



Imagine capturing stunning, professional-looking product shots without needing a studio filled with expensive equipment and large flash units. This book teaches all the steps for creating your own tabletop photography studio.

Affordable compact flashes offer a number of creative lighting options within your tabletop studio; and the appropriate lighting and backdrop, and the creative use of your camera's features are key to a perfect image.

Author Cyrill Harnischmacher guides you through a variety of exposure and lighting techniques, and covers how to achieve excellent results using compact flash units. Whether you wish to capture product images for use in print or on the web, or you want to improve your photos for personal use, this book will provide you with everything you need to know to get great results.

Topics include:

Lighting Setups; Reflectors, Diffusors, and Accessories; Soft Boxes and Umbrellas; Strobe Flashes; Combining Long Exposures with Flashlights; Multi-Flash Exposures; Composition and Arrangements; Creating Backdrops; Product Photography; Smoke, Fog, and Special Effects; Food Photography and much more...


Monday, April 9, 2012

Digital Boudoir Photography: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Fabulous Images of Any Woman

Digital Boudoir Photography: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Fabulous Images of Any Woman Review



"Digital Boudoir Photography" teaches beginning to intermediate photographers how to make the women in their lives beautiful through digital photography. Whether they are experienced or not, this book will show them the steps they need to take to create glamorous and intimate portraits of women using digital photography. Step-by-step instructions cover everything from planning a session, obtaining new or using existing camera and lighting equipment, gathering props and costumes, and of course the actual photography techniques themselves. The book emphasizes simple, creative techniques and ideas that anyone can use, and features numerous examples photographs as well as technical information and lighting diagrams.


Saturday, April 7, 2012

David Busch's Sony Alpha SLT-A77 Guide to Digital Photography

David Busch's Sony Alpha SLT-A77 Guide to Digital Photography Review



The Sony a SLT-A77 is one of the most innovative cameras Sony has ever introduced, with sensational features like a full-time, real-time preview system called Live View, GPS logging, and an amazing 12 frames-per-second shooting rate. The camera boasts 24 megapixels of resolution, blazing-fast automatic focus, a full high-definition movie making mode, and a pioneering transparent mirror that allows light to pass to the sensor at all times. As the owner of a Sony a SLT-A77, you demand the ability to take outstanding pictures with your new camera. David Busch's Sony a SLT-A77 Guide to Digital Photography shows you how, when, and why to use all the cool features, controls, and functions of the Sony a SLT-A77 to take great photographs. Introductory chapters will help you get comfortable with the basics of your camera before you dive right into exploring creative ways to apply file formats, resolution, and exposure. Beautiful, full-color images illustrate where the essential buttons and dials are, so you'll quickly learn how to use the Sony a SLT-A77, and use it like a pro! With David Busch's Sony a SLT-A77 Guide to Digital Photography, you'll learn: • How to select the best autofocus mode, shutter speed, f/stop, and flash capability to take great pictures under any conditions. • Troubleshooting and prevention tips to keep your camera and media operating smoothly. • The basics of good photography as you master your camera's operation!