Digital Arts

Accurately measuring and responding to available light can have a substantial effect on the appearance of color and detail in photographic images. A photography professional must understand not only how to measure light using hand-held or built-in meters, but also how to adjust the camera's aperture and shutter speeds to expose images properly. Today's digital cameras provide many tools to assist the photographer with proper exposure before shooting the image and editing software can help correct problems after the shot has been taken. However, you can't depend on automatic camera settings or editing completely. To assure the desired affect is achieved in the resulting photo, it is important to fully comprehend basic color theory as well as how a camera translates light into the color detail of an image. Without knowledge of, it would be almost impossible to achieve a good photographic result. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain the characteristics of light and how to use these characteristics to take a photograph Explain how light sources and the time of day affects a photograph's color Explain the characteristics of light and how to use these characteristics to take a photograph Explain how light sources and the time of day affects a photograph's color

Everyone can agree that a successful photographer must be able to capture high-quality images. However, there is more to creating an exceptional photograph than snapping the picture itself. Editing plays a big role in crafting the final image and making it reflect the photographer's personal vision. Photo editing software, such as Photoshop, offers many tools to assist with adjusting the overall appearance of an image or correcting image errors such as over/under exposure, digital noise, etc. Editing is a powerful tool to create the image the photographer envisions, even if the original shot doesn't quite measure up. There are ethical issues surrounding editing images as well as image use. When is it acceptable to alter an image? Is it ever alright to use someone else's image for your own purposes? It is imperative that photographers be aware of these ethical issues to ensure that laws and industry best practices are followed. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain how to adjust an image's characteristics using Photoshop Explain the steps for editing a digital photograph Explain legal and ethical considerations related to photography

To craft a personal photography style, a photography professional must constantly evaluate and discuss their work, expose themselves to the work of their peers, and above all, practice photography! With time and study, a photographer can learn to use photographic techniques and editing tools to shape their artistic vision and communicate it to the audience through their photography. This resource provides instruction for users to: Discuss ways to discuss photographs in terms of its characteristics and design Explain the basic components of a picture Explain the decision making process for designing a picture

Every photographer must understand the basics of printing and display to ensure their work is seen in the best light. Printing the photograph is the first step. There are several types of printers, paper, and ink available, depending on the budget and needs of the photograph display. The options go from inexpensive inkjet to expensive professional prints made with photographic laser printers. Once printed, there are numerous options for mounting. Choices include everything from standard wood frames to new technology that uses clear laminations to adhere the print to an acrylic sheet. For example, for a gallery show, the photographer will likely want to put forth a professional looking finished image, therefore, frames, mats, and glazes will be needed. A less formal display in a home may not require all of these elements. The choice of frame and mat typically depend on cost, display intention, and preservation needs. Go on to explore even more options for printing and mounting. This resource provides instruction for users to: Describe equipment and supplies needed to make prints of digital files Discuss how to use output profiles and soft proofing in order to properly print an image Explain common methods for matting and framing photographs for presentation

Photography isn't just about taking a picture. There are many steps necessary to successfully craft and manage photographic images. An effective photography professional must develop a workflow that addresses how to capture, edit, store, and share their photographs with an audience. To do this, a solid understanding of how different hardware, software, and file types affect image processing is required. A photographer must be constantly aware of how their choices, throughout the workflow process, affect the final image outcome. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain components of an effective workspace for a photographer including the required equipment Explain how to determine a file format and resolution of a photograph for an intended use Explain steps for saving digital photographs

Think about the last thing you bought. What was it? Where did you buy it? Why did you purchase it where you did? What do you think of this vendor? The thoughts, emotions, and choices are influenced by the business's brand. The brand is a kind of promise to you as the customer. Let's look more closely at the various elements of a brand and the steps to developing an effective branding strategy. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain why effective branding is critical to the success of a photography business Detail the steps to effectively branding a photography business

The camera is a photographer's most important tool. There are multiple camera types available and it is helpful to understand how different cameras function. For example, the photographer must be able to manipulate vital camera settings that can dramatically affect the resulting image. It would be very difficult to capture impressive images without knowing how shutter speed affects the exposure, when to choose manual focus over autofocus, or how to adjust the aperture to increase or decrease the depth of field. A successful photographer is familiar with cameras and their settings. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain what each control of the camera does Describe common categories of cameras and the specific characteristics of each Explain the steps to getting the camera ready, focusing an image, and adjusting the camera settings

A photographer could easily amass thousands of digital photos. Without a system to organize and search those images, they would be useless! It is imperative that every photographer develops a method of organizing images and archiving both digital and physical prints. Luckily, there are many software and storage options available to photographers to help organize, store, and search their images. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain common strategies for organizing digital photograph files Explain common methods for storing photograph prints

