Get the Best Possible Holiday Pics

Stephen Dent knows your camera is going to be snapping and flashing away like crazy over the next few weeks, no matter what holiday you and your family will be celebrating. Whether you have hired Stephen Dent as your photographer for family holiday photos (www.stephendentphotos.com), or if you simply enjoy Stephen Dent's photography tips and tricks, we want to make sure you get great holiday photos this year and every year from now on. That's why we take the time to run this blog, because we know people across the world love taking their own photographs. Digital cameras have put the ability to take great pictures into the hands of the general public, not matter how much (or how little!) photography experience you may have.

The best advice we can give to novice photographers always starts with getting to know your camera. Digital cameras have more features than most people ever learn how to use, which is a shame because most people pick out and buy their camera based on these features, then never learn how to use them. Check out your camera's user manual, or if you are a more visual person, log onto websites like youtube that may have "how to" videos explaining your exact camera make and model. We know pushing buttons mindlessly on your camera can be scary, and we don't really recommend it, but do seek out a guide and learn which buttons you should be pushing, and when.

Once you know how to use your camera to its maximum potential, get over your fear of pulling your camera out in public. Many people say they regret not getting a photo because they felt embarrassed or felt like a tourist when they used their camera in public. Probably, no one around you actually notices (unless you are taking pictures in a movie theatre or something, which you shouldn't do), and it is far better to be embarrassed for a moment, and have a picture you will cherish forever, then to lose your picture and spare a moment of discomfort!

Charge your batteries often, and if you are traveling, consider buying a back up battery, just in case. Using the flash can drain the battery quickly, and you don't want to be stuck charging in the kitchen when the party is really starting. Motion shots, which are ideal for photographing small children who move quickly and fidget often, also are a huge drain on your camera battery, so be mindful and turn off the motion shot feature when shooting adults or landscapes.

Most of all, Stephen Dent wants you to remember to have fun with your camera. If you enjoy taking the pictures, people will enjoy looking at them! Enjoy your holiday season, extra time with family, and the potential a new year brings! Happy holidays from Stephen Dent Photography!

Taking your camera on vacation

Stephen Dent photography studios has always strived to help our clients take the best photos possible, which is why we maintain this blog. If you would rather hire a photographer than take your own pictures, please visit our main website at www.stephendentphotos.com. If you want fun and easy ideas on how to improve your photography skills and your entire photography experience, please subscribe to our blog so you will always be up to date on Stephen Dent news and advice.

Today, Stephen Dent has some advice for taking your camera on vacation, and how to get the best possible pictures while you’re gone. Some common mistakes that people make when they go on vacation are forgetting to buy and take a spare battery, taking the strap off their camera, and not bringing a hood to block excessive sun rays. Most of these problems are simply a matter of forgetting. It can be stressful to plan a vacation, especially if you have a family, or are leaving the country. There are many important details to attend to, and thinking about your camera can fall to the bottom of the list. Just remember these few easy tips when packing your camera.

You probably will want a spare battery at some point during your trip, especially if you are going to be gone for more than a week. Taking many pictures can drain the battery quickly, and some batteries can take hours to charge. In that time, you might miss the picture of a lifetime! A spare battery means you will never be left without your camera whenever that perfect shot comes.

Leaving on, or putting the strap that came with your camera is probably a good idea. Carrying your camera around can become tiresome, especially when taking tours or walking long distances. If you are able to hang your camera around your neck or on your wrist, it will seem less burdensome, and you will be more likely to take it out with you everywhere you go.

Many cameras that have interchangeable lenses come with an attachment called a hood. If your camera has an interchangeable lens but didn’t come with a hood, they are available for purchase and a pretty inexpensive. A hood is a plastic ring that attaches to the end of your lens to help block out excessive sun. This is particularly helpful when taking pictures in the afternoon, taking pictures towards the sun, or when visiting beaches, going sailing, etc. When you use a hood, you are less likely to have pictures that are overwhelmed with sunlight, giving you instead a clearer, more natural picture.

Remember, Stephen Dent is your source for all things photo and video, including advice, lessons, and photo shoots on site or in the studio. Visit our main website at www.stephendentphotos.com, or follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/stephendent10.

