george

George is a professional photographer who sells his photos online. He focuses on both studio and outdoor photography, and also runs a photography blog you should definitely check out at backlightstories.com

How to Charge for Your Work: Making the Leap from “Favor” to “Job”

So you’ve got a passion for photography, a slew of great photos that show you’ve really got talent and the desire to transition your photography skills from something that has been strictly a hobby into something that will allow you to earn money. What happens next? If you’re like most folks, you may start by offering to take photos of your friends and family to build up your portfolio and your confidence—which is a smart move.

But you can’t stay in “building your portfolio” mode forever; if you do want to do this as a professional and earn money at it, you’re going to have to start charging at some point. There’s no doubt it can feel scary and intimidating the first time that you tell friends or family that you will be charging them for your photography work. But by following a few tips, transitioning from hobbyist to professional-in-progress should be a bit easier:

Continue reading How to Charge for Your Work: Making the Leap from “Favor” to “Job”

How to Process Landscape Photos in Lightroom

Lightroom is a powerful editor with a huge set of tools, though we usually need a limited set for specific photo types.

So I’d like to go through editing of a landscape photo to see what cool things Lightroom  offers us.

Let’s see what we can do on the example of one of my photos I took in the Carpathian Mountains this October.

Continue reading How to Process Landscape Photos in Lightroom

5 Pillars of Post-Processing: Explaining The Basic Tools

Year 2013 is already at the door, and I still meet people who critique photos as “photoshopped” or “post-processed”, putting the very negative sense in this word. Like, “it’s not art, it’s not real, it’s not your merit”.

I don’t know if you have ever thought about it, but every single photo is post-processed. By you in Photoshop, or by point-and-shoot camera’s built-in processor, or by a film enthusiast who decides which chemicals in which amount should be used for film processing.

Continue reading 5 Pillars of Post-Processing: Explaining The Basic Tools

What is HDR and Aperture and Stuff? 30 Photo Terms You Must Know Letter-Perfect

Falling in love with photography is easy. Being scared away by the highbrow photo terms is even easier. Crop-factor, aperture, depth of field… What the heck?!

Come on, it is not that complicated, you just need a minute to settle it all down, step by step.

Here’s a rundown in plain English of the most common terms you’ll hear or read about. Don’t see a term defined? Just ask.

Continue reading What is HDR and Aperture and Stuff? 30 Photo Terms You Must Know Letter-Perfect

How to Sell Photos Online and Buy a Lambo in 5 Years

I personally know ten people making more than $10 000 per month who sell photos online. Just a fact from real life. Do you want to know how?

I’m sure you have heard about microstock agencies – and about people who are actually making a living selling their photos or illustrations online.

how-to-sell-photos-online-preview

“Can I do the same?” you probably wonder. And that answer is: yes, sure. You can and you must! Photography is not a cheap hobby, so why not at least compensate the expenses?

Continue reading How to Sell Photos Online and Buy a Lambo in 5 Years

30 Types of Photographers Exposed – Which One Are You?

All photographers are equal, but some photographers are more equal than others.

Jorge Aurwell

Do you often meet a doctor who will cure your teeth, examine your heart, make you fingernails look fine and then help you with your childhood psychological trauma?

types-of-photographers-preview-2

Possible, but so not typical!

Again, if you get to know that a person is a photographer, do you expect him to be good at everything? Landscapes, fashion, pets and microphotography of cute bacteria in knitted hats?

Continue reading 30 Types of Photographers Exposed – Which One Are You?

4 Devices to Make Post-Processing Even More Enjoyable

All photographers dream of new lenses and camera bodies, professional studio lighting, carbon tripods, and so on and so forth. But what is strange, too many of them oversee some not too expensive stuff which will infinitely enhance their workflow – making it more comfortable, safe and productive.

4-Devices-to-Make-Post-Processing-Even-More-Enjoyable-preview

Here are a couple of things I personally can’t live without:

Continue reading 4 Devices to Make Post-Processing Even More Enjoyable

The Importance of Communication in Wedding Photography

For a couple embarking upon their numerous wedding plans, excitement and curiosity filled with budget considerations will drive question upon question for their potential photographer.

Photographers who know the wedding circuit already, will notice that the same questions will be repeated by most clients.

Continue reading The Importance of Communication in Wedding Photography

How Sky Replacement Can Enhance Your Real Estate Photo

The Perfect real estate photograph is made up of three perfect sections which include; the real estate piece/unit in question, the surroundings or background and lastly the sky which hangs above them all.

how-sky-replacemenet-can-enhance-real-eastate-photo-preview

The beauty of each these parts have their roles in real estate photography and we shall be focusing on the sky section and how editing skies in real estate photos can enhance the overall image.

Continue reading How Sky Replacement Can Enhance Your Real Estate Photo