Mapping Success: Setting New Year Goals for Your Business and Personal Growth

2024-01-01 00:00:00

As the calendar turns the page to a new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on the past and chart a course for the future. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or an individual looking to achieve personal growth, setting clear goals is key to success. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of setting goals for both your business and personal life, and provide practical tips on how to create a roadmap for a successful year ahead.

Setting Business Goals:

Reflect on the Past Year:

Begin by analyzing the performance of your business in the previous year. Identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement. Use this insight to inform your goals for the upcoming year.

Define Clear Objectives:

Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for your business. Whether it's increasing revenue, expanding your customer base, or launching a new product, clearly define your objectives to guide your team's efforts.

Involve Your Team:

Collaboration is key to achieving business goals. Engage your team in the goal-setting process to foster a sense of ownership and commitment. Consider each team member's strengths and align their individual goals with the overall business objectives.

Implement Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Establish KPIs to track progress toward your business goals. Regularly measure and assess these indicators to ensure you stay on course. This data-driven approach allows for informed decision-making and adjustments to your strategies.

Setting Personal Goals:

Balance Work and Life:

While business success is crucial, don't overlook your personal well-being. Set goals that promote a healthy work-life balance. This could include allocating time for family, hobbies, and self-care activities.

Identify Skill Development Goals:

Continuous personal growth is essential. Identify areas where you can enhance your skills or acquire new ones. Whether through workshops, online courses, or mentorship, invest in your personal and professional development.

Health and Wellness:

Prioritize your physical and mental health. Set goals related to regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep. A healthy lifestyle contributes not only to personal well-being but also to increased productivity in your professional life.

Financial Planning:

Develop a realistic financial plan that aligns with your personal goals. Whether it's saving for a major purchase, investing, or paying off debts, sound financial planning provides a sense of security and enables you to focus on your objectives.

Setting goals for the new year is not just a tradition; it's a powerful strategy for achieving success in both your business and personal life. By reflecting on the past, defining clear objectives, involving your team, and staying focused on continuous improvement, you can create a roadmap for a fulfilling and prosperous year ahead. Remember, the journey to success is a dynamic one, so be flexible, stay motivated, and celebrate your achievements along the way. Cheers to a year of growth, accomplishments, and personal fulfillment!

PNG vs JPG: Why Image Format Matters

2024-01-12 00:00:00

What are the differences between PNG, PDF, JPG, and all the many other image formats? We’re here to guide you.

Images are like puzzle pieces, each with its own unique shape and size. When deciding a preferred format, there are many considerations. Do you need a transparent background? Do you need to a smaller file size? Are you working with complex images? There is a lot to consider.
Here are some of the most popular image file types:
JPG
PNG
PDF
TIFF

One of the key factors when choosing the ideal file format for your graphic, image, or design is the balance between image quality and file size. Let’s break down these formats and figure out which one will work best for your project!

JPG or JPEG File Format
JPG or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is one of the most popular image formats. It’s a lossy format, meaning that some of the data from the original image is lost during compression.

Pronounced “jay-peg,” JPGs are designed to minimize the file size of photographs to make them more suitable for sharing and using in web design. Most of the photos you find online are likely in JPG format. JPEGs are generally an ideal format for sharing your digital photography and other non-vector based image files.

Advantages of JPG/JPEGs
There are many advantages to using a JPG format over a PNG format (or PDF/TIFF) that might make it the perfect format for the image you are planning to share with the world. Let’s break them down.

File Size
JPG/JPEGs are incredibly popular because they offer a variety of advantages. First, this format is best for photos that have intricate details and subtle color variations, as the lossy compression ensures that these details remain intact.

JPGs also take up less space than other formats, which make them ideal for attaching to emails or uploading to websites. This is the huge advantage of JPG images. If you’re designing a website, for example, utilizing JPG images will get you faster page load times and provide a better user experience because the files are smaller.

When you first save a JPEG file, the rate of compression is about 10:1. So, if you have a 20MB (megabyte) image that is then saved as a JPEG, you can expect the file to be 2MB in size.

