The older I get, the more I am thankful for the great gift of photography and the ability we have to take pictures of life’s most special and ordinary events. Perhaps I am aware of the value of pictures because my father was a photographer and so I was raised around cameras and pictures all the time. I’m not sure, I just know that I am convinced that everyone would do well to make pictures a more prominent thing in their life.

I talk to many people who have trouble remembering the details of their childhood or of some of the most significant events of their lives. This saddens me greatly because I do not think that it has to be this way. I think that regardless of whether or not you have a lot of pictures from your past, anyone can start now to take pictures and make memories of their life from this point forward.

Taking memorable pictures doesn’t mean that you have to be a professional photographer or that you need to have years of experience. All you need to have is an eye for capturing the memories that happen everyday in your life. A great first step is to head out and get a couple of disposable cameras. If you’re surprised that I am encouraging you to get dispoable cameras rather than a “real” camera, then read on. I suggest this because disposable cameras are an easy and cheap way to begin practicing taking pictures. Don’t jump into purchasing an expensive camera until you are comfortable taking the most basic pictures.

If you know anyone that is a bit more experienced with taking good pictures, hook up with them and see what you can learn. Other than just plain practicing taking your own pictures, the next best thing you can do is to join with other photographers and learn what you can. You might be surprised how quickly you learn to take great pictures that will become great memories for you and your family.

Grab an album to begin collecting the pictures you take. As you gather pictures I think that you’ll begin to really value them in a whole new way. I think you’ll value pictures as you realize that life is short and goes quickly and that you will be greatly aided in remembering by taking pictures. So grab a camera and start taking pictures. The rest of your life could easily be changed.

(1) For effective recovery of images for online use or print, we offer:

Despeckling, Denoising, Grain, noise or dirt
Sizing, cropping, Redeye corrections
Shiny complexion, improve skin tone as preferred, Finish it real,
Brightness and contrast, Fine adjustments for color cast and skin tone

Excessive shadows, Stray hair, Fixing clothing wrinkles or flaws
Removing blemishes, dirt, Adjust shadows, Reduce shakes

Air Brushing, Digital facelifts, Hollywood Glamorization

Permanent wrinkles, acne, blemishes
Altering facial features, Whiteness, perfection of teeth
Body build or shape - fill in, thin out

(2) For creative improvement of images for online or for great print results, we offer:

Improvement and production of your images for Personalized gifts & puzzles, mugs, t-shirts, Personalized calendars and cards, Personalized home d�cor, Posters and canvases, Frames and albums, Bound photo books, Portrait services, Personalized art iconic art,

Custom borders, Replica magazine cover borders, Legacy’s event borders, Stock event borders, Custom borders per customer design, Graphics

(3) If you have old or damaged images, we offer Restoration, Retouching, Colorization and Makeover
Restoration: Photo restoration, Art Restoration, photo repair and restoration, antique photo restoration
Restore photos, Remove stains, Remove tears, dirt, Restoring damages, scratches, water damage, fading, frame album glue damage, Loss of pigments, Loss of chemical coats, Silver fish damage, Fire or smoke partial damage, intensive denoising, Photographic corrections, Deconvulation, Restore with customer borders, Portraitize, Restore to water color, oil painting or pastel shades, Bringing back moldy, torn, cracked or folded images, Despeckling, Repairing color discoloration, Repairing minor shake, Repairing bad lighting and more.

Colorization
Black & white to color, color to black & white, sepia tone conversions, Digital hand coloring, color adjustments, Color balancing, Color tones, Color tints, Color matching, Color sequencing, Selective tints, Splash of color, Artistic imagination, New color schemes, Modernization, Duo tones, Tritones, 4 colors, Contrast themes, Color ageing, Poster colors, Portrait colors, Resequence to formal colors, Resequence to casual colors, Resequence to fit a custom theme or an event, Glossy to matte finish or vice versa, Correction of color shifts and more.

Retouching
Resize, Crop or trim any part of the photo, Cropping for a target print, Brighten, Lighten, Darken, Contrast adjustments & balancing, Red Eye repair, Whiten teeth, Sharpen image, Adjust colors, Tonal Color Contrast curves, Brushing, Blurring, Sharpening, Smudging, Fetching, Healing, Dodging, Burning, Stamping, Sponging, De-blurring, Minor focus improvement, De-focusing, Noise reduction, Design with noise addition, Ageing, Blending, Distorting, Liquefying, Extracting, Level adjusting, Channel mixing, Shadow adjustments, Highlight adjustment, Fixing of clipped highlights, Add edit, or remove, caption or text, Add texture and more.

