Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Video Review of "Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers
Summary:
"Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers" is a collection of 22 videos, which demonstrate how to edit digital photos using Photoshop. Each video is a step-by-step tutorial of the most common image editing tasks in Photoshop.
Product Details:
The main product is a set of 34 instructional videos. These include 12 video tutorials for Photoshop, from Photoshop 7 through to the later versions bundled with Creative Suite products (CS2 and CS3). Most of the videos are less than 5 minutes long. The longest video is 12 minutes and 48 seconds.
The topics for Photoshop 7 through CS2 are:
- Change Eye Color
- Change Hair Color
- Fix Underexposed Photos
- More Punch Photo
- Instant Tan
- Panoramic
- Double Chin
- Remove Red Eye
- Remove Spots and Blemishes
- Remove Unwanted Objects
- Remove Wrinkles
- Whiten Teeth
The topics for CS3 are:
- Batch Rename
- Batch Resize
- Change Hair Color
- Double Chin
- Eye Color
- Instant Tan
- Look Funny
- Look Slimmer
- More Punch Photo
- Photomontage
- Red Eye Removal
- Remove Spots and Blemishes
- Remove Unwanted Objects
- Remove Wrinkles
- Replace Backgrounds
- Selective Color
- Smooth Skin
- Soft Romantic
- Straighten Image
- Fix Underexposed Photos
- Whiten Teeth
"Photoshop Fast Track for Digital Photographers" also includes the following bonuses:
- Video tutorial images: These are the exact same images edited in the videos. The customer can work on the same images and practice the skills each video demonstrates.
- Flickr tutorials: A step-by-step guide on how digital photographers can make the most of this free site to share (and show off) your photos. There are 14 videos on Flickr alone.
Format: Online video in both Flash and Shockwave formats, which can be viewed online and downloaded into the user’s hard drive The tutorial images are digital image files (JPG).
The Flickr tutorial is in online video format as well.
Thoughts on the Product:
Whether you edit digital photos for fun or for work, these video tutorials will make the tasks much easier.
Photoshop is a powerful graphic editor, but the learning curve can be pretty steep. You could spend hours learning everything yourself, or pay for a class. Or, you could watch these videos and learn the most common digital photo editing tasks at your own pace.
Video demonstration is an excellent way of learning a complicated software such as Photoshop. It’s like looking over the shoulder of an instructor - but one that you can pause, rewind or fast forward as needed.
The best way to use these videos is to have Photoshop open in another window, pause the video to complete each of the steps demonstrated, and then compare your final result with that of the video. Because the tutorial images are included, this is easy for users to do. You get instant feedback and practice.
The tutorials are for different versions of Photoshop, from Photoshop 7 to CS3.
Where to Learn More: www.edityourdigitalphotos.com
Monday, 7 December 2009
Photo subjects that sell
What sort of material is selling best on stock photo sites?
There's no real standout answer to this question - every sale seeems to be totally different to the last!There are some regulars though....
Anything with people in it! These aren't necessarily "portrait" pics - they are more likely to be classed as "lifestyle" images.
People doing things - so it doesn't matter how you currently classify your work, if you can start including a few people you are probably going to improve your sales ability!
Other regular subjects are nature, wildlife, industry, technology, sports and communication, but even these are only part of the picture.
Perhaps the person who can best answer this question is you!
Only you really know the type of work you do; the subjects and styles etc, so you need to do some market research yourself and look for situations where your images could have been used.
Get in the habit of studying the images you see around you every day ... books, magazines, websites, billboards, packaging, junk mail! ... they are all commercial images and they are all selling. Pay particular attention to those subjects that overlap with your current work.
The trick is to then apply what you learn to your own work ... look for the elements within the images that make them work; think about why the buyer would have selected that image, and how you could improve on it.
This is regardless of which stock photo site you choose to sell your work through.
Make this a habit and you'll not only get a better idea of what's currently selling, your own work will become more saleable in the process!
Discover Further Photography Techniques By Reading This Free Digital Photography Report – www.LearnDigitalPhotographyNow.com
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Top 10 Digital Photo Quick-Fixes

Turning an image from ok to extraordinary is only a few clicks away, thanks to digital image editing software like Adobe Photoshop. If you're interested in mastering the top software for editing photos, click the image (or link below) to find out how you can learn Photoshop in 2 hours or less www.edityourdigitalphotos.com.
Here are 10 digital photo quick fixes you can make to make your digital pictures stand out.
1. Remove red eye
Red eyes make your pictures look amateurish. Why put up with it when it's so easy to fix? Take the time to remove red eye from portraits.
2. Sharpen blurred images
Sometimes you've captured the perfect moment, but your hand shook or the subject was moving too fast, or the scene didn't have enough light. The result is a blurry or out-of-focus picture. It's still possible to salvage blurred pictures using image editing software like Photoshop.
3. Fix the exposure
Another quick fix is making sure an image has the right exposure. That is, it's neither too light nor too dark. Adobe Photoshop and other image editing software makes fixing exposure super easy.
