Raven Art web

One of the inescapable facts about the photography industry in the UK is that it is unregulated. The end result of this is that anyone, yes ANYONE, can buy a camera, read the manual and then declare themselves to be a professional photographer.

A few hundred pounds buys a flashy looking website, a couple of hours writing populates it with content and a few paid for training days gets you the images to put in it.

There is of course more, much more, to being a qualified professional photographer and one of the things you may look at to help improve your skills, is to join a professional trade organisation.

With so many around where do you start?

The first thing you need to do is understand that not all organisations are the same. Sadly there are, like any other industry, good and bad out there and this article hopefully will at least allow you to make an informed decision on who to join.

The first type of organisation is those that only allow full time members in. These are generally geared towards those who make a full time living out of photography. Admission is generally by submission of work which is judged. Upon successful completion you are then admitted and accredited as a member. In some cases the organisation is owned by the members.  Read more...

Building a web site can be complex yet simple all at the same time. There are many aspects that many designers and companies skip over during the process. Keeping in mind Search Engine Optimization and usability, crafting a web site should be a well thought-out and organized method.

CODANK Charlotte Web Design is here to provide companies with some of the essential web design tips that every web site should follow. Be sure to refer back to our first set of tips here.

CODANK Tips for Web Design

Browser Compatibility – All sites should be browser compatible. Your site’s look should be the same in Google Chrome as well as in Mozilla Firefox. It is wise not to stop designing a web site after you have found out that it looks marvelous on Internet Explorer. Consult with your designer to make sure that all HTML is correct for each browser.

Navigation – Create navigation on your web site that makes it easy for visitors to go through it. It is best to place all important links at accessible spots of the page – preferably right on top. Try to link as many pages of your web site as possible.

Comprehensible Font – Try to steer away from bright colors and font that may not be available on most computers – such as Comic Sans. The best professional fonts to stick with are Arial and Verdana.  Read more...

Getting your web design company’s name out in the public, as well as networking with other businesses is a great way to draw in not only potential clients but also new ideas. Every web design company should take the time out to create online profiles on various networking web sites.

A company should not limit their online presence to advertising banners and blogging only isn’t guaranteed to get you too far. Powerful networking tools are available, giving the opportunity to connect with a large mass of people and reach specific target markets. It would be wise of a business to use these tools to build their internet existence.

Below is a compiled list of networking sites designed specifically with web design companies in mind. Review the list to see which ones will work best for you and your company.

Design Sites Up
9Rules
Ads of the World
Behance
Colour Lovers
Designer ID
Lo8os
Flickr
GFX Artist
Kuler
Open Web Design
Pixel Groovy
Typophile

Take advantage of networking because for the most part it is free. Branding can carry a company very far if done well. It is also important for companies to explore forums and write/post blogs. Here, you will be able to link up with other professionals, supporters, and consumers who are most likely to gain an interest in what your web design company has to offer.

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design  Read more...

3 Stages Of Wedding Photography Preparation
By: Tulsa Wedding Photographer
Jake Aldrich

The failure to prepare, is preparation to fail. – John Wooden

While this may have been applied to basketball at the time of the quote, this principle applies to many important things in life, including wedding photography.
This preparation for the wedding day can be followed in three steps. Treat them like wedding rehearsals. Let’s see how.

A Few Months Before
A few months before the actual wedding, a tulsa wedding photographer should
try and do a planning ‘run through’ with the wedding couple, and plan out the day. You may not have all the details chosen yet, but it is a good starting point to get things narrowed down. An experienced photographer can also help you with ideas that you may not have thought of, and details to consider.
Another thing to potentially plan for is a “photo-run-through” aka, engagement photos. As a photographer, you get to know the couple even further, learn about their personalities, and get them ready for feeling comfortable when posing for pictures. Besides these advantages, you get the opportunity to discuss style with the wedding couple, and inquire more intricate details they would want to incorporate in their wedding photos.
You can also use this time (either in addition to, or in place of) to do bridal portraits. Usually featuring the bride and her dress, many times at the place of the ceremony (or at another scenic location) the bridal portraits offer the bride a chance to get some beautiful shots that she and all of her family members will want to keep, and possibly more importantly, gives the bride another excuse to be the princess if the day. Getting dolled up, hair and makeup done, and donning the dress that she plans to be married in is a great run through for the big day.  Read more...