Editorial Photography Tips

There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.
― Ansel Adams

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and photography serves as the perfect medium for these words. The beauty of a photograph is the fact that it isn't merely another piece of art or some random words put together, in fact every single photograph is a moment forever preserved in time.

Photography finds its place and is very much an integral part of many an industry, right from toy makers using it to sell their products, to super luxurious car makers selling their top cars. Photography isn't just restricted to selling a product, but can also be a very powerful tool in trying to convey a message or to add to a message.

Photography which is not aimed at selling a particular product or intended to advertise anything commercial is called editorial photography.

This field is rather vast and spans across almost all topics imaginable, right from still photography aimed at adding to the appeal of any literature or poem, to medical photography which tries to explain some rather serious matters about health.

These photographs could either speak entirely for themselves, or, as they are often used, may be used to better portray a subject.They could be used in print and written media or used for online and web content.

Editorial photography serves as a perfect platform for ardent photography fans and budding shutterbugs, as they prepare to get into the field of commercial photography. As opposed to commercial photography, editorial photography gives you a lot more scope for showing off your creative side, and add to your portfolio.

You could either choose to go solo and freelance in the field, or take a more traditional approach and join a photography agency. Most agencies actively look for amateur photographers in this field, and although there is no dearth of photography enthusiasts, there's always room for more creative minds.

You might want to focus on your strengths, and try to choose a line which appeals to you, rather than try your hand at everything. There are plenty of online sites as well, that promote upcoming talent in this field, and with time you might just have your own little fan base as well!

The beauty of this photography is the creative license and freedom of expression that you have. You are bound only by your imagination, and as they say, great photography is all about being at the right place at the right time.

It is imperative that you do not think of only one single picture, but rather think of a sequence of pictures. Often it takes a hundred takes before you get that one perfect shot, and at times just a casual click might become the centerpiece of your entire portfolio.

The key here is to be patient and click away, 'cos you never know which one would turn out to be that perfect image. If you can manage to narrate a story of sorts through these photographs, it would greatly improve the chances of your photographs getting selected for publication.

Here are some commonly known photojournalism photography tips that might seem rather obvious, but if taken care of can make all the difference between just another photograph and a breathtaking photograph.

• Cutlines for your photographs are necessary. This refers to a brief description of the people, place, and situation captured in the photograph.
• Obviously, the image quality of your photograph needs to be top-notch. Mediocre quality photographs have no chance of intriguing the viewer.

• The format of the image and its size are also crucial factors. The images should not be RAW files and should be in the JPEG format. The image should also be 200 pixels per square inch.

• It is also advisable to keep the Photoshopping of the image to a minimum.
• The sequence to follow for the shots should be the main shot, opening shot, overall shot, detail shot, and closer shot.

The market is very competitive and overly subscribed. For a young inexperienced photographer to get into this field would require a lot of hard work and plenty of patience. Though the market for this field of photography has expanded due to the widespread revolution in printing, the number of photographers has made the competition rather intense.

In the foreseeable future, this rising trend might continue to prosper as the costs of publishing and maintaining publications have come down greatly, due to technology. This is a trend that may never occur for portrait photography or landscape photography. Tips for this type of photography though, will serve you well. So grab your camera and start snapping already!