Ten Top Tips of Taking Photos
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Ten Top Tips of Taking Photos
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Try out these tips and see how gorgeous your pictures will look.
Get Down on Their Level
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- Hold your camera to the subject's eye level
- For kids and pets, that means getting down on their level to take the picture
- They don't have to look directly into the camera. The eye level angle by itself will create a personal and inviting feeling
Use a Plain Background
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- Before taking a picture, check the area behind the subject
- A cluttered background will be distracting while a plain background will emphasize your subject
Use Flash Outdoors
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- Even outdoors, use the fill flash setting on your camera to improve your pictures
- Use it in bright sunlight to lighten dark shadows
- Use it in cloudy days, to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background
Move in Closer
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- To create impactful pictures, move in close and fill your picture with the subject
- Move a few steps closer or use the zoom until the subject fills the viewfinder. You will eliminate background distractions and show off the details in your subject
Take Some Vertical Pictures
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- Many subjects look better in a vertical picture
- Make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways to take some vertical pictures
Lock the Focus
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- Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of off-center subjects
- Center the subject
- Press the shutter button halfway down
- Re-frame your picture (while still holding the shutter button)
- Finish by pressing the shutter button all the way
Move It From the Middle
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- Bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off-center
- Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder. Now place your subject at one of the intersections of lines
- Since most cameras focus on whatever is in the middle, remember to lock the focus on your subject before re-framing the shot
Know Your Flash's Range
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- Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark
- For many cameras, that's only ten feets
- If the subject is further than ten feet from the camera, the picture may be too dark
Watch the Light
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- Great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of lights in your pictures
- For people pictures, choose the soft lighting of cloudy days. Avoid overhead sunlight that casts harsh showers across the faces
- For scenic pictures, use the long shadows and color of early and late daylight
Be a Picture Director
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- Take an extra minute and become a picture director, not just a passive picture taker
- Add some props, rearrange your subjects, or try a different viewpoint