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You arrive at your photo shoot excited about the images you are about
to take – that is, until you realize that you have left an important piece of
equipment at home. You now will have to improvise, spend extra money
or time to replace the item, or go without it for the shot.

One way to help remember everything for the best photo shoot is to
make a checklist of needed items. The lists can vary by the type of shoot,
but always include certain basics. Following are some lists to get you
started.

Wedding/Portraits

* Camera bodies

* Camera batteries (charged), including backup

* Camera plates

* Lenses (wide, mid-range and telephoto) with lens shades

* Filters (soft, star and other special effects; yellow, red for B&W film)

* Film or CF cards

* Flash

* Flash batteries (charged), including backups and battery pack

* Flash diffusers

* Flash synch cord

* Camera bracket

* Tripod

* Tripod head

* Stool/ladder

* Reflector/diffuser

* Business cards

* Tools (allen wrench, multi-function, blower, flashlight)

* Lens cleaner/cloth

* Props/blanket

* Light meter

* Camera and flash manuals

* Fanny pack

Studio Photography

* Wedding/portrait equipment plus:

* Backdrop

* Backdrop stands

* Reflector stand

* Studio lights/cords

* Soft boxes/diffusers

* Stool/posing table

* Electrical/duct tape

Landscape/Macro/Wildlife

* Camera bodies

* Camera batteries (charged), including backup

* Camera battery charger

* Camera plates (L-bracket)

* Bubble level

* Lenses (wide, macro, mid-range and telephoto) with lens shades

* Teleconverter

* Extension tube

* Filters (graduated ND, polarizer, color compensating)

* Film or CF cards

* Flash

* Flash batteries (charged), including backups and battery pack

* Flash battery charger

* Flash diffusers

* Flash synch cord

* Tripod/monopod

* Tripod heads (Gimbal, ballhead)

* Reflector/diffuser

* Tools (allen wrench, multi-function, blower)

* Camera and flash manuals

* Rain cover for camera

* Lens cleaner/cloth

* Sunscreen

* Bug Spray

* Hat

* National park pass

* Photo vest and/or fanny pack

Digital

* Laptop or storage device Charger for laptop or storage device (AC
and/or DC)

* Card reader

* Blank CDs or DVDs for backups

Look at your own equipment needs to customize your lists. They will
help you to remember all of the tools to help make your photo shoot the
best. Just don’t forget the list!

Copyright 2005 Carolyn E. Wright All Rights Reserved

— ABOUT THE AUTHOR —

Carolyn Wright is a professional photographer with an active wildlife
photography business. Shooting for 25 years, her award-winning
images have been used in books and corporate marketing materials.
Her photos will be included in the upcoming book, “Captivating Wildlife –
Images from the Top Ten Emerging Wildlife Photographers” by Scott
Bourne and David Middleton. She also is working with Scott Bourne on
“Wolfscapes,” a photo book documenting the beauty and strength of
wolves. Her wildlife images can be viewed at http://www.vividwildlife.com

On the faculty of Olympic Mountain School of Photography, Carolyn’s
passion is enhanced when teaching photography. She enjoys writing
and speaking on the subject, as well, and is a regular columnist for
PhotoFocus, an online magazine for serious photographers.

I bought my first digital camera in the mid 90’s it was a Casio QV10 now there are
more and better choices from a range of suppliers that include Canon, Nikon,
Olympus, Fuji and other big names.

Before you make your choice on buying a digital camera, Here
Some Advantages and disadvantages of a DSLR compared to a
Digital Point and Shoot.

1. Greater Lens flexibility

Digital SLRs offer more lens flexibility and choice with more than hundreds of
combination lenses to choice for different intended purposes. From Zooms to
Telephotos, ultra wide angle to Super Close Up. There are even Specialty lenses to
correct perspective control.

2. Image Quality

Generally all DSLR will have better image quality because they have bigger and
better optics than those small lenses they use for high-end point and shoot
cameras. When printing images bigger than 8×10, the point and shoot camera
image quality degrades dramatically (especially for lower end models)

3. Better Performance

The SLR gives better performance even in almost every aspect; autofocus,
virtually no shutter delay, continuous shooting, bigger buffer memory, better
metering and more accessories to use.

4. Feel and ergonomics

Design plays a huge role especially if you are going to use in long hours. Some
cameras fit well into your hands and make you feel like the camera is part of you.
Easy access to shutter and other settings help in giving you better control to capture
your photos.

5. Loads of Features

Range of Features and Accessories are so wide that you can even find 3rd party
makers that have products for your DSLR. Some of the accessories that SLRs have
include External Flash triggers, external, portable power sources, vertical grips,
wireless transmitters, remote triggering devices.

Disadvantages of Having a DSLR.

1. Heavy and Bulky

SLRs are definitely bulkier than the point and shoot’s in the market. Heavy and bulky
because these cameras require a higher degree of durability. Materials are for used
are for high performance use. The power requirement for these items are also huge
so they need batteries to power them up.

2. Increased Complexity

SLRs have so many functions and features that is possible to mix and match
different settings to achieve your optimum combination. In short, it is easy to mess
up your settings, too much combinations and choices may confuse you at the
beginning.

3. Expensive Tools

With the Loads of features and functions and other goodies the SLR delivers, there is
a cost that has to be paid, and it isn’t cheap. But you get what you pay for and that
is getting a better, faster Tool.

4. LCD Framing

Most shooters prefer to frame their subject using the LCD, this feature is no where
to be found on any DLSR. Many shooters think the ease of use of LCD Framing and
viewing should be extended to the DSLRs (but not all).

5. Lens Variety and Cost

With the Flexibility of Lens Choice comes the variety and cost of these specific use
lenses. Some specialized lenses cost more than the camera itself, so choosing the
best options for you and your use is the best to avoid wasting your money on lenses
you won’t use to often.

