Photography Poses - The Missing Ingredient

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!"?

Fantastic Fireworks Photos in Four Bites

Fireworks are the visual rulers of the nighttime universe. No matter how many times we see and experience their bombastic splendor, we always return to see what new designs will be exploded onto the darkened sky.

Watching fireworks is easy. Taking fantastic fireworks photos is not. Although photographing these light shows are more challenging than capturing a daylight shot of Uncle Ben riding a goat, it is not impossible. By following these four fireworks guidelines, you will take years off your learning curve and come away with fantastic fireworks photos.

There are four main categories of guidelines to understand, in order to take fireworks photos that aren't all black or out of focus. The big four are:

1. Equipment
2. Picking Your Location
3. Controls and Settings
4. Photographing Fireworks

Equipment

In addition to the standard equipment list including batteries, memory, camera bag, etc.; here is a shortened list of critical fireworks-only equipment to bring along:

• Tripod - Realize that your results will probably be disappointing if you don't use a tripod!
• An external shutter release (a.k.a. a "cable release")
• A tiny flashlight so you won't be fumbling around in the dark trying to move camera controls
• A chair that is easy to get in and out of

For best results, your camera should be able to focus manually as well as be able to set desired shutter speeds of up to 15 seconds, or "bulb." If you have never taken a picture with your camera other than in the "Automatic" setting, it's time to review your owner's manual and determine what the maximum shutter speed is.

Picking Your Location

Choosing the optimal location is a little bit harder than deciding how you can squeeze into a piece of 2 foot x 3-foot real estate on the lawn.

• Look For The Optimum Vantage Point: Avoid sitting in an area with obstructions such as streetlights, overhead wires, or trees.
• Decide if you want to capture additional elements (such as reflections off bodies of water or landmarks) with your fireworks photos, and if so-position yourself accordingly.
• If you are going to be taking fireworks photos, it is worth your time to spend 30 minutes before the show begins to pick out the best location.

Controls and Settings

Unlike taking pictures in the daytime, there is a little bit more setup involved with nighttime photography. For starters, change the ISO setting to 200 or 400. You want your camera to be more sensitive to light but not so sensitive that it will create "digital noise."

• Change the focusing mode on your camera to manual and focus your camera to infinity.
• Set up and level the tripod.
• Attach the remote shutter release to the camera and use that to fire the shutter.
• Adjust the shutter speed. If you have a "Bulb" setting, this is the time to use it.
• If you do not have a bulb setting, use a mid range aperture such as F/5.6 and set the shutter speed to at least 1 to 2 seconds.

Photographing Fireworks

Obviously this is what it all comes down to. It doesn't matter that you perfectly prepared with the perfect equipment if you never took any pictures of fireworks.

Your camera is on its tripod and the shutter release cable is attached. What's next?

• Verify that the manual focus is on infinity.
• Point your camera toward the area of sky where you believe the fireworks will be exploding. (Don't be too disappointed if you need to reposition the target area; most do at first.)
• Your shutter speed is on "bulb" or set for at least 1 to 2 seconds. When do you fire the shutter? Unlike daylight photography, firing the shutter BEFORE the fireworks go off is a good idea.

Nobody can tell you when to fire the shutter because it is based on what type of fireworks photograph you want to capture. With that said, here are four possible indicators of when you might want to trip the shutter:

1. When you hear the next rocket being launched
2. When the launch trail becomes visible
3. Just before the rocket explodes, or
4. Just after the rocket explodes.

Photography - Top 10 Tips

If you ask the experts, they'll tell you that there are ten things you can do to make sure that your photos are as good a they can be. These are by no means the only things that will give you better photos but most of the pros agree that these are at the top of the list.

Surprisingly, the first thing they tell you to do, when photographing another person, is to look your subject in the eye. This technique engages the subject and gets the best possible expression out of the subject. Take the photo at eye level. If the subject is a child then stoop down to their level. This is called getting a bird's eye view and is very effective.

