You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the best price on your first digital camera, and even glanced at its owner's manual. Are you itching to take some shots of your family, or what?
Slow down, soldier. Before you take 200 shots that seem great at the time, but then upon review of the final picture are less than what you expected, let's prepare. Prepare?!?! I'll bet you thought charging the battery was the hardest part of taking great photos, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to improve your photo results 50% in 2 minutes, let's review some basic advice of the pros.
There are two categories of GENERAL ADVICE which applies, regardless of whether you're using a digital camera to take family portrait poses, baby pictures, pet portraits, group pictures, funny photos, or even maternity portraits. The first category is...
"Good Planning" Advice for Photography Poses
1) Prepare For The Event
Prepare for the event by thinking about every photograph you want to take and what kind of photography pose or poses you would like to capture. Consider who, where, how, and the type of environment.
2) Take Multiple Photographs
Take multiple shots of each pose (remember, digital memory is reusable, a.k.a. "free"). Regardless of what you say or do, people will blink. And don't count on spotting small problems on the tiny camera LCD screen (even on full magnification); which leads to...
3) Check LCD Screen
Check the digital camera's LCD screen for general framing of the picture, any movement, visibility of faces, and the histogram. Note that you can think up a fantastic photography pose; arrange everyone perfectly; and, have the photograph "frozen" (no blinking, and no shaking of the camera)...but, when you check it out in the LCD, you see 2 drunks fighting in the background! And, my favorite...
4) Funny Phrases
Have some funny phrases handy to use just before you take the photo. Don't use it when setting up for the shot. And, don't use the same phrase all the time. Throw in funny anecdotes, phrases, names, words that you know your family will find more amusing than "cheese." A natural smile looks four times better than a fake one. The second category is...
"Location" Advice for Photography Poses
Taking indoor family photography, is very different than outdoor family photograph (duh!). For INDOOR pictures...
1) Wide Angle
You will tend to use the wide angle more often than your telephoto setting. Pay particular attention to your "end people" (those farthest to the right and the left in your viewfinder), and verify there is enough space in picture, so that if cropping is required, the end people don't have to lose a limb.
2) The Flash
Flash considerations are critical. Do not be outside your "flash range." For example, if at ISO 100, your flash can properly illuminate 12 feet, don't attempt any photography pose that requires anyone to stand at 14 feet (unless, of course, it's evil cousin Ira who you want to appear in darkness).
3) Plan "B"
If you need to be further away than your flash allows, here are 2 things you can try...First, increase the ISO setting (but not so much as to produce to much noise), or second, move to a significantly brighter location.
4) Watch Your Background
If there are distracting features, change your settings to blur the background (see the Techniques page). The best photography pose in the world won't look right with a distracting background. And finally...
5) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
If there are mirrors or reflective surfaces in the background and you can't find a different location, only take the picture in such a way that the flash is not perpendicularto the surface, but at an angle (unless you want a nice photo of your flash).
Outdoor family photography has completely different issues. For OUTDOOR photography...
6) The Sun
Avoid photographing in direct sunlight, or in mixed light and shade, especially faces. Optimal lighting results from a slightly overcast sky.
7) Shade
When photographing in shade, use fill-flash (see terms) when necessary. And, really finally...
8) Beauty
If practical, take the picture at one of the beautiful natural settings near you. Imagine the result of a creative photography pose captured in a stunning environment. Can you say: "Over the mantle!"?
To see some sample pictures including more photography tips, go to www.best-family-photography-tips.com/photography-pose.html.
Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.
Robert Bezman is a professional photographer and owner of Custom Photographic Expressions. Robert has created http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com to help the digital world create better photographs.
shuttle from O'Hare Bingham .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HarePhotography is a diversified field of creating a spectral variety... Read More
So you have bought a camcorder and have shot some... Read More
Some of the best images can be captured during the... Read More
Tight BudgetsTight budgets are common these days. But the demand... Read More
I once heard a lady say to a photographer that... Read More
The digital camera is not something of a magic box... Read More
Probably one of the most common problems you will be... Read More
You may have already started to make money from your... Read More
There is one simple technique any body can do to... Read More
Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your... Read More
Digital photography has taken off like wildfire these days, primarily... Read More
Reality TV is experiencing an upsurge in popularity and its... Read More
Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing... Read More
Fuji digital cameras entered the market in the late 90's.... Read More
Every device needs a driving force to operate, just as... Read More
Every Mom wants to take great photos of their babies... Read More
Underwater digital cameras are fun and easy to use under... Read More
Digital SLR Camera or Digital single-lens reflex (SLR) camera is... Read More
Wholesale disposable cameras are disposable cameras bought in quantity. Bulk... Read More
IntroductionModern cameras are highly automatic in operation. They have auto... Read More
You may have joined the photo-sharing craze to share your... Read More
Disposable Cameras (also called single-use cameras) first came on the... Read More
Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More
Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
Mishawaka limo O'Hare ..We all want to make the most of our wedding... Read More
As a professional wedding photographer I get this question asked... Read More
Choosing the right digital camera for general use can be... Read More
With such a fantastic device as the digital camera for... Read More
There are many kinds of disposable cameras. All disposable cameras... Read More
Point and click. The new life of digital cameras gives... Read More
Being a professional digital photographer is a dream many people... Read More
I once heard a lady say to a photographer that... Read More
Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your... Read More
Disposable Cameras (also called single-use cameras) first came on the... Read More
While digital photography offers you the ability to review photograph... Read More
Almost all of us will have seen this particular photographic... Read More
Reflected Light Readings for Film and Digital ImagesIn order to... Read More
So you have rushed out into the malls in a... Read More
Probably one of the most common problems you will be... Read More
A few years ago I became interested in digital photography,... Read More
The photos you took of the party are really great... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
Understanding light is one of the very basic principles of... Read More
The vast beauty and richness of the desert can be... Read More
Infrared photography is sometimes placed on the outside edge of... Read More
Ordinary photos of dull subjects do actually sell, but the... Read More
You may have already started to make money from your... Read More
Every Mom wants to take great photos of their babies... Read More
It doesn't matter if your emailing photos of your grandson... Read More
Photography |