You got the camera, you got the name, you got the first places to start - it's all useless without this post.
Welcome to this installment of the photography guide. Forgot to read the previous steps? Go read them to get a better grasp of what we're talking about here! For those who have read all the way through, hello - here I'm going to show you a few easy tips to grasp early on. They'll make your life WAYYYYYY easier.
“The most important post of all.”
Shoot in RAW + JPEG
Some of you may be reading this any wonder "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHOOT IN RAW?". Well, without going into all the small little techy details - RAWs are bigger files. They contain more data, BUT, with more data to utilize, you can change a lot more of a picture. In a JPEG you have some data, but you'll notice a drop in quality and also ability to change things as compared to RAWs which are much more forgiving if a shot isn't setup properly.
Most modern cameras should be able to shoot in RAW and Jpeg - at the same time. I like this method the most. Two reasons why:
You need to transfer files (unedited), you can do it without having to wait & convert them all.
There's always a back up should something be corrupted or not be displayed. Jpegs are a universal format and, to my knowledge, every computer can open and view it, even phones too.
EDIT YOUR PHOTOS
"BUT WHY SHOULD I EDIT MY PHOTOS?! THEY'RE PERFECTLY SETUP". Don't fall into this trap.
I've made a few videos about this actually - editing your photos lets you get a second chance. It's a stress relief. Let's say for example you're at a wedding and have your settings dialed in but then realize the candles on the wedding cake are too bright. Boom your shots ruined cause of the burning lights. Or so you thought!
So, the smart thing to do is take those photos (in raw format) and put them into something like Adobe Lightroom. Here you can change pretty much every aspect of the photo. You can create a dark moody look or a bright colorful look. Literally let your creativity roam free.
Editing is what smart photographers do to get their own style, and most importantly - learn the ins and outs of a photo and editing software.
WATERMARK
Watermarking will mean that you can put your name or logo on the photo with really no extra effort. Make sure to use this as much as possible (in the beginning mostly).
In the beginning, watermarking will help people find you and associate your style to the watermark. It's a key feature to keep in mind for building a brand.
Later on, you may stray away from using a watermark to avoid it ruining some photos. Once that special style of yours shows through, most people will prefer to have the photos without any watermarks. You'll need to live with this. The way to get around this is to make sure they tag you and give you all due credit. Because we all know on social media people forget and that thousands of eyes view the uploads everyday. Make sure you find some way to get your due credit.
In closing...
Always keep these tips in mind. I learned a lot of these after lots of trial, error, and research. Jumpstart your creativity and business.
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