Photography Checklist
- Taking a few courses at the local college or art school can make all the difference in your finished product.
- Picking the right scene, or backdrop for the perfect picture is always a necessary thing but ensure at the same time that you and the subject will be safe.
- If an arranged shot is being taken of a family or person, ensure that the area is properly cleaned and safe.
- Make sure that you allow enough time for the pictures that are going to be taken, and then allow some extra.
- Double check all of your equipment, and ensure that it is all in good working order; it would not do to have any of it shorting out on you.
- Using digital cameras provide some of the sharpest pictures now; do make sure that you have several sets of rechargeable batteries handy, and that your camera is in good shape.
- While 35mm cameras are slowly on their way out, they do provide some excellent pictures, and give photographers the experience of working in a different medium.
- Always double check your tripods and see that the legs aren't stuck or anything that might cause a safety issue during the photography session.
- 35Mm film is still pretty common, and can be bought in small canisters; keep it in those small canisters and when developing it, handle it with care.
- Digital cameras use memory cards to hold the pictures, and allow the computer to do the editing later; handle them with care.
- Whether choosing to use a short or a long lens to get the desired effect in a picture, always inspect them to make sure there are no defects.
- Photographing a wedding, especially outdoors, can be problematic if the weather is bad, so keep an eye on the weather report.
- Photographers are human, too, and if they're sick they're not going to do as well; have a back-up photographer just in case.
- Unfortunately, equipment error does happen, so have more than one camera that can take the same picture you want.
- Build in some extra time for the curiosity of customers and would-be photographers, that you know you will not be able to avoid.
- Be able to show who you are to a customer, or just in case something happens to you.
- You'll need this in case something happens on your way to the customer, or you get hurt.
- It's important to at least stay hydrated, and taking water with you is a great way to do that.
- It definitely won't hurt to take some trail mix or some other snack with you, just in case there is no food available where you're going to work.
- It's a necessary thing to know exactly where you're going to safely arrive there.
- This is great for outdoor sessions, especially weddings
- Always take extras, especially of memory cards and rechargeable batteries, as a backup plan.
- Curiosity always gets the better of people, so be prepared, and take a First Aid kit to clean them up afterward.
- Glass on the ground does not make for safe walking, so clean it up immediately.
- Bent legs on tripods can throw cameras off on the ground, or stick the legs into a person.
- Batteries of any kind are dangerous when they crack open, so dispose of them immediately, in the proper way.
- Leaving cords of any type, especially power cords, lying about is a way for anyway to trip and hurt themselves.
- 19 views today
- 7 uses today
Photography has become more and more fun, with the advent of digital cameras that are easy for anyone to use now. Although digital photography is the main way to take pictures, there are still other options available, as well. Skill plays a large part in successful photography, in whether it's being done indoors, outdoors, or in the developing room. Photography is quite fun, as long as you think about what you are doing, and plan things out. The following checklist should help you make your photography hobby successful and memorable.
Tips
Safety in photography is also a factor - especially if you have your own darkroom. It's not too hard to prepare yourself and protect yourself, however. Through the use of safety bottles for chemicals and film, proper ladders and well-balanced tripods, any photographer can be safe.
As skills improve, so will your safety. Outdoor photography can prove challenging due to weather. If a photographer is trying to capture a wedding, wildlife or a spectacular building, bad storms can prove to be a danger. Standing out in a lightning storm on a metal scaffold with a tripod to capture a picture is too risky for both photographer, and equipment.
Choosing the correct location and the proper equipment are extremely important. In order for the shot to turn out well, there must be a great background for the subjects to stand against. Using a little off-the-shelf pocket camera that can't be adjusted properly won't allow your pictures to be the best possible.
Whether using a digital camera, or a 35mm type camera, processing the pictures takes a bit of time. Digital pictures can be done on the computer, but processing 35mm film requires concentration, and safety measures in the dark room. Techniques to change the background are possible, using different chemicals, but again, pay attention and be safe!
