Category: Photography

Let’s have a look:

Get yourself a good quality professional camera!

Needless to say that the quality of entire video you’re shooting depends greatly on the camera that you’re shooting it with. Invest in a good quality professional camera, a DSLR or Mirrorless camera for instance.

You may go for Canon EOS 80D DSLR that allows superb autofocus with high-resolution video.

If you’re on a budget, go for Nikon DSLRs. Consider Nikon D3400 which is best suited for beginners because it is easy to work with.

This DSLR translates superior quality even in low light. It will prove to be your ideal companion if you’re just starting with videography.

Be well equipped with the best audio tech

Hear it very loud and clear, because this tip is extremely important!.

Don’t just rely on the built-in mic of your camera but choose a good quality separate mic instead.

For shooting with DSLR cameras, Lavalier microphones are good to go.

Imagine how unpleasant it would be for the viewer if the quality of the video is great but the sound is not clear enough.

Don’t worry if you’re on a budget and cannot buy these, we’ll tell you just how you can improve the sound quality of your videos.

Keep the mic as close as possible to the sound you’re trying to record.
If you’re capturing someone who’s talking, make sure to have the camera very close to that person.
Do not overlook the sound quality of your video. If you feel that people will have to strain their ears in order to understand what the person in the video is trying to convey, re-shoot it. You cannot compromise with the quality of the sound!
Get rid of the background noises! Background noises are a hindrance to what you’re actually trying to capture. Make sure that there is no background noise so that what you’re trying to capture is loud and clear.

Avoid zooming in

Zooming in just because you’re too lazy to walk up to a subject that is far away from you is a bad idea.

No matter how superior your camera quality may be, it will never be able to match the quality of video that you get, when you actually shoot the subject by keeping the camera close to it.

So, remember that zooming in is not the way out for shooting close up shots.

Take care of the background

A videographer has already picturized what he wants to capture in his mind. Make sure that the background matches what you have imagined. Keep it subtle and don’t go too overboard with it.

Make sure that the lighting is proper

Just as lighting plays an important role in clicking the perfect picture, it plays an important role in capturing videos too. The right amount of light will give your videos an edge over the others.

Don’t confuse ‘right amount of light’ with ‘excessive amount of light’. Too much light can ruin your video as badly as dim light does.

Keep a steady hand

Shaking the camera too much while shooting will give you unpleasant output. Make sure to have a steady hand.

If you don’t have a control over that, use a tripod. For best results, a tripod is a must.

Keep hard wires away from the frame

Rewatch your video, again and again, to make sure that there isn’t any sign of hard wires or any unwanted thing in that video. Critics would easily be able to catch hold of your videography flaws.!

Conclusion

So these are great handful tips that every beginner should swear by. Having acquainted you with these tips, we would like to introduce you to the final and the most important step i.e. editing your video.

While you do that, try to stay as innovative as possible. We hope that these tips are of great help to you. Go ahead and let your creativity tell a story.

How Stellar Data Recovery Saved My YouTube Channel Launch

Posted on September 10, 2018September 12, 2018 by Aditi Malhotra

My Passion for Photography

Both in my professional and personal life, traveling has played a very integral part. While traveling professionally, I have traveled the length and breadth of the country and even across the globe, from deep down rural to ultra-urban cities. And even in my personal life, I have shared some of the best moments, traveling with my family. Traveling has been a great teacher in my life and the different places and experiences have taught me a lot of aspects of life. It’s strange, how even over the years, memories of all trips remain so fresh in my mind. But I have to admit that photographs have played a big role in keeping those memories intact. Especially as a blogger, photographs became important not just as to keep memories, but also to maintain my blogging and Instagram on a regular basis. Over a period of time, these photos have become an imperative part of my life and my phone is always full of different photographs collected from different trips.

Storing Pictures

Earlier days, we used to keep our albums safely and securely locked away to ensure they don’t spoil away. But today, living in the digital world, albums have become a thing of past and its all about keeping the photos stored on digital platforms, whether it’s our phone, cloud memories or the hard drives.

But are the photos always safe, when stored digitally? No, while cloud memories are often expensive to buy, we end up storing our pictures on our phone and then maybe a back up in hard drives. But have you ever faced an issue with a hard drive? Well, I have and trust me it was devastating.

My Singapore Trip

At the beginning of the year, I visited Singapore with a friend of mine, and it was my first trip to Singapore. Also, this trip was very important to us, as we are launching women based travel channel, and this was our maiden trip for our channel. So you can very well understand the importance of this trip for us. First of all, it was an international trip and secondly, more of a business value for us than anything else. We clicked thousands of pictures because we not only had to keep our personal Instagram accounts filled with it, but also the new business venture needed those pictures. And since it was a YouTube channel that we were launching, we had over 200 videos in a 4-day trip, which were to be compiled into web series and first and foremost a launch video.

