Wedding Photography Winners Announced At Best Photo Contests!

We are thrilled to announce the winners from the first ever photography contest at BestPhotoContests.com!

We partnered with SnapKnot  to start Best Photo Contests because we see so many amazing photos every single day and we decided to celebrate the art of photography. Our first contest was for wedding photography and there were so many amazing photos submitted.

The $1,000 grand prize photo was taken by Light & Co. There were also 5 runners up who received a free 6-month SnapKnot membership!

Be sure to stay tuned… a new photo contest will be starting sometime in March 2018 and there are going to be more categories to choose from – it will not just be for wedding photography.

Here are the wedding photography winners of the contest below:

GRAND PRIZE

“Champagne” by Ethan Watts, Light & Co

RUNNERS UP

“Hands of Mehndi” by Fred Asaad, Asaad Images

“First Look” by Joanna Moss, Joanna Moss Photography

This week's photo of the week was taken by photographer Jenny Reynolds. She took this black and white photo of a sunflower by her in her garden in Norfolk, UK.

To see more from Jenny, visit her on Twitter. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

Photo Of The Week

Our photo of the week was taken by Julio A Cardona with igzotic Art and Photography. 

Here is what Julio had to say about his photo, "This image was captured near Chena Hot Springs Road in interior Alaska on New Year’s Day 2018. The colors and the sunset that day were incredible and the fog and clouds helped create a magical scene. I used the only camera I have at the moment, an iPhone 6, and shot at least 100 photos to get this one usable image."

If you want to see more work from Julio, visit www.artmajeur.com/igzotic or www.viewbug.com/member/igzotic. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

How To Take Better 'Getting Ready' Wedding Shots For Your Clients

When you are photographing a wedding day, you want to be sure to capture every part of that day so that the couple has a beautiful timeline of photography to look back and remember each moment. That includes moments from the time they start getting ready, to the first look, the wedding party photos, ceremony, reception and everything in between. 

One very important part of a wedding day is when the couple is getting ready. During that time, the bride and groom are each feeling a million different emotions from excitement to nervousness to extreme happiness. They may even feel sad if certain family members are not able to attend their wedding day. 

Photo credit: Matthew Evans Photography via SnapKnot

As their wedding photographer, the photos that you capture will help them remember all those different emotions they felt. It is also perfect for capturing photos of the wedding gown, wedding colors, jewelry and shoes that the bride is wearing. That is also a time that the bride and her bridesmaids are spending quality time together as well as the groom and his groomsmen. 

We wanted to share a few tips today that will help keep you on schedule and prepared so you can take the best getting ready shots that you can for your clients.  

1. Find Out What They Want

You will be meeting with the couple before the wedding day to find out what type of shots they are looking for, so also be sure to ask about the time before the wedding. Find what time they plan to start getting ready, as well as where they will be. Remember that many brides get ready in a hotel room - they do not always get ready at the ceremony venue. Knowing ahead of time what their expectations of the wedding photos are, will help you have a better idea of what you need to be capturing while they are getting ready. 

Photo credit: The Becker

2. Be Flexible

While you are taking photos before the wedding, it is best to be flexible and just keep an open mind. Even if you have a schedule of when things will happen, you never know when it will take a little longer for hair or makeup or really anything at all. If you know that you must be flexible, you will not get flustered when things change up from the timeline that was originally planned. 

Photo credit: OneLove Photography

3. Keep Number Of People At Minimum

When the bride or groom is getting ready, everyone in the family may want to stop in and say hello. There is no need to capture all of those people in the photos. The getting ready portion of the day focuses on the bride and groom as well as the bridal party. Keep the number of people in the photos minimized... the more people in each shot, the more the focus is drawn away from the bride and groom. 

Photo credit: Atlast Photo Studio via SnapKnot

4. Keep An Eye Out For Special Moments

Perhaps the bride and her sister are sharing a sweet moment together while she is helping her getting the wedding gown on. Maybe the groom and his buddies are all having a good laugh together to relax a bit. These moments are the special ones that need to be remembered. Be sure to keep an eye out for those special times.

Photo credit: Astray Photography via SnapKnot

5. Pay Attention To Detail

A wedding includes so much detail. This is the best time of the entire day to capture some of those little wedding details that help make the wedding complete. A few examples could be the beautiful lace train of the wedding gown, the love note the bride wrote to her soon-to-be husband, the earrings and necklace that the bride is wearing, or the 'something borrowed' that the bride's grandmother gave her to wear. Many of these items will be harder to capture once the wedding ceremony and reception has begun, so take time beforehand to capture the little details perfectly.

