Removing background with lots of hair

This tutorial is good, simple and easy to understand. It teaches you how to remove background of a person with lots of hair so that the head no longer looks like a "cut out". It is from http://1stoptutorials.com/
Thanks to alibaba for his unselfish sharing of knowledge.

Quick Selection Tools in Photoshop

This is a very good video on quick selection tool in Photoshop by Lynda.com.

Essential articles to read

I read some very good articles today and I thought I like to share:
These are from Laurencekim:

THE PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS AND THE AMERICAN DREAM

HOW TO STAND OUT FROM YOUR COMPETITION

Some advice from an expert:

If we are to maintain our integrity as good photographers we must exercise quality control and discriminating standards at all times. In professional circles it is said that your reputation is only as good as your last assignment. Keeping that in mind, it is a fair and noble goal to outdo yourself every time you are out there. It won’t always happen but it is nonetheless a great philosophy to work under. Even as a serious amateur photographer it is nice to know that you are doing you best and striving for better all the time. As a professional photographer it is a matter of business survival and knowing that you have done you best every day to benefit you industry, your business, your community, your clients and yourself and your family’s well being.

How to take an award winning photo from the above writer:

Quote: "So here are the “rules: or what ever the heck you wish to call them. There are various schools of though on theses matters but this is how I work:
 I use a point system based on 100 %. The categories are:
1. Impact 25%
2. Composition 25%
3. Color balance and/or tone 25%
4. Workmanship 25%
Each of the categories have 5 subdivisions meaning that each of the subdivisions have to be divide into 5 parts at 5 points each.
1. Impact:

• a. Creativity 
• b. Subject matter 
• c. Dynamics and shapes 
• d. Visual and emotional energy
• e. Interpretation

2. Composition:

• a. Perspective 
• b. Center of interest 
• c. Direction 
• d. Design 
• e. Graphic stability 

 3. Color Balance:

• a. Lighting 
• b. Color quality and quantity of light 
• c. Tonal range 
• d. Color harmony 
• e. Color of subjects and objects

4. Workmanship:

• a. Print quality 
• b. Style 
• c. Texture 
• d. Techniques employed 
• e. Presentation"

Unquote