There have been testimonials from photo enthusiasts around the world proving that our e-book encourages and enables photographers to move beyond the dominion of conventional photography to a world of dreamlike and out-of-the-world images.

Features and Advantages

Simple to identify with

Instructions and tips offered in the e-book are very easy to understand and one does not require any professional knowledge. Go through the e-book and you will be attracted to the enchanting world of special effect photography.

Improve photography skills

Amateur as well as professional photographers can learn new tricks and enhance their photography skills by going through the e-book.

Learning becomes fun

Painting the light photography and special effect photography are very interesting, which makes learning a lot of fun.

New photography concepts

Special effect photography is more about creativity than the surroundings and equipments. The e-book helps you generate excellent photography concepts.

Affordable special effect photography tutorial

The e-book is a practical tutorial which is helpful for the expert as well as a novice photographer. This specialized tutorial has been priced economically.

Take the next step

Wishing you could click like the top class photographers, but are under the impression that you may not be good enough. E-book on special effect photography will help you move on to the next level and fulfil your dream of publishing amazing images.

Upgrade your standard camera

Discover unknown features of your camera, which through certain adjustments like shutter speed, image sharpness, balance etc will help you create photographic art pieces.

Enjoy fame and money

Learn painting by light and special effect photography techniques to enhance your photography skills. You will be able to publish your own photographs in magazines and websites which will assist you to carve out your own identity gradually. Learn about editing and enhancing with Abode software and become one of the most skilled photographers.

Are you tired of boring, routine pictures?

Now, no more! These days you have a choice of applying extraordinary and intriguing special effect photography techniques which can really spice up your images. You will want to use them regularly to add an element of curiosity in your pictures and they will also offer you inspiration when you get a little tired of regular photographs.  

Photography without doubt is amongst the most intriguing as well as important inventions in the history

Photography without doubt is amongst the most intriguing as well as important inventions in the history of mankind. It has completely transformed the way we envisage the world. Photography is an art as well as a science which allows us to express our feeling and emotions accurately. When you explore the scientific aspect of photography, it is both fascinating as well as overpowering. 

Photography fascinates many

Photography fascinates many of us but as amateurs we may not be able to deliver special effect photography. Sophisticated cameras are important… but if you don’t have one, it does not suggest that you can’t come up with breathtaking pictures. Fancy cameras are no doubt an important medium but it is your skill which is the key decisive factor.

Special effects includes a whole gamut of techniques that photographers can use to create images which may or may not look real, but typically have unique appeal in them. In most cases the purpose of using special effects in photography is to enhance the impact of the picture which can only exist with the use of these effects.  

Photography in the fundamental

Photography in the fundamental conviction that photographs don’t lie. This hypothesis is exploited by offering pictures which look impossible to achieve in real life or augment some aspects of the subject which is beyond being achieved by regular methods of photography. Other than that, special effects can improve or alter reality for other purposes including augmenting aesthetic value or communicating information more effectively as compared to a standard photo.  

It is vital for a photographer to develop creative and technical skills of photography to click and present such images. Tutorials are an excellent option to polish your skills and attain perfection behind the lens. A number of are e-books are also available with clear instructions and details to assist photographers who are keen on special effects photography.

There are many reasons for the workflow

There are many reasons for the workflow, but they center around album sales. My clients average $6-10k in album purchases on top of my shooting fees. By only giving them a small taste of their images (the Facebook post), when they see their album draft a few days after the wedding, they’re blown away!

I choose my favorite images and design a spectacular book

I choose my favorite images and design a spectacular book. If you let your client choose the images, they typically take a long time and often pick mediocre shots because they’re inexperienced and choosing for political/family reasons—not for aesthetics. In my opinion, it’s a burden on your client to force them to choose their favorites for the album. They’ve put enough effort into making decisions for the wedding. As professionals, we should help and guide them—not drop more work in their laps!

It’s easier to edit a designed album than it is to start from scratch. By enabling clients to view their album early, they’re still emotionally engaged with their images. While the rest of the images are uploading to an online service to display photos and sell prints, your clients watch the album slideshow again and again, imagining it as their book more and more. By the time other images are ready to review, the clients are ready to make a few changes, but it’s tough to cut the album down any significant amount.

