Hi everyone! I'm so excited to be guest posting today on Andrea's lovely blog. (Don't you just adore her style?)
As a photographer and owner of an online photo school, I feel like I'm constantly fielding questions about how to take better photos. This works out well, because I'm totally passionate about helping people master their digital cameras. Whether you're a mom who wants to take more impressive (or just plain printable!) photos of your kids, or a shop owner who wants to take better product photos (which always translates to higher sales), I hope these few tips will help!
Without further ado, here are three quick tips that you can utilize today to take better pictures. And the great news is that not a single one requires cracking open that frustrating camera manual!
1. Open a window.
Better yet, open a couple.
Photography, at its purest form, is the mastery of light. The more light you allow your camera to take in, the better your photos will be. If at all possible, shoot in a room with several windows, where the light is indirectly shining on the person or object you're photographing.
In the photo below, the camera's flash automatically turned on, due to the low light in the room. Notice how harsh the flash is, and how it creates lots of unflattering shadows.
Ahh, much better! The only change was opening both windows in the room. The indirect light allowed the arrangement to really shine. If you write a blog, I think (hope!) it's rather obvious which photo would be more appealing to your readers.
2. Change your perspective.
If I had a nickel for every time I've seen a mom stand directly above her child and start snapping away ... Don't get me wrong, those could be great photos. But changing your perspective instantly adds a new dimension to your photography! Take the photos below for example. The first picture is one big yawn - just your everyday snapshot of a tree in my front yard. In the second photo, I've positioned myself underneath the tree (anything for a great shot!) and all of a sudden, I've got an interesting photo. Easy!
Just a tree ...
And now the after ...
3. Take a picture.
And then do it again, and again, and again. Every day.
One of the many wonderful things about digital photography is how quick it is to snap a photo. Turn your camera on and you're ready to go! So grab that lovely DSLR and snap some photos! And don't give up when they don't all turn out fantastic. (Remember, it's basically free to take absolutely as many as you'd like.) Just like any other skill, the more you do it, the better you'll get.
I'm as guilty of this as anyone, if not more so. Because photography isn't just a hobby, but how I make my living, I can get caught up in shoots for clients and forget to capture memories of my own family! Now that I have a son, I'm trying hard to make sure we take photos on a really regular basis (how else will I embarrass him when he's dating?!).
Just a fun shot of my son ...
Have a photography related question? I'd love to help if I can! Leave a comment below or shoot me an email at monica@flyingphotoschool.com.
xo,
monica B.
(PS - Interested in taking an online course? Our classes are being featured today on Groupon, where you can get a 4-wk course for only $29! You can snag one here at Groupon)
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