American Academy of Photography Blog

Recommended Software For Your Photography Course

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Millions of photographs are taken every day and people are using photographs and images to communicate and tell stories. With the right skill-set and tools, your photograph has the power to captivate and to inspire. Whether you aspire to be a professional photographer or you are simply an enthusiast who wants to learn more, a good photography course can provide a solid foundation for you to build on.

The Power of Advertising Photography

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0100

We are surrounded by imagery, much of it used to sell stuff. But how much of it is selling something you really need, rather than something you’d like to have? Photographs play an important role in advertising and marketing because they can tell a story. Nowadays, consumers are very visual - therefore, only the images that stand out can really capture their attention. Here we share how to shoot great advertising photographs.

7 Steps for Creating an Environmental Portrait

Wed, 11 May 2022 00:00:00 +0100

An environmental portrait is a portrait of a subject in their typical environments such as home or place of work to illustrate the subject’s life and surroundings.

The Most Captivating Street Photography Tips

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Street Photography, or Candid Photography as it is also known, is defined by capturing a transient moment in a public place, and freezing that moment in time. Most street photography is opportunistic and impulsive, but it can also be planned.

Idea generation techniques for upcoming or ongoing projects

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The Key Phases of a Photography Project

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 +0000

When striving for excellent shots, it is fundamental to understand each phase of a project, and address it accordingly. Ideation, goals, techniques and evaluation must all be considered.

Meet the Tutor: Hugo Felix

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

In this blog, tutor and professional photographer Hugo Felix tells us what got him interested in photography, why he enjoys passing his knowledge and passion to his students, and shares his professional advice.

Blogging in Photography

Tue, 18 May 2021 00:00:00 +0100

While websites are a great way to showcase your work as a photographer, people often forget or are too busy to update them regularly. This can mean that they become quite stagnant over time and might not accurately represent your most recent work as a shooter.

Using a flash light in daylight

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0100

The thought of using a flash or strobe light can be quite intimidating at first, as it can give some hideous results, especially if you put everything on automatic. But don't worry! This article will share a few tips to help you master the flash and help you give an uninspiring daytime photograph the “wow” factor.

Retro Manual Focus Lenses

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Guide to Buying A Second Hand DSLR Camera

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Student Spotlight: Kamila Gwardynska

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 +0100

History of photography: a brief overview

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0100

White Balance Explained

Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Understanding Focal Length

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0100

Technically, focal length is the distance between the point of convergence and the camera sensor, but that’s not a particularly easy way to understand it. Instead, imagine a simple lens with one piece of glass focusing the light onto the sensor. The distance between the lens and the sensor is the focal distance. So, in a 100mm lens the distance between the glass and the sensor is 100mm. It’s as simple as that.

Image source: photographylife

How does focal length affect an image?

The Benefits of Online Learning

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

When we make the decision to find and study an online course, the workload can be troubling. Individuals who haven’t studied online courses before may be baffled by how to complete their tasks and stay on-target. Though it may seem unusual to you, many students thrive when they can study in their own time and complete work from anywhere.

Emily Miller: Becoming a successful Photographer

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Getting Started With Off Camera Flash In 4 Easy Steps

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Knowing how to use off camera flash is a challenge for everyone at first. I've never met anyone who understands it straight away. Fortunately, with just a little bit of patience and persistence, you can become comfortable using off camera flash to enhance your photography. In this blog, I will share some of my advice to get you started.

A Beginner’s Guide to Shooting a Wedding: The Preparation

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:00:00 +0100

Starting out as a wedding photographer is an exciting journey. And we all need to start somewhere; whether that’s your cousin’s wedding or your friend who’s on a tight budget.

Reading Images

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0100

There has never been a time in which the proliferation of imagery has been so apparent. One might argue that visual language has overtaken written language in many areas of life. Sometimes we have to decipher visual communication, such as restaurant toilet signs where the outline of top hat or a pair of stilettos is often more commonplace than written signage.

As photographers, we view and appreciate effective images all of the time but would you consider that you ‘read’ such images in addition to looking at them?

Meet Our Photography Senior Tutor, Anthony Griffin

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 00:00:00 +0100

In this blog, Anthony Griffin explains what skills a good photographer needs, how our courses develop these skills and what it’s like being a professional photographer.

Four steps to backing up

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

As most photographers now work exclusively with digital cameras, one of the disciplines we now have to embrace is backing up and storing our digital images. The fear of losing important images can be unthinkable but once you have a clear and logical backup routine there’s nothing to worry about.

Auto ISO: The Thrill of Victory

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most exciting things to learn about photography when you're starting out is how shooting in manual mode can give you some stunning results. Using a wide-open aperture will result in a beautifully blurred background, while shooting with extremely fast shutter speed allows you to freeze a child in flight bouncing up and down on a trampoline. These techniques are extremely fun to experiment with, so let's take a look at how they're done.

DIY Hacks for Basic Recommended Photography Equipment

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

There is a lot of photography equipment you may be tempted to purchase that is not required for the course. Before you go ahead and start purchasing, my advice is to carefully consider your budget and where your interests in photography lie before deciding what to buy.

Practice makes perfect

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100

There are many challenging assignments throughout your course that will develop all aspects of your photography. However, I recommend doing some optional shooting projects to practice and reinforce your basic technical skills.

How To Use Aperture

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO are the three key components used to create a correctly-exposed image. In this blog, we explain what aperture is and when and how you would use it to style an image.