Customers all know what’s possible; they know how fast things can turn around

Customers all know what’s possible; they know how fast things can turn around. They want images on their phones and on Facebook sooner rather than later. Uncle Bob is at their wedding, and he’s shooting photos with his phone or his Rebel XTI and posting them on Facebook the same day. By the time you play around with your images, add your special sauce, make the white balance perfect in every photo, run noise filters, sharpen edges, and so on, your photos become irrelevant. You can post them to Facebook, but people are like, “Oh yeah, I remember that. Already saw it.”

high-quality images

The bride prefers high-quality images, but she’ll take whatever is first. The streams of Twitter and Facebook are living things, and whatever is NOW is what matters most. Posting images a few weeks later is far less important, impacting or valuable. Since Facebook is becoming the operating system of the web, I believe our businesses need simple, direct tie-ins. For example, I post slideshows directly onto my Facebook wall using SWAT. My goal is to make it simple for clients to post images on Facebook that are automatically tagged to me and my sites. This extra marketing results in additional bookings. I’d never suggest giving your clients mediocre work; the trick is learning how to produce excellent work quickly.

Mostly our camera accessories work for us, but sometimes they get in the way. The Solution is a bit of do-it-yourself.

Over recent months I have been experimenting with long exposure photography. To do this in normal daytime lighting requires the use of a very heavy neutral density filter or something like an infrared filter. These filters cut out so much light, sometimes eight to nine stops worth, that your full sun exposure stretches into minutes.

filter systems

One of the filter systems I have been using is that by the French company Cokin. This system uses square resin filters and a filter holder that you fit to your lens. This is a great system and works extremely well in normal situations with normal filters. However, what I found in actual use with these very dark (effectively opaque to the eye) is that the filter holder allowed light to leak in behind the filter and fog the exposure. With such extreme filters there was nothing that you could do to cut it completely. I tried draping a cloth over the filter holder but this only helped a little. This is not an issue with the screw in filters because they have a tight fit to the lens.

The solution was a bit of do-it-yourself

The solution was a bit of do-it-yourself. The standard Cokin filter holder has three slots to take multiple filters. But even with a filter in the slot closest to the lens there is still a gap that lens can leak through. So what I decided to do is to glue some black leather scraps that I had lying around the filter holder so that with a filter inserted the leather sits up against the filter but still allows the filter to be slid in or out without scratching.

With these modifications in place most of the flare was gone

With these modifications in place most of the flare was gone. One more thing had to be done. I needed to use the eyepiece cover incorporated into the camera strap of my Canon 400D. Without it in place it was clear that some light was leaking around the mirror when it was up. With the cover in place (oh how I dream for a camera with a built-in blind) there was no more leakage and the images were clear and sharp.

We often have expectations of what we can and cannot photograph. Usually these expectations are not only completely wrong but they also hold us back in various ways. I had this made clear to me last week.

Last week we got away to the family beach

Last week we got away to the family beach out for a bit of R&R, which was desperately needed. One night we went to an amusement park that is set up on the foreshore every summer. I had my camera gear with me more for security reasons than with an expectation of shooting. But since I was there and I had my gear I decided to try out my IR converted Canon 350D. The results were fun and not bad, pointing to some more work I should do with it.

The resulting images have the now normal to me mixed warm/cool subtle color tones and point to be being able to shoot such activities and get interesting results. Exposures were around f4 or f4.5, 1/45 to 1/60 second and 400 or 800ISO, depending on the amount of light present. I did notice that visible light levels were not always a good indicator of IR levels in this situation, so I let the camera decide.

Traditional, creative romantic, and Photojournalistic Coverage

Traditional, creative romantic, and Photojournalistic Coverage. Including all of the wedding images you have come to expect. The Photojournalistic storytelling style includes un-posed, spontaneous photographs during the wedding day.
Your preferences, in traditional, romantic, and contemporary styles for a unique wedding story with an incredible minimum intrusion! Your photographs will have an un-posed, natural look with an artistic impression, and spontaneous feel!

