World photography day celebrates the significance of photography and cameras in our lives. Photography lovers around the world celebrate the art of capturing pictures on this day. We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our Get to Know Our Team series. On the special occasion of World photography day, today we are featuring our Happiness Ambassador and in-house photographer, Mark. We interviewed Mark to share how he got started with photography and share his best tips for photography.
When did you become interested in photography?
I had an internship in my early 20’s and the organization needed some photos taken for their website. They didn’t have anyone on staff that knew anything about professional photography. So, they just put a camera in my hands and turned me loose – and I was addicted!
What do you enjoy the most about taking photos?
I love how it’s a blend of science and art – the technical with the creative. Photography refuses to be categorized as one or the other! That’s so punk rock.
Do you have a favorite type of photography?
I enjoy lifestyle portraits. I love seeing people in their everyday environments doing ordinary things. It feels intimate and special – like they’re letting you in on a secret by giving you a glimpse of a very real moment in their life.
What is the most helpful tip you learned about taking photos?
This is a tough one! I’d say one of the more important tips for capturing photos which I learned when I was beginning my professional photography journey was to be careful to check your framing before you take a picture. Make sure that everything in the frame is intentional – and that it doesn’t look like you have things like trees or light posts growing out of your subject’s head. If the photo doesn’t look right, don’t be afraid to move your subject – or yourself – to get a better shot!
Also, if you are using a DSLR, I would highly recommend learning how to use it in manual mode for capturing photos. It will take a little bit of effort at first but it will radically change your photography skills for the better.
What is your favorite best service to edit your photos?
I’ve used Adobe Lightroom for years. It’s perfect for just about everything I need to do. And it is non-destructive so I don’t have to worry about saving a bunch of different versions of a photo – or worry about not being able to recover the original image.
Any last tip or trick for photos you want to share with us?
It’s not so much a tip as it is an encouragement…give the gift of photos! I love being able to capture a special moment in someone’s life with a quality photo and then give that to them as a gift that will live on forever. It’s rewarding for me and often very meaningful to the recipient. So, give the photo gifts to people you love! And give it often!
Thank you, Mark, for sharing your fantastic photo tips and giving us a look into your creative process. Through photographs, we get to relive the real and special moments preserved within them. Get quality photo prints online on SimplePrints app if you are in the market for high-quality photo prints.