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Even if you are using a simple point-and-shoot digital camera, it is possible to take great close-up photos. Setting the camera to macro is not the only thing you need to do, though. There are some rules that you need to follow, and some can be a little bit tricky. However, it doesn’t require you to be a photo geek.

Generally speaking, there are two things that you should do when taking a close-up photo. First, you need to properly set up your shots; second, you should familiarize all the settings of your camera so you’ll know what to use for the photo you want to create. Apart from these two, you will also have to consider several basic photography rules and learn how to integrate them into your practice.

Here are some of the most important points that you need to consider and follow in order to create close-up photos that connect with and appeal to even the most discriminating eye.

To say that bokeh photography is highly interesting would be the understatement of the century. The word “bokeh” itself is Japanese in origin, and it refers to the aesthetic quality of an image’s blur, which is found in the out-of-focus area of the picture. Essentially, it’s the way in which your lens renders points of light that are out of focus.

It’s important to note that there can be both good and bad bokeh, defined exclusively by how pleasing to the eye the blur in an image is to the eye. Therefore, when it comes to this genre of photography, a fair amount of your success depends on the shape of the aperture and any optical aberrations in your lens.

Bokeh takes place in parts of the scene that are found outside the depth of field. As a result, some photographers sometimes utilize a purposely shallow focus method to produce photos that feature out-of-focus areas that are very prominent to the eye. If done properly, bokeh photography is a visual feast for your eyes.

Getting highly creative with it ensures that your bokeh photos will be exceptionally memorable.

There is a lot more to photography than just having a good camera or knowing which scenes to shoot. In fact, there are three essential things that you need to take note of if you want to create pictures that tell interesting stories: a camera’s shutter speed, ISO and the aperture.

The shutter speed pertains to the exposure time while the ISO measures your camera’s sensor to light. Aperture, on the other hand, helps you create dimensions to your photos. It is one of the first things that you should learn about in photography.

Camera bodies have finite shutter lifespans and deprecating value with each and every new model released. Camera lenses are relatively more unique compared to their counterparts; there generally aren’t new lens releases every year that aim to replace previous models.

And given proper care and maintenance, lenses can be resold and reused over and over without fear of losing their functionality. Camera bodies come and go, but good lenses can last a lifetime.

But with more and more camera bodies percolating the market, many companies are realizing that focusing on selling lenses, with this market being much smaller in scope, is a more efficient way to generate profits. Sony, Leica, and Pentax have undergone increases in lens prices all just this year, and this is just a continuation of an increasingly popular trend.

As we roll into early summer many of you will be booking your first weddings as a new wedding photographer. Hopefully you took the time to understand insurance and at least have basic coverage for liability and equipment damage.

Also one would hope you have some kind of a contract in place that covers the basics about the service you’re providing, the product you’re delivering and how you’re going to get paid.

For many new photographers those contracts came from a boilerplate in a book or that they found online. Some of those will be better than others and I went around to my contacts in the wedding photography business and asked them what changes to their standard contracts they’ve made over the years.

What’s one thing all great stories have in common? Great stories are interesting, right? With photography it’s no different. The best photos are the ones that grab your attention and hold your interest for awhile. Some even make you wonder. You can’t help but ask “What happens next?”


We’ve all seen those amazing photos while browsing online, or in magazines and art galleries. The fascination that those photos produce is no coincidence: they all share that special attraction that captivates us, like a good story.

Today we discuss five simple things you can do to capture some fascinating photos – no post processing required!

So, you have decided on the theme of your work. You have also decided whether to work in collaboration with a group or by yourself. You feel that you are ready to take the next step – to book a gallery. Where to from here?

I won’t lie to you – it can be a tedious process. There is a lot of writing, and sometimes it feels like you are writing advertisements of yourself and your proposed theme There is nothing more awkward than telling strangers how seriously awesome you are, while maintaining a straight face the whole time.

You will be asked to give an in-depth analysis of your theme, as well as your general artistic view. On the bright side, the process will help coalesce and refine your theme, as well as your general practice.