Category: Photography Page 3 of 24

Tips and guides for readers who want to take better photos to display on their Nixplay Frames.

How to Start a Photography Blog

On July 3, 2020

Every creative professional has probably been asked the same question at one point in their career: “Why don’t you start a blog?

If you’re looking to build an online presence, starting a blog is the perfect way to add a little personality to your portfolio. As a photographer, your voice, passion, and identity are revealed in your approach to the art. With a photography blog, you can showcase your favorite snapshots in a public space where you can also discuss your techniques, the gear you use, and the projects you will undertake.

The thought may seem a little daunting at first, as you begin to wonder how to approach it. But don’t worry. We’ve pulled together some top tips on how to start a photography blog to help you exhibit your talent. Find out how to start your own photography blog, how to make money with a photography blog, and more below.

How To Start A Photo Blog

We’ve outlined the most important steps on how to blog photography on your own website to help get you started.

The Build
First things first, you need to build your blog from scratch. Here is a brief overview of the steps you need to take when setting up a photography blog:

Register a domain name – this is the “address” to your new “home” on the internet.
Set up website hosting
Install the software/CMS from your chosen blog site, e.g. WordPress
Choose a theme

If you can afford it, we recommend that you host your own blog. This means that you pay for your web server and website domain (it typically costs $10-$15 a month), and though you might pay a bit more, you can rest easy knowing that you own your own content and blog website.

The Design

Before choosing a theme for your blog, think about your content. Make sure it will naturally suit your chosen theme while reflecting your personality. Opting for a customizable theme is always preferable so you can make any necessary changes.

When choosing the design of your blog, also consider sticking to one column. This view typically offers the best reader experience and makes it “mobile optimized”, so your audience can read on their phones, whenever and wherever. This is important, as most web surfers are now accessing the internet from their phones and tablets. Also, try to keep your menu bar streamlined with as little options as possible to make it easier for the user to navigate.

The Content

When you start your first photography blog, it’s important to upload regular content to keep up with demand. So on the days that you can’t make it out for a special trip, ensure you’re still using your camera around your local area. And even if you may specialize in landscape or architectural photography, make sure you also include the odd portrait or a shot of something personal so that you can humanize your blog and give your readers a glimpse of the person behind the camera.

If you want to avoid posting your personal memories online but still want a way to showcase them and share them with loved ones, a Nixplay frame is your best bet. Simply display your snaps in your own home and share them with family and friends.

But a photography blog isn’t just about achieving the perfect shot. Add value by providing top tips on lighting, effects, or your favorite equipment. You could also take a more journalistic approach by expressing your opinions on a topic, or telling a story about what you saw through the viewfinder. Find the style that works best for you.

Your photography blog offers a place for you to curate and display your favorite shots, where readers can learn more about you and your work. But you don’t just have to post your own work on your blog. Why not share some insights with your readers, and make a post about your favorite artists? Just remember to give credit where credit is due, and acknowledge the other person behind the camera.

Before creating and posting content, you should consider your audience. Who are you targeting? What message do you want to send to your readers? Nailing down your target audience is a crucial part of setting up a photography blog that is destined for success.

Top Tips For Setting Up A Photography Blog

Discover our top tips on how to start a photography blog successfully:

Choose the right equipment for the job. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s a photography kit out there for you.
Think of a catchy domain name or handle. Think of one that users will remember and relate to.
If you’re starting out with a free blog like Wix or WordPress, you may want to consider upgrading to a professional account once your blog has gained some traction.
Never take your blog too seriously. Your photography blog is your personal playground, a place for you to share your photos, ideas, links, and inspiration. With technology, there are no limits.
Don’t get too hung up on stats like page views. These figures may fluctuate often, so checking them every day may make you feel unmotivated.

Just getting your skills started? Discover our top tips on how to get started in photography, from choosing the right equipment to taking the perfect shot.

How To Make Money With A Photography Blog

Professional photography is a competitive field, but there are several ways to monetize your blog so you can earn some dollars on the side. You can run display ads or sell your artwork, and there are photography sites available that will help you connect with potential buyers.

Then, once you’ve built up your audience, consider running photography workshops. You can engage with your readers, share your skills, and gain some extra cash. These might be online workshops or they might take place in your studio.