• Traditional, creative romantic, and photojournalistic coverage.
• State-of-the-art professional equipment. 
• Your preferences, in traditional, romantic, and contemporary styles for a unique wedding story with minimum intrusion.
• Flexible payment plans
• Retouching & Artwork Enhancement
• 2nd Photographer (photojournalism specialist)
• Complete blemish and wrinkle retouching available.
• B&W, sepia and color-tones
• Infrared and many other special FX. 
• Custom Designed Albums featuring the latest contemporary designs or traditional styles
• Internet proofing available.

You'll love our incredible blending of your preferences, in traditional and contemporary styles for a unique wedding story with a minimum  intrusion!

From your engagement, to your wedding day...We will capture them as beautiful and lasting memories. Enjoy our unparalleled quality, elegance, and distinction!

We have completely renovated the style of photography.

I have interest in photography and started at an early age.  My grandmother, was a photographer’s assistant. She gave me early teachings in traditional archival black and white print photography.  My mother, was a photo enthusiast and she further sparked his interest by exposing me to different camera equipment. At an early age I was amazed how much science played a role in photography, and he loved it.

excelled in photojournalism

In high school, I excelled in photojournalism, specifically life style and sports photography.  It was in his experience with sports photography that he realized things happen in a blink of an eye.  “You have to be on your toes to capture the moment. You will only have one chance to capture this shot”.  These early teachings are what have evolved my intuitive and photojournalistic style of photography.

Whether it is capturing a bride as she coyly smiles at her husband to be, or the early moments of an infant’s life as he takes his first breath, or having a son kiss his mother on her cheek as they pose for a portrait.  I has the ability to capture these quick once in a lifetime moments.  He meets and connects with his clients instantly. This enables him to grasp the look and feel that his client is looking for. This is evident in every project he submerges himself in. The only thing he asks of his clients, “Be yourselves,” he will bring out the best in them. My images are clean, crisp, and the detail is incredible. I attribute the success to God for the many gifts and talents he has bestowed on me.

Use a stage name on sites, boards, forums and in mails.

Do not give out your real name, address or phone number, to just anyone! You should also think seriously about how accurate a location you wish to give at all. If you live in a large city such as London or New York, then it is probably safe to make that public. But, if you live in a small town you may be at risk of being found. So just say which county or state you live in, that is accurate enough. Start off by choosing a stage name and sticking to it. Then get yourself an e-mail address, to fit in with your new modelling indentity. There are plenty of free e-mail providers, such as hotmail.com. If you do need to give your real name or other details, such as when registering your own domain name. Be aware of what will be made public, and if possible give your stage name and alternative information for those parts. Giving your real name and information only where it will be kept private.

Do not make the mistake many models do, of using a stage name

Do not make the mistake many models do, of using a stage name, but then using an e-mail address which is obviously made up from a real name. Do not make the mistake of registering your own domain name, and giving your real name, address and phone number on the registrant details, which can be seen by anyone as they are public information. Do not make the mistake of choosing a username on forums which is actually made up from your real name. Many times you see models that have made these mistakes, using a stage name such as Jade Banks, but using an e-mail address such as sarahbrown@whatever.com, totally defeating the purpose of using a stage name.

So you are ready to start taking offers?

How do you decide what are genuine offers? How do you decide who it would be safe to meet or shoot with? We will try and give you a practical, rough guide to filtering out the good from the bad. Take a look at the e-mail address of the person making you the offer. Are they using a free, anonymous e-mail? Such as hotmail or yahoo. Genuine people do use these free services, but who are they claiming to be? If it is some big shot who is going to make you a star, then why are they using a free mailing company? Surely they may even have their own domain name? Such as bigshotphotographer.com and therefore their mail should come from there. If they are claiming to be an agency, again why are they using free e-mail? Surely any real business will be mailing from an address belonging to their company domain name.

Even if the person does not have their own domain name

Even if the person does not have their own domain name, why are they not using the e-mail address that comes with their Internet access company? Such as aol.com. Again, yes genuine people do use free mailing companies, but then again so do the people you want to avoid! Why? Because it makes them more anonymous and harder to trace. Next look at the content of the mail. Can they spell? Does the mail look like it may have been written by a child? Have they put any effort in to the content? Or does it just say, I want to shoot you, how much? Have they offered any evidence of who they are? A web site link that shows some of their work? Perhaps the names of models they have worked with? Have they attached any samples of their work to the mail? If they put little effort in to contacting you, how much effort do they put in to their work? Or is it they are not genuine?