Widely Shareable and Viewable Online
Since JPG images are a common file type, they’re easily shareable and viewable online. This eliminates the need for any program required to view the image file.
Disadvantages of JPG/JPEGs
While JPGs are one of the most common image formats out there, and work well for exporting many different kinds of images, they do have some limitations and key factors that might not make them the right format for the image you are exporting.

Compression Can Lead to Loss in Quality
The main advantage of JPG images—smaller file size—also happens to be their weakness. The algorithm that compresses JPG images finds pixels that are essentially the same color or value, and blocks them together into tiles. This creates a smaller file, but it also means you lose some of the data in the image, resulting is lower quality. Unfortunately, you lose that data forever when the file is saved, so you can’t restore a JPG to its original quality.

There are formats that have “lossless compression” and might be a better choice if you are sending your project to print, for example.
Not Ideal for Printing
Due to JPEGs’ ability to compress files to make their size smaller, this means that JPGs are most suitable for viewing online rather than printing.

Instead of exporting as a JPEG, export your images or designs for print as a PDF or another lossless compression format.

What’s a JPG-Large?
A more recent file extension—JPG-Large—is simply a larger version of the JPG file. While not commonly used, JPG-Large files are sometimes seen when uploading images to social media platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter.

In an attempt to resize the uploaded image to the correct dimensions on the platform, the file may change to JPG-Large instead.

If you’ve encountered a JPG-Large file and are unable to open it, simply rename the file to .jpg or .jpeg over the .jpg-large extension.
PNG File Format
PNG is an acronym for Portable Network Graphics. This image format is indeed optimized for graphics like graphs, logos, and text. However, you can just as easily save a photograph as a PNG.

PNGs are often higher quality than a JPG. This is because PNG files weren’t intended to reduce file size, so they retain more image details, color details, and transparency data.

PNGs are ideal for saving logos or images with a limited color palette.

Much like JPG files, PNG files are widely viewable and shareable across many platforms and programs. When searching for an icon on a web browser, you’ll likely find a .png file version of that icon.

Advantages of PNGs
Lossless Image Quality
The compression used when creating a PNG results in lower loss of quality. A PNG’s file compression results in more detailed images with larger file sizes. They are closer to their original image quality than JPGs.

Another way to say this is that PNGs have a lower compression ratio. PNGs retain their sharp lines and crispness. This is directly at odds with a JPG file, which will further compress and lose information every time it’s edited or re-saved.

In short, PNGs do better with detailed, high-contrast images where the larger image file size is no issue.

Transparent Backgrounds
One of the biggest advantages of PNG files is their ability to showcase transparency, making this file extension ideal for icons, logos, and smaller graphics that have transparent design elements and backgrounds.

The gray checkered background you often see in PNG images in your image editor or when you are searching on the web (before downloading them) indicates the transparency of that file.

Because of this feature, PNGs are one of the most ideal formats to use for transparent images or graphics with a transparent element.
Disadvantages of PNGs
Larger File Size
One of the reasons why JPG images are widely used on the web is the friendly file size. PNG images undergo a different type of image compression that reduces the file size, but not to the same degree as a JPG file.

These files have a lower image compression ratio. This can result in longer loading times, so you’ll want to be careful when exporting a .png file for a website—watch the file size closely.

If you’re concerned about load time for your website, you don’t want an image on your page with a file size larger than 500 KB, especially a page with lots of images.

Not Ideal for Photos or Printing
PNGs, unlike JPGs, are not ideal for printing due to the fact that they possess a much larger file size. This can lead to more costs from printers and longer wait times for printed materials.

Additionally, PNGs have a lower image compression ratio, which can result in loss of detail or color information when attempting to print an image or graphic. Therefore, if you need to print an image or graphic, exporting as a PDF or another lossless format is recommended.

PDF File Format
PDF files aren’t typically discussed when weighing options for image files, but you may need to convert PDF files to and from PNG or JPG formats.

