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 to Midway Gilman .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAt a Photo Club meeting I attended recently, the President... Read More
It was widely reported in the press (15 September 1997)... Read More
PrefaceIn order to understand color management, it is important to... Read More
Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing... Read More
How many of the birthday party pictures you've seen are... Read More
There are a large number of top 10 digital camera... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
The warm feelings are flowing all around when the pet... Read More
1. Pet photos - advertise a Pet Photography business where... Read More
The vast beauty and richness of the desert can be... Read More
Purchasing a digital camera is a wise decision, particularly if... Read More
Almost any shot will look better if you take two... Read More
Kids grow up so quickly and while we are often... Read More
Reflected Light Readings for Film and Digital ImagesIn order to... Read More
Looking at the digital camera, a person can visualize it... Read More
While it would be nice to live in a house... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
Your lens is an essential element to good photographs. It's... Read More
One of the major problems of the larger cities of... Read More
If you are in the market to purchase a digital... Read More
It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence,... Read More
So, you have taken lots of pictures with your new... Read More
Pre-Production:It's all got to start somewhere, so before you even... Read More
There are a large number of digital camera accessories available... Read More
How many people have pictures in a shoe box? In... Read More
Romeoville Mercedes Benz s500 rentals ..One of the oldest companies, Olympus has had a long... Read More
One of the biggest debates in the photography world is... Read More
The digital camera being a fantastic and technologically advanced device... Read More
So you have this great digital camera and you've taken... Read More
How many of the birthday party pictures you've seen are... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
As a professional wedding photographer I get this question asked... Read More
How many people have pictures in a shoe box? In... Read More
Almost any shot will look better if you take two... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
Your first thought when you read "Alligator Farm" might be... Read More
Some compact cameras are small enough to fit in your... Read More
Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph.... Read More
Using a tripod is essential when taking photos - and... Read More
Disposable cameras are cheap and easy to use. If you... Read More
You are anxious to purchase your new digital camera! You... Read More
Dots Per Inch is a useful measure of relative resolution.... Read More
Before you rush into buying your digital camera this holiday... Read More
Your wedding day is without a doubt one of the... Read More
Portrait is defined as, "A likeness of a person, especially... Read More
These parameters are discussed at 2 levels: -Based on... Read More
ContentEven if you feel that you already know what kind... Read More
Sometimes, usual photographs look so common and boring. Converting your... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words, so goes a... Read More
It was widely reported in the press (15 September 1997)... Read More
Photography |