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You don’t always have the luxury of posing your subjects. If you are photographing animals, a sports game, concert or other live event, you have to go with the flow. Part of being a professional photographer is being able to capture the moments as they come. This involves a careful mix of skill, patience and a little bit of luck. Being in the right place at the right time helps too!

Here are a few tips for helping you shoot the perfect frame:

Follow the subject
If you’re in a crowded marketplace and a particular shopper catches your eye (from the clothes they are wearing, to the goods they are carrying and so forth), track their movements with your camera. They may not be in the best lighting right now, or they are partially obscured by the crowd, but that doesn’t mean they won’t pop out into the foreground. If you keep your camera trained on them you have a better chance of getting the shot you want.

Fade into the background
People tend to pose when they know a camera is being pointed to them. If your subject is unaware of when you start snapping away, they might behave a little more naturally. This lets you capture a much more real moment.

Wait for it
A part of photography is being patient. If you are photographing wildlife, you can’t exactly barge into the scene and start telling the animals what to do. You have to wait for them. Patience pays off in the long run.

Arrive early, stay late
If you are going to be shooting an event, try to be one of the first ones in and the last one out. There is just as much magic in the set-up and tear-down as there is during the actual event. Getting a behind-the-scenes look makes for interesting and intriguing photographs.

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It has to be said, traditional portraits can get incredibly boring day in and day out. As a professional photographer, you want to keep your creative juices flowing, no matter what the shoot is. Portrait photography can be so much more than a yearbook photo! When handled well, a great portrait can capture the essence and personality of your subject.

Here are a few ways you can take your portrait photography to the next level:

Change your point of view
Who says portraits have to be taken straight on? Don’t be afraid to get above, below, behind or alongside your subject. This simple change can dramatically alter the feel of the photograph.

Shoot candidly
There is no denying that when people know a camera is being pointed at them, most tend to freeze or start posing. A posed portrait looks fake and forced. Shooting candidly (especially with children) allows your subject to behave normally and gives you and your audience a look into who they are.

Shoot in “burst mode”
An offshoot of shooting candidly, shooting in “burst” or “continuous shooting” mode allows you to capture a series images in rapid succession. This is great if your subject is moving, because you never know which moment is going to be the perfect one. Facial expressions and body positioning change every second, this setting allows you to capture them all.

Change the frame
A lot of photographers like to shoot in either landscape or portrait mode depending on the subject. If yo look back through your old work, you’ll probably notice a pattern. The next time you’re shooting a portrait, change it up! Switch to the framing position you don’t typically use and see what kind of images you can create.

Take unfocused shots
Just because the person is the focus, that doesn’t mean they have to be in focus! Create drama and intrigue by blurring your subject or the background.

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Being a professional photographer grants you access to some of the most intimate and emotional moments of a person’s life. However, most people don’t like exposing themselves (emotionally or physically) to a complete stranger. If you are truly going to capture the essence of your clients in a photograph, you have to get them to trust you and open up. That is why it’s important to develop a personal relationship with your clients on some level.

When someone knows a camera is being pointed at them, they start posing. They worry about getting their hair right, hiding the parts of their body they aren’t comfortable with, settling on a forced smile. But staged and posed photographs are very rarely interesting. It is your job as the photographer to get your clients to act like you aren’t standing in front of them with a camera.

Now chances are you don’t have the time to develop a lifelong friendship with your clients. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get some kind of rapport going so they relax and start to trust you. One way to do that is to keep them engaged while you are shooting. Talk to them; tell them what you’re doing. Let them know what you want them to do and compliment them throughout the process. The more comfortable they feel with the process, the more relaxed and natural their photos will be.

If someone has hired to you as a professional photographer, it is your responsibility to make sure you produce the best possible final images. Clients want to look their best and they’ve come to you to make sure that happens. The only way they will look their best is if they look like themselves! You have to get them to open up and show who they really are so you can capture it on film.

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Sometimes the best opportunities for taking a truly exceptional photograph come when you’re least expecting it. Don’t let these moments pass you by! Part of being a professional photographer is catching the fleeting moments that most don’t notice. While it’s a little tricky to balance distraction and working for a client, it’s ok to get distracted every once in a while and chase down a great photograph. Sometimes those distractions provide great images your client will love.

For instance, when you’re shooting an outdoor wedding, there is a lot to pay attention to. Not only the traditional bridal party shots, you also have to capture the set up, ceremony and reception. A large wedding could mean hundreds of guests which means thousands of moments you could be shooting. It’s not possible to catch them all (unless you shoot with a whole team of wedding photographers), so you’ll just have to do your best to document the moments you stumble upon. Don’t worry about catching every little detail and just go with it!

