The first technique I tried to master with my new lens when I started out, was the zoom/blur. The idea was to shoot a very slow shutter speed while zooming the lens while the shutter was open. It produced the coolest effects and I often did this for personal pictures but never professional work. That is, until I needed to change the energy of a picture.
If you move from one place to another, things will look different. Two people standing at different places and looking at the same thing will also see things differently. This is perfectly understandable. What’s amazing to me is that two people standing in the same spot can see things so differently.
First, determine why you are going pro. Statistics show there is still a significant percentage of new business owners that just don't make it much past their first year. So, prepare yourself and understand one very large and important element; YOU CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. I know you may want to, but trust me, the support, education, knowledge and troubleshooting of others either currently in the same position or having gone through it are invaluable to the new photographer. Local and regional photographic groups and associations or Professional Photographers are vital to your success.
Consider the image in which there is an exposure issue. Of course with today's high res RAW files we can correct enormous changes in exposure with controls available in post-production. But the habit of doing so and the time invested are two of the main reasons to make the correction at the time of capture. For each image you open in Photoshop to edit, you'll double or triple the time IF you have to continually make global adjustments for the exposure or color balance.
I see there is an intense desire for producing quality work that I see in everyone who is successful in photography as well as in any career. I'm referring to quality of the product you produce of course, but I am also talking about the quality of the marketing materials you use, the quality of your equipment, the quality of the people you surround yourself with, your "brand" quality, everything.
...you can always change the contrast of any given source slightly by simply changing the light from raw and sharp to soft and diffused. Light contrast is another control that we can keep in mind in our mental tool box as we approach a session. A friend of mine is a big fan of small incandescent lights added to a bride outdoors late in the day. Another way to control that is to diffuse it slightly. You’ll see a slight loss of light in terms of image quantity. But the benefit for the bride’s face in terms of image quality will really enhance your efforts and make you a hero
As a photographer you need to remember that you are a visual storyteller. And some signs can add tremendous value to many stories. When you travel to foreign lands you’ll find that photos of signs can be an incredible way to illustrate your travels. These images can identify not only the place but often provide insight into the culture.
Look back on the statistics today. With a society that pumps out over a trillion images a year, it’s hard to argue that they all have value. Not just economic value - that’s not the point. What is the emotional value of your images? If you’re a professional, this economic value translates into dollars - for the hobbyist, adding value to your images makes them stand out in a crowded field. You’ll win contests and get the recognition you deserve.
