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Photo Articles
11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 |
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Photography Poses -
The Missing Ingredient
By:
Robert Bezman |
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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 perpendicular to 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 beginning and intermediate photographers create better
photographs. Robert has an eBook for new parents and grandparents that's a must-see for anyone wanting to dramatically improve the
quality of their
baby's pictures. |
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Article Source: www.EzineArticles.com |
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