Photographs play an important role in life. They connect us to our past, reminding us of the people and places that once existed. They capture moments in time worth remembering or moments in nature that are worthwhile. Photographers sometimes spend their entire lives trying to find that perfect shot that encapsulates their entire persona as a photographer in terms of artistic point of view and allows them to share it with an audience. While some photographers wait for a candid moment to come, others try to find it themselves by venturing into the world and molding it according to their vision.
These photography excursions take a lot of time and can take a lot of money, which is why the photographer needs to go out into the field with a clear head and a well-defined end goal.
Planning
Before even beginning to think about photographing, the best course of action is to have a plan in mind, as it helps make the final execution easy and fast. Several factors must be considered before the actual shoot, such as the budget, equipment needed for the shoot, location, weather, identifying the subject, etc. By determining all these aspects, a photographer can have a better idea of what to expect from the excursion and how to best handle the situation if any difficulty arises.
Photographing
Once a plan is in place, it becomes easier for the photographer to direct their full focus on capturing images of their subjects; be they human, animal, or nature. However, photography comes with its own set of problems, such as focusing on styling, lighting, and camera settings. Styling the subject basically means molding the elements involved in the photograph in line with the viewpoint of the photographer. From adjusting the posture of a human subject to removing unwanted dirt and foliage from a natural setting, anything can be involved. Lighting is also an important factor, as the photographer has to determine whether they wish to use natural or artificial lighting.
Post-Processing
Once the photographs have been taken, then comes the editing, the final step before presenting the images. During photography, there might be certain glitches and unwanted objects in the background but the main reason for the editing is to enhance the mood, feeling, style and cohesion of the image(s). This is really where the second half of the true magic of photography lies.
Presentation
Finally, the photographs are ready to be presented through a medium of the photographer’s preference. They might be printed and hung in galleries, or simply posted on an online platform. Sharing the images is a way of allowing others to view the world through an entirely different perspective.
If a photographer manages to understand these four aspects and properly execute them, there is no doubt they will yield positive results. One photographer, by the name of Matt Jacob, follows these four guidelines down to a Tee. He makes sure to plan every step as intricately as possible, ensuring a smooth photography session either on location when on one of his cultural projects, or at his studio, M.O.O.D. Photography. Once the photographs are made available to the general public, it allows the photographers to gain the exposure they need, and enables them to share their artwork with the rest of the world.
