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Australian photographer

Best Places to Photograph in Australia

Being the 6th largest country in the world, it’s no surprise that it is home to a wide array of magnificent landscapes, tropical beaches and coastlines, rainforests, alpine regions, the outback, deserts, and a lot more. Everywhere you look, you’ll see something that’s just worth snapping your camera on.

For photography enthusiasts, it’s more than just capturing nice scenery. It’s getting to experience seeing the marvels of the world with your own two eyes and documenting them. Like they always say, “pics or it didn’t happen”.

Photographers’ Top Dream Subjects in Australia

Listed below are some of the best places to capture the best photographs in Australia.

Cape Tribulation – Queensland

Cape Tribulation

If landscapes are your thing in photography, you probably wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in Australia than in Queensland. One of its prized locations is Cape Tribulation, which is located inside the Daintree National Park, approx. 110 km north of Cairns. It is best known for its bird watching and Great Barrier Reef tours, aside from having a tropical rainforest where flora and fauna thrive.

It is a majestic coast, which obviously is best seen from up above. It’s definitely top-tier if you are a drone photographer. Special thanks to Craig of Cairns Pressure Cleaning for the photo above. Craig normally uses his drone for his Cairns roof cleaning before/after photos, but took this spectacular shot on a well-deserved day off!

Cradle Mountain – Tasmania

Cradle Mountain

Tasmania, despite being a relatively small state, is packed with locations that are truly photography havens. But perhaps the top of the list would be Cradle Mountain, which is located in the Central Highlands region. It is the 6th tallest mountain in the state at 1,545 metres above sea level.

This mountain is quite unique in the sense that it has jagged peaks that look so good in photographs. Its diverse terrain is home to various plants that yield spectacular colours of yellows, oranges, and reds across and animals such as young joeys and echidnas roaming around in spring. Its crater lake that’s crystal clear, especially in summer makes it even more breathtaking!

Great Ocean Road – Victoria

Great Ocean Road

This is one of Victoria’s stunning locations that landscape and seascape enthusiasts can truly marvel at. The Great Ocean Road’s 240-kilometre stretch starts in Torquay and ends in Allansford near Warrnambool.

The limestones that had eroded over the years created these amazing pillars in various shapes and formations. They have made this coastline more magical and something that you can’t probably find elsewhere. The Loch Ard Gorge that is part of this stretch of road boasts of its two rock pillars, which are visibly stunning, especially during golden hours.

Kalbarri – Western Australia

Woman in Kalbarri outback

On Western Australia’s coast, particularly at the mouth of the Murchison River, lies this resort town famous for its estuary beach, seaside cliffs, and wild pelicans. Its coast is also home to seasonal humpback whales, as well as dolphins.

Kalbarri National Park is also popular for its rocky gorges. One of the sharp bends in the river is named the Z Bend. But perhaps the most sought-after among photographers is the Hutt Lagoon. Imagine capturing this in its array of hues in pink, lilac, and red. Truly one for the books!

Kangaroo Island – South Australia

Kangaroo Island rocks

On the southwest of Adelaide, off the mainland of South Australia, this partly protected nature reserve is home to some native wildlife like various species of birds, koalas, and sea lions. On the west side of the island lies the Flinders Chase National Park known for its striking coastal rock formations, such as the stalactite-covered Admirals Arch and sculpted Remarkable Rocks, which are both postcard-worthy.

In a small part of the island on the south coast, you can find a place called Little Sahara, which is a 2-square kilometre dune system, which is believed to have been forming for over 7,000 years. You’ll definitely be amazed at capturing this landscape, along with many tourists enjoying tobogganing down its slopes.

Royal National Park – New South Wales

Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia

New South Wales is the state that is every photographer’s dream. With its Sydney Opera House, its Sydney Harbour Bridge, and its famous Bondi Beach alone, you’ll never have to go far and you’ll have stunning photographs for days.

