i hope you guys could help me make my dream come true...

btw, im new here...

i just wanna ask if anyone knows any photography school in manila?

&

in digital STUDIO photography, what are the tools needed?

-digital cam, what kind? recommended number of megapixels? brand?
-lights...how many? what kind? where to buy?
-i usually see an umbrella-like thing in studios...whats that? is that needed? for wat? how to use it?
-tripod...wer to buy?
-the different background i see (some are plain & some are printed)...wer to buy? usually, how much?

i also wana ask some tips in digital studio photography?

-should the subject be near the background or a bit apart from it?
-should there be lights for the background?
-should i turn off the flash of the digital cam when taking pics?
-more tips pls...

thanks a lot guys...sorry if i hav lots of questions...i just want to make this dream come true...tnx

before you guys answer, we need candy's real name first.

before you guys answer, we need candy's real name first.

hi... im michelle katigbak

hi... im michelle katigbak

please use michelle katigbak as your username.

please use michelle katigbak as your username.

ok...but is it needed? my username isn't actually a name...it's a character which i really luv...can't i use this? tnx

ok...but is it needed? my username isn't actually a name...it's a character which i really luv...can't i use this? tnx

@michelle

we all use our real names in dpp...so please abide by the rules :)

@michelle

we all use our real names in dpp...so please abide by the rules :)

ok then...im so sorry

ok...but is it needed? my username isn't actually a name...it's a character which i really luv...can't i use this? tnx

as much as i love to use the name The Vampire Lestat.. can't. so.. no.

as much as i love to be name The Vampire Lestat.. can't. so.. no.

:D ha ha ha... So many wanna grab that handle...

Hi Michelle. I'll try to answer your questions, but I'm new to this too.

For the digicam you can just use a point and shoot. At least 3MP is fine, unless you want to print up to A3 size. Try to get a cam that has a manual mode, so you can set everything yourself.
For the lights I just use two slave flashes, one as a backlight and one as the main light. The umbrella things are used to reflect or diffuse (depending on the color) the light from the flash. There are different backgrounds because different customers require different things. For example white backgrounds for IDs, sometimes they need blue backgrounds, etc. And then of course there are the studio backgrounds for portrait shots.
I don't turn off the flash of my digicam because that's what triggers the other lights to fire. (I don't have a sync system.) If you're going to use a backlight don't let the subject sit too close to it, the sides of their face might come out too bright.
All the supplies can be bought on Hidalgo in Quiapo.
Wait a little while for someone more experienced than me to post in this thread. :)

ok...but is it needed? my username isn't actually a name...it's a character which i really luv...can't i use this? tnx

They also need your mobile number, land line number, picture and address.

We also need your mobile number, land line number, picture and address.

are you serious? haha sorry i have to ask this. :p you forgot the email.

The only school I know of with a dedicated photography program is CSB. But other schools like Ateneo, UP, Assumption, etc. offer photography as an elective or as a required subject of a major course.

A DSLR would be preferable. How many megapixels? I suppose at least 6mp would be safe - and I'm biased so I'll say that Canon is a good brand (at least I admitted that I'm biased :D).

At least two or three studio strobes. What kind and where to buy? You could try asking Frank Tsai of Aperture Trading in Banawe. He has already outfitted some mall based studios in the Metro.

You can also buy the rest of the gear from him (i.e. light stands, seamless backdrops, etc.).

When to use an umbrella against another light modifier is subjective. It would depend on your purpose and vision.

I would highly recommend that you attend a studio lighting class.

Cheers!

Jo Avila

i hope you guys could help me make my dream come true...

btw, im new here...

i just wanna ask if anyone knows any photography school in manila?

&

in digital STUDIO photography, what are the tools needed?

-digital cam, what kind? recommended number of megapixels? brand?
-lights...how many? what kind? where to buy?
-i usually see an umbrella-like thing in studios...whats that? is that needed? for wat? how to use it?
-tripod...wer to buy?
-the different background i see (some are plain & some are printed)...wer to buy? usually, how much?

i also wana ask some tips in digital studio photography?

-should the subject be near the background or a bit apart from it?
-should there be lights for the background?
-should i turn off the flash of the digital cam when taking pics?
-more tips pls...

thanks a lot guys...sorry if i hav lots of questions...i just want to make this dream come true...tnx

@ michelle. Attend Mr Jo Avilas Classes!

whats your budget?

if you are on a tight one you can probably start with your manual and some practice.

There are also lots of free online resource out there. just google what youre interested in. you'll also find the local schools/ studios offering digital photography classes in google =)

Michelle, check some of the threads here about events with tutorials. Maybe you can join in some of them so you can get a feel for it.