Find Photos with Stephen Dent

The Stephen Dent Photograph blog has always strived to bring our followers new, fun photography ideas, along with keeping you in the loop about our new promotions and services. Today, we are going to do both! Stephen Dent has a great new limited time offer for back to school pictures. Until the end of the month, we will be doing two back to school pictures for the price of one, which you can use to get two different poses for the same child, or you can pay for one child and get a second child’s photographs for free! We know the economy is a little rough right now, and that many struggling parents have a difficult time with the hefty cost of school supplies, so Stephen Dent wants to cut all those hard working parents out there a break. Please visit our website for more information about how to contact us and the locations of our studios at www.stephendentphotos.com.

For today’s photography tips and tricks, Stephen Dent wants to share the simple but not always obvious trick of looking at great photographs to use as a guide for your photography adventures. There are thousands of photography books, websites, and magazines to use for ideas, and often you can easily find very famous photos online. These are great points of reference, even if you aren’t looking at a famous picture. Any picture you like is a great study tool!

It can be really fun to try to imitate a famous or favorite photograph. Look at the picture and think about what the lighting conditions are, how crisp the photo is in the foreground and background, what the subject matter is, and how far the picture is taken from the subject. Then go out and try to reproduce these conditions and see what effect it has on the overall outcome of the pictures. Do you like what you came up with, or are you happier with the pictures you took in your own style?

Another fun and creative way to take pictures is to include other photos in your photo. For instance, it can be cool to snap a picture of someone holding an interesting or important photograph, or to get a picture of another person taking a picture. This can change the context of the photograph and create an interesting discussion piece, especially because those behind the camera so rarely end up in front of it.

These as always are only suggestions! Grab your camera and go out into the world (or stay inside and explore the details of your home you never pay attention to!) and see what new ways your camera can help you see the world in. Be creative and don’t be afraid to experiment with new styles or to push buttons and change settings on your camera; great things can come from exploration!

If you want more photograph help, or would like to hire Stephen Dent to photograph or film any special even in your life, please visit our website, then come on down to any of our Southern California studios. You can find Stephen Dent at www.stephendentphotos.com.

Taking Great Pictures of Your Family

Hello photography fans! Stephen Dent Photography hopes you are all having an amazing summer and snapping some really great pictures of your adventures! If this is your first time on Stephen Dent’s blog, here is a little bit out Stephen Dent and the company. Stephen Dent is a professional photographer in southern California, who currently owns and operates several studios throughout the southern half of the state. Stephen Dent photographers can be hired to photograph or video record any occasion of your choice, from summer fun to wedding day gatherings. Stephen Dent also offers photography lessons both in studio and on site, helping you meet your photography needs in every way possible. We ask that as a part of the free services provided here on the blog, that you take a moment to at least look at our website, Stephen Dent Photos, and keep us in mind for future photography needs!

Stephen Dent knows that the summer is often the season when we spend the most time with our families, children are home from school and return from college, everyone gets together for vacations, reunions, and celebrations while the weather is nice. This is the perfect time to capture all your family moments, and there are a few easy tips for taking great family pictures. Read on to learn how to put your camera to work for your family…

Candid photos-candid pictures can be fun to take, but they do have the tendency to catch people making embarrassing faces as they speak. The best advice for taking great candid photos is to try to avoid taking pictures of family members while they are speaking. It can also be very helpful to snap a candid photo from a slightly greater distance than you would for a posed picture; this way you get more context in the image, helping you remember why you took that photo in that moment. If you get too much background, you can always crop it out later, but you can never add background that didn’t make it in to the picture in the first place!

Posed photos-posing family members for pictures is an awesome way to make sure that you get the entire family in one picture, and that everyone is looking at the camera, and hopefully smiling, with their eyes open (we all know that at least one person is bound to have their eyes closed at the wrong moment!). Stephen Dent recommends that you be creative in your posed pictures, rather than just having everyone line up in front of the same couch or wall every year. Try taking the family around the grill for some silly merriment, or take a dramatic night picture around the fire pit. These are just suggestions, use your creative power to frame lasting memories that you love!

Thanks for stopping by the Stephen Dent Photography blog, where we strive to provide awesome and free tips and tricks to photography fans world wide. Again, please take a moment to view our website at Stephen Dent Photos, and keep us in mind for any and all photography needs!

Stephen Dent Photos Tips and Tricks for August!