How To Start A Photography Instagram

If you’re wondering how to start a photography business on Instagram, you should approach it in a way similar to approaching a photography blog. However, followers often expect an Instagram feed to maintain a cohesive style or subject matter. Users typically decide whether to follow an account based on their latest nine images, so make sure that the top of your feed represents you and your style. Also use plenty of relevant, popular hashtags, follow similar accounts, and link out to your blog from your profile bio to gain more traffic.

And that’s how to start a photography blog! Hopefully, we’ve encouraged you to get started on setting up a photography blog to showcase your favorite snaps. If you’re looking for the best place to store your photos off the internet, perhaps you have some more private, personal photos that you don’t wish to share online, a digital frame is your best bet. For a completely personal solution, Nixplay digital photo frames come with ample storage, so you can share your favorite private memories with those who are closest to you, making it the perfect device for a professional photographer. Browse the collection online today.

How To Photograph Fireworks Like A Pro

By Mars Salazar

On June 25, 2020

In Photography

With the Fourth of July coming up, it’ll be good for you to know how to take great photos of fireworks. They’re one of the most majestic things you can see–and one of the most challenging subjects to capture on camera. If you want to improve your fireworks photos, here are some tips to get you started.

How To Photograph Fireworks Like An Expert

Scout for a great location

When shooting fireworks, it’s crucial to secure a good spot from which you can capture the magic without obstruction. Location matters, and if you can find an elevated space away from the crowds (to make sure that people’s heads or limbs won’t be in your shot), that would be perfect. Your location also plays a huge factor in your photos’ background. Do you want to shoot fireworks against an unobstructed night sky, the city skyline, or the mountains? Where you’ll be shooting can spell the difference between a good fireworks photo and a great one.

Use a tripod and a remote

Now that you’ve secured your location, the next thing you need to do is to secure your camera so you don’t end up with blurred shots. This is especially important for fast-moving subjects: when every split-second counts, you want to make sure you’re prepared. A tripod should come in handy, and controlling shots using a remote can further reduce camera shake.

Think about your framing

First things first: Are you shooting landscape or portrait? The former is great if you’re including the surrounding scenery, while the latter is better if you want to highlight the fireworks.

You also have to remember that different types of fireworks have different heights. Adjusting your camera constantly to get the fireworks in the frame could result in missed shots. Instead of trying to take photos of every explosion, it’s more efficient to just focus on a particular section of the sky and capture the action there.

Use slow shutter speeds and shoot at a low ISO

Long exposure shots are perfect for capturing the fireworks’ movement. Try to keep the shutter open from the moment the firework starts to explode until it finishes exploding. But don’t try to keep it open too long, lest you overexpose the shot.

Shooting at a high ISO will result in brighter but noisier images–something you don’t want if your goal is to capture the contrast between the fireworks’ bright lines and the inky sky as cleanly as possible.

Don’t forget to display your fireworks photos on a Nixplay Frame! We’re having a Secret Sale on our US site right now: Get up to 25% off selected frames, only until July 12!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

Top Tips For Starting Out In Photography

How To Get Started In Photography: Top Tips

By Alice Murray

On June 11, 2020

In Photography

There’s never been a better time to pick up a new hobby. Whether it’s cooking, arts and crafts, learning a new language, or writing your own book, enhancing your personal skills in something you love is never a waste of time. And if what you love involves capturing memories, seeing the art in natural landscapes, or working with cool new gadgets, studying photography should be at the top of your to-do list.

Want to know how to get started in photography? Read our guide on photography tips for beginners, how to start a photography blog and which photography equipment you’ll need to make the most of your new favorite pastime.

someone using photography equipment for beginners

Basic Photography Tips For Beginners

While we mostly just use our phones to embrace our inner photographers, in reality, it takes a little more than that to go from a snap-happy amateur to a fully-fledged photography expert. And as they say, if it were easy, everyone would quit their day job and live off their hobby!

Just like any art, photography has to be learned and practiced—a lot. It is a trial and error process; we all start at the bottom and build our way up.

1. Choose The Right Photography Equipment

Before even starting to focus on what’s in front of you, you need to think more about what you’re using. Which photography equipment should you invest in when you’re doing photography as a hobby?

