Previously posted on mashable.com

1. Manage Light

Camera phones often struggle with extremes of light. Although these shortcomings can sometimes be used to create special effects, for the average snap you want to manage the available light as well as possible. If you can, position your subject so that the light hits differently to see which angle gives the best result. Alternatively, use the manual settings on your camera phone to try pics with and without flash. For example using flash as a fill-in effect on a sunny day can create a sharp photo with little shadow. Turning off a harsh flash and shooting with available light can also be effective for portraits.

2. Ace the Capture

It’s essential you get to know your camera phone’s characteristics in order to take the best photos possible. One feature that’s worth spending some time testing is the camera’s capture — does your phone snap a pic at the press of a button or when you release the button? How much lag is there from when you hit the button and the photo being captured? Once you get familiar with these characteristics, then you’re more likely to take the exact photo you want — rather than what happened two seconds later.

3. Reduce Camera Shake

One of the biggest challenges for smartphone photographers is camera shake. Although occasionally this can help make a stunning image, more often than not it’s an unwanted result. Try and keep your phone as stable as possible. You can improvise “tripods” from objects around you (tables, fences, mailboxes, etc.). If there’s nothing you can use to help stabilize your shot, you can crouch down and use your knee,
or hold your phone in two hands and tuck your arms into your body.

4. Fill the Frame

Don’t ever use the digital zoom on your cameraphone. All this does is zoom in on the existing pixels, which snaps a less sharp image. If your camera boasts optical zoom then fine, but if not, get close to your subject and fill the frame. If you have to crop a photo down afterwards, then you’ll lose size and quality.

5. Consider Composition

Familiarize yourself with the principles of good composition, even if it’s only to break those rules to create interesting images. The rule of thirds, center of interest and dynamic symmetry are all worth exploring. Understanding of good composition will help improve any image, whether it’s a giant oil painting or a smartphone snap.

6. Use Motion

You have your camera phone on you when you’re on the go, so why not make the most of motion to create some amazing photos? Panning — moving the camera at a similar speed as the subject — can create great motion blur. Alternatively if you’re standing still, a phone’s (typically) slow capture can make for great action shots of moving objects around you.

7. Go Monotone

In certain situations, such as ones with richly textured subjects, an image can look more striking in black and white. If your camera has a monotone mode, then you can experiment. Otherwise try stripping the color and upping the contrast levels of suitable images in
your desktop photo-editing software afterwards.

8. Try Different Angles

Add interest to your photos by shooting from unusual angles. Get low, shoot from above, the side, backwards, inside-out — you get the picture. The great thing about digital photography is that you’ll never run out of film. Take ten shots from different angles and be prepared to delete nine of them. The best images are born from creative experimentation. Now, go create!

Contact Rembrandt Photography for all your yearbook, holiday, family portrait, professional portraits and graduation supplies at (520)-797-9200
and www.RembPhotoTucson.WordPress.com

 Photography Flash is Super Important, even at Noon!

It’s the middle of the day, the sun is nice and bright, so why do you need flash?

1) Use the Sun as your second light source
The myth that the photographer needs to put the sun over their shoulder is a lie. Let me repeat that. IT IS A LIE. The reason for the myth is that your subject will be well lit and there will be no lens flare. So why is this a bad thing? Yes, there is some light, but chances are it isn’t good light. It will leave harsh unflattering shadows on your subject. And if it does indeed light your subject’s face, then that means they have the sun in their face and are all squinty, and who wants a picture of that?

By putting the sun behind your subject, it acts as a second light source. It gives your subject gets a nice halo effect through their hair, and your flash fills in their face so it isn’t blocked in shadow. And best of all, no squinty picture.

2) Overpower the Sun
How many times have you wanted to shoot outside on a nice and sunny day? I’m guessing… all the time? The nice, sunny, beach or park kind of day is actually a terrible time to take pictures. Why is that? The sun is hard light, which leaves harsh shadows. In the middle of the day it is right overhead and leaves bad shadows under your eyebrows, under your eyes (giving you the raccoon look), and under your chin, which makes your neck disappear

The flash is used to fill in all of those nasty shadows, and gives your picture a softer look, and gives your subject more flattering features. By using the flash, you get rid of the bad shadows the sun gives you by creating your own. This picture was created using an external flash to the right of the camera (same direction as the sun). No camera settings were changed besides turning on the flash. The main shadow he casts is generally left unchanged. His body is more evenly lit, and even though the light direction remains the same, it is much softer and gives much more detail. Now who can say the second picture’s quality isn’t better? And nothing changed (besides the smile, of course).