PDF (Portable Document Format) is the industry standard for document sharing, as it creates an exact replica of any file you want to duplicate, including images.

While you wouldn’t want to use a PDF image to upload online or in official brand design, they’re useful for emailing and storing screenshots and other images combined with text documents or photographs.

Advantages of PDFs
Reliable and High-Quality
PDF files look identical to the original design or photograph, serving as a copy of your image. PDF files are ideal for file sharing, and carry the assurance that your graph, photo, or document will display correctly across devices without being altered.

Also, PDFs will retain a larger range of colors than the more highly compressed JPG format.

Ideal for Interactive and Print Designs
PDF images are extremely customizable, allowing you to export images and documents, and optimize them for printing and sharing. The superb quality is ideal for designs and documents that will ultimately be printed as opposed to living online, like print brochures.

When preparing a design for print production, saving as a PDF enables the design to remain high-quality and print at various sizes. Your photos will retain their original image size and quality.

In addition, PDF files are an ideal choice when creating interactive documents that require any form inputs or button clicks. Programs such as Adobe InDesign allow for exporting designs into an interactive PDF file.
Disadvantages of PDFs
Not Ideal for Logos or Icons
While PDF files evoke many advantages, they’re best utilized when exporting high-quality images and documents, and not logos or icons.

Instead of using the .pdf file extension, stick to .png or .jpg when exporting a logo or icon.

Not Easily Editable
Since PDF files are flat, they do not contain the ability to edit (with the big exception of a Photoshop PDF, which can be saved with editable layers.)

Reserve exporting your design to a PDF when you’re sharing the design for feedback, using a document for print or interactive purposes, or getting ready to print an editorial design.
TIFF
TIFF files, much like PNGs, are a lossless raster file format. Short for “Tagged Image File Format,” TIFF files are known for being high-quality and used mostly in photography. They are ideal for photos shot in RAW formats that have had intricate color correction and ensure the file when viewing or printing will be pixel perfect!

In addition to being high-quality, TIFF files are on the larger end of the file size spectrum, so use them sparingly and definitely don’t use them on a website.

While they aren’t a popular file extension, they’re often used with professional photography, desktop publishing, and scanning artwork and documents. Anything where you’ll be printing a larger image size or need to view all the details of an image.

Advantages of TIFFs
Ideal for Scanning and Printing High-Quality Graphics
If you’ve ever needed to get a crisp version of an image or print a high-quality photograph, then TIFF file formats are your go-to.

Made to preserve its quality, TIFF offers the ability to use tags, layers, and even transparency, if needed. TIFF files—while not used as widely as PNG, JPG, or PDF—are compatible with Adobe Photoshop.
Disadvantages of TIFFs
Not Suitable for Web
Due to the compression of TIFF files and their large image quality, this file extension isn’t suitable for web and online-only use. Stick to exporting your files as a .tif if you’re planning to print the image or are using a high-quality scanner.

PNG vs PDF vs JPG vs TIFF: Which File Format Is Best?
Still undecided on what’s the best image format between the popular formats?

Let’s look at what file is most practical for your needs:

JPG images (or JPEG images) are ideal for posting photos and images online, as they keep file size down without much overall loss in image quality. They’re also nice for emailing preview images to clients and for printing artwork and photographs at high resolution. While they have some loss of image quality, they still look very nice at lower compression ratios.
PNG images are ideal for web graphics, especially logos, illustrations, and graphs. They can shrink to small file sizes when colors and elements are limited, which is another plus. The greatest advantage of a PNG is that the image can be fully transparent, allowing you to place illustrations and designs on top of backgrounds effortlessly. PNG is also a top choice if images will be edited and saved multiple times.
PDF images are ideal for printing, especially for graphic design, posters, and flyers. PDF images are also an ideal choice for storing images online when you intend to download them. PDFs keep your images in one packet so viewers can print and save designs and booklets easily.
TIFF images are ideal for printing, especially photography, magazines, booklets, and other multi-page designs. Due to their ability to retain high-quality image information, they can be a powerful file extension in specific situations. TIFFs offer a quality image format with a large file size.