When you’re just getting started, you’ll want to choose user-friendly, simple photography equipment that is high-quality, but also easy to use. That doesn’t mean you need to go all out and instantly buy lighting, backdrops, and a whole bunch of props. At the very least, you will need a decent camera, a camera strap, an SD memory card with lots of storage space, a camera cleaning kit, and a photography bag. If you’re feeling really adventurous, a tripod is also a great purchase to make for achieving a smooth, still camera shot—especially when outdoors.

The tricky part of course, is deciding which camera to buy. As a beginner—or if you’re just doing photography as a hobby – a bridge camera is a great compromise to more expensive DSLRs and lenses. This will allow you to get an impressive zoom range but at a fraction of the cost of a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens. Most bridge cameras also have a variety of features, including full manual controls, shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, color balance, and metering. You can pick one up for as little as $100, which is a fair price to pay when you’re investing in your skillset.

2. Don’t Limit Yourself To One Style Of Photography

When thinking about how to get started in photography, you’ll likely be tempted to just focus on one type of photography that appeals to you. Of course, if you like portrait photography, then you should do that, but you should always keep your mind open to exploring other possibilities. This means working your way up and trying your hand at a variety of different styles, such as landscape, wildlife, still life, architecture, or even fashion.

A good place to start is by thinking about what you enjoy, or what brings out the emotional side of you. The more personal the photography is to you, the more likely you are to find your true muse.

3. Don’t Underestimate Photo Editing

While you’re learning how to take the perfect shot, how to master the art of angles, and how to capture the best lighting, you also need to know how to edit a photo once you’ve taken it. This is where post-processing comes in.

When you’re doing photography as a hobby or even just trying to grasp the most basic photography tips, you might underestimate the power of post-processing and editing—something that can truly make or break an image. Once you learn how to master software like Lightroom and Photoshop, your photography will become more like a start-to-end process, because you will automatically think about post-production.

If you want to get started using Photoshop, the best way to learn is to just play around, watch tutorials, and understand all the different tools at your disposal. Having the ability to edit and enhance your pictures can spell the difference between a great shot and a masterpiece.

4. Start A Photography Blog

What good is taking hundreds of mesmerizing and awe-inspiring photos if you’ve got nowhere to put them? By creating a blog, you can do much more than just upload your pictures. You can include captions and write descriptions that discuss the processes and techniques you used. Aside from being a great way to document your progress, it also gives like-minded people the boost to try it themselves.

If you’re wondering how to start a photography blog, you could first opt for creating a free blog on Wix or WordPress to initially build up your following and map out your blog style. Once you’ve noticed some traction on your blog, you might want to consider upgrading to a professional account. Starting a blog is an effective way to expand your network, gain followers, and work on your online presence. When you eventually upgrade to a paid offering, you can ditch the standard website handle and develop your very own website.

If you’re looking for a more powerful and unique way to display your photos around your own home, or if you’re looking for a way to share your photos with friends and family, you can’t go wrong with a Nixplay Frame. Not only will it allow you to show off your hard work in HD quality, but you’ll also be able to share it on several social media platforms. With Nixplay, you can arrange and organize your pictures in specific themed playlists, and you can even connect it to Google Home and Alexa devices so you can easily browse through your photos using just your voice! Displaying and sharing photos has never been more special.

5. Don’t Ignore Instagram

Speaking of social media, Instagram is one of the most obvious tools to utilize when you’re getting started in photography. If you’re wondering how to start a photography Instagram, or how to make the most of it, it’s not overly complicated. Once you’ve created your photography profile with a catchy handle, you can simply start uploading your photos. To gain more followers, try using popular hashtags, following lots of other relevant profiles, and linking out to your blog from your profile bio.

The higher the quality of your photos, the higher your engagement will be. And the more work you put into improving your Instagram presence, the better the outcome. That means spending a lot of your spare time liking, commenting, and reaching out to other Instagram users, posting at the busiest times of the day, creating effective captions, and most importantly, using the best filters and effects for your photos.

Hopefully our photography tips for beginners have encouraged you to get started. So, what are you waiting for? The camera is ready and the world is waiting! And if you’re looking for the best place to store your photos once you’ve switched the camera off, a Nixplay Frame is the way to go. Browse our collection today.