You can use this principle for a bunch of different things. A few more examples: using it to get rid of bad shadows from under a tree that leaves dappled light from all of the leaves when the sun is shining through, and shooting indoors where there is plenty of light, but it comes from harsh, unflattering overhead lights, like the types used in interrogation rooms. Basically, now you can use this technique anytime you don’t like the light and shadows you see, so you can get rid of the shadows. (Or create your own!)

3) Look EPIC.

Before and After Proper Flash

There is no time difference in between these two pictures. The first picture used natural light, and the exposure was set for the two ladies in the foreground. So why is the second picture so much better? Because I used a flash to light the foreground, that meant the camera could set its exposure much lower (make the picture darker). What your eye can see and what your camera can see are very different, and the camera could not see the clouds behind them, but I could. Without a flash, you would still see the clouds, but the subject would appear black. The flash gave their faces nice contrast, as well as brought out the detail in the rocks they were sitting on.

Contact Rembrandt Photography in Tucsonfor Wedding, Family, Event, Sports and Yearbook Photography and Graduation Supplies. 20 years in Tucson, call us at              (520)-797-9200!

Contact us for Facebook SPECIALS at 520-797-9200!

 Grab Student Discounts on These Awesome Products This Semester 

As the back-to-school season comes to a close, we’ve got a few last-minute deals that can make your student life just a bit easier.

Photo by Shutterstock/Brian Weed.

You probably know about some of the more obvious student discounts—like grabbing Windows and other Microsoft software for cheap (as well as a free Xbox 360 when you buy a new PC)—but some of our favorite, less publicized services are actually rocking some pretty nice discounts this year:

• Our favorite password manager, LastPass, is giving away 6 months of LastPass Premium to students for the next couple of weeks. LastPass premium includes mobile access, priority support, and no ads. Head over to their student deals page, enter a valid university email address (both .EDU and international), and enjoy.
• Online and collaborative to-do service Producteev is giving away their premium service—complete with 500MB of file storage, priority email support, SSL security, and workspace customization, away to any student with a valid .EDU address. Enter your address on this page to get your free premium account. Thanks for sending this one in, Michael!
• Amazon no longer Amazon Prime free to students, but you can grab it for a hefty 50% off—meaning for only $39 bucks a year, you can snag unlimited, free, two-day shipping, free release date deliveries for games, DVDs, books, and other stuff. Plus, Prime also comes with instant streaming with Amazon’s Instant Video service. Sign up for the discounted price here.
• Previously mentioned Connectify, which turns your Windows computer into a Wi-Fi hotspot for all your other devices, is offering its more customizable Pro version for free to all students. Sign up for your pro account with a .EDU email address here.
• It isn’t new, but if you haven’t grabbed your extra, educational Dropbox space yet, enter your .EDU email address on this page to get started. You’ll get double the extra space you receive for any referral, meaning every person that signs up with your link garners you 500MB of extra space.

As always, these are far from the only student discounts available. If you’re looking for more, be sure to check out StudentRate for information on other deals year round. And, of course, if you’re not a student, you can always grab these discounts anyway with a bit of ingenuity. Know of a deal we didn’t mention here? Let us know about it in the comments.

You can contact Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com.

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#1 – Graduation Pre-Planning; 6 Months:

1) ____ Yearbook Photo (Rembrandt)

2) ____ Senior Portrait and Social Media Icon (Rembrandt)

3) ____ Family Portrait (Rembrandt)

4) ____ Job Resume Photo and JPG image (Rembrandt)

5) ____ Custom graduation announcements (Rembrandt)

6) ____ Party Invitations (Rembrandt)

7) ____ Cap and Gown Reservation (Rembrandt)

8) ____ Custom Thank-You Notes (Rembrandt)

9) ____ Custom Return Address Labels (Rembrandt)

10) ____ Class Envelope Seals (Rembrandt)

11) ____ Order Graduating Necklace & Graduating Year Charm Bracelet (Rembrandt)

12) ____ Order School Senior T-shirts and Hoodies (Rembrandt)

13) ____ Order Class Ring (Rembrandt)

14) ____ Honor Cords & Honor Stoles (Rembrandt)

15) ____ Photo Album (Rembrandt)

16) ____ Reception venue reserved

17) ____ Reception Guest List

18) ____ Catering reserved

19) ____ Decorations selected, photo boards made

20) ____ Gifts selected

21) ____ Music selected, special video equipment, tables, etc. reserved

22) ____ Auto insurance notification

23) ____ Students Bank Account / Debit Card set-up

24) ____ Family member duty assignments

25) ____ Find a place for pet(s)

#2 – Graduation Pre-Event; 4 weeks:

26) ____ Purchase stamps

27) ____ Mail invitations

28) ____ Order cake

29) ____ Shop for new clothes (the best part!!)