Since the late 1800's, people have been following the motto, "Plan your work and then work your plan." Scuba divers in the 1970's revised it to say, "Plan your dive and then dive your plan." No doubt others have adjusted the motto to meet their unique needs. However you say it, the motto is good for entrepreneurs. Plan your business and then work your plan. A tool entrepreneurs use to make this daunting task easier is the business plan. By thinking through each component of the business plan, an entrepreneur necessarily thinks through many of the essential steps to establishing a successful business. Let's explore these steps in more detail. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain the purpose of creating a business plan before starting a photography business Define each component of a business plan for a photography business

You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you've been! That saying rings as true for photography as anything else. The first photograph was taken more than 200 years ago since then, photography has seen many changes and advances. To understand how photography as we know it today came to be, and what the photography of tomorrow might be like, we must be familiar with the people and milestones in the history of photography. This resource provides instruction for users to: Identify the important people and milestones in the history of photography

Successful photography requires a thorough grasp of the ways in which lens selection, image sharpness, and perspective work together to create the desired image. A photography professional must consider focal length, type, and speed when making a lens selection. Additionally, photographers must consider how lens attachments, such as extension tubes, ,filters and supplementary lighting, affect the resulting image, Knowing how to select the physical lens and attachments is important, but not if you don't know how to use them! A photography professional also needs to possess a solid understanding of how to adjust the camera settings, where to position themselves in relation to the subject, and how to use the tools printed on the lens itself to set up the camera ahead of time. Without this know-how, a photographer might miss the perfect shot while trying to adjust settings during a photo shoot. Ultimately, to craft a well-formed image, a photography professional must understand not only which lens to choose, but also how the lens functions to create depth of field and/or perspective effectively. This resource provides instruction for users to: Define focal length including how it impacts an image Explain how to control a photograph's sharpness Define perspective including how to create a desired perspective using the camera lens Discuss various lens attachments

Marketing refers to the strategies and activities used to promote and sell your products and services. This resource explores ways to establish an effective marketing plan that reflects your clients' needs and how you will meet these needs through your business. Let's look more closely at marketing and how you can use proven strategy to make your photography business more successful. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain why an effective marketing plan is essential for a successful photography business Define each component of a marketing plan for a photography business Identify several common marketing options for photography business

Social networking has evolved from friends connecting with friends to an essential business strategy for modern professionals who want to maximize the promotion and selling of their products and services, autonomizing their branding strategy, and communicating with their clients and potential clients. This resource discusses the numerous options and considerations for using social networking tools effectively and professionally. This resource provides instruction for users to: Explain why an effective social networking plan is essential for the success of a photography business Define the steps required to develop an effective social networking strategy for a photography business

Pricing is sometimes the last thing any business person wants to think about. You don't want to price your products and services too high. You could easily price yourself right out of business. You also don't want to price your products and services too low. This could be leaving money on the table as well as telling your customers that your products and services are of low quality. The right price is dependent on many factors. Let's look more closely at these factors and how they impact effective pricing decisions This resource provides instruction for users to: Identify the costs associated with a photography business Explain effective ways to price products and services in a photography business

We live in a litigious society. Unfortunately, this means that any business owner must take precautions to protect the business, the business assets, the owner, and the clients. This resource discusses ways to ensure this protection through legal contracts. This resource provides instruction for users to: Identify the various types of contracts commonly used in a photography business including common clauses and inclusions in each type of contract Discuss the importance of protecting your assets in a photography business

One of the most important things a photography professional can understand is the way light affects photographic images. Depending on whether the light is natural or artificial, the photographer must know how to adjust the camera settings, position the subject, and use exterior lighting sources, when necessary, to create the desired effect. Natural light is typically preferred, but a skilled photographer can use artificial light in a number of ways to change the overall look of an image. Selection of the artificial lighting method depends on the type of photo being taken. For example, an action shot requires different lighting than a portrait. Determining the appropriate camera settings such as exposure and shutter speed are integral to effectively using artificial light. This resource provides instruction for users to: Describe the qualities of natural light and how to duplicate these qualities with artificial light Explain the use of an electronic flash

There is more to being a successful professional photographer than simply taking pictures and hoping that others will pay money for them. As with any business, a sound business strategy that is well thought out, strategically designed, and skillfully implemented is the key to ongoing success. This resource encourages you to think about your big picture. What do you want to do and how do you want to do it? Let's dig deeper into the first steps of establishing a photography business. This resource provides instruction for users to: Identify pros and cons related to being a professional photographer Identify the types of facilities and office set-up commonly used by professional photographers Identify the types of expenses incurred by professional photographers Describe the current expectations of photography clients Address important considerations for the beginning professional photographer related to starting the business, maintaining a work-life balance, being ethical in the industry, and becoming successful Detail the pros and cons of the various business structures commonly established in photography businesses Identify the various niches in which a professional photographer could work