Stephen Dent Photos wants you to have the best photography experience possible, so we are here to give you even more tips and tricks for making the most of your camera. All we ask is that you check out our website www.stephendentphotos.com, and keep us in mind for any of your future photography needs!

Today we are going to talk about getting to know your digital camera. Cameras these days have so many great features that you can use to optimize your pictures, with different, easy to access setting for every different photography situation. These are just suggestions listed here, for more information, you should look through the book that came with your camera, or visit the maker’s website for information specific to your camera.

Click on your camera’s menu button. Once you have done so, you should see some kind of option like “shoot mode” or “camera options.” Depending on the age and quality of your camera, you should be able to access a variety of different modes to help you take the best picture. Common options are portrait, macro, action, or landscape. Select one and try it out!

One option available on my camera that I love is the sunset option, which tells the camera to pay special attention to the reds and oranges, which are colors that normally get suppressed in a picture. Using this mode, you can catch the true beauty of the sunset like you never imagined.

Here is a quick run down of what the common options are, and when you should use them. Portrait option should be used when taking a picture of a person, because this mode will blur out the background and bring the person into fuller focus. Macro is used when you are taking a picture of a small object, generally from very close up, such as a bug on a leaf. This mode zooms in on the object and magnifies it, making the picture far more sharp than if you took the picture regularly. The action setting is best used with a flash, in a brightly lit area. Action mode uses a faster shutter speed to catch objects in motion, such as someone kicking a soccer ball. Landscape mode enhances the colors of the picture so you see the scenery as it actually was, and gives equal crispness to every aspect of the picture.

I hope these tips help, and as always, please visit the website to contact Stephen Dent, or to book your next photo shoot with Stephen Dent at www.stephendentphotos.com.

Catch Amazing Action Pictures

Stephen Dent Photography doesn’t just want your photography business, we also want to help you take great pictures every day, and at all those events that we can’t be there for. That is why we started this blog, to help the fans of Stephen Dent take amazing pictures on their own.

One of the biggest complaints that amateur photographers have is that they can’t catch those once in a life time moments. You know the ones-your son slam-dunked the ball during the state finals, but all you got is a blur the color of his uniform. Or when your daughter pulled off a perfect pirouette for the first time, but you caught it a fraction of a second too late.

Don’t let your greatest life moments slip away in a blur of color, follow these simple tips to catch your next great moment!

1.) Utilize your flash Almost every camera comes equipped with a flash, so be sure to turn it on when you are trying to capture an action shot, even if the area you are in is already brightly lit. The flash doesn’t just add light to a dark photo, it can also be thought of as a mini time machine. The Flash freezes one single instant, the exact instant that your camera captures the picture. This will reduce blurriness (like in the basketball scenario above) and help give you a clear, crisp picture. Your camera probably has different flash settings, such as automatic, always off, or always on. When taking action pictures, Stephen Dent recommends that you turn the flash to the “always on” setting. If you leave it on automatic, the flash won’t go off if the room is already properly lit.
2.) Use multiple shot options Most digital cameras come with options for taking several shots in a row, in rapid succession. If your camera has this function it is a good idea to turn it on. It will slow your camera down slightly, but you will have far greater odds of catching a great picture. In this mode, your camera can take pictures faster than you could by manually pushing the button. Also try playing around with aperture settings and any other options your camera might have. Newer cameras have an amazing amount of modes, functions and features, so be sure to try them all before the big moment, so when the game starts, you’ll be prepared.
3.) Know your camera Stephen Dent always recommends that you read the manual that came with your camera. It will likely contain tips and tricks specific to your camera, and will explain the different functions available on the camera. Play with your camera in your free time to learn what it can and can not do. Some cameras simply are not equipped for taking motion pictures, and that is okay. If your camera can’t quite catch the shots you would like, call Stephen Dent Photos today to schedule your photo shoot.


Contact Stephen Dent any time at our website www.stephendentphotos.com, and check back for more neat camera tricks and advice here. Thanks for stopping by!

Stephen Dent and Steve Dent

Stephen Dent, owner of Stephen Dent Photography Studios here in California, just discovered the work of another Stephen (Steve) Dent, who is also a photographer living and working in California. Everyone here at Stephen Dent Studios wanted to share the work of Steve Dent with our followers. After all, it isn’t every day that you come across another person in the same profession, with the same name, living in the same state!