Hi Michelle,
I would suggest to you get hold of lots of reading materials like photo magazines and books (try second hand dealers first) if you already have some camera gear. Compliment it with a basic photo class like the one OWG, FPPF (www.photoworldmanila.com) or PCCI (www.pcci.com.ph) offers then keep on practicing what you've learned and I believe you would be shooting like my idol Dino Lara in a zippy!

Hi Michelle,
I would suggest to you get hold of lots of reading materials like photo magazines and books (try second hand dealers first) if you already have some camera gear. Compliment it with a basic photo class like the one OWG, FPPF (www.photoworldmanila.com (http://www.photoworldmanila.com)) or PCCI (www.pcci.com.ph (http://www.pcci.com.ph)) offers then keep on practicing what you've learned and I believe you would be shooting like my idol Dino Lara in a zippy!

I agree with Master Sami except for the last line. :)

I just want to suggest that you study photography up to the printing stage. :)

Hi Michelle,

I am enrolled in New York Institute of Photography (http://www.nyip.com/). It's a mail-in school so you can do everything at your own time. They send you the materials, then you do the assignments, you send it to them, they rate your work, your instructor records on tape his criticisms on your work, they send this back to you. Then everything goes over again. Most of their stuff are largely on film photography but the good thing with photography is, the basics of both film and digital are the same. Or you can opt to enroll in their digital course, which, actually to me is something I'd rather learn later. I'd like to master the art of photography first.

The bad thing with a mail-in course is that, since you do your assignments in your own time, sometimes you get lazy. As for me, I enrolled in May 2005. I have yet to submit my first assignment. Good thing they give you three years to finish the course. I now only have a year and a half to finish 30 lessons. I need to get started right away :Grin: !!!

Oh by the way, the price is around $900, but after you inquire, don't enroll yet. Give them 3 months and they will send you a coupon. I only paid $600 for my course. Or you can get the monthly installments in which you only have to pay something like $30/month.

If you have any questions, you can go to their website (http://www.nyip.com/), or if you want I can call them for you and verify if they accept overseas students. I believe they do, but I will make sure. Just PM me.

Cheers!

Marco

PS.

I just looked at their website, and they do accept international students! You have to give them your information first and they will send you some sample materials plus curriculum. Click here (http://www.nyip.com/sales/dpc/intlform.php).

I would also recomend NYIP , same as marco I am also a student of NYIP. one project more to garduate. Yung pang pinakamahirap.....:)

Ohh its a mailin? cool! I thought you had to be in NY :P I wanted so badly when i was there :Grin:

i hope you guys could help me make my dream come true...

btw, im new here...

i just wanna ask if anyone knows any photography school in manila?

&

in digital STUDIO photography, what are the tools needed?

-digital cam, what kind? recommended number of megapixels? brand?
-lights...how many? what kind? where to buy?
-i usually see an umbrella-like thing in studios...whats that? is that needed? for wat? how to use it?
-tripod...wer to buy?
-the different background i see (some are plain & some are printed)...wer to buy? usually, how much?

i also wana ask some tips in digital studio photography?

-should the subject be near the background or a bit apart from it?
-should there be lights for the background?
-should i turn off the flash of the digital cam when taking pics?
-more tips pls...

thanks a lot guys...sorry if i hav lots of questions...i just want to make this dream come true...tnx


Hi Michelle,

Sir Jo Avila has it right on with the schools where you can learn the craft. In addition to these, the Alcove at Makati Avenue and PCCI (Philippine Center for Creative Imaging, www.pcci.com.ph) also offer very good short courses to help get you started.

From your questions, it seems like you might be better off getting a feel of the basics with a camera first before actually delving into studio work and equipment. A good starter setup would be:

- A 6-10 Mp DSLR (e.g. Canon 400/350D, Nikon D50/D70s, and the rest.

* I suggest looking into each manufacturer's equipment catalog to plan your "gear expansion roadmap". You buy into a system with a DSLR. So if you plan to expand, you need to choose which manufacturer offers the best balance of expansion options and support for your needs. There's a lot of ground to cover here which can't be covered in one forum posting.)

- the kit lens and a standard 50mm 1.8 prime lens

- A tripod, a spare battery, a 1 Gb Mem card, plus a bag for your gear - all of which you can buy from Hidalgo in Quiapo. I personally got all my stuff from Henry's. Look for Nick.

6+ megapixels would have you covered for nearly all your printing needs. You'd have a nice zoom range with the kit lens, and you can shoot in natural/low light with the prime lens. Shooting with this setup can teach you a lot until you feel the need to control how light appears in your photos, which is where a flash and eventually, studio lighting will come in. Jay Alonzo's classes at the Alcove covers this in great detail and you'll learn a lot from him.

Hope this helps you out. There are lots of very knowledgeable people on these forums, so fire away with your questions as they come.:)

no need to say sorry michelle. madami din ganang cases. brb for your questions :D

i just wanna ask if anyone knows any photography school in manila?