7-Day Photo Challenge: National Pet Week

By Alice Murray

On April 25, 2020

In Photography

For most pet owners, showing appreciation to your furry friends comes naturally. After all, they help to make us feel happier every day. Although life can get pretty busy, so time isn’t always on our side when it comes to giving our pets the attention they deserve. That’s where National Pet Week comes in – a whole seven days dedicated to our pets – and it’s just around the corner! That’s why we’ve been conjuring up a plan to help you celebrate this special occasion with your furry friends, and it’s another 7 Day Photo Challenge.

This time, we challenge you to pull together a mixture of witty portraits and candid shots of your pet – but be sure to get their good side…

Day 1: Doing a trick

The ultimate dog photo challenge! Start with a bang and show off your pet’s skills with a snap of them doing their best trick. Whether that’s of them up on their hind legs, shaking hands (or paws), rolling over or another fun pet trick. If the photos are turning out blurry, try taking them in burst or live mode to try and get the best shot. And remember, with the Nixplay smart frames you can display both videos and photos – so don’t worry if you can’t get the perfect still shot, choose video instead!

Pet can’t do any tricks? No problem! A cute snap of them looking their best is just as good.

Day 2: Fresh air

Whatever the weather, we want to see a picture of your pet enjoying the great outdoors. Whether you’re off on your daily walk, at their favorite outdoor spot or you’re trying your hand at a mini photoshoot in the back yard. Maybe your pup likes to prance around in the puddles or bask in the warmth of the sun – either way, capturing them in their element is sure to produce a happy photo that’s worth sharing with family and friends.

Day 3: Smiling for the camera

It’s no secret that an adorable photo of an animal smiling into the camera can pull on the heartstrings. So why not share a snap of your pet showing off their best smile? Simple yet effective, you could even use a black and white filter for a timeless and ‘pawfessional’ look.

This one might be a bit tricky, but we’re sure a little treat wouldn’t go unnoticed…

Day 4: Favorite toys

It’s day four and we want to see your pets with their favorite friends. From squeaky toys and cuddly animals, to tug of war ropes and bouncy balls, every pet wants to show off their favorite toy and this is the perfect opportunity to do it. So why not capture a quick shot of them playing with or even cuddling their favorite toy as they sleep?

Day 5: Dinner time

Serving up their favorite treat for dinner? Share a snap of them indulging on gourmet meal for day five. While a candid shot will work, you could also style it up to create a comical scene of your pet politely sitting at the dinner table. Better yet, take a different angle and show off your furry friend in a chef’s hat “preparing” dinner!

Day 6: Playing dress up

Dress them up in their Sunday best or a comical costume for a fun twist on today’s photo challenge. From fake glasses to jumpers and hats, there’s a range of pet clothes out there to try – although don’t force them into it. If they’re not feeling comfortable, simply set them up in a comical scene instead! Whether that’s reading a book, sitting at a computer or having a drink on a deck chair in the back yard.

Day 7: Pets and owners

For this last day, we ask you to take a photo with your pet. National Pet Week is all about promoting and encouraging responsible pet care, which is why we want to see you and your pet together. Whether that’s a selfie, an old portrait or a snap of you lounging in the local park. (We can also answer the age-old question of whether pets look like their owners…)

Pet Photography Tips

Wondering how to take good pet photos ahead of National Pet Week? Pets are unpredictable and often move about quite quickly, so capturing the right moment might be tricky. So, here are some of our top pet photography tips to get you started:

Take your pictures in burst mode: If they can’t sit still, shooting a burst of photos in one go will increase your chances of getting the perfect shot.
Look for the best light: As with any image, good light is everything – especially when it comes to pets with darker fur.
Offer a reward: Putting them through this many mini photoshoots most definitely deserves a reward! A few cuddles or treats should do it.

But the most important tip is to always remember to keep your pet safe, because putting them in danger to get the “perfect” photo definitely isn’t worth it.

Discover our top 4 pet photography tips to find out more about how to take good pet photos to prepare for your 7 Day Photo Challenge.

Sharing Your 7 Day Photo Challenges for National Pet Week

Remember to share your daily photo challenge updates with your friends and family. Upload your National Pet Week challenges to your social media profiles with the hashtags #NixplayNationalPetWeekPhoto Challenges and #NationalPetWeek and showcase your snaps. Better yet, share your photo challenges with other Nixplay users and connect your digital photo frame to your social media accounts! Create the ultimate pet photo frame with a loving slideshow of your favorite furry friend photos. Sharing memories has never been easier.