Here is the link for Steve Dent’s photography page: http://photo.net/photos/SteveDent

We think you should check it out and let us know what you think of California’s other Stephen Dent!

In other news, Stephen Dent Photos has had its most profitable year ever, and we would like to thank everyone who works here with Stephen Dent, and all of our amazing clients who come back time and again for a great photography experience. We know that earning a profit in this recession is a sign of a job done right, and we are honored by the deep compliment implied by every client we receive. Thank you to everyone who has referred us to their friends, helping us grow into a strong and lasting company.

I light of this recent profit, we will be making a charitable contribution to an organization of your choice. Leave a comment here on the page suggesting which organization you think deserves our money and why. We will be voting on the best charity based on your comments, so really sell it to us, and share this link with your friends so they can comment as well.

In addition, we will now be offering health insurance to all our employees. We believe that providing a happy and safe working environment directly contributes to the happiness of our clients. Stephen Dent also believes that providing health insurance is a good investment in our economy, our employees, our state, and our country. We are proud to help keep a handful of California residents employed by Stephen Dent healthy and insured!

As always, please visit our website for more information about Stephen Dent, the studios, locations, hours, and services. We can be reached at www.stephendentphotos.com, and you can follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/stephendent10.

It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Summer Pictures Done by Stephen Dent

Stephen Dent Photography is here to meet all your summer photography needs! No matter what even you are hosting, whether it be a wedding, graduation, birthday party, bar or bat mitzvah, quinciñera, or more, Stephen Dent can be there with his camera to catch all your special moments.
Stephen Dent is a master photographer, specializing in weddings and parties. Dent opened his first studio in California, and since then, has grown his business to 3 studios across the state. People love Stephen Dent photos because of his quality and dedication to every picture he takes. Using only the best supplies, Stephen Dent can shoot and print in any format, including HD and 3D video.
Stephen Dent may specialize in wedding shoots, but he certainly isn’t limited to them. Any party or event can be photographed, and there is no better professional than Stephen Dent. We believe that having fun makes for better pictures, so every picture taken by Stephen Dent will have the same fun feeling that you remember from your wedding or party.
Our studio also does portraits and school pictures, so you never have to worry about those tacky, poorly taken school photos again. Just bring your son or daughter in to any of the three Stephen Dent studios and we can pick the best backdrop and props to make fun, memorable, and affordable portrait pics.
Call or swing by today to find out more about scheduling your photo session. As always, please visit our website at www.stephendentphotos.com to see examples of Stephen’s work, prices, and location information.

Black and White versus Color Photography

Black and white photography is rarely used anymore, but Stephen Dent still actively uses and promotes the style. There are several advantages to using black and white instead of color, whether the pictures are being taken with film or digitally.
Black and white film creates a much more dramatic look than color photography does. Whether the photograph is of a forest landscape or a close up of a child or lover’s face, the rich complexity of whites, grays and blacks present in black and white photography provides fodder for hours of viewing pleasure.
Thanks to digital photography, you no longer have to be committed to only color or only black and white. Computer editing programs allow you to change any color picture to black and white with the click of a button, and vice versa. Some new cameras even allow you to snap the picture in black and white right from the get go, which gives you a lot of flexibility and allows you to decide on the spot if you want to shoot in black and white or color.
When using black and white photography, it can be really fun and dramatic to chose one feature of the picture and allow that feature to be in color. One example is if you have a picture of someone giving flowers to another, you can have everything be in black and white, except for the flowers.
Using sepia tones is another exciting way to change the tone of your picture. Sepia tones tend to make a picture look older, which can make for a really romantic look, especially when used for wedding photos or landscape pictures. Most computer programs allow you to chose between several different styles of sepia, instead of only the traditional brown.