Makeover
Remove or smoothen wrinkles, Remove braces, scars, spots, tattoos, moles and other blemishes, Add and remove hair, Change hair color, eye color, clothing color, Beauty makeovers, Add a beauty spot (like a popular personality), Hollywood glamorization, Change hairstyles and hair do’s, Edit photo facial expressions (bring a smile on), Change lighting and mood of the photograph, Change the background or scenery, Relocate an image (from indoors to outdoors for example) Change color or patterns for objects in the background, Remove patterns or textures from the image, Superimpose two images, Add or remove people from a frame, Add or remove objects from a page, Add or remove a cap, hair band, jewelry or accessory, Clothing and cosmetics makeover, Fit to an event or a theme and more

(4) If you are a progressive webmaster and your users post images in your site, we have revenue creation opportunities for you. Innovative partnerships that make your customers photos look great, increase visit stickiness and creating a partnership revenue stream.

(5) If you are an artist (digital, analog or fusion), a collector, auctioneer, museum, art gallery, art appreciator or a student of art, Fireia is coming soon with online art galleries, story boards, global community of art appreciators and online art catalog with a global reach and online auctions.

Everyone loves coffee mugs, but who would’ve guessed that they would be commonly used as a decoration. Not just any coffee mug, but rather photo mugs are the best of both worlds when it comes to having a functional mug with a touch of personalization.

Photo mugs are often given as gifts and feature the likeness of someone special, which may be a friend, relative or even a pet in some cases. A good example of the perfect occasion for giving photo mugs as a gift would be a birth announcement or child’s birthday celebration. The parents of the little one would have their child’s picture designed for use on the outside of a mug. Upon placing the order, the photo mugs would be created and could then be distributed to friends and family. This would be a wonderful way for family members to always have a photo of their favorite new addition sitting on the coffee table. In addition, personalized photo mugs can be presented with candy inside and given as a special gift.

Because photo mugs are designed for decorative purposes, many individuals do not actually use them to drink from. Prolonged washing may cause cracking or could result in the photo fading. To avoid this from happening, many people use photo mugs as pen and pencil holders that are strategically placed on the living room coffee or end table. Commonly made of ceramic, just as with any standard mug, photo mugs are available in a variety of base colors with various border designs and/or whimsy patterns.

With continued advancements in technology, many photo centers now allow customers to bring in their favorite picture on paper or disc and order photo mugs on site. Many developers allow the customer to crop the photo, add borders and/or perform touch-ups when placing the order. A number of online photo studios offer the same convenience as local studios, but both will ask the customer to allow for additional delivery time on personalized orders of photo mugs. Common photos that are used would include special occasions, favorite pets, friends and family members, etc.

In addition to commemorating special events or people, personalized photo mugs and other products are a terrific way to earn some extra money. In many cases, especially with personalized photo mugs, these products are used as knick knacks that are more for visual purposes than actual use. These products are extremely popular at craft fairs and through other special order opportunities.

Is the feeling of a soon-come-crashing birthday of your beloved, a close relative or a friend and the following headache about what to choose as a gift familiar to you? There are so many pretty things in store, but most of them seem a bit trivial and when you ask your friends for advice, they all have the same answer, similar to what probably everyone else would suggest, which signals “Hey, don’t buy it.” If you find yourself in a situation like this, and you would like your gift to have a personal touch, think photo mugs.

Why can a photo mug make a nice present? Because the companies that produce photo mugs can place any photo that you like on it. It can be a picture of the person that you are going to give a present to, or your own funny little face, or maybe a sweet picture of you together, or of your child or a pet. Moreover, if you add a pinch of creativity, you can bring in a picture of some object that has a meaning for both of you, something that can remind you of a special or a funny moment in your life.

Secondly, photo mug producers are ready to put in a customized text on the other side of the mug to supplement the picture, which can be funny, romantic or your self-expression can take some other shape.

