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The most magical aspect of photography is the ability to be transported back to a moment, celebration, or family event, and summer is the perfect time to capture these special family times.
Here are a few tips to help make those summer family photos more than just a ‘snapshot’:
Composition
We often make the mistake of centering the subject in the photograph, but the human eye prefers images where the subject is off to one side. This creates a more visually interesting composition.
Photographing your subject from their height/point-of-view is another way to improve the art of your photo. Try getting down on the same level as your children (or your pets), and see the difference it makes in your photographs.
De-clutter
Having clutter in the background of a photo is a sure-fire way to make it look like an amateur snapshot. Sometimes, it’s impossible to capture the image without clutter, so there are a few ways to cope with that situation. One way is to fill the frame of your image with your subject, and another alternative is to change the angle that you are shooting from.
Light
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to take a photo in perfect light. Generally speaking, it is best to avoid direct sunlight (especially at midday), because strong light is very harsh and not flattering. Open shade, where your subject is covered by the shade but surrounded by light, is the setting for a beautiful image. For the best light, try shooting during the magic hours—just after sunrise and just before the sunset.
Now that you know these general photography rules, you can have fun breaking them, too. For example, try photographing your child from directly above or from ground level. Centering your subject can also work if the background is symmetrical. Finally, ask yourself what you like or do not like about a particular photo (yours or someone else’s) and you may find a new source of inspiration.
I’m happy to answer any photo questions you have if you post them as comment below. Good luck!
Holly Sisson is generously offering Toronto SavvyMom subscribers a complimentary 8x10 print ($95 value) with a family session booked before October 31, 2010.
Even if you take your family photos with a basic point-and-shoot camera, or a Smart Phone camera, there are still some basic tips that can greatly improve your photos, making your camera work better for you.
Point-and-Shoot Cameras
One of the biggest issues with non-SLR (single lens reflex) cameras is that everything in your shot is in focus. This creates clutter in your shot. With professional photography, you will often see an out-of-focus background where only your subject is in focus. (This effect, which is called bokeh, can only be achieved with specific lenses and an SLR camera.)
What can you do if you have a point-and-shoot camera? Shoot wide-angle shots, remembering the points I mentioned previously:
Or use the macro mode for close-up shots (i.e. filling the frame) of your subject.
Smart Phone Cameras
If you have a smart phone, you are ready to go with that camera and a few apps. I use an iPhone because of all the cool photography apps available. Here are a few of my favourites:
Any questions or apps you recommend? Please post a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts.
Holly Sisson is generously offering Toronto SavvyMom subscribers a complimentary 8x10 print ($95 value) with a family session booked before October 31, 2010.
A few other apps that I can recommend:
—iDOF (another blurring app, but seems to give a more gradual blend between what’s in focus and what is blurred then BlurFX)
—TiltShift (another blurring app that gives you a shape to put over what you want to be in focus, i.e. an oval or a strip of focus through the image)
—Iris Photo Suite (I use it for quite over all adjustments, but it can also do some special effects)
Let me know if you have any questions, and if you would like to see more of my iPhone photography please visit this link: http://hollysissonphotography.com/category/iphone/
Comments
Looking forward to trying these tips out, Holly! Thanks!