The next tip is to use a plain background. You don't want to take attention away from the subject. By using a plain background the attention is squarely on the subject. Make sure there are no objects of any kind sticking out from the sides of the photo area. Your subject is going to look pretty silly having a car sticking out of her right ear.

Third on the list is to use flash outdoors. While this is actually not necessary, the pros say that this will actually improve the quality of the photo. By using a flash this lightens the facial area and eliminates shadows that can be caused by the sun. It's a subtle difference, but a difference just the same.

Number four is to move in close to your subject. This will make the photo as sharp as possible. Plus, you want to fill the photo area with the subject itself and not the things around the subject. Don't get too close or the photo can turn out blurry.

The fifth tip is to move the subject from the middle. This may sound wrong by instinct but what this does is bring your subject to life by moving him from the middle. Try playing tic tac toe with the subject to get the most interesting effect.

Sixth on the list is to lock the focus. Many cameras have auto focus options. Use them. Unless you are a seasoned pro, the camera will do a better job of focusing in on the subject than you can.

The seventh thing to do is to know the range of your flash. Not every flash travels at the same distance. If you are too far away from your subject for your flash to reach you are going to end up with a very dark photo.

Coming in at number eight is to watch light coming from other sources. A bright flash of sun on your grandmother's face can bring wrinkles more to view. This is not something you want. You want the light to be even throughout the photo. This may involve moving your subject a number of times.

At number nine, the pros suggest to take some vertical photos. In other words, turn your camera on it's side. For whatever reason, vertical photos just look good and can make a new photographer's photos look that much better.

At the bottom of the list at number ten is to be a photo director. Don't just passively take your photos. Move your subjects around. Try to create a composition with your photos. Let them tell a story.

The above tips should get you on your way to being a much better photographer.

Tips for Portrait Photography

Photographing a portrait is both very easy and very difficult. Anybody can shoot a portrait. The photographs we take of our children, friends, parents, teachers are all portraits. But, we are also aware that some are better than the others. Let us analyze the factors that make a portrait better than the others.

A successful portrait has always the quality of making an impression on the viewer. The impression left may be because of some physical aspect of the photograph’s subject, or it may be of some subtle characteristic getting underscored. The portrait makes a dramatic statement about the subject. It is very individual. A simple photograph of a person that does not leave any imprint on our mind cannot be called a portrait. The portrait always reveals something about the person. It may be some mood, some attitude or some mannerism which constitutes the personality of the person.

A photographer who is able to bring out these features in his portraits is a successful photographer. Now, how does one do that? It depends mostly on the personality of the photographer, but it can also be learned.

The photographer should always be in command of the situation. He is the 'boss' of the moment. He should be able to strike a rapport with his subjects. This can be achieved by starting a small conversation with the person. It can be small talk about the currently popular topics, or the photographer can try and find a subject which strikes a chord in the person being photographed. This will put the subject at ease; make him animated and more alive, bringing out some interesting aspects of the personality of the person.

But this is not a rule. Many great photographers used to remain very serious and focused on their work, but still took great portraits. It is all in the personality of the photographer. Something in the photographer must evoke respect in the subject, so that he or she cooperates and does what the photographer wants. A good portrait photographer should have a real interest in people. He should be a keen observer of the human nature. He should be quickly able to make out the outstanding traits or habits of the person and make them appear in the portraits.

The photographer can take his photograph in the natural surroundings of the subject. This definitely is advantageous, since it puts the other person at ease. However, this is not always possible, in which case the photographer can make use of his studio. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. In natural surroundings of the subject the lighting may not be proper and even, or surroundings not so appealing for a good photograph. In studio, everything can be controlled, while the natural ease of the other setting will be missing.

