Essien Oto'bong

Essien Oto'bong Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer

Memories make us who we are! 📸💭
30/08/2024

Memories make us who we are! 📸💭

Light. Camera. Action.
15/08/2024

Light. Camera. Action.











5 Things Every Beginner Needs to Get Started in PhotographyIf you're interested in photography, Well, you have certainly...
09/07/2024

5 Things Every Beginner Needs to Get Started in Photography

If you're interested in photography, Well, you have certainly come across the right content for you! Check out this short checklist of what you need to know, designed to get you started in digital photography and headed in the right direction.

1. Interest
The first thing you need is an interest in photography. If you are reading these words, you likely already checked that box. If you are debating whether to take the dive into photography, you might want to give it some careful thought, or cater your purchases toward your level of interest. Photography requires a large investment in time and money, know this before you dive in.

2. Camera
Sorry again to state the obvious, but unless you are doing alternative forms of imaging, you likely will want to create photos with a camera. When entering the camera market, your first consideration will be what to explore first, digital or analog film. Majority of photographers often reach for digital cameras these days; once you choose that path, there are three basic options: point-and-shoot, interchangeable-lens mirrorless, and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR).

3. Lenses
If you get a DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera, you will also need a lens. Many cameras ship with one or two “kit zoom” lenses that range from wide angle to telephoto. The verdict is still out (and will always be out) on whether your first lens should be a zoom or a prime lens. A prime lens has a fixed focal length, which requires the photographer to move to frame a picture rather than the lens doing the work by zooming in and out. We are not going to settle the zoom versus prime argument here, but be sure to buy a UV filter and lens cloth to keep your optics clean, for whatever lens or lenses you choose.

4. Memory/Film
If you choose an analog camera, you will need film. If you choose a digital camera, even if it has internal memory, you will want to get a memory card. There are many different types of memory cards, but the most common is SD (Secure Digital). Make sure you get the correct type of card for your particular camera

5. Tripod
The tripod might be the most overlooked camera accessory for beginners. It should not be ignored. Even if you are not planning to go out on a night photography excursion the first time you take your camera out of the box, you will still want and, in reality, need a tripod for lots of different things. Group portraits when you are in the photo? Check. Macro photography? Check. Low-light photography? Check. There are lots more.

While there are several other things that I would like to mention that might be of interest to a beginner, I'd love to say, as a newbie, you'll still have to invest in learning, books, Flash, Computer and Software etc.

Did you find this content fascinating? Go ahead and share it to benefit others. Do you have a beginner story/experience you would love to share? Slide in the comment section below!

15 Tips for Better Photography1. Keep an eye on the weather: Weather conditions can greatly impact the mood of your shot...
19/05/2024

15 Tips for Better Photography

1. Keep an eye on the weather: Weather conditions can greatly impact the mood of your shot. Consider shooting during misty mornings or overcast days for a unique atmosphere.

2. Take your time to choose the subject: Don't rush into taking a photo. Take your time to choose the subject and explore different angles and lighting options.

3. Take your time to set up the shot: Don't be afraid to take your time to set up your shot, even if it takes 20 minutes to get the perfect shot of a piece of driftwood on the beach.

4. Don't always choose brightly-colored subjects: Subjects with muted colors can produce excellent results, especially when accompanied by creative lighting.

5. Movement diffusion: Experiment with slow shutter speeds and moving your camera to create unique blur effects.

6. Overexpose your subject: Experiment with overexposing your subject to create interesting and creative effects.

7. Try macro photography: Use a magnifying glass to focus on small subjects and discover a new world of photography.

8. Shoot through wet glass: Spray water on a window and take a shot through it to create a unique and creative effect.

9. Color balance: Balance color by having the subject and surrounding details in similar colors.

10. Silhouettes: Shoot silhouettes by having the background brighter than the subject in the foreground.

11. Experiment with patterns: Use patterns to create beautiful and awe-inspiring images.

12. Compliment colors: Use strikingly different colors to bring attention to your subject.

13. Use a color filter: Experiment with color filters to add a new dimension to your photos.

14. Sunrise is better than sunset: Wake up early and shoot during sunrise for unique and contrasting light and shadows.

15. Use a flash in daylight: Use your flash during the daytime to fill a close subject with light and produce better results.

Share your own photography tips and tricks in the comments below!

What's your favorite photography technique? Let us know!