Even if they do show you sample work

Even if they do show you sample work, make sure those samples no matter if on web sites or attached to mails is the work of that person, and is not someone else's. There is nothing to stop some fake copying other peoples photographs and using them to set up a fake photographers profile. Yes, it has been done! Get references from 1 or 2 models the photographer has worked with. If getting references via e-mail, make sure that the mails are actually from the models and not just mailing addresses created for that purpose. If in any doubt ask the models if they will talk to you on the phone. Ask the models for web site links you can see them on, make sure e-mail's match and you are talking to the person you think you are. Getting references from other models a photographer has worked with is your most important safety measure.

Once you are happy that the offer is genuine

Once you are happy that the offer is genuine, is within your limitations and that either the price is right or the TFP deal is to your liking, then we suggest you talk to the photographer on the phone. You can get a much better feel for who someone is on the phone, what they are like, and also it will give you both a chance to discuss the shoot requirements in detail. Beware of anyone who is not willing to talk on the phone before any meeting or shoot. Beware of anybody and that goes for models too, who is not willing to give at least a mobile phone number after the e-mail checks have been done. If a photographer is not willing to give his mobile number after e-mail contact is complete, then why? Either he is not happy that the model is genuine or he has something to hide. If the model is not willing to give her mobile number after e-mail contact is complete, then she is either not happy that the photographer is genuine or she has something to hide. Such as she is unreliable and may not turn up to shoots! Remember just as the model has a right to check out a photographer and ask him to prove himself, a photographer has a right to expect the same from the model.

Let's assume you have done your e-mail checks and have talked on the phone

Let's assume you have done your e-mail checks and have talked on the phone, and everyone is happy. It is now time to arrange the shoot. Where will the shoot be? A studio? A hotel? Some other location? Phone the studio or hotel just to confirm that it exists and is actually booked. If working from a home studio make sure you have the address and phone number. For all shoots, tell at least one other person where you are going and what time you are expected back. If the photographer paying for your travel is part of the deal, consider asking them to buy the tickets and you simply collect them from the station or airport. But if you do, be sure you are not going to let them down! If accommodation is paid, contact the hotel and make sure it is booked and paid for, but again do not let them pay out and then let them down. If in any doubt about doing a shoot or making it to a shoot, do not allow the photographer to spend money he cannot get back.

If possible take a chaperone with you on your first shoot with a photographer

If possible take a chaperone with you on your first shoot with a photographer, especially if working at a home studio or hotel. But do not expect your chaperone to be able to watch or interfere with the shoot. Remember you are meant to be working, would you expect to have your boyfriend, mother or friend watch you while you did an office or shop job? Before a shoot is arranged it should be discussed if there will be a chaperone, who the chaperone will be and where the chaperone will be during the shoot. Also do not expect for your chaperones travel or time to be paid for! There may be genuine photographers who are not happy to do the shoot with your chosen chaperone present. We have heard of photographers refusing shoots because the chaperone was under 18, because the chaperone turned out to be a nuisance on a previous shoot, because the chaperone is a boyfriend who does not really want his girlfriend to model and even just because the model was not willing to say who her chaperone would be. Yes a model has a right to information before doing a shoot with someone. But the photographer also has a right to that information. Would a model not want to know if the photographer was also bringing someone else? Would the model not want to know who that person was and what they will be doing?

When you reach the shoot location, ring someone to let them know you have arrived safely and then again when leaving to go home. Maybe even half way through the shoot at an agreed time. Have secret words agreed, 1 to say everything is OK and another to say something is wrong. Plan how you will get to the shoot and plan how you will get back. Do not leave it to chance. If possible have a back up plan, such as having enough money to get home by taxi if the trains are not working. But make sure it is a licensed taxi, many women are assaulted or raped by unlicensed or bogus taxi drivers. Carry a credit card, so if the worst comes to the worst you can stay overnight in a hotel. It is best to have a back up plan.

If accepting a drink, of any kind. Make sure you know what it contains, and if you leave it unattended at anytime, do not drink it. So called date rape drugs are a real and dangerous problem. You will have no control over what is done to you and possibly even no memory of it, if you are given one of these drugs. It is also not a good idea to drink too much alcohol, again you may not be in control if you do. It might be a good idea to take a bottle of water with you to shoots, that way you keep hydrated and safe.

