Flash Tips Used By Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer

Today I want to talk to you about using bounce flash in a
wedding reception. It’s very important your photographer knows how to do this
because in a wedding reception you want consistent shots. Get your flash, put
it on top of your camera and then rotate the flash gun to a 45 degree angle
which will ensure you get the best reflection off the ceiling. This method
relates to the theory that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of
reflection.

The next stage is to turn your flash’s settings to ‘ettl’, which
means through the lens. Your camera will automatically ‘talk’ to your flash and
let it know how much light to put out. Also, when you are shooting ceremonies,
you want the ambient line to come through. When you have set all the flash
settings, you need to ramp up your ISO to 1600/3200 or however high your camera
can go. Ensure that your shutter speed is slow;  between 1/100^th to 1/200^th
of a second should be fine.

When it comes to taking the shot make sure that the
subject’s face is covered by the reflective flash. Turn the flash gun to the
appropriate position so that when the light bounces off the ceiling, it
highlights the subjects’ features. Also ensure that if your flash has any
filters attached, they are removed prior to taking the shot as you want to
utilise the full light from the flash. Do not forget that it can be quite dark
especially within a church and you want to use the full flash.

One other tip to remember is that when you are taking a
vertical shot, ie the flash gun is to the side of the camera, ensure that the
flash is facing upwards and not down wards towards the floor.

To get professional looking shots, simple point and shoot
does not cut it. What you need is the ability to capture higher resolution
images and stunning photos in low light situations. Use the appropriate lens
for the shot, wide angle lenses for capturing an entire group or scene or a
zoom lens for getting in close to your subject without invading their space.
Play around with depth of field which allows you to defocus the background,
thus keeping your focus on the subject. If your camera has the function for
shooting continuously, use it often as this always ensures you get the perfect
shot. These tips were brought to you by Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer.

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer – Tips for capturing screen shots

Learn how to capture screen shots with Michelle Curran Photography instructor. In this article Michelle explains how to transfer your picture images into your editing suite with the following useful tips. Make this page one of your favourites so that you can return to it if you ever need a reminder of capturing screen shots. This applies to both Mac and PC users.

Capturing screen shots on a PC

Once you have uploaded your images to your PC you can take a screen shot in the following way without the need for a screen shot utility. You have the option of capturing the entire screen, or if you wish to just capture a shot of an individual window the ALT key will do this for you. We will be using the Print Screen facility to replicate the image that you have selected, and then save it to the clipboard. This will enable you to create a duplicate image which can be manipulated and enhanced using a facility such as Photoshop or Gimp. For the beginners amongst you, Gimp is a fantastic free tool which is extremely easy to use. Here are the instructions:

1. Load the photograph you wish to edit and then set up the window in which it is contained to the size that you wish to duplicate. You can enlarge the image even more by temporarily deleting the toolbars from the top of your screen.

2. When you are happy with the size of the image you wish to capture press CTRL +ALT together and then press PRNTSCR. Your image will now have been saved to your clipboard.

3. If you are using the GIMP facility, open up the programme and you will see an empty box entitled GNU Image Manipulation Program. You are now ready to transfer the contents of the clipboard into the programme.

4. Press CTRL + V and your screenshot will appear in the box. Now you can resize the image and crop it using the facilities under the image tab. You can enhance the brightness and hue using the Colour tab. Once you are satisfied with the changes you have made, press File>Save As, name your image and Select File Type. It is recommended you save the file as a JPEG. A pop up box will now appear allowing you to specify the percentage quality you wish to use. Move the slider to 100% and Save. Your image will now be contained in your picture folder or the name of a new folder if you selected one.

5. If you are using the Photoshop facility choose FILE>NEW. A new image box will appear with the size of the screen shot on the clipboard. Click OK and press CTRL + V to paste.

Some utilities are better than others at aiding you to save your screen shots to a palette, but the above method is perfect for a beginner. Screen shots are extremely useful for manipulating images for use in tutorials and other creative purposes.

Capturing Screenshots on a Mac

You do not need a screen shot utility if you are a Mac user as there is an installed Grab function on your machine. You are able to capture the whole screen, or use the click and drag function to restrict the shot to other parts of the monitor such as a programme window. The Grab function of the Mac will save the content as a desktop pile entitled Picture#.png. Here are the instructions:

1. Prepare your monitor so that your desired image is at the front of any other open windows

2. Press Command + Shift + 4 buttons on your keyboard. The capture mode facility will now be operating. Clicking on the screen will capture the whole screen whilst clicking and dragging an individual window will capture everything within the window.

