Better Photos with Your Digital Camera

Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take a lot of photos. But if your photos still have trees coming out of your father’s head, mom has red eye, and your beloved pet is never facing the camera then here are some tips to help you take better photos.

1. Always be aware of the background. I know this is the hard one but it is critical. If you’re setting up a shot take a quick look at what is behind the people in your shot. So many perfectly good photos are ruined by a tree seeming to grow out of a person’s head. It can be as simple as the person taking one full step to the right or left to move the obstacle that would ruin your photo.

2. Use available light. If your digital camera has an option to turn the flash off and it’s light enough outside to read a book then use the available light and turn the flash off. In general camera flashes are too harsh for human skin and make all of us look pale. (Even better if your camera has a fill flash use that indoors where there isn’t enough daylight, and place the person by a window as well.)

3. Use ambient soft light. The reason that so many of use pose people under trees, and end up with the ruined photo with a tree coming out of dad’s head, is that we all instinctively know that soft light is best. Sunlight filtered through a trees’ leave is beautiful and warm. It warms up the skin and puts a soft light to the features. Indoors near a window with drapes has a similar effect.

4. Aim your camera slightly down at the person’s face. Now I don’t mean climb a ladder but just don’t ever, and I mean ever, point your camera looking up to a person. We all look fat and bloated at that angle. Also don’t shoot just face on to the person, try a little to the side, a three quarter view, so that you see more of their face. Remember camera higher looking down and a three quarter view, it will slim your subject.

5. Remember your focus, are you taking a photo of mom and the tree, then take mom with the whole tree. But if you’re taking a photo of mom next to a tree do we really need to see the entire tree? Get closer to your subject. We can see some of the tree bark with mom leaning against it, but showing the whole tree is a waste. Remember this tip with children, many people take a shot of their dear child for an expression on the child’s face, but in the printed shot the child is lost next to another kid, the swing set, and the dog. Remember get closer.

6. Never put your subject dead center. All family photographers do this and it’s as hard of a habit to break as remembering to look at the background. But if you’ve moved closer to your subject remember to put them just sightly off center. Not a lot just a bit. When you’re shooting even groups of people this is especially easy but odd numbered groups is a little more difficult. Just find your imaginary center line of your group and put that line just a bit off center in your view through your lens or screen.

With these tips you can be on your way to taking better photos today.

How to Take Better Photos of Your Baby or Toddler

Every Mom wants to take great photos of their babies and toddlers. We all want professional looking photos for our children without paying a fortune!

We all wanted to capture every precious moment and every important milestone on film. I am sure you are just like me in wanting to take these same precious photos of your baby or toddler. These 5 tips will help you take better baby and toddler photos.

1.) The first tip I suggest is to be aware of the lighting. The best place to take photos is outside in a natural setting. You should take photos early in the morning or late in the evening right before the sun sets. Remember to use your flash for fill flash outside. This lighting produces stunning results!

2.) The second tip I suggest is to get closer to your baby or toddler and get down to their level. Never photograph your baby or toddler from above.

3.) The third tip I suggest is to make the setting/background simple. Try to place your child near a simple or plain background.

4.) The fourth tip I suggest is to take lots and lots of photos. The more photos you take, the more photos you will have to choose from. You may just get lucky with an adorable one of a kind photo of your baby! You may capture the perfect moment! So, never stop taking pictures!

5.) Invest in a good digital camera. It doesn’t have to be an expensive digital camera. But it should have a sports mode so that every time the baby or toddler will move, it will not destroy the image.

You are now on your way to taking better baby and toddler photos.

7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Make That Perfect Camera Shot

There is a saying: Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all but take you by the hand. Margaret Bourke-White

These tips should help you experience again those moments back where you've said "if only I had a camera." Now you will have it captured on film. These tips should help

1. Get closer to your Subject

Keep in mind, if you're using an instant camera a lot of them have a minimum shooting distance. This is usually about two meters.If you’re closer than that, your shots will be out of focus.Try to take shots with the viewer focused on the subject. The closer to the subject, it will look better for the viewer.

2. Photos will tell Stories

Photos of an occasion or activity such as birthdays, reunions and special occasions with family and friends tell a great story for all to experience again and reminisce.

3. Decide What It Is You Want and Don't Want in the Picture
It’s best to keep the background as uncluttered as you can. Background disorder will take out the focus from your subject.

4. Take Surprise Shots

You'll get some great shots if you take pictures when people least expect them. Just think of the facial expressions you'll get.

5. Make a Slide Show

Slide shows are great to have later when those involved in the activity can watch and laugh at themselves and find again the activity in their minds.

6. Liven Up Posed Shots

Try to avoid taking boring posed shots. Instead of using "Say Cheese" try have people say Rumplestilskin. That should help get a real smile. If people see you're going to take their picture, tell them you will click on four and then click on three. That should catch them in a more relaxed state.

7. Camera Hardware Tips

Does your camera have the correct options set up? Check your lens and make sure it’s clean. It could have a finger print on it. That would make it almost impossible to focus. Check to see if you have auto focus or manual focus. Test it to see if it will work as stated in your manual. Make sure you know how to control it.
If you are using slide film set the ISO button one spot ahead of the film. An example would be if you’re using ISO 64 slide film, set the ISO at 80.
The results will be deeper color saturation and more vibrant shades of yellow, red, and orange. This tip will not work with print film.

Using a digital camera, always make sure the battery is charged.

For more room on your memory card delete all pictures you don't want to keep. You’re now ready for some fun and games clicking away with your camera.

So I guess you’re very excited to use your camera. Have a posed full of memories.