Secret Diary of a Seasoned Snapper
Photography and communication are inseparable if you want to make a living taking pictures. Photography and Communication Tips: Mistake 1. Not recording information properly There are lots of variations of this common blunder. For example: First, never rely on your memory alone. Even if you pride yourself on your short-term memory, life as a photographer … Read more
If you’ve wondered why things have been a bit quiet on the blog, then I can now reveal the reason. I have been working hard to get my first book (and the first in the ‘So You Want To Be A Photographer’ series) launched before the end of the year. I can now confirm that … Read more
As you can see from some of my case studies, I often cover multiple events over a weekend. However, there are some occasions when it’s best to be unavailable. Here are my top 5 reasons to turn down photography work: 1. Family Weddings Your son or your daughter is getting married. Why would you put … Read more
Photography mental health. All photos ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR As I explained in a previous post, there’s no such thing as a typical day for a pro photographer. If you’re a popular photographer, you’re going to be busy. I’m always careful to pace myself when I’ve got a really long, hectic weekend because if I spread myself … Read more
The Best Way to Get Work: Photo ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR Ask yourself the question: if you’re looking for a builder, what’s the first thing you do? You ask a friend. Look on Facebook. Whether they’re looking for a car valeting service, a plasterer or whatever, people ask, “Can anyone recommend…?” Personal recommendation is the best way … Read more
Selecting photos from a series. ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR If you’re sending pictures in to an editor, they’re only going to use one out of any series. So, why not choose the best one and send it to them? If they’ve only got one image to use, you can take complete control over their choice, by sending … Read more
Unless you are a paparazzo or a tabloid photographer, you are probably not trying to upset anybody with your photography. Nevertheless, there is always the chance you will capture a controversial incident. Here are a few possible scenarios along with some examples from my own experience. Scenario 1: Requests for photos as evidence I recently … Read more
Working as a second shooter should be fun! ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR A busy professional photographer will often need a back up photographer, a second shooter. This could be for a one-off event, to work with a specific client or for general support. Here are my tips for making a good impression when someone is looking for … Read more
I can’t stress enough the importance of an organised photo filing system. It’s best to file properly from day one. Start the way you mean to go on. Otherwise, it’s like trying to process a year’s worth of receipts for your tax return in one go. Filing properly means using the name of events and … Read more
Read Photography Copyright: Q&A Part One for advice on photograph copyright ownership, copyright labeling and how to protect your images. Please bookmark this blog or, even better, sign up to my mailing list to stay connected. How do you add a watermark to photos? Whatever software you use will do it. You can use Lightroom … Read more