Today’s Photography Idea from Stephen Dent Photos

Today I want to talk about the other side of photography: printing and displaying your photos. A great picture doesn’t do any good if no one ever sees it, or if it isn’t printed and displayed in a professional and attractive manner. Stephen Dent Photos has a few ideas and tips on printing and framing your pictures.
Most people today are working from digital cameras, which provide several options for printing your pictures. The first option is to upload your pictures to a photo printing company, such as the photo department at your local drug store. This can usually be done online or in store via a kiosk, and your pictures will be ready in minutes. You can choose the sizes you want and how many copies of each picture you would like. Prints range from a few cents to a few dollars each depending on the size of the picture and the company printing them.
Another option for printing photos is to do it yourself. Almost all newer computers come with some form of photo editing software, and your digital camera should come with software of its own that you download or install the first time you plug your camera in to your computer. From this software, you can edit, crop and print your pictures. There are printers made specifically for printing pictures, and with the purchase of photo paper and photo ink, you can print pictures that are equal in quality to those prints done in a store. Printing pictures at home can become costly if you make mistakes, so its best to do a test run prior to printing on the photo paper. Pictures can also be printed on regular paper for a quick, casual picture.
Once you have your pictures printed, whether from a digital camera or from film, there are a lot of fun ways to frame and display them. These are just a few ideas, so feel free to take them and run with it, letting your creativity shine through!
You can spice up a regular framed picture by adding a mat around the picture (which means you buy a frame that is the next size bigger than your picture). You can buy white or colored mats, which can really make your picture pop out, even in a boring, cheap or old frame. You can even decorate a mat by adding text, calligraphy, or scrapbooking stickers to it.
If you don’t like the look of mats around a picture, you can decorate the frame itself. You can paint picture frames, either creating a design or covering the entire frame with spray paint. Another easy way to decorate is by gluing plastic flowers, beads, or even pennies to the frame. There is no limit to the number of ways you can bring attention to your pictures!
We hope these ideas help you enjoy your new pictures. Stephen Dent is here for all your photography needs, including in studio pictures, on site shoots, and photography lessons. Please visit our website for contact information and more information on Stephen Dent and his background and services, at www.StephenDentPhotos.com.

Stephen Dent Photography Tips for Unique Photos

At Stephen Dent Photography, we love to take pictures, and we know you do too. We don’t just want to sell you our services, we want to increase your love of photography in general. That’s why we, as a company, have decided to share daily photography tips to help you get the pictures you desire. Today, Stephen Dent is going to help you take great, unique pictures.

One of the most intriguing ways to take pictures is by using prolonged exposure. This can be done in daylight or at night. At night, you have the opportunity to capture a wide variety of images because every tiny spot of light that comes through affects the outcome of the picture. Essentially, your photos will come out looking phantasmagorical; the light begins looking like ghosts, and every object has a trail of motion.

Prolonged exposure pictures elicit the best results when the object or person being photographed is moving slightly, or if the person holding the camera is slightly unsteady. Typically, for traditional prolonged exposure pictures, it would be a requirement to have the camera on a tripod to avoid all the minute movements of the human hands, but this slight wiggle is exactly what gives these pictures their psychedelic look. It is probably best to play around with the concept, allowing the shutter to stay open for different lengths of time, and with varying degrees of movement, from holding perfectly still to purposely jiggling the camera.

Playing with light is a fun, diverse way to drastically alter the outcome of an otherwise mundane photo. For more information on changing the aperture settings on your camera, consult the owner’s manual. For more information on Stephen Dent Photography and the services we offer, visit our website at www.stephendentphotos.com and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/StephenDent10. And as always, feel free email us at stephendent@photographer.net.

Brand New Services at Stephen Dent

Stephen Dent Photography is gearing up for summer, and we know you are too. With the kids home for summer break, there are endless opportunities to capture those “Kodak” moments. That’s why we are excited to announce that Stephen Dent Photography will now be offering two brand new services-on site photography and on site photography lessons.

On site photography will help you remember those treasured moments forever, even if you don’t have a photographer’s eye. A photographer from Stephen Dent can photograph any event, including weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, graduations and more. We offer a variety of pricing packages, so a professional photographer is always within reach.

If you are the more hands-on type, you can take lessons from a professional Stephen Dent photographer, from the convenience of your home, or any other setting you would like to photograph. Photography lessons are a great way to start a fun, rewarding hobby for yourself, and giving lessons as a gift can be much more exciting than giving another pair of socks to the grandkids. Photography lessons will pay off on your next vacation or special event, Stephen Dent guarantees it!

We will be running our yearly special in August and September, offering 30% off for back-to-school pictures. Be sure to visit our website at www.stephendentphotos.com, and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/stephendent10.