Right now, we do not have a “school” for photography unless you enroll in photography classes of UP, Lasalle, Ateneo and other universities offering this course. What we have and what you can utilize are the workshops being conducted by organizations such as PCCI (Philippine Center for Creative Imaging), FPPF (Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation), http://www.photoworldmanila.com/6_idx_site.html (http://www.photoworldmanila.com/6_idx_site.html) or One Workshop Gallery (http://oneworkshop.net). There are also some selfless professional photographers who conducts different workshops in photography from basic to advance, from studio lighting to wedding. To name some, we have Jo Avila (basic, advance, food, and many more :D), Dino Lara (wedding), Jay Alonzo (product and fashion), Ken Go (studio lighting).

&

in digital STUDIO photography, what are the tools needed?

-digital cam, what kind? recommended number of megapixels? brand?

If you are really decided entering this form of art and you have the budget you may grab one DSLR camera with at least 6MP. There are many brands to choose from. Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus to name few.

-lights...how many? what kind? where to buy?

I don’t think you need this as of the moment. Learn the basics muna baka kasi in the end ayaw mo pala ng controlled lighting, ang gusto mo is outdoor.

-i usually see an umbrella-like thing in studios...whats that? is that needed? for wat? how to use it?
-tripod...wer to buy?

Same yung answer ko dito. Worry on the basic gear first before thinking of expanding your gears.

-the different background i see (some are plain & some are printed)...wer to buy? usually, how much?


Same. J

i also wana ask some tips in digital studio photography?
-should the subject be near the background or a bit apart from it?
-should there be lights for the background?
-should i turn off the flash of the digital cam when taking pics?
-more tips pls...

The masters can help you with that. J

i think for the beginners,, they should take up the UP workshop offered every summer,,, you will learn all the basics,, they only use film b&w coz you will have to develop/enlarge your own prints. after that i think you can proceed to pcci or sir jo avila's class,, i'm planning to take sir avila's class next year..

right,, i inquired about the photography class in CSB,,, their certificate course is 13thousand pesos for i think 10-12 sessions ( i'm really sorry i can't remember )
their degree course is 4 semester, 4 subjects per semester, 3 hours a week per subject, for the whole 4 semester expect to pay 100thousand ( this i remember )
good luck

Hi Michelle,

See my reply in yellow fonts, hope this helps...

i hope you guys could help me make my dream come true...

btw, im new here...

i just wanna ask if anyone knows any photography school in manila? FPPF, PCCI, OWG

&

in digital STUDIO photography, what are the tools needed?

-digital cam, what kind? DSLR

recommended number of megapixels? hmm 6 and above brand? that would be your preference, can be Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Sony :)

-lights...how many? minumum of 2, one for the main light and one for the fill light, but if u can include hairlight and backlight that'd better.
what kind? where to buy? hmm. aperture trading :)

-i usually see an umbrella-like thing in studios...whats that? the umbrellas are used to bounce back the flash to soften the light
is that needed? not necessarily, but most of the times i think it is needed for wat? to soften the light
how to use it?

-tripod...wer to buy?

-the different background i see (some are plain & some are printed)...wer to buy? usually, how much?

i also wana ask some tips in digital studio photography?

-should the subject be near the background or a bit apart from it? hmm no certain rules about that but usually 3 feet apart from the background is good.

-should there be lights for the background? not necessarily but it would enhance your image, it would separate your subject from the background, it'd give you something like a 3d effect

-should i turn off the flash of the digital cam when taking pics? in studio yes you should not use the built in flash of uy cam.. the studio lights are flashes already. You can use an IR trigger when shooting in studios

-more tips pls...
hmm this one I learned from FPPF :) -> when setting up studio lights, the backlight would be the strongest light, it is 1 stop higher the the main light and the fill light is 1 stop lower than the main light.


thanks a lot guys...sorry if i hav lots of questions...i just want to make this dream come

The backlight is not necessarily always the strongest light in your studio set up. It still depends on how dark or bright you want the background to be rendered in your final image.

Studio umbrellas can be bounce umbrellas or shoot through umbrellas. A bounce umbrella reflects light back onto the subject. A shoot through umbrellas diffuses the light. There's a big difference in effect between the two.

I was able to talk to a co-teacher in School of Design and Arts of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde about Photography class and I was told that the program is a 1-year Diploma. However, interested students may take selected subject of their choice.

Another plug... for those intrested in photojournalism, applications are ongoing at Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for jounalism http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=1502

i am looking for someone who can TEACH me to learn 1.basic digital photography
2.portrait 3.landscape 4.advanced editing..NOTE:i dont wanna attend class.i prepare home class.. thank you so much guys hope you can help me..



btw im looking to buy a lens,suggestion please?i have a canon 60D and 18-135 kit lens..budget is around 20k pesos..