30) ____ Clean outside and inside of house

31) ____ Reserve Professional Photographer (Rembrandt)

#3 – Week of the Event; 1 week:

32) ____ Arrange for flower pick-up

33) ____ Check camera, memory card (film), batteries

34) ____ Gather coolers, crockpots, etc.

35) ____ Talk with Graduate regarding their expectations

36) ____ Instruct family members and helpers

37) ____ Ask a friend to take some pictures also

38) ____ Confirm all suppliers and vendors

39) ____ Pick-up dry cleaning

#4 – Day of Event; 1 Day:

40) ____ Complete decorations

41) ____ Clean up venue

42) ____ Pick up all supplies

43) ____ Set-up all tables, etc.

44) ____ Give Graduate big hug!

45) ____ Have some fun and enjoy the moments!

46) ____ Other___________________________

47) ____ Other___________________________

Tucson Photographer for Wedding, family, high school yearbook, pet, baby portraits, event, sports photography, and graduation supplies (520)-797-9200 or online at http://goo.gl/vRZCL.

'LIKE' us on Facebook for special values!

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Do you long to have the skills to produce pictures that turn out like a professional’s?  Feel as though you need the right tools to do so? Here are some helpful hints, tips, and tidbits for the beginner photographer that will get your photography jump started in the right direction.

 Hint #1: When taking a photograph make sure you take multiple shots. This ensures that you will have a good shot in the end. With digital photography it costs you nothing to take multiples and what you don’t like you can just delete.

 Tip #1: Don’t splurge on your first camera or equipment. A simple point and shoot camera can take great pictures. Wait until you have spent enough time using your basic camera and equipment so you know exactly what you want when the time for an upgrade rolls around.

 Tidbit #1: Keep your camera with you at all times. When you least expect it, is when you are going to have some of the best photo opportunities. If you keep your equipment simple and easy to carry around with you, those unexpected moments will be able to be caught on camera.

 Hint #2: Experiment with your camera’s settings. Your basic point and shoot camera may have tricks up its sleeves that you are unaware of. Make sure to mess around with the setting and little symbols on your camera. This will allow you to learn about the different settings and which effects you like shooting with the most.

 Tip #2: When taking indoor pictures using the flash is vital. The flash will illuminate a dark scene, and when indoors sometimes there are parts of a picture that will be lost if the flash isn’t used.

 Tidbit #2: Instruct and teach your subject not to blink while you are taking their portrait. Simply ask your subject to close his/her eyes before the picture and then right as you are ready to press the button, ask them to open their eyes. Blinking at the same time as the photo being taken will be less likely in this instance.

 Hint #3: Avoid reflective surfaces to avoid a glare. If you avoid pointing your camera directly toward any reflective surface such as a mirror, a window, or a television screen you can avoid getting a glare in your picture. If you are outside avoid reflective surfaces like water and you will be free of glared pictures.

 Tip #3: Draw attention to your subject by framing them. You can get that added extra touch you need by framing your subject with either a doorway/doorframe, hallway, swing, tree branches, etc. Anything that has lines will give the subject in your photo a sense of scale and extra attention.

Tidbit #3: Do not neglect mundane subjects for photography. Often the simplest of subjects can make the best photo. Do not ignore and overlook the everyday world that is around you. Simplistic shots give the viewer a sense of feeling refreshed and comfortable.

Keyword Tags: Tucson, photography, photographer, high school senior, yearbook photos, senior yearbook, class ring, letter jacket, graduation supplies, portraits, wedding, event, family, sports, event, foothills school district, amphitheater school district, mountain view, coronado, oro valley, oracle, studio, Tucson Photographer, Social Butterfly Network, socialbnetwork

Mastered the previous Hints, Tips, and Tidbits, which have allowed you to become one step closer to getting that professional quality of photographs? Here is a new list to practice and perfect. Remember to continue practicing all hints, tips, and tidbits so you don’t loose the skills. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.

Hint #4: It’s best to take photos early in the day or late in the day. Avoid taking pictures mid-day to avoid direct sunlight causing unwanted shadows, squinting subject(s), or glare.

Tip #4: As the photographer do not stand with the sun shinning directly on your back, it may cause your subject to squint, as well as your shadow may be casted on your subject and seen in the photo.