The natural light is always better but in many cases this light is uneven and is not good for photography. In that case, one has to think of taking pictures indoors. The surroundings can be used to emphasize certain aspects of the personality of the subject. The background can be made to reflect or enhance certain attitude or mannerism of the person. For this, certain props can be used. It can be a hat, a cigar, a fan or a toy in the case of toddlers. Sometimes, photographer also uses a completely black or white background. In these cases, the focus is entirely on the subject of the photograph. Some very beautiful portraits can be seen with such stark backgrounds.

In the end, it is mainly the personality and maturity of the photographer that plays a major role in bringing out a good portrait. No rules can be defined for taking a great shot. One has to experiment and use one's own imagination and sensitivity to find one's unique individual style.

More Digital Photography Tips

How many of us once dreamed of becoming professional photographers for “National Geographic,” only to find out that we did not even know how to get the lens cap off of our cameras? And now that digital cameras are becoming more and more common, it seems that we will have to learn all over again how to take a photograph, this time with a digital camera.

Do not worry – realize that this time, you have technology on your side. You may not end up with photographs worthy of “National Geographic” status, but you will be able to get some that will look beautiful on your wall and in your photo album.

Here are some tips for taking better photographs with digital cameras:

· Get to know your camera. It may seem tedious, but be sure to read through your owner’s manual. Spending just an hour or two acquainting yourself with your camera will save you a lot of stress down the line.

· When you first get your digital camera, practice taking photos. Make sure that you know how to use it before you take it on your vacation or to your daughter’s graduation! You do not want to miss great photo opportunities because you are too busy trying to turn your camera on!

· Do not be shy – take as many photographs as want. Most digital cameras come with memory cards that hold a multitude of photographs – if yours does not, get an extra memory card. If you take a hundred photographs of one thing, at least one of them will turn out!

· Use the features on your camera! Most digital cameras have different modes for different types of photographs – night mode, landscape, portrait, macro, etc. Understand these modes, and know when to use each one.

· Use the LCD screen – if your digital camera has a good LCD screen, you will be able to tell almost immediately whether or not you took a good photo – if your daughter’s eyes were closed, be sure to take another one!

· Remember: close-ups are often more interesting than shots from a distance. You do not have to have everyone’s feet in every photo! Consider taking a photo that includes everyone from just the shoulders up. Also, if you are taking a photo of your family at the Epcot Center, for instance, realize that you do not have to fit the entire Epcot globe into your photo. If you do that, your family will look like ants in the photo and there is no reason for them to have stood in the frame in the first place. Instead, get a close-up of your family with just a small aspect of the globe in the background. Or get a photo of your family by the sign, instead. You can always use the landscape feature of your digital camera to take a photo of the entire globe, later.

· The subject of your photograph does not always have to be the center of your photograph! Try taking photographs with your subject slightly to the side of the frame, for instance.

· Be aware of lighting. Without learning too much about how lighting affects a photograph, you can still be aware of certain aspects. For instance, if the sun is setting behind your subject, your subject may turn out as a silhouette. Of course, if you try take a photo of your friend with the sunlight hitting him from the front, be aware that he will probably have to squint his eyes.

· If it is extremely bright out (like if you are in bright sunlight or in the snow), hold up something of a neutral color (like a dark tan bag or light gray sweatshirt) to the camera as you focus (most digital cameras focus when you push the button halfway down), then remove it before you take the photograph of your actual subject.

· Try new things. Do not be afraid to get down on the ground to take a photo of an object or a person from a different angle. You do not have to take all of your photos head-on. Take a photo of a sign from an angle, take a photo of the Eiffel Tower from the bottoms looking up, etc.

· If you are on vacation, do not get stuck taking photos of your fellow travelers standing in front of one famous, forgettable building after another. Yes, you can still take these photographs, but consider taking a photograph of your friend in front of the sign, too, so that you at least know which building it is! Also, be sure to take photographs of not just places, but of memories. For instance, be sure to get a picture of your friend’s feet as she stumbles around with a broken high heel. Take a photo of the menu from your favorite restaurant. Take photos of not just the beautiful fronts of buildings, but the graffiti-ed, trashy alleys, too. Take photographs of things that you will not see on the postcards, of things that are unique to your own personal experience!