A Short Guide to Long Exposure Photography

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Often in photography we work with shutter speeds that are fractions of a second. But we can use them to create exposures of many seconds, minutes and even longer. These long exposures can produce surreal and dreamlike images that go beyond what we see with the human eye.

8 reasons why photography students should use a tripod

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100

Taking your first steps in photography can be a daunting experience, particularly with a heavy piece of unfamiliar and expensive technology in your hands. A little help can go a long way. Here are eight reasons why you should use a tripod.

How to take a panoramic photograph

Wed, 09 May 2018 00:00:00 +0100

A panoramic photograph involves placing or "stitching" two or more photographs together to capture a wide vista. While it is possible to use a wide-angled lens to get similar results, this can exaggerate the distances between elements and introduce potentially unwanted perspective issues. Using a photographic panorama will overcome this.

Being a Confident Photographer

Fri, 13 Apr 2018 00:00:00 +0100

When it comes to photography, there is no substitute for confidence. Many technically competent photographers have missed out on getting that "perfect shot" purely because of a failure to believe in themselves.

The basic components of a good photograph

Thu, 01 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

In order to take a good photograph, it’s essential to understand the key components which constitute an image. In this blog, I will explain what these fundamental elements are and give you some tips on how to use them effectively to improve the quality of your images.

10 Tips for Generating Ideas for Your Personal Project

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Few things can be as rewarding as a personal project. A brief that you provide for yourself can introduce your own character, personality, interests and viewpoint to your imagery and allow you to highlight topics, issues or ideas that you feel should have a platform.

Previsualisation explained

Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Previsualisation is a technique where a photographer visualises or sees the final image in their mind before taking a photograph. It is a difficult skill to master but can be extremely valuable as it allows for greater control over the print process.

Techniques to achieve the shot you want using depth of field

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Am I using too much or too little depth of field? This is a question many photographers struggle with. Let’s take a look at some techniques you can use, depending on your subject.

Why you should shoot in raw file format

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 00:00:00 +0100

The raw image file format is arguably the greatest development in digital photography. When I first used digital cameras and JPEG image files, I wasn't very impressed as I could get a much better image from a digital scan of slide film. However, when I began to work with raw image files, I was amazed by the quality and versatility of the format.

Improve your focusing technique

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0100

Improving your focus accuracy and technique can help bring your photography to the next level. Modern DSLRs are constantly improving in terms of resolution and sensor quality and can test your focusing skills due to the extreme level of detail they are capturing. In this blog, I’ll provide some tips to help improve your focusing technique.

Top five advantages of a 50mm lens

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0100

A 50mm prime lens (also called a fixed focal length lens) is a must-have piece of equipment for anyone starting out in photography. It’s versatile, affordable and great for shooting all types of photos. In this blog, I will outline the benefits of a 50mm lens and why you should invest in one.

Working with pets

Mon, 19 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0100

Pet photography is the ultimate test of a photographer’s patience and professionalism. The main reason for this is that animals have an inability to take directions from a photographer. Even the most well-trained animal cannot be completely relied upon to remain still or look in a certain direction.

Balancing the demands of personal and commercial photography

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0100

As a photographer, it can be hard to make the transition from building a portfolio to working in the commercial world. We all want to make a living from photography, but there are times when it can feel like we are abandoning our creativity for the needs of our clients. I believe this can be viewed in a number of ways and that it is possible to balance your own creative process with the more structured demands of the industry.

Environmental Portraiture

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0100

The essence of environmental portraiture is to capture the subject in the context of their surroundings. The best portraits are achieved when the photographer and subject exist within a common space, completely aware of each other’s existence. The photograph then becomes a reflection of this relationship. In this post, I will tell you about the process I used in a recent portrait shoot to capture some wonderful images.

Making a Lens From Any Old Optic

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0100

When it comes to kit, photography is first and foremost about the lens. Sure, the digital sensor in the camera has an influence on the quality of the image, but not to the same extent that the lens does. Personally, I always think that any available budget should be spent on the optics rather than the camera body. Or better still, create your own.

Shooting in Fog

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Photographing foggy scenes can result in some wonderfully moody and atmospheric images, and as a photographer, I love the feeling of packing up my gear in preparation for an early morning shoot when I know there will be fog. However, without using certain photographic techniques, you can end up with dull, washed-out images.

Why Shoot in Film?

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Shooting film is exceptionally rewarding. Without the obvious ability to "review" what we’ve shot, we tend to put more thought and consideration into each and every image that we capture; not least because there’s a financial factor to be considered. If you find photography a mindful exercise, just try shooting in film, it’ll greatly intensify this most wonderful of aspects.

4 Secrets to Achieve the Perfect Portrait Photo

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Most of us find that getting great shots of people can sometimes be tricky. The most important aspects to portrait photography are lighting, framing your subject, camera techniques and learning to break the rules.

10 Top Tips for Creating Your Visual Diary

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

The Visual Diary is a hugely important element of the photography course, and for you as you develop your photography skills. We’ve put together 10 top tips to help guide you through getting started with your diary.

The Visual Diary: Learn to Love it

Thu, 08 Dec 2016 00:00:00 +0000

From day one of our photography course, there was a huge importance placed on the Visual Diary. What is it, we wondered? How do we create it? “Do whatever works for you”, we were told, “just remember to submit it as a PDF”.