Tidbit #4: Avoid bright sunlight overhead when taking pictures because it may result in casting harsh shadows on your subjects face. Also avoid taking photos with direct sunlight facing the photographer to ensure there is no glare created, as well creating backlighting, darkening the face of the subject(s).

Hint #5: When you are taking a picture of someone who dislikes being in pictures or doesn’t like to pose, try taking the picture when the subject has put their focus on something besides the camera. (i.e.: a task, hobby, interacting with another person, etc)

Tip #5: Direction of movement is very important while taking pictures. Adding space on the sides of your subject by shooting vertically or horizontally. For example it makes sense to shoot firework or rocket shooting into the sky with a vertical orientation, where it makes sense to shoot a track race with a horizontal orientation.

Tidbit #5: If you know that your camera is slow when focusing and shooting and you are waiting for a specific moment, hold the button halfway down as you wait, then the camera will respond faster. By doing this you will never miss another moment where the candle is getting blown out, or the surprise face of the surprise party.

Hint #6: Reducing the distractions in the background is important. You want to make sure that when shooting a picture your intended subject is really the subject after the photo is taken.

Tip #6: A major mistake across the board of beginners is that they stand too far away from subjects when it is a person, animal or object. If you want to show the detail of your subject that really impresses, get closer or use zoom if necessary.

Tidbit #6: Be eye level to your subjects. Do not be afraid to get on a ladder or table to be higher, or on your knees to be lower. As the photographer you have the ability to change your position, use this to your advantage. .

Keyword Tags: Tucson, photography, photographer, high school senior, yearbook photos, senior yearbook, class ring, letter jacket, graduation supplies, portraits, wedding, event, family, sports, event, foothills school district, amphitheater school district, mountain view, Coronado, oro valley, oracle, studio, Tucson Photographer

Tucson Photographer - Rembrandt Photography at www.RembrandtPhotography.net

Tucson’s Photographer – Rembrandt Photography presents – Photography Hints, Tips, And Tidbits

 Do you long to have the skills to produce pictures that turn out like a professional’s?  Feel as though you need the right tools to do so? Here are some helpful hints, tips, and tidbits for the beginner photographer that will get your photography jump started in the right direction.

 Hint #1: When taking a photograph make sure you take multiple shots. This ensures that you will have a good shot in the end. With digital photography it costs you nothing to take multiples and what you don’t like you can just delete.

 Tip #1: Don’t splurge on your first camera or equipment. A simple point and shoot camera can take great pictures. Wait until you have spent enough time using your basic camera and equipment so you know exactly what you want when the time for an upgrade rolls around.

 Tidbit #1: Keep your camera with you at all times. When you least expect it, is when you are going to have some of the best photo opportunities. If you keep your equipment simple and easy to carry around with you, those unexpected moments will be able to be caught on camera.

 Hint #2: Experiment with your camera’s settings. Your basic point and shoot camera may have tricks up its sleeves that you are unaware of. Make sure to mess around with the setting and little symbols on your camera. This will allow you to learn about the different settings and which effects you like shooting with the most.

 Tip #2: When taking indoor pictures using the flash is vital. The flash will illuminate a dark scene, and when indoors sometimes there are parts of a picture that will be lost if the flash isn’t used.

 Tidbit #2: Instruct and teach your subject not to blink while you are taking their portrait. Simply ask your subject to close his/her eyes before the picture and then right as you are ready to press the button, ask them to open their eyes. Blinking at the same time as the photo being taken will be less likely in this instance.

 Hint #3: Avoid reflective surfaces to avoid a glare. If you avoid pointing your camera directly toward any reflective surface such as a mirror, a window, or a television screen you can avoid getting a glare in your picture. If you are outside avoid reflective surfaces like water and you will be free of glared pictures.

 Tip #3: Draw attention to your subject by framing them. You can get that added extra touch you need by framing your subject with either a doorway/doorframe, hallway, swing, tree branches, etc. Anything that has lines will give the subject in your photo a sense of scale and extra attention.

 Tidbit #3: Do not neglect mundane subjects for photography. Often the simplest of subjects can make the best photo. Do not ignore and overlook the everyday world that is around you. Simplistic shots give the viewer a sense of feeling refreshed and comfortable.

Many more tips will be featured here soon. Check back next week!

 Keyword Tags: Tucson, photography, photographer, high school senior, yearbook photos, senior yearbook, class ring, letter jacket, graduation supplies, portraits, wedding, event, family, sports, event, foothills school district, amphitheater school district, mountain view, coronado, oro valley, oracle, studio, Tucson Photographer.