· You do not need to set up every single shot. Take photos of people when they are unaware that you even have your camera out. Go ahead and take some photos of strangers, as well.

· One of the benefits of taking digital photographs is the fact that you can touch them up on your computer at home. Be sure to make use of this great feature. You do not need to spend your time touching up all of your photos, but definitely go through and fix up your favorites – you can straighten them, remove red eyes, brighten or darken them, and do many other things, as well.

· If you are unsure as to whether or not you think you would like using a digital camera, try out a disposable digital camera, first. Disposable digital cameras are also excellent for if you are going somewhere where there is the potential of breaking or losing your camera.

Simple Composition Tips to Improve Your Photography

You can improve your photography dramatically by following a few simple principles of composition. This article give you some tips to help you shoot well-composed photos.

1. Decide on your subject. Know what you want the viewer to look at and focus attention on that part of the picture. How do you do that?

1. Leave out any distracting elements. Make sure the overflowing trash can and the cluttered kitchen counter are not in your picture. You may be concentrating on your subject, but the camera records everything in the viewfinder.

2. Simplify the background. If you're shooting people or animals, try to position them against a plain wall, a background of grass or trees, or a sheet or curtain you've hung up.

3. Zoom in on the subject. Let it fill up most of the frame. Then there will be no doubt what the subject of the photo is.

4. Use leading lines. Diagonal lines are great for leading the viewer's eye into the picture. A road, a fence, or something similar coming in from the bottom left corner does a wonderful job of leading the eye straight to the subject of the photo. Curves are pleasing and do the same thing. Using triangles helps the composition of your photo, too. If you have three people, don't arrange them in a row, but have two in front and one behind, to create a triangle. You can do the same thing with elements in a still life or landscape. 2. Use the Rule of Thirds

Envision a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder. Position your subject where two of the lines intersect for the most pleasing photo. 3. Frame your subject. Use something around one side and the top of the subject, or all the way around.

1. You can frame a person in a doorway or a window.

2. Often you can use tree branches to frame the subject. It can be a log cabin, a person or a barn.

3. If you're shooting in an area with rock formations, you can sometimes frame your subject within one of the formations. 4. Watch the placement of moving objects. Make sure to place them where they look as if they are moving into the picture, rather than out of it. Also have people or animals looking into the picture. 5. Avoid mergers and amputations. Watch for trees growing out of people's heads or similar distracting elements. Also be careful not to cut off a person's arm or leg at a joint. 6. Decide between landscape and portrait orientation.

1. Things such as trees, windmills, lighthouses and people are taller than they are wide, so they usually look better if the picture is taken in portrait orientation, or vertically. Simply turn your camera sideways to look through the viewfinder and snap the picture.

2. Long, low objects such as cars, trains, animals on four legs and some scenery work best in landscape orientation, which gives you a horizontal picture. 7. Vary your camera angle. If possible, walk around your subject, looking at it from all angles. Try a high camera angle and a low one. Also try a close-up shot and one not so close to see which looks better.

If you'll put these principles into action, your photography is bound to improve.

Photography Tip - Let's Do The Twist

I'd like to share my model slenderizing photography tip with you, so that you can use it to help slim your subjects and trim their waists. The better your subjects look, the more they will appreciate your photos.

I was recently on a photo shoot with a couple at the lake. During the meet and greet before the shoot, the female subject said to me, "make me look thin and I'll buy a ton of photos", I told her "not-to-worry, I've got a magic lens!" Why was I so confident? I've got some tricks up my sleeve. I work on commission, so my life depends upon making her look good. I knew exactly what I was going do.