And thirdly, because it is a mug and a photo in one and it is functional. You can enjoy your drink, a picture and a memory, at least of the moment and the person, who gave it to you.

Furthermore, the gift mugs that are advertised and sold online are in most cases made of ceramics. They are dishwasher and microwave safe, which means the picture will not fade and the text will persist as well after you put the cup in the machine or the oven. However, if you go for a stainless steel travel mug, that can be not dishwasher or microwave safe. The selling companies recommend delicate hand washing, but guarantee that dye-sublimation ink, which is used for printing the picture, is bullet-proof and will never fade.

Besides creating your own design with a personal touch, the mugs are beautiful from the point of view of delivery time. They can be obtained as quickly as in 24 hours. Of course, if you want to order it to arrive on Christmas Day or in time for any other big holiday, you should think about it in advance. Some companies would advise to place orders by December 14.
And then again, there is a discount system that is applicable to the amount of photo mugs purchased. The more you buy, the less you pay per cup. You might like to acquire a round of mugs to present it to all the members of your family with different photos and different words to accompany. That will surely liven up and stimulate the party.

A handbag is an item that is essential to many women. In fact, almost all women carry a handbag or a purse. There are many women who search multiples stores and catalogs just to find the perfect handbag. Selecting a handbag to purchase can be a difficult task, especially for those who are looking for something particular. What many women fail to realize is that they can create their own customized handbag. A photo handbag is one of the most popular customized purses on the market today.

A photo handbag is a handbag that displays a single image or a whole picture. Photo handbags are complicated to make. They can most easily be obtained by hiring the services of a professional. The photo handbag selection will all depend on the designer in question; however, there are some common photo handbags styles are in high demand.

Before selecting a bag style many individuals already have the photo that they would like to have constructed on the bag in mind. If you are interested in purchasing a customized photo handbag you will want to have a specific photograph in mind if you don’t already have one. Selecting the photograph before the bag will allow you to get a better idea as to how each bag will look with your photograph constructed on it.

Bucket and tote style handbags are the most popular types of bags that can be turned into a photo handbag. These handbags are likely to come in different sizes. It is likely that the larger the size of the handbag the more expensive it will be to have a photo constructed on it. In addition to the bucket and tote style handbags, it is possible to have a photograph constructed on a diaper bag or a beach bag.

It is also possible to purchase a smaller photo handbag. Petite handbags, also commonly known as coin purses or cosmetic bags, are a popular accessory among women of all ages. A cosmetic bag or a coin purse can be used to carry money, makeup, or other small items. Coin purses and cosmetic bags are often combined with a larger purse. As with all other photo handbags, you will be required to select the picture that you want your coin purse or cosmetic bag to display. It is not uncommon for a coin purse or a cosmetic bag to have a photograph constructed on both sides; however, as the purse owner you will have the final say.

No matter what style of photo handbag you select, you should be able to have your bag customized to meet your desire. This often allows you to not only select the photo to be constructed on the bag, but the exterior border and interior purse color as well. With the ability to design a photo handbag just about anyway that you want there is no reason why you shouldn’t at least consider owning one.

For most photographers the most important factor in their photography is the sharp quality of their images. To get the very best quality we need to know which lenses to use and the best time to use they. There are several lenses on the market today that should become part of our every day tool.

Standard lenses: are the most common use on today market. A standard lens has a focal length between 40 mm and 60 mm, which can be used for all types of photography. It’s the most flexible of all the lenses and should remain on the camera body at all times.

Telephoto zoom lens: for any one interested in wildlife photography a telephoto lens should become your standard lens. With a focal length of between 60 mm and 300 mm, this is also a perfect lens for the sport enthusiast. The telephoto lens allows you to capture the far away object and can also be used for landscape images

You can use this lens for close-ups, but be careful with your composition. Large areas of the image will become blank and could destroy your picture.

When using a telephoto lens always make sure that you have the camera supported with a tripod. If you cant use a tripod try using a beanbag - rest the lens on the bag when taking your images.

Wide-angle lens: is the choice of most landscape photographers. They allow you to include as much of the scene as possible when you look in your viewfinder with a wide focal length of 17 mm to 40mm. The wider the lens you use, the closer you need to be to an object of foreground interest, to add impact to your photography. Ultra wide-angle lenses have a focal length of 8 mm to 28 mm.