But nestled between Sydney and Wollongong, just a 45-minute drive from the Central Business District is the Royal National Park, a heritage-listed site. This provides anyone with limitless moments to savour nature’s beauty and capture them through your lens. Considered one of the oldest national parks in the world, it features pristine beaches, rainforests near the shore, wildlife, wildflowers, and waterfalls, as well as ancient Aboriginal sites that will surely leave every photographer in awe!

Uluru – Northern Territory

Southern Face of Uluru

Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is a colossal sandstone monolith situated in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre. It features desert plains, rocky gorges, mountain ranges, and a few of the most sacred sites for Aboriginal Australia.

This place is packed with magnificent photography sites that you’ll never run out of subjects to take shots of, from sunrises to night times, and everything in between. How about trying astrophotography for the first time? This is famous for its minimal light pollution, which is the perfect condition for stargazing and night photography.

Wilsons Promontory National Park – Victoria

Wilsons Promontory

Wilsons Promontory is situated at the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland in Victoria. This park is also called Wilsons Prom or “The Prom”, which is comprised of trails in the coastal bushlands and granite tors-dominated beaches that will make your photographer’s heart pound with excitement.

Mount Oberon’s granite peaks offer panoramic views of the majestic sea and sunset. By the beach lies squeaky-clean white sand and pristine water, in the north nestles rugged wilderness, and in the south headlines the Sealers Cove and the historic Wilsons Promontory Lightstation.

Photography courses

Photography Courses in Australia

For some people who have photography skills running in their genes, being self-taught is not really a hard thing to achieve. For those who have family members who are professional photographers, consider yourself lucky to be able to learn from the experts for free.

However, enthusiasts who don’t have these privileges and would want to learn in a proper way would prefer learning and mastering their skills directly from schools. Good thing that Australia has a lot of schools and platforms where you can learn the basics and complexities of photography.

Different Photography Courses That You Can Take in Australia

Bachelor of Arts (Photography) – RMIT University (Melbourne)

This is a 3-year full-time course that caters to international students. Enrollees get both studio and project-based learnings and are only eligible if they have completed their 12th grade.

This course combines conceptual, theoretical, and industry-based practice of photography as applied to different industries, particularly media and communication. You will be encouraged to produce work in response to discourses in both local and global scenarios, as well as explore new technologies and probing if they are relevant to the image you are creating.

Interested students are accepted every February and July. You are also required to successfully complete the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or any of its equivalent.

Bachelor of Arts (Photography) – The University of Wollongong (New South Wales)

This is considered one of the best Photography courses for international students in Australia, which can be completed within 3 years, provided you enrol full-time within the duration of the course. It aims to teach students both digital and analogue technologies across a wide array of studio subjects. Learn all of these while you are developing your understanding of the concepts, as well as traditions involving photography. 

At the end of the course, you are expected to be able to develop your own style based on what you have learned. This is in terms of the conceptual skills, creative processes, and application of the knowledge into practical use.

Bachelor in Creative Arts – Deakin University (Melbourne)

This course can be completed in 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent. Areas of specialisation under this course include photography, visual arts, dance, writing, and dance. In Photography, you will be able to learn the art as a 21st-century tool for connectivity. 

Learn everything about photography such as its history, culture, and theory, as well as improve your skills in still and digital images. At the end of the course, you are expected to gain expertise or skills in chemical and digital imaging, exhibition and online collaboration, experimental practices, portfolio creation, project management, and visual communication.

What’s more is that you also get to showcase your masterpieces in the university’s gallery. You also get to experience participating in exhibits, festivals, and awards programs.

Bachelor of Visual Arts – Griffith University (Queensland)

Woman taking selfie on Brisbane River

This course offers three main majors, namely, Photography, Painting, and Sculpture. You will begin with introductory courses for these three, plus Indigenous art and protocols in the first year, then proceed to specialise in either of the three.