The Panic Moment

Now imagine my plight, that when I took the hard drive to my editor, in which all our thousands of pictures and 200 videos were transferred, did not open. We checked to plug in the hard drive into different computers, but it did not read even in one. It was a moment to panic, as I realized that the hard drive had probably corrupted. All my dreams came shattering down, as I practically had no time left for my launch. I was just a fortnight away from the launch and these videos and images were so important to me. And obviously, Singapore was not a local place that I could go back and shoot again, so a chance had to be taken for data recovery. Checked with a couple of local service providers, but no one gave a guarantee of data recovery and rather scared me that the data won’t be recovered at all. I was in a total mess.

Stellar, To The Rescue

A friend of mine then told me about Stellar Data Recovery Services, she told me they were very professional and their recovery rate was very high. They provided services for all most all kinds of data recovery and they were my only recourse.
Before going to their branch, I checked and read about them online and a lot of information was available on their site itself. Their service advantages really caught my attention and I was convinced of their professionalism.

Kinds of Services Provided

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Why Trust Stellar

They are the only ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified organization in India. Not the one who claim on papers to be ISO certified, but the ones who practice ISO guidelines inside their data recovery operations.

They are India’s first data recovery service company founded in 1993, and Stellar can proudly boast of experienced research & development team who have developed numerous data recovery software’s. This proprietary software and tools can recover data from different kind of storage devices in various conditions. So, in addition to the expected recovery of your data, they ensure your data is safe & secure within their organization. They have a success rate of 95% on data recoveries.

The best part is that their data recovery service comes with a 100% money back policy. They work on No Recovery- No charge policy*. Which means if they do not recover data specified by you, they don’t charge for it.
They even allow you to step into their lab and see the work getting done, being completely transparent about their processes. This is a Class 100 Cleanroom lab for Data Recovery, the only one of its kind in entire India.

Process

They follow a simple process for data recovery

The Stellar Strength

2 Million+ Satisfied Customer
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Advantages for opting for Stellar

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To Conclude

All I can say is I was really thankful to Stellar for the video and photos recovery from my hard drive that too with a quick turn around time. In fact, I also read about preventive measures for hard drive crash on their site and know at least I can be more future ready. I was able to get my video edited and the launch did happen timely without any delays and further panic.
So remember this name whenever you face such a situation. I can easily say that there is no one better than them.

Check Out My Launch Video Here

Leica hosted its third session of ‘Coffee with Leica’ , a photo talk by Canadian Diplomat, Roger Chen

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Aditi Malhotra

A leader in luxury camera segment worldwide, German Luxury Camera brand ‘Leica’celebrated the cultural heritage of India with the third session of ‘Coffee with Leica’on Saturday, 21^stJuly 2018 by joining hands with Canadian Diplomat and proud Leica user- Mr. Roger Chen. The brand through this initiative not only promoted the Indian culture but also sharing Leica’s experience with the new generation of photographers.

Post the amazing response received for the first two sessions of ‘Coffee with Leica’, the third session was sculpted around Roger’s latest collection ‘Devotion- A Journey through India’, where he displayed photographs taken during his three years stay in India, capturing festivals, religion, culture and tradition. The session addressed new generation of photographers, sharing valuable information around ‘The art of capturing Indian streets which is filled with the amusing culture of India’ and photography journey with Leica.

The way Roger went on telling stories about each of his capture, it was a great narrative not just about photography nuances but also the culture of India. He also shared why some of his pictures, which he loved, never made it to the exhibition. All those minute details which change our perspective of looking at photographs in a certain way was just so interesting and intriguing.

His collection is up for exhibition at Leica Store, New Delhi from July 16^thto July 26^th, 2018.

About the Speaker

Mr. Roger Chen has been a diplomat working overseas over the past 25 years in locations such as Jakarta, Kuwait, Shanghai, São Paulo, Cairo, Beijing, New York and the past three years in Delhi. As an avid travel photographer, Roger has thrived on capturing the diverse cultures, traditions and customs he has been to be privileged to witness. In his Leica journey he documents the world through the Leica M10 and a 35mm f/1.4 Summilux. Follow him on Instagram to see India through his lenses.

About Leica

Leica is a 107-year-old popular German, luxury camera and sports optic brand. Known to be held by renowned photographers and celebrities worldwide, Leica a pioneer in camera and optics for decades, aims at bringing in a class apart photographic experience with their first store in the heart of the capital at Connaught Place, New Delhi in India.

Leica is headquartered at Wetzlar, Germany and has branch offices in Australia, China, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, the UK and the US. Leica would be holding such interesting photo talk events and photo walks every month, for those who are keen to attend, must follow them on Instagram to get regular updates.