Social Media Tactical Plan by Adobe

2023-12-18 00:00:00

B2B MARKETING

Social Media Tactical Plan

First things first Before you get started on your social media initiatives, here are some action items:

• Assign ownership of each channel or strategy to someone within your organization.

• Create buyer personas and know which personas are on which social media sites.

• Train your sales teams to use social media for lead generation and customer acquisition.

• Create a social media policy and distribute it to your employees and your agencies.

• Encourage employees to be active participants in social media—don’t be afraid to incentivize.

MORE INFO IN ADOBE

Click to download the file
Social Media Tactical Plan

The power of colors in marketing and graphic design

2023-12-12 00:00:00

Colors are one of the most important elements in marketing and graphic design. They have the ability to evoke emotions, create moods, and influence behavior. Studies have shown that different colors can have different effects on people, and that the use of color can be a powerful tool in communicating a message.

For example, red is often associated with excitement and passion, while blue is seen as calm and trustworthy. Green is often associated with nature and health, while yellow is seen as cheerful and optimistic. By understanding the psychology of color, designers and marketers can use color to create a specific mood or feeling, and to communicate the values and personality of a brand.

In addition to evoking emotions and creating moods, color can also be used to enhance the legibility and readability of text. By choosing the right color combinations, designers can make text easier to read and more visually appealing. This is particularly important in marketing materials, where the goal is to grab the attention of potential customers and encourage them to take action.

Overall, the power of colors in marketing and graphic design cannot be overstated. By using color strategically, designers and marketers can create powerful and effective communications that resonate with their target audience.

How Many Logo Variations Do Businesses Need?

2023-05-30 00:00:00

How Many Logo Variations Do Businesses Need?

Logos are often thought of as the end-all-be-all, single representation of a brand—but, in reality, businesses always need more than just one logo design.

Think about it like this: a business card, a t-shirt, an email signature, and a website are all totally different brand assets, each with unique colors, layouts, sizes, and other design constraints. It would be impossible for a single logo to look great across all these applications.

That’s where LOGO variations come in.

Logo variations allow you to maintain a cohesive brand identity while adapting to different marketing and branding needs—even the ones you haven’t encountered yet!

Keep reading to explore the what, why, and how of all the logo variations required for a versatile, long-lasting brand.

4 Essential Logo Variations

Wondering how many logo variations you really need? A quick internet search will give you a wide range of answers, mostly because there are so many different ways to name and categorize logo variations.

We’re keeping it simple by dividing variations into the four types below, along with some logo variation examples to show you the key differences between them.

1. Primary Logo

The crown royalty of your logo stack will be your primary logo. This is your original logo design and is typically the default version anywhere you need to display your brand.

You’ll want to make sure you love your primary logo, as it’s not only the foundation for brand awareness but also the base design from which all other logo variations stem!

2. Secondary Logo

Secondary logos are a basic variation of your primary logo and are sometimes called “stacked logos” or “horizontal/vertical lockups.”

Typically, secondary logos are meant to look good in the opposite orientation of your primary logo. So, if your primary logo is vertically stacked, then your secondary logo would be arranged more horizontally. (And vice versa.)

Secondary logos are used when design constraints would make the primary logo too small, too hard to read, or just too awkward.

3. Wordmark (Words Only)

The third logo variation is a wordmark, which is usually just your original logo without the icon. (You could get fancy and create a few different text-only layouts, but this is by no means necessary.)

Wordmarks are used when absolute simplicity is required—think tiny product labels or vertically limited spaces like website navigation menus.

A wordmark may also be used for aesthetic purposes if you want to create a particularly minimalistic design.

4. Logomark (Icon Only)

Similar to the previous logo variation (only opposite) is the logomark, which is simply your original logo without any words.

This logo variation is used when a very, very small size is needed, such as website favicons. Logomarks are often used for social media profile pictures, as well.