You will continue your major in the third year, with additional learnings about important professional practice skills, as well as produce a major cross-disciplinary project and exhibition. Although this is a full-time on-campus course, you will be provided with online access to lectures and course materials. Paul Woodward, owner of a respected Brisbane pressure cleaning business, says online course access and flexibility was a big reason why he took this course.

Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging – TAFE Institute SA (South Australia)

TAFE SA is considered South Australia’s largest provider of vocational education and training. This program aims for students to gain technical skills and creative confidence in order to fulfil their goal of turning their passion for photography into a lucrative career or business.

The course will be completed in only 12 months, provided that you enrol full-time. In the case that you are not able to meet the entry requirement, you are allowed to complete a short course known as Beginners Photography.

This is a hybrid type of education as you will be required to attend classes 3 days a week’s worth of on-campus and online attendance. You will also be required to have a digital camera, which can either be dSLR or mirrorless and features manual controls.

Photography Masterclass – Udemy (Online)

Udemy.com offers this course that is said to give you a complete guide to everything photography-related, which targets beginners and advanced photographers alike. The course aims to teach students how to capture photos in different scenarios, use flash and natural lighting, parts and functionalities of cameras, compose images, edit photos, take better photos using phones, and earn money from photography, among others.

It offers more than 40 courses in 379 lectures with 66 articles and 44 downloadable resources, which will take you around 31 hours to complete. No sophisticated camera and no prior knowledge are required to be able to enrol. What’s good is that you can access these on mobile and TV for life.

Wedding photographer

How to Find a Good Wedding Photographer?

Oftentimes, a person’s most prized possessions aren’t material things but memories. Perhaps the most used keepers of these mementos are photographs and videos. Hence, it is essential that only the best photographer takes charge of capturing the happiest occasions of our lives.

The wedding day is one of the most important events in any individual’s life as it is one such transition and definitely life-changing. It will be the start of living your life not as one person but now with a better half and possibly, a family in the future. So, it’s understandable that you don’t want to miss any moment from it and would want to capture each part perfectly!

What to Do First?

Choosing the perfect snapper for your wedding isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment decision and really demands careful consideration of a lot of things. But before even deciding, it is recommended that you do the following steps first:

Have the Venue Secured

It will be more advantageous to hire a wedding photographer after you have already booked the venue. This way, you’ll be more certain of the exact location and date of the wedding, which can be very crucial and even a deal-breaker when hiring the pro.

I have to admit – we got married at my parents house. Even then, we needed to spruce the place up and I’m glad we planned in advance, since some things took much longer than expected. Who knew that house washing on the Sunshine Coast was so popular – we needed to book 3 months in advance!

Also, this will give you more lead time when booking an in-demand photographer. The ideal would be at least nine months before the actual date of the wedding. However, if your wedding coincides with any holidays, it is better to book at least one year ahead to secure the schedule of a sought-after photographer.

Decide on the Style

This is a once in a lifetime chance to document that special part of your life so you have to do everything to get the best quality as there’s no second take. Hence, make up your mind as to the style of photography you want to use for your wedding.

If you don’t know what you want yet, scan through some magazines and wedding catalogues or search from the internet to have an idea. Or better yet, browse through some of the works of some photographers that can easily be reached if ever. 

Finding Prospects

There are a lot of resources online where you can find reputable wedding photographers. However, if you are not comfortable or not used to finding and dealing with things online, word of mouth is also a safe source of information.

Ask family members or friends who have previously had contact or have worked with wedding photographers in the past if they can recommend their past service provider. Referrals and recommendations from people you know are often the most reliable source of trust and confidence in any product or service.

How to Hire a Wedding Photographer

If you found a few that catch your fancy and if the rates are within your budget, it’s time to begin scheduling your initial meet up.

Talk to the Prospects

Regardless of the manner of communication you or the prospective photographers prefer, the aim should be very clear. That is to hire the best within your budget range. 