I throughly enjoyed myself and all I can say is that apart from gaining knowledge, I am filled with much more enthusiasm to try new techniques in photography, break the rules and simply keep experimenting. I also had a small chit chat with Roger and here is what he said

Make Money From Your Craft

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Aditi Malhotra

Pexels

When you pick up a camera for the first time, one of the last things you’re probably thinking about is making money. Photography is an artistic passion that comes from within and is driven by beauty and attraction, not what kind of income you may be able to make.

Having said that, if your passion takes over your life and consumes you, then it may be wise to see how you can earn professionally from it so you can still get by, doing exactly what you love.

Do photo shoots for clients

When going in this direction, ideally you have your own studio as that adds to the profession of the job, because clients would expect to be shot there. Although a lot of the time, shoots can take place outdoors, but it’s always good to have the option. This does cost a bit of money for the necessary equipment as well as the space, so you may want to consider looking at some quick personal loans online so you can afford this, unless of course you already have some savings to tap into.

People will always be looking for a top photographer to capture special moments, whether that be a special time in someone’s life, or an event that needs remembering – so there is always work. All you need to do is build up a decent portfolio to show how capable you are, and then spread the word.

Start your own blog or vlog

If you think you have something to offer the world in terms of the kind of content you like to speak about, or show in the photos you take – you may want to start your own blog lead by skilled writing or even just your images that create a story in themselves. But if that’s not your thing, then try vlogging instead. Essentially this is the same thing, but in video form, so rather than writing, you can just talk on camera. YouTube is a great platform for this, and you may just find that your content is drawing in a lot of attention and you can start to build up a good following. This can open many doors for being sponsored to review products, as well as being taken on adventures to explore new things in the industry that you are now in.

Sell your prints

It could even be as simple as blowing up your images and trying to sell them. You can do this by making your own websites and advertising them on there, as well as social media like Instagram. Or you can even go into your local shops and ask if they’d be interested in selling some of your work there. If you have a lot of small prints, you could try and sell them to a shop for a set price, and then they can sell them individually – being a win-win for the both of you.

So there are many different options that you have, it just depends on the direction you’d like to go in. Get creative. At the end of the day it’s your passion, so take it wherever you want to.

Your Pledge In Pictures

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Aditi Malhotra

(Image Source)

Photographs can be incredible things. With the ability to store a moment in time, this sort of tool has had a massive impact on the way that people choose to live. At an important event, like your wedding, they become even more invaluable, and this is when it call gets really interesting. To help you to arrange the photos for your big day, this post will be exploring exactly how to get the best ones. So, now, you just have to sit back, relax, and enjoy your marriage.

Why Get Photos? When on holiday or at smaller family events, a lot of people refuse to take pictures, worried it would take away from the event itself if they are set behind a camera for it. Of course, though, at your wedding, you won’t be taking them yourself; you’ll pay someone else. Companies like Casa Loma have all of the resources you could need to create a great shoot when you tie the knot. Having photos of your event will make it a lot easier to remember going into the future.

A Touch Of Video: When you’re choosing to use a professional company, you open the doors to options which you may have never considered. Video is a lot better than photos when you’re trying to keep memories alive. There are loads of businesses out there which can record, edit, and publish the videos you’d like from your wedding. As an additional feature, this will often cost some money, but it will be worth it once you’re able to choose to relive your special day. This is a very modern approach.

Doing Something Different: Of course, using video isn’t the only way to make your wedding memories interesting, and photos can often give you everything you need. Having a shared Instagram hashtag, for example, would enable all of your guests to submit their own photos of the big day. This sort of option is great if you’d like to avoid having a professional. But, even if you do, it can still be worth grabbing one or two snaps yourself.

Finding A Company: Choosing the business which will be entrusted with your wedding photography will take some work. Reviews on websites like Google will be a great start, but it could also be worth doing some of your own comparisons. Along with this, you should be working hard to find all of the portfolios you can, as this sort of evidence is some of the best you’ll find for this sort of professional.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking for the right photographer for your wedding. This sort of job is a lot easier than you might think. But, of course, the approach you take will make all the difference in the end. It’s never worth trying to take the pictures for your own wedding. This will make the day stressful, and you won’t be able to focus on the right things. Instead, you need someone to do it for you, and there are loads of great candidates out there.

A Picture Says 1000 Words – How To Capture These Memorable Moments

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Aditi Malhotra

We may live in a digital age, but most of us still fill our homes with photos of family and friends. They serve as reminders of past events, happy moments, and memorable occasions. You might not spend hours staring at them, but you wouldn’t want to have a home without all those faces around you.

You might use a digital photo frame that scrolls through holiday snaps, historical shots of senior family members, and old baby photos. Or you might have the entire wall of your stairwell filled with framed pictures of everyone you love. A giant canvas art in the living room and printed pictures held up by magnets on the fridge are all common uses of photographs. So which moments do you treasure most?

