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Published : March 21, 2009 |
Author : Michelle
Category : Q. Hobbies | Total Views
: 361 | Rating :  
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My love affair with pictures began long before I became a professional photographer. I was the annoying kid with the huge, black Kodak point & shoot saying "Smile!" and shoving my camera in your face. :) I'd eagerly await getting those pictures back from Walgreens only to be disappointed that they were *NOTHING* like I had seen in the viewfinder! I'm sure you can relate.
I hesitated to ever get into photography because I thought the learning curve would be too steep. Now that I'm on the other side of the hump I can say that I've put countless hours into learning the technical aspects of photography and I'm only scratching the surface! However, over the past few years I have learned some really basic skills that took my amateur photography to the next level. The purpose of this post is to inspire you and inform you that you can have awesome everyday pictures of your kids!
1. Turn your flash off.
I'd say the number one reason pictures don't look the same as you envisioned them is because you're introducing a harsh, bright light into the image that you don't see before or after you take the picture! A flash is a must in dark rooms but if at all possible instead of switching on your flash try switching your setting. Move your child to a place near an open window, or even outside. Turn your flash off and fire away. You'll inevitably get a much more natural and aesthetically pleasing result!
This was taken right in front of my Living Room window, no flash.
2. Take More Pictures.
Take this literally. Seriously. Take more pictures! Take your camera with you everywhere you go and just snap away. And when you're snapping... take MORE pictures! Don't just take one or two of your little one smiling, take 7 or 8! Then, when you get home you can delete (as painful as it is, trust me I know!) the 4-5 of him/her that she's not looking right where you want her to be, etc. Take More. Practice makes perfect and quantity is often a safety net!
3. Get out of the Middle.
Get that green box out of the middle gals. There are so many different ways and angles to capture the story that lies within the frames of your camera. Try envisioning a tic-tac-toe box on your camera screen. Now, instead of putting the subject in the middle square, try putting it where those lines intersect. A bit up and to the right, or a bit down and to the left. You get the picture. :)
Example... see how beautiful it can be to be off center?
4. Capture in Color
Black in white is artsier, right? Well, I don't know about that. I used to always think so until I saw how fabulous color was. And the best thing about digital photography is that we no longer have to decide while we're taking the picture! Don't limit yourself to a black & white image IN CAMERA or you might miss out on something incredible.
For example, this black and white picture of baby Triniti is gorgeous... but she is simply GLOWING in the color version. I'm so glad I have both... and that I didn't miss out on the color because I shot in black & white!
5. Fill the screen.
What I mean here is fill screen with what you want to see! Are you trying to show Grandma how beautiful the sky is or how beautiful your child is? There is a time for creativity (see example A.) but you have to ask yourself what you're trying to capture - sky, grass or baby. :) So, when you're taking a picture look at what you see in the box... do you want it there? If not, get closer! And I do mean get closer. Try to quit relying on your zoom - it limits your creative eye as well as distorts the quality of your image if you don't use it right.
A. Purposefully not filling the screen.
B. Nothing but the Center of Attention.
C. Oops, could've gotten closer.
Professional Photography is a must for those blow 'em up on the walls incredible-ness - and I suggest doing it at least once a year! But you shouldn't have to wait until your next photography session to capture awesome snapshots. Fill those scrapbooks and blogs with some eye catching, fun loving pictures that'll have your mom begging for more prints. :)
I'd love to answer any questions you guys have so feel free to ask in the comments section and I'll come back in a week or so and answer any questions you have!
And because I just can't resist, here's a recent fave of my oldest two.
Happy snapping Moms!
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 Comments and Discussion Wall |
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 Posted by Fulltime Mama on March 27, 2009 |
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Okay, Im totally ignorant here! What is "panning the camera" and how can I do it??
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| Posted by Michelle on March 27, 2009 |
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Great question. :)
Moving objects is a problem for natural lighting because your camera needs time[/] to use that light to burn your image to your "film" (or memory card in most cases these days!). Using a flash helps produce a lot of light at once which in turn requires less time to burn the image therefore enabling you to "freeze" the image onto your film.
Try panning your camera with the moving object while the camera is recording the image. This is a well known "trick" to help freeze the subject. This will also help create the feeling of "Movement" because the background will be blurred in the direction you're panning. It can be a lot of fun!
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| Posted by Fulltime Mama on March 25, 2009 |
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This was super, Michelle! I was also one of those nerdy 7yo's with a pink 110 camera, taking pictures of everyone everywhere I went! Too bad I havent improved much since then, though! LOL
I do have a question: I also have noticed that natural light turns out better, but I have a problem with MOVING targets in natural light looking blurry. Is that just because of the quality of my camera? Like, if a child is moving a hand or something...
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| Posted by Suzy on March 23, 2009 |
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Great ideas! Thanks for posting this Michelle!
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