Anton Sheker is a photographer based in Philippines. For more Photography tips, tricks
and articles visit his site online at http://www.photo.net.ph/blogalicious.

Anton Sheker
is also founder and member of the World Photo Directory
http://www.worldphotodirectory.com

- Add your photo resource online

Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for advise on how to become successful in the wedding field. My first question is always what their motivation is to become a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like to make some money on the side etc.
While it is true that wedding photography can be a very profitable business achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a matter of getting a camera and start shooting. Wedding photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the wedding couple.

Here I have summarized some points that I believe will guide beginner wedding photographers:

1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You will be in charge of capturing people’s most precious life moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn photography.

2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras.

3. Master the digital workflow, including color management, digital image processing, file management and image correction and enhancement.

4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don’t come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of making money. It is true that there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However according to the Professional Photographers of America the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.

5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek with all your heart to capture unique photographs.

6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don’t try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique photographers, with a unique vision.

7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is a great way to be remembered.

8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the camera become an extension of you.

9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with other wedding photographers.

10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions. It will give you the opportunity to have your work evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work quality.

11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of professional photography organizations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and techniques.

12. Don’t neglect the business aspect of wedding photography. Learn to manage your business effectively. Take business courses and seminars.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon. He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association,and the Oregon Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very
artistic and have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his works please visit Portland Oregon Wedding Photographer and Eugene Oregon Wedding Photographer

For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog at Oregon Wedding Photographer

In recent years, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have become increasingly available and more popular. There is now a wide range of products that come under this category, including devices that serve as little more than a glorified calendar and organizer, to top of the range tablets and “Palm PC’s”. Miniaturization has taken leaps and bounds as developments have progressed, and PDAs continue to grow more powerful. For some people, a PDA is something of a hobby, and the features, gimmicks, and novelties, whether they use them or not, are the most important part of the fun. More often, however, they are put to use in business, across almost every modern industry, at nearly every level, to varying degrees. PDAs now feature massive amounts of storage space, whether on-board, or via flash cards which keep growing in size, wireless networking, web browsing facilities, telephone-PDA hybrids, and ever more advanced software. One other feature that has raised some attention is the integration of digital cameras into Palm PCs.

Digital camera PDAs are not really intended for photography enthusiasts. They are intended more for people who depend upon and always carry their PDA. Integrating a camera into these versatile systems has so far been a matter of convenience and entertainment. The digital cameras combined with modern PDAs do not have particularly advanced camera features, and tend to be relatively poor in quality compared to a separately purchased digital camera. While a $200 digital camera may produce photographs at as high a resolution as 5, 6, or 7 “mega-pixels”, the cameras found aboard a similarly priced PDA will be less than half a mega-pixel, and even more expensive PDAs rarely boast a camera with a resolution as high as 2MP. Digital camera PDAs are not just a trivial toy, though, and have many useful applications. And of course, no-one ever knows just when they might need a camera.

The Hewlett Packard HW6515 iPAQ is a fully featured PDA featuring a 1.3MP camera, with an LED flash. PDA cameras often use a high powered LED rather than a conventional strobe because they use significantly less power. Unfortunately the intensity of the flash is also much lower, but using an LED is the most efficient tool for the job. In addition to its camera, the 6515 has a 312MHz Intel CPU, 320×240 TFT display, and 128 MB of on-board memory, of which, 55MB is available for to the user. It is Bluetooth enabled and has all common digital cell network compatibility (GPRS, GSM, EDGE.) Data cable is USB, and it uses Secure Digital removable media. It comes with a very full bundle of Microsoft mobile software, and runs the Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 (Phone Edition) Operating System. Weighing in at 5 ounces, it will set you back a little under $700.

If you are more interested in the camera capabilities themselves, then you will want to consider external cameras designed to be used in conjunction with an existing PDA. These offer much better camera quality, resulting in better image reproduction. Another 1.3MP PDA camera is the Lifeview Flycam. This small digital camera plugs into your existing PDA by way of the CF card attached to it. This is inserted directly into the CF slot of your tablet or PDA, and you have almost immediate camera functionality. It offers a few more features as a camera, and it is the camera aspect itself that is important to you, it makes a lot more sense to buy your PDA camera and PDA separately. As better PDA cameras are developed, you will be able to upgrade the camera without having to replace the whole PDA, which – as can be seen by the above example – can be quite an investment. The Flycam retails for as little as $130, making it a very appealing way to retrofit a camera to your PDA.

The HP Jornada is another retro-fitted PDA camera, also installed by way of an attached CF card. At a maximum resolution of only 640×480 (0.3MP), this camera retails for about $60. If you have an existing PDA, and have no desire to upgrade it yet, and you only need a simple camera, then this could well be the option for you. With an auto-focusing lens, this is a very easy camera to use, however, it will not appeal to more astute photographers. If all you want is to be able to take pictures of your friends whenever you want, then this is a great purchase.

Choosing a PDA camera is a matter of weighing up what you need. If you mostly just need a good camera, you are best off buying a normal digital camera, completely independent of your PDA. If it’s a PDA-camera hybrid you need, along with all the other functionality of a top shelf palmtop, and you can afford the considerable outlay, but you don’t need absolutely top notch photography, then consider an integrated option. If the idea of being able to swap the camera between different PDAs, and you like having the option of progressively upgrading as newer and better technology comes out, then you may wish to consider one of the retro-fitting options. They’re an ingenious solution that promises to stay within budget, and allows you to upgrade at will.

Ron Donnelly is editor of the website, buying-guide-for-digital-cameras. You can view the site at http://www.buying-guide-for-digital-cameras.com