| In the last few years digital cameras have | | | | portraits, but people need to be coached, or |
| gone from being expensive and taking bad | | | | directed. Imagine yourself as a movie |
| pictures to inexpensive and taking high | | | | director and you need to get your subjects |
| quality pictures. Now we just need to learn | | | | into interesting poses, near an interesting |
| how to take great pictures. | | | | background, away from telephone poles, etc. |
| | | | Make sure that the car isn't in the |
| 1. Move close to your subject. | | | | background and the dog is pooping on the |
| | | | lawn. That last bit is from personal |
| Most people prefer to capture the entire | | | | experience! |
| person in the picture. While this may be | | | | |
| great for taking a picture of a bridge or | | | | 4. Use flash outside. |
| skyline, it makes for boring pictures of | | | | |
| people. If you move close to your subject | | | | When taking pictures in bright sunlight, the |
| you get interesting pictures. Don't be | | | | flash on your camera can act as "fill flash". |
| afraid to crop part of the subject out of the | | | | This will brighten the faces and shaded |
| picture for addded visual interest. | | | | spots of your subject. This is especially |
| | | | important if you're subject is wearing a hat |
| 2. Get lower or higher than your subject. | | | | or standing in the shade. |
| | | | |
| Depending on the subject, getting lower or | | | | 5. Manage the light. |
| higher makes for a much better picture, | | | | |
| especially with children. If you're looking | | | | If you know that you're going to be taking |
| down on someone and taking their picture, | | | | pictures, try to schedule the photos to be |
| you're picture will lack depth of field. By | | | | taken during early morning or late afternoon. |
| getting down on a knee and looking them right | | | | These times during the day don't have harsh |
| in the eye your picture will direct the eye | | | | overhead light that casts dark shadows. Also |
| of the viewer toward the subject. | | | | make sure your subjects are partially in the |
| | | | shade, wearing sunglasses or blocking the sun |
| 3. Don't be afraid to direct. | | | | with a tree, hat, umbrella or building. If |
| | | | you're taking a picture in the sun it should |
| People naturally stand near each other for | | | | not be directly overhead unless it's a cloudy |
| pictures. This is great for family | | | | or overcast day. |