Similar to a wordmark, you can also use the logomark any time you want a simpler mark that reinforces your brand identity without drawing too much attention.

Don’t Forget About Color Variations

From the list above, you now have four essential logo variations—but there’s one more catch!

For maximum brand versatility (and way fewer marketing headaches down the line), each of the logo designs above should also come in the following color variations:

Color

All black

All white

So, in total, that gives you 12 logo variations.

We know that might sound like a lot, but they’re easier than you might think to create!

YouTube recommended upload encoding settings

2023-01-16 00:00:00

Container: MP4

No Edit Lists (or the video might not get processed correctly)

moov atom at the front of the file (Fast Start)

Audio codec: AAC-LC

Channels: Stereo or Stereo + 5.1

Sample rate 96khz or 48khz

Video codec: H.264

Progressive scan (no interlacing)

High Profile

2 consecutive B frames

Closed GOP. GOP of half the frame rate.

CABAC

Variable bitrate. No bitrate limit is required, though we offer recommended bit rates below for reference

Chroma subsampling: 4:2:0

Frame rate

Content should be encoded and uploaded in the same frame rate it was recorded.

Common frame rates include: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60 frames per second (other frame rates are also acceptable).

Interlaced content should be deinterlaced before uploading. For example, 1080i60 content should be deinterlaced to 1080p30. 60 interlaced fields per second should be deinterlaced to 30 progressive frames per second.

Bitrate

The bitrates below are recommendations for uploads. Audio playback bitrate is not related to video resolution.

Recommended video bitrates for SDR uploads

To view new 4K uploads in 4K, use a browser or device that supports VP9.

Video resolution and aspect ratio

The standard aspect ratio for YouTube on a computer is 16:9. When uploading other aspect ratios such as vertical or square, the player automatically adapts itself to the size of the video. This setting gives the best viewing experience based on the aspect ratio and device.

Learn how to use video resolution and aspect ratios correctly.

YouTube displays videos with different aspect ratios based on the platform and video format. The YouTube video player automatically adapts to the size of each individual video.

How your video will display

The standard aspect ratio for YouTube on a computer is 16:9. If your video has a different aspect ratio, the player will automatically change to the ideal size to match your video and the viewer’s device.

For some video and device aspects ratios like 9:16 vertical videos on computer browsers, YouTube may add more padding for optimal viewing. The padding is white by default, and dark gray when Dark theme is turned on.

For best results, avoid adding padding or black bars directly to your video. Padding interferes with YouTube’s ability to change the player dynamically to your video size and the viewer’s device.

Recommended resolution & aspect ratios

For the default 16:9 aspect ratio, encode at these resolutions:

4320p (8k): 7680x4320

2160p (4K): 3840x2160

1440p (2k): 2560x1440

1080p (HD): 1920x1080

720p (HD): 1280x720

480p (SD): 854x480

360p (SD): 640x360

240p (SD): 426x240

Note: In 2022, we started removing support for playback at resolutions between 4K and 8K. For example, we may no longer support playback at 5K.

How to get more Google Reviews 101

2022-12-13 00:00:00

Google-Reviews-101.pdf by ONETACO Marketing

How to Create a Pro Logo for Your Small Business

2022-11-17 00:00:00

Why Are Logos Important for Your Business?

A logo is essential because it represents who you are as a company and the values you stand for. It’s the first thing that people will see when they visit your website or come across your brand on social media. It’s also an asset that contributes to your ability to build a recognizable brand.

Many small business owners have clarity around the services they offer and their unique approach. What can be more challenging is translating that into a visual identity that makes an impact.

How to Get Logos for Your Small Business

Knowing the importance of a logo is step one. Your next step is to figure out how to make a logo. Not sure where to start?

Here’s a closer look at different avenues to choose from.

License from an Image Library

One option is to purchase a license to use an image. This can be tempting if you want to come up with something right away, but it’s not the best idea.

Business logos should stand out, which is unlikely to happen if you buy an image that anyone else can access.