If you loved these tips, here are a few other wedding related posts you may enjoy:

• 7 Tips For Wedding Party Photos
• 4 Tips To Photographing An Amazing First Look Wedding Shoot
• 3 Tips To Pricing Your Wedding Photography Packages To Sell

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For many, weddings are the bread and butter of their photography business. They are an awesome way to make great money but you need to know how to find and book clients, market yourself, post-process photos and more.  If you shoot weddings or hope to break into the wedding industry, you need to get this great product from BP4U. The Ultimate Wedding Photography Guide will provide you with TONS of great information and ideas to being great at photographing weddings. You can get this guide for only $12.99 (a $129 value)! 

Get The Ultimate Wedding Photography Guide Here!

 

 

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Photo Of The Week

We are excited to showcase our photo of the week that was taken by Tessila McLean with Tessila McLean Photography. Here is what Tessila had to say about the photo:

"Not very often is there fog in this dry climate of Montana, but when there is, it's a real treat to see. I photographed this frosted tree in the middle of our cow pen on one of those days back in November. Fantasy has always been my favorite form of art, and to me, fog helps achieve that kind of photo."

To see more photos from Tessila, visit her website at tessilamcleanphotography.blackcoffeeranch.com or you can visit her on Facebook and Instagram. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

7 Tips For Wedding Party Photos

If you photograph weddings, you will be focusing a lot on the bride and groom but you also have to be a master at shooting wedding party group photos. Today, we wanted to share this 9-minute video from Shutterbug Magazine where veteran photographer Denis Reggie will give you 7 tips for taking group photos at weddings. 

Photo credit: Capio Lux via SnapKnot

Watch the video below to find out tips to make sure you are taking the best wedding party group shots that you can! Those photos are ones that the bride and groom will remember forever, so you want to make sure each one captures the personalities, love and wedding day perfectly. We hope you enjoy this video. 

Here’s an overview of what Reggie teaches in the video. Be sure to watch so you can see actual examples of what he discusses. 

1. Arrange the Wedding Party Properly - It’s important to think about where you are positioning different people in the wedding party for a group shot. 

2. Use an Off-Camera Umbrella Light - Reggie uses an off-camera umbrella light to light his group shots. 

3. Change the Color Temperature - Using color gels to adjust the temperature of the flash can make for a much more well-balanced shot. 

4. Use the Right Gear - Choosing the right pieces of gear is essential. For example, using the right master controllers for your flashes so that you can be flexible is essential. 

5. Use a Tripod - Reggie mentions that the more megapixels there are, the more “sensitive” the camera is to motion, so using a tripod is very important.

6. Pick Your Settings - Following on from using a tripod, it may be possible to achieve a slower shutter speed to deal with indoor lighting. 

7. Shoot in Raw Format - Using raw allows you to fine-tune your white balance later, thanks to the non-destructive element of this key camera format. Shooting in JPEG limits your options, but raw gives you a massive amount of flexibility in post.

We originally saw this video on PetaPixel. 

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If you take photos of couples for weddings, engagement photos and more then you need to get this great product from BP4U. The Posing Guide for Couple Portraits will provide you with TONS of great pose ideas as well as tips on gear, finding clients, scouting, and even prepping for your sessions. You can get this guide for only $9.99 (a $129 value)! 

GET THE POSING GUIDE FOR COUPLE PORTRAITS NOW!

 

 

 

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Photo Of The Week

This week's photo of the week was taken and submitted by Mark Burdette.

You can see more of Mark's work on his website photomarque.com or on Facebook. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

3 Great Wide Angle Lenses For Landscape Photography

There is something so wonderful about landscape photography - you can capture the beauty and uniqueness of our world through a single lens. While you are out photographing your next adventure, you want to make sure you are capturing the best photos possible, and one way to do so is to have a lens that will allow you to isolate distant objects, and create compelling perspective effects. So today, we want to share with you 3 wide angle lenses that we think are awesome for landscape photography! 

Sony FE 24-70mm f2.8 GM

This Sony lens is a choice for professional portrait, travel and event photographers seeking the highest possible optical performance. The XA element reduces aberration and delivers the ultimate resolution throughout the entire zoom range and aperture range, as well as from corner to corner of all image files.

See more about the Sony FE 24-70mm or get your own at Amazon here. 