The Family Portrait

This is often staged and produced at a professional studio. The photographer will position each of you, so you all fit in the frame. He might request that you all wear the same color, or choose something with different textures. This can add to the visual impact of the shots. Portrait photography like this is often digitally altered, edited, or graded to appear more art-like than your standard taken-at-home shot. This makes it perfect for a large print in a frame or a large format canvas art.

Photo at Pexels

The Wedding

This is a pivotal moment in your lives. And it’s also the day when you’ve never looked more beautiful. When you’re discussing the photography, make sure all the shots you want will be covered. You can also choose how they’re presented, although an album is most common. Why not invest in a large portrait print for the wall? Photos last just as long as the memory, so why shouldn’t you adore that day?

Picture at Pexels

The Big Birthday Bash

This might be the event of the year. Chances are a lot of planning went into this one to make it perfect for the birthday boy or girl. These are the photos you see most often on social media. Themes that involve dressing up certainly make the best shots, and everyone wants a pic of themselves in their fancy dress costume. You could hire an event photographer, or ask that everyone uploads their pics to a common FaceBook page. That way, you pick the ones you want to treasure and arrange for prints.

Picture at Pexels

Graduation

This is another fantastic photo opportunity that is often covered by the professionals. That doesn’t stop you taking a few pictures yourself in a more casual stance. It can help to show the enjoyment of achieving that all-important certificate. Bring all the family in for a group shot.

What should you look for in a great picture? A natural smile and interaction between the people in the photo always makes for a good pic. Think about what else is in the frame. Remove clutter, and try to avoid straight-on portraits. A little turn to the side helps add depth to the image. Most importantly, let what we see in the frame tell the story of the occasion.

What are you gifting this festive season…??

Posted on October 18, 2016October 18, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

With the festive and wedding season approaching, we always are thinking on how to make our gifting experience more unique. We all want to move away from the usual gifts, and make our loved one feels special with something that is different, unique yet inexpensive. So here is our hand picked list of all beautiful gifting options that you can consider for this festive season.

Chocolates and Desserts never really go out of fashion, so how about gifting your loved ones a box of handmade chocolates, or donuts or beautiful dessert jars or cupcakes and many more delightful sweets. Ikreate has been into the business since 10 years and have been gifting partners to brands like Colgate, Marico, Sarda Plywood etc apart from private elite clients. Their chocolates and desserts have not just got rave reviews from the clients, but also repeat orders for years together. The best part about Ikreate is the love and passion that the put into everything they make, maintaining the quality over the years and yet being very very reasonable.

Donuts

Price Rs 400/dozen

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Cupcakes

Price Rs 400/6pcs

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Chocolates

Price Rs 650/kg onwards

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For more, check out their Zomato page

Handikart.co.in, an online handicraft’s store that offers assorted range of genuine and original handicraft products across India, has announced its exquisite range of products across categories to celebrate its first Diwali. These exclusive products are designed by the untouched & rural artisans from various parts of India and showcase the undying spirit of the artisans’ and their creativity.

The mesmerizing range of gifting options from handikart.co.in has you covered this festive season with idols of lord Ganesha, goddess Lakshmi, eye catching puja accessories like diyas, t-light holders and amazingly genuine brass ware products, terracotta, pattachitra, leather lamps, marble products and more.

With array of lamps, lanterns and decorative accessories, Handikart’s latest collection is about dreamy luminescence and shimmering brilliance.

The collection is priced between Rs. 100 and Rs. 5000 and will be up for grab from 5^th Oct till 30^th Oct with home delivery across India.

Over 1000 handcrafted products across 27 categories are available from traditional local artisans across the country. From Gorara Stone’s fine carvings to intricate Zardozi boxes of Old Agra; from Sambhal’s hand-made camel bone jewellery boxes to north east’s eco-friendly bamboo and cane products; from Orissa’s Palm leaf art and Pattachitra art to Bhadohi’s Shikauli baskets, Handikart is truly a place where Indian essence comes alive.

Intricate Brass Bell

Price – Rs. 770

brass_bell

Flowery Patterned Floor Leather Lamp

Price – Rs. 1,800

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Marble seated Ganesha

Price – Rs. 1,009

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Terracotta Ganesha Facet Wall Hanging

Price – Rs. 198

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Check more on their website

Surprise Someone.in is another wonderful online portal where you can get beautiful boxes, photo frames, handmade bags and a lot of other gift items, which will help create an element of surprise for your loved ones. The price range is very affordable and a lot of times you will double check the price, because the moment you will look at an item you will assume a higher price, but when you will see the rates surprise someone is charging, you will be amazed. They are so pocket friendly. I have personally used this portal a lot of times to gift my loved ones, on father’s day (check post here), to surprise my son (check post here), on rakhi (check post here) and other occasions (check post here).

Hut Shaped Box

Price- Rs. 499