4. Crop the image
The simple act of cropping an image can improve it significantly. Crop an image to achieve better composition and remove unwanted elements from the background.
5. Remove spots and blemishes
A blemish can mar an otherwise beautiful smile on a portrait. All it takes is a few clicks to give your subject a perfect complexion.
6. Remove unwanted objects
Sometimes a picture would be perfect... if only that flagpole didn't look like it was growing out of your subject's head! Take out distracting elements from your digital images.
7. Smoothen skin
Use Photoshop's Healing Brush tool to minimize wrinkles and give your subject a more youthful appearance. Edit Your Digital Photos gives a step-by-step video tutorial of how to use it and still get natural, believable results.
8. Straighten the image
A common mistake in digital photos is to have a crooked photograph. This is obvious when a photo includes the horizon - make sure it's level. If it isn't, then edit the image to straighten it.
9. Whiten teeth
This is another way to make your portraits stand out. It's easy to whiten your subject's teeth with Photoshop's Dodge tool - but don't overdo it. Keep it realistic.
10. Correct colors
Is the picture too orangey? Or too green? Or would it look better if it were cooler or warmer? You can easily adjust color levels to achieve the effect you want.
Next time you're about to share or display your pictures, go through this list of quick fixes first. Each one takes only a few minutes to do, but you'll have much better pictures.
Want step-by-step tutorials on using Adobe Photoshop to edit your digital pictures? Find out how you can get your own personal Photoshop tutor. Go to www.edityourdigitalphotos.com
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Basic Photography – How To Add Special Effects To Photos With Adobe Photoshop And Basic Photography Tutorials
In an effort to create a lasting impact from your photo, leaving the impressions on viewer’s minds, it should have something that keeps him glued. You can employ Adobe PhotoShop’s special effects tools in the menu to add a lightning effect. You can double your exposures or do whatever you choose. The advantage of owning Adobe Photoshop is the rewards it will bring. In fact, I used this program to design my book covers, make commercials, advertising slicks and more, so sit back and enjoy this basic photography course.
Lightning Effect: You can use various types of lightning effects and of different colors, applying them to an image using Adobe Photoshop. This will enhance your basic photography skills tremendously. Note that these tips are perfect for newbies as everything is explained in basic photography terms.
How to do it:-
We’ll follow a stepwise manner in doing this:
1. Open your editor or Adobe Photoshop program
2. Now open the desired image (make sure you open it in RGB format)
3. Now from the filter menu choose Renderer and then select your desired lighting effects.
4. You will see the lighting effect dialogue box opens up.
Then..
1. Choose the desired lighting style from the topmost selection menu; you will notice the options style of lights.
2. Choose the light type and move the sliders to set the intensity and focus.
3. You can also change the properties by toggling the sliders for glass, material, exposure, and ambiance.
4. You can also change the color of light. To change the color of light just click on the boxes to the right of the light type and properties. This will open the color, picker dialogue box. Choose a color and press ok.
5. To change the direction or placement of light just drag any of the points on the outside ellipse or center point. Click ok after you have adjusted the direction and placement of light. How about that for a basic photography lesson!
Creating Double Exposure effect is one of the best basic photography tips: A double exposure image is created by overlaying two images on one another.
Like above we’ll again follow a stepwise procedure:
1. Select all or a part of the image using the selection tools at the top of the toolbar.
2. Now from the edit menu choose copy.
3. Now open a second image file.
4. From the window menu, you can select the show layer.
5. On the ‘show layer’ popup right click and choose new layer and press ok.
6. Now go to the edit menu and press paste.
7. From the layer’s palette, move the opacity slider to 50%.
8. Now drag the mouse from inside the selection to move it.
9. To scale the pasted selection, click on image menu and then select image size. Adjust the size by adjusting the pixels and height from the pop-up window.
The editing programs today can do wonders to images. One of the most popular programs is Adobe PhotoShop, since this editing program is one of the most sophisticated tools. Most pro photographers will use this program, since you can create web sites, book covers, images, movies, and more. Adobe is also used to design manuals, graphics, commercials, fliers, and more. This particular program I miss. I lost my copy during a severe virus attack, and the downside is it costs around $1000 to $1500 to replace.
Outside of lightning effects, you can also setup brick backgrounds, or whatever background you choose. If you own this program you know what I am talking about, however if you have never had the experience and can get the opportunity to try out Adobe I promise you will have loads of fun. For additional editing assistance check out your menus, Help tools.
Discover Further Basic Photography Techniques By Reading This Free Digital Photography Report – www.LearnDigitalPhotographyNow.com
Thursday, 26 November 2009
How To Prepare For A Photo Shoot
One of the keys to being a good freelance photographer is being well-prepared. The following tips will help you to be ready for your next big photo shoot.
1. Plan Your Photo Shoot in Advance
Brainstorm before you go and make a list of all the photos, subjects and angles you want to shoot. Consider the places, attraction, activities, and scenery. Consider the people and poses. Evaluate possible backdrops and lighting conditions.