There are many genuine and reputable photographers out there

There are many genuine and reputable photographers out there, it is only a small percentage that spoil things for others. Yes, most photographers are male and more than likely find the models they hire attractive, otherwise why would they hire them? But, someone finding you attractive is not a crime. There is a difference between flirting, which is harmless and someone who may be a danger to your safety. If someone is a professional some might say they should not even flirt. Yet in the real world in all professions and all environments it goes on. No matter if you are working in an office, out in a bar having a drink for fun, or posing for photographs in a studio. People meet and flirt. A very large percentage of people meet their partners through work. Does this mean they acted unprofessionally? Does this mean they are a danger to everyone they work with?

No model should be harmed or assaulted in anyway.

A model should be able to do her job without fear for safety and the photographer should ensure that safety. And many photographers take that duty seriously. After all if something does happen to the model, even if it is on her way home, long after leaving the shoot and parting with the photographer. It is the photographer who will be first on the police's list. With that in mind, it would be fairly foolish for any potential rapist or killer to find victims via the Internet hiring them as models. Less dangerous than those who may want to harm you, but probably much more common, are those who want to take advantage of you. Many models are tricked in to parting with money or giving sexual favours for things that just do not happen and are not within the power of the photographer. It is unlikely that the guy photographing you has connections with the editor of some magazine and can get you on the front cover. You are better off being told the truth by someone, even if it is not what you want to hear.

Your average photographer is just a hobbyist, an amateur, taking photographs for fun

Your average photographer is just a hobbyist, an amateur, taking photographs for fun and possibly publishing them on the Internet. Not very exciting sounding, but still an opportunity for models to get experience, good photographs and an income. It may even be true that an amateur photographer who knows the business could give a model a step up. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

First you are going to need photographs.

To start, simply get a friend or family member to take some simple clear shots. Do not pay for a portfolio or model training. Do not pay a studio or agency to sign you up! Even if you are lucky enough to get a genuine and well priced deal, it will rarely help you make it as a model or get paid work. Find a plain background for your photographs, a wall, or hanging sheet will do. Get several face shots and several full length shots, front back and sides! The photographs do not need to be professional, just enough for people to see if you have potential or are what they may be looking for. Do not get too made up, keep it simple and natural. At this point they want to see the real you. A digital camera is ideal for those using the Internet, as the photographs are already in a format that can be used for sending and viewing online. Avoid using webcams as the quality of the image is normally very bad. If you only have prints you will need to get them scanned. Photographs are best saved in the JPEG (.jpg) format, which balances quality and file size.

Unless you get lucky, before you can set yourself up as a paid model you need practice and experience

Unless you get lucky, before you can set yourself up as a paid model you need practice and experience. The best and cheapest way to do this is called Time For Prints (TFP) or Prints For Time (PFT). Photographers just like models need practice and experience, so there are many photographers willing to photograph models for nothing. The photographer gets a free model, the model gets a free photographer and both get photographs to show off. Everyone is happy! There are downsides and scams to this. Obviously, you should only do TFP if you like the photographers previous work. And you are sure it is his! You should also not do explicit work for TFP, even if you are intending to be an adult style model. Artistic nudity is the place to draw the line for TFP.

When doing TFP it is very important to be clear on who will be able to use the photographs

When doing TFP it is very important to be clear on who will be able to use the photographs and for what reasons. Also just how many photographs you can expect to get and in what format (prints or digital). This should be discussed and agreed before the shoot. And it is always best to confirm what has been agreed in a model release (explained below). It is also very important to discuss and agree on exactly what the shoot will be. Clothed, topless, nude, etc? This of course also goes for paid shoots. We suggest 2 or 3 TFP shoots, with different photographers before trying to get paid. This will allow the building up of a portfolio to show prospective clients and will give you the important experience needed of how to pose and of being photographed by strangers. Do not expect to be taken seriously after doing a few snaps for your boyfriend around the house or shooting yourself on webcam.