Macro lens: is perfect for ultra close-ups shots with an average focal length of 100 mm. If you are looking to take images of small objects, such as: flowers or insects, a macro lens should become part of your camera bag. A macro lens will also allow you to take unique abstract images. By using a wide aperture with a macro lens on natural shapes can create the perfect abstract image.

Be careful with focusing when using a macro lens, it is tough on a good day and can be impossible if the weather is windy.

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* Can I develop my own photographs?

Yes, you can. By having your own darkroom, it is possible that you can develop your own photos. You first need to set up your own darkroom and buy darkroom equipment.

* What equipment and supplies do I need in a darkroom?

A darkroom requires many kinds of equipment to get you started in developing your photos. It is expensive, so you should prepare a sufficient amount of money to get into this hobby.

The darkroom necessities are:

* Enlarger
* Negative carrier
* Lens Board
* Lens
* Safelight
* Print trays
* Timer
* Thermometer
* Funnel
* Chemical jugs
* Developer, stop, fixer
* Printing paper
* Mixing rod
* Print squeegee
* Dust brush
* Graduates
* Negative Storage
* Dark Bag/ Dark room
* Film tank
* Film reels
* Film

Above is the equipment you need for a darkroom. However, you still need additional equipment to set up a complete darkroom above and beyond the former, which includes:

* Paper cutter
* Color print drum
* Motor base for print drum or rotary processor
* Color head or filters
* Color printing paper
* Color chemicals
* Jugs and graduates for color chemistry
* Color print viewing filter kit
* Light table
* Dry mount press
* Mounting tissue
* Bulk film loader
* Film cassettes
* Darkroom sink
* Water board
* Film drier
* Print drier
* Toners
* Jugs for toners
* Exposure/color analyzer
* Repeating printing timer
* Photo Oils/pencils
* Print tongs
* Hypo clear, photo-flow
* Easel
* Polycontrast Filters
* Film clips
* Print washer
* Blotter book
* Projection scale
* Antistaticum
* Canned air
* Loupe
* Cropping guide
* Film washer
* Cotton gloves
* Spotting dyes
* Spotting brush
* Contact printer
* Grain focuser

* What makes a good darkroom?

A good darkroom should be light-proof, spacious, have dry and wet areas, have ventilation, have bench space, be organized, have a safe light, and be comfortable to work in. Since you will be working with chemicals, it is important that you have enough space to maneuver to avoid tripping over dangerous chemicals.

Did you every pick up a newspaper or a magazine where a single image is used to tell a story. This is known as photojournalism. Photojournalism can fall under all subjects of photography but the image needs to be news worthy to end up being published.

There are two types of photojournalism.

The first type is where an image is used to illustrate a story. Many feature journalists work closely with photographers and commission them to produce images that will be published with their articles. There is no limit to how many images can be used. This is usually the photo editors decision.

The second is where an image is used to tell a story without any words. One single image may be used or as many as ten images are often used in magazines. If you can write - do so; it will be an advantage when you submit some images.

One of the most important qualities of a photojournalist is his ability to react quickly when he comes along a scene that may be news worthy.

Other than the obvious, here is a list of items which may be news worthy.

Impact pictures.
Pictures of the Environment
People.
New buildings.

If you are serious about photojournalism build a collection of images from your area. Many of these pictures will not be immediately news worthy but may be down the road. Take pictures of all the factories and buildings in the area. Some day a factory may close and you may not be able to get to the scene. Also have plenty of pictures of local businessmen and politicians.

Some photojournalists are lucky enough to get assignments from newspapers or magazines, most have to follow or find the news to make a living.

The world of digital photography has made the work of the photojournalist a lot easier. Being able to view, scan and e-mail images to a publisher instantly is a massive advantage.

The work of a photojournalist can be extremely harsh - taking pictures in all kinds of extreme conditions and in very dangerous situations. Many photojournalists die each year in war zones and at different natural disasters around the world.

We live in a world, where today’s news is forgotten tomorrow and the need to get the images quickly to the publisher is so important. If you have images that are news worthy don’t delay sending them to a news agency or publisher. They won’t stay in the news very long.