Hire a Professional Designer

It’s clear that having something unique is the way to go with your business logo, and hiring a pro designer will make this easier to achieve. However, there are a couple of issues with this approach for business owners.

First, it can be cost-prohibitive. Second, it can be an overwhelming, time-consuming process if you’re not sure what you want.

Make Your Own or Use a Customizable Template

Working with templates available through a web-based software like Shutterstock Create can make logo design easier. In just a few clicks, you can get inspiration and start editing.

This option is also affordable and gives you the flexibility to try out various options before you commit to a logo.

Elements to Use in a Business Logo

You have everything you need to design your own logo. Now, let’s talk about what you should consider to make it memorable.

Colors

How do you want your customers or clients to feel when they see your logo? Colors can influence our moods, so be mindful about what you choose and make sure you select a combination that reflects your brand personality.

Fonts

The font you select can also go a long way to communicate the traits of your brand. Beyond that, it’s important to select something that people can actually read.

That cool font won’t get you far if no one can read the text.

Graphics and photos

When you’re thinking through a logo design for business, don’t forget about graphics and photos. Graphics add to the digital representation of your brand or personality, while photos allow your audience to connect to real people, locations, items, or landscapes.

White space

Coco Chanel gave wise advice when she said to look in the mirror and take one thing off before you leave the house. Think of logos the same way. There is such a thing as too much.

White space keeps your logo from looking like an illustrated pile of clutter.

4 Fantastic Logo Design Examples

Ready to make your own logo? Check out these logo ideas for businesses across different industries first.

1. Logo for Small Business

Keep things simple and sleek with this logo for small businesses. The soft color palette, clean design, and simple script create a classy and timeless look.

2. Logo for Construction Company

Communicate to your customers what it is that you do with a graphic that represents your industry and your business name written in clear, easy-to-read text.

3. Logo for Real-Estate Business

To create something that looks sleek and professional, try layering bold design elements with complementary colors and space out your typography.

Both of these options allow you to create a logo that is minimal, yet notable.

4. Logo for Architectural Company

Show off your skills in your logo by making it clear that you have an eye for color and modern graphic elements, without overwhelming your target audience.

Beaches vs. Mountains: Data-Backed Ways to Show Them Off in Ads

2022-08-02 00:00:00

Two vacation destinations go head-to-head, and data tells us which one wins. So, which is more clickable in ad creative: Beaches or mountains?

Have you ever been asked the age-old question: “Are you a beach person or a mountain person?”

For years, this question about preferred vacation destinations has been asked in hopes of revealing something about one’s personality. In fact, this dichotomy is so popular that studies have been done to dig into what makes someone a “beach person” or a “mountain person.” (Personally, my childhood vacations were spent in the Colorado Rockies . . . and I have little interest in laying around in the sand all day.)

Ultimately, the reason we ask this question is because both are popular vacation destinations. And, while mountains are 11% more clickable than beaches, when it comes to ad performance, both are beloved by consumers and advertisers alike.

So, if you’re in the travel and hospitality industry, how can you get the most out of your imagery featuring both beach and mountain vacations?

Images via J Wheeler and AnnaTamila.Images via Denis Scheglov

Shutterstock.AI has analyzed 700 billion marketing data points to determine how. By studying what creative contents garner the most engagement, our AI determined which exact settings, accessories, activities, and animals will boost click-through rates (CTRs) for digital ads.
Let’s go on an adventure through the data! Your best—and most clickable—ad campaigns are ahead of you.

Images via J Wheeler and AnnaTamila.

Which Settings Work Best for Beaches and Mountains?
As stated earlier, mountains are generally more clickable with today’s audiences than beaches. Still, beach trips are the epitome of the summer vacation. So, how can you make the most of both settings?
Data indicates that you should include particular elements of each to increase campaign effectiveness.
When it comes to beaches, AI shows that rivers are the most clickable body of water. Beyond that, oceans are performing pretty well too, with a CTR that’s risen 202% since last summer.
Sand has seen its CTR rise 421% over the last year, and palm trees have risen 782% over that same time. Resorts are also having a moment—and we recommend you include them in your ad photos, if you can. Their clickability has shot up 367% in 2022.
Images via Denis Belitsky, jdross75, Peera_stockfoto, and fokke baarssen.

