Now ye're talking - to a professional photographer

Ger Roe wrote: »

I have a question about printing large size photo prints from a scanned file.

I am looking to print up to size 44 x 37 cms. This size is required to replace a photo already mounted in a specific frame. I am scanning from a smaller print of the photo to replace a badly sun damaged larger print.

Can you point me in the direction of somewhere that would be able to print to that size on photo paper?

Regards and thanks.

That's roughly 18x15 inches (I know, 'inches' are ye olde way of measuring things, but I still use them). That's not too big a size for most shops to handle.

If you wanted a bit more certainty, you could scan the photos and then use a website, like Photobox. This would allow you to get a visual representation of that the final image may look like (in terms of the crop).

If you have no editing software on your computer, check out getpaint.net. It's a free image editing software, that's very easy to use. What you want to do is load in your scanned photo, and use the image resize tool to put it to your desired size (in this case, 44x37cm). Then, go to the likes of Photobox.ie (an online photo printing service), and find the nearest larger photo size, which i believe is 50x67cm).

In paint.net, go to 'change canvas size' and enter 50x67cm. This will leave you with your photo, with a large white border around it. Order this. When it arrives, use scissors to cut the border off, and you have your photo printed perfectly to fit the frame.

I know it sounds complicated, when it's described as above, but it's only a few minutes and shouldn't be very tricky at all.

cannotlogin wrote: »

Are there any tips you could give to people who don't photograph well?

Depends a lot on the reason you feel you don't photograph well.

Obvious as it may sound, looking at yourself in a mirror is often a helpful thing to do. Flexing the shoulders up and sucking the belly in, or pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth to lift you chin, etc.

It can always help to remove your elbows from your body, too, if weight is your concern. If you create a gap between your torso and your elbow/arm, it can make you look slender.

If you're putting your hands on your hips, instead of having them right at the sides of your body, but them in a "10 o clock and 2 o clock" position, and, your waistline will look thinner (as your hands are closer together).

If you've a big nose, try to tilt your head slightly down to make it smaller looking. If you've a big chin then slightly (just slightly) push your head forward from your shoulders to help stretch it out a bit.

If you're a woman, don't stand balanced perfectly on your hips. Let them fall to one side and rest on one. Can also use this to push your ass out if you want it to look bigger.

If you want to enhance cleavage, without making it to obvious, pose with your hands in front of you, and use one hand to cup/hold the wrist on the other arm. Your arms are now in front of you and you can use your upper arms to do a light 'squeeze' to enhance your bust/cleavage.

Unless you've a large belly or ass that you're trying to hide, it's always best to stand at a 45 degree angle to the camera (as you can look a little 'flat' is you stand straight-on).

If you wear glasses, and someone is taking your photo using flash, ask them how it looks, as often glasses can reflect the flash and you just have whited-out eyes. Generally fixed by simply turning your head in any direction, just ever so slightly, so the glasses aren't facing directly towards the camera (you can still make eye contact).

If you're a man and getting photographed and feel like a bit of a tit and don't know what to do, just go with the old wedding classic - one hand in the pocket, thumb out, and the other hand loose by your side. Can be cheesy, but it's quick, easy, and works.

If you're a woman and your sitting, legs visible, push your knees together, and push your ankles apart. Now push one knee into the other one, so one is slightly raised higher than the other, rest your hands on your thighs, one hand higher up the thigh than the other.

Lots of silly little tips that can make you a tad more photogenic, but you'll find you'll always be hard on yourself when you see yourself in a photograph. It's just human nature, really.

My experience is that some people love photographs of themselves, but the vast majority of people are quick to put themselves down (even if they look great in the photo).

Conchir wrote: »

Is digital the only medium you work in, or have you ever ventured into film photography?

Have been involved in film photography in the sense that I used film cameras, but I never did the whole dark room thing, or developed my own photos.

Digital had well and truly kicked off and been accessible by the time I started to develop a serious interest in photography, so although I understand the merits of film photography, it's not something that directly interests me.

I could happily talk to someone about film photography and find it interesting, but if they invited me over to their dark room to develop a few prints, I'd start making my excuses to leave the conversation.

I'm not sure why that is, but I'd view it as a chore. It just never jumped out at me as something I'd like to do, unless it was unavoidable.

Conchir wrote: »

Very interesting thread, thanks!

Thank you.