1. USE AVAILABLE LIGHT
Every photographer knows that the most important element to photography is light. Light is WAY more important than the equipment you have, or don't have.
If your camera comes with a pop-up flash forget it exists! Unless you just have to take a picture at night I would not use it. That pop-up flash does not have good range and it's blowing up right in front of your kids faces... the result: they turn out pale, red-eyed and the whole background is dark. In other words, not pretty.
Lets go outside! And better yet let's go outside during dawn or dusk, or when its overcast. I know it does not look that pretty, but when it's overcast is the best time to take photos! This is because there wont be any harsh light casting unflattering shadows all over faces. Whenever it's not a "beautiful day" and it looks like it might rain I take my kid outside and start taking a bunch of photos.
If you take a lot of photos at night or indoors where there is not much available light, I would bite the bullet and buy an accessory flash to put in your hot shoe (if you have one).
*** Side note: Do not forget about your pop-up flash altogether. Your pop-up flash, also known as fill flash, comes in handy when taking pictures outside during the day! Huh? I know, why would I need my flash outside when the sun is out! When you take pictures outside and it's not overcast or dawn or dusk, you can use your fill flash to erase all those ugly shadows caused by the bright sun.
The picture below was taken outside with fill flash.
2. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Some of the most beautiful photographs are the most simple. This is especially true when speaking about backgrounds. Find a plain background for your subject before shooting away. You don't want the background to be too hectic and take away focus from your subject.
The photo below was taken in an indoor playground. It was hard to find a plain background, but nothing is impossible!
3. CLOSER, CLOSER, CLOSER...
Get it? Move in close! Fill the picture with your subject. There you go!
The picture below was taken indoors using only available light from a nearby window. Moving in close puts all the focus on that gorgeous face!
4. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
Stop placing your subject in the middle of your frame. I mean, every once in a while it is ok, but it adds so much to the photograph when you place your subject off-center. Try it out, you'll love the outcome!
5. CAN'T... HOLD IT... ANY... LONGER...
My Mother, God bless her, she's a sweetheart! But she was the worse about making us hold these sweet poses for what seemed like an eternity! "Just one more, just one more, now put your arm around your sister! Move a little closer... now SMILE!!!"
This is torture.
No more comments.
Ok, more comments - As a kid in the middle of the costume party, all of my friends are playing, moving further and further away and my Mom is making me pose forever with my lame four-year-old sister -- Now that is someone that can hold a pose forever! She's 22 now, still can hold a pose, and still lame! Just kidding... at least about the lame part... the posing part is true!
But really, don't make your kids pose, at least not EVERY time. Your kids will only be x-years-old once! Follow them around and take pictures of them being them! Capture their true spirit and have fun while you are at it! Believe me, years from today, those silly pictures will bring more smiles to your heart than the posed ones... not to mention better childhood memories for your children.
Mom I love you... you ARE the best!
The photo below is of my daughter's friend playing with a ball... or chewing a ball... who knows!
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing the tips! I'm always on the look out for ideas how to improve my photos.
Post a Comment