Now, let’s look at mountains. Out of all mountain settings measured, cliffs are the most clickable. Include some mountain-climbing shots in your ads, as the CTR of cliffs has climbed 225% since last summer.
Trails and campgrounds have both seen their clickability rise 104% over the last year, with tents sitting at a 311% higher CTR than they had one year ago.
Out of all mountain settings, valleys have seen their engagement rates rise the most—2,268%, in fact.
Images via Denis Belitsky, Stas Tolstnev, Photobac, and Mostovyi Sergii Igorevich.

What Are the Most Clickable Activities and Accessories?
Interestingly, out of all activities measured, canoes are the most clickable. Their CTR has surged 4,114% since summer of 2021.
Of course, canoes can be featured in both beach and mountain vacation shots, so we suggest you include them, no matter what!
Images via i viewfinder and anek.soowannaphoom.
Beyond canoes, we’ve seen several beach-themed activities and accessories grow in popularity. For example, scuba diving is one of today’s most clickable activities, with a CTR that’s risen 505% since last year.
Tanning is up 257%, while sunscreen is up 258%.
Having picnics and drinking beer are ever-classic beach activities, and AI has seen both increase in engagement. Specifically, coolers’ clickability is up 137% this year . . . and a bottle of beer is 112% more clickable than a cocktail.
Images via Tunatura, G-Stock Studio, Jukkis, LightField Studios, wavebreakmedia, and Rawpixel.com.
Fitness and exercise have been huge for boosting ad engagement this year, so it’s no wonder that many mountainous activities are trending upward.
Skiing has seen its CTR rise 525% over the last year. In fact, skiing is 2,172% more clickable than snowboarding.

more info in the source: https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/beaches-vs-mountains-marketing-data

Photography Tips for Shooting at Different Times of the Day

2022-07-05 00:00:00

Mastering natural light is one of the core fundamentals of photography. Changes in daylight require different camera settings or tools to achieve the best possible results.

The time of day is the most important element in understanding how light can look. Daylight can be broken down into several periods, including blue hour, golden hour, and midday.

The color temperature—which pertains to the relative warmth and coolness of light—shifts during each of these periods. The latter is dictated by time or even the number of clouds in the sky.

For example, at dawn, the sky appears light blue. At sunrise and sunset, the sky appears orange or golden.

This guide will help you learn some of the best practices for capturing daylight at different times so you can hone your skills and master the technique.

Knowing how to identify the different characteristics in light is the first step to understanding which camera settings are required to take the best shots. Image via Mike Pellinni.

Image via Telly.

Blue Hour

Blue hour unveils itself at daybreak, just before sunrise and after sunset. The sun is approximately four to eight degrees below the horizon, emitting a deep, dark blue color into the atmosphere.

There are many advantages to shooting blue hour behind the lens. Compared to golden hour, fewer photographers shoot during blue hour (thus, giving you a creative edge).

The color blue also happens to be an effective tool for conveying certain emotions, including serenity, sadness, peace, and more.

But despite the many advantages of shooting during blue hour, you still need to select ideal camera settings to perfect the shot.

Blue hour is perhaps one of the more underrated times of day to shoot. Images via DasyaDasya, JNix, Martina Klichova, and P.V.R.Murty.

Blue Hour Camera Settings

Blue hour gives you some flexibility when choosing your settings. One factor to consider is it’s a time period of relatively low light, meaning you’ll need a long shutter speed to obtain a good exposure.

Generally, you’ll want a narrow aperture to render the entire landscape in focus. You’ll also require a camera mode that offers you greater control over your exposure variables.

A good starting point is to set your camera’s ISO at 100 and use a smaller aperture of around f/7 to f/11. From there, you can adjust the f-number and shutter speed depending on your needs.