Also, make sure to ask if they will be the one who will take photographs at the event or if they are sending a staff. If so, make sure to ask if they can provide that assistant’s portfolio to be consistent with the style and quality that you expect from the original prospect.

Trust Your Instincts

It’s unusual for professionals to show their bad traits while trying to secure a deal, so be aware that everyone is putting their best foot forward, or at least trying. This is where your gut feeling must take control. It’s important that you are surrounded by people who you trust and feel good with on your special day.

Since you are going to work with the photographer closely throughout the event, you must choose someone whom you feel comfortable with. If for some reason, you can’t read people’s actions and intentions, it doesn’t hurt to do some background checks. Check reviews online or ask people you know who have worked with them in the past, if possible.

If the Price Is Right

This is what you need a full understanding of so you’ll know what the expected output and quality are at the end of the event. The exact price quote and what deliverables are offered should be clearly laid out.

The usual inclusions in a wedding photography package are the printouts, albums, soft copies of the high-resolution images saved in a USB or disc drive, or protected Cloud, and the exact number of prints, size, and quality, among others. Please note that photographers will provide you with a price list of different packages with different inclusions and price ranges. Make sure to clarify everything with them to get the best value for money.

It should also include whether they offer a flat rate for the entire duration or if they only need to stay and take shots at a particular segment of the event. 

Do a Test Run

If you have decided to go for a particular photographer, doing a test run of the service is always a good idea. This is to break the ice so to speak, especially so if you or your soon-to-be better half is uncomfortable on camera.

Comfort is crucial in making sure that genuine smiles and feelings are captured at the event. So why not try it out and do test photography on a lesser grand occasion, say an engagement photoshoot? This is also like testing the water if you will really like your chosen photographer’s output or if you need to cancel the agreement while it’s still early.

Wedding Planner

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Photographer

Hiring a photographer isn’t a regular occurrence. It’s not as if you have an event or occasion every so often, much more a wedding that needs one. So, it is crucial to know the right questions to ask them to be able to know whether to hire them or not.

The questions will depend on the level of your understanding of photography and what concerns you about the upcoming event. However, these are the crucial ones to ask.

  1. Will you have undivided attention on the date of the wedding?

When the photographer says they are okay on your wedding date, it doesn’t automatically mean that they only have one schedule on the same day. Some photography companies can be so in demand that they can have several schedules in one day. The best possible quality only comes from focusing on one event.

  1. Am I the only one on your schedule within the week of my wedding?

Not that it is really a big deal if they have several schedules in a week as long as they can provide the quality service they will be paid for. However, if your wedding venue and reception are in a far-flung area or the photographer’s team is coming from a distant place, it is ideal to have their schedule for the week cleared to avoid any conflict in terms of preparation and travel time.

  1. Who will be the one doing the shots?

The reason you are getting the services of a particular professional is because you were impressed by their work. This is why it is important to know whether they are the one shooting at your event or will just be assigning an assistant. While you might be open to the idea of working with someone else apart from the original choice, you need to ensure that whoever will be present at your event, you will have a rapport with.

  1. Have you experienced shooting weddings that were similar in style and size to our wedding?

While it’s a noble thing to give a chance to newbie photographers, particularly if you are working on a budget, it can realistically be risky if you want to have perfect documentation of the wedding. If the professional fee is out of the question, get the best one who has more experience in the type of photography you want to have.

  1. Where can we see your whole portfolio of wedding venues and receptions, especially the recent ones?

If you have seen their works somewhere on the internet, it’s possible that they are only the cream of the crop. To see if they really fit the criteria of what you are looking for, ask if they can provide their portfolio of wedding photography that they did from start to finish to see consistency and style.

  1. Have you worked with our wedding planner in the past?

It’s a long shot, especially if you’ve found the wedding planner and the photographer in entirely different ways and entirely different locations. But it doesn’t hurt to ask. Besides having complete confidence in both your photographer and wedding planner, it’s another advantage to have if they have already worked in the same event in the past.