4 Ways to Earn Money with Digital Cameras & Photo Printers!When it comes to the internet and the advancements of modern ...
14/05/2024

4 Ways to Earn Money with Digital Cameras & Photo Printers!

When it comes to the internet and the advancements of modern technology, the revenue-generating options are truly unlimited. One way that many people are finding great success as entrepreneurs is through the use of their digital cameras and photo printers.

Whether you use your digital knowledge to enter photo contests using images taken with your digital camera or choose to start an online auction business, the use of both a camera and photo printer are essential.

With entrepreneurship in mind, the following four tips may help you get started on the road to success using nothing more than your digital camera and photo printer:

1. Start an eBay Business: Use your digital camera to take high-quality pictures for inclusion in your auctions. A picture is worth a thousand words, and it can significantly increase the value of your auction listings.

2. Become an Amateur Photographer: Use your digital camera to take stunning photos and print them out using a realistic photo printer. You can sell your photos online or at local craft shows and flea markets.

3. Create Personalized Calendars: Take a photo with your digital camera, incorporate it into a calendar creation program, and print them out using a photo printer. These make great personalized gifts and can be sold at craft shows and online.

4. Offer Digital Imagery Services: Take photos using your digital camera and manipulate them using photo editing software. You can merge two photos together, add text or effects, and print out the final product using your photo printer. This can be a unique and lucrative service to offer to clients.

Important Tip:
When purchasing any type of electronics, including digital cameras and photo printers, always pay close attention to the warranty and make sure you are buying a quality name in technology. Depending on your intended use, you may want to select a digital camera with a high pixel count and a photo printer capable of producing high DPI (dots per inch) images. Both will allow for better quality and more realistic photo creations.

Share your own entrepreneurial success stories using your digital cameras in the comments below!

Post your favorite photo editing tips and tricks and tag us!

Let's get the conversation started!

4 Great Camera Tips for Enhanced Digital Photos!You just bought a new camera? And very excited to start taking photos wi...
13/05/2024

4 Great Camera Tips for Enhanced Digital Photos!

You just bought a new camera? And very excited to start taking photos with your new gadget?

But Alas, why do your pictures not look as good as you wanted them to? That's okay, stay on this article because we'll be dishing out 4 hacks to take more interesting photos.

1. Experiment with Camera Exposure Settings:
By exploring the exposure settings of your camera, you can create pictures that look more brilliant with 0.5 to 2 stops underexposed in bright surroundings, and scenes appearing more clear with some overexposure.

Just by simple tuning of the exposure level, you can create pictures that can evoke different moods from people viewing them. That's why the quote "A Picture Says A Thousand Words" is very true indeed! For newbies, try out bracketing (i.e., take the same photos with different exposure levels) and take your favorite pick from them.

2. Add Creative Blur to Your Photos:
By introducing some well-planned blur in photos, you can highlight important features while using the rest as a nice complement, providing an overall nice touch.

This can be done in two basic types:
>> Depth-of-field blur: Varying the lens aperture between 0.4 to 1.4 can create a lovely, soft background blur that brings sharp focus to the subject in the foreground.

>> Movement blur: Done by setting the camera exposure on shutter priority and keeping it slow to capture interesting streaks as the subject moves in front of the camera.

3. Create Something Out of Nothing:
What does it mean? This exercise encourages you to take a step back and rethink how you can take wonderful pictures with things you already encounter on a daily basis.
One approach is to create your shot around common elements around you, such as lines, space, and patterns. This can mean anything from roads to bridges, trees, railings, etc. You start to see more possibilities and room for creativity.

4. Take Unique Photos!
Try to avoid taking photos from already popular places where everyone else has taken before; it won't be fresh, and the excitement is also much diminished. Try out new extreme photography; it could be something as easy as shooting through thick glasses for that extra 3D feel or shooting reflections of objects in water or other reflective objects.

PS: If you have learned something, share your favorite photography hacks in the comments below!

You can also post your own creative photos and tag give us a tag!

10 Tips for Better Photography! Taking a good photo isn't as hard as you may think. You don't need the most expensive ca...
11/05/2024

10 Tips for Better Photography!

Taking a good photo isn't as hard as you may think. You don't need the most expensive camera or years of experience, just 10 simple tips.

Tip 1 - Use All Your Available Space
Don't be afraid to use all the space in your photo. If you want to take a picture of something, it's okay for it to take up the whole shot with no or very little background showing. Keep distractions out of your shot.

Tip 2 - Study Form
This is a vital aspect of photography. Understand the forms in your photos. Don't just see an object, see its shape and form, and find the best angle to photograph it from. Form is all around us, and I highly suggest you read as many books on it as possible.