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Canon EF 24-105mm f4l IS II USM

For incredible versatility, this lens has been redesigned to deliver superb L-series optical performance that pairs smoothly with the high-resolution, full-frame sensors of SLR cameras. Featuring a zoom range of 24-105mm and a constant f/4 aperture, it is ideal for landscapes, portraits, sports and more, offering effective all-day performance. It has improved peripheral brightness as well as a 10-blade circular aperture that helps deliver sharp, evenly illuminated images with gorgeous background blur.

See more about the Canon EF 24-105mm or get your own on Amazon here. 

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Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm

This lens improves pretty much every aspect of its predecessor. The truly versatile wide-angle to short telephoto lens is characterized by its constant f/2.8 maximum aperture and electromagnetic aperture mechanism, the revised optical design incorporates a unique aspherical extra-low dispersion element, in addition to three aspherical, two extra-low dispersion, and one high refractive index elements, to help reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions throughout the zoom range.

See more about this Nikon lens or get your own here on Amazon. 

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You have to be sure that you find the lens that works best for the type of photography you do. Whether you are out shooting at night, during the middle of the day with tons of light or if the elements change depending on the day and specific location you are shooting, having the right lens will help! 

Do you have a lens that you do not leave home without? Tell us which one you love in the comments below! 

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Do you take many of your photos outdoors? Are you tired of wasting your day editing photos all day long? Then The Ultimate Season Action Bundle is for you! No matter what type of season, weather or lighting condition, these actions are perfect! You can get this entire bundle for only $4.99 (a $199.99 value)! 

GET THE ULTIMATE SEASON ACTION BUNDLE NOW! 

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Photo Of The Week

Our photo of the week was taken by Mohamed Dia Merazka, a photographer from Algeria. He calls this photo “Buildings On The Edge Of Abyss."

Here is what Mohamed said about the location, "I took this photo in Constantine City, the 3rd biggest city In Algeria which is famous for its bridges. Its architecture is built over a big old stone!" 

You can see more of Mohamed's work on Instagram. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

Tips To Taking Outdoor Portraits In The Winter

If you photograph portraits, whether it be for couples, families, children or even seniors, you may find that your Client wants to get outdoor photos in the cold, winter months. Even when the temperatures are cold or there is snow on the ground, you want to make sure you are prepared for everything that could come your way during the shoot. Today, we wanted to share with you a few tips to taking outdoor portraits in the winter so you are as prepared as can be and can focus on taking the best photos you can! 

Tip #1 - Keep Your Batteries Warm

Your camera batteries can lose their power quicker when exposed to low temperatures. In cold temperatures, the number of shots you take with one charge can drop considerably... as much as 50-70% less than you are used to. It would be awful to run out of batteries while you are out shooting in the cold weather. Be sure to keep your spare batteries warm. If you keep the extra batteries you brought with you in your inner pocket of your coat, and close to your body heat, that will be helpful in keeping them warmer.

Photo credit: PureLily.com 

Tip #2 - Wear Photo Friendly Gloves

If it is very cold where you are shooting, you will most likely want to wear gloves so you stay comfortable and do not feel like you need to rush your session. You should consider using photo friendly gloves so you will be able to use the buttons and fully control your camera settings without having to remove your gloves each time. You can find these at any camera store... and you want to be sure to try them out before you buy to make sure they fit right and they work nicely with your camera. 

Tip #3 - Be Prepared With Extra Warm Blankets

Your Clients may not think about bringing extra warm stuff along for the shoot so having an extra blanket or two in your car may be very helpful! It may even be fun to use the blankets as a prop in some of their snowy winter photos! A couple could wrap up together in the blanket or a family could lay the blanket out in the snow and sit on it. The possibilities are endless.  

Photo credit: Brianna Record Photography

Tip #4 - Increase Exposure Compensation

When you are out shooting when it is sunny and bright outside, which happens during the winter when there is snow on the ground, adjust your exposure compensation by +0.3 or +0.7. Your camera will not know that you are shooting snow, so you have to tell the camera that you are shooting something bright and adjust your exposure accordingly. If you do not adjust, you will find that your snow will end up looking gray in the photos instead of the beautiful white that you are hoping to capture.

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Are you tired of wasting tons of time editing photos? Now you can edit quicker with The Ultimate Season Action Bundle from BP4U! Get yours today for only $9.99 (a $199.99 value)!

BUY THE ULTIMATE SEASON ACTION BUNDLE NOW!

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