Kids a great subject if you’re looking to get distracted. They haven’t quite learned what it means to pose for a photograph just yet, so you’ll get their real personalities to shine through. At a wedding, when everyone’s attention is on the bride and groom, what is capturing the kids’ attention? You might get lead down a new and exciting road of photographs that your client could have never imagined seeing.

One way to get distracted (and still please the client!) is to find ways to incorporate them into the moment. If the sunset is making dramatic shadows against the church wall, can you find a way to position the bride and groom so their shadows are also being cast against the church? Sometimes letting yourself get a little distracted means stumbling upon a great idea to use for your client!

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Spring is in full bloom (pun intended) which means it’s a great time to get out of your studio and start shooting outdoors. After being cramped indoors all winter long, it’s great to get outside for some fresh air and fresh inspiration. While studio lighting is easier to control, it’s still no substitute for the beautiful, soft light on a sunny spring day.

One of the most noticeable changes is the sudden appearance of color. After a winter of white snow and early evenings, life can start to feel like a black and white photograph. With spring comes blooming flowers and blossoming trees in beautiful shades of purples, yellows and greens. Get outside and get inspired by color again!

It doesn’t even have to be that warm to convince people to go outside. They are so grateful a little sun and temperature rise, everyone seems to spend as much time as they can outdoors. This makes for some great chances to capture people and events. It might not be warm enough to go swimming, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t acting like summer is here! A lot of sporting events pick up in the spring, which can provide some really great action photography practice.

Shooting outdoors also provides you and your clients with a never ending backdrop. In your studio, you’re limited to whatever backdrops and props you carry. Outdoors the possibilities are seemingly endless. Bring some fun into your portrait shoots by taking your model outdoors. You’re free to change things up as you’re inspired by them. Move from parks and gardens to patios and balconies, to outdoor art installations and local landmarks. Go wherever the spring breeze takes you!

The warmer weather also means longer days, which means more time to shoot in natural light. Dawn and dusk are the best times for shooting outdoors, simply because that’s when the most dynamic lighting occurs. Take advantage of spring and it being warm enough to stick around during these times!

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Taking a large group photo requires a unique balance of patience, organization, leadership and a good sense of humor. The larger the group, the more difficult it is to capture and hold everyone’s attention. And while having the first row sit, the second row kneel and the third row stand is great for sports team, it doesn’t go over so well with a bridal party. But at least the bridal party expects to be taking a lot of group photos. What do you do when you’re trying to organize a group photo and the subjects are less than willing to sit tight and smile?

Here are a few ways to keep your group under control long enough to get the shot:

Remember that you’re in charge
Everyone is looking to you for direction. Don’t be afraid to tell people to move around (you can always physically guide them if need be) in order to compose your shot. Build the best shot you can! Create a center point that everyone can work around. They’ll trust your judgment.

Enlist Aid
Grab a couple of your subjects and turn them into frame “body guards.” If you’re trying to corral everyone within a specific space, place your helpers on the ends and tell them not to let anyone past.

Subdivide the larger group
Straight rows can look boring and stuffy. Mix it up with creating little pockets of three or four people that connect to each other. Have some people angle away from the group, but turn their face to the camera.

Tell them what’s going on
Don’t let the group be surprised when you start shooting. Capture everyone’s attention and let them know. Give them a countdown so they know when not to blink. Remind them to look at the camera and keep smiling until you say stop! If you want to give everyone a break, don’t let them leave! Tell them to relax but stay where they are.

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One of the most valuable tools a photographer has is other photographers, someone else who understands both the business side and creative side of photography, who knows the technical aspects, the language and the unique challenges photographers face. Turning to another photographer, or group of photographers, for critique of your work is one of the best ways to grow as a professional photographer.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when asking for or giving a photography critique.

It’s called constructive criticism
Chances are someone will ask for your opinion regarding their photograph and you flat out won’t like it. Regardless of why—the composition, the subject matter, the editing, etc—you can’t just tear it apart without giving advice on how to build it back up. What could they have done better and what should they do next time? Was the image out of focus? Underexposed? Pinpoint exactly where they went wrong and suggest how to fix it.

Don’t take it personally
If someone doesn’t like your photographs, don’t get offended. You may think it’s the best work you’ve ever done, but not everyone is going to agree. Once you get defensive, you won’t listen to the good advice you may be getting.

Be honest
If you like something let the photographer know. If you don’t let them know anyway. The whole point of a photography critique is to get a second opinion. Don’t worrying about bruising egos or offending someone. As long as you have a reason for your opinion, then you have a right to express it.