2. Be Familiar with Your Camera's Features
It is a good idea to read through your camera manual again so you know all the features that your camera offers. You might be surprised to discover a feature that you haven't used for a while or that you had forgotten.
3. Always Test Your Camera
It is vital to know that your camera is functioning properly. If you shoot with film have not used your camera for some time, then shoot a short roll with several pictures and have it developed. With digital camera take some shots and upload these to your computer to check that everything is working satisfactorily. There is nothing more embarrassing than discovering at the shoot that your camera does not work.
With digital cameras, make certain that the resolution is on an appropriate setting. There's nothing worse than discovering after the shoot that your digital camera was still on the smaller, lower quality resolution you used last week to take some funny shots of your dog.
4. Check You Have Sufficient Photo Storage
Be sure to pack plenty of film. For digital cameras make certain that you have sufficient storage disks or cards to hold all of your photographs at a high resolution.
5. Charge Your Camera Batteries
Be sure your camera has fully charged batteries and always take some spares. Don't forget to pack the power cord so you can recharge your camera on the go.
6. Clean Your Lenses
Always clean a lens using a proper lens cleaning brush. By doing this you will be able to remove fingerprints and dust particles without damaging the lens.
7. Pack Your Accessories
You'll need your charger and cables to connect your camera to your computer. Depending upon your camera model you will probably need to take a combination of lenses and filters as well as your flash. Don't forget a plastic bag in case you need to protect against moisture.
8. Take a Back Up Camera
Always take a back up camera to an important photo shoot. You might consider taking a one-time-use, waterproof camera which will serve as an emergency backup as well as being useful for any beach or underwater shots.
9. Check the Weather Forecast
Check the weather forecast in advance, and prepare contingency plans just in case it doesn't turn out as expected.
Now you can ensure your next big photo shoot is a good one. You cannot be a successful freelance photographer unless you consistently take good photographs. To do that requires good planning, so remember to follow these tips, and all the best with your next photo shoot!
About The Author
If you would like to start your own freelance photography business and learn how to sell your photos, please visit http://www.CameraCareer.com
You'll discover all you need to know including which photos to take and how to get the best fees possible for your photos.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Freelance Photography – 3 Ways to Sell Your Photos
If you love photography then a career as a freelance photographer is well worth considering. If you want to start a business in freelance photography there are three main ways to sell your photos.
1. Stock Photography
Stock photography refers to a stock of existing photographs that can be licensed for specific uses. Publishers, magazines, advertising agencies, filmmakers, web designers, and graphic artists are all examples of users of stock photography. They can use stock photography instead of hiring a photographer to shoot the photographs they need.
As a photographer when you take photographs those photos become a part of your “stock”. As the copyright holder you can license the images again and again. Your stock photos can be sold online through stock agencies and microstock sites, or by approaching publishers and other users directly, or you can sell them through your own web site.
2. Photography Products
You can take your photographs and create products for sale. Some examples of possible photography products include posters, prints, postcards, t-shirts and even books.
At CafePress, for example, you can design a wide variety of customizable products using your photos with zero upfront costs and zero inventory investment.
3. Photography Services
Another way to work in freelance photography is sell your skills, to sell your services as a photographer. In this capacity you could work on assignment for portraits, for weddings, or for various types of business project.
If you only want to work part-time at your photography, then working as a freelance photographer is still a great way to earn a little extra cash or to pay for your next digital camera or lens.
About The Author
If you would like to start your own freelance photography business and learn how to sell your photos, please visit http://www.CameraCareer.com
You'll discover all you need to know including which photos to take and how to get the best fees possible for your photos.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Who Will Buy My Photos?
Then you have traditional marketing and advertising agencies that need photos on all kinds of subjects for producing posters, billboards, leaflets and calendars. Basically in today's marketing industry the internet is virtually the only source for finding photographic images which serves millions of people all over the world.
If you want to make money with your photos on the internet you don't have to be technically minded. It really is simple and mainly involves just downloading photos to your computer and then uploading them to our recommended photo money making sites.
The techniques are very interesting and you might be surprised at how they really do work. In order to not scare you off at this point here's what they're NOT about:-
1. You DON'T need fancy or expensive camera equipment.
2. You DON'T need to be a professional photographer!
3. You DON'T need a website or any technical skills!
So bearing that in mind, these are the main reasons why you don't have to be technically gifted to make money with your digital photos:-
1. You can snap photos from anywhere in the world!
2. You get to work from home and choose your own hours!
3. No experience necessary - if you can take an average picture, you can make money with this system!
The reason these techniques are so effective is because they are the basic secrets to turning your photos into an additional cash income. Turning your photos into cash skills will be made so simple with the advice given by these training articles and the fact of the matter is that anybody could do this successfully.
Another great advantage with this online photography business is that you don't need years of training and that you will be making real money from your digital photos in no time at all.
Click here and learn how you can make an extra $200 to $5000 selling digital photos online…..