Portrait photographers are responsible for a lot of happiness among a wide variety of people, because well-done family pictures grow more valuable yearly. They usually portray infants, seniors, friends, and relatives, though sometimes portraits are interpretations of unusual subjects. Thomas Balsamo knows this because he has 30 years of experience photographing families and children. His work has also led him to a personal project that originated when his good will and curiosity were extended toward individuals or groups who found their portrait sittings emotionally and psychologically unusual, as well as uplifting.
Children are among the most appealing photo subjects, because of their seemingly limitless energy and cute expressions. Their playfulness and spontaneity is a joy to record. Some are bold and will clown around for your camera, but you can capture great images of a bashful child as well. Whether you're photographing your own children or those of a friend or relative, there...
Lynne Eodice is an accomplished writer/photographer and a popular contributor to Photographic magazine.
Pets are often important members of the family, and it's not unusual for a portrait to include the family dog, cat or parrot. Most animals have a very brief attention span, so plan to shoot for 10 minutes at a time, with breaks in between. Like children, pets are...
About Lynne...
Lynne Eodice is a writer/photographer and popular contributor to PHOTOgraphic magazine.
Photographing weddings can be a fun and rewarding experience, whether you're the official photographer for the event, or simply a relative or guest who wants to record a few memories. There are several schools of thought when it comes...
There's more to taking kid pictures than meets the eye--just ask Stacy Bratton. A sought-after photographer from Dallas, Texas, she specializes in photographing children ranging in age from newborns up to 12-year-olds. "My goal is to capture the magic of childhood," she says. Her portraits highlight children's...
SKPA (Special Kids Photography of America) is a non-profit organization that was born from Heidi Lewis' frustration in trying to get a professional portrait taken of her one-year-old son, Taylor, who has a connective tissue disorder.
Lewis is not alone. According to her mother, Karen Dórame, who co-founded SKPA with Lewis...
Parties and celebrations vary among family and friends and around the world, but festive occasions are very important universally. Gatherings of people--whether it's a child's birthday party, holiday dinner, or a class reunion--provide memories and numerous picture opportunities. These photos let us relive important events in later years.
A veteran photographer of 25 years who specializes in automobiles and animals, Ron Kimball is possibly the most published calendar and poster photographer in the country. He markets his work through Ron Kimball Stock, which features over 500,000 of his...
People are among the most popular photo subjects. This month's lesson presents some easy ways to produce better people shots.
1. Don't Just Sit There...
Static portraits—with the subject just slouched there, or stiffly posed, are not terribly appealing. It generally pays to play director as well as photographer when you're photographing people.
Holidays present a seemingly endless number of great photo opportunities: Fourth of July parades, colorful Easter Lilies, Christmas lights at night, or costumed children going trick-or-treating. At these special times of the year, have your camera ready for both planned photos and candids.
Many of us have pets that share our home and are considered to be members of the family. If you enjoy photography, naturally you'll want to take pictures of your furry friends. Great-looking pet images can be achieved without having to invest in expensive photo gear. In fact, a lightweight point-and-shoot camera is a...
Some ways to help offset the cost of your favorite pastime
There are lots of way to make money in photography, including selling and trading photo gear, processing film and making prints for other photographers, scanning images (slides, negatives and prints) and putting them on CDs for others, retouching photos, copying and restoring old photos, collecting collectible photographs...
When it comes to photographing kids, remember that they just want to have fun. As children have a short attention span, you'll get more-cooperative photo subjects if they're having a good time. Get involved with kids' activities: play games with them, read stories, or whatever they're doing so that they get used to your presence, and can be themselves...
All photos by Chris Ameruoso unless otherwise indicated
By the end of 1998, Chris Ameruoso found himself at a major crossroad. As someone who had spent most of his youth performing in a family rock band, he had moved to Los Angeles about 10 years previously "with a dream of music." Then suddenly he switched gears, and found his calling shooting portraits of...
Beyond simply shooting someone's portrait, taking a picture of a concept like "fun" can be a real challenge. A photograph that makes a statement like this must make its point immediately—the viewer should get the message at first glance, and not have to guess at what you're trying to say.