Blue hour requires a longer exposure setting since you’re working with low light. Image via Mubarak_Khan.

Image via FootageTheWorld.

Golden Hour

Golden hour—also referred to as “magic hour”—occurs shortly after blue hour at sunrise and before blue hour at sunset. The sun casts a soft, radiant glow once it reaches the lowest point on the horizon—making for breathtaking photography.

For this reason, golden hour is widely regarded as one of the best times of day to shoot.

While golden hour, like blue hour, is quite forgiving behind the lens, you’ll still need to adjust your camera settings to produce the best possible results.

Golden hour is widely regarded as one of the best times to shoot behind the lens . . . and for good reason. Images via Nadezhda Akimova, JuliusRS, Smileus, and Stephen Bridger.

Golden Hour Camera Settings

One of the challenges photographers face when shooting golden hour photography is that the light changes quickly. This means you’ll have to adjust your camera settings as the light evolves. As with all times of day, you’ll also need to consider the subject you’re shooting.

The easiest way to adjust your camera settings during sunset or sunrise is to use Aperture Priority mode. This mode allows you to choose the aperture that best fits the circumstances, while automatically changing the shutter speed to adapt to the sun getting brighter or darker.

For example, when shooting landscape photography, you’ll need a narrower aperture (higher f-stop number) like f/16 to increase the depth of field (have more of the image in focus).

Golden hour light changes quickly, meaning you’ll need to adjust your camera settings to accommodate. Image via Daniel Waschnig Photography / Westend61 and Sarath maroli.

When shooting portrait photography, you might want to use a wider aperture (smaller f-stop). This will make the foreground and background blurry, while keeping your subject perfectly in focus.

For both portrait and landscape photography, you can set your camera’s ISO (camera’s sensitivity to light) around 100.

As the sun starts to fade, you might find you’ll need to increase the ISO to allow more light through the lens to reach your camera’s sensor.

Image via IM_photo.

Midday Photography

Midday is when the sun has reached the highest point in the sky—and when it’s at its brightest and harshest. With the sun beaming down directly overhead, you’ll find a greater degree of contrast with brighter highlights and darker shadows.

While this can make for striking landscape photography, it can be particularly challenging when attempting to shoot portraits.

Eyebrows and foreheads can create unflattering shadows over a subject’s eye sockets. Fortunately, there are ways you can deal with the harsh light source with the following tips and tricks.

The midday sun is widely regarded as a challenging light to work with. Images via peacefoo, Alex Segre, GaudiLab, and Ekaterina Pokrovsky.

Midday Camera Settings

First thing’s first, close the aperture. Given that you’re working with harsh, bright light, you’ll want to reduce the amount of light that’s hitting your lens and reaching your camera’s sensor. Set the aperture to around f/11.

You might find that your exposure meter is jumping from left to right as your camera struggles to find the right exposure. One reason for this could be that your camera is set in auto mode.

In this instance, your camera is working overtime, trying to figure out the correct exposure based on shadows and highlights in the frame. This is exactly why you’ll need your camera in manual mode, so you can control the shutter speed for exposure.

Harsh light calls for a lower aperture so as not to overexpose your shot. Image via Heather Chang.

Shooting Midday Portraits? Keep the Following in Mind.

Since midday is widely regarded as one of the most challenging times to shoot portraits, we’ll go over some additional pointers on how best to take portrait photography in the midday sun.

If possible, capture your subject with their back to the sun. As long as the sun is slightly angled, then backlighting is possible.

With no shade available, your only choice is to position your subject so no direct light falls on their face causing them to squint. Instead, their face will be evenly shaded thanks to the backlight.

Put the sun behind your subject. Image via TONL.

When metering on the face, you’ll find the background elements are overexposed and will therefore lose some details.

Perhaps you like this effect. But, if you want to maintain details in the background, it’s best to use a reflector to redistribute the light by bouncing it back onto your subject.

more info: https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/daytime-photography-tips