Tip 3 - Avoid Motion in Your Photos
Never have motion in your photos if you're photographing a still object. If there's something moving while you're trying to photograph a stationary object, your photo won't turn out nearly as well. Also, never put a horizon line in the center of your frame.

Tip 4 - Learn to Use Contrasts Between Colors
Some of the best photos have shades of white, gray, and black. You can take great shots with just one color on your subject, but the contrasts between colors in a shot are what make you a great photographer.

Tip 5 - Get Closer to Your Subject
This is one of the biggest mistakes most photographers make: not getting close enough to their subject. Get up and personal, and close the distance gap. You can always reshape and resize a good shot, but you can't continue to blow up a distant object.

Tip 6 - Compensate for Shutter Lag
Shooting action shots with digital cameras can be tricky due to shutter lag. What this means is that when you press the button to take the photo, it can take up to a second for the shutter to take a photo. By that time, what you were photographing may have moved or changed somehow. This means you have to compensate for shutter lag by predicting what your subject is going to do and taking the photo just before it takes the action you want. Apparently, most expensive digital cameras don't have this problem.

Tip 7 - Pan
If you're taking an action shot and your shutter speed is slow, pan with the object. Follow through with the subject from start to finish, and one of those shots will be a winner. You have a better chance of getting a good shot if you take more than one photo.

Tip 8 - Use Continuous Shots
To pan like I suggested above, you'll need a camera that does continuous shots and doesn't need to stop and process after every shot.

Tip 9 - How to Take Fantastic Nighttime Shots
Nighttime shots can be spectacular, almost magical... if done right! If not, they can look horrible. Really horrible. Without adequate lighting, even good cameras can turn out crappy photos if the photographer doesn't know what they're doing.

Tip 10 - Study Your Manual
If your digital camera has a special nighttime mode, read the manual and follow their instructions on how to use it properly.

Photo credit: Edson Mota

7 creative ways to make money with photography.With the increase in the demand for visual content, there's never been a ...
29/04/2024

7 creative ways to make money with photography.

With the increase in the demand for visual content, there's never been a better time to turn your photography skills into a profitable career.

The first, and probably the most important, skill you need to have to make money from photography is a good knowledge of how to take photos. And this can be self-taught.

However, if you want to explore and learn about every aspect of photography, then you can turn to YouTube or Udemy. They have great courses on several genres of photography.

Basically, the key is the technique, and you need a good camera, lens (depending on your niche), and things like tripods, remotes, filters, etc.

So I'll be leaving you with some simple ways to make money from photography:

1. Sell Your Photos: License your images through stock photo websites like Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock. Earn passive income from royalties.

2. Offer Services: Provide photography services to clients, such as portraits, weddings, events, and commercial photography. Build a portfolio and market your skills.

3. Teach Photography: Share your expertise by teaching online courses, workshops, or one-on-one mentoring. Platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, and CreativeLive can help you reach a wider audience.

4. Affiliate Marketing: Promote photography gear and earn commissions for each sale made through your unique referral link.

5. Create and Sell Products: Design and sell photography-related products, such as prints, calendars, or photo books. Utilize online marketplaces like Etsy or Redbubble.

6. Build a YouTube Channel: Share your photography journey, tips, and tutorials. Monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

7. License Your Work: Allow brands to use your photos for commercial purposes. Negotiate licensing fees and ensure fair compensation.

Take the first step towards turning your photography skills into a profitable career. Start building your portfolio, networking with clients, and exploring these monetization strategies and you'll be amazed by your growth at the end of this year.

Share your photography experiences, tips, and success stories in the comments below! Let's inspire and support each other in the photography community.

Shot with Canon M50 Mark II and and edited with Adobe Photoshop 2022.Do you have photos that you want them to really pop...
18/04/2024

Shot with Canon M50 Mark II and and edited with Adobe Photoshop 2022.

Do you have photos that you want them to really pop? Send us a DM for your Photo Retouch.

✨

Congratulations 🎉 🎉🎉🎉🎉We wish you and all 2023 Batch A stream II... Godspeed in all their next level endeavors! ... ...
04/04/2024

Congratulations 🎉 🎉🎉🎉🎉
We wish you and all 2023 Batch A stream II... Godspeed in all their next level endeavors!
...

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Mayfair Road, Opposite Jumia Pick-up Station, Ile Ife
Ile-Ife

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