That’s right. Who could say that there’s no chance that your hobby could also be the foundation of your first business venture? There are a lot of people out there who are in need of a good photographer to capture images of their son’s wedding, their daughter’s graduation or their very own wedding. Why couldn’t you be the one to supply your photography services to their needs?

For the transition of photography from hobby to your very own business, there are several tasks that you have to accomplish first.

Market Your Photography Skills - Sell yourself, in other words! Let people know about what you can do in the field of photography, why they need your skills and why they should hire you. Make sure, however, that you charge them reasonable rates since you’re still more or less an amateur in the field of photography.

To effectively market your photography skills, don’t be afraid of spending a little money on posting ads in the classified sections. Don’t stop there but post about your photography business in as many places as you can.

Join Interest Groups - This could be the local photography club in your community or the association of young photographers in your school. It could also be a Yahoo Group that you could easily join.

Usually, these groups are able to hold regular or annual exhibits of their works and it wouldn’t hurt to expose to the world the beauty of your works in photography.

Join Photo Competitions - Two things that you could enjoy when joining photography competitions: fame and fortune. Both are equally important. Fame would do wonders to your career in photography because it would let the world know about your skills and winning a photography competition may also offer the prize of having an apprenticeship under a world famous photographer. And when it comes to wealth - well, when did extra money ever hurt?

Offer Your Skills For Free to Government Projects - The government is always on the lookout for professionals who are willing to work for free and you should take advantage of this. Offer your photography skills for free because this would give you the opportunity to show them what you got.

Offer Samples of Your Work to Newspapers and Magazines - This is just like joining a photography competition. When you offer samples of your work to newspapers and magazines, you’re improving the chances that you’ll get noticed by the people who matters.

Although we can’t say that the road to victory is easy, never give up, never stop taking pictures and you’re sure to go far!

The very first thing to do if you want to make money from your photographs is learn how to create great images. In the world of fashion photography - sharpness sells. The subject of how to take a great image is too complex for this article, however the following points are important:
* Have a good camera with manual controls.
* Know how to use it and use it well.
* Have a good eye for detail, composition and color.
* Always be ready to grab an opportunity when it presents itself.

If you happen to be driving through amazing Canadian roads and come across a deer (or a bunch of them), get your camera! Watch for sunsets, moonrise, cloud formations and tree shapes. Keep a sharp eye on your pets for weird and funny poses. Visit flower shops and exhibitions. Flower pictures are many photographers’ bread and butter and they can be easily photographed. Greeting card markets love photos of flowers, gardens, sunsets, sky scrapers and cute photos of animals. Wildlife and nature are great for calendars and geographic magazines as well as educational fields.

Diversity and quality are the biggest aspects in photography. The wider the range of topics you cover, the more likely you will get a sale. Anyone can make a good living from stock photos. Freelance photographer Dmitri Markine sells just as many photos taken from his own backyard as from exotic and far away locations. If you love travelling, put your holidays to work for you. Travel guides, brochures and websites could be possible markets for your photos. Take photographs everywhere you go!

So what to do with that fantastic shot? The edges are sharp as razor, while the clarity would bring joy to many publishers; the main thing to aim for with any image is to sell it to multiple markets. This is taken care of if you submit to a stock agency. They sell to large corporations as well as small business. It’s a perfect way to gain some exposure and see what’s out there. You don’t have to be responsible for selling your own stuff, but to have more sales, it’s always good to try to sell the photos yourself (websites,galleries,etc).

It is important for any photographer to keep a portfolio of his work to show. You never know when you’ll meet a prospective buyer who wants to look at your work. No one will not be impressed if you have to dig through a dusty desk to scrape them together or use email to send them to clients. Have a printed portfolio as well as a web based portfolio. When you do get a sale, don’t charge a large amount just because the picture only took a few minutes of your time. You’ve spent years learning your craft. You spend a considerable amount on equipment, advertising and education and your photos are worth a decent figure.

If you really know what you are talking about and can take a fantastic shot, think of submitting it to a publication or a magazine, along with all the details of the precise equipment you used and a step-by step guide of your procedure. A bit of a challenge perhaps, but worth the effort. There are many other markets to consider too; all kind of magazines, newspapers, travel guides and books. So grab your camera and don’t stop shooting! Photography is an art and the more you practice the better you will become. No famous photographers became like that overnight. We all spent sleepless nights perfecting our craft