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It is possible to turn your hobby into a career path if you enjoy photographing children

If you’re an amateur photographer, you’ve probably browsed some of the stock photo sites online. Did you ever think of selling some of your photos through these websites? People make a significant income doing just that, particularly if you have an eye for what sells. Photographing children can be a lucrative niche in this market. There are plenty of photos of kids to browse in stock photo sites if you are looking for inspiration. You’ll notice that expressively cute, playful, whimsical and smiling photos are big sellers. Kids with kids as well as kids with pets can make great images too. The most successful images are those that evoke positive feelings. If you want to turn your hobby into a business browsing through stock images can be quite helpful.

Most parents shoot photos of their kids at every opportunity. Look through your own collection of kid’s photos and see which you find most appealing and determine why this is the case. Is it the occasion? In many cases, you’ll find that the expression on the child’s face is what really grabs you. Kids are usually more expressive as they are less self conscious than adults. Maybe that’s what makes photographing children so much fun. You can capture emotions of surprise, delight and pure joy as children rarely hide their feelings.

Even photos of what we generally perceive as negative, such as a tantrum or frown, can sometimes make a salable photo. You’ve probably caught an emphatic tantrum or a frown on a kids face that although it wasn’t at the time becomes comical when viewed at a later date. With an appropriate caption for a humorous greeting card these can be excellent material.

In front of a camera some kids are natural hams. You will see there is a wealth of material available once you start being really observant.

Choose photos that you already have that you think might sell. What do you have to lose? It could result in sale of hundreds or even thousand of dollars worth of sales in a year if you have a hot seller in your hands.

In addition to selling to the stock photo sites, you have many other markets, such as magazines, church newsletters and newspapers. You may consider an exhibition at your local library. People may well start calling you!

Groups with a focus on children’s issues often seek photos of children. A child or group of smiling children is heartwarming and can inspire potential donors to that cause to follow through and donate!

If you have fun photographing children, you should consider your hobby in a professional light. If you take the first step it may prove to be the best move you ever made.

Visit CanvasPrintsOnline.com to not only learn more photo tips, but also how to present your photos on Canvas

PHOTO TECHNIQUES – USING LINES AND SHAPES

Photos are about an individuals likes and dislikes, but there are a handful of rules of photo composition that can help build the basis of a great photo that you can print on canvas. One of the key things to look for when creating a photo is  ‘lines and different shapes’. It is helpful to train yourself to look for lines and shapes. They can be a powerful building block that can have a significant impact on your picture. It can be useful to add lines and shapes to add mood and atmosphere to your finished product or creating a desired effect. They can be useful in either leading the eye’s to a part of your image, or leading the eyes from one part to another.

Using lines and shapes takes some practice and it is often useful to go back through previous images you have taken to see what has worked and what hasn’t worked. Have a look at all of the different lines and shapes that you can use. Using these rules will add to your finished print.

Horizontal Lines in Your Image

Horizontal lines can be dynamic in creating photos that are calming. They can have the ability to convey stability and restfulness. An example of this can be a foal sleeping in flowers. The most common horizontal lines to be found in photographs are generally horizons,  but be careful not to run the horizon directly through the centre of the photograph dividing the equal amounts of the sky and landscapes. This may often have a adverse effect and possibly create a dull image. This is not always case. A good practice to select out the more impressive part of your scene, for example sunsets with dramatic clouds. It is worth also keep in mind that broken horizons may lead to a dull feeling photograph.

Look for layers of horizontal lines to add rhythm to your image, for example layers of breaking surf. The rhythm can than become the focus or subject of the image itself.

Another good trick when using horizontal lines is to try it to try to keep the lines square with the edges of you frame and to also shoot your image in a horizontal format. Adding horizontal lines into your image can really make a difference to how your photo on canvas will look .

Vertical Lines

Vertical lines can convey a variety of different moods from grandeur and dignity to power. Objects such as skyscrapers and trees represent horizontal lines. If you want to create a very powerful and dynamic picture combine vertical lines with horizontal lines. If you really want to emphasize the dynamics of the vertical line, try switching your camera to the vertical plane. As with all photography this is only a guide. If you want the lines to appear as if they are moving out of the top of the image, it then becomes useful to leave your camera in a landscape format. Take your photo so that the lines move from the bottom to the top of your photo.

Diagonal Lines in Your Image

Diagonal lines that are used in your picture are sometimes considered the most interesting. They indicate movement and action. They can lead you into the frame of the picture and to the point of interest. A good idea is to avoid splitting the frame of your image in two by running diagonal lines from one corner of the picture to the other. The image my lose it’s drive from this particular cause. To achieve a more balanced image within the confines of your frame try to create a diagonal that starts just to one side of the corner and continues to the one side of the opposite corner. Using curved lines within your frame can also be representative of moods such as grace and dignity.

If you really want to add an interest to your finished canvas to photo print look for different ways to include interesting diagonal lines into your image. Keep in mind when you are taking photos that it is worth remembering the different moods and feelings that they can convey.

Shapes

Shapes are basic two dimensional elements in the composition of your photos. You can use different shapes to achieve different moods within your picture. Shapes can include anything from triangles to odd numbers to create photographic geometry. Shapes such as squares and rectangle can be less interesting as they basically mirror the frame of the image, so it lacks interesting conflict. To make them more creative use them with diagonals and triangles to create a more interesting photo. Placing a shape against a contrasting background and make them more interesting for example a white yacht sail against a blue ocean. A great use of shapes are also silhouettes. The use of curved lines or circles and straight lines has a great ability to create tension in your photo.

Conclusion 

Shapes and lines can add a very dynamic and interesting element to you photo composition, so next time you have your camera out keep in mind these basic keys. To find out about printing your photo to canvas visit Canvas Prints Online.