Models travel and they travel a lot

Models travel and they travel a lot. If you are serious about being a model, then you need to be willing to travel at least a few hours on a train, bus or by car. Normally for paid work the cost of travel is paid by the photographer. If you are not willing to travel, you will find it hard and you should think again if modelling is for you. Some photographers will also pay the models travel costs for TFP. In general at this level of modelling, clothes will normally be the models own clothes. Few shoots paid or TFP have clothes supplied. Models are normally expected to turn up with a good selection of clothes and lingerie. This by no means needs to be designer stuff or cost a fortune.

Note, these days you will see other abbreviations, such as TFCD, meaning Time For Compact Disc, with the photographs on. All these things basically come down to the same thing. You model for free, they shoot for free, and you both get to use the photographs. Even experienced models do TFP sometimes, to keep their portfolios up-to-date and network. Some may use the term test shoot or testing. In its true form, testing is not the same as TFP. But many now use it to mean TFP. Real test shoots are at the high end of the market, where there is a paid job coming up and models need to be auditioned (tested) for it. But the excuse of testing, is often used as a scam to get free shoots. Do not fall for it!

You should also start considering at this point what your limitations are. Just how open minded are you? And what are you willing for your family and friends to see? Are you OK with being seen nude by potentially millions of people? Once you start modelling and photographs are taken, you will start to lose control of who sees them, where or why!

No matter if you are trying to find paid work or TFP, you need to promote yourself.

You need to get seen, and being seen by as many people as possible even if they are not people who might hire you as a model is not a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with building up a fan base if you are serious about building a career. The many good model directories about are one of the first tools you should use to find work and build up a fan base. This site gets tens of thousands of visitors each month, some looking to hire models, some just enjoying the view. There is no need to pay to be put on any site, although some do attempt to charge. There are plenty of free ones and many of the free ones are much better and more successful. But avoid sites that also push escorts, dating, porn and sex chat lines. Also avoid sites with bad spelling and grammar, your image will be judged on the image of the sites you are listed on.

So get yourself listed on this site and other good free sites

So get yourself listed on this site and other good free sites, hopefully then offers from photographers will start to come in. If you are a new model in need of experience and a portfolio, say you will do TFP with photographers who's work you like. Once you have done your time and built up a portfolio, say you are looking for paid work. Most sites like this one, as well as giving a space to show photographs, give a section for the model to say something. Use it, sell yourself. If you do not seem interested, why should anyone be interested in you? Another tool to use is message boards or forums. Forums allow people to post messages, in the case of modelling forums such as this sites forum. The forum is there for models to advertise that they are looking for work, for photographers to advertise that they are looking for models, or for either to discuss modelling related issues, show off their work, network, or even just chat. Forums are also good places to get an idea of who is who. But remember not to believe all you read and that forums should not be used for revenge or to spread gossip and lies. Avoid forums which do!

When posting on a forum

When posting on a forum, think about what you are going to say and the purpose of your post. If you are looking for paid work, then say you are looking for paid work. Give your location, such as the country you are in and what part of that country. Say what types of work you are willing to take and how far you may be willing to travel. If you do not put any effort in to your post and show people you are serious and interested, then why should serious people be interested in you? If possible, try and include a photograph in posts or a link to a site where your photographs can be seen. Both would be even better. And make sure you can actually be contacted.

The next stage in Internet self promotion is having your own web site

The next stage in Internet self promotion is having your own web site. It is not that hard to create a basic site using a free service such as geocities.com to host it for you, although such services have serious limits on content (no nudity) and place advertising banners on your site. Internet access suppliers, such as AOL, normally give members free space to host a web site on. The content restrictions will probably still apply but there may be no banner advertising making your site look ugly. If you want to be really serious, you may like to have your own domain name, so you look more professional and so people can easily remember the address of your site. You may even want to get your site professionally designed and hosted on paid web space. But that will normally cost you quite a bit. And just like you need to be wary of photographers and agencies trying to take money from you, also be wary of web designers doing the same. It may be worth paying someone for a professionally designed site and hosting, but you may be able to get the same deal cheaper or in exchange for you modelling.

To take advantage of model directories, forums and even having your own site. You will need an e-mail address, and to at times hand over personal information. The more public you are, the more offers you will get. But also ones you do not want, modelling and non modelling. You may even get abusive mails or messages from obsessed fans! With the e-mail address you use or personal information you give, be careful.