Be prepared to answer questions
If it’s your work being critiqued, be ready to answer questions about the photos. Why did you compose it this way? What kind of lighting did you use? You should be able to answer both technical and artistic questions to give the viewers a better understanding of what you were trying to accomplish.

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Gone are the days of just leaving a business card or sending out postcard announcing your studio and services to the community. Marketing/advertising campaigns and techniques have come a long way from posting a few column-long ads in the local paper.

Here are few things you should be doing to more effectively promote your services as a photographer:

1. Own your website domain
A photographer’s website acts as their online portfolio, marketing tool, calling card and invitation to prospective clients to connect. A professional photographer should invest in a professional website and register their personal domain name (www.johnsmithphotograhy.com) and not use a free domain service that incorporate their company name into your domain (www.johnsmithphotography.com/freewebsitemaker).

2. Create social networking profiles
Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Flickr (a photo storage and sharing site) are a great way to connect with current clients, friends, other photographers and potential clients. It’s one more place to get your name out and drive visitors to you main website. Since Facebook and Flickr allow you to upload photos, they are also great for creating mini-portfolios or sharing the film from your latest shoot.

3. Develop relationships with local businesses
A real-estate agent needs photos of the homes they are trying to sell; a restaurant needs shots for a new menu; small, local papers are always on the lookout for great news photos. Develop your working relationship with local businesses that may have need for a photographer. It will expand your client base and they can help promote you and your work with references and referrals.

There are dozens of different advertising and marketing techniques you can use to promote your services as a photographer.
Traditional advertising like print ads and direct mail are still viable marketing methods and can help pull in a lot of business. They key to marketing is to develop a diversified plan designed to reach potential customers in as many ways as possible. The more they hear your name and see examples of your work, the more likely they are to hire you when the time comes.

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Building your brand is an important aspect for every business. It doesn’t matter if you sell clothes, sports equipment or your photography services; your brand is what most people remember you by. Your brand is what your photography business/studio stands for and acts as an assurance of what client’s can expect to get when they hire you.

Part of building your brand is having a compelling logo that people can easily recognize. Think the Nike swoosh; even if Nike isn’t written next to the symbol, people know what company it belongs too. Don’t expect to have the kind of national brand recognition as a brand like Starbucks or McDonalds, but there is no reason you can’t become a well-recognized photographer in your own community.

Your photography website is also essential in building your brand. The Internet is how most people are going to find you, view your work and reach out to connect with you. Every photographer should have a well-designed website that showcases their talent and skill level, as well as demonstrates their experience as a photographer. Being able to view your work from their own computer helps inspire confidence in potential clients and encourages them to call/email you for a face-to-face meeting.

Developing a brand is also about establishing connections. It’s entirely fair to ask former customers to recommend you to friends, or use them as references and include their reviews of your work on your site. It helps to have these relationships in place, because would-be clients are more likely to hire you if you can prove that you’ve done successful work for previous clients.

The key to building your brand as a photographer is to pick something and go after it. You can’t be everything to everyone. So decide what the main focus of your business is. Are you a wedding photographer? Do you want to be hired by all the local schools for yearbook portraits? Or are you looking to get your work in galleries? Once you determine what you want to known for, you can build your brand around it.

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If you’re going outside of your studio, whether for a client’s destination wedding, an ad campaign shoot or just on your own personal vacation, it pays to be prepared. If you want to be fully ready to seize any and all opportunities, it’s worth doing a little research about the location to find out what you are getting yourself into. Researching your destination doesn’t take away from the “in-the-moment” mentality of the photo shoot; it might just give you a few ideas of what to keep your eyes peeled for.

Check out some guidebooks
While they may not include the pinnacles of artistic photography, guidebooks can give you an idea of what your destination is known for. Is there a historical landmark you can’t afford to miss? A hole-in-the-wall garden that grows award winning roses? Guidebooks are extremely thorough and packed with information that you can use when planning your shoot. For instance, if you’re travelling for a client’s wedding, they may help you select a few unique places to take the bridal party photos. This makes you look more prepared and professional the day of the event. Plus it is one less surprise for you.

Take a look at other photos
If you are going to a well-known destination, perusing popular online photo sharing sites like Flickr will let you know what the favored subjects are, and how they are usually photographed. If everyone has the same frame of the same gravestone at the same cemetery, maybe you should skip that one. Or at least know that you have to take a creative approach with your angle/lighting/framing to make the photo really stand out.

Read the local news
This can help give you a sense of the place you are going. What is important to the areas’ residents? Who or what are the big attractions when you’ll be visiting? You don’t have to subscribe to the local newspaper, but try searching online for recent news stories about the area. You never know what interesting tidbit you come across that could help create a more dynamic shoot.

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