3. A useful tip is that if you press the SHIFT key once it will highlight a screen under the cursor and by then clicking on it, it will capture the individual palette. Pressing the SHIFT key again will return the facility to normal mode, and pressing the ESC key will exit you from the facility without taking a shot.

You have now created a new image which you will need to resize in order that the final image is confined to the individual palette of your choice. A tip when using the Crop facility is to ensure that the boxes for height, width and resolution are blank. If they contain values make sure you clear the fields before continuing.

Some utilities are better than others at aiding you to save your screen shots to a palette, but the above method is perfect for a beginner. Screen shots are extremely useful for manipulating images for use in tutorials and other creative purposes.

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Tips For Beginners

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Michelle Curran

shares some of her most inspirational tips for the aspiring novice photographer in this post. Whether you are a novice, intermediate or the next best Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer, one thing is certain. You will not be taking your own photographs at your wedding. However, once you are let loose on that Caribbean honeymoon, you will definitely want to capture the occasion for posterity! Here are a few tips from Michelle, herself, to ensure that the photos you take really live up to the occasion.

1. Try to get nearer to your subject

Whenever you take a photograph, don’t just accept that it will be good. Take a few steps nearer to your subject and retake the shot. The image will appear bigger and will contain much finer detail. Obviously exercise caution if your subject happens to be a lion whilst on safari!

2. Don’t take too long over your shot

Children and animals do not have much of a patience threshold when waiting for their pictures to be taken! If these are the subject of your work then snap away as quickly as possible and take as many pictures as you can. At least one should turn out fine.

3. Construct your photograph carefully

One thing that is sure to ruin a photograph is if you have a hotch potch of details with no particular focal point. Try to keep your picture in balance by maintaining a level horizon and eliminating features that are not relevant. Try using perspective to direct all your lines to the focal point.

4. Be very choosy

Make your mind up about what is the real subject of your photo and then concentrate on focussing on the whole of the subject. If possible, try and cut out unwanted elements around the borders.

Are you a budding Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer?

5. Get your depth of field right

If you have aspirations of becoming a Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer you may have wondered how in some photos the subject is very clear but the background is blurred? Whereas in others it seems like everything as far as the horizon is in focus. This technique involves using a smaller ‘f’ stop for the blurred pictures ( great for a close up shot of an individual ) or a larger ‘f’ stop for the clear pictures ( generally panoramic pictures ).

6. Play around with your shutter speed

Different shutter speeds help us to capture images that would not normally be possible using standard speeds. For example in order to catch a shot of a formula 1 racing car coming past you at speed will require very fast speeds of 1/500. To capture the photograph at night of the car’s trailing lights would require much slower speeds and a tripod to avoid camera shake.

7. Make use of a light meter

It is important to practise and then practise some more when looking to take successful pictures in bright sunlight. Try to ensure that the sun is always behind you thus avoiding blacking out your subject. And also look for where the shadows are falling. Are they on your subject? If so, move around slightly.

8. Check the weather

Obviously a gloriously sunny day will enable you to shoot pictures which will include the sky. However, if your day is gloomy and overcast it is best to eliminate the sky from your picture as this will lead to dull colours in your subject. On an overcast day try experimenting with black and white shots.

9. Keep your shots simple

It is tempting these days to try and use all the many features that come with the modern day cameras. However there is a lot to be said for the simple ‘automatic’ controls. Move onto the more advanced features when you are more proficient and then take it one step at a time.

10. Be adventurous

Don’t settle for mundane everyday shots. Try and be adventurous in your approach to shot making. Go to places that no-one else goes, try different angles and above all be original. You will be amazed at the results.

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Michelle Curran is based at Michelle Curran Photography, Bangor.

Some Common Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Questions

1. For How Long Will You Be In Attendance?

The number of hours allocated to your wedding by a Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer will generally depend on the type of package that you book. A standard package will cover the period from shooting the bride getting ready through to the reception.

2.Do You Print All The Photographs That You Take?

Every one of our packages includes a proof album with all the photos taken on the day.

3. How Many Photographs Will Be Taken?

This will depend on a number of factors such as the number of attending guests, the weather and the amount of time we have at our disposal. Generally there will be around 300 photographs taken.