My first photographic pose was a standing shot of the couple. I used a technique I call, The Twist! To make the models appear thinner in the standing full length photograph. Here's how I did it:

I posed the subjects for a full length (head to toe) standing image, with the models standing together next to each other and facing me. Both models kept their feet together and parallel. The subjects turned their feet towards each other, not completely facing each other but definitely turned towards each other. They turned to the same degree so the couple was evenly balanced.

I had the models do The TWIST in which they rotate the upper body to the outside while keeping the lower body turned towards each other. In other words, they kept their feet planted and facing in towards each other. Then I had them twist at the waist and brought the subjects-chests around so they were pointing at me. Photography Tip: Men and women alike generally look better when the chest is facing the camera rather than a shoulder.

It was amazing at what The Twist did. It made the hips appear narrower and the tummy look tighter! It also brought attention to the chest so that the viewers eye is drawn away from the mid section. This technique also produced neat, tidy and balanced subjects.

I adjusted a few more subtle details from this basic position to change the look and feel of the pose. I had the models move their outside feet straight ahead, say two inches. Then I had the models turn the toe on the outside foot out slightly. and lastly I had the female subject place the outside foot on it's toe and turn the heel in and then bend the knee in for a zesty twist.

A couple more more last minute adjustments like straightening posture, sucking in the belly, and some silly antics to spark genuine smiles up on the couple and I had the shots I was after. From each variation of the pose, I quickly shot several vertical full length and horizontal full length portraits.

I then zoomed in for some waist-up shots and even more for chest/head close-up portraits of the couple. Photography Tip: If you have a client that is self-conscious about their bodily appearance, shoot extra head shots.

Experiment with these photography tips and add your own variations of The Twist. Implementing these and other posing techniques can eliminate potential objections on the sales floor in the studio. Take control of the portrait from the start, It's your job! Your clients will appreciate your attention to detail.

Dog Photography - Tips for Picture Taking Success

I think my dog is truly a beautiful sight. Through the years I've studied and practiced the best ways to get a memorable picture of my canine companion. Here are a few pointers to help you take good pictures of your dog.

You want your dog to be relaxed and at ease. Try to take the picture with him in his favorite hangout. This can be his favorite chair, his place under the shady tree in the backyard, or the porch. You will know the place that I am talking about. It's his special spot and he loves it there.

Try to tell a story with the shot. You have seen pictures of dogs looking out the window. We can imagine a story behind this photo. It doesn't have to be a long story. For example, you might be trying to take a photo of your dog and in walks your toddler with an ice cream cone and your dog knocks it out of his hands. The end result will be a fantastic story, albeit one that is a little upsetting for your youngster. It would be a good idea to have your camera at hand so you can get to it quickly when you see a good story.

Be prepared for movement. Dogs are unpredictable. Some dogs jump at the sound of the shutter click so try to set your camera accordingly.

Follow your dog's thought process. In other words, eat, sleep and play. Simplify the set. If it is indoors, get rid of the clutter. If outdoors, watch out for lawn furniture, stray toys, etc. Delete things that distract and do not add to the story.

Try to fill your frame with your furry subject. Place the camera at the same level at your dog. By seeing your subject's point of view, it can give you extra creativity that leads to better photographs. Remember that you are not after the scenery; your dog should be the center of attention.

Remember the treats! If your dog has a weakness for peanut butter, biscuits, or stinky cheese, use them to take that perfect shot. This works great when photographing people with dogs. Try to have the person and the dog to look in the same direction. Make sure all parties in the picture are comfortable with one another.

Study your dog prior to the photography session to see what sets him apart from other animals. If you want to take a special photograph, behavior is the key. What do they do to entertain themselves? Do they have the same habits as their owners?

Another approach to dog photography is to take the shot when your dog isn't looking. Some of the best photographs are taken when the dog is oblivious to the camera. It is during these times when you catch that certain expression or when he almost looks human.

Last but not least, exercise your dog prior to the event. A walk or some play time will do wonders for your dog's temperament and adaptability for the photo session. Following these tips should help you to get that perfect photograph of your loyal and true furry friend.