The Importance of Wedding Photo Album Memories

By Wendy Dessler

On February 19, 2020

In Photography

One of the next most important aspects of a wedding (after the exchange of vows, of course) is the photo coverage of the big day. Every bride and groom would want to immortalize their special day in pictures, which will be a powerful reminder of the path they have chosen to take and of the great moments they’ll experience along the way.

While a cache of digital pictures has been a staple in most photo coverage packages, nothing’s better than flicking through an album of printed wedding images. It’s more exciting to see your pictures in a book than on social media. If you’re still not convinced, here’s more about the importance of a wedding photo album.

Traveling Through Memories

It’s easier to reach out and travel down memory lane when you have photos. With a photo album, you’ll have something to pass down to the generations to come. Your great grandkids will look at the pictures and see similarities with family members they may never meet.

With a wedding photo album, you can leave behind a stronger legacy than if you only have digital photos. Photo albums are easier to look through any time you wish to, especially when you have visitors. Pulling out an album is more manageable than opening a media file.

Tell a Story in Photos

With a photo album, you can sort your wedding photos in a sequence that tells a story about your journey. There are many ways to arrange the photos. You can arrange them chronologically, depending on the time of day they were taken.

Alternatively, you can group them depending on the people on the photos. Whichever approach you choose, people who look at your album will want to see it over and over. A physical album wins over digitally stored photos, any day.

An album will especially be useful to people who weren’t able to attend your wedding. Digital photos may never get printed. Future generations may never get to see them if they don’t have access to online storage.

A Unique Gift

There are plenty of thoughtful gifts, such as whiskey barrels and mason jars from WhiskeyMade. Other gifts, including photo albums, can be made more special with custom personalization for your loved one.

You can give your family a creative gift in the form of a wedding photo album. This is a gift that will stand the test of time and help them celebrate your memories for years to come. If you can personalize the wedding-photo album, the more meaning it’ll have to your children and family.

Technology Can Become Obsolete

Storing your photos on digital media may be a great idea today, but years later, you might regret the decision. Technology changes over time, and what works today may not work tomorrow.

Think of people who captured their wedding day on a floppy disk. Today, they have a hard time accessing their photos, and their younger loved ones may not be able to see those photos. Even those using CDs and DVDs to capture their photos today may no longer be able to access them in a few years.

Transferring photos from one digital form to another as technology becomes obsolete may not be a very viable idea. A physical backup to online photos is essential as it’ll stand the test of time and protect your photos.

Ensure you use a professionally created high-quality album to give your photos the protection they deserve. Albums will never become obsolete, no matter how much technology changes. Besides, digital photos can get lost, become corrupt, or can be accidentally deleted.

A great way to prevent such incidents is by creating several digital copies on different disks, as well as storing your photos and videos on the cloud. Nixplay offers a great cloud storage solution for digital photos and videos, which can be easily synced on Nixplay’s Wi-Fi-enabled Smart Photo Frames. With a Nixplay Wi-Fi Frame, your digital photos can be enjoyed anytime by you and your loved ones.

Great for Social Gatherings

When friends and family are visiting, it’s easier to pass them a photo album than search your computer for a digital file. They’ll better connect with an album, and they’ll have more time to soak into the memories and resonate with the moment they were created.

No Regrets for Having an Album

Creating a photo album for your big day takes effort, but you’ll live to appreciate that you did. If you have your photos stored electronically, consider having them printed and stored away safely in a photo album. You can also have the album professionally made for you by experts.

This is the one investment that will remain long after the wedding day has come and gone. Your family will thank you for it.

There’s Nothing Like Print

The only thing that’ll remain with you after your wedding day is the memories. If you don’t preserve them well through photos, you may never have something to show the future generations. A wedding photo album is the best way to keep the memories alive.

You may want to store them digitally, but an album will prove to be a great complement to your files. An album is a gift you can pass down to future generations, unlike digital copies that may become obsolete, corrupt, or can accidentally get deleted.

It may stressful or demanding to put an album together, but it’ll eventually be worth every effort. Engage professional services, and you’ll be proud of the end product.

Wendy Dessler

Wendy Dessler is a super-connector who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.