4. When Will The Album Be Ready?

We aim to have the photographs displayed on our website within 3 weeks of your wedding. You will be able to access your personal gallery and choose which prints are to be included in your proof album. This will then be ready within 1 week.

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer DVD’s

5. Will You Provide A DVD?

For an additional fee, we will provide you with an HD DVD which you can use to print your photographs for your own use.

6. Do You Use Film Or Digital Cameras?

These days the majority of our wedding shoots are taken using digital cameras. This way we can use a professional editing suite to make alterations to the final shot.

7. Do You Visit The Church Prior To The Wedding?

Having over 20 years experience of photographing wedding venues in Northern Ireland, we have probably covered your church of choice. However, if we are unfamiliar with the venue, a Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer will visit prior to the wedding to prepare the best locations for your shots.

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Qualifications

8. Are You A Member Of Any Professional Bodies?

We are affiliated to the Master Photographers Association (M.P.A.)

9. Will We Meet You To Discuss Our Requirements?

We always meet our clients prior to the wedding to ensure that we have taken your exact instructions. This way we can be certain of making sure your wedding day goes perfectly.

10. How Do We Pay You?

We will normally take a 20% deposit once you have booked us and we have reserved the day. The balance of any monies due is payable one month before the wedding takes place.

11. Are You Insured?

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer carries full public and professional liability insurance.

Choosing Your Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer

Well, you are getting married and you have just confirmed the big day. Now the fun begins, with a multitude of tasks to accomplish and arrangements to be made to ensure your day goes perfectly. In the scheme of things when you consider rings, dresses, catering , cakes etc. etc. it would appear that choosing a Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer would be one of the more simple things that needs to be done, but please do not take this decision too lightly. The difference between a good Northern Ireland wedding Photographer and a bad one could see your album lying in a cupboard attracting dust rather than providing cherished memories of your special day. Your photographer needs to fully understand exactly the style of photography you require; after all there is only one chance to get it right.

What Style of Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Do You Require?

In recent years there has been a dramatic improvement in the number of photographic styles that are available for your big day. New technology has ensured that traditional wedding photography is not the only option open to you when you are deciding on a style which you feel would suit you the best. The ‘old fashioned’ method of photographing family groups, cutting the cake and signing the register may seem like essential shots that you would want included in your album. However, nowadays, these shots can be produced with exciting creativity to reproduce the sort of photos you would see in a glossy wedding magazine. An example of this would be to have shots that are in focus in the foreground blending into an out of focus background – very artistic! Or perhaps your Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer has experience in producing excellent black and white or sepia coloured photographs which will complement the full colour shots. This style of photography is more commonly known as reportage photography as it reproduces the events of your wedding in a natural state rather than staged shots. If done well, this style of photography definitely expresses the real feelings that are being experienced at your wedding.

Check Out More Than One Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer.

By meeting a potential candidate for your wedding at their studio, you will have the opportunity to study some of their previous work. Look out for complete albums showing the photos taken when the bride is at home right through to the night time and ascertain whether or not the photography is consistent throughout the day. Look at the staged photographs to see if everybody is looking at ease, confirming that the Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer has rapport with his clients. Another thing to check if you are using a studio is whether or not the work you are seeing has been done by the photographer who will attend your wedding as some studios have many photographers on their books and be showing you the work of someone who may not be able to make it for your day. If at all possible, you need to meet the Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer in person prior to your wedding to ensure that the chemistry between you is right.

Ask What Your Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer Will Cover On The Day

It is dangerous to book a photographer who has planned to do more than one wedding in a day. All sorts of things can and do go wrong with delays, traffic etc. and you do not need the stress of being number 2 or 3 on his list, especially if he has not arrived when the wedding is due to start. Once you have established that you have booked him for the entire day, ask what sort of shots he will be taking and how he envisages making your portfolio one to be treasured.  Also check his credentials to see if he is a member of a professional body such as the Master Photographers Association. Ask if he carries reserve cameras in the event of his master camera breaking down.

What Costs Are Involved?

This is obviously going to depend on your overall budget. In general terms the more you can allocate to your Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer, the more professional the results are going to be. Average costs these days will run between £750 to £1200 for a typical album but if you require additional albums for family and friends you could be looking in excess of £1500. Finally do not forget that the more skilful and in demand your photographer is, the more time in advance you will need to book him. You should ideally book your Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer as soon as possible after booking the venue.