Travel photo tips

Tips to Take Better Travel Photos

Finally getting that time off from work approval and you’re raring to take a splurge in your dream destination, armed with your swimwear, trekking gear, sunscreen, and camera to capture every moment. But do you really know how to capture the best travel photos possible?

For photography enthusiasts, nothing is more annoying than having the time of your life and the perfect subject, but not getting the best shot just because you were not ready for some reason. For this not to happen and ensure to get those postcard-worthy images, some tips and suggestions need to be followed.

How to Capture Perfect Travel Photos

Be Sure to Know Your Camera

Knowing how your camera operates like the back of your hand is crucial in capturing photos at maximum quality. It doesn’t matter if it’s not the top-of-the-line or the best specifications out there. Whether you are using a dSLR, a smart or Android phone, or even something as basic as film, Instax, or Polaroid camera, as long as you know exactly how they work best, you’ll have the best memorabilia ever! 

Light Is Everything

Since the focus of travel photography is basically everything in frame, light is crucial in making sure everything is clear and visible. However, it’s not always about having the maximum light. In a lot of instances, you need to have, at least, that perfect cast to achieve the desired effect and highlight.

Every nature and travel photographer’s favourite time of day to capture masterpieces are the so-called golden and blue hour. Blue hour literally means the sky casting a beautiful hue when the sun is below the horizon. On the other hand, golden hour happens twice a day and gives off that warm, somewhat golden or orange glow on everything it can reach. First, in the morning on the first hour of the sun peeking over the horizon, and second, when the sun is about to set in about an hour or two.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t make use of the middle of the day to take great photos. Taking street photos is a good idea or if you are taking a portrait of a person outdoors, a reflector can come in handy.

Plan What to Do

While spontaneity adds to the thrill of the experience, for photography, it’s a totally different story. Leaving everything to chance most of the time leaves you with mediocre-quality photographs and you don’t want that.

When planning your itinerary to a particular tourist destination, a responsible photographer not only prepares everything needed to enjoy the vacation and brings along the camera and its accessories. You also need to plan your shots.

List down the particular sceneries and subjects that you target to photograph based on your research about the place. Take recommendations from the internet of the perfect time to take these shots and the type of cameras, settings, or accessories to use based on the subject and the desired quality and effects.

Know How to Frame Properly

Inexperienced photographers tend to just focus on the subject. It’s like having the subject at the centre and that’s it. However, you have to ensure not to cut very important details in the shot.

Simple checking such as making sure that the subject hut or the hill is fully within the frame. Including some natural scenes or structures to create a frame within the picture can also be a good idea.

Make Position Adjustments

You cannot just arrive in a location and take photos exactly on the spot where you’ve landed, so to speak. You need to adjust your feet to see different sides of the place which can make good images.

Take time to walk around to see good angles and distances that are appropriate for your subject. Remember, symmetry in photographs is very important because it creates visual cohesion and harmony, which makes them balanced and pleasing to look at.

Tripods Are Necessary

Camera tripod photgraphing sunset over ocean

Tripods might be the most inconvenient camera accessory to bring for others, but it is definitely one of the most essential. It can provide stability and can offer you the sense of slowing down to put more thought into your succeeding target shots.

It can also help you get those creative shots like using long exposures and can also allow you to take photos in low light. You don’t actually need to bring a massive tripod. Even just a small one can come in handy in case you need one, even if you originally don’t intend to.

Identify Your Niche

Photography can have a broad array of niches and it’s easy to get confused with the type that you really want to achieve, especially if you easily get fascinated with a lot of styles. However, it helps when you know what you want and focus on perfecting it.

Since you are travelling, identify whether you prefer shooting landscapes, food, people, wildlife, or astrophotography, among others. It doesn’t hurt to take several photos of any type for keepsake, but be sure to make time to take more of those that really interest you.