What Makes a Photograph?
Have you ever looked at a photo and just been blown away? Looked at it, and caught you breath, and said to yourself, “Wow. That’s really good. I love that!”
Maybe you know why you like it – maybe your nephew looks just like your sister did at at that age there, or you remember falling in love with your spouse on that college campus, or you can remember with crystal clarity what a happy baby your child was at that age.
Most of us love those photographs, for those reasons. They bring back memories for us, and connect us to the ones we care about the most. Whether it was taken by a professional, or a snapshot from a cell phone, or somewhere in between–it’s more than a photo, it’s a moment, so we love it.
What about the other photographs, though? The ones we have no emotional connection to – the neighbor’s daughter who just booked with that amazing new pro in town, the images in magazines, or those iconic photos by journalists and artists from all over the world? We know we like them, but can we define why?
Those in the photography profession can talk angles and lighting and composition all day long, but that’s not really what you want to know, is it? You want to know how to pick from the overwhelming number of photographers that seem to be popping up everywhere, because for the love of all that’s holy, you just want one good family photo to hang on the wall where everyone is looking at the camera, is that so much to ask? And this guy wants to charge how much?? Are they even worth that? What exactly do these people do, anyway? The more you scroll through portfolios and sneak peeks and online albums, the more overwhelming it becomes, and the more tempted you are to just close your eyes and pick one, already. Believe me, I know.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to break good photography down for you in [what will hopefully be] plain English. I’ll explain the different types of photography – natural light, styled sessions, studio sessions, lifestyle – and explain the advantages of each to help you decide which is right for you. Thanks to some amazingly talented photographer friends, I’ll show you examples of some phenomenal photos – and break down for you why your eye loves them, even if your head can’t quite pinpoint why.
Finally, I’ll give you some tips and tricks on how to choose a photographer for your biggest events – what do you look for in a wedding photographer? What about birth photography? There are no re-shooting those, so how do you know that the person you entrust with those sacred moments will do them justice? There are no foolproof methods there, but a few tips and tricks on what to look for will go a long way!
Stay tuned for more, and by all means – if you have any particular questions, feel free to comment and let me know!
~Cyd
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